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Ear to the Ground

The Difference Between Hacking and Attacking

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Posted on Aug 1, 2011
Karl-Ludwig Poggemann (CC-BY)

In this age of terrorism and anxiety, we sometimes let loose a little too freely with loaded words like “attack.” Take the case of LulzSec, the humorous hacker collective that brought down the CIA’s World Factbook, penetrated PBS and resurrected Tupac.

An 18-year-old from the Shetland Islands was arrested in connection with LulzSec and faces five related charges. His granddad called the raid to capture the teenager “dramatic and ridiculous.” That’s pretty much how we would imagine a raid on a youngster who allegedly pulled pranks, albeit on big targets.

Let’s take a breath and try to remember that many of these hackers, whether they call themselves LulzSec, Anonymous or Frank, are not terrorists, nor are their actions remotely as heinous as shooting journalists from a helicopter or torturing people to death.

Gary McKinnon is a British hacker and UFO enthusiast fighting extradition to the U.S., where he faces 70 years in prison. Did he do more damage to the United States, allegedly poking around protected servers in search of aliens, than Lawrence Summers, who ushered in the deregulation that obliterated trillions of dollars of American wealth?

A little perspective is in order.  —PZS

BBC:

A man from the Shetland Islands has been charged with computer offences by police investigating hacking attacks.

Jake Davis, 18, was charged with unauthorised computer access and conspiracy to carry out a distributed denial of service attack on the Serious Organised Crime Agency’s website.

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flaco's avatar

By flaco, August 1, 2011 at 3:42 pm Link to this comment

@John R.

100% with you. New tools for monkey wrenching are available.They need to be used

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By gerard, August 1, 2011 at 1:58 pm Link to this comment

You can tell how dependent upon secrecy the government and business dominions are, by the degree to which they become frightened and “call out their troops” to put a stop to hacking, investigative reporting and whistle-blowing. 

If they stopped to think, they would immediately see that the agencies they regard as “enemies” are actually offering them a golden opportunity to correct their excesses—excesses which will eventually ruin them if left unchecked.

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By omygodnotagain, August 1, 2011 at 1:05 pm Link to this comment

Sorry but having spent hundreds of dollars and many more hours dealing with trojan horses and other virus attack and hacks. Personally I would like to see all hackers shot… and I’m sick of people apologizing saying they are testing security, or they are just kids. They are criminals.. this is like the Graffiti debate.. insinuating that vandalism and gang signs are profound and worthwhile social commentary..

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By Peter Z. Scheer, August 1, 2011 at 11:41 am Link to this comment

“In the pursuit of truth, we must be as persistent as
those that wish to cover it up.”

Well said.

Report this
John R.'s avatar

By John R., August 1, 2011 at 10:41 am Link to this comment

Truth must be dug up, dusted off, and resurrected from factions that wish to keep it hidden, cloaking they’re actions against the common man/woman/child.

There is the exploitation of the worker - due to/or because of, they’re lack of education.

That exploitation, is the ugly face of greed and power. 

This is a battle, between the family, and the CEO.

Those acting on conscious, using the internet, and doing what they can to reveal truth, undoubtedly are too young to weigh the actual consequences, as noted in the article.

No matter how many are arrested, many many more will replace them.

In the pursuit of truth, we must be as persistent as those that wish to cover it up.

Report this
John R.'s avatar

By John R., August 1, 2011 at 10:41 am Link to this comment

Truth must be dug up, dusted off, and resurrected from factions that wish to keep it hidden, cloaking they’re actions against the common man/woman/child.

There is the exploitation of the worker - due to/or because of, they’re lack of education.

That exploitation, is the ugly face of greed and power. 

This is a battle, between the family, and the CEO.

Those acting on conscious, using the internet, and doing what they can to reveal truth, undoubtedly are too young to weigh the actual consequences, as noted in the article.

No matter how many are arrested, many many more will replace them.

In the pursuit of truth, we must be as persistent as those that wish to cover it up.

Report this
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