REPLY TO CLASSMATE’S POST
Do some research on hackers, pick a specific hacker, and profile this person. Under which classification of hackers would this person fall, and why?
You may not choose the same person as another classmate. If you choose the same person as a fellow classmate, you will receive a zero for this assignment. First in time, first in right.
PLEASE REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 125 WORDS)
CLASSMATE’S POST
Reading is fundamental and knowledge is power. As I began reading this week’s assignment, my open-mindedness led me into a place of understanding more about world of hacking. In the book for the class, a mention of “2600: The Hacker Quarterly”, caught my attention as this is the first time knowing about the periodical.
White hat hackers garnered my attention, more than gray or black hat hackers. To me, before reading the book, ethical and hacker did not belong together in a positive metric. According to Taylor, Fritsch, & Liederbach (2015), “White hat” is a term used to describe an ethical hacker”. The term “white hat was needed because so many former or reformed hackers entered the computer security field” (p.78). Law enforcement, media, and the publics’ view of hacker are different than a hacker, due to mindset and intention of the “hacker”.
Kevin David Mitnick is a “white hat” hacker, and computer security consultant (and business owner), and author. According to (Browder, 2018), “Mitnick started his hacking career as teen when he used social engineering and dumpster diving to bypass the punch cared system use in the Los Angeles bus system”. Mitnick was charged with 14 counts of wire fraud, to include: possession of unauthorized access services and a federal computer, in 1995, twenty three years ago. In 1999, Mitnick plead guilty to four counts of wire fraud, two counts of computer fraud and one count of illegally intercepting wire communication. Mitnick served 46 months in prison.
Upon release from prison, Mitnick was initially forbidden to use any communication technology. Mitnick fought the decision in court and winning a ruling in his favor, allowing him to use the internet. The ‘white hat” hackers describes Mitnick perfectly.
Currently Mitnick has a owner and operator of, Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC. More information about the white hat hacker can be found on his website: mitnicksecurity.com
References
Browder, C (2018). Kevin Mitnick: America’s most wanted hacker reflects on Raleigh arrest, new life in cyber security. Retrieved from https://www.wral.com/kevin-mitnick-america-s-most-wanted-hacker-reflects-on-raleigh-arrest-new-life-in-cyber-security/17375019/
Taylor, R.W, Fritsch, E.J., & Liederbach, J (2015). Digital crime and digital terrorism (3rd, ed.), p. 78. Upper Saddle River, NJ.
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