Computer hacking

I had been a part of filming a piece a couple of weeks ago about computer hacking, and was shocked at how easy it is to hack someone's computer. It took the guy 4 minutes. And he could read computers from the street. (n.b. he didnt hack anyone without permission)

So with this thread all I really want to do is pass the information on. I am no computer wiz, but for those who are, your input is valued.

Here is a link to zdf about hacking, and if you have time its on tonight.. on Frontal21.

Jeder kann mitlesen - ZDF.de

OH NOES!!1!11 ITS the EEEEEVIL HAXORZ IN ANUTHER SCARY SCARY STORY TO GET PEEPUL TOO WATCH the ZED-DAY-EFF!!11!shiftoneshiftoneshiftone

The guy isn't "hacking" computers, he's accessing them through wireless LANs because people are too lazy to actually read the instructions and set the basic security of devices they purchase which require it. Enable WPA on the router, turn off Windows' simple sharing, done. And stop using "password" or "system" or "beer" as your passwords.

woof.

Don't talk to me about hackers. Idiots have been making my life a misery.

hacking is unauthorized access to data, ok so your right in one respect he had permission.

Enabling WPA doesnt bring that much. I have myself WPA2 personal, 'no problem to hack', was his answer, 'just give me 2 weeks'.
The person that was broken into had WPA security, and it took him 4 minutes.

and please watch what ever you want to watch, ..

EDIT: where does this whole thing come from??? there was a student that developed a system to hack into e-mails etc, .. and noone believe him so he put into the internet, ..

If hes using Linux then your WEP key encryption code will be completely useless, Linux is open architecture so he won't have any problems hacking into your wireless. unless he is using Microsoft OS which contains WEP encryption purely due to the flaw in the operating system. Aside from that if you want to protect your computer against hackers i would recommend you download the free copy of Zonealarm.

Illiterate people should not post on intartubes forums. I wrote WPA, not WEP.


What the fuck have you been smoking? Architecture has nothing to do with crackability. I don't care if you're running SCO/Lunix or Windows 3.11 or AmigaDOS: if you don't secure your wireless I can break it if you use WEP which has been dead for more than two years. WPA PSK is also vulnerable, as is any fucking Windows box left with its stupid "PLEASE RAPE AND PWN ME" default settings.

You're trying to sound SOOPER SMRT by throwing buzzwords around on a board frequented by a bunch of people who get paid to know this sort of shit.

woof.

i sincerely hate to say this, but i agree with bad doggie on this one...i am by no means a "hacker," nor computer-savvy in any way/shape/form, but even i was able to figure out how to access my neighbor's wireless connection (in the US, and therefore never had to pay for internet)

wooooo look at me!! true, also stuck up arrogant twats should not post, be a long way to fall from that high horse of yours. Maybe the break in the fall would remove your head from your ass!

@ kateTV


ummm, the jury is still out on that one ...i would say cracking is unauthorized access but then some people argue otherwise and the media at large tends to like to keep with the hacking term ...Google brings up interesting definitions

guess it kinda depends on how 'old skool' you are in the computing world

as for WLAN Security ...the things you do or are advised to do to secure your computer and/or wireless access point are all really barriers. It is known as 'work factor' ...a lot depends on the determination, motivation and know-how of the 'acker and the effort involved in pulling down these barriers. WPA2-PSK may be the latest encryption method to help safeguard wireless LAN connections, but it won't be the last ...

Basically any computer that is connected to a network is vulnerable.
I like this comment 'just give me 2 weeks' : )
If someone is gonna spend that kind of time working on your system, there is not much you can do.
Its pretty easy to deter your average "cracker" which in my opinion is "Someone who uses pre-written programs or codes"
If you keep up to date with your patches, do as BD says and change your settings from defaults, use something like Zonealarm as Viva suggests, secure your wireless network as best you can, use decent passwords and again change your default settings on accounts, if you share anything protect it too. This with antivirus and antispyware etc. this is a good start. But again if someone is determined they will find a way in.
So if you have info on computer that is worth someone spending that kinda time and effort on, you should probably have an IT department to worry about this. If not just be smart and careful.

True. The vast majority of compromised computers were hacked & hijacked with no human intervention by other compromised computers running code looking for simple exploits such as vulnerabilities in Windows that haven't been patched (for whatever reason). With this approach the hacker can sit in his bedroom and automatically hack whomever has a vulnerable computer connected to the internet, and there are many many of them, just by scanning IP addresses and giving each computer that responds a try in turn. Once the computer is compromised it will most likely be left fully functional and used for sending spam, hosting porn or MP3s or whatever, with the owner probably blissfully unaware.

If it's bank details the hacker's after he'll just send out a few million emails asking for them and some idiots will dutifully reply. Why go to all the bother hacking a WLAN connection, secure or otherwise, when it's only one person behind it, probably with nothing worth stealing anyway. Seeing the limited range of WLAN systems this probably isn't the greatest weakness in any private person's online security setup.