Looking for computer Hacker for tv piece

plugitplayit

Wondering if anybody can help me? I am looking for a computer hacker/ex computer hacker for a short colour piece for RTE. Want to do a piece on viruses and SPAM etc and would add to it if there was a hacker or ex hacker willing to talk about what they do or what they used to do!

Any help would be appreciated. Many thanks.

aidan_walsh

Popular use of word "hacker", or actual meaning?

And if you don't know the difference, then there's another piece you can cover.

Static M.e.

First off I can't see any "hacker*" replying to you, unless they are
A: Are looking for 15 minutes of fame
B: Are\were script kiddies

Are you trying to show how easy it is to attack a PC/Server etc? How to use exploits? How to circumvent security? What exactly are you looking to cover?

You mention SPAM and Viruses, do you believe that the "Hacker" the ones you hope to find and speak to will discuss with you how they write\code virus\spam? I think you will find most dont, they simply attack systems\applications that arent patched or uptodate

Im not critising you but I sincerly doubt you will find anyone. What I suggest is to contact one of the well known Irish Secuity Companies and ask for a demo on how to use exploits or hack if you will. Its would be very easy for them to show you exactly how a hacker can/could break into your system. You could also contact some of the training companies who offer the Certified Ethical Hacker course to show you a demo I know NewHorizons use to offer it

I would also post under the security subforum but beware of backlash

Again just my 2c, let use know when the show airs.

*= Used in the Tv/Media sense of the word

DJ_Spider

If any hacker worth thier salt wanted fame all they have to do is attack a well known company with DOS attack. Most hackers keep themselves hidden as it is a crime under the electronic laws. I saw a post simular to this on a buy and sell site, was asking for pirate software, turned out to be a member of the ELSPA!

DonkeyStyle \o/

As already suggested, get yourself a bonafide security specialist... they'd be used to explaining things in non-technical terms and would be able to vet potential "hackers".

2c

plugitplayit

Thanks everybody who replied, this is all very helpful. Apologies if my terminology isn't always right.

Some more information on what I would like to cover in the piece -

It will be a short colour piece 5-8 minutes in which I will talk to the Irish Internet Association (about the increase in SPAM and viruses etc. z z z I know). May also talk to a company that deals with security and even Microsoft - what is a 'Virus analyst'...?

I am not so concerned with the HOW of 'hacking', more the WHY?
What I am looking for is somebody that will really add to the piece, have it talked about. Due to the time it would go out (7pm) it can't be all that risky but I would like it to spark some debate - could we possibly get people on the side of the hacker??

Also a suggestion that we would hide the identity of anybody willing to speak? Think Primetime - disguise the voice, silhouette the person etc.

Many thanks again.

Owen

A "Hacker" is someone who programs computers productively, and efficiently. A "Cracker" is someone who compromises other computers for exploitation reasons. Unfortunately, due to the Media, and one hell of a crap Hollywood movie (Hackers with Angelina Jolie in an early role), the word Hacker is accepted to be the latter.

DonkeyStyle \o/

plugitplayit wrote:

could we possibly get people on the side of the hacker??

I doubt it... not this type of 'hacker' anyway.
I don't think there are any redeeming or idealistic motives when it comes to spam and viruses... there's money to be made and that seems to be the long and short of it.
I can't think of anything even slightly romantic about spam or malware.
Have a read of this short article... gives you some idea of what the motives are doesn't it?
Personally I think you're barking up the wrong tree altogether.

Static M.e.

WHY?

Money $€£, thats why. These days its all down to money.

You can make big money if you are skilled enough attacking Credit Card Databases and selling CC details by the thousand.

You can also sell Bots last I heard 10,000 bots sell for ~$500 dollors US.

You can also try and infect peoples computers with Spyware and have their browser be redirected to another site where you get paid per hit on said website.

Blackmail too of course give me x amount of cash or I take down your website for a weekend. Think of Paddy Power how much money do you think they take in over a weekend. Now multiply that by X for the Grand National or some such event your talking Millions here! Hacker X sends an email to Mr Paddy Power give me €100,000 or your website goes down for the weekend Do you think he will pay? Maybe/maybe not what if I the hacker give him a taste and knocked off his website for an hour as a warning do you think he would then?

Most of these crimes wont even be reported because then people would lose faith in the company and it would out of Business. Would you use your CC in xtravision if you found out someone had stolen 100,000 CC details from them?
Because the crimes dont get reported the hackers dont get caught.

The hacker itself is hiding behind 100,000 bots spread across the world, very hard to track down and very hard to catch, a professional is probably living in a country where hacking isn't Illegal and yes alot of them still exist.

For the right people with the right skills its big money hence why you wont get one talking to you. Why should they?

Dont get me wrong Im quite that their is "good" hackers out their who help rather then hinder but Ive never heard of one. You also of course have the old school enthusiasts who just went exploring.. but again its still hacking.

I cant see you sparking any debate over hackers anyway to be honest, its been done a 1000 times before. If its just 10 min piece pick on topic and stick to it. You could 10 mins on Spam alone easily or on Virus's (sp) or on how modern day companies are protecting themselves. Or you could do a piece on Phishing 419ers, joe Jabbing (a new term for an old con), identity theft or on the new Cybercrime unit set up by the Banks, ISSA, and the Garda.

Honestly you could do so much and get a much better response from people who are actually in the business, provide an interesting 10min piece. Or you could do the hacker piece which is old news, which will probably be factually wrong or very much out of date or a combo of the above.