Hackers Crack Cyberspace
Date: January 15, 2004Source: Computer Crime Research Center
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However, the world-envied infrastructure has also generated some headaches including hacking, which has become more ubiquitous like the network itself.
According to statistics compiled by the Korea Information Security Agency (KISA), domestic hacking cases ballooned 165-fold over the past five years to 26,179 cases in 2003.
Only 158 hacks were reported to the state-sponsored institute in 1998 but the figure reached a millennium plateau two years later with 1,943 cases and rocketed to 15,192 in 2002.
Hacking generally means gaining unauthorized access to computers or computerized systems through a "backdoor" program, installed on other computers by way of a network.
Hackers can access any file on invaded machines. They can write new files, delete or edit them. Cyber criminals can also install several programs on the innocent victims' system without their knowledge, aimed at stealing personal information such as credit card data or passwords.
The KISA added most hackers attack computers equipped with the Windows operating system because the program is relatively vulnerable to network invasions compared to other ones like Unix.
It is bad news for Korea's common computer users given most individual Internet-goers here use the Windows system, leaving them disarmed against hacking.
Experts advise users to be aware of the dangers and to try to prevent the occurrence of devastating personal information leakage on their own machines.
"It is most important to change the mind-set of users. They should remember they are under risk of being hacked as long as their system is switched on and connected to the Web," said Cho Ki-heum, an official of AhnLab, Korea's leading computer security company.
For specific measures, computer users should download and install the latest fixes and patches for their operating system regularly.
Cho also recommended users not leave files that contain sensitive information exposed that could be easily found by someone hacking your system. Users should "make it tough for hackers."
Installation of a firewall is the best way to keep hackers at bay and if users suspect or confirm the activities of a hacker, they should report such cases to KISA or other relevant authorities in order to prevent recurrence of the computer crime, Cho said.
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