Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Web of Crime: Internet Gangs Go Global

[This is Part Three of a Five Part series....]

[Part one can be found here, and Part Two can be found here.]

A PCWorld.com article by Liane Cassavoy, via Yahoo! News, reports that:

When you think of a computer hacker, who comes to mind? It could be this: a teenage boy, sitting in his parents' basement, turning his attention away from his video game long enough to break into his school's computer network so he can alter his grades before they're officially released.

That image might have been accurate a few years ago, but today the game is changing. In the past, hackers and writers of malicious software (aka malware) were seeking attention and notoriety. Creators of viruses and worms were looking for bragging rights. Now they're after money--and they're finding it.

The transformation in motivation has changed the types of attacks, and it has also altered the profile of the attackers. Teens seeking notoriety may still be involved, but these days the likelier culprit is a hardened criminal in search of financial gain.

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