Famous Hackers: Cult of the Dead Cow

Anonymous and Wikileaks have been in the news a lot lately, but they weren’t the first group to use the Internet to protest censorship and promote what they consider basic rights. The Cult of the Dead Cow, also know as cDc or cDc Communications, is a hacker organization first established in 1984. According to Wired magazine, the group actually coined the term “hactivism” and defined it as “the development … Read More »

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Hacker Payback: Dox

The world of computer security is full of slang. And while the media has made a number of different hacker terms, such as “hacktivism” and “malware,” more mainstream, there are still a number of terms that remain relatively unused by the average reporter. As a result, though being “doxed” is nothing new, you may have never heard the term. Doxed, or being doxed, is Internet slang for releasing personal … Read More »

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Twacked: The Trend of People Being Hacked on Twitter

In January 2010, Twitter banned 370 password combinations for being too obvious, however that hasn’t stopped hackers from tapping into the accounts of some of the world’s biggest celebrities and some of the United State’s most trusted news sources. It probably comes as little surprise, that the Twitter accounts with the greatest number of followers are celebrities. Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Barack Obama, Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian make … Read More »

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Feeling Vulnerable: What are Computer Security Vulnerabilities and How Could They be Putting Your Company at Risk?

You wouldn’t intentionally leave your wallet on the hood of your car in the mall parking lot. In the same respect, you wouldn’t let a child walk home from school in the dark along a busy street. The reason you wouldn’t do these things is because your wallet and your children are important to you and leaving them unattended would make them vulnerable to theft and harm. According to … Read More »

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Famous Hackers: Anonymous

Remember when “anonymous” was simply a placeholder for an unnamed author in your English literature class? How about when “anonymous” was just someone who was being interviewed and wished for their name not to be used in print? Today, the word “anonymous” isn’t reserved for the unnamed. Just Google the word and you’ll find an entirely different meaning. The days of “anonymous” being someone who has chosen to stay … Read More »

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Evolution of the Term “Hacker”

After nine months of noteworthy data breaches, from the Shady Rat Attack to the Sony PlayStation Network breach—the term “hacking” is more likely to call to mind script kiddies and self-proclaimed hactivist groups, like Anonymous, than tech-savvy geeks like Steve Jobs. However, although today “hacking” is almost synonymous with cyber crime, this wasn’t always the case. Define “Hacker” According Merriam-Webster, “hack” has a number of definitions, including 1.  “to … Read More »

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Facebook Threats: Three Ways Hackers are Hijacking Your Social Media Experience

With over 750 million users, there are currently more people signed up to use the social network than living in the United States. While Facebook can create “it’s a small world after all” feeling, having that many people in one place, makes Facebook an ideal target for spammers and other crooks looking to utilize the social networking platform for their own personal gains. From malware to hijacked accounts, Facebook … Read More »

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Steve Jobs: Multibillionaire, College-drop-out and Hacker

Last Wednesday Steve Jobs made headlines when he resigned as the CEO of Apple, Inc. It certainly wasn’t the first time the inventor and co-founder had made news. Probably best known for his role as the face of Apple, Steve Jobs also founded NeXT Computer, under which NeXTSTEP (what would later become Mac OS X) was developed. In addition to his work with Apple and NeXTSTEP, Jobs served as … Read More »

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How to Get a Job at Facebook & Other Associated Hacks

To some, George Hotz may seem like just a kid, but when it comes to hacking, this 21-year-old has already made quite a name for himself. After unlocking the iPhone, allowing it to be used by wireless carriers other than AT&T, Hotz hacked the PlayStation 3 and ended up at the center of a Sony lawsuit and an Anonymous protest. Hotz might not have been the first person to … Read More »

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Staying Safe on Social Networks

From malware to hijacked accounts – when it comes to protecting yourself online, social networks can be a dangerous place. Both Facebook and Twitter provide recommended actions for keeping accounts secure, and though the two networks have different features, the ways they advise users to keep accounts safe are very similar. Here are four security tips anyone using a social network should know: 1. Watch out for suspicious links … Read More »