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Essay about Computer Hackers

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Computer Hackers

Hackers are popularly defined as computer experts who spend enormous amounts of time trying to breach the security of networks, web servers and email servers. Usually they use a selection of specialist software to identify any weaknesses, which they are then able to exploit. There are basically two main types of hackers, the first type is mainly consistent of intelligent adolescents who acquire their hacking knowledge by reading, by talking to people and by spending an excessive amount of time on their computer, learning the various programs, the source code and the commands. They are then able to solve puzzles that people with computer engineering backgrounds can't solve. vast …show more content…

Some, however, may cause random damage to data files (sometimes insidiously, over a long period) or attempt to destroy files and disks. Others cause unintended damage. Even benign viruses (apparently non-destructive viruses) cause significant damage by occupying disk space and/or main memory, by using up CPU processing time, and by the time and expense wasted in detecting and removing them.

There are several main types of viruses out there that hackers may use:

v File Viruses - A file virus is a virus that attaches itself to a file, usually an executable application like a word-processing program and in general file viruses don't infect data files. However, data files can contain embedded executable code such as macros, which may be used by hackers, as a file virus infects other files when the program to which it is attached is run, it can spread across a network (often very quickly).

v Boot-sector Viruses - Boot sector viruses alter the program that is in the first sector of every disk. This is the space in the computer that automatically runs each time the machine is turned on. Generally, a boot-sector infector executes its own code (which usually infects the boot sector or partition sector of the hard disk), then continues the PC start-up process. In most cases, all write-enabled floppies used on that PC from then on will become infected. A PC is infected with

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