Chapter 3: The People Behind the Problem

In This Chapter

• Separating hackers from crackers

• The underground cracker culture

• What makes crackers tick

• Hacker gatherings and conventions

• Understanding crackers’ tricks

• Hacking and cracking resources

Maybe you’re wondering why you need to acquaint yourself with the hacker and cracker subculture. Here’s why. Acquiring an understanding of these individuals and how they operate will help you separate the hype and hysteria from the real threats to your wireless network.

The media have used sensationalism and misinformation in their representation of hackers. The old and much-used cliché “if it bleeds, it leads” sums it up. Sensationalism often results in high ratings even if it is at the expense of the facts.

The abilities of hackers or the realities of computer threats are exaggerated, contributing to misinformation. The resulting confusion means that the public lacks the facts they need to protect their computers and fewer people take appropriate action, leaving them vulnerable. Frustrated by the lack of accurate information, many people simply give up trying to secure their computers, assuming that they aren’t a likely target. Examining who hackers are, the differences between hackers and crackers, and the reality of the threat is the first step toward solving this problem.