An online computer hacker is an expert computer hacker who gains access to a system and causes havoc with it. The phrase “online hacker” has come to be associated in common parlance with any skilled computer hacker, though the word is most commonly used to describe someone who commits computer crimes by breaking into other people’s computers and stealing information. A computer hacker may be a member of a hacker collective or an individual hacker.
Computer crime is often referred to as “cyber-crime” because computer hacking is usually carried out through a network. Hackers typically break into a network by exploiting weaknesses in software, a security vulnerability or a poorly designed piece of hardware. Some of these techniques are hardwired into the hardware, while others require the ability to hack software. Most hackers can easily gain access to a network through various methods, but the most effective are the ones that use vulnerabilities in software to get onto a network.
Computer criminals use their skills to break into networks by exploiting weaknesses in software or hardware, but they are also known for breaking into networks by infecting a computer with a worm or Trojan horse. Once inside the network, these hackers can use this malware to gain access to other computers, steal information and send it across the internet. Some of the most common types of malware include:
Backdoors are one of the most dangerous types of Trojan horses, which allow hackers to get into a system. Some of the more common forms of backdoors are web exploits, keyloggers, or keylogger remover programs. By using these kinds of malware, a hacker can gain access to systems through the internet, through the back doors on infected machines, or through other forms of software vulnerabilities. Backdoors, however, should not be confused with security holes, since back doors are used to gain access to networks by bypassing normal security mechanisms.
Spyware programs are another type of malware. They are often used by hackers to monitor a person’s activity on the internet, track their online shopping habits, send spam emails, collect personal information and monitor their browsing habits. They can also be used to steal information from users’ computers or networks.
While there is no single type of hacker, there is one type of online crime that all hackers share: the ability to wreak havoc with networks and steal information from computers. Computer crimes are classified as either “cyber crimes”computer fraud.” Both categories are classified according to whether they affect computer networks or if they affect individuals’ computers. Cyber crimes fall into a number of different categories such as identity theft, computer fraud, internet scams, and computer hacking.
