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What the hack?

Young users who experiment with hacking can get into big trouble and sometimes end up as victims too

LOST IN CYBERWORLD Young users unknowingly end up breaking cyber laws

They regard it as a form of art or a fun way to learn something new. And, they don't require any special skills. They surf thousands of web pages, follow `how-to' guides and use automated tools to break into the world of private e-mails and files of individuals on the World Wide Web. Why? Because hacking is `cool' and `challenging', say the growing number of techie whiz kids.

All in jest

As Bhansi Raj, a Class IX student, puts it: "It just took me three hours of browsing to hack into my sister's e-mail and read her private mails." And, he did this to win a bet.

With such amateurish actions, inexperienced young users unknowingly end up breaking cyber laws, warns Captain Raghu Raman, security expert and CEO of Mahindra Special Services Group, Mumbai.

"As per the Information Technology Act, entering into the forbidden zone and reading private mails is equivalent to crime. Children, by nature, are inquisitive and the growing number of social networks becomes an easy template for them to go to. What they fail to understand is the adverse consequences of their actions," he adds.

Such kids inadvertently reveal vital information about the earning members in the family to strangers on the Internet and become victims. The easiest method these predators adopt is to lure the children to log on to gaming sites or pornographic websites and obtain credit card details, bank accounts, etc. through mandatory registration procedures.

"This is also a part of `corporate espionage'. And, children holding vital information become easy targets. Because most communication happens on chat channels, kids easily share innocuous yet critical information with strangers," explains Raghu Raman.

He continues: "Some universities have come out with norms stressing security measures while surfing the Net within the campus. Like we have driving rules in place, kids should be warned not to disclose information beyond certain parameters," he adds.

The good and the bad

Speaking of hackers, there are `white hat' hackers, who indulge in ethical hacking and act as security consultants.

"They are recruited by consultant firms like Ernst and Young to advise companies on the vulnerability of their security systems. The `black hat' hackers hack with malintentions to steal sensitive information, security codes, plans and strategies, etc. They enter the chat rooms of children, take them into confidence and if their parents are found to be high net worth individuals, they become easy victims of organised crime. The greatest vulnerability about technology is the anonymity factor," he explains.

Security experts say that with Internet proliferation and better bandwidth facilities, the digital divide between parents and children should be bridged.

Investing money alone will not do. Parents should take the responsibility to monitor and control the browsing hours of their wards. Because the luxury they give to their child should not pave the way to corrupt his mind.

Teaching safety precautions while browsing is important, says J. Prasanna, the joint secretary of Cyber Society of India.

He recently participated in a cyber safety week held in Hyderabad, conducted by NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) and Andhra Pradesh Police Department, to educate school and college students.

"One of the important things discussed is to avoid original names in e-mail Ids. All the black hat hackers need to do to build your profile is to run a Google search with your e-mail Id. Remember that people online may not be what they project themselves to be. Make sure not to share personal info with them. Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are obscene or offensive to accepted standards of decency," advises Prasanna.

K. JESHI

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