1. The Art of Anonymity
A hacker’s first priority is to remain anonymous. They don’t want you to know they’ve been in your system. To achieve this, they employ various methods to hide their tracks:
- Proxies or secured tunnels: These act as intermediaries, routing a hacker’s traffic through other computers to obscure its origin.
- Software that hides their IP address: An IP address is like a digital fingerprint. Hackers use special software to mask their IP, making it difficult to trace them.
- Using stolen credentials: They may use someone else’s usernames and passwords to gain access, avoiding the use of their own.
- Custom programming in C: Writing their own code in languages like C allows hackers to create highly specialized tools for their specific tasks.
- Telnet: A hacker may use a telnet connection to hide their location and the execution of their commands.
2. Getting In and Out Undetected
Any proficient hacker makes sure to leave no trace on your computer. While they may leave your files untouched, they will almost always leave a “backdoor” open. This is a clandestine (secret) method for them to re-enter your system at a later date, providing easy access without having to go through the initial hacking process again.
A similar technique is to gain entry through a backdoor directly. Many hackers develop codes and programs specifically to find defenseless pathways into networks, allowing them to bypass passwords altogether.
3. Gathering Information and Targeting
Before an attack, a hacker will gather as much information as possible about their target. This process is crucial for a successful hack. Key pieces of information they seek include:
- IP address: The unique address of a computer on a network.
- Telnet or Tracert: These tools are used to look at the pings (signals used to test connectivity) and analyze network activity.
- Resourcefulness: Hackers will use all available resources to find out as much about their target as they can.
This is where search engines come in handy. They are a primary resource for finding the necessary tools to hack a system. From there, hackers can download specific programs to target a computer.
4. Password Cracking and Eavesdropping
- Going for passwords: This is a trial and error method. Hackers will use dictionary attacks to generate every possible combination of letters, symbols, and numbers, making educated guesses to crack a password.
- Logging keystrokes: Hackers can use programs called keyloggers to record every keystroke made on a computer. This can reveal a person’s identity, passwords, and other sensitive information.
- Spying on email: Programs can be used to interrupt and read emails, providing hackers with a wealth of private data.
5. Leaving a Digital Footprint
Hackers often leave something behind to ensure future access or to cause damage.
- Leaving a virus: A simple way to get back into a computer is to leave a virus. This can be done by sending an email or instant message to a potential victim.
- Leaving a file or two: This is a more direct way to ensure future access. A hacker might leave files like Net cat, a networking utility, to gain access to the system again later.
6. Making Zombie Computers
A zombie computer is a device a hacker controls remotely. This is often done to launch DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attacks or to send spam emails. When an innocent user clicks on a malicious link, it can create a connection between their computer and the hacker’s, turning the user’s machine into a zombie.
7. Other Critical Tools and Techniques
Proxy server: Hackers also target proxy servers to mask their identity and location.
Firewall: Hackers want to bypass your firewall, a security system that restricts access to your personal information.