PBS Feature on Computer Hacking Instructive

[See it here]
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/NOVA-16/episodes/Rise-of-the-Hackers-54775

WGBH-TV one of Boston MA PBS stations broadcast "Rise of the Hackers" on Wednesday September 24, 2014. Produced at BBC 2013 for NOVA

The use of last four digits of a credit card is revealed as part of a way to steal a person's identity. But some institutions and businesses use the last four digits of the Social Security Numbers, which makes it easier to establish the entire number. Other institutions use the first five digits and make it even easier to learn the entire SSN. One university uses SSNs for student IDs, which is a reckless system. They claim arrogantly their system is unbreakable. Huh?

In the discussion the narrator states that the Stuxnet malware program was the first cyber weapon. How does he know that? Stuxnet may be the first cyber weapon exposed as a weapon. But there may be others that were operating and may have operated without detection.

Later the narrator says, "In todays digital world no one is sure who is hacking who . . . whether it's criminals, teenagers or even governments."

Algorithm using sub prime numbers permit private online transactions. Quantum computing for new computers may defeat the protection of use of sub prime numbers. Antidotes is use of quantum cryptography.

Ultra-paranoid computing is recommended in order to protect your data on any of your devices from being hacked. Do you hear that psychiatric industry!

Even iris scanners, and fingerprint scanners can be fooled by theft or copying. What I always got a laugh at was at the genius bar at the Apple store when the young smart behinds would say, "The only way someone knows your password is if you give it to them." Huh? Oh, Hahaha.

One solution is muscle memory using basal ganglia. After enough practice a participant can leave the lab knowing something that they don't know that they know.

People are the weak link in protecting complex systems using computers and technology.

Cybercrime Expensive Cost To National Economies

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[From article]
Failing to protect yourself online is so irresponsible, it could threaten the economy of entire nations.
That's according to a security report by California-based group, McAfee, which suggests cybercrime is now such big business, it is worth more than the wealth of some countries.
As a business, cybercrime would be ranked 27th in the world based on revenue, and the attacks are currently costing the world more than £238 billion ($400 billion) a year.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2652759/Hackers-holding-world-ransom-Cyber-attacks-cost-global-economy-328-billion-year-claims-report.html

Hackers are holding the world to ransom: Cyber attacks cost the global economy more than £328 billion a year, claims report
Cyber attacks cost world more than 0.5% of its gross domestic product
It damages global economy almost as much as illegal drugs and piracy
McAfee report found 200,000 jobs had been lost as a result of attacks
There are 20 to 30 cybercrime groups operating on a ‘nation-state' level
The challenge remains in the lack of understanding among the public
The report comes in the wake of Operation Tovar, which disrupted the viruses that led to the National Crime Agency issuing a two-week alert
By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD
Daily Mail (UK)
PUBLISHED: 05:33 EST, 9 June 2014 | UPDATED: 07:32 EST, 9 June 2014

Holding Computer Files Hostage For Ransom

[From article]
This is a criminal operation. They are holding your folders and files ransom. We call this ransomware because that is exactly what it is. You need to pay in order to have access to them once again.”
And that is exactly what happened last month at the Swansea Police Department.
Cryptolocker ransomware took over the department’s entire computer system and the police were forced to pay a $750 ransom to get back control.
As the ransomware takes over your computer, a countdown clock appears and shows victims how long they have to pay up. That means purchasing a key, or software, to reverse the process. And victims must do that using the online virtual currency known as bitcoins.
“Once you have purchased a bitcoin, then the transaction that you use that bitcoin in is encrypted, and therefore you cannot trace it,” explained Goodchild.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/12/18/cryptolocker-ransomware-being-described-as-the-perfect-crime/

Cryptolocker Ransomware Being Described As ‘The Perfect Crime’
By Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve

WBZ-TV Boston MA
December 18, 2013 5:34 PM

Digital Carjackers Show Off New Attacks

Anatomy of an auto hack: With just a laptop connected to its diagnostics port, Valasek and Miller turned an innocent Prius into the world's worst amusement park ride. Here what they could do.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/07/24/hackers-reveal-nasty-new-car-attacks-with-me-behind-the-wheel-video/

Hackers Reveal Nasty New Car Attacks--With Me Behind The Wheel (Video)
This story appears in the August 12, 2013 issue of Forbes.
Andy Greenberg, Forbes Staff
Covering the worlds of data security, privacy and hacker culture.

Published on Jul 24, 2013

A couple of hackers show off a series of nasty new attacks on cars—with Forbes' Andy Greenberg behind the wheel.

Church Sites Hacked, Invited to Join Islam

http://bigpeace.com/stzu/2011/08/05/18-church-websites-hacked-replaced-with-invitation-to-join-islam/

[Video embedded]
18 Church Websites Hacked; Replaced With Invitation To Join Islam
Posted by Sun Tzu
Aug 5th 2011 at 1:48 pm
BigPeace.com