Introduction:
In recent years, the world has witnessed a surge in cyberattacks, with hackers causing untold damages to governments, businesses, and individuals.
While some hackers may be benign, using their skills to identify security flaws and report them to the relevant authorities, others are highly skilled cybercriminals who seek to exploit vulnerabilities for their gain.
These nefarious hackers are highly skilled individuals who can breach even the most robust security systems, wreaking havoc on their victims.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the top hackers who have made headlines for their malicious exploits.
Kevin Mitnick –
The Original “Darkside Hacker” Kevin Mitnick is often credited as the original “darkside hacker.”
Born in 1963, Mitnick was an expert in social engineering and computer hacking.
He spent years breaching computer systems and stealing valuable information, including source code from software companies, private emails, and even the National Defense Research Center.
His reign of terror came to an end in 1995 when he was arrested by the FBI and sentenced to five years in prison.
After serving his sentence, Mitnick went on to become a cybersecurity consultant, helping businesses identify and eliminate security flaws.
Gary McKinnon –
The “Solo Hacker” Gary McKinnon, also known as “Solo,” was a British hacker who gained notoriety for breaching the US Department of Defense and NASA systems.
He hacked into 97 US military and NASA computers, causing $700,000 in damages.
He claimed that he was searching for evidence of the existence of UFOs and found several anomalies in NASA’s images.
McKinnon was arrested in 2002 but managed to evade extradition to the US for over a decade.
In 2012, he was granted asylum in the UK, and charges against him were dropped.
Albert Gonzalez –
The Mastermind Behind the “Heartland Hack” Albert Gonzalez is known for being the mastermind behind the “Heartland Hack,” one of the largest credit card data breaches in history.
He and his team of hackers breached the payment processing systems of several major retailers, including TJX Companies, DSW, and Heartland Payment Systems, stealing over 160 million credit card numbers.
Gonzalez was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2010 for his involvement in the Heartland Hack, as well as several other cybercrimes.
Vladimir Levin –
The Hacker Who Stole $10 Million Vladimir Levin is a Russian hacker who made headlines in 1995 when he hacked into Citibank’s computers and stole $10 million.
He and his accomplices transferred the money to accounts in Europe, Israel, and the United States.
Levin was eventually caught in the UK and extradited to the US, where he pleaded guilty to his crimes.
He was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay restitution to Citibank.
Anonymous –
The “Hacktivist” Collective Anonymous is a loosely organized “hacktivist” collective that gained notoriety for their cyberattacks against corporations and governments.
The group is made up of individuals with varying skill sets, and they use their hacking skills to promote social and political causes.
Anonymous has been involved in several high-profile attacks, including the 2010 attack on PayPal in retaliation for the company’s decision to cut off funding to WikiLeaks.
The group has also been linked to attacks on government websites in Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran during the Arab Spring.
Conclusion:
While these hackers may have gained notoriety for their malicious exploits, it’s essential to remember that hacking can be used for good as well.
Ethical hackers play a crucial role in identifying security flaws.