Demetrius Hill
CIS 106
Professor J. Merritt
Assignment 1: Computer Memory Hacking
November 15, 2015

As the years go by technology will continually advance at a superb rate. With that comes many risks. The invasion of privacy for individuals and business owners is a concerning matter. The target hackers are aiming for these days is the computer memory. Third party individuals create a backdoor to the hardware and software of a machine to gain access to the hidden functions they may hold. Hackers break into computer systems by exploiting security vulnerabilities, such as poor configuration of web servers, disabled security controls, or poorly chosen or default passwords. Hackers may modify existing computer resources and settings without consent and, in so doing, cause damage or disruption to computer systems or networks. It is easily attainable since its open source and free software. The ethical issues surrounding hacking, stem from several sources mainly dealing with order and control, and information ownership. What is difficult to decipher from all the media hoopla surrounding the terms, "hacker" and "hacking" is both the simultaneous sensationalism and the condemnation of said activities. Of course just recently, even a movie was made and was appropriately called Hackers. The term and all that it implies has truly entered our popular consciousness when Hollywood has made a box office movie on it. As the advancement of computer technologies and systems of information become increasingly more and more complex in today's fast paced modern world and said technologies become an integral part of our homes and lives with rapid progress, we attempt to assert more and more control over what we consider "information," and "property." "Hacking" then seems to be the flagrant abuse of systems of information, complete and utter "unauthorized access."
With the right tools a hacker can have his way with anything. One of the commonly known tools such as the RAM scraper. I currently work at The Home Depot and I've noticed how the tools works. Viruses and worms have each had their day in the spotlight. Remote-access Trojans, which allow a hacker to open and maintain a secret backdoor on infected systems, have had their reign as well. These days, though, point-of-sale RAM scrapers are what’s making the news. Attackers installed these RAM scrapers surreptitiously on the point-of-sale systems used to scan and process credit and debit card transactions at Albertson’s and Supervalu. The tools make it easy to steal card numbers by the millions as they pass through the system. They were used recently in the Target and Home Depot breaches to net the hackers data on more than 100 million bank cards collectively. VISA issued a warning to retailers about their use in 2008. But they’ve become increasingly sophisticated and efficient at stealing massive caches of cards.
Due to the severe damage hacking can cause there are plenty of preventive measures that can be implemented. The most popular method of protection against hacking among personal home computer users is anti-virus software. Companies including Mcafee provide anti-virus software that scans a computer's hard drive for infected material, alerting customers when bad files are found. Firewalls, typically used for computer networks, have also become popular with home users, particularly those who use continual online connections such as cable modems and digital subscriber lines. Firewalls act as a deterrent to hacking by protecting private networks from the public, thus keeping most outsiders from tampering with computer systems. Other software options include Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), content filtering software, sand-boxing software, and behavior analysis software. IDS is considered one of the best protection methods for large networks. With an IDS in place, system administrators can monitor network requests and detect large-scale malicious attacks. Content filtering software is advanced antivirus software that reads compressed files and allows IT managers to set specific filtering parameters to block threatening email. Sand-boxing software protects against malicious codes. The software creates a protected space within a computer where suspicious code can run, before it has a chance to interact with the main operating system. Behavior analysis software protects computer systems by monitoring entire networks and checking every command of all operations.Unfortunately, many malicious hackers eye security systems not as a deterrent but as a mere obstacle to overcome. However, as long as hacking attacks persist, both individuals and businesses will continue to invest in programs and software designed to protect systems from unwanted visitors.
Computer hacking pervades global society in the digital age. The act of breaking into a secure computer network serves many purposes, from corporate espionage to blatant theft and political insubordination. Computer hacking affects organizations in a variety of ways, some universal, others specific to the nature of the reason for hacking and the business in question. The direction of hacking whether the organization hacks or gets hacked also has an effect. Organizations in the computer and technology industry may benefit or lose drastically from instances of computer hacking. Independent firms specializing in hacking prevention software or network development stand to benefit tremendously as the impact of hacking spreads throughout the world. Small businesses in particular may expand operations exponentially if successful in obtaining and retaining a client base. However, a company in this field whose product or efforts fail in the face of hacking face a ruined reputation and thereby the potential loss of a client base and an inability to attract additional clients.

Zetter, K. (2014, September 14). How RAM Scrapers Work: The Sneaky Tools Behind the Latest Credit Card Hacks. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.wired.com/2014/09/ram-scrapers-how-they-work/

Dezenhall, E. (n.d.). A Look Back at the Target Breach. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-dezenhall/a-look-back-at-the-target_b_7000816.html

Weissman, C. (2015, April 1). 7 easy ways to avoid being hacked. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-being-hacked-2015-4