Halting the Hacker: A Practical Guide to Computer Security (2nd Edition)

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The hacker's ego is probably the largest contributing factor to the attacks he performs . Many are looking only for their 15 minutes of fame. Virus writers, website vandals, and others leave their handles on their work so that they can receive credit for their exploits. The hacker community is built on the status of the most amazing hack in the game of one upmanship. Each hacker has a need to prove himself, his skill, daring, and ability.

Even in those attacks which are not performed merely for their visibility, the hacker's ego plays a part in the attack. The hackers believe that they are smarter and more skilled with computers than their adversary and the law enforcement who might be called in to assist. They believe that they will not be caught, so they are free to do as they please online.

It may not even be necessary to actually perform the hack to get famous for it. With a little social engineering on the news media, a hacker can be credited for nearly anything.

MTV has been duped by a hoaxer in its much-maligned "True Life: I'm a Hacker" program. After the show was screened, the main character in the show, Shamrock, issued a statement revealing that he made the whole thing up.

Shamrock who gave an in-depth interview with MTV explaining the motivation behind his hacking exploits, said the show was total nonsense and was designed to illustrate how gullible MTV was.

In the statement, published on the Hacking News Network, Shamrock explained it was MTV's cynical approach to hacking that prompted his scam. "We waited for months to see if they would be realistic and after it was obvious that they wouldn't, we figured the only option would be to discredit them with as much fiction as possible."

Shamrock adds that he and fellow hoaxers never expected MTV to swallow the absurdities they made up and argued the hoax illustrated the shallow nature of the mainstream media. "We had no intention of making hackers look bad. All I can do is reiterate to you just how fake and hollow what you see on television is. After this experience I wonder where if any truth lies in what we are told to watch. This is the obvious issue the hacker community needs to address." [26]

[26] Knight, Will, "MTV Made to Look Ridiculous by Fake Hacker," ZDNet UK ( www.zdnet.co.uk ), 19 October 1999.

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