Cybercrime is responsible for Dh5.9 trillion every year, and it’s likely to just keep rising.
Click start to play today’s Word Search, where you can find cybertechnology-related terms.
Since American computer scientist Robert Morris created the first virus in 1989, the scale and complexity of cyberattacks have grown dramatically. Some cases of cybercrime, however, still stand out from the rest because of their sheer audacity. Here are a few you should know:
1. Iceman attack
A single man, American Max Ray Butler, is responsible for stealing the details of more than 2 million credit card holders. His reign as Iceman makes him one of the most ambitious individuals in hacking history, especially since his victims weren’t just businesses and banks, but rival hackers, too.
2. Wannacry
In May 2017, a form of ransomware called WannaCry wreaked havoc on computer networks around the world. In just a few days, it infected around 200,000 devices in nearly 150 countries. Once deployed, the virus would cause stored files on a computer to become encrypted. Then, a digital ransom letter would appear, demanding a payment in Bitcoin to unlock the files. WannaCry caused major damage to several large corporations, such as the UK’s National Health Service, Renault, Nissan and FedEx.
3. MafiaBoy
A 15-year-old teenager called Michael Calce, who used the moniker MafiaBoy online, brought down companies around the world with a series of DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks. Focusing mainly on large businesses, he managed to take down CNN, eBay, and even Yahoo – the world’s biggest search engine at the time. His mission? To assert himself as the world’s greatest hacker. MafiaBoy’s exploits were a wake-up call for the US government, and compelled then President Bill Clinton to convene a cybersecurity task force. Because of MafiaBoy’s young age, he received a relatively minor punishment: eight months of open custody, a small fine and a year of probation.
4. Guardians of Peace
Sony Pictures was the subject of a nightmare hack in late 2014, when a group of hackers called Guardians of Peace leaked confidential data from their company. The files included internal emails, plans for future films, copies of unreleased films, salary details of employees and more. The hackers also erased parts of Sony’s network and demanded a withdrawal of then-upcoming film, The Interview. Since the film’s plot had to do with an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, many people connected the dots and wondered if the country was behind the attack. An official US investigation revealed this claim to be true.
Have you ever had to deal with hacking concerns? Play today’s Word Search and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
