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Top 9 Hackers Who Wrote History
History has been written over time, and those that wrote history can be referred to as historians, we however want to take a look at some of the custodians of history that have shaped our world into what it is today, the top hackers who wrote history.
Throughout history, there have been individuals who have made significant contributions that shaped the world we live in today. While historians are typically associated with recording history, we can also consider hackers as custodians of history who have left their mark through their exceptional skills and knowledge. These top hackers who wrote history have paved the way for others to follow by playing a crucial role in shaping our world, utilizing their expertise and ingenuity, they have left an indelible impact on society.
In a world driven by technology and innovation, where government institutions and businesses heavily rely on the internet, cyber-attacks have become a major cause for concern. They pose significant threats to individuals and organizations alike, and experiencing such attacks can be devastating.
Hackers are widely regarded as a formidable group of individuals, and understandably so, as they possess skills that can compromise the security of networks and systems. However, it’s important to recognize that hackers may have various motives behind their actions. While some seek personal gain, there are others who are driven by different reasons to engage in hacking and infiltrate networks.
Hacking doesn’t necessarily have to be seen as a negative activity. There’s a distinction between different types of hackers. On one hand, there are white hat hackers who operate in fields such as cyber security, software engineering, and testing. Their main objective is to find vulnerabilities in systems and resolve them. On the other hand, black hat hackers engage in hacking with malicious intentions, causing harm in the process. So, while hacking can have negative connotations, it’s important to recognize that there are ethical hackers who play a crucial role in keeping our digital world secure.
Top Hackers Who Wrote History
1. Kevin Mitnick
Most Notorious Hackers of All Time
Kevin Mitnick is a known name in the world of hacking as this guy has done impressively well to create antecedents for other hackers to come, he is also a pioneer of many hacking tricks.
Mitnick gained notoriety as “the world’s most famous hacker” by stealing computer code from prominent tech companies such as Nokia and Motorola. However, his most remarkable feat occurred in 1982 when he successfully hacked into the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), an accomplishment that landed him on the FBI’s most wanted list and served as inspiration for the movie “War Games.” Although Mitnick pursued hacking for the thrill of it, authorities didn’t take it lightly and sentenced him to five years in prison.
Additionally, known for many tricks, one of Mitnick’s notable techniques was social engineering, a concept he helped popularize. It involves manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information. For example, when targeting Motorola, Mitnick simply called and cleverly convinced the security manager to provide their username and password. Meanwhile, after serving times Mitnick has now transformed into a respected white-hat hacker, utilizing his unique skill set to assist companies vulnerable to cyberattacks.
2. John “Captain Crunch” Draper
Hackers Who Wrote History
John Thomas Draper, better known by his aliases Captain Crunch, Crunch, or Crunchman, is an American computer programmer who gained fame as a phone phreak. He is highly recognized in the computer programming realm as well as in the hacking and security community and he is also one of the oldest living top hackers who wrote history.
John Draper, an early computer hacker, played a significant role in shaping the field before it gained mainstream recognition. Though he did not create the fourth programming language, however, he implemented it and created the first Apple word processor called “Easy Writer.”
During the 1970s, Draper became a pioneer in bypassing technical barriers and developing innovative techniques. He engaged in “phone phreaking,” a practice that allowed individuals to make free calls on analog telephones using a device known as the Blue Box. By manipulating analog tone sequences, he enabled users to initiate long-distance and international calls without charge. Adding to his achievement as one of the hackers who wrote history, many movies have been made such as “The Secret History of Hacking 2001” “Hackers Wanted 2009” and “Hackers: Wizards of the Electronic Age 1985” among others to celebrate his contribution to the computing world.
3. Steve Wozniak
The World’s Most Famous and Best Hackers
Steve Wozniak is an American innovator known for his contributions to technology and philanthropy. He is also the co-founder of the multi-billion dollar cooperation Apple alongside Steve Jobs. Woz as he is popularly called, is an electronics engineer, computer scientist, and computer programmer, with a passion for inventing new solutions but what you don’t know is that the famous founder was a hacker once before the journey changed, decades ago.
Wozniak started his business journey by developing an illicit phone-hacking circuit board. In 1971, Wozniak stumbled upon an article called “Secrets of the Little Blue Box” by Ron Rosenbaum, which explained how to manipulate telephone networks to make free long-distance calls. Intrigued, Wozniak and his friend Steve Jobs, built their own blue box and sold copies to fellow students at Berkeley. This venture gave them the confidence to embark on something bigger, leading to the birth of Apple.
4. Michael Calce (MafiaBoy)
Most Famous Hackers in History
Michael Calce is definitely one of the hackers who wrote history because he did what most people at the age he did what he did could not have done. In February 2000, the 15 years old Michael Calce, aka “Mafiaboy,” discovered a way to control networks of university computers. Using this power, he launched a disruptive attack on major websites like Yahoo, Dell, eBay, CNN, and Amazon. This event shocked cyber crime investors and internet supporters, raising concerns about the safety of online data. As a result, governments swiftly prioritized the development of cybercrime legislation.
His hacking attack on the big conglomerate companies was what actually, prompted companies and the government to take drastic steps to make changes in legislation. Today, Michael is working as a white hat hacker, helping companies protect themselves from online threats through cybersecurity pen-testing and raising awareness about online security.
5. Kevin Poulsen
Most Notorious Hackers in History
In 1983, when he was just 17 years old, Poulsen, using the alias Dark Dante, hacked into the Pentagon’s computer network known as ARPANET. Although he was caught, the government decided not to prosecute him due to his minor status at the time and let him off on a warning. Poulsen however, didn’t take the warning seriously and continued hacking.
In 1988, he hacked a federal computer and accessed files related to the deposed president of the Philippines. Poulsen went underground when authorities discovered his activities. During his time on the run, he continued hacking and exposing secrets, even hacking a radio station contest in 1990 to win a brand-new Porsche.
Eventually, Poulsen was arrested and banned from using computers for three years. After serving his time, he then turned his skills toward positive purposes, by becoming a white hat hacker and journalist writing for popular publications such as Wired and The Daily Beast, focusing on cyber security and web-related socio-political issues.
He contributed to various projects alongside prominent hackers, including the development of the open-source software SecureDrop (originally known as DeadDrop) with Adam Swartz and Jim Dolan.
6. Aaron Swartz
Famous Ethical Hackers The World Has Ever Known
Aaron Swartz was a notable figure in the tech world, he co-founded Reddit and gained attention as a hacktivist. However, he faced legal trouble in 2011 when accused of hacking into MIT’s network to access JSTOR academic data. The charges escalated to federal counts of wire fraud and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, carrying severe penalties.
Meanwhile, Swartz tragically chose not to participate in a plea bargain and later took his own life. Recognizing his contributions, the Internet Hall of Fame posthumously honored Swartz for his work in founding online groups like Demand Progress and their advocacy against the Online Privacy Act. Additionally, his life has inspired the movies such as “The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz 2014” “Killswitch 2014” “Steal This Film – Part One 2006” and many more.
7. Gary McKinnon
World Famous Computer Hackers
In a world of hackers, Gary McKinnon is definitely a name to reckon with and he gained popularity by pulling one of the biggest hacking down by a single person or a group in history. Between February 2001 and March 2002, Gary McKinnon gained media attention for carrying out a significant military computer hack. He accessed NASA and other defense websites, causing damages of around $700,000 and disrupting supply lines and communication. McKinnon left messages criticizing the security measures, stating “Your security is crap.
His motive however was to uncover information about UFOs and technologies that could benefit the public. Despite facing potential charges and a lengthy prison sentence in the United States, the United Kingdom blocked his extradition, and he was not convicted of a crime.
8. Albert Gonzalez
Famous Hackers That Got Caught
When talking about one of the best hackers in the world, Gonzalez is definitely the name that will come to your mind. He was too good to the point that the government deemed him too valuable to be sent to prison to do time, instead, he was employed to work for them.
Gonzalez, known as “soupnazi,” his hacking journey by leading a group of computer enthusiasts in his Miami high school who were branded as miscreants. Meanwhile, by the age of 22, he was already a computer expert and have committed a series of crimes mostly, debit card fraud in what you would call a criminal marketplace called Shadowcrew.com, and gained recognition as one of its top hackers and moderators stealing millions of card accounts.
To avoid imprisonment, he cooperated with the Secret Service and decided to work for them as an informant, leading to the arrest of many Shadowcrew members. Additionally, however, while working as an informant, Gonzalez continued his criminal activities. Teaming up with accomplices, he targeted various companies like OfficeMax, Dave and Buster’s, and Boston Market, stealing over 180 million payment card accounts.
The New York Times Magazine highlighted his 2005 breach on US retailer TJX as the initial large-scale data breach involving credit information. Utilizing a simple SQL injection technique, Gonzalez and his team exploited vulnerabilities in corporate networks, resulting in an estimated $256 million stolen from TJX alone. During his sentencing in 2015, the federal prosecutor described the extent of Gonzalez’s harm to individuals as unmatched.
9. Anonymous
Hackers Who Made History
Anonymous is an online international collective of “hacktivists” that originated from the anonymous imageboard, 4chan. Initially engaging in trolling activities, they gradually shifted towards socially and politically motivated actions. They are famous for conducting cyberattacks on governments, institutions, and corporations. They are what you would call Internet vigilantes as they work to expose secrets of the government and persons sometimes for the good of the people.
Meanwhile, despite arrests, of some of the known members of the Anonymous group which was founded in 2003 by Aubrey Cottle the government has not been able to stop their operation because it is a decentralized group without a leader. So that means even if they are leaderless, the structure persists, leading to cyberattacks on governments and corporations in the name of social justice.