5 Times Hackers Shocked Us

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While technology is growing day by day, so are the ways to deteriorate it. Hacking is a mechanism that involves getting access to sensitive information such as organizational records, credit card information, bank accounts etc.

While small scale hacks such as malware and bot attacks don’t inflict much damage, large scale hacks can leave a company bankrupt within seconds.

Over the past few years, there have been many shocking hacks that shook the world showing the dirty and dangerous side of technology.

This is how 5 times hackers shocked us:

1. The Snowden Leak

One of the biggest hacks the world has ever seen was none other than by USA’s own NSA contractor, Edward Snowden. Snowden was a college dropout who made around $200k per year. In 2013, he contacted some of the well-known reporters working for firms like The Guardian and The Washington Post and revealed classified information to them so that they could show it to the whole world.

This information disclosed NSA's PRISM program which was about surveilling people via Google, Facebook, Twitter and other big tech companies. Although this program was said to be for security purposes but Snowden believed that it was being used for wrong means as well. Therefore, he leaked every single bit of information about the program and fled to Russia.

2. HBO Hack (Game Of Thrones)

In July, HBO’s servers were hacked by unknown people and two of the unreleased episodes were leaked before their due airtime. This inflicted a crushing blow to HBO.

The hackers claim to have at least 1,5 terabyte of HBO’s data along with some important information that can leave them devastated. They are using this to get money out of the channel, which is pretty common for hackers to do.

3. The Stuxnet Worm Which Damaged Iran’s Nuclear Program:

 

In 2010, a worm not more than a 100MB in size was passed into the nuclear system of Iran and cause havoc. The worm took over the control systems and revoked access from the concerned departments of Iran.

This chaos remained for more than seventeen months and managed to destroy more than 1000’s of uranium sample. It caused the Iranian authorities to doubt their own selves, their own work and it also cost them millions of dollars. When the worm was found, the code disclosed a small string which said “Stuxnet”.

4. 2014 Home Depot Hack

This hack involved stealing credit card information of trusted Home Depot customers who made transactions while purchasing stuff from the company. Around 50 million credit cards were skimmed by hackers and the damage was beyond repair.

5. JPMorgan Chase Hack In 2014

One of USA’s most trustworthy banks, JPMorgan, was digitally broken into by Russian hackers and sensitive information was stolen. It is said that no financial information was leaked, however, still, it is considered as one of the biggest hacks that shocked the world.

Many of the hackers are still free out there, and some are trying their luck with Canadian pardon process, but hacking is a crime that doesn’t have many ways out.

Comments

[Atlas Cesar]

Hah such relevant content here!

[Joe F]

Bicycle hack! Cut a sidewall? Tube bubbling out? Take a dollar bill fold it 3 times and place it along the cut in the tire. Make sure it stays in place as you inflate the tube. I've found 2 bills folded together works even better. No internet needed :)

[McBobby]

Number #6 - The WashCycle. First an advert that supports driver's who drive and drink, and now this. Topical much?

[contrarian]

McBobby, how much did you pay for today's edition of the WashCycle? Something's got to pay the bills.

[Crickey]

No link to the hacked HBO episodes? I want my money back.

[Riley]

Glad that WashCycle is upping the income stream from the blog but WTF is this an advert for? The DUI shark I get but this is just a sort of ramble. Whatever, the blog is valuable and since the number of commercial ads does seem to have fallen over the years I suppose it beats taking out a subscription.