What is Network Security. and Hacker Vs. Crackers:

Network security is a way to attempt to prevent unauthorized access to a network and its systems, but at the same time has to be balanced with the issues of allowing those who should and do have authorized access to do so in a reliable way. This then leads into the different levels that network security can be implemented along, and the various techniques for doing so, such as passwords or encryption. All of this will be examined along with other issues surrounding this topic, such as the costs and benefits of the various techniques. There have been well publicized examples of network security breaches that have taken place which show the importance of this topic. As the information superhighway continues to increase in use, and as issues such as online payments become a reality, network security will become increasingly important into the future.
According to the Computer Emergency Response Team, the number of computer intrusions has increased from 132 reported in 1989 to 2,341 cases reported in 1994. In 1991, Ernst & Young surveyed 1,271 North American companies, forty-five percent of which said they exchanged important information over public networks, or even the Internet. More than 50% reported that they experienced financial losses due to the insecurity of their data in the previous two years. Interestingly, in a survey of computer hackers, almost all of those that responded had been asked by corporations to conduct industrial espionage.

HACKERS VERSUS CRACKERS

Although most of us are familiar with the term hackers, at present, few have heard the term crackers.

Hackers "are people who simply love playing with computers". Hackers break into a system for fun, in order to point out potential security risks, or just because they are bored. They see it as a challenge and as an educational experience.

Crackers, on the other hand, is the "malicious subset of the hacker community". They break in, in order to wreak havoc, steal information and classified data, or commit fraud.For a large percentage of hackers, the accomplishment of security break-ins is a game of one-upmanship. Egos and the ability to brag about their abilities is the key to their addiction to hacking.

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