They enjoy teaching younger or more inept .
hackers and often share stories and information on their victims. When a hacker learns of a computer at somewhere like Los Alamos National Labs, they want to learn what the computer system does, who uses it, what it is used for, and to gain the peer recognition and possible acceptance in exclusive hacker groups. Indeed, most hackers do not break into a computer system to gain profit or to sabotage it because many feel this malicious hacking is wrong.
One's house can be burglarized even though they leave the door open, but much of what is a computer crime depends on the statues of many states. Some states require a .
computer owner to not only secure the system, but also have a notice that unauthorized user's are not allowed on the system. Arguing that many hackers are exposing system weaknesses and helping our youth to develop computing skills is like an endorsement. Many of the hackers are smart young people from middle class homes, so people are hesitant to label them as criminals. The victims have to be considered because they are left with trying to fix the intrusions and the cost of repairing any damages. Walking onto someone's property is not burglary and accessing an unauthorized system does not constitute software vandalism, so the consequences must be made to match the act.
The major problem lies with malicious hackers, who are routinely involved in other crimes such as credit card fraud, software piracy, and telecommunications fraud. In fact, the cost of telecommunication fraud exceeded one billion dollars in 2002.
The Computer Crime and Security Survey received 503 responses from U.S. corporations, government agencies, financial institutions, medical institutions, and universities. Unfortunately, cyber crime is on the rise for the third year in a row. Ninety percent of those participating found computer security intrusions within the last year.