CNN Says Chat Rooms Are a Haven for Hackers

MiTEG writes "CNN is carrying an article about IRC and how it aids "hackers" with their mischief. There are some alarming quotes from Bruce Schneier, CTO of Counterpane Technologies, such as "people who are anti-big-corporation are going to be more likely to use something like IRC"." Yeah, if they ever hung out in our chatroom, they'd lock us all up for abusing Kurt the Pope.

Comments

Also used by 'hackers'

[Raedwald]

And fresh reports say that 'hackers' also use e-mail, telephones and postal services. Shut them all down!

Shocking!

[TheLocustNMI]

this just in -- dancefloors, bars, other public settings rumored to be HACKER FREE!

Re:Telephone System A Heaven for Criminals

[bareminimum]

No, they actually sit in cafes, bars, restaurants and other public places and ... TALK.

Brought to you by citizens for a mute and honest society.

And while we're on the subject...

[Cinnibar CP]

"A lot more credit card numbers are stolen than ever used, but you should assume that right now, in your wallet, there's a credit card number that has been stolen off the Net."

You should ALSO assume that your wife is cheating on you. And you're about to be fired. And someone is monitoring you. Constantly. We even know what brand of socks you're wearing.

Re:Nice headline.

[zCyl]

Ok, do this over IRC, and you're a criminal - do it with a website, spyware, or spam, and you're a business.

Of course, given that the current definition of criminal is "one who does not make campaign contributions."

Other forms of communication

[red_dragon]

Some other media that the CNN article forgot to mention:

• Smoke
• Flash lights
• Morse code
• CB/Ham radio
• Phones
• Pen and paper
• Station wagons full of magnetic tape/CDs/DVDs

Re:Telephone System A Heaven for Criminals

[ReelOddeeo]

Criminals that want to organize any criminal actions are known to use the telephone system to communicate!

Criminals wanting to conspire to commit criminal action are known to sit in corporate boardrooms in closed, secret conferences.

Check your wallet.

[MongooseCN]

...but you should assume that right now, in your wallet, there's a credit card number that has been stolen off the Net."

Opens up wallet.

OMG! He's right! Someone stole a CC number off the Internet and put it in my wallet! These hackers are good!

Re:This is news?

[arnie_apesacrappin]

To badly quote Norm MacDonald, "Breaking news from the scientific journal DUH!"

Other places hackers hang out:

• malls
• coffee shops
• schools

CNN might want to investigate these places as well. Inside sources from CNN also tell me that these things called "newsgroups" exist. Appearantly, these "newsgroups" allow people to exchange "news", which according to CNN sources is a "code word" for "illegal activities", and is a new sweeping trend in the scary hacker underworld.

Also, staring at the sun can cause blindness.

Re:This is news?

[richardbowers]

I thought the only people on IRC were FBI agents pretending to be 14 year old girls. There are hackers there, too?

Re:CNN is quality media

[MaxVlast]

Mr. Babbage and Mrs. Lovelace might be surprised to read your post.

Of course, they'd be surprised by a CRT. Let alone TCP.