So, I pick my 13 year old step son's ipod up to take it away from my 3 year old, and notice that his wallpaper is the logo for the hacker group anonymous. I decide to snoop around and find that he is keeping his browser history cleared, but he forgot to close a search window where he was looking for port scan apps. Now, I am not a computer expert, but I do know enough to be concerned since I know that port scans are used to exploit networks sometimes, and with the combination of the anonymous logo and the search, I suspect he might be up to something. For those of you involved in network security, am I off base with my concern, or should I watch a little closer to see what he might be up to?
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Network security guys, come in please.
- Thread starter nso123
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Well... Sounds like he's working on becoming a script-kiddie (wanna be hacker). If he's looking at that stuff he's probably looking to do some ARP-Spoofing/SSLStrip/etc. to browse your neighbors networks (computers) as a man in the middle attack. This is an instant felony and if he has too Google it from an Iphone he's not smart enough to not get caught. Especially if he tries it somewhere where people know what to look for (logs) like at his school/etc.
Might consider clipping his wings or if you're willing maybe set up a private network (your own) that he can "hack" as doing any of the above is not illegal if it's your own network/computers.
Might consider clipping his wings or if you're willing maybe set up a private network (your own) that he can "hack" as doing any of the above is not illegal if it's your own network/computers.
I believe you can purchase "parent apps" that will not let him know you are tracking him, and see what he is up to. Chances are he is clearing his history so his mom, or even you, won't see all the porn he has been looking at, I mean he is getting to that age.
If he is doing something possibly illegal, like hacking, then you squash that shit right away. I would hate to see another young kids life screwed because of a stupid felony they got as a youngster.
If he is doing something possibly illegal, like hacking, then you squash that shit right away. I would hate to see another young kids life screwed because of a stupid felony they got as a youngster.
I'm a software engineer for the DoD maybe he just has an interest because of what he sees on the news? Turn his curiosity in a positive direction... Bring it out in the open and discuss find out what his motive is. If indeed his intentions are malicious and he is successful it could affect the entire family and he needs to know that.
I second the thought on the pursuance of becoming a script kiddie and the needing to set him straight because its not like it used to be out there. Back in the day people could get away with just browsing networks and poking around, but now those people are the ones protecting their own stuff with better knowledge, laws, and tools. Depending on the relationship the "parent secret spying apps" could do more harm if they are found and break all trust instead of getting to the root of the issue which is curiosity. I would suggest talking to him and trying to set him on the 'white hat' path "ethical hackers." It's not as cool as having a 2600 original member tattoo but it pays the bills and allows you to retire by 40 or sooner. Nurturing his curiosity of computers and networks will do him the best in the end as long as he doesn't fudge it up now.
If you go the scare approach there are plenty of cases where you can show the repercussions of the actions and life today would totally suck if you could never touch a computer again. But to that note there is also tons of examples of good hackers that make tons of money testing network security and those jobs will only be in more demand later on. The one thing I would do first is make sure to check out the PC for Trojan ware and malware. A ton of those script kiddie tools that are free for the pledge's infect the host PC and take control of it in the background and use it for their own intentions and it all traces back to your IP. They also like to spread to everything on the network, not trying to scare ya but it happens all the time. I spent a better portion of a week cleaning up a mess from the Boston bombing video virus for a company that had a so called full time IT Department, all because an admin was logged in and became infected.
And yea he's probably clearing the history so you don't see him in the Motivational Pic's 2.0 thread lol
If you go the scare approach there are plenty of cases where you can show the repercussions of the actions and life today would totally suck if you could never touch a computer again. But to that note there is also tons of examples of good hackers that make tons of money testing network security and those jobs will only be in more demand later on. The one thing I would do first is make sure to check out the PC for Trojan ware and malware. A ton of those script kiddie tools that are free for the pledge's infect the host PC and take control of it in the background and use it for their own intentions and it all traces back to your IP. They also like to spread to everything on the network, not trying to scare ya but it happens all the time. I spent a better portion of a week cleaning up a mess from the Boston bombing video virus for a company that had a so called full time IT Department, all because an admin was logged in and became infected.
And yea he's probably clearing the history so you don't see him in the Motivational Pic's 2.0 thread lol
Might be a cool looking wall paper and appeal to him. Port scans are one thing - heck any ol mac OSX has a built in app that can port scan from the factory.
Having the knowledge and understanding of what those ports are and how they work etc. - now we are talking. You may want to snoop
around a little bit more and/or keep you eye out/on - lots of tools and utilities to be had that allow you to instantly become a "hacker" and only knowing
what the port numbers are for say services like netbios (137/tcp, 138/tcp, 139/tcp) or any other "service" ports. Breaking into somebody's system
is like tossing a brick in their window or busting down the front door - that can get you in a lot of hot water. You are not off base imho.
Having the knowledge and understanding of what those ports are and how they work etc. - now we are talking. You may want to snoop
around a little bit more and/or keep you eye out/on - lots of tools and utilities to be had that allow you to instantly become a "hacker" and only knowing
what the port numbers are for say services like netbios (137/tcp, 138/tcp, 139/tcp) or any other "service" ports. Breaking into somebody's system
is like tossing a brick in their window or busting down the front door - that can get you in a lot of hot water. You are not off base imho.
I let him know that hacking will get him in a ton of unwanted negative attention. Find out if he is interested in computer networking and security. If he is I would try to get him setup with cyber patriot which is a high school level program.
https://www.facebook.com/CyberPatriot
CyberPatriot Announces 2014 National Championship Winners - Press Release - Digital Journal
"Cybersecurity events--most of them attacks--are in the news every single day. And as cyber threats to our nation continue to grow in sophistication and frequency, we absolutely must develop the next generation of cyber defenders to defeat those threats. Our CyberPatriot competitors have demonstrated throughout this season that they have the skills to meet that challenge. Congratulations to them all!"
https://www.facebook.com/CyberPatriot
CyberPatriot Announces 2014 National Championship Winners - Press Release - Digital Journal
"Cybersecurity events--most of them attacks--are in the news every single day. And as cyber threats to our nation continue to grow in sophistication and frequency, we absolutely must develop the next generation of cyber defenders to defeat those threats. Our CyberPatriot competitors have demonstrated throughout this season that they have the skills to meet that challenge. Congratulations to them all!"
We all did that how do you think you become a hacker or a security expert. Knowledge certainly doesn't fly into your head out of the blue and certainly there are no official schools for it. At least he has interest into exploring how stuff works and port scanner certainly isn't some dangerous contraband but a simple tool. People all start having negative thoughts perhaps he wants to check out your own network if there is some virus or other malware on your computers which keep open ports or send data somewhere (like your new LED TV 
).
Why not talk about it...
).Why not talk about it...
I'm a complete techno-tard, but I"m with the guys advocating that you fuel his interest and channel it in the right direction. A kid with the aptitude to do sneaky shit on a computer at 13 has a very bright future if he colors (mostly) within the lines.
Everyone from the unknown/unnamed government agencies to corporations need people with that skill set. Explain that he can make a fantastic living doing something he loves if he goes in the right direction, or he can end up getting sodomized in federal prison if he goes the other route
Everyone from the unknown/unnamed government agencies to corporations need people with that skill set. Explain that he can make a fantastic living doing something he loves if he goes in the right direction, or he can end up getting sodomized in federal prison if he goes the other route
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