Student Computer Security and Hacker Essay

Student Computer Security and Hacker Essay Student: Computer Security and Hacker Essay Honor Among Thieves and The Hacker Ethic - Information Technology Essay The rights of a person have been well defined by law and sanctions such as the United Nations, however how are they able to protect the rights of these people when they are on a un moderated medium such as the internet? A question like this brings up many grey areas of the law that have allowed the proliferation of what seems to be the most feared type of person on the internet – often referred to as Hackers. To be hacked into means that your security measures have been compromised and that they have access to your information system. With the increasing dependence of computers to store sensitive data ranging from credit cards to correspondence, the need to protect the users of these computer sytems rises also. In order to work on society to becoming better managed in protecting their interests, work needs to be done on not so much the hardware involved, but the peoples attitudes towards them. Even if a Computer was in the ideal world properly protected, a slip of the passwords or allowed physical access can bring the whole security subsystem down. All of the worked up controversy has to be put away that they (hackers) are the most powerful computer users that exist as well. If there was an Information system developed involving a large network of computer systems, who would be the most potentially dangerous person? The hacker infiltrating the system sequentially, or the System Administrator that oversees the entire maintenance of the systems with a completeness of this view much like the Popular series â€Å"Big Brother†. In this tv show, a group of people are put into a house that is a spiers bug dream – with about 120 Cameras and other nifty inventions, the every move of the person is tracked. You would think that such would be an outrage, yet this is not the case. Being the highest rating show by far on that network, The show can pull millions of dollars each time it is shown to the millions of viewers tuning in. The reason this has been mentioned is because a virus or a large â€Å"break in† by a hacker receives similar attention. The â€Å"Mellisa/I love you† virus has been the most recent and had the largest effect of any other virus before it. Reported on the news, and reaching practically everyone, this virus spread itself by embedding itself on the infected machine, and sends out emails to everyone on the persons address book on the computer. With an exponential type of effect such as this, the virus could spread to millions of people in days (and it did).If this virus had other intentions though, like data collection on the computer and sending it back to a central source, the level of profitable information received back would rival any other source of voluntary collected information in the world. When a virus is found one way or another on a common users system though, the first reaction is almost knee jerk like, being on how to remove the present virus. If there was potential to receive a virus in the first place, I feel that how it had became an problem in the first place needs to be addressed just as importantly.If a company were to do this, that is obviously unethical as their means are for profit. It is a different kettle of fish when a hacker presents a similar situation. The aurora of a hacker is a mystical one that has eluded many of their victims. To say that they are rude and arrogant would be far from the truth. A well-known hacker by the name of Kevin Mitnick bared these ethics out to the court in what appears to be a quite truthful testimony. He aired his previous hacking experience was mostly of social engineering (using pretences of other people to intimidate low level employee’s to do what they will) and that security systems were much easier to bypass by using this method. All of the time he had spent hacking also, he said in his testimony as not to make a single dime at all1 This is far in contrast to something

Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium

Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium Evolution takes a very long time to become visible. Generation after generation can come and go before any changes in a species are observed. There is some debate in the scientific community as to how quickly evolution occurs. The two generally accepted ideas for rates of evolution are called gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Gradualism Based on geology and the findings of James Hutton and Charles Lyell, gradualism states that large changes are actually the culmination very small changes that build up over time. Scientists have found evidence of gradualism in  geologic processes, which the  Prince Edward Island Department of education  describes as the ...processes at work in the earths landforms and surfaces. The mechanisms involved, weathering, erosion, and plate tectonics, combine processes that are in some respects destructive and in others constructive. Geologic processes are long, slow changes that occur over thousands or even millions of years. When Charles Darwin first began formulating his theory of evolution, he adopted this idea. The fossil record is evidence that supports this view. There are many transitional fossils that show structural adaptations of species as they transform into new species. Proponents of gradualism say that the geologic time scale helps show how species have changed over the different eras since life began on Earth. Punctuated Equilibrium Punctuated equilibrium, by contrast, is based on the idea that since you cannot see changes in a species, there must be very long periods when no changes occur. Punctuated equilibrium asserts that evolution occurs in short bursts followed long periods of equilibrium.  Put another way, long periods of equilibrium (no change) are punctuated by short periods of rapid change. Proponents of punctuated equilibrium included such scientists as  William Bateson, a strong opponent of Darwins views,  who argued that species do not evolve gradually. This camp of scientists believes that change happens very rapidly with long periods of stability and no change in between. Usually, the driving force of evolution is some sort of change in the environment that necessitates a need for quick change, they argue. Fossils Key to Both Views Strangely enough, scientists in both camps cite the fossil record as evidence to support their views. Proponents of punctuated equilibrium point out that there are many  missing links  in the fossil record. If gradualism is the correct model for the rate of evolution, they argue, there should be fossil records that show evidence of slow, gradual change. Those links never really existed, to begin with, say the proponents of punctuated equilibrium, so that removes the issue of missing links in evolution. Darwin also pointed to fossil evidence that showed slight changes in the body structure of the species over time, often leading to  vestigial structures. Of course, the fossil record is incomplete, leading to the problem of the missing links. Currently, neither hypothesis is considered more accurate. More evidence will be needed before gradualism or punctuated equilibrium is declared the actual mechanism for the rate of evolution.

Breafly abour Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Breafly abour Global Warming - Essay Example This study demonstrates that this effects has led to low agricultural productions which is the source of gross domestic production (GDP) and therefore the global warming effects are depriving most third world countries of their income obtained from agricultural activities. The government has a key role to play in counteracting global warming effects and this is enacting laws that penalize violators of global warming based laws. The political will of the government is to impose legitimacy and authority of the orchestrated policy. On the other hand the public has their role also to play to counter global warming effects. Such roles include; implementing environmental protection policies such policies include using public transport such as trains as much as possible in order to reduce the number of personal cars that emit fossil fuel to the environment, companies reducing their factory exhaust fumes and conserving electricity use by using energy saving bulb. It was interesting in reading how global warming occurs when the sun’s rays penetrate the depleted ozone layer. How the sun rays mix with the green house gases that prevent them from bouncing back to the earths atmosphere.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Research Paper - 1

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Research Paper Example Her lover Reverend Dimmesdale whom she had chosen to protect later confessed at the gallows where Hester was punished earlier and dies. Chillingworth, who was Hesters husband, also dies leaving Hester and pearl alone. After several years, Hester died and buried near Dimmesdales’s grave; they shared the gravestone with writings â€Å""On a field, sable. The letter A, gules" (Hawthorne). In Chapter one, the prison door is symbolic, it is introduced in this chapter, and it is used when a crowd of people was standing outside the prison. It is built with heavy oak and is studded with iron spikes. There is a rose bush that grows near the same prison door; this shows how nature is kind despite being criminal it is said to provide â€Å"sweet moral blossom† (Hawthorne). The character Hester Prynne is introduced in chapter two. Sin, social order, and knowledge are clearly shown. The writer uses the symbol to depict sin, and that sinner must be punished in public according to puritan customs and belief. Hester’s punishment was to be an example to other people who were planning to commit adultery. However, only the woman was punished, and the man left, the women did not seek to pity, Hester instead they condemned her as a sinner, an adulterer. They saw her as a great sinner, they never imagined they being sinners. Hester fights it by accepting the condemnation for the need for love after his husband going along with the possibility of being dead. The perfect embroidery of the â€Å"A† letter on her dress was a sign of acceptance the women saw it as Hester was proud of the sin she had committed. She accepted the reality rather than resisting since her child was the fruit of the act. Resisting it was like opposing her child, Pearl. Hester from the beginning was different from other women she was said to be beautiful, tall and radiates natural dignity, unlike other women. The third Chapter introduces Hester punishment as an act against humanity; the puritan order makes

Minority Report: From Story to Screen Essay -- Movies Film Comparison

Minority Report: From Story to Screen Adaptations are never carbon copies. A prime example is Philip K. Dick’s short story and Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film, Minority Report. The structure of the storytelling is indeed different as well as other key elements. The narrative transforms its structure into a more episodic approach when brought to the screen. Words on paper take on a new identity when brought to life on a visual basis. Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report, written in 1956, was ahead of its time. The short story explores the consequences of technology and science and how the technology echoes the present state of society. Both the story and the film emphasize the same basic themes, however the actual plot is almost completely diverse. The film takes place around the year 2054. For five years (six in the film), the Pre-Crime Unit has successfully made murder a thing of the past. Their astounding technology is credited to three pre-cogs. These â€Å"idiot† pre-cogs identify killers before they commit their crimes, drastically cutting the crime rate by â€Å"ninety-nine and a decimal point eight percent† (in the film this rate was zero) (Dick 74). However, this infallible system runs amuck when Commander Anderton, played by Tom Cruise, is accused of a future murder. Anderton finds himself with only 24 hours (36 in the film) to discover who set him up and in the process, flee fr om the hands of the authority he once governed. If he fails, Anderton will fall victim to the perfect system he co-created. Both the story and the film are suspenseful and ask the question, â€Å"Is pre-crime justified?† The notion of innocent until proven guilty is virtually discarded. The accused murderers are based upon pure metaphysics... ...short story, it would be pretty dull. The timeliness of Minority Report is uncanny, given the current situation in politics. Philip K. Dick’s short story emerged in 1956. The script for the film, written by Jon Cohen and Scott Frank, was completed well in advance of the shock of the post-9/11 terror frenzy. Dick’s intuitions of pre-crime enforcement have been brought to the big screen at just the moment when his seemingly sixth-sense is starting to be seen in real life. Both the story and the film warn the future of society of the suffocating effects of an encroaching police state. Works Cited Dick, Philip K. Minority Report and Other Classic Stories. New York City: Citadel Press, 1987. 71-102. Minority Report. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton. DVD. Twentieth Century Fox and Dreamworks, 2002.

Compare and Contrast the characters of Ralph and Jack in the first and last chapters in Lord of the Flies

Lord of the flies is a novel about a group of boys who are lost on an island in the middle of the ocean. It is written by William Golding. Two of the key characters in the novel are Ralph and Jack, they have completely dissimilar characteristics and this essay will compare those two characters. The first time we see the two characters of Ralph and Jack contrast is in chapter one. The readers read that when Ralph first appeared on the island he was wearing his school sweater. Slowly because of the heat he took it off and ‘trailed it†¦ from one hand'. The fact that Ralph shows no respect for his clothes tells the reader that he is an ordinary school boy who does not yet care about his appearance. As a result of this he is not self conscious and thereby innocent. In contrast, Jack and his choir's, `bodies, from throat to ankle, were hidden by black cloaks which bore a long silver cross†¦`. Their dark clothes are menacing and hint about them being savages in the future. Their clothing is extremely unsuitable for their new surroundings and they soon take them off. Jack is also clearly the leader of the choir, as he is wearing a golden cap. He over exercises his authority and hurls orders at his choir boys. The readers also work out from this first chapter that Ralph was brought up in the Home Counties. Golding writes that Ralph, ‘†¦jerked his stockings with an automatic gesture that made the jungle seem for a moment like the Home Counties'. We can assume that Ralph, coming from the Home Counties, was brought up in a middle class background. This `automatic gesture` also tells the reader that he is naturally reassuring even in these strange set of circumstances. His natural reassurance is shown again later on when, ‘he saw two little-uns and, not having any idea own appearance , wondered why they screamed and ran`. He calm nature in these bizarre events show how innocent and immature he is. Ralph's immatureness is shown further when he finds out that there are no grown ups on the island, `the delight of realised ambition came over him. In the middle of the scar he stood on his head`. Ralph celebrates the fact that there are no adults on the island by standing on his head. Ralph standing on his head symbolises how their lives have been reversed. It also shows what an immature and innocent character Ralph is. Jack's attitude is completely different, he thinks because he has authority back in school it should be transferred to the island. He arrogantly says that he should be chief, â€Å"because I'm chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C-sharp†. We constantly see Jack trying to be the omnipotent leader. He even `protests` against democracy. One way in which both the characters of Ralph and Jack are similar in chapter is the way in which they treat Piggy. Ralph at first ignored Piggy for, `when the fat boy waited to be asked his name in turn but this offer of acquaintance was not made†¦`, Ralph did not care for him at this point and finds him rather tiresome. In-fact he even mocks him by teasing him about his â€Å"Ass-mar†. Ralph considers Piggy to be inferior to him as he is middle-class whilst Piggy is lower-class. Jack also hated him from the beginning, he constantly bullies him by saying things like, â€Å"shut up fatty† in-fact he did not even give him a chance. Jack bullies Piggy to make himself seem important, this shows to the reader that Jack is a bully at heart – this unfortunately does not change as the novel progresses. Ralph also betrays Piggy by telling Jack that his, â€Å"His real name's Piggy†. Ralph betrays Piggy's trust and confidence. Ralph acts in this way to gain popularity with Jack and his cronies as they are upper-class and he is middle-class. Therefore he looks up to them. Piggy being from a working class background finds life sociably difficult. In comparison Ralph and Jack, who obviously come from a more educated and wealthy background, automatically see themselves as superior. Piggy is also physically frail, because of his asthma, and needs Ralph to constantly look after him on the island. Ralph immaturity is shown again when in his eagerness to swim he runs and, `in a few moments the fat boy's grunts were right behind him†¦`. Ralph's enthusiasm to swim causes him to leave Piggy behind. Ralph chooses fun over common sense, whilst Piggy tries to be sensible. Ralph immaturity is shown when he, ‘stood there naked looking at the dazzling beach and sea'. Ralph shedding his clothes tells the reader that he is still very much a child and is not worried or self conscious about what others may think of him. Ralph's nakedness also tells us that he is innocent and childlike; as a result he is very naive. Being naked in `paradise`, metaphorically reminds the reader of Adam and Eve being naked in the Garden of Eden. If Jack had been around he would have thought it maybe gay or babyish to strip naked in front of everyone because he did not know such innocence as Ralph did. We see that Jack is much more mature and less innocent then Ralph. However, the readers also see that Jack is still very much a school boy who possesses fear and morals. We read that `Jack's face was white under the freckles. He noticed that he still held the knife aloft†¦`. Jack cannot bring himself to kill the pig; he is still a civilised school boy who is squeamish about blood. Ralph immaturity is shown further when he shows disrespect towards normal aspects of democracy. Piggy constantly warns Ralph that he should be â€Å"Careful! You'll break it!† Ralph is warned how fragile the conch is by Piggy and is irritated by the warning. The conch is symbolic of order, rules and democracy. Therefore Ralph's careless attitude towards it shows he does not yet understand the great importance of democracy and civilisation. This also shows that Ralph does not appreciate the good value of common-sense. Jack also shows no appreciation for democracy as he protested when they voted for a leader. However, this is out of pure greed of power – not immaturity. In the last chapter of the novel, Ralph's character is shown to have taken a complete metamorphosis. A clear example of this is when Ralph exclaims, â€Å"How could you listen for naked feet if you're splashing around in the water?†. In the first chapter Ralph swam in the water without a care in the world. However, now things have changed, Ralph is petrified for his life since Jack and Roger are trying to kill him. These painted savages will do anything Jack or Roger tell them to do, out of fear of being put to death. It seems that terror and danger has changed the immature outlook which Ralph had in life that we see in Chapter One. We also see that the way the other characters treat Ralph has also altered from the beginning of the novel. The younger children who admired and loved him previously in Chapter One, ignored and mistreated him. This is shown when, ‘he saw two little-uns and †¦ wondered why they screamed and ran`. Ralph has now become too immersed in his emotions due to the sorrows of his current life. This makes Ralph an unrecognisable figure for the younger children. In Chapter One the whole island was on the whole united in their aims. Now, because of Jack and Ralph's rift, the island is now split into two territories. Jack and Ralph each have their `end of the island`. This split lets Jack party and bully the `little-uns` in peace without Ralph and Rodger's interference. We also see that Ralph's character in Chapter One whose, `†¦mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil`, has totally changed. He has transformed from being a young innocent child to one that is now wild and fears death at every corner. Ralph's experiences have taught him to be ruthless and not to be so trusting and naive. This is shown when he vents his anger at the pig's skull. Golding tells us that ‘he lashed out and cried out with loathing†¦'. Ralph destroys the pig's skull in the same way that Jack and Roger destroyed the conch. This represents both clans rejection of rules and democracy. The pig skull is the `lord of the flies` as it attracts flies. It also represents evil, so therefore when Ralph destroys it is considered as if he has removed most of the evilness from the island. In the last chapter Jack's hatred towards Ralph reaches its climax, â€Å"They (Jack and Roger) hate you Ralph. They're going to kill you†. Jack hates Ralph because Ralph just wants to be rescued, which means you need rules. However, Jack and Roger just want to be free and have no rules or democracy. In addition Jack also wants to kill Ralph because Ralph took away his leadership and as a result he is extremely jealous. Upon being rescued by a group of naval officers, ‘The officer inspected the little scarecrow in front of him. The kid needed a bath, a hair-cut, a nose wipe and a good deal of ointment'. The readers are reminded here that despite Ralph going through this horrible ordeal, he is still ultimately a child. This reminds the reader of Ralphs's character in Chapter One when he looked innocent and childlike and looked at everything with, `bright exciting eyes`. One could see how the events of the novel have changed Ralph's character. However, Golding's description of his appearance when he was found by the naval officers, remind the reader that he is still physically a child. In conclusion when comparing Jack and Ralph's characters in the first and last chapter in the novel, one can see that the main differences are that Jack is more conventional and conformist where Ralph is more easy going and a little rebellious who is always on the look out for adventure and danger. However, Ralph would like to be rescued by others where as Jack would like to make his own ‘gang' and would thrive on his own leadership.

The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe - 920 Words

Revenge is Bitter Sweet A friend is someone that is trustworthy, but what happens when that trust no longer exists? In â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† written by Edgar Allan Poe, Fortunato is about to find the answer to this question. On the surface, Montresor seems friendly with Fortunato, but deep down he feels nothing but hate for him. Could this hatred have an irrationality that only Montresor understands? In different ways, both of these men are proud and affluent, yet both have downfalls that will lead to a tragic ending. Edgar Allan Poe’s use of language contributes to the understanding of the dynamic between the two men. Although perceived differently, they both want the same thing; to satisfy the taste for something that has been long overdue. Poe has an eloquent way of reproducing great literary elements in the story, the theme of deception and revenge, is justified by the use of Irony and symbolism. â€Å"THE Thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge† (Poe 1). The first sentence supports the theme of revenge that is present throughout the story. One example that strengthens this belief occurs when Montresor tells Fortunato about the pipe of Amontillado that he has recently purchased. Fortunato’s surprised response is not necessarily directed towards Montresor, as he believes it is, but at the thought that the wine was bought in the midst of a carnival. However, Montresor takes this response as yetShow MoreRelatedThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe888 Words   |  4 PagesThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe In ?The Cask of Amontillado?, Edgar Allan Poe takes us on a trip into the mind of a mad man. Poe uses certain elements to convey an emotional impact. He utilizes irony, descriptive detail of setting, and dark character traits to create the search of sinful deceit. Poe also uses first person, where the narrator is the protagonist who is deeply involved. The purpose is to get the reader to no longer be the observer. He wants them to see with MontressorRead MoreThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe836 Words   |  3 Pagesqualities in the story. In the story many things are used as symbols such as the actual cask of amontillado, the trowel, the jester costume and the setting in which there is two in the story. Another literary technique used significantly in the story is irony. Irony is the expression of ones meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. In the short story â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† Montresor a very troubled man who plans to seek revenge on another man named FortunatoRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe And The Cask Of Amontillado1384 Words   |  6 PagesWhat makes Edgar Allan Poe work unique? Other than being a strange individual, Poe has become a remarkable literature writer. The Raven, Annabel Lee, and The Cask of Amontillado are just a few of Poe’s work that staples the theme of gothic literature. This essay will allow you to see the gothic elements Edgar Allan Poe uses through his most common poems. Gothic literature has many elements which play into its definition. The actual definition is a style of writing that is characterized by elementsRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe906 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† was written in 1846, by Edgar Allan Poe. Born in 1809, Poe never knew any of his parents. At the age of three, his mother died of tuberculosis, and his father deserted the family before he was born. Taking care of him was his foster parents in Richmond, Virginia. They loved Poe, but were not supportive of his decisions and kept Poe poor. Having debt and not being able to provide food and clothes for himself caused Poe to quit school. Later, heRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1555 Words   |  7 PagesIn his writing, Edgar Allan Poe has multiple uses of direct and indirect characterization. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor had rules such as â€Å"I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong† (Poe, 2). 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More than ha lf a century ago, Marshall McLuhan argued that though Poe was fascinated by evil, the evil that he had in mind was not that of Calvinism, but that of the split man and the split civilization. In general, McLuhan was right, but in this instance Calvinism, and its God, provided a darkRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe707 Words   |  3 PagesIn the short story of The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe writes in first person point of view from the perspective of Montresor who seeks revenge against Fortunato. Montresor began to develop the perfect plan for revenge. During the carnival season, Montresor meets with Fortunato and decides to implement his plan carefully through irony. Poe s story describes the murderer s mind which has lived as a memory of Fortunato s death for fifty years. Poe uses different types of irony and symbolismRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe985 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allen Poe is a well known author of short stories and poetry from the 19th century. He is known especially for his stories of horror and suspense. The Cask of Amontillado is one of his more famous pieces. The story follows the narrator, Montresor, as he exacts revenge on Fortunato. Montressor draws Fortunato into the wine cellar where eventually he chains Fortunato to the wall and encloses him inside it. Throughout the story the narrator continually proves that he is not the most reliable sourceRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1575 Words   |  7 Pagescommitted the perfect murder in just such a tale, â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado.† Montresor plots and kills an unwary friend/foe during carnival time for motives that are unclear. The author of this tale, Edgar Allan Poe, influenced by his somewhat tragic life and one of the most influential Gothic writers, uses symbolism and irony to show the multitude of complicated motives of the narrator in his famous horror story. Upon examining Edgar Allan Poe’s life, one is not surprised that he chooses to write