Computer Hackers Target Entertainers Home Computers

September 24, 2007; 05:00 AM
Los Angeles, CA - Computer hackers are the new paparazzi.  Hackers are now targeting entertainers.  In a hacker’s chat room, LIGATT Security has learned that hackers are targeting entertainers and their managers’ home computers.  Seeing how much money can be made from one paparazzi photograph, hackers now have a vested interest in all private photos, family pictures, nude photographs, personal and sexual video footage; they know that one picture can be sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars to tabloid newspapers all over the world.

Hackers find it easy to break into entertainer computers.  Common home users, not just entertainers, get high speed DSL or cable internet service installed in their homes; they plug them directly into their computers instead of a firewall that will help protect them.  A hacker will then use port scanning programs to scan IP addresses in certain areas such as Beverly Hills and Malibu, CA.  Once they scan the IP addresses, they can look for open ports on the entertainers computer (every computer has open ports), then they will use some type of exploit (http://cve.mitre.org/) to hack into the entertainers computer through that open port. Local hackers will drive around certain neighborhoods like the Hollywood Hills, and pick up all the wireless networks. Research shows that over 70% of people who purchase a wireless router do not turn on the security WPA or WEP encryption. And even if they do have the encryption turned on, a good hacker will use a program such as Aircrack to break their wireless encryption code within fifteen minutes.

Once the encryption code has been cracked, the hacker will start searching the hard drive for pictures and files. Some hackers will install Spyware on the entertainer’s computer so that everything the entertainer does on his computer will be emailed to the hacker.  What this  means is that all of their emails  that they send/receive, pictures, screen shots and bank account information will get emailed to the hacker.  This also includes song lyrics, new movie scripts, contracts, and even the beats to a new song. 

A lot of people think they are protected by programs like Norton Security or McAfee Security suites.  Although these suites help, they don’t make a computer 100% secure.  When a company, such as TJ Max, spent millions of dollars per year on computer security and still had a hacker break into its system stealing 45 million credit cards, what makes you think a $75 security suite is going to protect you?  The same way entertainers purchase security cameras for their homes, they could turn around spend less than $1,000 to protect their home computers. 

How do you know where your vulnerabilities are?  Start with a security audit just like big corporations do by having an outside auditing firm attempt to hack into their systems.  By doing this, vulnerabilities can be found and all holes patched.  Record companies and movie companies pay security guards to protect entertainers; in the same way, they should hire computer security companies to protect their client’s sensitive data.  Computer security is a specialized field.  Do not think your IT Manager can protect you from a computer hacker.

IT Managers are good at networking, but have no real training in computer security and  are not hackers.  In order to stop a hacker you are going to need a hacker.  LIGATT Security offers penetration test services starting at $500.00 for up to five computers. Penetration testing is having a Certified Ethical Hacker try to hack your computer system or network like a black hat (bad guy) would.  “This is not a job you’d hire geek squad to do” said Gregory Evans, Director of LIGATT Security.  LIGATT Security has conducted over 200 security audits this year for cities, banks, and entertainers with a 100% success rate.

About LIGATT Security

LIGATT Security is a premier Hi-Tech security company that continues to strive as a leader in computer security and CCTV surveillance.