If you didn't give RealPlayer permission to access the Internet when you set up ZoneAlarm, every attempt made by it to pass through the firewall will be blocked, and an alert will be given. After all, it sounds like a bit of a hassle. Hackers Anonymous Hackers are out to either wreak havoc, steal data or use your machine as a jumping point to access another machine. Unless you are a famous scientist with a secret formula for saving the world, it is unlikely anyone is going to go after your data, though they may if you telecommute and have sensitive material relating to your company stored on your computer. The more likely scenario is that a hacker would want to use your machine to launch attacks against other machines, thereby setting a false trail once their exploits are discovered and traced.
Hackers often view their work as glamorous and daring, and they love to brag about their exploits.
Their confession rate to investigators and the authorities, however, is dismal. This article was originally printed in Into IT , a publication of ITServices at the University of British Columbia. It is posted on the Web for accessibility and archival purposes, and is not updated after publication. It may be reprinted or adapted for academic non-profit purposes without permission, provided that Into IT and the author are clearly acknowledged.