Script kiddie: Difference between revisions

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{{Security-Hacking}}

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In hacker culture a '''script kiddie''' or '''skiddie''',<ref name="Reg01"/> (also known as ''skid'', ''script bunny'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spywareguide.com/term_show.php?id=92 |title=''Script bunny'' - definition|publisher=SpywareGuide.com}}</ref> ''script kitty'',<ref>Baldwin, Clare; Christie, Jim (July 9, 2009). [http://in.reuters.com/article/idINTRE5680CC20090709 "Cyber attacks may not have come from North Korea"]. San Francisco; Reuters.com.</ref>) are unskilled individuals who use [[scripting language|script]]s or programs developed by others to attack computer systems and networks and [[Website defacement|deface websites]]. It is generally assumed that script kiddies are juveniles who lack the ability to write sophisticated hacking programs or exploits on their own, and that their objective is to try to impress their friends or gain credit in computer-enthusiast communities.<ref name="zdnet">{{cite web| last=Lemos| first=Robert| date=July 12, 2000|url=http://www.zdnet.com/script-kiddies-the-nets-cybergangs-3002080125/|oldurl=http://www.zdnet.com/news/script-kiddies-the-nets-cybergangs/96163| publisher=[[ZDNet]]| title=Script kiddies: The Net's cybergangs| accessdate=2007-04-24}}</ref> The term is typically pejorative.

==Characteristics==

In a [[Carnegie Mellon]] report prepared for the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] in 2005, script kiddies are defined as <blockquote>"The more immature but unfortunately often just as dangerous exploiter of security lapses on the Internet. The typical script kiddy uses existing and frequently well known and easy-to-find techniques and programs or scripts to search for and exploit weaknesses in other computers on the Internet—often randomly and with little regard or perhaps even understanding of the potentially harmful consequences.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mead, Nancy R.; Hough, Eric D.; Stehney, Theodore R. III |date=May 16, 2006 |url=http://www.cert.org/archive/pdf/05tr009.pdf |title=Security Quality Requirements Engineering (SQUARE) Methodology CMU/SEI-2005-TR-009 |format=PDF |work=Carnegie Mellon University, DOD |publisher=CERT.org}}</ref></blockquote>

Script kiddies have at their disposal a large number of effective, easily downloadable malicious programs capable of breaching computers and networks.<ref name="zdnet"/> Such programs have included remote denial-of-service [[WinNuke]],<ref>{{cite book |author=Klevinsky, T. J. ; Laliberte, Scott; Gupta, Ajay |year=2002 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=31Kis_vaadwC&pg=PA409&lpg=PA409#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=Hack I.T.: security through penetration testing| publisher=[[Addison-Wesley]] |isbn=978-0-201-71956-7}}</ref> [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojan]]s [[Back Orifice]], [[NetBus]], [[Sub7]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Granneman, Scott |date=January 28, 2004 | url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/28/a_visit_from_the_fbi/ |title=A Visit from the FBI - We come in peace |publisher=[[The Register]]}}</ref> and [[ProRat]], vulnerability scanner/injector kit [[Metasploit]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Biancuzzi, Federico |date=March 27, 2007 |url=http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/439 |title=Metasploit 3.0 day |publisher=SecurityFocus.com}}</ref> and often software intended for legitimate security auditing. A survey of college students in 2010, supported by UK's [[Association of Chief Police Officers]], indicated a high level of interest in beginning hacking: "23% of 'uni' students have hacked into IT systems [...] 32% thought hacking was 'cool' [...] 28% considered it to be easy."<ref>{{cite web|author=Zax, David|date=September 22, 2010|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1690541/it-security-company-fear-the-children|title=IT Security Firm: Fear Students|publisher=Fast Company}}</ref>

Script kiddies vandalize websites both for the thrill of it and to increase their reputation among their peers.<ref name="zdnet"/> Some more malicious script kiddies have used virus toolkits to create and propagate the [[Anna Kournikova (computer virus)|Anna Kournikova]] and [[ILOVEYOU|Love Bug]] viruses.<ref name="Reg01">{{cite web|author=Leyden, John|date=February 21, 2001|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/02/21/virus_toolkits_are_skiddie_menace/|title=Virus toolkits are s'kiddie menace |publisher=[[The Register]]}}</ref>

Script kiddies lack, or are only developing, coding skills sufficient to understand the effects and side effects of their actions. As a result, they leave significant traces which lead to their detection, or directly attack companies which have detection and countermeasures already in place, or in recent cases, leave automatic crash reporting turned on.<ref>{{cite web|author=Taylor, Josh |date=August 26, 2010|url=http://www.zdnet.com.au/hackers-accidentally-give-microsoft-their-code-339305548.htm?omnRef=NULL |title=Hackers accidentally give Microsoft their code|publisher=ZDNet.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ms. Smith|date=August 28, 2010)|url=http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/65571 |title=Error Reporting Oops: Microsoft, Meter Maids and Malicious Code|work=Privacy and Security Fanatic|publisher=[[Network World]]}}</ref>

==Examples==

Script kiddies are often able to exploit vulnerable systems and strike with moderate success. Some of the most infamous examples include:

<!--ATTENTION:If you're going to modify or add a name to this list as a prank, DON'T DO IT. Please consider improving Wikipedia instead of damaging it. Thank you.-->

===Michael Calce===

{{main|Mafiaboy}}

Calce, a.k.a. [[MafiaBoy]], a high school student from [[Montreal]], [[Canada]], was arrested in 2000 for using downloaded tools to launch a series of highly publicized denial-of-service attacks against high-profile Web sites such as [[Yahoo!]], [[Dell]], [[eBay]], and [[CNN]]. Calce initially denied responsibility but later pled guilty to most of the charges brought against him.<ref>{{Citation|newspaper=[[Wired magazine]] |first=Tony |last=Long |title=February 7, 2000: Mafiaboy's Moment|date=February 7, 2007 |url=http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/02/72573|accessdate=2007-03-27}}</ref> His lawyer insisted his client had only run unsupervised tests to help design an improved firewall, whereas trial records indicated the youth showed no remorse and had expressed a desire to move to [[Italy]] for its lax [[Computer crime#Applicable laws|computer crime laws]].<ref>{{Citation|newspaper=[[Wired magazine]]|title=Prison Urged for Mafiaboy|date=June 20, 2001|url=http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2001/06/44673|accessdate=2007-03-27}}</ref> The Montreal Youth Court sentenced him on September 12, 2001 to eight months of "open custody," one year of probation, restricted use of the Internet, and a small fine.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]|title=FBI Facts and Figure 2003 - Cyber Attacks Net Jam |url=http://www.fbi.gov/libref/factsfigure/factsfiguresapri2003.htm#cybercrimes |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20031210215217/http://www.fbi.gov/libref/factsfigure/factsfiguresapri2003.htm#cybercrimes |archivedate=2003-12-10|accessdate=2010-09-22}}</ref>

===Netbus===

{{main|Netbus}}

In 1999, an unknown script kiddie used [[NetBus]] to discredit a law student studying at the [[Lund University]] in [[Sweden]]. [[Child pornography]] was uploaded onto his computer from an unidentified ___location. He was later acquitted of charges in 2004 when it was discovered that [[NetBus]] had been used to control his computer.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.expressen.se/1.153215 | title=Offer för porrkupp |language=Swedish |first= Mikael |last=Olander |publisher= [[Expressen]]| date=November 28, 2004}} ([http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A//www.expressen.se/1.153215&hl=en&langpair=auto|en&tbb=1&ie=ISO-8859-1 English Tr.])</ref><!-- this is a non-notable Myanmar blog, which quotes the Wikipedia article. Do not re-add. <ref>{{cite web| url=http://blogs.iium.edu.my/jaiz/2008/03/31/script_kiddie/ | title=All About Script Kiddie |publisher= ERM Blog| date=March 31, 2008}}</ref>-->

===Jeffrey Lee Parson===

{{main|Blaster (computer worm)}}

[[Jeffrey Lee Parson]], a.k.a. T33kid, was an 18-year-old high school student from Minnesota who was responsible for spreading a variant of the infamous [[Blaster (computer worm)|Blaster computer worm]]. Parson only modified the original Blaster worm, already prevalent, using a [[hex editor]] to add his screen name to the existing executable, and then attached another existing backdoor, Lithium, and posted it on his website. By making this subtle modification, the new executable was considered a variant, and authorities were all able to trace the name back to him. The program was part of a DoS attack against computers using the [[Microsoft Windows]] operating system. The attack took the form of a [[SYN flood]] which caused only minimal damage. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web| last=Lagorio| first=Christine| title=Prison Time For Teen Virus Guru| date=January 28, 2005|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/28/tech/main670176.shtml| publisher=[[CBS News]]| accessdate=2008-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Leyden, John |date=September 1, 2003|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/01/parson_not_dumbest_virus_writer/ |title=Parson not dumbest virus writer ever, shock!|publisher=[[The Register]]}}</ref>

=== Richard Roby===

{{main |Informant (packet kiddie)}}

Richard Roby, a.k.a. krashed, is a 29 year old hacker from Ohio, a script kiddie who is also a known informant.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Krashed Dossier|url=http://www.soldierx.com/hdb/Krashed| publisher=[[SoldierX Database]]| accessdate=2013-04-24}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=HILLMAN|first=STEPHEN|title=Operation Cyberslam|url=www.reverse.net/operationcyberslam.pdf|publisher=United States District Court|accessdate=25 March 2013}}</ref> When krashed has caused problems within the security community. The professional computer security community has long treasured asking krashed basic exploitation questions, pointing out that he does not understand basic security concepts and proceed to cite his wikipedia article example on script kiddie. Krashed has been known to ddos for free shell accounts. <ref>{{Cite web| last=Poulsen| first=Kevin| title=FBI busts alleged DDoS Mafia| date=August 26, 2004|url=http://www.securityfocus.com/news/9411| publisher=[[SecurityFocus News]]| accessdate=2013-04-24}}</ref> Krashed is known for having been an informant on the FOOnet scandal.<ref>{{cite news|first=phrozen77|title=DDoS'er Pleaded Guilty|url=http://www.irc-junkie.org/2005-09-09/ddoser-pleaded-guilty/|accessdate=25 March 2013|newspaper=Irc-Junkie News|date=September 9, 2005 at 4:14 pm}}</ref> Early 2004, the MircX network was DDoS attacked by krashed, who used pre-made bot sources to create a botnet for the attack.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rizon attack against mIRCx Hoax|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizon#DDoS_attack_against_mIRCX|publisher=Wikipedia|accessdate=25 March 2013}}</ref> Since krashed only knows how to create one specific kind of botnet, dismantling of this botnet is trivial, a tool has been created to quickly remove his bots. Should you be attacked by krashed use the botnet-takedown.py.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blackhat Library botnet takedown|url=http://www.blackhatlibrary.net/DDoS_Attacks/takedowns/Krashed|publisher=Blackhat Library|accessdate=25 March 2013}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Lamer]]

* [[Carolyn Meinel]]

* [[Exploit (computer security)]]

* [[Hacker (computer security)]]

* [[Black hat hacker]]

* [[List of convicted computer criminals]]

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==

* {{cite book | last = Tapeworm | first = | title = 1337 h4x0r h4ndb00k | year = 2005 | isbn = 0-672-32727-9 | publisher = Sams Publishing |url=http://my.safaribooksonline.com/0672327279/firstchapter }}

==External links==

* [http://old.honeynet.org/papers/enemy/ Honeynet.org - Know Your Enemy (Essay about script kiddies)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Script Kiddie}}

[[Category:Hacking (computer security)]]

[[Category:Computing culture]]

[[Category:Pejorative terms for people]]