Family helped save sophomore from life of technology crime

The media have you to believe that if you have all the right software, you’re safe, antivirus, antispyware, and other anti-whatevers.
You are safe, they say.
Tell me another one. Not a month ago, I was deeper than quicksand into these hacking and criminal activities. It felt amazing, being able to be behind a modem, a screen and a keyboard, and to be able to look into any file I wanted. I would use simple methods that would take me minutes to get people’s private information. I even saw sites where other hackers had dozens of pages full of private information such as phone numbers, social security numbers, email log-ons, and other information that hackers use to steal money and information. Even though I wasn’t deep enough to steal information and post it all over a website, that didn’t mean I was innocent. I was involved in a largely organized hacking group, and I worked myself up to a pretty big and well known name on the internet. It was exhilarating, and it was fun. The rush of feeling like a secret agent behind the wheel felt amazing. It felt powerful to know you had the ability to get someone’s info and post it on the web and rule their internet life. But it was wrong, and after a while, it became an addiction, an easy trap to fall into. There was no way out it seemed. However, with the help of my family I was able to pull myself out.
Hackers use websites and their own methods to make false links sending you to their IP addresses (the electronic address of your computer, e.g. 123.45.67.890). When you click them, they use your IP address to remotely connect to your computer using something called telnet, or other such methods, to connect, where finding out a password isn’t hard. They can then decrypt the file it’s hidden in, and bypass your firewall like it’s a sheet of wet paper.
It’s no Joke.
Is your PC running slower than usual? Odds are you’re on someone’s botnet, a server that gives a hacker complete access to your computer. They can hack into your webcam and watch you, keylog you, and record every word that you have typed. If you are on something like that. Run a spyware scan, and if it tests positive, quarantine all programs that you don’t remember putting on your computer (kill them, or delete them). And start saving your pennies, because you are going to have to call programmers to come in and fix it.
Are there ways to prevent getting hacked? Yes! Read your email. If you have any spam, clear it, because hackers send spam e-mails to get access to your computer using botnets. Don’t click on any links that you don’t one hundred percent trust. Foil them. Check your files for any unauthorized changes, and if it is not a necessary program, remove the program or file immediately.
Go online and look up other ways to foil hackers. They are dangerous, they are out there, and they are watching you. You need to be afraid; they are often malicious. Occasionally you may come across a whitehat hacker, looking only to help you foil other malicious hackers. I would suggest chatting with one if you ever happen to come across one.
Be smart, be safe, and be cautious. The hacker subculture is increasing at an enormous rate due to several large groups of hackers attempting to lure more teens and adults to the myth that knowing how to hack will give you the ability to have power and rule over the internet. Don’t follow. If someone offers to hack something for you…say no. How do you know they won’t hack you at a later time?
The internet is a fun way of being able to connect to places all over the world, but watch out for those dark alleys, lurking beneath the mask of the internet, there may be a hacker hiding nearby.

IDEA Grants Rewarded to Rider Teachers

David White

Rider HS

Technology

Title: Through My Eyes

Project: Students will make use of digital videography to explore careers in production and filming. Students will complete a series of miniature projects that will expose them to the world of film in a way they wouldn’t otherwise receive. They will explore film shorts, documentaries, music videos and video journaling. Through this experience, students will have the opportunity to discover hidden talents and interests that might propel them into a career in video production.

Patrick Tempelmeyer

Rider HS

11^th-12^th grade

Title: Technology Should Be For Everyone

Project: Every year students are at a disadvantage in AP and Pre-AP Physics due to the mere fact that their parents cannot afford fine quality graphing calculators. These same students are often discouraged from Science Engineering majors due to the fact that calculators that are used in classrooms to take exams will no longer be available at the college level. This grant would supply a quantity of quality graphing calculators to create a calculator scholarship for qualified students. A committee of faculty and administration members would judge the students, based on performance, need and future educational aims. Upon successful completion of the program at the high school level, the students would then be allowed to keep the calculator to help in their continuing education.

Lisa Williams

Rider HS

Spanish 9^th-12^th Grade

Title: Reading Beyond Borders

Project: The goal of Reading Beyond Borders is to enable all students, including those at-risk, to improve their reading skills in the Spanish language. By reading in the target language (Spanish) the students will develop a more intensive vocabulary and will continue to gain an understanding of the Hispanic culture. Each novel in the series progressively challenges the students in vocabulary as well as in grammar, which reiterate the objectives taught in the classroom. Listening, speaking, and writing activities will follow each chapter and novel. Projects will be assigned at the end of each novel and will include speaking and poster presentations, where students will compare and contrast the Hispanic culture and customs o the American culture and customs. Web based discussion boards will also be incorporated to encourage students to ready outside the classroom.