In hacker culture, a script kiddie (as opposed to "speed kiddie", occasionally script bunny, skiddie, script kitty, script-running juvenile (SRJ), or similar) is a derogatory term used for an inexperienced malicious hacker who uses programs developed by others to attack computer systems, and deface websites. It is generally assumed that script kiddies are kids who lack the ability to write sophisticated hacking programs on their own,[1] and that their objective is to try to impress their friends or gain credit in underground hacker communities.
Script kiddies are often able to exploit vulnerable systems and strike with great success. The most famous examples include:
- Michael Calce (aka Mafiaboy), from Montreal Canada, was arrested in 2000 for using downloaded tools to launch DoS attacks against high-profile websites such as Yahoo, Dell, eBay, and CNN. He was 15 years old at the time. The financial damages were estimated at roughly $7.5 million. He pleaded guilty to 56 criminal charges. On September 12, 2001, Mafiaboy appeared before the Montreal Youth Court in Canada and was sentenced to eight months “open custody,” one year probation, and restricted use of the Internet.[2]
- In 1999, NetBus was used to discredit a law student named Magnus Eriksson studying at the Lund University. Child pornography was downloaded 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.
- Jeffrey Lee Parson, an 18-year-old high school student from Minnesota was responsible for using the B variant of the infamous Blaster worm. 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.
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