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4. Who are the top 10 notorious hackers of all time and what are some of their most infamous cybercrimes?

Kendra Jakolevitch

Hey there!

That's a really interesting question you've brought up. The world of hacking is filled with notorious individuals who have caused some major cybercrime incidents throughout history. Here are the top 10 notorious hackers of all time, along with some of their most infamous cybercrimes:

1. Kevin Mitnick: Widely regarded as one of the most famous hackers of all time, Mitnick gained notoriety in the 80s and 90s for breaking into the computer systems of major tech companies like Sun Microsystems and Motorola. He also hacked into the networks of the FBI and Pentagon. Mitnick was eventually caught and spent five years in prison.

2. Gary McKinnon: Known as "Solo," McKinnon is a Scottish hacker who made headlines in 2002 for breaking into the computer systems of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and NASA. McKinnon claimed that he was looking for evidence of a UFO cover-up, but he was eventually extradited to the US and faced up to 70 years in prison. In the end, McKinnon received no jail time but was ordered to pay restitution for the damage he caused.

3. Jonathan James: James was one of the youngest hackers on this list, starting at the age of 15. He gained notoriety in the early 2000s for hacking into the computer systems of NASA and the Department of Defense. He was the first juvenile to be sentenced to prison for hacking and was reportedly depressed when he took his own life in 2008.

4. Adrian Lamo: Lamo was an American hacker known for his involvement in some high-profile hacking incidents, including the 2002 attacks on The New York Times and Microsoft. He was arrested and faced up to 15 years in prison but was eventually given a plea bargain and served a mere six months of house arrest.

5. Albert Gonzalez: Gonzalez was a notorious cybercriminal who masterminded the largest credit card heist in history. In 2009, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for stealing millions of credit card numbers from companies like TJX, Heartland Payment Systems, and others.

6. Kevin Poulsen: Poulsen was known as the "dark prince of hacking" and gained notoriety for his tech skills and cyber crimes in the 80s and 90s. He was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for hacking into the phone system of a Los Angeles radio station in 1990.

7. Vladimir Levin: Levin was a Russian hacker who orchestrated the massive attack on the Citibank network in 1995. He managed to steal $10 million before being caught and arrested in London.

8. Robert Morris: Morris is a particularly interesting hacker in that he didn't have malicious intentions. He created the Morris Worm in 1988 as an experiment, but it ended up causing widespread damage across the internet. Morris was the first person to be convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

9. Jeanson James Ancheta: Ancheta was a California hacker who created and controlled a "botnet" of compromised computers that he used to launch DDoS attacks and spam campaigns. He was eventually caught and given a 58-month sentence in federal prison.

10. Max Butler: Butler was known as "Iceman" and was a mastermind behind a large-scale hacking operation that involved stealing corporate data. He worked with cohorts in Russia and Ukraine to launch attacks, and in 2011, was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

There you have it, ten of the most notorious hackers of all time and some of their most infamous cybercrimes. It's worth noting that while these hackers' actions were indeed illegal and harmful, they've also contributed to the evolution of cybersecurity and have helped to make the internet a safer place.

Hope that Answers Your Question!