For better or for worse, each person featured on this page had created a major impact in the cyberworld. Apart from Tsutomu Shimomura, the other three hackers mentioned here were criminals at some point of time and for various reasons. They have all repented for their actions and are currently contributing in positive ways to the burgeoning cyber realm. It is interesting in retrospect to take note of when, why and how they turned to crime. Tsutomu, however, is recognized for bringing down Kevin Mitnick, arguably the most notorious hacker ever. The I-Love-You virus and the Sasser worm had caused so much damage without apparent human intervention that they too deserve due recognition.

Kevin Poulsen

Probably one of the most talented hackers of all time, Kevin Poulsen wanted more than what his high paid job could offer him. His crimes ranged from stealing classified military data to hacking into a radio station’s telephone lines in order to “win” a Porsche. He did not call himself the “Dark Dante” for nothing.
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Kevin Mitnick

Well-known in the annals of the FBI, he was one of the most slippery crooks the bureau ever tried to apprehend. As proficient at actually committing the crime as he was at deceiving the authorities, he left a remarkable trail of crime as long as he was on the run. He had delved so deep into cybercrime that he was barred from using a computer for a long time after he was caught.
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Adrian Lamo

This is the classic case of a white hacker who went too far. Adrian was a good friend of both Kevin Mitnick and Poulsen but he did not go to the extent that they went in the realm of cybercrime. His life, however, serves to remind all of us how easy it is to be seduced by the dark side even when one is actually working for the “good” side.
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Tsutomu Shimomura

A high profile researcher at San Diego Supercomputer Center, Tsutomu has also worked with the likes of Richard Feynman. His other talent, hacking, was brought forth, however, when he had a run-in with Kevin Mitnick. Kevin had deliberately hacked into Tsutomu’s computer to steal some files and Tsutomu took it as a personal challenge to stop him as well as bring him to justice.
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I love you Virus

This virus is notorious throughout the world. A highly effective self-replicating algorithm coupled with an instantly provocative message like “ Kindly check the attached LOVELETTER from me. ” has made this one of the most widely spread virus in history. It is believed that this virus alone caused over $10 billion in damages all over the world.
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Sasser Worm

This malware does not even need a provocative message to have people loading it onto their computers – it comes and goes as it pleases. Being connected to the Internet is enough to get it loaded onto one’s computer and though it did not directly cause damage, it caused severe network disruptions worldwide leading to millions lost due to loss of productivity. Imagine the impact this had on hospitals and banks.
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