Jonathan James
Jonathan James hacked into multiple businesses using the moniker cOmrade. The New York Times claims that James’ intrusion into the systems of the US Department of Defense is what truly caught people’s attention. The fact that James was just 15 at the time was even more astounding. In an interview with PC Mag, James acknowledged that the book The Cuckoo’s Egg, which describes the 1980s search for a computer hacker, served as a source of inspiration. Through hacking, he gained access to over 3,000 messages from government workers as well as usernames, passwords, and other private information.
James was arrested in 2000, given a six-month house detention term, and prohibited from using computers for leisure. He did, however, spend six months in jail due to a probation breach. Jonathan James was the earliest person to be found guilty of breaking the legislation against cybercrime. A retail shop called TJX had a cyberattack in 2007 that exposed the private information of several customers. Despite the absence of proof, officials believe James could have been complicit.
James committed suicide with a pistol in 2008. The Daily Mail said that he wrote in his suicide note, “I have no trust in the ‘justice’ system. Maybe my letter and what I did today will convey a clearer message to the public. In either case, I’ve lost control of the circumstance, and this is the only way I know how to reclaim it.
ASTRA
In contrast to the other hackers on this list, this one has never been named in the media. The Daily Mail claims that some information concerning ASTRA has, however, been made public. Specifically, he was identified as a 58-year-old Greek mathematician when he was detained by police in 2008. He allegedly spent close to five years hacking the Dassault Group. He stole state-of-the-art software and data related to weapons technology during that period and sold it to 250 people worldwide. His hacking caused $360 million in losses for the Dassault Group. Nobody is sure why he has never disclosed his full identify, although the term “ASTRA” is a Sanskrit word meaning “sword”
Conclusion
Some of these elite hackers sought to improve the world, while others sought to disprove UFO ideas. Others wished for fame, while others desired money. Each of these individuals made a significant contribution to the development of the internet and cyber security.
