Intriguing

What Turns Programmers Into Hackers?

Computer brilliance and no outlet, say researchers.

Botmasters—rogue computer programmers who create virtual armies of hacked computers, or "bots," to do their bidding—are a rising international problem, and computer-security analysts have begun to agree on a criminal profile. Tech Radar reports that Cisco and other computing companies find that intelligent, independent upstarts often train themselves: "People with the skills but without the opportunities," as one online security analyst put it. "Many of these online criminals are coming from developing countries. If you know how to code and are living in London—great!" But "if you know how to code and are living in Siberia—not so great." Unlike Web 1.0 hackers, who brought down servers and Web sites "for fun" or to prove a point, the new, globalized generation of hackers are in it for the bottom line. The way to catch them, analysts say, is the same as catching almost any white-collar crook: Follow the money.