Cameron Miranda
Samy Kamkar is an American privacy and security researcher, computer hacker and entrepreneur. In 2005, he created the fastest-spreading computer virus of all time, the MySpace worm Samy, which infected a million users in one day. Kamkar was subsequently raided by the United States Secret Service under the Patriot Act and charged with a felony count of computer hacking. He also exposed the surreptitious collection of data by Apple, Google and Microsoft, and in 2011, he exposed KISSmetrics, an online advertising network, and Hulu as recreating tracking cookies after consumers deleted them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pleaded guilty to a felony charge of | Computer hacking |
| Plea bargain | No prison time, $20,000 fine, three years of probation, 720 hours of community service |
| Created | The fastest-spreading computer virus of all time |
| Raided by | United States Secret Service under the Patriot Act |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Kamkar pled guilty to a felony charge of computer hacking
- Kamkar created the fastest-spreading virus of all time
- Kamkar exposed companies for recreating tracking cookies after consumers deleted them
- Kamkar discovered a major flaw in all versions of the PHP programming language
- Kamkar created SkyJack, a custom drone that hacks into nearby Parrot drones
Kamkar pled guilty to a felony charge of computer hacking
Samy Kamkar pled guilty to a felony charge of computer hacking in Los Angeles Superior Court. Kamkar was a 19-year-old high school dropout when he created the MySpace worm Samy, which infected a million users in one day, causing the website to shut down for several hours. Kamkar was subsequently raided by the United States Secret Service under the Patriot Act.
Kamkar's case is an example of the complex relationship between hackers and the companies they target. While some companies may take a hard line against hacking, others may be more open to collaboration with the hacker community. In the case of Kamkar, he was presented with a plea bargain that included no prison time, a fine of $20,000, three years of probation, and 720 hours of community service. This outcome reflects the recognition that hackers can also be a valuable resource for improving security and exposing vulnerabilities.
Kamkar's story also highlights the potential consequences of computer hacking, which can range from legal repercussions to significant disruptions for businesses and users. In the case of the MySpace worm, the rapid spread of the virus and its impact on the website's functionality demonstrate the power that a single hacker can wield.
Kamkar's actions and the subsequent legal proceedings also raise questions about the ethical boundaries of hacking. While Kamkar's intentions may have been benign, the potential for misuse or abuse of hacking techniques is always present. This case underscores the importance of responsible disclosure and the need for a balanced approach to managing the risks and opportunities presented by the hacker community.
Sinful to Break the Law? Exploring the Connection
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kamkar created the fastest-spreading virus of all time
Kamkar is a hacker's hacker, a skilled coder who can impress the tech-savvy with the techniques involved in his latest hack, but also break down the stakes with flair and drama for the general public. He has also exposed the surreptitious collection of data by Apple, Google and Microsoft, as well as exposed KISSmetrics, an online advertising network, and Hulu as recreating tracking cookies after consumers deleted them.
Understanding Texas' Decibel Law and Your Rights
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kamkar exposed companies for recreating tracking cookies after consumers deleted them
Samy Kamkar is an American privacy and security researcher, computer hacker and entrepreneur. In 2005, he created and released the fastest-spreading virus of all time, the MySpace worm Samy, which infected a million users in one day, forcing the website to shut down for several hours. Six months later, federal law enforcement agents raided Kamkar's home and confiscated all his computer equipment. Kamkar was subsequently charged with a felony charge of computer hacking in Los Angeles Superior Court. He pled guilty and was presented with a plea bargain for no prison time, but was ordered to pay a fine of $20,000, serve three years of probation, and work 720 hours of community service.
In addition to releasing the Evercookie as free and open-source software, Kamkar exposed the surreptitious collection of data by Apple, Google and Microsoft. In 2011, he also exposed KISSmetrics, an online advertising network, and Hulu as recreating tracking cookies after consumers deleted them by storing the unique tracking identifiers in Flash cookies and HTML5 Local Storage, which were not automatically deleted when consumers cleared their browser cookies. Several companies identified as performing cookie respawning were subsequently sued by class-action lawyers. In January 2013, KISSmetrics settled its cookie respawning-related lawsuit for $500,000.
Kamkar's actions exposed the lack of transparency and accountability in the data collection practices of these companies. By recreating tracking cookies, these companies were able to continue tracking users' online activities even after they had taken steps to delete their cookies and protect their privacy. Kamkar's work highlighted the need for stronger privacy protections and gave rise to discussions around the ethical use of data and the importance of user consent.
Campaign Finance Laws: Breaking Them Has Consequences
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kamkar discovered a major flaw in all versions of the PHP programming language
Samy Kamkar is an American privacy and security researcher, computer hacker and entrepreneur. In 2005, Kamkar created and released the fastest-spreading virus of all time, the MySpace worm Samy, which infected a million MySpace users in one day. This led to a raid by the United States Secret Service under the Patriot Act. Kamkar was subsequently charged with a felony charge of computer hacking, to which he pled guilty.
In addition to this, Kamkar has also exposed the surreptitious collection of data by Apple, Google and Microsoft, and in 2011, he exposed KISSmetrics, an online advertising network, and Hulu as recreating tracking cookies after consumers deleted them. Several companies identified as performing cookie respawning were subsequently sued by class-action lawyers.
In early 2010, Kamkar discovered a major flaw in all versions of the PHP programming language, specifically in the pseudorandom number generator, which allowed an attacker to hijack the session ID of a user and take over their session. This discovery could have had major implications for the security of user data and online privacy. Kamkar's discovery highlights the importance of constantly improving and updating security measures to protect against potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Kamkar's work as a hacker has had both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, his discoveries have led to improvements in online security and privacy. On the other hand, his methods have sometimes crossed legal and ethical boundaries, as evidenced by his felony charge for computer hacking. Nonetheless, Kamkar's skills and expertise have gained recognition within the cybersecurity community, with cybersecurity expert Mikko Hypponen describing him as having "an uncanny capability of breaking anything he touches".
Uber's Federal Law Violation: What Happened and Why?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kamkar created SkyJack, a custom drone that hacks into nearby Parrot drones
Samy Kamkar is an American privacy and security researcher, computer hacker and entrepreneur. In 2005, Kamkar created SkyJack, a custom drone that hacks into nearby Parrot drones, allowing them to be controlled by its operator. This was one of many hacks Kamkar has been responsible for, including the fastest-spreading computer virus of all time, the MySpace worm Samy, which infected a million users in one day and forced the website to shut down for several hours.
Kamkar's hacks have resulted in him being raided by the United States Secret Service under the Patriot Act, and he has pled guilty to a felony charge of computer hacking in Los Angeles Superior Court. As part of a plea bargain, Kamkar paid a fine of $20,000, served three years of probation, and worked 720 hours of community service.
Kamkar's talent for hacking has been recognised by cybersecurity experts, with Mikko Hypponen describing him as having "an uncanny capability of breaking anything he touches". Despite this, Kamkar's actions have also raised concerns, with some companies attempting to use copyright law to prevent hackers from accessing their proprietary software.
Martyrs of Japan: Breaking Laws, Changing History
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The MySpace worm Samy.
It caused MySpace users to involuntarily send Kamkar a friend request and add the words "but most of all, Samy is my hero" to their profile.
Federal law enforcement agents raided Kamkar's home and confiscated his computer equipment. He was also charged with a felony charge of computer hacking.
Kamkar exposed KISSmetrics, an online advertising network, and Hulu as recreating tracking cookies after consumers deleted them. He also created SkyJack, a custom drone which hacks into any nearby Parrot drones allowing them to be controlled by its operator.
