General Security

General

Hackers

Hackers are individuals who exploit selected vulnerabilities in a server system to gain access to servers and the data stored on them. However, hackers are not inherently malicious. The act of infiltrating a server or copying/modifying its data can be either “good” or “evil,” depending on intent.

There are generally three categories of hackers:

– White Hats
Work within the boundaries of the law, often employed by governments or companies to track and repel Black Hats.
– Grey Hats
Individuals who operate in a morally ambiguous space, not easily categorized as good or bad.
– Black Hats
Individuals who engage in hacking with criminal intent, usually to cause harm or gain unlawful benefits.

Crackers (Not for eating!)

Crackers bypass the copy protection of licensed programs to either offer them for free or cause economic damage to the software developer. They create programs that either circumvent copyright protections or analyze algorithms like serial keys (license keys) to generate an unlimited number of valid serials.

Phishers

Phishers are people who create fake websites or misleading programs to trick others into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials. A well-known example is the “SteamPhisher,” which pretends to generate free Steam games but actually sends the victim’s account information to a third party for resale.

Script Kiddies

Script kiddies are individuals, often inexperienced, who use public tools like LOIC (Low Orbit Ion Cannon) or SteamPhisher to feel “cool.” Since they lack deep technical knowledge, they are often easy to trace and stop.

Note

The actions mentioned here should only be used for learning/training purposes on your own root server. Please note: A game server is not considered a separate root server. Testing such activities on rented game/voice servers is not permitted.

Game-based Threats

Cheaters

Cheaters exploit hacks or security holes within games to gain an unfair advantage. However, in multiplayer settings, where cheating could harm other players, developers usually disable such functions. Achievements are also blocked to encourage fair play.

Hackers

These are individuals who modify the game client or server to gain an advantage not intended by the developers. Game developers work to patch these vulnerabilities. In competitive environments, such as ESL tournaments, using such hacks results in immediate disqualification.

Server-based Threats

My Server Was Hacked

This is highly unlikely. You technically don’t own the server; your server is just part of a larger Nitrado root server. Nitrado employs robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access.

Local Threats

Viruses

Viruses are malicious programs that can damage your system by deleting or modifying data, or by transmitting information to their creator. Viruses do not spread on their own and remain on the infected PC. Most are easily removed by competent antivirus software. (Note: Viruses can be shared via email or other communication methods.)

Worms

Worms are a type of virus capable of spreading from one host to other machines or even throughout an entire network, causing widespread damage.

What Can I Do Locally?

• Secure your Wi-Fi with WPA or WPA2 encryption
• Use antivirus software and keep it updated
• Download files only from reliable sources
• Delete spam emails without opening them

User Questions

What is a Vulnerability in a Website?

Even if a server is inherently secure, a website may still have vulnerabilities. One example is SQL injection, where an attacker manipulates a database query to gain unauthorized access to data.

Original Query

Call: artikel.php id=1? Generated Query: SELECT * FROM `table` WHERE ID = 1;

Query Injection

Call: artikel.php id=1; UPDATE USER SET TYPE="admin" WHERE id=23?

Miscellaneous

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your account. Learn more about setting it up here:

• Two-Factor Authentication

Note

This article is a general summary to help illustrate important concepts. For detailed information on any topic, consider looking it up on Wikipedia or other reliable sources.

Conclusion

It’s important to stay informed about online threats and how to protect your server and personal data. By understanding the nature of hackers, viruses, and other risks, you can take appropriate measures to safeguard your online presence.