is hire a hacker legit

Introduction：

1、Minnesota Man Charged for Employing ‘Hacker-for-hire’ to Target Local Business Website

Minnesota Man Charged for Employing ‘Hacker-for-hire’ to Target Local Business Website ♂

　　Minnesota is now the witness to a very different kind of cyber crime-related case; in fact it’s the first of its kind in Minnesota. Federal prosecutors, as per reports, have now charged a person, a former state resident, with employing “hackers-for-hire” to target the website of a local business.

　　As per prosecutors, the person in question, a 46-year-old man named John Kelsey Gammell, paid hacking services to carry out DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks targeting the websites affiliated with the Monticello business firm, Washburn Computer Group. Gammell used to work there and he had paid the hackers to inflict a year’s worth of DDoS attacks so as to bring down the websites affiliated with the business. (DDoS attacks aim at overwhelming a system or network with data and thereby blocking access for legitimate users or even knocking all web services offline).

　　Washburn Computer Group, which is a POS (Point-of-Sale) repair company, has told the federal prosecutors that the DDoS attacks have cost it about $15,000. As for John Kelsey Gammell, things don’t seem to end with the Washburn hack; he is also accused of having paid $19.99 to $199.99, in monthly payments, to hack and bring down the networks of many other institutions, including the Minnesota Judicial Branch, Hennepin County and several banks.

　　In its report on the incident, the Minnesota-based Star Tribune observes- “The case reflects concern among law enforcement officials nationwide that hackers ranging from disgruntled ex-employees to enemy nation states are ramping up attacks on an ever-expanding array of personal digital devices connected to the web.”

　　The Star Tribune also quotes acting U.S. Attorney Gregory Brooker in Minneapolis- “As a society that is increasingly reliant on network-connected devices, these types of cyberattacks pose a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and even our nation’s critical infrastructure”

　　DDoS attacks are showing an increasing trend; the Star Tribune says that that FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center had reported that last year DDoS attacks had caused victims losses amounting to over $11 million. Cyber criminals marshal all kinds of devices- digital video recorders, home appliances etc- to carry out massive operations. There had been many reports in recent times of IoT (Internet of Things) devices being used to plan and carry out DDoS attacks. Hackers can even take over millions of devices worldwide and carry out DDoS attacks so massive that just one such attack could damage thousands of networks worldwide. In such a situation every organization needs to be prepared, with trained professional and sophisticated, effective tools to face and mitigate such DDoS attacks.

　　Well, coming back to the Minnesota incident, John Kelsey Gammell, the man who has been charged with having employed “hackers-for-hire” to target networks, had sought out, according to FBI, seven websites offering DDoS-for-hire services and had paid monthly fees to carry out the attacks. This happened from July 2015 to September 2016. Another notable thing is that Gammel has been traced primarily because of the taunting e-mails he had allegedly sent after the attacks.

　　The Star Tribune report observes- “The government’s case against Gammell underlines the difficulty of linking any suspect to the daily torrent of attacks often carried out by far-afield hackers who advertise their services online. Authorities might not have caught Gammell without tracing taunting e-mails he allegedly sent after attacks.”

Related questions

The question of whether "hiring a hacker" is legitimate depends entirely on the context and intent behind the action. Here's a breakdown:

Legitimate Scenarios (Ethical Hacking):

1. Cybersecurity Services: Certified ethical hackers (white-hat hackers) are often hired by organizations to perform penetration testing, identify vulnerabilities, and improve security. These professionals work legally, often through registered cybersecurity firms or bug bounty platforms (e.g., HackerOne, Bugcrowd).
2. Bug Bounties: Companies may reward hackers for responsibly disclosing security flaws. This is a structured, legal way to engage with hackers.

Illegitimate/Unethical Scenarios:

1. Illegal Activities: Hiring someone to hack into accounts, steal data, alter grades, or bypass systems without authorization is illegal in most jurisdictions. Both the hacker and the client could face criminal charges (e.g., under laws like the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act).
2. Scams: Many "hacker-for-hire" services online are fraudulent. They may take your money, fail to deliver, or even blackmail you using your personal information.

Key Risks:

• Legal Consequences: Unauthorized hacking is a crime, punishable by fines or imprisonment.
• Ethical Concerns: Exploiting others' privacy or security is unethical, regardless of intent.
• Scams: No recourse exists if you’re defrauded, as you’re engaging in an illegal transaction.

Alternatives:

• Use official channels (e.g., contact customer support for account recovery).
• Hire certified cybersecurity professionals for legitimate security needs.
• Avoid platforms or individuals offering "quick fixes" through hacking.

Conclusion:

While ethical hacking services are legitimate when conducted transparently and legally, "hiring a hacker" for unauthorized or malicious purposes is not legitimate and carries severe risks. Always prioritize legal and ethical solutions for cybersecurity needs.