A script kiddie, skript kiddie, skiddie, kiddie, or skid is a pejorative term used to describe an unskilled individual who uses malicious scripts or programs developed by others or
LLMs.
Characteristics
The term script kiddie was first used in 1988.
In a Carnegie Mellon report prepared for the
US Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, ...
in 2000, script kiddies are defined as
The more immature but unfortunately often just as dangerous exploiter of security lapses on the Internet. The typical script kiddy uses existing and frequently well known and easy-to-find techniques and programs or scripts to search for and exploit weaknesses in other computers on the Internet—often randomly and with little regard or perhaps even understanding of the potentially harmful consequences.
Script kiddies typically have at least one or more effective and easily downloadable programs capable of breaching computers and networks.
Script kiddies vandalize websites both for the thrill of it and to increase their reputation among their peers.
Some more malicious script kiddies have used virus toolkits to create and propagate the
Anna Kournikova
Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova Iglesias (née Kournikova; ; ; born 7 June 1981) is a Russian model and television personality, and former professional tennis player. Her appearance and celebrity status made her one of the best known tennis stars ...
and
Love Bug viruses.
Script kiddies lack, or are only developing, programming skills sufficient to understand the effects and side effects of their actions. As a result, they leave significant traces which lead to their detection, or directly attack companies which have detection and countermeasures already in place, or in some cases, leave automatic crash reporting turned on.
Although script kiddie attacks might become increasingly more effective in the future, researchers have noted that other models, like the language model, can also be used to enhance protection against the improved script kiddie attacks. This continuous back and forth improvement suggests that the competition between cyber attackers and defenders will continue to increase.
See also
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Black hat hacker
A black hat (black hat hacker or blackhat) is a computer hacker who violates laws or ethical standards for nefarious purposes, such as cybercrime, cyberwarfare, or malice. These acts can range from piracy to identity theft. A black hat is often r ...
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Computer security
Computer security (also cybersecurity, digital security, or information technology (IT) security) is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It consists of the protection of computer software, systems and computer network, n ...
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Exploit (computer security)
An exploit is a method or piece of code that takes advantage of Vulnerability (computer security), vulnerabilities in software, Application software, applications, Computer network, networks, operating systems, or Computer hardware, hardware, typic ...
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Hacker (computer security)
A security hacker or security researcher is someone who explores methods for breaching or bypassing defenses and exploiting weaknesses in a computer system or network. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, such as profit, pro ...
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Hacktivism
Hacktivism (or hactivism; a portmanteau of ''hack'' and ''activism''), is the use of computer-based techniques such as hacking as a form of civil disobedience to promote a political agenda or social change. A form of Internet activism with roots ...
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Lamer
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List of convicted computer criminals
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Luser
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Noob
''Newbie'' is a slang term for a ''novice'', ''newcomer'', or somebody inexperienced in a given profession or activity. In particular, it may refer to a new user of computers, and often concerns Internet activity, such as online gaming or Li ...
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Web shell
A web shell is a Shell (computing), shell-like interface that enables a web server to be remotely accessed, often for the purposes of cyberattacks. A web shell is unique in that a web browser is used to interact with it.
A web shell could be pro ...
, a tool that script kiddies frequently use
References
Further reading
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* ''The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders and Deceivers'' (2005)
External links
Honeynet.org - Know Your Enemy (Essay about script kiddies)preserved at
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...
Cracking the Hacker Mindset
{{DEFAULTSORT:Script Kiddie
Hacking (computer security)
Hacker culture
Pejorative terms for people