Most people know very little about the dark web, but thanks to the internet, experienced hackers occasionally pull back the curtain on its mysterious reality.
Earlier this year, an anonymous hacker who's been navigating the secretive server for over 30 years recently shared the most disturbing things he's encountered on the dark web.
Meanwhile, professional cybersecurity expert Ryan Montgomery, an ethical hacker who specialises in exposing online predators, regularly appears on podcasts to discuss his discoveries and offer safety measures for anyone exploring the hidden corners of the internet.
Now, in a LADbible Stories interview on YouTube, US ethical hacker Chris Kubecka, who's confronted some of the world's most dangerous hackers, opens up about the high-stakes world of digital espionage and the future of cyber warfare.
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Many people probably wonder how someone even enters this technical field, but for Kubecka, it all started with an innocent mistake during elementary school.
When asked about her first experience with hacking, she explained: "At the time, my school had gotten a pretty big grant, at the time, to go ahead and install these new computer systems in the library."
She said she loved both computers and the library, so it was the perfect time to 'explore.'
"I explored so much, I found my way into the Department of Justice and the FBI," the cyberwarfare specialist recalled.
Given how easily she accessed the systems, Kubecka initially assumed it couldn't be 'real' and must be some kind of 'game', especially as the password was literally just 'zero, zero, zero, zero.'
"Unfortunately, as I was just in all of these 'mystery' files and learning about undercover FBI agents, two and a half weeks later, I was caught red-handed," the ethical hacker admitted.
When asked to explain exactly how she managed to breach FBI systems, Kubecka described the technology of that era.
Back when she was a child, computers connected to the internet using 'dial-up modems.' She would dial random phone numbers to 'see if there was a modem on the other end.'
When she found one, she'd check if there was a way to 'communicate with that computer' and explore its contents. Moreover, Kubecka described how simple it was to access other computers as there were no passwords or passcodes to restrict access. According to the expert, you could easily 'play a game on someone else's computer.'
After spending time with what she thought was a 'really cool game,' Kubecka soon realised she'd stumbled into something far more serious. The moment FBI agents arrived at her school to take her to the police station 'wasn't a nice encounter,' she admitted.
Because her family members held 'very high security clearances,' the consequences were pretty severe. Her parents were at risk of losing their jobs and Kubecka received an 'administrative order' banning her from 'using most types of computers' until she turned 18.
Fortunately for Kubecka, the story doesn't end there, as once she became an adult, she channelled her curiosity into ethical hacking, using her skills for good.