What Are The Signs That Your Child Is A Computer Hacker?
Recently our family purchased a new computer, and my daughter, Jen (14), who at first showed very little interest in it, has since become fascinated with everything to do with computers.
Lately my wife and I have trouble understanding her when she speaks about anything remotely related to computers, saying things like “TCP”, and “IP”, and “port scanner”. We didn’t think much of this, as computer skills are very useful in this day & age, and in fact encouraged her learning by purchasing her a new laptop, so that she’s not being constantly interrupted by her brothers who only want to play games (under the pretence of doing homework).
The term hacker didn’t enter my head until about a year ago when my youngest son came to my wife complaining that the computer had suddenly shut down while he was “doing homework”, and accusing his sister of “hacking” into the computer, of course I defended my daughter saying that the computer has most likely contracted a computer virus. But since then, I’ve been noticing that she has been going out with her friends less, and spending more time on her laptop. She says that she speaks to her friends on “irc” and “MSN” through the computer, but I’m starting to think that she might be using technical terms to confuse us. Lately she’s been asking about a program called “linnix” that she wants installed on her computer to replace the Microsoft certified program “windows”.
A week ago, we signed up for our ISP’s internet filtering system in an attempt to block her from illegal hacking websites, and to see which websites she frequests, but I wan unable to see any even remotely suspicious. When I mentioned the filter to her over dinner, she said something about “VPNs” and “proxies (prock’s?)”, leaving my wife and I looking confused.
The final straw came when after months of slipping grades (down to E average), her most recent report card credited her with straight A’s. I’m shocked to think that she might have hacked her schools computer system and changed her grades especially since the time she’s been spending on the computer has been increasing exponentially.
Since then, I’ve confiscated her laptop, and banned her from using the family computer, except for when she needs to do homework and is being monitored by myself or my wife.
What should we do?
Wow, I have quite a bit of computer knowledge it sounds like your daughter has an average amount of computer knowledge, but nothing to do with code, hacking is extremely complicated, and requires an intricate knowledge of computers, firewalls, passwords
I can pretty much assure you she’s not a hacker just a bit of a wizz kid, why don’t you phone the school and check with the teachers that her grades were correct?
Just because she has an interest in computers doesn’t mean she is hacking. It’s possible she has just found something she is passionate about and is looking into it more.
You could try investigating the things she is interested in such as Linux. Linux is just an alternative to Windows and it is defiantly not a sign of her having an interest in hacking. Linux is free to use and wont cost you a penny for her to try out, and as it’s free you don’t have to worry about her downloading it illegally
As for her grades you should try speaking to her teachers. Her ICT teachers may also be able to give you some information on what sort of things she is getting up to.
I shouldn’t worry, she just sounds like she is getting into computers and this could lead her into a very good career
HAHAHA
If I was you I would be more worried my daughter would be having cyber sex with older perverts more than if she is becoming a hacker…
if shes good at IT she will have a brilliant future you tit.
put her in some nice IT classes she would like and talk to her about meeting strangers on internet…
show her how fun it can be to be more outside that inside otherwise shell get fat and wont find a husband easily
Nothing in your post suggests to me your daughter might be a hacker. It sounds more like a kid who is interested in computers and seems to have a very high intellect when it comes to them. She’s using terms she has read about or has been told by others. “Irc” and “MSN” chat groups are not uncommon for anybody.
The fact your computer was shutting down could be one of a hundred benign issues that have nothing to do with her being “a hacker.” Or it could be something more serious like a virus.
Encourage her knowledge and try to channel it in positive directions rather than take on a defensive mode. That’s what my parents did when I was in HS. I went on to get a BS and MS in computers and have a great job in the industry. Otherwise it’s going to create a rebellion type of situation. Also, I think if you become more knowledgeable with the computer terms she’s using, you won’t have this fear.
She sounds coooooooooooooooool.
Just let her do whatever she likes to do (but without harming anybody).
If his friends call him something like Timmy The Hacker
she isn’t a hacker, she’s just a geek, deal with it.
Cops knocking at your door
.
She is not a hacker, she just like computers.
The IRC is just a chat program.
Linux is Unix based OS that is very good and FREE
VPN is networking term.
And Grades cannot be hacked. They keep the grades on both paper and computer so that it cannot happen.
Prying with a computer is not really any different then sneaking into her brother’s bedroom and going through his stuff. Now what is your rule on that?
Having friends on-line is no different then having real friends. If you let her associate with just anybody, anywhere, maybe you need a rule on that.
Stealing is bad anywhere. I’ll bet that you have a rule on that. Stealing grades from the school is wrong, and fits into that category. Set up a meeting with your school principal and investigate past grades. Teachers have records on what they really did.
Yes, computer skills are important. If she has a genuine interest in this, encouarage her in a positive way. She can seek work with the FBI to help solve crimes. She can work for many banks, and help to beef up their firewalls. She can work in many areas of security, law enforcement and areas of law and the judicial.
Good luck
First of all i doubt she can “hack” the schools systems…lol
And EVERYONE uses Proxies…there’s no way to stop them unless you buy a webfilter (GOOGLE smartfilter) So let her be and just let her understand she’ll be worthless after high school if she doesnt focus on her grades
if she is mentioning those you had mentioned in your explanation, we cannot judge her as a “hacker” with those terms as it can be found on the net all over as you go on surfing. encountering those words are very easy if someone is very eager to learn about computer esp programming and if her subjects are computer-related one. in fact, you must be proud that she knows more than yourselves so in one day, she can use her knowledge about computer to get a good job.
with regards to her grades that become “As”, it is not also a guarantee that she is hacking the computer system in school to change the grading system as school administrators do know the intellect of your daughter. to better know more about her grades, you can approach the school and ask about her performance. in this way, teachers/staffs/instructors can give you the whole picture of how your daughter had improved her school performance.
**above all, a very good advice for her future oftenly will lead her to be a good person too in the future. don’t worry too much.
Hi,
please don’t worry about it, all the terms you mentioned are common phases used in computing and nothing to worry about and just shows how much she has learned in a short time and you should be proud of her and praise her efforts (which her grades now show as well).
hope you know as much as she does in a few years.
your daughter sounds like me. its extremely easy to figure out how to get around simple things. proxy web sites are simple to access and easy to find. i don’t think she has a problem shes just interested in knowing about computers. everything she was talking to you and your wife about are common terms for simple things. i confuse the hell out my parents with tech stuff constantly. As far as the shutting down of the computer im sorry to say but your son was most likely looking at adult web sites i have a little brother too and he’s not so innocent trust me.
Are you for real?
Are you a troll?
Holy crap! As a parent, and an overprotective one at that… I would never go so far as to block my kid, or spy on them. I would hope to continue to have an open and communicative relationship with my child.
You child is simply a puter geek, not a hacker you twit!
L-i-n-u-x. It’s a operating system superior to anything Mickey Schitt (aka Microsoft for non puter morons like you!) has ever come up with. You child is talking techno geek with you and you haven’t a clue.
I guess you have a really great and trusting relationship with your daughter eh? NOT!
If you’re daughter were a hacker you would know it, but you’re too clueless. Go get an internet for dummies book and start reading. Maybe then you can have a conversation with your child. What next, let her find out about sex from her friends and then wonder why she came home pregnant?
I sure hope you fare better with your sons cause you sure are failing with your daughter when it comes to being a parent!
You’re child is a hacker if the parents or teachers fall into one or more catagories:
Too soft
Too strict
Redneck
Unsupportive
Internet challenged
Divorced
Anti drugs
I suggest using key logging software that will track EVERYTHING your daughter types into her computer. That way, you’ll have proof if your daughter is hacking and you’ll have the basis for an apology if she’s not.
It will also help you identify any inappropriate conversations she may be engaged in, which is more of a threat than hacking skills.
Do a Google search for Key Logging to find software within your price range.
Good job. Its great that you’re showing interest in her habits. There is nothing you have mentioned that sounds too suspicious, though, but keep alert and why not take some classes so you don’t look too silly when she starts talking computer jargon.
When they are on sites like facebook, a social networking site, they can contact all their friends very very easily, so as with my own daughter, they prefer to stay inside and interact with ALL their friends, rather than go out and be with only a couple of them.
See if her grades change but I suspect she’s really very clever and is just making her grades normal so she can get you off her back.
Encourage her to develop her skills! But make her understand that hacking into someone else’s computer is illegal.
When reading your story it almost looked like my dad was talking. I was 12 when we first got a computer, I’m now 37.
I also have a well paid job in computer security and make quite a lot more money then my dad ever did
I doubt she is a hacker. Becoming a “hacker” and being skilful enough to break into schools e.t.c. takes years and years of hard work. Maybe her grades have improved because she is working harder (phone the school and check)?
Windows is the most popular but it isn’t the only operating system you can use. There are others like Linux and Ubuntu.
What should you do? Be proud she has found something she is interested in and good at and encourage her. She could end up with a very well paid job if she keeps up. Give her back her laptop and stop being paranoid and assuming everything you don’t understand is bad.
IRC just means Internet Relay Chat she is not using technical terms to confuse you she is prob just assuming you know what it means.
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When I mentioned the filter to her over dinner, she said something about “VPNs” and “proxies (prock’s?)
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She is telling you she knows how to bypass the filter, which most 14 year olds know anyway.
Oh and btw, using key logging software is ILLEGAL if you do it without the user’s knowledge. If you wish to install a keylogger on your daughter’s computer you are required by law to let her know.