Experts fear hacking scenes in Matrix Reloaded are too accurate
Source: Computer Weekly
Expert BCS members have warned movie fans not to try to emulate the realistic depiction of computer hacking seen in hit film The Matrix Reloaded.
The society said many experts were sufficiently concerned about the accuracy of some of the computing scenes that they have alerted young enthusiasts about the illegality of hacking and the tough prison sentences handed out to perpetrators of this crime.
"Hacking is a criminal offence and the Metropolitan Police is targeting those who gain unauthorised access to computer systems. Courts are increasingly handing out stiffer sentences to those convicted," said detective constable Andy Cookson of the Scotland Yard Computer Crime Unit, whose members all recently joined the BCS.
Cookson said organisations had to be proactive in securing their networks. "Although Hollywood likes to glamorise hacking, and this movie would appear to be more accurate than many in its portrayal of network mapping software, it is not as simple as it appears. Effective monitoring of all applications and ensuring they are all patched to the latest version should deny easy entry."
Some forms of hacking are almost impossible to prevent but organisations can employ simple security methods, said Phil Phillips, spokesman for the BCS Information Security Specialist Group.
