Website defacement is "[a]n unauthorised change to the content of a website."
A website defacement is usually the substitution of the original home page by a system cracker that breaks into a web server and alters the hosted website creating one of his own. A message is often left on the webpage stating his or her pseudonym and the output from "uname -a" and the "id" command along with "shout outs" to his or her friends. Sometimes the Defacer makes fun of the system administrator for failing to maintain server security. Most times the defacement is harmless, however, it can sometimes be used as a distraction to cover up more sinister actions such as uploading malware.
Website defacement is "[a]n unauthorised change to the content of a website."
A website defacement is usually the substitution of the original home page by a system cracker that breaks into a web server and alters the hosted website creating one of his own. A message is often left on the webpage stating his or her pseudonym and the output from "uname -a" and the "id" command along with "shout outs" to his or her friends. Sometimes the Defacer makes fun of the system administrator for failing to maintain server security. Most times the defacement is harmless, however, it can sometimes be used as a distraction to cover up more sinister actions such as uploading malware. One very popular website defacement was that of the SCO home page shortly after they insisted that there was stolen code in the Linux kernel, since they were reluctant to disclose which lines were under dispute they argued full ownership of the code.