Keep in mind as you read this article that not every hacker wants the same information, and that any list which tries to identify what hackers want is naturally going to be hindered by their individual preferences. However, the general things which hackers want are your personal information (which can be used to identify you), your account information, and your contact list. The reasons for these three desires will be elaborated upon in a moment. For now, just let it be known that out of all of the things a hacker might desire, these will ultimately be the most profitable for him or her. After all, since the people on the other end have no idea (and really don’t care at all) who you are, the only motivation that they have for attempting to gain your information is for their own financial gain. If you know what they want, you can protect it more effectively than if you didn’t.
Hackers have a burning desire for your information, including your social security number, your address, your telephone number, your date of birth and your name. They use this information to swindle companies into issuing loans and credit cards in your name, which are then naturally goingto be attributed to you (and for which you will be held accountable). They also desire your credit card and bank account information, only for an even more direct reason. After all, who needs to go through the difficulty of setting up new accounts, when they can just take the money (or use the credit) that you already have?
Finally, your average hacker is also looking to score information on the people you know. The most common method of targeting other people is through the e-mail addresses in your contact list. The reason for this is reasonably simple- they are looking to get new marks, so that they can have a steady stream of people whose information they can steal. As long as they have plenty of different people’s information, it will be extremely hard for law enforcement to get traction in finding or apprehending them.