Using the power of cinema, cybercriminals have found a new and ingenious way to carry out their nefarious operations. Instead of concealing themselves in the shadows, they are exposing their schemes to the world by creating characters that people would love to emulate. The rise of technology has given them the chance and as a result, these villains have become some of the most-recognized criminals in film history. In this article, we will be taking a look at the top five cybercrimencers in movies and what made them so dangerous. Are you ready?
The Boss (1955)
Directed by Billy Wilder, The Apartment was one of the most successful films of the 1950s. However, in 1955, a German man named Rudolf Schlichter shot and attempted to kill Wilder. The attempted assassination is what inspired the film and it ended up giving Wilder a new perspective on the world. This is why, in the film, the main character, Walter, is forced to move out of his apartment after Schlichter attempted to kill him. In his new home, Walter meets his new neighbor, The Boss. She is a sadistic and ambitious woman who is hell-bent on destroying her neighbor. When her plans to ruin Walter are foiled, she becomes very deranged and tries to kill Walter herself. The Boss is portrayed by Hedy Lamarr in the film and makes for one of the most interesting cybercriminals in movies.
Gus Van Sant (To Catch a Thief)
In this comedic film directed by Gus Van Sant, a renowned art thief known only as “The Cat” steals a painting by Claude Monet worth $5 million. When the painting is found to be missing, the Metropolitan Museum of Art launches a search for the thief. The thief is tracked down in Paris by an American art expert named Adam Worth, portrayed by Pitt. Worth is a genuine art expert who has made a career out of stealing paintings to sell to museums and he teams up with Adam’s daughter Lena, portrayed by Eva Mendez, to catch The Cat. With a witty script and excellent acting from all the cast, To Catch a Thief is a must-watch for all art lovers. The film highlights how art thieves use the power of cybercrime to steal valuable paintings. The Cat, portrayed by Bruno Ganz, is the most dangerous cybercriminal in the film and the script makes him seem a lot more dangerous than he actually is.
Dr. Watson (The Hidden)
Directed by Whit Stillman, this film follows the story of a New York stockbroker named Martin who is secretly married to his ex-wife. The Hidden follows Martin’s attempts to get back together with his ex-wife, his fight with his bosses, and his failed attempts at love. The Hidden follows Martin’s struggles very closely and makes several references to the stock market. In one scene where Martin and his friends are discussing their investment strategy, Martin says that he is going to “use the same strategy we used last year, to beat the market.” This is the exact strategy cybercriminals use in real life. When Martin’s friend mentions the “newfangled thing called the Internet,” Martin says that he does not understand how it works.
Gary the Computer Program (Her)
This movie directed by Spike Jonze explores the power of love, artificial intelligence, and computer hacking. The film follows the relationship between a man and a computer program called “Samantha.” The movie starts with the man waking up beside a woman. He is confused about who she is and where he is. When the woman tells him that he is in her apartment, he becomes even more confused and asks for help getting out of the apartment. The man is then shown standing outside the apartment building with a group of people and realizes that he is trapped in the woman’s apartment building. The man then asks his phone for help and as he is taking down his phone number, he realizes that he has forgotten his password. A computer program called “Her” then appears on the phone and says that she can help. The man then asks Her to log into his computer and start checking his emails.
Leonard Wolf (Mr. Robot)
This action-thriller directed by Martin Scorsese follows the story of a cybersecurity expert named Leonard Wolf and his quest to unmask the most dangerous cybercriminals in the world. Wolf is a hacker and a former U.S. Marine who retired from the military in order to protect his identity. During the course of the film, Wolf discovers that the most dangerous cybercriminals in the world are using “Dark Army”, a hacking platform developed by the Chinese government. The Dark Army platform enables the cybercriminals to carry out their operations with little to no scrutiny. The Dark Army platform is one of the most dangerous tools cybercriminals have at their disposal and it is the perfect plot device for an action thriller. Mr. Robot is one of the best cybercrime movies of all time and it is exciting to see how hackers are portrayed in the film.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is a top priority for businesses, government agencies, and even individuals these days. It has become essential to protect your computer and smartphone from threats such as viruses, malware, and hacking. The only way to stay safe online is to implement best practices such as updating your software, using strong passwords, and taking advantage of security features in your browser. But, it is not only the consumer who needs to protect themselves online. Businesses, government agencies, and even individuals also need to take precautions to stay safe from cyber threats. It is important to pay attention to the news in order to stay informed about cyber threats and learn how to protect yourself from them.