Bangalore: Hackers are a very diverse bunch, a group simultaneously blamed with causing billions of dollars in damages as well as credited for their significant contributions to the internet world. We have always heard of male hackers and the fact is that majority of hacking experts are predominantly men. But what about female hackers? Who would have thought that women could as well enter into this field and master the skill of hacking? When the term “Hacker” was invented in the 60s at MIT, it was definitely an honourable title. Hackers were known for their resourcefulness and their persistence in solving software-related problems. But today the mindset of common people has totally changed when they come across the word Hacking.

Hacking has traditionally been a man’s world, but women are quietly breaking into the hacker subculture. Take a look at top 5 female hackers in the world

Kristina Vladimirovna Svechinskaya

Kristina Svechinskaya, a New York University student is one of the most common names in the hacker’s world. She is Russian money mule maker who was arrested on November 2010 and accused of breaking into millions of dollars from several banks in Britain and America and for usage of multiple fake passports. Svechinskaya was dubbed "the world's sexiest computer hacker" for her raunchy, but casual appearance.

Svechinskaya used Zeus trojan horse to attack thousands of bank accounts along with nine others and opened at least five accounts in Bank of America and Wachovia to disburse the theft money. For all her hacking activities and for using the passports fraudulently it is said that she may have to pay huge penalty of 40 years of imprisonment. It is estimated that with nine other people Svechinskaya had skimmed $3 million in total.