Linux Declared 'Hacker Proof' - MAC fails !!!

[directfiesta]

Vancouver, British Columbia (AHN)-- The Linux running on a Sony Vaio remained undefeated at the end of a three-way computer hacking challenge Friday at the CanSecWest conference.

Sponsors had wagered three laptops to anyone who could hack into one of the systems and run their own software. A $20,000 cash prize sweetened the deal.

The MacBook Air went first; Independent Security Evaluators' Charlie Miller took the Mac after about two minutes work on Thursday. Miller took home $10,000, courtesy of 3Com's TippingPoint division, in addition to the new laptop.

After two days of work, Shane Macaulay finally cracked the tiny Fujitsu laptop running Vista on Friday, with a little help from his friends.

Macaulay said the flaw he exploited was a cross-platform bug that took advantage of Java to circumvent Vista's security.Macaulay said he chose to work on Vista because he had done contract work for Microsoft in the past and was more familiar with its products.

TippingPoint Manager Terri Forslof said several attendees tried to crack the Linux box, but nobody could pull it off. She noted that some had found bugs in the Linux operating system but many of them didn't want to put the work into developing the exploit code that would be required to win the contest.

Interesting ....

[who]

It doesn't really say a lot about the hardware. I'd like to know what security measures were in place on each system, who put them in place, etc.

[SmokeyTheBear]

the prize for hacking the linux box was not enough. Much more money in selling the hack than winning the prize.

[who]

the prize for hacking the linux box was not enough. Much more money in selling the hack than winning the prize.

Interesting point. But surely it would be competitive enough for at least one serious hacker to try his best?

It's all about feats and being better than your fellow hackers, not money.

[SmokeyTheBear]

It's all about feats and being better than your fellow hackers, not money.

Thats what we would like to believe

It's always about the money. There's 1 ethical hacker for every 1000 unethical hackers.

[who]

Thats what we would like to believe

It's always about the money. There's 1 ethical hacker for every 1000 unethical hackers.

Alright but let's say ten hackers could have won the prize by hacking the linux box. Would they all have declined to do so so that they could sell their hack instead of making it public? I think at least one guy would go for the cash, and since you said it's all about the money, surely most of them would try to get it?



Now that I think about it. I am probably only arguing about this for the sake of typing. I don't think I'm right. I'm just arguing

[payd2purv]

I am really not surprised they couldn't hack linux based on how linux is used and who uses it. Holes get found very quickly and are patched just as quick.

[Fap]

haha mac got owned

[d-null]

Does anyone know exactly what this contest required?

So they hand you a laptop and say "hack it"..... what is required to define the words "hack it"?

[Libertine]

Thats what we would like to believe

It's always about the money. There's 1 ethical hacker for every 1000 unethical hackers.

I have to disagree with that. Most hackers I know hack for sport, not profits. Many even spend lots of time contributing code to open source projects, trying to get prestige rather than money.

I used to hack myself, and the biggest reward always was the adrenaline rush whenever I finally got close to breaking an encryption scheme or layer of security.

The very first thing I ever cracked was a really, really lame encryption scheme. I spent about 70 hours working on it non-stop, and the feeling when I finally broke it was better than sex

[Michaelious]

I like how the MAC was the easiest to beat lol

[SmokeyTheBear]

I have to disagree with that. Most hackers I know hack for sport, not profits. Many even spend lots of time contributing code to open source projects, trying to get prestige rather than money.

thats because hackers who hack for profit , dont do it for glory they are unseen and unheard for the most part.

I think if the contest was open to everyone it would be as you say, someone would do it for glory.

[SmokeyTheBear]

Now that I think about it. I am probably only arguing about this for the sake of typing. I don't think I'm right. I'm just arguing

nah, you do have a point, just the contest wasn't open to everyone.

[Libertine]

A minor note on the results: the Mac was hacked because of a hole in Safari. Use Firefox instead, and you should be a fair bit safer.

[VeriSexy]

Nothing is hacker proof

[Emil]

Does anyone know exactly what this contest required?

So they hand you a laptop and say "hack it"..... what is required to define the words "hack it"?

Sponsors had wagered three laptops to anyone who could hack into one of the systems and run their own software.

[Dagwolf]

Unhackable is quite a claim. It hardly seems justified based on the article.

[ladida]

Bullshit contest, as with all other media coverage on "hacking".

Think of how they cover porn and what kind of picture they put to the public about it. It's the same, even worse truth-wise.

[chelo - adultcopywriters]

Nothing is hacker proof

Simply the ultimate truth!

[stickyfingerz]

But wait Mac was hacked BEFORE Vista? It took 2 minutes, and Vista took 2 days. Wait wait wait. Isnt IE a easily hackable thing? And microsoft is a piece of easily virus infected shit? Hmm....

[pornask]

MAC =

[Bojangles]

Ouch. Poor mac.

[Matt 26z]

But wait Mac was hacked BEFORE Vista? It took 2 minutes, and Vista took 2 days. Wait wait wait. Isnt IE a easily hackable thing? And microsoft is a piece of easily virus infected shit? Hmm....

Not only that but the hacker needed help from his friends to get into Vista.

But Apple's target market will never hear about any of this.

[Drake]

I think it's safe to say almost everything can be hacked.

[stickyfingerz]

I think it's safe to say almost everything can be hacked.

And in this particular case it only took 2 MINUTES to hack a BRAND NEW TOP OF THE LINE MAC AIR!

[viencarl]

i wonder how big that mans brain???

[candyflip]

None of them were able to do it in the first day, so the second day they loosened up the restrictions and cut the prize money from $20k, to $10k.

The guy who cracked the Macbook, was one of the first to hack the iPhone.

[Basic_man]

The Macbook Air cracked in 2 minutes... LOLLLLLLLLLLLL

[beta-tester]

Linux is definitely one of the most security platform on the planet!