Geo: Take a look

[Loser]

Originally posted by Arkcon:
Yeah, everyone, myself included tends to whine about exploits/bugs/openings in the Microsoft OS. But someone once told me that the real lack of security is in the UNIX backbone of major systems. They gave me some examples, and all I can say is Administrators just don't put the effort they should in security, and the various UNIX implemetations just aren't designed to be secure from the ground up.

This isn't quite accurate. The problem with Real Operating Systems is that you need Real Skilled People to set them up right. Most flavors of Unix, and most distros of Linux, can be made extraordinarily secure. I believe, Last I heard, that NetBSD was considered the most secure Operating System in existence and I know it runs a great deal, if not most, of the internet.

The problem with MS OSs is that no matter how tight your admin is, no matter how skilled, paranoid, and persistent s/he is, once or twice a year a Big Exploit comes out that completely circumvents all your security.

With Real Operating Systems you can have security, it's just going to cost you. You've got to find a truly qualified individual and pay them to config, patch, update, reconfig, and otherwise fortify it.

[ July 03, 2003, 11:01: Message edited by: Loser ]

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Atrocities:

I would put very little into this story. IF anything happens its because a bunch of dumb Fu** kid hackers didn't get the message that it was a hoax and figured they just didn't get the hacker memo on the Sunday circle hack. People are really dumb at times to believe what they see on TV.

Yeah, Last night I read at /. what the real issue was. San Francisco newspapers were alleging a major hack from some shadowy group. Now I find out its just a Online contest sort of thing to deface websites.

Now I know it's hard work to repair a damaged website. And a small company can lose revenue if it loses its website even for a few days. But seriously, for one day, Pepsi claims Coke is the choice of the new generation, or the HP website links to pr0n. So what.

[Loser]

If it's really an Online contest, I want links to where it's posted. If it were posted anywhere there would be links to it at /. I'm wondering if the whole thing wasn't just the invention of some journalist who now depends on it happening because of the publicity.

It will happen, now, of course. All the little Script Kiddies of the world will be enough to cause disruption, not to mention 'actual' Hackers working their trade. And this is assuming there isn't really a semi-organized effort by elite troublemakers to outdo each other.

Chaos, desolation, pLastic forks.

[mottlee]

IMHO...IF these people (hackers) would STOP doing the stupid things and work to improve the system where do you think we would be?
These people need to get a life (play SEIV)

[Atrocities]

Hell 90% of all the virus programs out come from companies like McAfee and Sysmetic. We all know they are the ones making virus just to propetuate their products.

"Hacking is not a science, it is a sport."

[Slynky]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Hell 90% of all the virus programs out come from companies like McAfee and Sysmetic. We all know they are the ones making virus just to propetuate their products.

"Hacking is not a science, it is a sport."

You are starting to sound like me (cynical). Heck, I wonder if the tissue manufacturers put a chemical on their tissues to induce an additional need to blow your nose ( )

[Gryphin]

Here is the PCworld article on it:
Caution, you will get pop unders
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,111438,00.asp

A couple of blurbs from the page:

Contest organizers have even set up a Web site that outlines the rules of the game. It provides a point system for compromised machines and spells out guidelines for what counts as valid defacement. Windows servers count for 1 point, while HP-UX and Macintosh servers count for 5.

The objective is to deface 6000 Web sites. Organizers are offering a prize of free Web site hosting to the malicious hacker who can reach that goal first or accumulate the greatest number of Web sites in trying to do so, according to information on the site.

Though the contest and Web page may be a joke, ISS has noticed an increase in reconnaissance and probing scans of Web sites that may be connected to the contest, Allor says.