07/03/2003, 9:00am, EDT

Thursday, July 3rd

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Hackers offered most points to hack a Mac

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The hacker defacement contest, which is expected to kick off on Sunday, will award free hosting services, Web mail, unlimited E-mail forwarding, and a domain name of choice to hackers who can break into various Websites, according to InformationWeek. The contest offers the most points for hackers who are successful in hacking a Mac: "Web-site defacement points will be awarded based on the type of operating system running the Web site. Defacement of Web sites running Windows will only win a single point, while sites running Linux, Unix, and BSD are each worth three points. Sites running AIX, IBM's version of Unix, are worth three points, while sites running HP-UX, Hewlett-Packard's version of Unix, and Macintosh, Apple's operating system, are worth up to five points."

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118116 07/03, 9:15am, EDT LOL!

That's amusing.

Although why is hacking encouraged?
It would be funny though if they can't get into Apple site yet they do into MS's.

can't wait for the results.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118117 07/03, 9:20am, EDT Great Honor

It's a great honor that the Mac is recognized as very difficult to hack. Let's hope it lives up to its reputation. And as far as promoting hacking, I think it's actually a good thing since any vulnerabilities that are found can be fixed.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118118 07/03, 9:24am, EDT Maybe...

" It's a great honor that the Mac is recognized as very difficult to hack"

Maybe the extra points would be awarded if anyone could actually find a website running OSX. I mean, they can't be that common, can they?

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118121 07/03, 9:32am, EDT We all know who is gonna

Well, I guess MacOSRumors should probably just shut down over the length of the contest. Hell, even I could probably hack them :). (JOKE for all you slow people).

For the record they run on OS X.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118125 07/03, 9:45am, EDT The U.S. Army is one?

Last I heard, the United States army site (www.army.mil) was hosted on a Macintosh. They used to run it off an NT Server, but switched in late 1999 after one too many successful hacks. (See http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/news/Sep1999/a19990901hacker.html for the full story.)

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118126 07/03, 9:49am, EDT Hey

For all you kiddies getting your pimples in a knot over this "contest", please understand that you will not be doing the world a favour by defacing someone's website. You won't be uncovering any undiscovered vulnerabilities, and you certainly won't be considered an Internet hero.

In reality you will be considered a fucking jackoff for causing a bunch of work for legitimate webmasters who don't have the time to put up with this type of shit.

The results of a "hacking contest" are only valid if the hacks take place in a controlled environment where they can be closely monitored, not out in the wild where there are too many variables.

The rule to remember here is "If it's not yours, don't touch it".

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118127 07/03, 9:49am, EDT Macintosh????

i thought the operating system was called OSX, not Macintosh.
how many point for hacking ASIP?
b.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118129 07/03, 9:51am, EDT Website Hacking

Such hacking is the electronic equivalent of throwing rocks through windows. The only difference it is takes more skill - just as juvenile an attitude, but more skill - skill which could be used for much more productive purposes. These kids (and I'm referring to their emotional age, not their physical age) need to be spanked and put to bed without their suppers.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118133 07/03, 10:02am, EDT Bad Reporting

First off, OS X would probably qualify as a BSD OS since it is running Apache on BSD, so it would be a 3 point OS. "Macintosh OS" is probably hacker speak for OS 9. BTW, I think the points are to encourage people attacking Macs, not a result of their respect for the platform.

Secondly, this story is being reported irresponsibly. MacNN makes it sound like another Hack-A-Mac challenge which is a very useful contest (since they target a single, known machine) but rather this is a group of stupid hackers trying to swing their ****s in the breeze and they should be recognized as such.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

118138 07/03, 10:31am, EDT Hackin

This contest is irresponsible. Furthermore, MacNN is equally irresponsible by printing it. I agree, this is just motivation for more people to try and hack Macs.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

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