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Thread: To beat the man, you got to be the man

  1. #1
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    Unhappy To beat the man, you got to be the man

    Here's a question I've been pondering for a little while now....

    It takes a hacker to beat a hacker (using term loosely, especially after the whole discussion in tread http://www.antionline.com/showthrea...threadid=226228)

    Now here's the question, people come and go from this site, some formulate their question and ideas in wrong manners, by either attempting social enginnering, oblivious newbie question/speach, and so on. Yet, aren't we suppose to show them the way of the ropes if they truly want to become security "guru's"?

    I understand that some are just stupid people, asking retarded questions like: "how do I hack hotmail...." and have dumb reasons/excuses for their questioning.

    Yet some people ask questions that are borderline and get flamed....

    Which leaves to wonder, why ask... or like ASPII said: "to avoid getting flamed, don't post"

    And then it leaves me thinking this....

    This site denotes the mentallity and practice of hacking. But must we not know how a hacker works? I understand that some things we all agree that we should do and know about our networks, but what about writing virii? It's great that we can all buy software from McAfee or Symantec, but they never all work the best....

    So, are we to be condoned on practices of things like writing viruses or decompiling?

    I know that others have already been ahead of myself and others, practicing what some consider forbidden practices or taboo, which, their experiences could serve me good for the future....

    What is the line in the sand that seperates permitted actions and actions of wrong?

    What would make me an outcast of this culture, this community?

    Here's something most people will probably condone. I have not done but figured it would be a good question. What if Joe Brown has a website. I want to use the same software a Joe Brown for my website and wanted to check the security of it. I decide to "hack" it, to check it's vulnerability and strenght, without defacing or damaging a thing? Would I be wrong in doing so, or would this be ethical?

    Some things are understood to be out-of-bounds, yet, after looking over this tread (http://www.antionline.com/showthrea...threadid=226380) I'm left to ask, what are the pre-set limits?

    Is hacking or being a hacker always illegal?

  2. #2
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    Hey Tyger_Claw,
    Could you check the links you posted? They just led to a "This Page Not availabe" notice. As to your hypothetical question I would say, "If you want to test Joe's software, ask him first." I have to admit some of the things I see on this site do bother me. One of these is asking for software "cracks." I think if this is a security site that kind of thing shouldn't be allowed.
    For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    (Romans 6:23, WEB)

  3. #3
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    I don't think it is illeigial. Thats why companies hire security officers!

  4. #4
    In the true sense of the word, 'hacking' doesn't mean anything negative at all. 'Hacking' or being a 'hacker' are simply the terms applied and given to someone who has a thirst for computer and security knowledge, who sits down every day and tries to learn the ins and outs of a program or system, not for malicious or evil intent, but for the pure benefit of knowledge. The media has skewed the terms 'hacking' and a 'hacker' to always denote something negative, but in reality, it's really not. So in relation to your question, I'd say 'hacking' or being a 'hacker' isn't illegal at all, but in reality actually a good quality to possess. A lot of the members here are true 'hackers.' But it was the original, old school 'hackers' that started it all. They are truly elite.
    - Maverick

  5. #5
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    Sure thing Preacherman... sorry about that... cut & paste don't seem to work right....

    First link: http://www.antionline.com/showthread...&postid=501317
    Second link: http://www.antionline.com/showthread...&postid=501310

  6. #6
    Webius Designerous Indiginous
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    IMHO, I think that the word hacker describes all of us on both sides. Although one makes a choice wheteher to be a "malicious hacker" or to be a "constructive hacker". I believe that all hackers are inherently the same, its just what they do with their knowledge that seperates them. This site was designed and set up to help those of us that are of the constructive side. I don't agree with all the flaming, but if its going to stop someone from taking up a place on the wrong side.. so be it. I know that some questions are a bit on the edge though. In that case people here make a judgement call and respond accordingly. If the person getting flamed begins to retort in a less than desired way, then go for it. On the other hand they may realize that the question they asked was a bit shady sounding, and if they rephrase it to ask a viable security related question, then I would be glad to give any thing I can to help.

    As far as knowing how a hacker works. There are many people on this site that have a great wealth of knowledge. If you listen and learn everything you see, then you will know how a hacker thinks, because in essence, you will become one.

    I hope I didn't get to off the topic.

    xmaddness

  7. #7
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    You are pretty much on topic....

    It's just a question that, where does it all come down to?

  8. #8
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    It all comes down to 3 things Morals, Standards, Ethics. Windows is a good name cause like any house you can with a bit of effort break one and enter a neighbors house. Morals wise if you see a web site and wish to borrow a tool, then ask the owner to borrw the tool. Old days like 1992 or so hacks were usually between students and they may have been using Unix talk in short everyone agreed to a so called bump me off line game, that would be a standard would you walk behind someone smack them in the head? Look you find a fault in a system do you know their end. Jump to the it is their fault is not right do you know they may have just been the first person hired as an Admin to pathc the system that was but patch work from consultants? Is this their fault, do you understand their prespective of maybe 50 or 100 users while working through network setup's having to deal with how do I chance my screen saver? I agree with Preacher on so many issues, you cannot and should not look at any sys and say hey it's Admins fault if you know nothing of the enviroment they work in. Before you even think Admin is lame not addressing security issues, ask first is Admin a colsultant setting up the next paid visit or securing the system. In my case before me it was all set up for the next visit by the consultant. Morals, Standards and Ethics of humanity are not hard they are basic rights of all people, just cause you invade those right using the web will not has not and will never make it right. Oops off the soapbox, guess my sig says the point
    I believe that one of the characteristics of the human race - possibly the one that is primarily responsible for its course of evolution - is that it has grown by creatively responding to failure.- Glen Seaborg

  9. #9
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    To beat the man, you have to be better than the man.

    Ethics?

    People throw around that term here like crazy...,

    Is doing x, to y's z ethical?

    If it is, and you aren't y and that isn't your z, then unless he says its cool, then I want to see the ethical system you are operating under.

    If I took a crap on your lawn, in order to fertilize a dying patch, would you consider that ethical?

    If one of these young kids in here toiletpapers your house, because they think it would be an aesthetical addition, is that ok?

    p or -p

    If you have to ask if something is ethical, then it is likely you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

    (Please, if you take this as an attack, understand that this is coming from a guy, that at his college's room lottery, peeked inside the envelope when he picked in order to get a better number..., it worked. After three years of having a roommate, I finally have a single room. This is not ethical either, yet I did it. Which makes me sound like a hypocrite, but I never said ought, therefore I did not imply that you should do anything, and thus I don't have to do anything which applies to the above. So I am fine, and we have just killed ethics as a topic of discussion. )

    What can be shown, cannot be said.[4.1212]

    So, did I say or show that? Touche, Wittgenstein. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, my ass.
    [3.28]
    [6.54]
    [7]

    dhej

  10. #10
    Hi



    I am not an expert hacker and am still very much a newbie (albeit an older newbie) but i feel that hacking is an excellent way of letting people know that whatever they do in the world of computers is not very safe at all and if they want / need privacy security etc , then they should be very careful what they do with their technology

    The above, i feel is the state of the real world...


    BUT
    ideally:

    I also feel that if you hack in order to "use" a tool, get info etc etc (ie steal) then that is not right... Is it ok to break into someones house through their window in order to use one of their tools, or get something they have that you don't?

    All in all i reckon that non malicious hacking is a good thing making people aware how vulnerable they are and to remind them to be careful
    There, feel better for that

    DaveH
    -----------------------------
    it\'s all 1001011001 to me!

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