Security of my college class

[wildred]

OK, unfortunatly I have to sit through a college class entitled microcomputer applications, which basically tests your XP and Office XP skills (cant test out of it either). The problem arises, how secure is the site, and how easy it is to alter the files that are being used to test you. I downloaded the file that essentially contains the quiz, but have yet to figure out how or with what coding it was used to create. Now Im sure most are thinking this guy wants to hack his tests and get a good grade, NO, I don't. Im MOUS certified and this class is a breeze, which is why I want to investigate it. The program is called SAM XP and also piggy-backs with another program called TOM. Weird names, agreed. More so than finding out how the program was created, I want to be "assured" that my grades and other personal information (SS number etc) are secured. I know that when the file loads, it uses Macromedia Flash, but the file extension isnt a flash extension....which is what threw me off. I tried a google search and only came up with a keygen to the file, or companies that use this program. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks....no negs pleeeaasee!

[Lansing_Banda]

My sister used Sam XP. You are right it is easy as pie. I would think it would be relatively secure because it is being used by many colleges, but then again I never really looked through it. I am sure that it could be exploited if someone wanted to. The program wasn't really designed to be used on advanced users, so they may be banking on that.

On that there is one online program that I have to use right now called Edugen. It is something the Halliday publishers thought would be a great idea seeing as how OWL was all successful and what not. But right now there are tons of errors with the page. It basically runs off of Javascript and they are still developing it as we are using it. Just thought I would add a few programs to the debate.

[souleman]

wildred> Word of warning. Make sure the college knows EXACTLY what you are doing and that you have permission from the right people to do it. If you do not have permission, you can be labeled as a hacker and lose computer privlages, be expelled from school, or possibly even prosicuted for breaking into the schools system.

[wildred]

souleman, yes i understand the "Risk" in looking into the program, however, i am not doing anything on the schools side, meaning using their network, and I am also not logging into the web to view any of the materials etc. it is all based on a CD...so unless my professor knows my handle on antionline (which i doubt he does), he nor the school will know....
also, once i have seen the beginnings of a "flaw" thats when i will ask the professor, as well as contact the company making the software, if it is ok to "start" testing the software for security holes....
thank you however for the reminder, i know of many students who go headstrong into cracking/hacking the software AND servers just to make an attempt in changing a grade etc....

ps, does anyone know how i could go abouts finding how the software was encoded? viewing it in notepad does nothing but give mixed characters. Thanks all for your input.