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Joined: Jul 25, 2007
Posts: 1
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Posted Jul 25, 2007 at 5:32:28 AM
Subject: hackers?

ive heard from a variety of people that hackers use linux, is that true?

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David Graham
Joined Jan 01, 1970
Posts: 43

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Posted: Jul 27, 2007 3:42:57 PM
Subject: hackers?

Yes, hackers, both the computer programmer variety, and the illegal amd malicious user of computers variety, use all operating systems.


David 'cdlu' Graham
Linux.com NewsVac editor

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JohnnyCroddy
Joined Aug 18, 2007
Posts: 15

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Posted: Aug 18, 2007 8:45:32 PM
Subject: hackers?

I believe that when you say hacker it is a misnomer. A hacker is someone who tries to take an existing technology and take it apart (hack) and make it perform better than it did. Make it faster, stronger, able to do what it wasn't designed for . Yes then linux is used by hackers ..in fact it is all about hacking...
Crackers on the other hand ( different from the inbred hillbilly crackers referred to in rap videos ) are people who try to by pass security , gain access to places they are not welcome, exploit system flaws. Yes linux is used by crackers too. Being open source it can be manipulated by "hackers" and can perform tasks that windows will never be equipped to perform.

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paraplegicpanda
Joined Sep 21, 2007
Posts: 4

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Posted: Sep 21, 2007 1:56:54 AM
Subject: hackers?

i r teh hax0rz anz i sh4llz r00t ur he4d.

Okay, that was lame, but I really wanted to do it. Now that it's out of my system, I have to agree with JohnnyCroddy and expand on his explanation.

The first thought that usually runs through the normal end-users mind when they hear the term hacker is as follows: Malicious, money-hungry, pre-pubescent kids in their unwashed clothes sitting in a dark room in front of a bright computer screen trying to break into innocent peoples computers, disrupt the technological end of the government, and create evil viruses to roam around the internet and cause mayhem. These are your "super" crackers.

These people do exist, but in rare cases. They, more than likely, use a basic Unix shell and absolutely nothing else. This is because it allows them absolute access to build an absolute operating system that only sends or receives the information that the person wants. They, in that sense, do not use Linux. A NORMAL cracker may use either Linux OR Windows, simply based on their preference. They write scripts that will run on the base of their chosen operating system and run those scripts with malicious purposes. The last and most basic version of the cracker is referred to in the "-Hat" world as a script-kiddie. They normally use Windows and download scripts written for research, then use those scripts to cause trouble.

Now a REAL hacker is exactly as JohnnyCroddy pointed out. Hackers work for the federal government, small business, security firms, high schools, colleges, universities, and just about anywhere that has a network. Any "admin" can be considered a hacker in that he is at least somewhat qualified to hack into and modify the systems on his network. Anybody studying for a network administration, network security, information security, or even a programming degree is essentially studying to become a hacker.

Hackers are also referred to by a "-Hat" system: White-Hats (normal, non-malicious hackers), Black-Hats (crackers), and Grey-Hats (border-line hackers/crackers).

Ultimately, the answer to your question is like an undefined variable. There is a large portion of each population in the world of programming that uses Windows, another large portion that uses Linux, and another that dual-boots. It's hard to say what they will use, but maybe we will someday have some studies... Possibly the visit information from illmob.org would be a good indicator, but until IllWill gets out of jail, we probably won't have any access to that information.

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kianne
Joined Sep 26, 2007
Posts: 2

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Posted: Sep 26, 2007 3:52:53 AM
Subject: hackers?

Quote deaf_dumb_blind:
ive heard from a variety of people that hackers use linux, is that true?


Hacker is often used by the mass media to refer to a person who engages in computer cracking and is also often used by those in computing fields to refer to a person who is a computer enthusiast.

sometimes hacking is vulnerable to a person who no deep knowledge about computer, some are not conscious about public and private in computer web, some are vulnerable in hacking because of their own negligent. I just want to raise a basic example, some users are not conscious about software installed, they don't know what they left behind, they are innocence. this are common! I heard from my friend in Barcelona , they are strongly campaigning about hacking and cracking, information drive is more important.

they do it by Linux as well as other OS! Linux is not responsible for it, I think.. Like what I said earlier " refer to a person who is a computer enthusiast."

[Modified by: kianne on September 26, 2007 03:56 AM]

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Clever
Joined Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 4

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Posted: Nov 16, 2007 1:34:51 AM
Subject: hackers?

Hackers DO use linux
Hackers ALSO use windows
Hackers ALSO use Unix

But hackers generally don't "take over someones computer" as the media has portrayed. Crackers do that type of thing, and they are usually (as said before) little 12 yr olds with no life who downloaded a publicly available script and tried it on a random IP address. (these are also called script-kiddies, or skiddies for short)
Normal (white hat) hackers are just programmers and IT pros who generally work for a company or organization to keep their networks safe.

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casmlsdjf
Joined Dec 14, 2007
Posts: 11

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Posted: Dec 14, 2007 10:08:22 AM
Subject: hackers?

In my experience 90% of "hackers" are script kiddies that use windows because that is the only operating system they know of.

However there are quite a bit of talented users out there and to be any good at all you will have to use all tools available. Access multiple filesystems, encryptions, zipped files.

Computer Forensic experts use linux.

Under the new so-called "patriot act" the police can enter your apartment go-through (and take) your stuff. They are not going to try to guess your windows password, they are going to boot off of a linux CD transphere (or plant) the evidence via USB and leave without a trace (unless they are going to wreck your place anyway).

BTW, worry about WTC7 not hackers.
[Modified by: casmlsdjf on December 14, 2007 10:09 AM]

If you don't know what WTC7 means find out as quickly as possible. After that look into the forensic evidence. The proof is out there.

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netcat
Joined Mar 26, 2008
Posts: 24

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Posted: Mar 26, 2008 11:29:28 AM
Subject: hackers?

Hackers don't use all the OS's. They pick up the one that is well suited to their needs and shape it up. well... they know how to operate all the OS's and if they dont they make sure to learn it cause its learning ,reading and trying out things that makes a hacker not the OS.

/nc

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