Star CanSecWest: Countering Misinformation
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 30th Mar 2008 20:35 UTC
Privacy, Security, Encryption As you surely know by now, the CanSecWest conference was the stage for a contest, PWN to OWN. Three laptops were set up; laptops running Windows Vista, Ubuntu Linux, and Mac OS X. The goal was to hack the computer and read the contents of a file located on each of the machines, using a 0day code execution vulnerability. During the first day, you can only attack the machine over the network, without physical access. On the second day, user interaction comes into play (visiting a website, opening an email). On the third and final day, third-party applications are added to the mix. Each machine had the same cash prize on its head. As you all know, the Mac was hacked first, on day two. The user only had to visit a website, and the Mac was hacked. Vista got hacked on the third day using a security hole in Adobe's Flash, and the Ubuntu machine did not get hacked at all. Update: Roughly Drafted responds.
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Sodki
Member since:
2005-11-10

If I'm not mistaken, the cracker keeps the computer, right? If that is so, the MacBook Air was the first computer to be compromised because everyone wanted it. Nobody is interested in a VAIO VGN-TZ37CN. :-)

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jadeshade Member since:
2007-07-10

The CD-ROM attack vector? Totally sealed off.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 5

irbis Member since:
2005-07-08

the MacBook Air was the first computer to be compromised because everyone wanted it. Nobody is interested in a VAIO VGN-TZ37CN. :-)

Nonsense. I would much rather have a Vaio than the a Macbook Air. Despite design undoubtly being a major selling point of Macbook Air, I'm not even sure if it looks better than Vaio? Besides, MacBook Air lacks many features that I would like my laptop to have.

Edited 2008-03-30 21:54 UTC

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WereCatf Member since:
2006-02-15

Nonsense. I would much rather have a Vaio than the a Macbook Air. Despite design undoubtly being a major selling point of Macbook Air, I'm not even sure if it looks better than Vaio? Besides, MacBook Air lacks many features that I would like my laptop to have.

Me too, really. MacBook Air looks good but the Vaio just suits me a whole lot better ;) Had I had the skills to hack my way into the Vaio machine it would already be mine ;)

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google_ninja Member since:
2006-02-05

If I'm not mistaken, the cracker keeps the computer, right? If that is so, the MacBook Air was the first computer to be compromised because everyone wanted it. Nobody is interested in a VAIO VGN-TZ37CN. :-)



What about 10,000$? (the other part of the prize)

Edited 2008-03-30 22:42 UTC

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infekt Member since:
2008-03-30

Same. I'd pick the Vaio over any mac. I like the design of the macs but I don't like to be locked to one particular piece of hardware. But I've always had a soft-spot for Sony gear.

Edited 2008-03-30 23:21 UTC

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pxa270 Member since:
2006-01-08

If I'm not mistaken, the cracker keeps the computer, right? If that is so, the MacBook Air was the first computer to be compromised because everyone wanted it. Nobody is interested in a VAIO VGN-TZ37CN. :-)

The facts that each of the 3 machines was accompanied by its own cash prize, that the contest continued after the Mac was cracked but neither of the other 2 machines was compromised on the second day, and that $10,000 buys you 5 MacBook Airs, pretty much invalidates any argument that the Mac was only cracked so fast because the laptop was such an aluring target.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 12