The reference to a "Cracker" getting access to your Mac is the wrong terminology. A "Hacker" is the person trying to gain access to a system. A "Cracker" or [k]racker is that individual who spends their time gaining access to software. Be it by Serial Number generating, creating a [k]rack to make a certain demo into a full blown working version (usually as a stand-alone application patch to apply to the demo), or [k]ing a the demo itself into a full version.
Certainly a [k]racker would never want to gain access to your system. Hacking and Cracking are two different forms of study. One needs C+ and disassembly training and the other needs Basic and network training (as a starter). You have to sit back and think "Why would someone actually Hack into my system?" unless you were a high-profile attack. Nobody is going to risk jail time doing something that doesn't have the right amount of risk involved, even the guy starting out. Also, turn off File Sharing and your Mac is basically impenetrable especially on a dial-up connection. It takes a LOT of talent to gain access to a dial-up system and a LOT of stupidity on the system owners side. And those people don't want to gain access to your systems to begin with. As for the term "Script Kiddies"... These are people who actually enjoy the Trojan or Virus field of study. There are even more and more of these around now because this is usually where the beginner starts after making their first two or three useful apps out of programming school. Also, no legit Hacker or Cracker would let anyone know they did such work (outside the community) since each offense (or [k]) has huge punishment penalties and something nobody talks about in open forum. Just my 2�. Philip Stortz wrote: > "mostly macs are relatively safe because they are a small population > segment, most of the machines out there are pc's running windows so > that's what crackers (as opposed to legit hackers like myself who don't > try to steal things but just to play with their machines and software) > spend thier time with," ... > "corporate espionage has always been big (bigger than any large company > will admit, though they're usually in it as well as thier competitors) > which means there can be a financial reward to cracking into the right > machine. a freelance cracker can offer to sell the data to a > competitor, or try to blackmail you etc. some of the crackers are real > pro's that are in it for the $$, others are just "script kiddies" out to > have fun by messing things up." -- SuperMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | Service & Replacement Parts [EMAIL PROTECTED] | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> SuperMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/supermacs/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/supermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
