Computing Now Essay, Research Paper
GUIDE TO (mostly) HARMLESS HACKING
Beginners? Series #2, Section 3.
Hacking from Windows 3.x, 95 and NT
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This lesson will tell you how, armed with even the lamest of on-line
services such as America Online and the Windows 95 operating system, you can
do some fairly serious Internet hacking — today!
In this lesson we will learn how to:
? Use secret Windows 95 DOS commands to track down and port surf computers
used by famous on-line service providers.
? Telnet to computers that will let you use the invaluable hacker tools of
whois, nslookup, and dig.
? Download hacker tools such as port scanners and password crackers designed
for use with Windows.
? Use Internet Explorer to evade restrictions on what programs you can run
on your school or work computers.
Yes, I can hear jericho and Rogue Agent and all the other Super Duper
hackers on this list laughing. I?ll bet already they have quit reading this
and are furiously emailing me flames and making phun of me in 2600 meetings.
Windows hacking? Pooh!
Tell seasoned hackers that you use Windows and they will laugh at you.
They?ll tell you to go away and don?t come back until you?re armed with a
shell account or some sort of Unix on your PC. Actually, I have long shared
their opinion. Shoot, most of the time hacking from Windoze is like using a
1969 Volkswagon to race against a dragster using one of VP Racing?s
high-tech fuels.
But there actually is a good reason to learn to hack from Windows. Some of
your best tools for probing and manipulating Windows networks are found only
on Windows NT. Furthermore, with Win 95 you can practice the Registry
hacking that is central to working your will on Win NT servers and the
networks they administer.
In fact, if you want to become a serious hacker, you eventually will have to
learn Windows. This is because Windows NT is fast taking over the Internet
from Unix. An IDC report projects that the Unix-based Web server market
share will fall from the 65% of 1995 to only 25% by the year 2000.