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 Just who is Mr Gibbons?

 Author:  Topic:  Posted:
Dec 19, 2001
 Comments:
I really do wonder if all the (and at this point the S**t hits the fan) Hackers/Hackerz/Crackers/Crackerz out there, who felt so strongly about Mr G's wonderful story, ever took the time out to think (this is where you use your brain and not your voice, using which ever spoken language your subconscious wants to use) about the following questions before getting all worked up:
    1. Just who is this guy?
      2. Is it really a guy?
        3. Perhaps this is just another freak story, created by somebody incredible funny and witty, just to see the response that it causes?
          4. != is not quite as annoying as people who insist on using ż's to make faces in their email.
            On a personal point, even though I have little experience with computers compared to the historical escapades of the Hacker/Cracker who perhaps once hacked/cracked NASA just to turn a single letter around (is this a real story or just another urban myth?), I have managed (well I hope I have managed) to include line breaks, paragraphs or what ever you want to call them. And yes it did take 10 or so minutes to work it out, and yes it had loads of errors at the bottom when I was submitting, but I hope it works out OK, or it's just more crap I'll no doubt get later.
              Anyway, I look foward to Mr. Gibbons reply to this, as I look foward to all the abuse I'm no doubt going to get ożo


                     
              Tweet

              A big load of BS (1.00 / 2) (#1)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 05:49:36 AM PST
              i dun know who this gibbons guy is but all i can say about monkey mans article on hacking is it is the biggest load of bs i have ever read and im not sure where he got that info from, prolly out of his ass :P, but as i can say linux is a sweet os and is running on at least 50% of all the webservers in the world and at my house out of my 10 computers 8 of em run on various versions of linux, and plus linux is used because it is hard to hack not only used by hackers, so there get some sense into your head go out learn some shit about computers and then think about your comments you made.


              Wake up (5.00 / 1) (#3)
              by westgeof on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 07:53:29 AM PST
              The tagline for Adequacy is 'News for Grown-ups,' so until you can learn to speak like one I'd suggest you stay off your parents' computer and go back to you nintendo.

              You say the article is untrue, yet fail to give even a single example, along with evidence to prove that said example is false. Linux may be 'sweet' as you say, and you're entitled to that opinion. In my opinion Linux is completely useless; all it allows you to do is run pseudo-unix on a system not designed for it. If you want Unix, which is a good system for professional programmers, buy a computer designed for Unix and install a real version on it.

              You claim that linux is used on over half the webservers in the world, but again fail to provide any support other than 'because I said so.' Even funnier is your claim that linux is hard to hack. I honestly cracked up on that one. Linux is the easiest os to crack into, the only reason it isn't done more often is because it's not used very much. Nobody cares enough about it to make it a target for hacking.

              8 out of 10 computers, eh? Is that supposed to be impressive? Well, I don't actually refer to my toaster as a computer, but that's your choice. However many you really do have, though, it's seems like such a wast to use linux. After all, there's absolutely nothing you can do with a linux system that you can't do on a windows system.

              It looks to me like you're the one who needs to learn more about computers, rather than spouting off lies and unsupported accusations. I get so sick of people who rabidly defend linux and yet to this day have not provided one convincing argument for using it as opposed to windows or macOS. The part that really gets on my nerves is the fact that they portray microsoft as an immensly evil organization, when it's no different than any other sucessful company. I don't see any linux freaks boycotting gasoline or not using a telephone.


              As a child I wanted to know everything. Now I miss my ignorance.

              be careful (none / 0) (#4)
              by nathan on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 08:18:17 AM PST
              Ten computers? It may be that he's just a kid, but he could also be a subhuman GNU hippie. In that case, you had better watch it. Subhuman GNU hippies are just as likely to be of the libertarian as the left-wing varieties, and the former pack some serious heat.

              My thoughts are with you in this difficult time. Remember, keep your vest on, and call the police sooner, not later, if anything suspicious happens.

              Good luck,
              Nathan
              --
              Li'l Sis: Yo, that's a real grey area. Even by my lax standards.

               
              blah (1.00 / 1) (#5)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 08:42:03 AM PST
              the thing what Linux does have, and which windows is lacking, is "stability".

              there you got an argument why to run Linux instead of Windows.


              Nice 'try' (5.00 / 1) (#6)
              by westgeof on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 09:47:17 AM PST
              Is that really the best you can do? That's pretty sad. It's not even explicit. Do you mean mental stability? Probably not, but you didn't say. I'll assume though that you mean it doesn't crash and require rebooting as much.

              That only servers to prove that you don't know what you're talking about. If you're going to bash windows, try runing a version newer than 3.1. Either that, or start coming up with some facts. I'm still wating for something besides "because I said so."


              As a child I wanted to know everything. Now I miss my ignorance.

              Oh, Mr Pot, how your blackness sickens me (1.00 / 1) (#8)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 10:59:44 AM PST
              start coming up with some facts.

              This is amusing. This is very amusing. You appear to be engaged in the internet equivalent of two bald men fighting over a comb.


              Are you being racist now? (5.00 / 1) (#10)
              by westgeof on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 12:00:21 PM PST
              Is that an attempt to change the subject?

              If you give up just say so, but until then I'm simply waiting for some facts. Don't try shifting the burdon of proof on to me, you're the one who made the baseless claim that linux is actually useful, so either provide some facts to back up your claim or confess that you don't know what you're talking about.


              As a child I wanted to know everything. Now I miss my ignorance.

              No, as I am also black (none / 0) (#12)
              by because it isnt on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 05:32:46 PM PST
              First of all, I'm not the original Anonymous Reader who made the claim that Linux is useful. I just find it amusing that you rant on about "lack of facts" whilst making the counter-allegation that Linux is not useful - also with a lack of facts.

              The facts are that determining Linux's usefulness (or lack thereof) requires a context; a person to whom Linux either is, or isn't, useful. Linux is useful to little Johnny, as it makes it easy to r00t b0x3n on the Internet from the comfort of Daddy's PC.

              Personally, I couldn't give a monkey's ass about Linux, but as a professional programmer, I find the GNU compilers to be useful, and Pearl scripts come in very handy now and again.
              adequacy.org -- because it isn't

              Linux vs. Windows (none / 0) (#14)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 07:52:19 PM PST
              It's a fair assumption that everyone has their own personal needs and tastes, so with that in mind, the ever-raging "Which OS is better?" question is put into perspective.

              One comment was made saying "Linux is more stable". I don't personally use Linux for anything more than a learning/playing type of an OS. It runs on my secondary computer (not my seventh *innocent whistle*), and I just play with it every now and then. As for stability, it may very well be more stable. Windows is a quite complicated system of programs, which takes a -LOT- of programming, which most can't claim to be able to do. It's often overlooked as a "buggy" system, which is a shame. Any good coder will tell you that mistakes do happen. There's just no way to be sure that something is going to work 100% of the time for 100% of the population. Linux on the other hand doesn't require such a complicated code as Windows (keeping in mind it's a GUI [Graphical User Interface] vs. a "console" [DOS-type] OS), so it may be more stable, but it doesn't have the exact same features that Windows has, nor visa-versa. What Linux lacks in GUI, it makes up for in brute control. Linux, or any flavor of Unix for that matter, is an OS which gives INCREDIBLE control over the computer, and is also a true multitasking OS (well, I'm not so sure about Linux, but I know Unix is). Windows devotes a small portion of processing power to each task in a uniform manner so as each task gets a "turn" until it's completed, whereas Unix completes all tasks at the same time.

              So, just like choosing a car, it all comes down to how one wants to use the OS, the features the user feels comfortable with, and the basic tastes of the user.

              So to claim one OS is better than another is a bit of an ignorant statement, as to one user Linux may rule supreme, and to another Windows is a must-have.

              There's some facts, and a bit of a perspective change. Neat, isn't it?

              Knowledge is power:
              www.microsoft.com
              www.linux.org
              www.linux.com
              www.redhat.com



               
              Praise the Lord... (none / 0) (#23)
              by Anonymous Reader on Thu Dec 27th, 2001 at 05:42:21 PM PST
              > As a child I wanted to know everything. Now I miss my ignorance.

              Suffer no more. The Lord in His infinite has granted you your wish.


               
              hold up... (none / 0) (#17)
              by NAWL on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 10:17:55 PM PST
              Even funnier is your claim that linux is hard to hack. I honestly cracked up on that one. Linux is the easiest os to crack into, the only reason it isn't done more often is because it's not used very much. Nobody cares enough about it to make it a target for hacking.

              First you claim that Unix is a quality OS. Then later you tell the poster to learn more about computers. I think you should. Unix/Linux/BSD systems have been known for having a better secruity model than Windows. Hell Microsoft's buddies at the Gartner Group say that people should stop using IIS.

              1 2

              I suggest that you do some research on comparisons between the Unix/Linux/BSD security model and the Windows security model.




              Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?

               
              How many computers? (5.00 / 1) (#7)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 10:15:33 AM PST
              I have two computers in my home, both run the latest version of Windows, which is XP, because I always want to stay on the cutting edge of technology. I've even installed those so-called Beta copies of Microsoft's products before just to be sure that the absolute latest functionality is at my fingertips.

              Quite a bit of my time at home is spent on one or the other of these machines. Usually when I'm on one one of the kids will be on another. I'd say that I do more computer work than your average person anyway. What gets me about your post is that you claim to have 10 computers in your home! Amazing! Considering that I do quite a bit of work on the home computer, and I have four kids who use them as well, I can't imagine what use a home could have for 10 of the things. Unless, of course, the use of Linux limits the functionality of the machines to such a degree that you need 10 to do the work of my 2 Windows ones.

              I heard that Linus doesn't have the windows like Windows has, I heard that you have to get some other software to do the windows. To me, that would make you need more computers becuase if you wanted to write a letter and maybe play Solitaire at the same time you wouldn't be able to, becuase you would have only one window. That seems like a serious flaw to me and I can't imagine how anyone could say that Linix is as good as Windows when you can only run one program at a time.


              what? (none / 0) (#16)
              by NAWL on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 10:04:02 PM PST
              Unless, of course, the use of Linux limits the functionality of the machines to such a degree that you need 10 to do the work of my 2 Windows ones.

              IBM eBusiness server running Linux can replace 30 Sun servers and up to 50 Windows servers. Don't believe me? Check IBM for yourself. No I will not give you a link. What, your fingers broken?

              What gets me about your post is that you claim to have 10 computers in your home!

              My son has 7 (3/Red Hat Linux, 1/Redmond Linux, 1/MacOSX Server, 2/WindowsXP). He's a Network Engineer and she's a Systems Analyst. The have four kids. The computers are used for file and web servers, desktops for the kids and teaching tools for the older kids. My son also teaches some neighborhood HS kids about networking (most HS tech instructors are uncertified dumbasses that have never seen a trackball). He think it's a good idea to teach them about multi platform networks.

              I heard that Linus doesn't have the windows like Windows has, I heard that you have to get some other software to do the windows. I think you mean Linux not Linus. Linux is a kernel. So yes it needs additional software. Hell so do kernel32, NTkernel, and NTOSkrnl. Can you guess what OSes those are for? I'll give you a hint Win----. Linux distros that have a GUI (there are some that are task specific like corporate firewalls that fit on a floppy (do that with MS Windows)) have a very nice windowing system called Xfree86 or X11. Most distros already include this. They also include your choice of windows managers like KDE, GNOME/Ximian, etc.

              I believe that you are thinking of WinE which allows you to run Windows programs under Linux This is not to be confused with WinTel or VirtualPc which let you run Windows programs on a Mac. vmware also let's you run multiple instances of a OS on the same machine at the same time.




              Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?

               
              Yes i do have 10 computer (none / 0) (#19)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 11:49:34 PM PST
              Firstly: let me rephrase i have 3 computer running windows.

              Secondly: the reason i have 10 computers is because i have 2 laptops which belong to my parents, on desktop belonging to my sister also running windows and the other computers are runnning 2xRedhat boxes which are running counterstrike servers 2xdebian boxes running quake 3 servers as then i have a hack box running what ever version of linux i fell like putting on it and my box running debian,

              Thridly: the reson why i have so machines is that i bought them cheap from my fathers work as they were upgradin there servers and these computers were simply to small for the load they were getting and were crashing frequewntly so , i took the chance of buying them to do something with them, aslo one off them runs our cable internet connection to the net and has bin up for 320 days now althought it doesnt do much werk the machine is good for stability and that is exactly what i like about linux, and sometimes my machine does get switched over to win2k for playing games as that is what windows is good for, so that is my reply.


               
              Dear Mr Ianwt, (5.00 / 2) (#9)
              by otak on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 10:59:46 AM PST
              I think posts like yours have been the most disheartening thing about the response to "Is Your Son a Computer Hacker?". I'm sure we were all expecting the sundry crooks and vandals of the internet to set to work flooding the discussion with "U SUKC AND YU KNOW NOTHING ABUOT COMPUTARS!!"-type comments, as indeed they have. There is nothing that these criminals fear more than good citizens knowing the truth about their activites.

              However amongst the poorly-spelled personal abuse there have been even more disturbing comments - seemingly intelligent people suggesting that the article is a 'joke', or some sort of 'satire'. I'm not sure if these people are trying to 'laugh off' the article because they sincerely believe it to be humour, or because they are hackers attempting to discredit what they know to be the truth. Perhaps they are simply the unwitting tools of hacker propaganda - 'useful idiots', to use Lenin's term for American socialists who undermined their own government during the cold war (and indeed there are disturbing parallels between communist thought and hacker's anti-property agenda).

              Either way, I'd like to help stop this kind of irresponsible speculation and hopefully dispell some of the mist of lies and distortions that the hacking community has cast about Adequacy's attempt to tell people the truth:

              THIS ARTICLE WAS SERIOUS. BEING A HACKER IS THE SAME THING AS BEING A CROOK. IF YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN YOU WILL PROTECT THEM FROM THE HACKER 'COMMUNITY', JUST AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM FROM THE DRUG-DEALER 'COMMUNITY'.

              once again: THIS ARTICLE WAS NOT A JOKE.

              Thank you for your kind attention.

              sincerely,
              otak


              I disagree with the anti-hacker ideas (none / 0) (#11)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 12:28:50 PM PST
              First of all, the "Is your child a computer hacker" article was full of many mistakes and seemed like something coming from the Landover Baptist church ( horribly close-minded Baptists who seem to think everything is some sexually deviant thing to corrupt children. ) I discredit it because of the errancies and because it seemed too similar to the Brady Bunch to be taken seriously.

              Next, I would like to say point out the difference between White Hat and Black Hat hackers. Black Hats are the vandals, also known as "crackers" who break into sites to destroy things, create viruses, and insist on poor grammar and spelling. White Hats are the ones who have brought computer technology to where it is today. Jobs could include programming, network administration, security consultant, antivirus researcher, engineer, etc. To deny anyone's curiosity to learn about computing could hamper their abilities for a future career. Like anything, there is a right and a wrong way to use it - only in this case the media has made EVERY individual who knows about computers into a black hat.

              I'll make a simple, not well thought-out analogy. Law enforcement has many "tricks of the trade" and the laws themselves are so intricate that law school takes a while to get through. A person who was so interested might be able to take their knowledge of the system and the abilities of the detective team in order to get away with a crime with relative ease. To tell your child they are not permitted to read any detective articles in newspapers, magazines, or watch them on television would be silly - and for the same reason.

              It mostly comes down to morals. I feel fairly confident I could break into several computers because I am a security expert. However I don't because I actually learned some morals - if I ever did break into a computer I would do so for the purpose of notifying the owner. Am I a criminal because I have knowledge? No. Knowledge is not a crime, neither is curiosity. Crimes are crimes - and being a hacker is not one.

              You say computer hacking communities are the same as drug-dealer communities. I must disagree for the same reason that hacking is not always illegal. Drug-dealers on the street are generally illegal, but what about pharmacists? Like nearly anything, there is a legitimate reason for most things. Hackers have a legitimate purpose - they know more about computers than the average person... and that is probably why you fear them. Either that or you are annoyed by the kids who prefer typing AnN0Y1nly and poorly ("U SUKC AND YU KNOW NOTHING ABUOT COMPUTARS!!"). They are everywhere and to be disliked by all; they are also not hackers.

              In closing, I would like to think I made a semi-decent argument for people to continue learning about computers ("hackers"). If you have an actual reason why the desire to know more about them is a bad thing, I would like to hear it. If you are simply saying that the "script kiddies" and "crackers" should be avoided, then yes, I do agree. They are the ones who help spawn the whole anti-hacker opinions in the first place.

              - Kern


              White Hats are just Black Hats... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
              by elenchos on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 07:31:44 PM PST
              ...too new to have any convictions yet.

              YET!


              I do, I do, I do
              --Bikini Kill


              nope (none / 0) (#15)
              by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 09:35:48 PM PST
              White Hat are the guys that work for companies like Symantec (the makers of Norton Anti-Virus and Firewall). The Black Hats are the crackers. think of White Hats as the Gate Keepers and Black Hats are the guys trying to find the holes in the walls to sneak through.


              You needn't lecture me on how you wish... (none / 0) (#18)
              by elenchos on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 11:04:32 PM PST
              ...things were. I know the hacker mythology well enough; we all do. Just repeating it here to an audiance who first read this stuff on the Internet when you were still in diapers (hell, some helped write that bullshit), isn't going to change anyone's mind at Adequacy.org.

              Yes, some foolhardy companies, or outright criminal front operations, hire hackers and give them fancy titles. But do we need to list all the times when they get burned? From Dmitry Skylab to Kevin Mitnik, it's always the same story.

              Moral: "you knew I was a snake."

              So go on believeing hacker propaganda if you want to, but that Gate Keeper crap isn't going to fly outside of your D&D game.


              I do, I do, I do
              --Bikini Kill


              old than that (none / 0) (#22)
              by NAWL on Fri Dec 21st, 2001 at 12:42:28 AM PST
              ...things were. I know the hacker mythology well enough; we all do. Just repeating it here to an audiance who first read this stuff on the Internet when you were still in diapers (hell, some helped write that bullshit), isn't going to change anyone's mind at Adequacy.org

              You know that would make more sense if I wasn't older than the Internet. I was out of diapers when the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET, the precusor to the Internet) was still in its planning phase.

              Where would I have read this?




              Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?

               
              FIRST OFF I HATE MR GIBBONS (none / 0) (#21)
              by ihatemrgibbons on Thu Dec 20th, 2001 at 12:43:28 AM PST
              oh yes, i hate mr gibbons, he can go to hell!.. hahhahahaha ok,
              wtf is wrong with 10 computers, if i could afford it i'd have millions of them!! oh yea.. i think this site is full of ignorant fucks! oh yea, mr gibbons fits that discription. and the lil bitch that posted this als does to! for real, how does playing quake make you a hacker, oh and he says telnet is used to connect w/o phone line, really then how in the flying fuck do u connect, with your dick!! hmm, whata stroke. All the ignorant fucks on this site can go to hell! and mr gibbons if you exist, email me i dont give to shits! webmasta@dr.com

              i'll be alot smarter than any of you'll ever be (the socalled perfect parents i mean). I've done my share of drugs, and i'm feelin fine. hell i'm 18 and downing a beer now. gee i guess i'm guna go to hell now. :(
              I hate mr gibbons,and any other ignorant f*ck up parents out there.

               

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