Why is Linux preferred by hackers??

I've never used Linux, but was thinking about setting up a dual boot when I get my new laptop (M17X) which is in the mail. But Waaay back in the day I used to read about hacking and things of that sort. Without ever using Linux I always wondered why it was the prefered OS for hackers. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Thanks guys

 

I don't know, maybe because it's open source?

 

they can tweak the code if they want to?

 

It's smaller and open source.

 

Constructive hackers use Linux because it allows them to work more easily. Destructive hackers use Linux because there are more tools available.

 

http://www.adequacy.org/stories/2001.12.2.42056.2147.html

Yep, they will probably use what ever makes it easier for them. A hacker and cracker(destructive hacker) can use any "hacking" tool or OS for a variety of different reasons...For example, a packet sniffer can be used for malice or network performance analysis.

http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid192_gci998037,00.html

 

8. Is your son obsessed with "Lunix"? ..........

rofl, i really had to laugh hard with this .... )))

btw, i lately taken interested in wifi security - if anyone interested, start reading about 'kismet'

 

http://temporaryland.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/why-do-i-use-linux/

 

Ok I almost fell off my chair here LUnix was a UNIX type OS developed for the C64 !!!!

http://lng.sourceforge.net/

think they mean Linux and Linus Torvalds who is NOT Russian but Finnish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LINUX

Telnet was written by this hacker group ... nah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telnet

and come on LILO was easy to remove, I wiped many a hard drive after Linux installs in the 80's and 90's


that little article was PURE FUD and funny as heck, thanks Kdawgca that was an excellent read and definatly heading for my bookmark list.


and why do both white hat and blackhat hackers like Linux/UNIX/POSIX well its flexable and has support for most every network protocol, system, server and database available to them. its not a minor desktop OS like its nutered friend OSX or limited by cute GUI like the windows desktop versions ( server is as powerful for testing and locating network penitrations.

 

Well, if you are a hacker, you dont want to get hacked back, so Windows is not an option. xD

 

It was a satirical article. They purposefully got those key things incorrect.

 

It's sad when you have to point out satire to others..

 

Another one:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=367116

 

this thread is full of lol

 

If you use Linux you turn into a 1337 h4x0r. I submit my evidence below:


From http://xkcd.com/456/

 

The open source nature of the OS allows an intruder far greater control over hardware and software. Enough said.

 

every one says hacker ......


It's cracker :

and i second what Bog said

 

http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack.html

Thats why allot of hackers prefer Linux lol! jk

Actually I use Linux more often then Windows. I am yet to try this distro though but it I hear its a decent security analyzer. One of my friends whom's a system engineer recommended this one.

 

Terminal is much more powerful than command prompt. ~another reason

 

yea but allot is becoming so automated, with a software manager and synaptic manager rarely do you need to use the terminal.

 

Hacker is a term used to describe different types of computer experts. A person who enjoys exploring the details of computers and how to stretch their capabilities. A person who delves into software more deeply than an average PC user. Hackers are not Crackers.


http://www.hellboundhackers.org/whatishacking.php

 

Fix that for you Bog.

 

This is merely a matter of semantics, but to begin with hackers were just that. Early hacking was done on the telephone system, and eventually these hackers began to use them for less than innocent purposes. That's why we have terms such as "white hat", "grey hat", and "black hat" hacker to signify the legality of what they are doing in their line of work. Of course, these terms also serve to demonstrate that some hackers work as security consultants who work to preserve network/system integrity.

So no, a hacker isn't just a person who enjoys fiddling with computers. That's really an oversimplification that ignores the history of hacking and the fact that many hackers have been people who penetrated well-known computer networks.

EDIT: the website you linked to even has a news page that discusses hackers in various news articles who have broken in to this network or stolen that information. They're just trying to shake off a well deserved stigma.

 

I never said a hacker was just a person fiddling with computers, nor was that stated in my quote.

 

So this thread turned serious again -- and there's no mention of ESR anywhere. What gives?

Read, please:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html#what_is

IRL I haven't heard anyone say cracker in a very long time, I read it on /. all the time but that should be a reason NOT to use it... People these days say whitehat, blackhat, or the illusive grayhat. The cracker thing never really caught on, because it happens to be a racial slur in some areas, and there was a movie called HACKERS, maybe that had something to do with mainstream usage of the word...

 

Well it depends what you are doing. I use Terminal quite alot. I barely use synaptic, only when im trying ot find some package Im not sure of the exact name/version number..etc. Fact is you never will never be able to be more efficient and more powerful than a command line interface.

Another thing is most distro's offer a live cd. So if someone password protects windows or w/e OS and I can't bother using some .tif exploit or something of the sort (lol just speculating never done anything like that before). You can just slip in the live cd mount there drive and you should have unlimited access to the files.

I remember when a partition resize went horribly wrong thanks to a power outage. If i never have a live cd all my precious data would be gone .

 

The terms "Cracker" originated in Britain. It has many meanings from racial slurs to outlaws. eg.) Safe Cracker "One whom breaks into safes" Cracker is a pretty broad term but generally derogative. However the whitehat, blackhat and greyhat may narrow down the persona of hacker much better. I generally think very low of blackhats anyways.

 

Good point. I use "crackers" occasionally, but "blackhat" more predominantly.

 

wb.. nice to see u around again

cheers

 

Thanks! I'm on break right now, so I have more time to haunt the interwebs (while getting ahead on schoolwork, of course). I've also been trying out KDE, and next I'm planning to mess with conky.

 

haha roflmao..... read the whole article from your link.... AMD is a third world processor company preferred by hackers and use child labor (?)...

lol @ whole article.....

 

I need to start doing that. Does solve the term problem... "Whad you call me?!??