[Irish18]

Hey all,

This is probably a 'n00b' question, but is it legal to try and hack my Laptop from my PC? Given that the Laptop is protected by Nortons AV I thought maybe they'd have something to say about it...

I should clarify, I'm currently reading up on security testing, 'ethical hacking' etc. Not malicious hacking!
I am an amateur Programmer myself, and know a number of people at varying levels of programming, databasing and web design; so I would love to be able to help these people by learning to effectively test security systems, home made apps, etc.

Thanks in advance for all help and advice. Feel free to berate my lack of knowledge on the subject

ZodIsWide

[lordofduct]

it's your computer, hack it all you want.

[modi123_1]

What do you mean by "hack my Laptop from my PC"? That covers a wide berth of ground.

[tlhIn`toq]

Its your gear. Hack it with software or a chainsaw. No legal issues.

[dorknexus]

keep it on an isolated network and you should be fine. doing it over the interwebz may not be legal based on your service agreements with your ISP, even though it's your hardware.

[creativecoding]

I like to give my computer virus, just to see if I could remove them on my own. Of course, I back up my stuff...


Like Dark_nexus said, it is allowed, but only in a private network.

[modi123_1]

It's called a "virtual machine". Microsoft's giving away the latest version for free. Load it up with a copy of windows.. launch hell.. fix.. no mess involved!

[Kilorn]

The legality of hacking comes from the fact that you're doing something malicious to someone that either doesn't know, or doesn't want you to do it. If you're doing it to your own gear, as long as it is on a private network to not violate any ToS agreements from your ISP, as posted, then I don't see how anything you do to your laptop could be considered illegal.

[no2pencil]

What does Norton AntiVirus software have to do with hacking your laptop?

A virus is a program that self replicates.

Hacking is using software or hardware in a manor of which that it wasn't intended, & or altering to perform in a way that it wasn't designed.

I don't see how the two correlate. An AntiVirus is not a silver bullet. It doesn't magically cause the Operating System to be immune or safe just by being there.

[creativecoding]

Quote

THE GEORGE W BUSH VIRUS - Causes your computer to keep looking for viruses of mass destruction

THE JOHN KERRY VIRUS - Reverses every position each time you turn your computer on

THE AL GORE VIRUS - Causes your computer to keep counting, recounting, recounting ... ad nauseam

THE BILL CLINTON VIRUS - Gives you a permanent hard drive, with no memory

THE BOB DOLE VIRUS - Makes a new hard drive out of an old floppy

THE LEWINSKY VIRUS - Sucks all the memory out of your computer, then emails your best friends about what it did).

THE RONALD REAGAN VIRUS - Saves your data, but forgets where it is stored

THE JESSE JACKSON VIRUS - Warns you constantly about illegitimate file reproduction, while illegitimately reproducing files in the background and rhyming it all

THE MIKE TYSON VIRUS - Quits after two bytes

THE OPRAH WINFREY VIRUS - Your 300 mb hard drive shrinks to 100 mb, then slowly expands to restabilize around 200

THE JACK KEVORKIAN VIRUS - Deletes all old files

THE PROZAC VIRUS - Totally screws up your RAM, but your processor doesn't care

THE JOEY BUTTAFUOCO VIRUS - Only attacks minor files

THE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER VIRUS - Terminates some files, leaves, but will be back

THE MICHAEL JACKSON VIRUS - Attacks only minor files

I have always wanted to make one of these.

[no2pencil]

Wanted to make what... a list of pointless programs?

[creativecoding]

no2pencil, on 13 October 2010 - 06:24 PM, said:

Wanted to make what... a list of pointless programs?

No, I wanted to make a bunch of viruses like those.

[AlbuquerqueApache]

Irish18, on 13 October 2010 - 05:07 AM, said:

Hey all,

This is probably a 'n00b' question, but is it legal to try and hack my Laptop from my PC? Given that the Laptop is protected by Nortons AV I thought maybe they'd have something to say about it...

I should clarify, I'm currently reading up on security testing, 'ethical hacking' etc. Not malicious hacking!
I am an amateur Programmer myself, and know a number of people at varying levels of programming, databasing and web design; so I would love to be able to help these people by learning to effectively test security systems, home made apps, etc.

Thanks in advance for all help and advice. Feel free to berate my lack of knowledge on the subject

ZodIsWide

ethical hacking or learning good security procedures is perfectly legit and, as previously stated, if its your gear then right as rain.

A good program for searching for vulnerabilities in your network is super scan or NMAP. Both of these programs are pretty decent when your trying to see what you have open and need to seal up.

This post has been edited by AlbuquerqueApache: 14 October 2010 - 05:12 AM

[Shane Hudson]

While it is fine to learn how to hack etc. (hacking genius == security genius, it just depends on how you USE the knowledge) I think it is important to point out that Dream In Code does not tell you how to do, so any questions might be best via PM if at all, as anybody can read and use what is on the forum. Though of course, theory is fine

[moopet]

Obligatory "hacking does not mean what you think it means" comment.