[Clug-tech] Hacking Contest Pits MacBook Air Against Vista, Ubuntu

[Mark Carlson]

On 2/26/08, Royce Souther <osgnuru at gmail.com> wrote:
> It sounds more like a cracking contest not a hacking contest. Interesting
> idea, except the part about the prize being you win the laptop that has the
> worst security. Is this a joke?
> http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Hacking-Contest-Pits-MacBook-Air-Against-Vista-Ubuntu/?kc=EWKNLSTE022608STR1

No, it's not a joke, it's old news.
http://cansecwest.com/index.html

It's not simple cracking, either.  Last years winner used an 0-day
quicktime vulnerability to take control of a mac book pro (winning it
as well as $10k.)  This year it's Linux (Vaio tz) vs. Windows (fujitsu
u810) vs. Mac (macbook air.)

The same contest was employed at Defcon last year, but the prizes were
so pitiful (and security much greater,) that AFAIK nobody "owned the
box."

-Mark C.