Linux Server Break-in Challenge

Sujit writes "Are you an Internet security expert at heart or by profession? Ever thought of trying your skill at a professionally set up server? If you are ready, enter. The Linux Server Break-in challenge. You will have a server available on the Internet 96 hours without interruption starting from 9 March 2005 2 AM IST. However, the server's life on the Net is in your hands."

Comments

Re:Isn't this illegal?

[LordEd]

Hacking isn't illegal. Hacking without permission is illegal. The distinction is unauthorized access. The owner of the box is giving free license to everyone to attack it.

Its just like corporations hiring security experts to attack their systems in order to find flaws (and strengthen their defenses)

Re:very handy. *cough*

[Council]

The Fallacy of Cracking Contests (Bruce Schneier)

Contests are a terrible way to demonstrate security. A product/system/protocol/algorithm that has survived a contest unbroken is not obviously more trustworthy than one that has not been the subject of a contest. The best products/systems/protocols/algorithms available today have not been the subjects of any contests, and probably never will be. Contests generally don't produce useful data. There are three basic
reasons why this is so. [see link for explanations]

Re:Uh, ok.

[bill_mcgonigle]

See also Bruce Schneier's The Fallacy of Cracking Contests.

Now there's probably a Marketing Department that put them up to it, and some PHB's may be impressed, but it sure announces to the security community, "Hey, we have no idea how to think about security - buy our stuff!"