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Mitnick on OSS

Posted by Hemos on from the hacking-it-out dept.

comforteagle writes "Infamous cracker Kevin Mitnick (turned security consultant) has come out to say that he'd prefer to 'hack' open source code vs proprietary closed code. "Mitnick says that open source software is easier to analyse for security holes, since you can see the code. Proprietary software, on the other hand, requires either reverse engineering, getting your hands on illicit copies of the source code, or using a technique called 'fuzzing'." He further says that open source is more secure, but leaves you wondering questions if enough people are really interested in securing open source code."

4 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. is it just me? by revery · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Is it just me, or does Kevin Mitnick (I'm assuming that's Mitnick in the article) look an awful lot like a young Steve Guttenberg?

    "Software Academy" coming to a theatre near you?!?

  2. Er.... by segedunum · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I always wonder my questions.

  3. hack??? by AntEater · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "Kevin Mitnick (turned security consultant) has come out to say that he'd prefer to 'hack' open source code vs proprietary closed code. "

    You may now start the never ending "hacker vs. cracker" terminology debate... ...and as long as we're at it:
    Linux is better than windows
    KDE is better than gnome
    emacs is better than vi

    --
    Alex, I'll take keybindings not used by Emacs for $400....
  4. Re:A Slashdot Orange by eldavojohn · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    *relishing the only self esteem that Dim gets in life, he drives a crude shank into eldavojohn's throat and puts on his AC mask as he hears police moderator sirens in the distance*

    --
    My work here is dung.