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B&N Pulls Linux Format Magazine Over Feature On 'Hacking'

Posted by timothy on from the I-miss-borders dept.

New accepted submitter super_rancid writes that issue 154 of the "UK-based Linux Format magazine was pulled from Barnes and Noble bookstores in the U.S. after featuring an article called 'Learn to Hack'. They used 'hack' in the populist security sense, rather than the traditional sense, and the feature — which they put online — was used to illustrate how poor your server's security is likely to be by breaking into it."

11 of 301 comments (clear)

  1. Good for them! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's because Linux is an OS used predominately by criminals to hack machines. I appluad Barnes and Noble for this responsible reaction.

    1. Re:Good for them! by phrostie · · Score: 5, Interesting

      since they still sell 2600 it'smore likely it has something do do with this:

      http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/12/04/30/1359214/microsoft-invests-300-million-in-nook-e-readers

      big surprise

    2. Re:Good for them! by Theophany · · Score: 5, Funny

      Using Apple is kind of like being one of the kids whose parents didn't tell them Santa or the Tooth Fairy wasn't real until they were 16.

      Using Linux is kind of like being one of the kids whose parents were alcoholics but did their best, in between drunken rants about the futility of life.

      I would finish this by saying using Windows is like being one of the kids whose uncle used to have special sleep over parties, but I'd definitely get modded flamebait. And I use Windows on my personal machines. And my uncle didn't touch me.

    3. Re:Good for them! by TheGoodNamesWereGone · · Score: 5, Insightful

      TFA states it was pulled "after a complaint" (note singular). I have trouble believing this is the only reason. They pulled all of them from all of their stores in America? I have trouble believing that a single complaint was the only reason. "Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by stupidity," goes the quote, and I think it applies here. If M$ were the reason then they'd pull *all* Linux stuff. Likewise if they wanted to pull every example of "how to do bad things" off their shelves they'd have to take a LOT of books down.

    4. Re:Good for them! by DrgnDancer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I have trouble believing either the reason B&N gave, or your more sinister reason. My counter to both of them is contained in this link:

      http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/linux-hacking?keyword=linux+hacking&store=allproducts

      Which shows the result of typing "linux hacking" into the barnesandnoble.com search box. They sell literally dozens of titles on the subject of hacking and Linux, Some of which use the "tinkering with" definition of hacking, and others of which use the "breaking into" definition. I've seen many of these books in the physical stores too. This sounds like some management weenie over reacting to a complaint and little else.

      --
      I don't need a million points of light, just two points of multi-mode fiber and a 10 Gig-E router.
  2. And yet by Alranor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They'll happily stock martial arts magazines, full of special features about new and exciting ways to hurt people.

  3. Read the 1st amendment first. by ElmoGonzo · · Score: 5, Informative

    No it's not. If a government agency had tried to force them to take it down, that would have been a case of infringement. But as a private entity, B&N can decide what to carry in their product line.

  4. Example why brick and mortar bookstores dying by MSTCrow5429 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In an age where brick and mortar bookstores are no longer the most economic method to deliver printed matter, and where the needs and desires of consumers can be far more fully met online, needlessly exposing yourself to ridicule and consumer anger is not a good business strategy.

    --
    Slashdot: Playing Favorites Since 1997
  5. Dear Barnes and Noble by SecurityGuy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Stop being stupid.

    I cut my teeth on articles about "hacking". I've used "hacking" tools going back to the one that got Dan Farmer fired, and before. My interest in security was sparked by downloading an exploit for the Solaris eject command. Download, compile, omg! Root prompt!

    The catch? I did all those things on boxes I was paid to secure. I've never broken into anyone's systems but my own, and I have legitimate rights to do that. Information is information. It's not "good" or "bad". I have a bookshelf full of books, mostly bought in your stores, that could teach you how to "hack" or how to secure systems and networks. Guess what I've been paid to do for going on 20 years?

  6. Re:Populist security sense? by sycodon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You can't argue with market realities. You can be smart. rebrand yourselves and build that brand in a respectable manner, or you can be a stupid 10 year old and throw a tantrum and still be associated with spammers and thieves.

    Your choice.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  7. Re:Populist security sense? by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ah, I see you're a Linux Kernel Developer. "I am technically correct, so I don't have to listen about usability."

    Here's an example: swastika. Immediately, you're thinking of 40s era Europe, right?

    The Germans used the swastika for 6 years. It's been around for THOUSANDS of years as a Sanskrit symbol, but you put up one little flag and point at it with your arm and suddenly YOU'RE the bad guy.

    Sycodon is right, a new term has to be coined, and not hat colours.

    --

    ---
    ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.