lists.openwall.net | lists / announce owl-users owl-dev john-users john-dev passwdqc-users yescrypt popa3d-users / oss-security kernel-hardening musl sabotage tlsify passwords / crypt-dev xvendor / Bugtraq Full-Disclosure linux-kernel linux-netdev linux-ext4 linux-hardening linux-cve-announce PHC | |
Open Source and information security mailing list archives
| ||
|
Message-ID: <1066017353.7953.20.camel@bob> From: bob at vawter.org (Robert W Vawter III) Subject: OT: An odd question that has arrisen within my household On Sun, 2003-10-12 at 22:40, Matt Carlson wrote: > 1. What exactly defines a "script kiddie"? See ESR's jargon file: http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/S/script-kiddies.html > 2. Does using a port scanner make you a "script kiddie" since you > yourself did not write the code? > > 3. Does it make you a script kiddie because it is a means of exploitation? Port-scanners are like "slim-jims" or other lock-picking tools. It depends upon the person using them, and to what gain the tools are being used for. For security-minded folks (white hats), a port-scanner is a quick way to see what's open and compare it to what should be open. For the black hats, a port-scanner is a quick way to see what's open for potential attack. I can walk the perimeter of my house, and see if all the windows are shut. This is an acceptable thing to do. I can walk around your house, and see if all of the windows are shut. If I'm admiring your window treatments, it's ok. If I'm going to break into your house and steal your cats, it's not. The scanners simply give the user information; the information itself is a fairly neutral thing. It's all about intent. Also, bear in mind that a port scan is not in and of itself an attack, but is usually a precedes an attack. The scanners are not designed to cause damage, as compared to the kiddies "toyz". Follow-up question: Knoppix ( http://knopper.net/knoppix/ ), a bootable CD containing a live Linux system, contains Nessus( http://www.nessus.org/ ), a security analysis tool. Is the possession of a Knoppix CD at someone else's place of business useful, or dangerous? Is the "utility versus potential danger" of such tools relevant to this discussion? -- Robert W Vawter III | ASCII Ribbon Campaign /"\ http://www.vawter.org | For Standards-Compliant Email \ / PGP/GPG Key ID 0x847EABC8 | PGPok | X "Some cats scowl because they're wearing imitation fur. / \ They feel inferior." `The Thing About Cats'--J. L'Hereux -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 189 bytes Desc: This is a digitally signed message part Url : http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/attachments/20031012/7f270ee4/attachment.bin
Powered by blists - more mailing lists