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I Forgot My Password

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by willcomp 2 views

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I'm trying to understand this recent spate of righteous indignation over password cracking requests. They've been coming into TR for years and until recent times were mostly answered. Most of us refused to but there was always someone who would.

There is no need to berate the questioner or a fellow TR member who tries to answer what they believe is a legitimate request. Many are obviously not legitimate, but a recent one that caused a stir was from someone who had been a member of TR for a while --> the one that resulted in the furor with CallPete.

The argument that TR is searchable and such information shouldn't be posted here doesn't hold water. A prime example:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-22-5224619.html

Anyone with rudimentary search skills can find all the information they need on the net. I doubt a skilled thief would post a question on TR. More likely is someone trying to get into a parent's PC or one at work.

I have absolutely no problem with not providing password crack information. It's the unprofessional conduct that concerns me.

I wonder whether some password crack requests are posted purposely to set some of you off. I have to admit enjoying some of the tongue-in-cheek responses.

33 replies

by michael jay

but TR is a haven of no password cracks, don't know why that is but I personally feel that it is the right way to go.

If I do not know who you are I will not assist you in your attempts to break into a system.

If I know you, no problem.

It is about the ethics of computer service and customer service, and has nothing to do with the mechanics.

I cannot assist someone to access that to which they have no rights.

Nuff Said..

I hope so.

edit for the missing eye.

by nonapeptide

...and I think it's been somewhat beneficial, but of course there is no silver bullet.

[i]I wonder whether some password crack requests are posted purposely to set some of you off.[/i]

Do you have a confession to make? :) Seriously, that's not outside of the realm of possibility. Especially since it seems as if TR has a crack-up that likes to post intentional nonsense (viz. BALTHOR). He may not be the only one playing us like a deck of cards.

[i]I have to admit enjoying some of the tongue-in-cheek responses.[/i]

I have to admit to mostly not enjoying them. It'd be nice to just delete the post as soon as it's posted (as in, nuke the whole thread so there is no trace left behind, not just replacing the text with "Message deleted") but that isn't an option right now.

I've just tended to ignore them or, if I get there first, fling the template response at them and then never look back (but I still wonder "what's going on in there" when I see the post number rapidly escalating :) ).

by willcomp

I'm not guilty of posting surreptitious password questions.

The template will work if used properly and the responses stop there.

by nonapeptide

86 it. Put it to bed with the fishes. Fit it for cement shoes. Etc.

[i]The template will work if used properly and the responses stop there.[/i]

That last half of the sentence is the ideal... but as with most ideals it will probably never happen. :)

by jdclyde

We have had several discussions get pulled over the last few years.

They have the ability to make them disappear if they wanted to, or else NONE of them could disappear.

And while the PTB won't out people, it is common knowledge that there are several people with multiple accounts that they use to stir the pot.

For the life of me, I don't see a valid reason for TR to knowingly condone that, unless it is because they LIKE the page hits from when the nest gets stirred up.

Their site, their rules.

by beth blakely

However, when you guys start conversing in a thread, I don't like to pull it out of respect for you. That's why there are often long threads with "Message has been deleted" at the top.

If you just put the agreed upon verbiage, the thread would die naturally. If I have time to delete them, I do.

I can now tell if someone is using alt ids if I am prompted to look. I don't care if they're not causing trouble. If they cause trouble, I give'em the axe.

by dawgit

Funny that.

Actually there is a very Good Reason. We here, Ok, me anyway, do not want this site to get a reputation as a "Cracker" site. While we do joke around with each other, we offer serious advice to those who ask. I wouldn't want that tainted by a bunch of "Skrip Kiddies" useing us to breaking into (what most likely) could be stolen computers. Personally I don't mind help people who have forgotten, or lost their passwords, or keys. People I know, that is. And Never people / computers I don't know, especialy on-line. Just MHO -d

by willcomp

I don't and won't provide password cracks and don't advocate doing so on TR. That's not the point.

My concern is the attacks on innocent questioners and TR members who thought they were responding to a legitimate request.

by dawgit

Is knowing just which password type post is a legitimate request. Maybe there should be a disclaimer and the join-up page, stating that request concerning Password Hacks are also inapporiate.

As for the attacks on the innocent, if some-one were to supply a method to Crack a password on what could be a stollen computer, they are no longer innocent. And could get call'd into Court, possibly draging TR into it as well. Now that would be Ugly. And nowdays nothing would suprise me. Just a point to ponder. I've seen far too many good folks, thinking they were helping some-one get drug down the sewers of the legal system. Sad, but it happens.

As for the Choir, be glad I'm not singing it it. :0 That would be terible. :^0 -d

by the scummy one

Several members asked him to remove the link. he got
snotty in return. I think my post was the worst and it was
very mild (and I congratulated his help on questions).

But, he got snotty on the very next crak post, and Beth
asked him to stop being an a$$.

Usually the responses to someone that post cracks is very
light, explanations of why we do not do it and requests to
edit their post.
If not, Beth usually removes it.
But, when the member gets combative and or becomes an
a$$, they deserve to get flamed down (on the rare
occasion).

by jdclyde

First, if you really believe someone has a valid request, it is common practice to peer them the answer, not posting the answer for all the people that DON'T have a valid request.

As for Pete, he never got flamed or attacked in any way. People rationally explained why that is NOT acceptable behavior, and he was a dick about it. He should have gotten flamed at that point, but never did, despite his dickdom...

by beth blakely

He was ticked that he got shut down and just couldn't get over it. Every time there was another PW crack thread, he posted the terms of service link and was all snotty about it.

When I asked him to stop being a jerk (on the site) and start using the agreed upon verbiage (in an email), he went nuts and started deleting all his posts like a a child taking his ball and going home.

That's when I gave him the boot, from home, while on lots of medication. Needless to say, I was greatly displeased.

by jdclyde

Trying to show how grand he was because he could answer the question, not realizing that the majority CAN, but actually has some standards in life and choose not to aid in criminal activity.

He will not be missed, at least not by me.

by charliespencer

Odd, I thought you had three.

How do you determine which one to use? We know HAL has two so he can keep his '666' number.

by the scummy one

to The Scummy One. It was either that or Mr. Scum --
both were how I was referenced the most anyway.

Which one logs in is the one that I currently have
remembered the PW for...lol
I keep the profiles in the browser, but I am often on a new
system, rebuilt system, or test system (sometimes a
backup system as well), not including the home systems.

Recently I just re-remembered w2k's PW, so I have been
plugging it in everywhere, but it will likely only last till I
clean the cookies again.

by willcomp

Some of you were pretty hard on the guy. I don't condone what he did, but I also don't condone the freeding frenzy that occurs on some of the password posts, including that one.

Professional act like professionals.

by jdclyde

If you would care to link to the posts that you felt were a feeding frenzy, I would look them over to determine if I really did miss them, or if we have different ideas of what an attack is.

It could be your just a more sensitive, caring guy than I am..... ;\

by the scummy one

what was being discussed. You said we were flaming
people that provided answers, these are going after OP's
for the original 'how to crack' post.

Please point out when we are flaming people for providing
answers rather than asking them to remove (edit) the
content and explaining why we do not post the answer.

As for them asking the PW crack questions in the first
place, F*** them!!! In most cases, depending upon how
they are written, we tell them no, in some cases we go off
on a fun little thread about it with ridiculous (and funny)
posts.
Is this wrong?? Probably, but I dont care regardless. If I
could, I would send (for the worst of them) a power spike
to destroy their equipment. But since I cannot ( :( ), they
will just have to suffer my words...

by the scummy one

I keep them stored on a flash drive, and locked up. But, they
are usually locked in an inaccessible place for where I am at
when I need them...

by jdclyde

I am hard pressed to admit it, but the Scummy one ...is.... rii... riii....right! [i](wow, that was hard to say!)[/i]

And to take it one step further, a quote from the Scummy one to each and every person who comes in here asking how to hack a password. [b]"F*** them!!!"[/b]

Sorry will, but no one flamed off on pete. Sure, there was some unflattering things said about him AFTER he decided he was going to take his ball and go home after getting his little weewee smacked by Beth, but oh well. B-)

He did NOT get attacked, nor flamed for posting information on how to hack. There were several (including myself) that instead asked him to edit his post, and explain to him WHY that is NOT acceptable behavior.

As for the people that continue to post the hack requests, they can and will be flamed in as fierce and creative ways possible, each and every time.

by nonapeptide

If you're worried about security, KeePass alleviates even the most paranoid of paranoid delusionals (which would include me).

by willcomp

You requested links where there was a feeding frenzy and I provided them. Sorry that one with Pete is no longer available.

You may think you are not being too hard or just defending your position, but that is not others may view it.

As for professionalism -- check out language in last 2 responses. There is no call for that here or anywhere else. I'm not a prude, I use strong language, but I do not do so in public forums.

You'll think it's OK and that's your perogative. We all have the rights to our opinions, only mine is better than yours :-)

by the scummy one

mine is Scummier than yours.. So it's OK. yours may be
better from your view, mine is better/scummier in my view,
so I WIN!

"We all have the rights to our opinions, only mine is better
than yours " :D

by jdclyde

Going off my ENTIRE post, not just the title.

[i]"There were no innocents attacked
First, if you really believe someone has a valid request, it is common practice to peer them the answer, not posting the answer for all the people that DON'T have a valid request.

As for Pete, he never got flamed or attacked in any way. People rationally explained why that is NOT acceptable behavior, and he was a dick about it. He should have gotten flamed at that point, but never did, despite his dickdom...
Posted: 02/25/2008 @ 09:37 AM (PST)"[/i]

I was talking specifically about Pete and how he was NOT attacked.

The people that start the requests for hacks deserve to stick their hands in their power supplies for all I care.

Not sure exactly which posts you were referring to , to know what language it was that you found unacceptable. Did someone say a naughty word that got by the filters?

That is ok Will, you have the right to be wrong. :p

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