Bobbye, as far as courtesy goes I do read every single PM sent to me and try to act on them as necessary. By the time I came to comment on this particular thread, SNGX had basically said what I would have, so I just showed my support in that such a big deal was being done out of nothing.

I will talk to Kim about the specifics of how this thread was created, but other than that, like it or not, the idea of the forum moderation is to keep things civil, organized and what not. Not everyone will agree with certain calls or choices that are taken for the greater good, but that's how we've managed to keep things running smoothly over the years.

This thread is becoming quite an inflation, I don't believe Bobbye is up to anything 'bad', just curiosity (then again, curiosity killed the cat, my name's hellokitty[hk]). It really shouldn't be a big deal, now if someone were asking to 'hack', or any synonymous word, into a computer he/she shouldn't be, then you should go ahead and start deleting comments and threads.
Bobbye was quite careful stating anticipating the flaming concerning the legality of the program.

Of course, i'm probably the only one here who is under 9999999999 posts.
Like captaincranky said, thanks for the links .

I've probably already mentioned this, but I really don't have anything valuable on my computer. Hey, I might forget my password and start spamming, even start endorsing whatever 'I' use to hack people's computers, but with kimsland's abilities, that shouldn't be a problem .

Yes I agree.

I'm also glad to have all members views expressed
I didn't want to say this, but this specific issue: Ophcrack and if it can be posted or not. Is the exact reason why I left TechGuy forums (with 1000+ posts) It was all over Ophcrack only (well it was over the fact that I believed in free support linking, to free products, including MS links as well) My links were all removed, and the Administrator stated I was giving users cr@cking tools (note: he did not ban me) I stated in reply, that I preferred to go to a forum that had more freely supplied support help, without any restriction on free tools widely known across the Net by most support users.

We both basically agreed (to disagree), so I left.

My point here being, that Ophcrack is a free well known application, and hiding this helpful information from anyone, is like hiding information from children ie how does pregnancy happen, note: Thankfully my friends informed me in school it wasn't the stork that provided the baby!

Shall I write a tutorial on using said program to hack windows?





I'm kidding of course

Although you are "kidding", a guide is not required to this ISO file download
I usually just provide link to the ISO or directly to the site

As mentioned there are some warnings on this program, members should always (hopefully) have backups already completed, or risk losing data (in case of encrypted file system, becomes corrupt through reading owners/users LM hashes, being their registry)

Consider this; my hip, rather up to date grandfather died. The old guy was even computer savvy. But, he didn't leave the passwords to his machines. How else might we, or our computer tech gain access to the machine? This might be necessary for settling his financial affairs, or perhaps just to retrieve family photos.

Law enforcement might need something like this to search a drug dealer's machine, or perhaps search for evidence in a child pornography case. (Like they don't already have it, right)!

So. why is it so often assumed that a program such as "Ophcrack" will automatically be used to evil intent? Again people make choices, not programs.

People with no possibility of having intellectual property of their our will argue to the death that downloading is legal. That is a whole lot more cut and dried than this. No, that's stealing, period.

This is silly to some extent, at least with respect to a home environment. Are you going to let someone into your home, and run a password cracker without impediment or intervention? Suggesting that something like this program shouldn't exist, is in part shirking individual responsibity for the physical security of your machine.

not all systems are anchored to the desk at home and more and more laptops are replacing workstations.

if you have nothing of value the whole discussion is moot, but for systems with business and
financial data on laptops which travel the issue is paramount -- protecting privacy, like security, is a layered proposition.

encryption of files and prevention of getting to password ensures that a stolen
laptop becomes a BRICK. dismantling it to get at the HD is possible but fruitless.
booting from CD to copy files will do no better.

Good point -- and we need to make plans for such events by document these issues for the executor --
just like we document the name and account numbers for our financial accounts.

I too am glad others have voiced their opinons and doubt that anyone has had
any second thoughts on the subject -- so PEACE to all.

The source site is legit, the software on there is legit, the application or use of the program may or may not be. This is just like DVD cracking programs. As long as you own the DVD, it is legal. If you don't it's illegal. Cracking into your own computer if you lost or forgot the password, is legit. Breaking into someone else's without their permission is not.