[Article]-The Hitch-Hacker`s Guide to the Galaxy

[don]

"Don't Panic, challenge fans!  We have a new challenge for you, by my good buddy Jay Beale.  Match wits with the Vogons to help Core Prefect land a ride and score some choice sushi.  Have fun with this challenge, my dear readers!"

--Ed Skoudis
Intelguardians
Author, Counter Hack Reloaded

Please read Jay’s challenge, compose your answers, and e-mail them to skillz1106@ethicalhacker.net with the 'Subject: Skillz Submission' by November 30, 2006.  Mike will choose three winners in early December, who will receive an autographed copy of Ed's book, Malware: Fighting Malicious Code. We’ll award a prize to the best technical answer, another to the most creative technically correct answer, and a third will be drawn from all answers submitted, whether correct or not.  So, even if you cannot answer all of the questions, or aren’t sure about your ideas, go ahead and send in what you have.  You just might win the prize in the random draw category.

Feel free to discuss the scenario in the forums but PLEASE do not post your answers.
You wouldn't want someone else winning your prize, would you?

To see the challenge, click link below:
The Hitch-Hacker`s Guide to the Galaxy

Have fun,
Don

[mn_kthompson]

I'm getting an error that I'm not allowed to view this resource.  Is there something wrong with my account?

[don]

Nothing wrong woth your account. You were just faster than I was by about 2 minutes. I posted the forum topic before making the challenge live. All should be good to go.

Thanks for the enthusiasm,
Don

[mn_kthompson]

Thanks for the clarification!  Sometimes my enthusiasm gets the best of me.

[don]

Congrats Jay... your challenge has been slashdotted! Let's keep up the momentum and digg this challenge at:

http://digg.com/programming/The_Hitch_Hacker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy

This also means that the competition will be fierce. So be sure to be extra creative in your answers.

Don

[don]

We've got until the end of the month for you to submit challenges. Thanks for all who have already submitted answers. Keep them coming.

Don't forget to signup for a chance at a free copy of Core Impact. As a reminder, the slate is wiped clean after each winner is chosen. So in order to be eligible, you must enter again.

Good luck and hope everyone is having fun with this one,
Don

[don]

The Nov 30 deadline has come and gone, so this challenge is now closed. We would like to thank everyone for their participation and support. This was by far our most viewed challenge to date. Jay will be choosing the winners soon. As always, every challenge will remain published for future readers to enjoy.

As a holiday treat, we will have an extra challenge, and it should be up today or tomorrow. Based on the movie "A Christmas Story," December's challenge is not just introduced by Ed Skoudis, it was also written by him. Should be fun.

Special thanks to:

- Ed Skoudis and everyone at Intelguardians. They really do an amazing job with these challenges.
- Core Security for sponsoring the challenges. If you like the challenges, please help them continue by clicking on the Core Security banner, sign up for the free copy of Core Impact or, if you purchase their products, please tell them EH-Net sent you. Sorry for the shameless plug, but it really does help support the site.

Thanks again,
Don

[Bane]

Did I miss the solution to this hacker challenge?

[don]

No you didn't. Unfortunately, Mr. Beale has gotten way behind in his commitments, but he promises them soon.

On his behalf and for all of us at EH-Net, our deepest apologies,
Don

[xhable]

awww.. been 6 months now... well 5 but 6 sounds more impressive.

[LSOChris]

what tha!