Learn to Hack pulled from Barnes and Noble

Posted at 12:08pm on Thursday May 3rd 2012

We've just learned that issue 154 of Linux Format, the one with 'Learn to Hack' on the cover, was removed from Barnes and Noble bookstores in the US after a complaint was made. We'd like to apologise if you were affected and couldn't find a copy.

As a reminder, we’ve put the contents of the main feature online: http://www.tuxradar.com/content/learn-hack

Here's a quote from Bruce Schneier's Crypto-Gram Newsletter from August 2003 where he announces his book 'Beyond Fear', and explains why demystifying security is so important:

“This is a book for everyone. I believe that security, as a topic, is something we all can understand. And even more importantly, I believe that the subject is just too critical, too integral a part of our everyday lives, to be left exclusively in the hands of experts. By demystifying security, I hope to encourage all of us to think more sensibly about the topic, to contribute to what should be an open and informed public discussion of security, and to participate vocally in ongoing security negotiations in our civic, professional, and personal lives.”

We feel exactly the same, which is why we ran that feature.

If you want the whole issue of Linux Format, and get more great content from the team, Linux Format is available on both Apple's iPhone/iPad/Touch and Android devices through Zinio. You can also purchase individual copies from the Ubuntu Software Centre.

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Your comments

Oh FFS!

PickledPenguin (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 1:09pm

This is "security by obscurity" surely? Well done for making the article available online though! The greatest threat to security is ignorance/complacency. By learning the "tricks of the trade" we learn to protect our systems.

Compare this to home security. One way to defend against intrusion is to imagine yourself locked out of your house. How would you gain entry? The easier it is for you, the easier it would be for an intruder. Over the years we've learned about the use of credit cards to force some locks or the perils of leaving keys in view of the letterbox etc.

For B&N to withdraw the magazine on the basis of a complaint (just one?) is nonsensical.

Hah

Some Dude or Something (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 1:43pm

Maybe it was pulled because you used "hack" and not "crack"? :-)

Just wait 'til they see

mutant albino penguin (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 3:55pm

Just wait 'til they see "Beat the CIA". I have terrible visions of your all being seized while slumped drunkenly in the pub in Bath, & subjected to irregular rendition to some Supermax prison in the US ...

I wonder what did the

anonymous (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 4:04pm

I wonder what did the complaint say.

@Some Dude or Something & mutant albino penguin

Linuxrich - May 3, 2012 @ 4:11pm

Quite probably and absolutely in that order! LOL.

Don't they still carry 2600 Mag?

Anonymous Me (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 5:45pm

Hmm - last time I checked, B&N carries 2600 Magazine... Kinda strange to wake up and smell the hack guide now.

Oddly good publicity

mike.toString() (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 6:12pm

Well, at least it got the magazine all over Slashdot. Here's to hoping for an increase in subscriptions.

Strange..I bought this issue

Minnesotan Penguin (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 6:33pm

Strange..I bought this issue and subsequent ones at B&N. I wonder if it was just a handful of stores? It's been in every store I checked in the past few weeks...

I wonder...

Ray Woods (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 6:48pm

I wonder if they read it before they banned it?
Probably not, but then, would they have understood it?

Sticking it to B&N FTW

jarubyh (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 6:58pm

@Ray Woods
"I wonder if they read it before they banned it?"
Obviously you don't live in the US. We ban things with reckless abandon here. Sad but true.

Kudos to the LXF team for putting it online, if B&N wants to ban it, we'll read it anyway, they just won't make money.

Banned books

concerned (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 7:05pm

Who else in history banned books? Also doesn't barnes sell the 2600 aka the hackers quarterly!

Amazon Wins

Anonymous Leapord (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 7:15pm

Just got my spring issue of 2600 Quarterly on my kindle. Go Amazon!

Microsoft?

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 8:03pm

As pointed out on /. B&N sells Mein Kaumpf. They also sell 2600.

Considering this happened just after MS made a deal and that Linux Format is a Linux magazine, one has to wonder.

Still think MS is cool?

Land of the Free

Ray Woods (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 8:09pm

@jarubyh
"I wonder if they read it before they banned it?"
Obviously you don't live in the US. We ban things with reckless abandon here. Sad but true.

Ah yes; the land of the Free... Sad!

Boycott Barnes and Noble

Anonymous Bunatee (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 8:26pm

I'm going to boycott Barnes and Noble. I suspect I will not be the only one.

Like pulling a playboy off the shelf of an adult book store.

Markus (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 8:48pm

Ok, maybe not exactly like it, but how many books have they sold since they have been in business that are solely about penetration testing, wireless hacking, exploits, rootkits, etc... etc... etc...
Now they remove a magazine with one article about hacking? I personally learned quite a bit about securing my computers by tinkering around with things like this.
You can read and read and read about the importance of security, and basic measures to keep your computer/network safe. But if you have never experienced it, seen how it works, and get an idea of what someone might try to bypass your security measures you will always be several steps behind any potential attacker.
Besides that, its an interesting and fun way to learn something for people with ADD like me that have difficulty sitting through large volumes of text

Homeland Cowboys

South African Penguin (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 9:09pm

Just, out of curiosity anybody know how many unsecured "not locked down" servers the Dept of Defence has still exposed to the net?'
My government just keeps the gravy train secrets under lockdown.
(Every pun, sarcasm, 'bettween the lines' intended)

Land of the free

Anon (not verified) - May 3, 2012 @ 10:04pm

@Ray Woods
Really, is anyone still considering the US as "the land of the free?

As for hacking b&n...

Anonymous Penguin 23 (not verified) - May 4, 2012 @ 12:08am

Stupid ass-hats...and that's why they're sinking fast.

Oh, and thanks for ruining my tab with your bloatware, you bastards. ('scool, I HACKED that crap).

really?

voice of reason (not verified) - May 4, 2012 @ 2:58pm

if you are having trouble getting hold of a mag you want thats been banned from one store, perhaps hacking isnt for you?

im sure they love the free publicity though.

Next target: Issue 158

Eric the Penguin - May 4, 2012 @ 4:09pm

I guess the CIA or some other American agency don't want rivalry in hacking other computers. I'm guessing that Issue 158 might be the next to be censored thanks to its front cover.

Seriously we always say

Anonymous-PP (not verified) - May 4, 2012 @ 6:37pm

Seriously we always say China restrict on stuff and call them communist this and that. What are the difference between China and America? - Well, we scream and yell and make a big fuzz of it.

A stupid choice of title

Stunonymous Penguin (not verified) - May 4, 2012 @ 7:43pm

It was a stupid choice of title, and "Beat the CIA" is just as bad. Demystifying security is an excellent objective, but muddying the hack/crack term even further and explaining "how to be evil" does not do anyone any favours.

Censorship yay!

Anonymous Penguin fnord (not verified) - May 4, 2012 @ 10:42pm

service@barnesandnoble.com is where to send requests for more censorship. Now that we know B&N are open to censorship of literature that some find undesirable. Let's help them clean up their catalog!

Still Available?

birdydon (not verified) - May 5, 2012 @ 5:34am

Last time I checked, it was not yet pulled from The Pirate Bay!

I know I know

Mike-tracker (not verified) - May 7, 2012 @ 3:30am

Most likely you violated Mikes evil master plan to rule the world by Mike-OS by showing how to hack his OS....

Hahaha there you have it your insider knowledge...

Visiting the USA

be afraid (not verified) - May 7, 2012 @ 10:36pm

I hope everyone at LXF that intended to visit the US has done it by now?

I would avoid it from now on...you never know :)

And I would avoid Canada as well. They have a tendency to extradite potential "criminal" to US as and when requested ;)

Only on a very short list of offences

loki1950 - May 8, 2012 @ 12:45am

And I would avoid Canada as well. They have a tendency to extradite potential "criminal" to US as and when requested ;)

And really just the current neo-con gov getting to be time to toss them but they have a majority for another 3 years :(

Enjoy the Choice :)

Sheds & Ignoble

Eponymous Nanguin (not verified) - May 8, 2012 @ 2:28pm

"Considering this happened just after MS made a deal..."

I thought something similar on reading the headline. So much for Microsoft taking the OEMs down with them, they seem intent on taking a barne-load of other companies down too.

Of course, Hanlon's Razor might apply here: B&N's management might just be feeling twitchy after their recent U-turn, and quick to respond to any complaint to show that yes, they really are listening to their customers, honest!

Here's hoping Team LXF don't fall foul of the UK's wonderfully fair and balanced extradition treaty with the US.

I looked EVERYWHERE for this

Disco (not verified) - May 8, 2012 @ 7:41pm

I looked EVERYWHERE for this issue and only got 153 & 155 from the news agents; won't shop there again and will merely subscribe direct.

There is a way to hack this.

Penguin (not verified) - July 23, 2012 @ 2:35pm

Security is NOT a product, its a process!!!!