How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#1

Post by processing » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 3:52 PM UTC

How to Send Mail to MTV.com
jamesaltucher.com

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#2

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:12 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#3

Post by elliottcarlson » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:13 PM UTC

This isn't really hacking, it's just using a mail server, for sending mail... The problem is/was that SMTP AUTH was overlooked as a requirement from the original SMTP spec, and the bigger WTF is that it took about 20 years before it was added to the spec.

Edit to add:

"While he was on the computer I shut off all the power on the floor." - Because everyone can just stand there and shut all the power off on a floor... if it were indeed a 'hack' then give more specifics, if it's flipping the switch on a breaker... well... that's just that.

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#4

Post by ajays » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:23 PM UTC

Kids these days. This isn't "hacking into MTV.com".

If "hacking" were equivalent to "breaking into someone's house, making yourself a breakfast, cleaning up and leaving without taking anything and anyone noticing you were there", then this is more like "ringing the doorbell and running away". Just sayin'....

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#5

Post by dkhoya » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:26 PM UTC

I don't think the point of the article was the "hacking" so no reason to really breakdown how good of a hacker Altucher is/is not.

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#6

Post by elliottcarlson » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:30 PM UTC

dkhoya wrote: post #5

I don't think the point of the article was the "hacking" so no reason to really breakdown how good of a hacker Altucher is/is not.

If that is the case, then the title is pure link bait; the article wasn't about MTV.com; and the closest to a hack is the social engineering (to whatever degree) used to get the friend to the MTV beach house.

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#7

Post by zeroplus » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:33 PM UTC

elliottcarlson wrote: post #6

dkhoya wrote: post #5

I don't think the point of the article was the "hacking" so no reason to really breakdown how good of a hacker Altucher is/is not.

If that is the case, then the title is pure link bait; the article wasn't about MTV.com; and the closest to a hack is the social engineering (to whatever degree) used to get the friend to the MTV beach house.

I guess illegally entering mtv.com and doing something with their mail server counts as a hack.

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#8

Post by citricsquid » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:39 PM UTC

why are all this guys articles on the front page of hn? They're just pointless crap not worth reading that culminate in "follow me on twitter I'm a super cool guy".

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#9

Post by zeroplus1 » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 4:43 PM UTC

citricsquid wrote: post #8

why are all this guys articles on the front page of hn? They're just pointless crap not worth reading that culminate in "follow me on twitter I'm a super cool guy".

i guess they really stir something deeply inside of you. thanks!

Re: How to Send Mail to MTV.com

#10

Post by elliottcarlson » Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 5:09 PM UTC

zeroplus wrote: post #7

elliottcarlson wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that is the case, then the title is pure link bait; the article wasn't about MTV.com; and the closest to a hack is the social engineering (to whatever degree) used to get the friend to the MTV beach house.

I guess illegally entering mtv.com and doing something with their mail server counts as a hack.

There was nothing illegal as far as entering... he used a mail server for what it was intended for. The impersonation of the MTV legal team is a different story, but it would not constitute a hack in my opinion.