HackThisSite
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HackThisSite is a popular hacking/security website, which gives user a way to learn and practice "hacking" skills against a series of challenges in a safe and legal environment. HackThisSite involves a loose team of a few dozen developers, moderators, and "scene whores" who maintain the network of websites, the IRC server, and several other HTS projects.
Many users have started to form their own local hacker groups and meetings which have grown to become part the Hackbloc collective which encourages the use of hacker activism to support social justice causes around the world.
HackThisSite and Hackbloc have produced several issues of their hacktivist magazine called "Hack This Zine" which introduces both new and old hacking techniques as well as documents news and updates in the hacker and activist scenes. While physical copies of the zine are available from several retailers and publishers (including Microcosm and Quimbys), the online versions are freely available to download at the zine website.
IRC and Forums
HackThisSite is known for its IRC network where many of its users congregate. Within this network, users converse on a plethora of topics ranging from current-day politics to technical issues with programming and Unix-based operating systems. However, mostly, the HackThisSite IRC network serves as a social gathering of like-minded people to discuss just about anything. Although there are many channels on the IRC network, the main channel is #hackthissite. Other official channels include #help and #criticalsecurity for forums members (though anyone can be there), and hackbloc also has their IRC channel there (at #hackbloc)
HackThisSite also has two sets of forums, the main one being at CriticalSecurity.net and the Hackbloc Forums. The CriticalSecurity.net forums has the most HTS discussion, specifically related to help with the challenges on the site as well as basic hacking and programming questions. The Hackbloc forums are more for focused hacktivist discussion as well as a place for people to discuss news and plan future projects.
Types of challenges
HackThisSite has many "missions", ranging from basic missions where one must simply exploit relatively simple html errors, to encryption missions where users have to decode messages, and application missions where users must examine and change the application to give them a passcode, also realistic missions where they must do political missions, help minority groups, etc.
HackThisSite works on a system of points, whenever you complete a mission you gain more points. Harder missions gain the user more points.
- Basic Web Challenges
- Realistic Missions
- Encryption Challenges
- Programming Challenges
- Permanent Programming Challenges
- Application Challenges
HackThisSite has also run a series of live hacking challenges called RootThisBox.org where people configured their systems to be used as target boxes for players to attempt to gain access to and defend from other hackers, similar to past 'king of the hill' styled hacking competitions. A new version of RootThisBox.org is currently being planned/developed.
Criticism
Some claim that HackThisSite, describing itself as a "hacker training ground", encourages people to break the law. Most people related to the site state that although some of the skills taught on the site can be used for illegal activities, HTS does not participate in or support such activities itself. While several individual members have been arrested for illegal activity (most notably Jeremy Hammond, founder of HackThisSite), there is little evidence to suggest that HackThisSite was directly related, although Protest Warrior, who Hammond was attempting to attack at that time, mentioned HackThisSite in its newsletter.