Unhackable Netbooks Options

[Psychosis]

And the wired NIC? You would then have an internet-less netbook. What's the point?

[catchyanow]

just put in one of those internet USB Dongles with another account from another company

[Psychosis]

And then it dials home.

[barry99705]

im talkin an entire school district. 2000+ computers, servers and laptops, every single one was taken down by virut.
so if you wanna take down novel 6 just use virut XD

So. I used to work for a K-12 school district. 23 locations and over 9000 computers, all networked back to the central office. Either 5Ghz microwave links, gigabit fiber optic or our own leased line dsl. We had a couple localized outbreaks on old servers that couldn't be updated(NT4 server FTW), but it never spread from their sub-domain. I guess having a 90% Apple network helps as well.

[Ingo]

Just like Psychosis said this really ain't "hackproof" as "you can't hack into it or get data from HDD", but it's ideal for school networks where you just want your users to use what you give them without having to worry about them messing shit up.

Good idea and I would be happy to see theys guys employed in my schools network.

EDIT: As it has been suggested you could disable the call home, but then you'd have no internet connection what so ever, this also works in a way as steal proofing (why one would like to steal a netbook for use is another question thou)

[Wetwork]

To get rid of this "always on internet" just open the laptop up and take out your wireless card. No more DET to shut it down

this will more than likely lock the system until it can call home or disable the bios until authentication is met

[iann0036]

I’ve actually got my hands on one of these ‘unhackable’ laptops. The Windows portion itself has been locked down from the ground up (any EXE’s from an external source will not run, I tried some CMOS flashers). The applications that are pre-installed on these laptops are basic like 7-Zip. They are maintained by the Department of Education and Training of New South Wales by re-imaging them via Remote Desktop. If you try to access the BIOS the computer will immediately restart. I have no idea how they’ve done this. There is also a Windows Recovery Environment Partition on it for boot manager recovery I assume. They have a built-in hardware GPS which is apparently “monitored” by the local police force. The IdeaPad laptops came in either red or blue and have Crimestoppers logo and telephone number on the base of the laptop and integrated in the Windows 7 Logon Menu (in the lower left corner). It need’s a special 6 pointed screwdriver to access the inside of the device but I wouldn’t want to as tampering with the device apparently alerts the police.

Does anyone want to help me hack it (on a software level)? Perhaps a meeting in a DimDim room? Please note that this is Australia...the time is different here you silly Americans

[Psychosis]

Don't you dare call me a silly American, I'm born and bred in Sydney.

The only options appear to be a buffer overflow in the preinstalled software.

[iann0036]

Or grabbing the SAM's remotely somehow..and I wasn't referring to the 'true aussies'

Live hacking (soft only) via DimDim anyone?

[barry99705]

I’ve actually got my hands on one of these ‘unhackable’ laptops. The Windows portion itself has been locked down from the ground up (any EXE’s from an external source will not run, I tried some CMOS flashers). The applications that are pre-installed on these laptops are basic like 7-Zip. They are maintained by the Department of Education and Training of New South Wales by re-imaging them via Remote Desktop. If you try to access the BIOS the computer will immediately restart. I have no idea how they’ve done this. There is also a Windows Recovery Environment Partition on it for boot manager recovery I assume. They have a built-in hardware GPS which is apparently “monitored” by the local police force. The IdeaPad laptops came in either red or blue and have Crimestoppers logo and telephone number on the base of the laptop and integrated in the Windows 7 Logon Menu (in the lower left corner). It need’s a special 6 pointed screwdriver to access the inside of the device but I wouldn’t want to as tampering with the device apparently alerts the police.

Does anyone want to help me hack it (on a software level)? Perhaps a meeting in a DimDim room? Please note that this is Australia...the time is different here you silly Americans

Torx?

[catchyanow]

You could try a live CD.................

Might let ya access the HDD but I don't know what good it would do............

[shonen]

I am pretty sure they would lock you out from the bios boot menu, so the using live booting media idea just went out the window.

I am sure a few Australia groups are working on it, if not I am sure they would be interested. Maybe you should try 2600 Australia, Ausphreak or hackaday.

Its a real shame my mate quit his old job working at the DET, he would come in handy for insider info.

[iann0036]

You could try a live CD.................

Nope. BIOS is locked down from booting all but the internal HDD.

Torx?

Yes. Torx, that's the one.

[catchyanow]

I am pretty sure they would lock you out from the bios boot menu, so the using live booting media idea just went out the window.

I am sure a few Australia groups are working on it, if not I am sure they would be interested. Maybe you should try 2600 Australia, Ausphreak or hackaday.

Its a real shame my mate quit his old job working at the DET, he would come in handy for insider info.

lol

[iann0036]

There is a new comment on the post 'Unhackable Netbooks given to students'.

Author: Boeing
Comment:

I have one of these laptops and a few people have gotten suspended for 'hacking' them. They made it so that you cant open .exe files but all you do is run as admin, its really stupid and you can take apart the laptop with screwdrivers and lots of people have been doing. stupid school

See all comments on this post here: http://hackaday.com/2009/09/27/unhackable-...udents#comments

[Psychosis]

Yeah, my cousin's cousin said that if you right-click and hit "Run as Administrator" (elevated permissions) you can do anything.

I can't believe the DET gave the students UAC elevation priviliges.

[gcninja]

Nope. BIOS is locked down from booting all but the internal HDD.



Yes. Torx, that's the one.

but you forget wubi, a small installer that installs Ubuntu FOR you, no live CD needed, does it inside windows

[Psychosis]

but you forget wubi, a small installer that installs Ubuntu FOR you, no live CD needed, does it inside windows

But the DET has an application whitelist. I'm willing to bet Wubi is not on that.

[shonen]

lmfao, all you do is run as Administrator. Thats just gold and what an oversight!

[iann0036]

It's got an Administrators password. Right-clicking and selecting 'Run As Administrator' only brings up a password prompt.