Linux Wins, Vista and Mac Loses

 At the PWN2OWN contest this year, hackers were given an open invitation to hack the three most popular Operating systems in use. Windows Vista, Mac OS X and Ubuntu 7.10, these were installed on separate laptops, VAIO VGN-TZ37CN running Ubuntu 7.10, Fujitsu U810 running Vista Ultimate SP1, and a MacBook Air running OSX 10.5.2, the rules were simple you hack it you take it meaning the hacker that hacked the laptop would get a cash prize along with the hacked laptop.

The Macbook Air was the first to fall on the second day, security researcher Charlie Miller found an exploit in Apple’s Safari. he accomplished this in 2 minutes. Yes 2 minutes.

Vista was the second one to fall on the third day, hacker Shane Macaulay was able to hack and gain control of the Vista operating system using an exploit in the latest version of Adobe’s flash player.

After Vista’s fall on the last day left Ubuntu 7.10 as the last OS standing. Hence proving that Linux (Ubuntu) is the ultimate winner.

Miller walked away with $10,000 in cold hard cash and the Mac Book air, while Macaulay walked away with $5000 in cash and the Fujitsu U810.