Good ol' Windows

Charmeleon25 · 2012-09-09T18:18:51+00:00

This would be so helpful if I lived in 1994

thenoblekoala · 2012-09-09T20:08:02+00:00

Prepare yourself local library branch.

SlyHeist · 2012-09-09T21:00:36+00:00

The exploit is in HP's printer interface and not the windows OS. The default printer interface would not allow you to do this.

NibblyPig · 2012-09-09T22:07:21+00:00

Our old windows NT network was locked down, but I found a nice security hole - it ran screensavers under the administrator role. Rename your .exe to .scr, set it as your screensaver, wait 5 minutes, boom.

iamNebula · 2012-09-09T22:48:19+00:00

At first, I thought you were just showing how many pointless dialogues you could open.

DerpVonGroove · 2012-09-10T00:04:28+00:00

Had I known this back in '96 I would've gotten so much pussy.

dougal24 · 2012-09-09T21:51:12+00:00

Or just Alt +F4 to close the password window... Yes that actually worked

ThagaSa · 2012-09-09T21:29:01+00:00

In XP you can get past the "must activate windows" screen by launching Windows Narrator (winkey+u I think? don't remember), and clicking the blue help link. It'll launch IE from which you can launch anything else, including cmd or explorer.

IntellingetUsername · 2012-09-09T12:30:40-07:00

Loos to me like the vulnerability here is in the print driver written by HP, not Windows.

MatrixOperator · 2012-09-09T21:03:19+00:00

Well there are still plenty of ways to do stuff like this in newer operating systems. Burn a lightweight linux to a usb and boot into it. You'll have access to all the files.

You can boot an ophcrack cd if you want to know the password, and finally boot a registry editor and reset the password.

There's nothing microsoft or any other os manufactorer can do to prevent it, files are not truly secure until they are encrypted

Repostology · 2012-09-09T21:45:58+00:00

Anyone seeking more info might also check here:

title	comnts	points	age	/r/
Forgot your windows 98 login? No problem!	16^coms	87^pts	7^mos	gifs
[Repost] How to open a Windows 98 session without password	181^coms	742^pts	1^yr	geek
The most epic log-on of all time	52^coms	571^pts	1^yr	gifs
Forgot password? No problem.	5^coms	3^pts	1^yr	reddit.com
Forgot your Windows 98 password? No problem.	81^coms	216^pts	1^yr	pics
Epic Windows 98 Logon	691^coms	1686^pts	1^yr	funny
Younger Redditors don't know about real security problems	1^com	23^pts	6^mos	gifs
Windows Security...	67^coms	532^pts	8^mos	gifs

source: karmadecay

duiker101 · 2012-09-09T21:30:22+00:00

you can still do something similar, or at least I did it on Vista and i suppose it works also on 7. The login screen has a button for help, just get a linux live cd and replace the exe for the help function(i don't remember exactly which one was it) with the cmd, go to the login screen and click the help button

????

Profit!!!

(remember to change it back for super stealth mode)

modestproposal81 · 2012-09-09T21:50:30+00:00

...the operative word there being "ol'."

mexicanmusicman · 2012-09-09T22:45:15+00:00

"I tried this with windows 8 an it didn't work..." - My dumbass brother.

Good luck, gentlemen

coleosis1414 · 2012-09-09T21:25:07+00:00

GAH if only I knew this in high school :(

wilsonliam · 2012-09-09T20:38:28+00:00

If I remember rightly, on Windows 98SE you could just clear all the fields and click on OK, and it would log you in to a blank user. Not sure if that worked on all installs or was just something wrong with mine though.

TheNomrak · 2012-09-09T19:49:18+00:00

and today u boot an "offline registry editor" from a usb stick and reset the password in 2 minutes. and for the mac fans: u delete the first registration file and the next boot you see the "welcome to mac" screen and you can make a new account.

darkreality20 · 2012-09-09T21:28:14+00:00

What does the exploit do? It still returns an error when he tries to access My Computer.

bojack2424 · 2012-09-09T14:40:06-07:00

Could someone explain what happened in the gif? Things were moving a bit fast

johnt1987 · 2012-09-09T23:54:36+00:00

My high school computers had some software called "fortress" (I think) to limit student access and permissions. Why they paid for 3rd party software instead of just creating a group policy is beyond me, but showing everyone else how to open a web browser to play flash games online wasn't.

The software only prevented students from launching IE, but it didn't prevent other applications from launching IE. So I would open up MS Word/Excel/Power Point, make a hyperlink, and ctrl+click. Admittedly it took me far longer than it should have to realize that I could use hyperlinks to start other programs besides IE and open up explorer windows as an administrator. It didn't help that they installed all software with administrator accounts/permissions thereby bypassing a lot of the techniques used by the 3rd party security software for user level access control.

There were some attempts to close the hole, but after we found out that the network administrator played EQ, all day in her office, and we didn't need the exploit any more. We had the password to disable the security software.

Cranimesao · 2012-09-09T21:28:35+00:00

Just Sayin

momadeen · 2012-09-09T18:44:36+00:00

Wtf whys this windows so boxy and ugly?

RickyBigRigs · 2012-09-09T21:46:48+00:00

Alternatively you could press esc.

Thecardinal74 · 2012-09-09T22:07:04+00:00

When Windows 95 first released, upon initial install you get to the point where you are forced to put in the license key. If you clicked "cancel" it continued on with the full installation anyway. It wasn't long, obviously, before it was caught. The second wave correctly cancelled the entire install if you did not put in a correct code.

UnfoldablePages · 2012-09-09T22:10:03+00:00

there's a computer a walmart that you can walk up to and scan things and check what's on the walmart.com website, it tries to block everything else, but if you mess around enough with it you can get it to print different things and get to the vista start menu. Fun stuff

SG_Dave · 2012-09-09T22:50:38+00:00

Unfortunately there wasn't a workaround like this for XP. I was given a computer from my dads workplace a few years back that I was asked to crack. The original owner had locked it with a password that no-one could figure out (we assumed it was a random keyboard slam as a last fuck you) and no-one was computer literate enough to do anything more than turn it on or off.

For 4 days I tried all kinds of Win 98 exploits hoping they carried over. I couldn't find one. We never did get into that computer. Not sure what they needed off it.

phorum · 2012-09-09T16:34:16-07:00

That only gets you onto the local machine. It still does not log you into the network, as the dialog suggests the "attacker" is trying to do. It does absolutely nothing different than simply clicking the Cancel button normally or the X. You can see the error about failing to mount the network in one of the last frames. This is bullshit.

erode · 2012-09-09T20:42:13+00:00

I think it's really Hewlett-Packard that dropped the ball here.

Hyper_Inferno · 2012-09-09T23:43:20+00:00

http://epiclogon.ytmnd.com/

midbc · 2012-09-09T21:39:00+00:00

get with the times OP......or quit being a repost whore

herr0there · 2012-09-09T14:36:02-07:00

That was miserable, but yet i couldn't look away

RExOINFERNO · 2012-09-09T21:43:50+00:00

Could someone please explain what just happened?

Radioactv_jelly · 2012-09-09T22:01:06+00:00

Psshhhh I just keep a password reset disk in my desk at all times

seraphwhynot · 2012-09-09T15:19:00-07:00

Can someone explain what's going on here?

having_sex_right_now · 2012-09-09T22:26:50+00:00

wow nice exploit. should have known it 18 years ago.

43443405 · 2012-09-09T22:32:33+00:00

We used to do that when I was in elementary school.

Good times!

electric23sand · 2012-09-09T15:51:16-07:00

wat.

aMillionLasers · 2012-09-09T22:55:36+00:00

my fathers computer has Windows Me (yeah...), one time he set up a password and you could just tap the "cancel" button on the password box... aaand you're in. idk what that was...

janosaudron · 2012-09-09T23:01:40+00:00

That's stupid, you could have just cancelled and the result would have been the same, you are still not authenticated into the domain and don't have network permissions.

Deep-Thought · 2012-09-09T23:09:37+00:00

In XP almost no one had a password for Administrator set up. You could boot up in safe mode and have full access to change any password.

ndchristie · 2012-09-09T23:18:38+00:00

I thought this was stupid until it saved my ass in the basements of Bobst (NYU library) trying to send myself microfilm scans in a timely manner (I did not attend NYU, but did have some library privileges...it's a long story).

ObviousAnswerGuy · 2012-09-09T23:27:15+00:00

Wow - I'm totally updating to Windows ME tomorrow

dugdiggers · 2012-09-09T23:43:02+00:00

That was literally the slowest gif on the planet

josieisabunny · 2012-09-09T23:45:28+00:00

oh, that's why it's so easy to backdoor those things

wayndom · 2012-09-09T23:48:26+00:00

Just ask Mitt Romney...

eNomad · 2012-09-09T16:52:43-07:00

I think if you clicked cancel, you would had saved much more time

drink_your_milk · 2012-09-10T00:00:29+00:00

It's even easier in windows xp home. The default admin password is blank, and 99% of OEMs shipped computers with the admin account enabled but hidden. Press Ctrl+alt+del+del to get the classic login, type 'administrator' as the username, and hit enter. You're in, with access to change any user's password.

ColfaxJones · 2012-09-10T00:11:34+00:00

Oh my

Double_Che · 2012-09-10T00:28:26+00:00

This also works when trying to remember you pin for your bank card :)

DSTFU · 2012-09-10T00:29:05+00:00

I can't tell if the lag in this gif is from slow internet or this gif is just like that.

not-my-cabbage-corp · 2012-09-10T00:30:27+00:00

tl:dw

red_firetruck · 2012-09-10T00:34:38+00:00

Way to represent something from 2007. The 2007 version even has music.

lisabadcat · 2012-09-10T00:40:51+00:00

Are you fucking kidding?

kcmasterpiece347 · 2012-09-09T18:05:40-07:00

Boot in Safe Mode. Use the Administrator account. Run CMD. Enter the following lines of command consecutively:

net user net user [username] --Don't type "[username]," type the username of the account that you want to change the password of. net user [username] *

It should prompt you to enter a password. As you type, you won't see anything show up, but you are actually entering the password. It will ask you to re-enter the password. Same thing. [HINT: It's easier just to hit Enter and not type in anything at all. This will remove the password from said account entirely.]

DoneRedditAlready · 2012-09-10T01:07:51+00:00

works in XP too, slightly different method

ElmertheAwesome · 2012-09-09T18:27:18-07:00

Was I the only one who heard the old Windows ding at the last error?

brainofbo · 2012-09-10T01:29:09+00:00

guess you had to be there....

PartyOnAlec · 2012-09-10T01:41:48+00:00

I'll remember this the next time I'm hacking the computers in my elementary school computer lab.

dawarrior_vex · 2012-09-10T01:43:58+00:00

you could just hit esc....

DontYouDare · 2012-09-10T01:52:11+00:00

Watching that made my mouse hand itch.

bhamby · 2012-09-10T01:52:42+00:00

EPIC YTMND.

MrYum · 2012-09-10T01:55:58+00:00

Just press Cancel works too

MrXaero · 2012-09-09T18:57:28-07:00

You could have simply bypassed that whole mess by pressing [ESC]

Deaki · 2012-09-10T02:20:51+00:00

It does not work anymore, troll

whatupnig · 2012-09-10T02:42:19+00:00

Good OLD windows

FTFY

Zooph · 2012-09-10T03:19:04+00:00

That only worked to access the local computer, not the domain.

And if you have physical access to any computer, passwords don't mean shit.

BabyBrown87 · 2012-09-10T03:30:20+00:00

What is that Win95?

turboknight · 2012-09-10T03:47:01+00:00

I remember reading that the first windows version to have user accounts had a button to simply say 'skip password', because people hated typing in passwords so much. I wish I could find the article (maybe it was on DailyWTF), but typing in windows + password into google gives about 2000 pages of shit.

ClassicalFridge · 2012-09-10T03:56:22+00:00

I wish I could overcome laziness to do something this awesome lol

yyx9 · 2012-09-10T04:46:42+00:00

Fucking Microsoft. Wooops!

BonsaiWasabi · 2012-09-10T04:59:08+00:00

who would take the time to figure that out?

willfaptodownvotes · 2012-09-10T05:36:08+00:00

In windows 98 you could have just closed the login box to bypass it. See that little x? Push that thing.

Sweet_Insanity · 2012-09-10T05:38:19+00:00

This is funny how?

Mugford9 · 2012-09-10T05:58:25+00:00

Is this that "hacking" thing they talk about?

jon_titor · 2012-09-10T06:09:50+00:00

In XP you used to be able to just boot up in safe mode and turn off the password settings.

Norgenator · 2012-09-10T07:08:53+00:00

Holy shit. I'm too young for this..

I'm 25

funny

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