level 1
I have somewhat fond memories of Packet Tracer. We used it as a tool along with racks of actual Cisco equipment. As you get in to more advanced features you realize Packet Tracer is missing quite a bit of stuff and sometimes it's plain wrong but it's a great teaching aid for visualizing a network.
I have no idea if they were aware of how fragile the software was from a cheating perspective but our teachers always had us do exams on real hardware anyway so I guess they sidestepped the issue.
level 2
In my old school, we use Packet Tracer in the first year to configure small network things.
But those who chose the network category in the second/third will also have real hardware to configure. But with the current covid situation it became a hot topic on how 'safe' those kinds of software actually are. Especially when students were forced to do exams from home, giving the student all the ease to cheat an exam since there is no 2.000$ hardware available, forcing them to use such software.
level 1
Actually, you could also put those two tiny NOPs so that every time you change user info (name, email, additional info), the progress is not reset ;)
level 2
Not sure where exactly?
There are a few functions located in the 'activity wizard' that are capable of copying the answer network into the initial network, but the 'activity wizard' is password-protected. So you could NOP the password comparison function etc.
But I decided to not do that, my goal is to show how 'easy' it is while at the same time making it hard enough so no one can copy the method (unless you have enough knowledge). This is to prevent students from copy-pasting code and getting a 100% score.
Also, I paid more attention to the 'thought process' since this is a really specific tool and I wanted people to know that any tool can be 'hacked' this way.
level 1
Fun article, the only thing that stood out to me was this:
We could also patch the login screen so it would never show up, but then we basically "crack" the software, which is kind of illegal.
I don't think it's illegal to do this in most countries. Distribution of it would illegal, but patching code running on your machine seems like it would be okay.
level 2
Way easier solution to crack packet tracer- start it without network access
level 2
EULA usually says it's illegal to modify the program.
level 2
I am not a lawyer, but it seems illegal to gain unauthorized access to (the full functionality of) a program.
So if the software was programmed to reject access to those who don't have a valid login, it seems illegal. But, since the software was ALSO programmed to give access without login in case there is no internet connection, then that makes it look like the software doe not require you to authorize using the login (or any other kind of authorization).
level 1
Ah packet tracer, good memories from 9 yrs ago.
I cheated the hard way: doing the work ;)
level 2
Learning the material....its a whole different way of cheating