When I was in High School {class of 1975}, we had a very interesting shop instructor. He used to say: “If you don’t know how to misuse a hammer in at least 4 different ways, then you didn’t know how to use a hammer.”

When it came to using a table saw {or any power tool}, he would put his philosophy in action and physically demonstrate all the ways to _not_ use said table saw {tool}. i.e. Remove blade guard. Don’t use a push stick. Don’t use a hold down when it was possible to use one. Don’t use a rip fence {push wood through ‘free hand’}.

We saw chunks and splinters of wood fly the entire length of the shop floor {easily 40’plus}. He even demonstrated a dummy’s arm sleeve getting caught.

Watching all the bad things that could happen taught me two things.

1) Always pay attention to what you’re doing.

2) The best way to learn about anything worthwhile is to learn how to abuse it every way you can. That makes a much more lasting impression than someone droning about safety practices.

From 1974 through 2004, I never injured myself with any power tool. In 2004, I managed to slice off 1/8″ of one finger nail tip on a table saw. I pay even closer attention now.

I see no difference between learning how to abuse any hand tool at least four different ways and learning how to hack my servers.

You can’t learn the safest way to handle anything if you don’t know how to abuse it. If you’re a network or server admin of any kind, this is exactly the kind of practical, hand’s on article you need to see and do and learn to best protect your network.

Shame on B&N to take it upon themselves to censor Linux Format Magazine for the magazine’s excellent article on penetration testing.