Slashdot Mirror

Just wait for governments.
"Austria wants to spy on messaging apps, Australia not far behind" (July 11, 2017)
http://www.zdnet.com/article/a...
"... install monitoring software on computers and mobile devices of suspects using messaging tools with end-to-end encryption.. "
Time to be "illuminated by the law".

ZDNet article on that case.

"Kaspersky Lab cannot be trusted to protect critical infrastructure"

Whereas the US government is totally trustworthy. /sarc

I'll freely admit that this is tinfoil hat paranoia but Libreboot or not, there is no way I'm ever trusting a Levnovo computer after that stunt they pulled with installing software from the BIOS, even on clean installs.

AC re "Can someone explain to me why someone would need a WiFi enabled refrigerator?"
So the CIA can spy on you.
"CIA: We'll spy on you through your refrigerator" (March 19, 2012)
http://www.zdnet.com/article/c...

That article itself linked to a follow up from the same author, who doesn't recommend doing this hack for several reasons. He also says that updates for embedded XP was scheduled to end in April 2016.

... after a registry hack to tell it it's an ATM (or other embedded).

To apply the hack, create a text file with a .reg extension and the contents below:

        Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
        [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\WPA\PosReady]
        "Installed"=dword:00000001

http://www.zdnet.com/article/s... --- was that it?

"I can't update X because of your crappy third party software that doesn't work right" to temporarily disable it, so they could apply the updates and then re-enable it or their product afterwards.

Um, no. That 3rd party software worked perfectly fine with a previous version of Windows. It isn't compatible with newer version. Also one complaint with Kapersky Labs is that it didn't disable and re-enable. It uninstalled it then installed Windows Defender. "One of the key complaints is that Windows 10 uninstalls Kaspersky antivirus without the consent of users and enables the built-in Windows Defender."

We both have valid points. Let's re-phrase. Microsoft and Kaspersky failed to coordinate to update their respective software in tandem to ensure proper compatability for both of their customers. It seems based on the evidence Microsoft was being proactive to ensure a better customer experience whereas Kaspersky did not. I'm not a Microsoft fan by the way. I want Linux to make Microsoft disappear and I'm cheering for it. I just don't think you can fault Microsoft here. No one has made a claim with sufficient justification to support that.

If you want to fault Microsoft, blast them about Windows Telemetry. That's where they deserve it BIG TIME.

"I can't update X because of your crappy third party software that doesn't work right" to temporarily disable it, so they could apply the updates and then re-enable it or their product afterwards.

Um, no. That 3rd party software worked perfectly fine with a previous version of Windows. It isn't compatible with newer version. Also one complaint with Kapersky Labs is that it didn't disable and re-enable. It uninstalled it then installed Windows Defender. "One of the key complaints is that Windows 10 uninstalls Kaspersky antivirus without the consent of users and enables the built-in Windows Defender."

How "outdated" was the AV software? Are we talking weeks or months or years out of date? Kapersky Labs complains that AV vendors have little time to update their software before that version of Windows. Also they complain that the AV software isn't "disabled" but uninstalled with Windows installing Defender over it. I would have issue with MS uninstalling any 3rd party software I installed on my machine.

Russian actions weren't able to modify votes cast.

You seem awfully confident of that. If there is one thing we know, its that e-voting machines are ridiculously insecure. And we've know it for over a decade.

What risk/reward ratio were they looking at?

Putin's singular goal is the elevation of the Russian state with him as its head. Because he's an autocrat that makes western liberalism an existential threat. Anything he can do to discredit western liberalism helps him - if he can convince enough people that american elections are rigged then he can say to his own citizens that real democracy doesn't exist, that the grass is not greener on the other side and so they should be content with his great leadership.

The correct link for the article is EU seeks new powers to obtain data "directly" from tech firms.

Nadella: "Well make it different this time. Make it in the cloud!"
Underling: "Uh....ok. (under his breath: does that even mean anything?)"

Of course it does. It's described in detail in Mary Branscombe's article, but let me sum it up: A "cloud" is a large set of identical servers that can be leased programmatically for short durations, such as Azure or AWS.

The bot-driven fake submissions are in support of ENDING Net Neutrality. This was not a false-flag operation. These posts likely came from the DCI Group ( https://www.dcigroup.com/ ) which was hired by the National Cable and Telecom Association via Broadband for America see: http://www.zdnet.com/article/a... and https://news.vice.com/article/... .

I wouldn't trust HPE for much:

http://www.afr.com/technology/cloud-computing/hpe-australia-boss-looks-to-leave-ato-crash-in-the-past-with-cloudled-growth-20170121-gtw72g

http://www.zdnet.com/article/136-complaints-arise-from-atos-string-of-hpe-hardware-outages/

People will be locked into IE.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will reject all alternative browsers by store policy.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/g...

You may not be aware but web browsers are banned on Windows 10S:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/g...

Of course web pages need to be cross browser. But if you were around in the IE6 days, you know that microsofties are the absolute worst at making cross browser pages. No way in hell would going back to those days be desirable.

No.

Google tries to keep malware out of the play store but malware does make it's way into the play store.

Things like this are constantly popping up... Thinking that only using the google play store is enough is wrong.

http://www.technewsworld.com/s...

http://www.zdnet.com/article/c...

I'll use Edge just as much as I'll use Windows 10 C. (It is C for C..p, isn't it? Oh, so it's S for S..t? OK.)

Then again I'm not in the target market since I destroy Metro (*, **, ***) on every box I own. I guess I keep the store around just because. If I wanted Metro on my server I'd ... well, I don't. Ever.

* one
** two
*** Anniversary Update EXCEPTIONS

McAfee has done something like this before As I recall it impacted Intel.

I believe we'll see a version that, at least buy default, will only allow signed apps from the Windows store. This would also presumably help them drive additional revenue to offset the low cost devices with smaller margins.

Not "every linux kernel before 4.5". Whether a kernel is vulnerable depends on whether the bug was backported by distros. RHEL never backported it, and Debian quietly fixed it a good while ago (kernels of any version shipped Sep 2015 to Jan 2016)

http://www.zdnet.com/article/r...

Yeah, that's the problem that hits every chronic, irredeemable liar. That's why you shouldn't tell lies. Microsoft has no credibility left, and will probably never regain it ever, because of their extremely solid history as liars, cheaters and general scumbags.

And I'm not just some graybeard talking about what they did 30 years ago, I'm talking about everything they've done since then, up to and including how they actively pursued malware tactics and actually tried to trick people into "upgrading" to Windows 10.

Microsoft is a lost case. Being scumbags are what they do. It's in their culture, it's in the air in their buildings, it's in the walls. Nobody with any trace of knowledge of their history will ever trust them.

That's why you don't tell lies. It's your own fault if people don't trust you if you do. Don't try to turn this into a problem with the audience.

Windows RT is depreciated, as are the tablets.

Microsoft still has a hard-on for the concept though, and it seems that they are wanting to bring it back from the dead:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/m...

There are so many vulnerabilities in Flash that it has seemed possible that Adobe is selling vulnerabilities, as the 2nd story linked below says. The only other theory is that Adobe Systems programmers have been getting no testing or other management.

Articles keep criticizing Flash, Flash, Flash. They should criticize "Adobe Systems Management".

It seems possible that Microsoft and other companies learned from Adobe Systems how much users were weak to abuse.

Stories:

Adobe Flash Player: List of security vulnerabilities. "Total number of vulnerabilities: 1,006".

Huge Adobe Flash security vulnerability revealed after hacking group's documents leaked. (July 8, 2015) "The huge weakness was revealed as part of documents leaked after a cyberattack on Hacking Team, a government-sponsored spying group, that seems to have been using it to break into computers."

Adobe Flash vulnerabilities -- a never-ending string of security risks (June 29, 2015)

Kill Flash now. Or patch these 36 vulnerabilities. "One bug being exploited right now in the wild." (June 16, 2016)

Adobe deploys security update to fix 52 vulnerabilities in Flash. (July 13, 2016) "Some of the critical flaws could lead to remote code execution on your PC."

Most Exploited Vulnerabilities: by Whom, When, and How. (Dec. 29, 2016) "The Adobe Flash Player comprised six of the top 10 vulnerabilities triggered by the exploit kits in a period from November 16, 2015, to November 15, 2016."

What the fuck is the article even about. M$ is inside every single mug punter, nothing voluntary about it what so ever http://www.zdnet.com/article/w.... Yep, uh huh, people volunteer for the M$ probe, stick it in deeper, oh yeah, twist it about, on yeah, pump it harder. Volunteer to stick windows 10 on a box and M$ gives you no choice, routinely fucking over the semi, somewhat, sometimes pretend privacy settings.

Those insiders and inside nothing, M$ is inside them, schmucks. Insider http://www.dictionary.com/brow..., so what special inside information do they get, none what so ever, so M$ double speak, when they say you are an insider, they actually mean they are the insider "a person belonging to a limited circle of persons who understand the actual facts in a situation or share private knowledge", that's you private knowledge they are digging into.

They have exactly what you give them.

Hahahahaha, most amusing, sir!

http://www.zdnet.com/article/f...
and hundreds of other examples/articles along the same lines.

In an interview at Melbourne's linux.conf.au conference, Linus Torvalds called the standard file system of Mac OS X "complete and utter crap." Mac fans are only slightly outraged, pointing out that HFS+ isn't really "complete and utter crap," rather, it's just slightly crap-ish.

On a personal level, I have had multiple corrupt HFS+ filesystems, one of which was unrecoverable. I tried switching to exFAT which also proved to be corruptible but repairable. Now I just store any data I care about on a NAS running a linux ext4 filesystem.

Hopefully, AFS will fix these corruption problems. I have been sending Apple upgrade suggestions for years. Looks like they finally got around to it. One filesystem to rule them all, but will it support upper/lower case?

and runs on modern windows.

I don't think anyone would run something as sensitive as an ATM on Windows.

Diebold do. Some Windows XP based ones are still in the wild. I'm seen the blue screens.
This is from 2014 but you can expect it to still apply in some places:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/w...

Well, in the past it was cash. And back then it was aid agencies and human rights agencies he was extorting.

Or maybe he's wanting them to sign some sort of absurd contract like the insane NDAs he used to make Wikileaks members sign.

It's considered dangerous to invest time and effort into much of fickle Google's software, lest it's withdrawn with only a few months' notice, and the same would appear true of their hardware lines, too.

Except that cloud services stop working when Google turns them off, while a Pixel notebook still works after Google stops selling new ones.

Also, since the Pixel uses an x86 processor, Chrome OS updates will continue to Just Work on it, or you could wipe it and install some distro of Linux like Linus Torvalds did. So I'm really not seeing the problem here.

Looks like Microsoft is up to their old tricks and maybe O'Reilly didn't publish fast enough:

https://fossbytes.com/brazil-r...

http://www.zdnet.com/article/b...

They have to work really hard to step in and mess things up for countries trying to break free (or for those who DID break free) from proprietary MS products. Brazil has a lot of corruption, so this seems to fit right in :(

"The mayor was against free software from the beginning," said Matthias Kirschner, the president of Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE). "When he was elected, he took pride in getting Microsoft to move their office to Munich [a move that took place last September]. He even gave this study to Accenture, which is a Microsoft partner."

Note also that the study supporting the move back to WIndows was carried out by Accenture (some of us know them better by their old name, Andersen Consulting). Accenture was Microsoft's Alliance Partner of the Year in 2016, so I'm sure that they have a neutral, objective reason for recommending Microsoft software.

Yes, well, Accenture is also a Red Hat strategic partner, as well as partner of Google, Salesforce etc. Studies like these are not carried out by the same branch that specializes in a partner technology.

An alternative to conspiracy theories could be that the employees of Munich actually want to switch to another system with less problems with standard software and drivers. Maybe they want to be able to use fingerprint readers, ID/chip card printers etc. Or maybe maintaining your own distro (Limux) was not such a good idea.

I've seen this: some high-powered MS rep chats up a boss, and *presto*:

MS is great We've got to migrate

Put that to whatever jingle you want. Also: inspect bank accounts and campaign funds.

Note also that the study supporting the move back to WIndows was carried out by Accenture (some of us know them better by their old name, Andersen Consulting). Accenture was Microsoft's Alliance Partner of the Year in 2016, so I'm sure that they have a neutral, objective reason for recommending Microsoft software.

Second point first: Accenture spun of a separate company 'Avanade', which partners w/ Microsoft and works w/ clients that are heavily into Microsoft solutions, as opposed to Oracle or SAP or anything else.

But I agree w/ your first point. Many years ago, had someone suggested migrating back from an FOSS solution to a Windows 7 based solution, it would have made sense, since the legacy support was still there. But that's no longer true about Windows 10. The only reason Windows 10 would make sense is if an organization already had plenty of legacy stuff on things like SharePoint, Exchange and the like. But if a company had not been using it, there would be no good reason to migrate to Windows 10.

The Minux approach was a document centric approach that they did, and by now, it should have sunk well into their infrastructure. What's more - since it's their own rolled distro, they would have had the option of keeping the OS untouched, except maybe for security updates. So migrating doesn't make sense at all. In fact, I have no idea whether Munich was using this system mainly as a document processing platform or maintaining databases as well, but even for the latter, there's enough stuff out there from MariaSQL to others.

I've seen this: some high-powered MS rep chats up a boss, and *presto*:

MS is great
We've got to migrate

Put that to whatever jingle you want. Also: inspect bank accounts and campaign funds.

Note also that the study supporting the move back to WIndows was carried out by Accenture (some of us know them better by their old name, Andersen Consulting). Accenture was Microsoft's Alliance Partner of the Year in 2016, so I'm sure that they have a neutral, objective reason for recommending Microsoft software.

Maybe. My company (fortune 500) treats MS as a hostile business partner. We deal with them only because we have legacy systems that we must deal with and because no one really offers a solution as robust as active directory for the enterprise.

I've made the argument a number of times with the higher ups that by eliminating the Microsoft licensing tax we could higher more people with expertise in Mac/Linux and eliminate MS entirely. They don't listen because "change" is a bad word in the enterprise. My entire business unit could go MS free tomorrow if they would let us get rid of Skype for Business.

Even our executives hate MS yet they keep going back like trained dogs.

I've seen this: some high-powered MS rep chats up a boss, and *presto*:

MS is great
We've got to migrate

Put that to whatever jingle you want. Also: inspect bank accounts and campaign funds.

Note also that the study supporting the move back to WIndows was carried out by Accenture (some of us know them better by their old name, Andersen Consulting). Accenture was Microsoft's Alliance Partner of the Year in 2016, so I'm sure that they have a neutral, objective reason for recommending Microsoft software.

Oh, knock it off.

As for the actual issue, this seems like it's the work of trolls. I may be wrong, but it looks suspicious to me. Here's another link on the topic, with more information: http://www.zdnet.com/article/breach-site-leakedsource-raided-by-feds/

If the owner wasn't arrested, it should be possible to confirm that the site isn't coming back or to make some sort of statement. Also, the note makes me very suspicious. Consider this: if I start a statement by saying, "I'm not racist, but...," it usually means I'm about to make a racist comment. If I include works like "honestly" and "actually" when nobody has questioned my credibility, it's an indication that I'm hiding something and being untruthful. In this case, the note ended by denying it was a troll, which makes me believe it's a troll and consider it less credible than I otherwise would. Until there are more credible details, this is an unverified rumor at best.

Any other SoC provider is free to offer a comparable cheap option. Let me know when that happens, OK?

TI does

Samsung does

There are a Whole slew of them

yes you can build a beowulf cluster of it. It was done on previous generation of r-pi.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/b...

Only about half of large organizations allow BYOD. See the graph here.

SCOTUS specifically said Apple is NOT entitled to all of Samsung's Galaxty profits. That ship has sailed. They'll also get a fraction of what they wanted, which is still too much. See

  http://www.zdnet.com/article/s...

for details.

Steven

The product wasn't transformative. The marketing was transformative and the timing was exceptional.

The business strategy, though, of making you pay for a product you don't own, was ingenious. Long live the walled garden.

Take a look at phone designs before and after the iPhone. When you can see a clear "before" and "after", it's a transformative product.

Exactly.

The product wasn't transformative. The marketing was transformative and the timing was exceptional.

The business strategy, though, of making you pay for a product you don't own, was ingenious. Long live the walled garden.

Take a look at phone designs before and after the iPhone. When you can see a clear "before" and "after", it's a transformative product.

That is a fake illustration made by Apple for the lawsuit, and only included because they got it through after deadline, which meant Samsung was not allowed to challenge it (the challenge was after deadline). Look for one the the many disbunking illustrations.

The product wasn't transformative. The marketing was transformative and the timing was exceptional.

The business strategy, though, of making you pay for a product you don't own, was ingenious. Long live the walled garden.

Take a look at phone designs before and after the iPhone. When you can see a clear "before" and "after", it's a transformative product.

Sub-$1000 laptops and PCs are absolutely not for "serious computer users". Apple has somewhere north of 70% of the $1000+\ market. An $800 Acer gaming rig is NOT for serious computer users. Gamers, yes, developers, absolutely not. If you ever go to a proper tech company / conference / meet up ... it's virtually all Macs. Granted, there are some high end Windows machines in the >$1000 range, and a some power users do use them, but they're the minority. Don't take my word for it, here are the same facts from ZDnet:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-apple-took-over-the-only-segment-of-the-pc-market-that-still-matters/

Malware is not the correct name as it assume malicious intent. So saying this means you are either ill informed about what Windows 10 actually does or are trying to please the /. crowd.

Here's a detailed description of what it does from a concerned user: http://www.zdnet.com/article/w...
here's MS's comprehensive documentation on it's configurability and what is collected: http://www.zdnet.com/article/w...

Malware is not the correct name as it assume malicious intent. So saying this means you are either ill informed about what Windows 10 actually does or are trying to please the /. crowd.

Here's a detailed description of what it does from a concerned user: http://www.zdnet.com/article/w...
here's MS's comprehensive documentation on it's configurability and what is collected: http://www.zdnet.com/article/w...

Letting the phone act as a PC by hooking up a monitor and keyboard/mouse. MS are looking into x86 on ARM