Omniscience Protocol

solidox writes "There is a new RFC discussing the Omniscience Protocol. It proposes that every computer be installed with an OP Client which would allow law enforcement ('Good guys.') and copyright holders (RIAA, MPAA) to remotely destroy the computer of any user who has been involved in copyright infringement ('evil-doer'). The client will be completely undetectable and unremovable by even the most skilled hacker. It also must be able to report to the server at any time. 'The OP must be able to communicate through uncooperative firewalls, NATs, and when the computer is disconnected from the Internet.' So if your computer randomly blows up in the next while, you can put the blame on this."

Comments

Old News!

[American AC in Paris]

C'mon, Slashdot. The alpha version of this has been avaliable since, like, the dawn of time.

(Call me before they go gold with the omega release, though...)

Who cares about the RFC..

[xTK-421x]

The real thing I want to know is how many times are we going to see this posted today?

Finally!

[BlackLeader]

Now the world will be free from pirates forever! No more swabbin' the deck and leerin' at young lasses at ports of call! Today is a great victory for democracy!

communicate disconnected from the internet?

[eljasbo]

I wonder if putting tinfoil around my computer would circumvent this?

Re:communicate disconnected from the internet?

[Manfre]

Tin foil may not do the trick...try really strong magnets. :)

Misprint

[ArmenTanzarian]

"to remotely destroy the computer of any user who has been involved in copyright infringement"

I think they actually meant:
"to remotely destroy the user of any computer who has been involved in copyright infringement"

It's going to be a loooong day.

[SysPig]

I think I'll just come back tomorrow.

Power lines and other shortcomings

[gtrubetskoy]

I find this RFC a bit limited because it does not seem to cover power lines. The protocol could easily include a provision to control devices that are merely plugged-in to the power outlet. A later version could extend this support to TCP capable nano-devices that could, for example, infiltrate common appliances (e.g. phones, fridges, tv's) and report back over powerlines on their status.

So I doubt this RFC would gain adoption without those things.

Hah!

[Himring]

Just another April fools jo.... (connection reset by peer)

Re:Simply patheticc.

[hanssprudel]

Since when is this an April Fool's joke?

It's actually called Palladium, and Microsoft is rolling it out together with Longhorn. The necessary hardware modification, in the form of TCPA or the Phoenix DRM bios, are already around the corner.

Re:Mod on April Fools Day

[gowen]

Gullable: adj, susceptible to attacks by seabirds.

Gullible: adj, easily fooled.

(And they told me "gullible" wasn't in my dictionary)