Slashdot Mirror
The Spinning Cube of Potential Doom
An anonymous reader writes "This month's Communications of the ACM (does not seem to have a link to online text) has an article about The Spinning Cube of Potential Doom, a security visualization tool that I first saw at SC2003. The cube displays data from Bro along 3 axes and creates interesting visual results (port scans, barber poles, lawnmower). This definitely makes patterns in all that 'boring log data' jump out. This is a very interesting development, the ability to monitor in real time and replay historical security related information. Definitely a step towards the new types of tools we will need to secure hosts and networks."
Too bad Cisco didn't have this a couple weeks ago when they needed it!
The best way to predict the future is to invent it. -Alan Kay
I live in the spinning cube of potential doom. At least that's what my co-workers call it.
Sounds like the Time Cube.
But then, you stupid ignorant mind-traitors cant understand time cube having been manipulated by your word god.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Now we need tools that scan in a pattern that causes little devil faces to appear inside the cube, just to freak the sysadmin out. Words could be fun too.
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
Man, when I heard it could display data along 3 axes I was hoping for a error message featuring a little projection of somebody saying "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
Sad.
The Human Cow - bringing you scrumtrelescence since 1995
Besides the primary educational aspect of the Cube, the secondary goal of the Cube will see fruition as to how investigate new techniques in visually analyzing network traffic and also to develop a tool that would potentially assist those involved with computer security.
Yes. The Cube knows all. It will make everything all right again. The Cube has been sent to help us. We must trust the Cube.
All hail the Cube.
-Laxitive
Sorry, absolutely nothing of value to add to this. I just liked the way you referred 'the Cube' using proper-noun capitalization, and spoke of it as a single entity.
I wonder what the 3D graph of a Slashdotting looks like...
All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.
Warning: Pregnant women, the elderly and children under 10 should avoid prolonged exposure to the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom.
Caution: the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds.
the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom Contains a liquid core, which, if exposed due to rupture, should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at.
Do not use the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom on concrete.
Discontinue use of the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom if any of the following occurs:
Itching
Vertigo
Dizziness
Tingling in extremities
Loss of balance or coordination
Slurred speech
Temporary blindness
Profuse sweating
Heart palpitations
If the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head.
the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom may stick to certain types of skin.
When not in use, the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom should be returned to its special container and kept under refrigeration...
Failure to do so relieves the makers of the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom, Wacky Products Incorporated, and its parent company Global Chemical Unlimited, of any and all liability.
Ingredients of the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom include an unknown glowing substance which fell to Earth, presumably from outer space.
the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom has been shipped to our troops in Saudi Arabia and is also being dropped by our warplanes on Iraq.
Do not taunt the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom.
the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom comes with a lifetime guarantee.
the Spinning Cube of Potential Doom
ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES!
Did someone just discover that data can be graphed? What is the innovation here?
For great justice.
Got some slick, nobody's fool sysadmin you need to get past?
Well, cook up a portscan that will look like a giant, spinning Mr Goatse, or some racial slurs, etc..
Boss walks past, geek gets fired, replaced by bosses moron nephew who is more than happy to give you the keys to the server when you call and identify yourself as the Hamburglar.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
this one
Technoli
...I can see it now:
I know this... this is UNIX!
Would you like to play a game>
... After all the $$M spent on cute visualization and PR promotion of the technology, evil authors of port-scanners just add two lines:
/* this */ ...) ...){ /* and this */
pseed=urand(); iseed=urand();
for(port
for(ip
port ^= pseed; ip^=iseed;
probe(ip,port);
}
or use some fancier one-to-one mapping and the dots in your cube are again "random" to the naked eye.
(On a side note, why whoever implemented that "barberwire"-producing scanner did not do this at the time, I can not understand).
Paul B.