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'Geek Speak' Confuses Net Users

jonney02 writes "BBC News is running the following story 'The average home computer user is bamboozled by technology jargon which is used to warn people about the most serious security threats online.' "

8 of 808 comments (clear)

  1. Classic Geek Speak by kpwoodr · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    First Post! ..dammit I missed again!

    --
    This sig has been removed pending an investigation.
  2. Can I ask slashdot? by benchbri · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    My internets are slow. I don't know what to do. I can run my microsoft works, and that goes fine. But when I start up my internet my entire computer slows down. I asked the boy that sold me my computer at best buy, and he said I should put more ram in it. So after I got my computer back from him installing the ram, it is a little faster, but the internets are still slow.

  3. mhod 0p by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
  4. Proposed change by DrinkingIllini · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Phishing: Wallet Inspector

  5. MOD PARENT UP PRZ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I LOL'D

  6. And Mircosoft is there to help us out again..... by Shrug · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Link.....http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/ children/kidtalk.mspx

    Key points for interpreting leetspeek

    Numbers are often used as letters. The term "leet" could be written as "1337," with "1" replacing the letter L, "3" posing as a backwards letter E, and "7" resembling the letter T. Others include "8" replacing the letter B, "9" used as a G, "0" (zero) in lieu of O, and so on.

    Non-alphabet characters can be used to replace the letters they resemble. For example, "5" or even "$" can replace the letter S. Applying this style, the word "leetspeek" can be written as "133t5p33k" or even "!337$p34k," with "4" replacing the letter A.

    Letters can be substituted for other letters that may sound alike. Using "Z" for a final letter S, and "X" for words ending in the letters C or K is common. For example, leetspeekers might refer to their computer "5x1llz" (skills).

    Rules of grammar are rarely obeyed. Some leetspeekers will capitalize every letter except for vowels (LiKe THiS) and otherwise reject conventional English style and grammar, or drop vowels from words (such as converting very to "vry").

    Mistakes are often left uncorrected. Common typing misspellings (typos) such as "teh" instead of the are left uncorrected or sometimes adopted to replace the correct spelling.

    Non-alphanumeric characters may be combined to form letters. For example, using slashes to create "/\/\" can substitute for the letter M, and two pipes combined with a hyphen to form "|-|" is often used in place of the letter H. Thus, the word ham could be written as "|-|4/\/\."

    The suffix "0rz" is often appended to words for emphasis or to make them plural. For example, "h4xx0rz," "sk1llz0rz," and "pwnz0rz," are plural or emphasized versions (or both) of hacks, skills, and owns.

    It's important to remember that the leetspeek community encourages new forms and awards individual creativity, resulting in a dynamic written language that eludes conformity or consistency. However, there are a few standard terms. The following is a sample of key words that haven't changed fundamentally (although variations occur) since the invention of leetspeek. The first series is of particular concern, as their use could be an indicator that your teenager is involved in the theft of intellectual property, particularly licensed software.

    Leet words of concern or indicating possible illegal activity:

    "warez" or "w4r3z": Illegally copied software available for download.

    "h4x": Read as "hacks," or what a malicious computer hacker does.

    "pr0n": An anagram of "porn," possibly indicating the use of pornography.

    "sploitz" (short for exploits): Vulnerabilities in computer software used by hackers.

    "pwn": A typo-deliberate version of own, a slang term often used to express superiority over others that can be used maliciously, depending on the situation. This could also be spelled "0\/\/n3d" or "pwn3d," among other variations. Online video game bullies or "griefers" often use this term.

    Other common leet words:

    "kewl": A common derivation of "cool."

    "m4d sk1llz" or "mad skills": Refers to one's own talent. "m4d" itself is often used for emphasis.

    "n00b," "noob," "newbie," or "newb": Combinations synonymous with new user. Some leetspeekers view "n00b" as an insult and "newbie" as an affectionate term for new users.

    "w00t" or the smiley character \o/: An acronym that usually means "We Own the Other Team," used to celebrate victory in a video game.

    "roxx0rs" Used in place of "rocks," typically to describe something impressive.

    "d00d": Replaces the greeting or addressing someone as a "dude."

    "joo" and "u": Used instead of "you." This is also commonly written as "j00" or "_|00."

    "ph": often replaces "f," as in "phear" for "fear" (as in "ph34r my l33t skillz") and vice versa, such as spelling "phonetic" as "f0|\|371(."

  7. Re:A Plea To Programmers For Better Dialogs by cloudmaster · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    If your oil levels are getting low, then your engine is already in poor shape. Oil should not be consumed in any significant way between scheduled oil changes, unless you're running an oil/gas mixture 2-cycle or similar. :)

  8. Re:A Plea To Programmers For Better Dialogs by cloudmaster · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    By "better ones" you must mean "not better ones". I change the oil in my modern, lean-burning engine every 3000 miles or so (the filter gets changed ever 3K), and I drive that car hard. 5 quarts go in, and 5 quarts come out (4 in the pan, 1 in the filter). I'm not sure where you read that good oils lose up to 25% of their volume under any semblence of normal use, but I'd cancel my subscription immediately. Or, switch to Royal Purple, and maybe invest in an oil cooler.

    The PCV system is supposed to catch the contaminated unburned air/fuel mixture that inevitably slips past the rings during every revolution, and to keep that blowby from building up pressure in the crankcase. Pressure would counteract the rings' ability to seal in the cylinder, causing more blowby and less efficient operation (and increased oil consumption).