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Boing Boing Founder Warns of "Internet AIDS"
An anonymous reader writes "Cory Doctorow, founder of Boing Boing, says he doesn't have a problem in principle with the automated network defense systems that guard the Internet against malware, spamigation bots, and other network nasties. However, in his article 'The Future of Internet Immune Systems,' he bemoans the problems caused by 'Internet autoimmune disorder' — where the network defenses designed to block network attacks are automated and instantaneous, but the systems in place to reverse erroneous lockdowns are manual and unresponsive."
We still need humans on the other end to fix automation's bugs; algorithms cannot bypass themselves.
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For a lot of autonomic systems, you need the blocking, but a little automatic forgiveness goes a long way.
EG, in a scan detector, forgive 1 scan per minute/hour and eventually release the block. This saves a call to tech support, and papers over a lot of sins when building an automatic system.
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The summary title is stupid.
AIDS is not auto-immune; it is immuno-deficient. The FA doesn't mention AIDS. Try this.
I will wager a bunch of cash that he is selling a product that will fix whatever he says is broke.
So basically, -1 troll/offtopic is really slashdots way of saying "I hate that you thought of something before me."
These various Spam Blocking Lists (or SBLs) are almost all automated. A few of them let you push a button and get removed. However some of them require manually emailing an explanation and still others try to extort money from you to speed up the unblocking process. We didn't even send any spam. The previous owners of the IP did.
If this isn't a strong argument that blacklisting systems are unethical, I don't know what is. Imagine being targeted by vigilantes because you bought a house which was previously occupied by a sex offender and so the addreess is listed on the local sex offender registry. That's essentially what's happening here.
There is no such thing as an "evil IP address" any more than there is an "evil house." These systems are technically, logically, as well as ethically flawed. Anybody who buys into blacklist-based technology is a reactionary and a bigot.
There is no such thing as an "evil IP address" any more than there is an "evil house." These systems are technically, logically, as well as ethically flawed. Anybody who buys into blacklist-based technology is a reactionary and a bigot.
And you're a poopy-head!
If you're getting hammered with DoS attacks, spam, interweb herpaids or whatever TFA is about, you block the source. Blocking an IP address has nothing to do with some irrational fear of 32-bit numbers - it blocks the person using that number from destroying your network.
I hope you don't use a firewall or have a router, you bigot.
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Well then you obviously are not on the receiving end of millions of spam emails every day that *COULD* have been rejected outright if only you'd been using an SBL. Or you have so much free time to delete all of the junk emails, in which case where do you work? I would like a job? The whole basis of your argument gives no explanation as to how block lists are flawed morally. Technically flawed, yes. Morally flawed, I'd say no. Why should I waste all of my time looking and and handling spam emails I never wanted, requested, or occasionally specifically asked to not to receive? Just so I can be morally superior to spammers?
Let's pretend I agree that SBL's are immoral, I'd gladly take the hit to my moral standing if it means the (even less moral) spammers can't get as much of their crap to my inbox.
No one sane has ever said that block lists are the ultimate solution for the fight against spam, it is a very useful and very effective supplement to other measures. If something better comes along, I'd gladly use it.
If you don't like block lists, don't use them.
ZERO ZERO ONE ZERO ONE ZERO ONE ONE! Just brushing up for my next big invention: Ethernet over Voice (EoV)
Only if we get to call a tiered internet "Internet racism."
Spam is email that forces itself upon me -- that can be "Internet rape."
What Comcast is doing to bittorrent traffic: "Internet genocide."
And the projected brownouts as described by that other article on the front page right now: "Internet Alzheimer's."
These attention-grabbing headlines are so accurate and informative!
AIDS = ACQUIRED Immune Deficiency Syndrome. That is the immune system gets knackered by the virus and packs in.
Auto-immune means that the body's immune system starts to attack itself, a condition which is largely incompatible with the one mentioned. AIDS deals with the destruction of the immune system by outside causes (whatever they may be). Autoimmune diseases cover the body's own immune system going haywire and destroying the body.
Analogy: AIDS is a demolition crew, Auto-immune is "Extreme Makover: Home Improvement" where the jacuzzi ends up cooking the family.
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