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Sending Secret Messages Via Google's SearchWiki

Posted by kdawson on from the your-mission-should-you-choose-to-accept-it dept.

We discussed the advent of Google's SearchWiki when it was introduced a few days back. Now Lauren Weinstein offers a thought experiment in transmitting coded messages using SearchWiki, with a working example encoded into the results of this Google search.

18 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. the message by deander2 · · Score: 5, Informative

    "3 - Will more information about this be available later?"
    "4 - Self vs. others is always a major philosophical question."
    "5 - Destruct and destroy is not the best of attitudes, my friends."
    "6 - In any case, this list looks very useful."
    "7 - Five more entries could be added to that list."
    "8 - Seconds or thirds or even more helpings could add a lot of calories."
    "9 - Good entry. Very fine."
    "10 - Luck has nothing to do with these issues."

    --
    http://kered.org
    1. Re:the message by micksam7 · · Score: 4, Informative

      1 & 2:

      "1 - This article looks good to me."
      "2 - Tape this article to the door of your office!"

    2. Re:the message by LaskoVortex · · Score: 4, Informative

      This tape will self destruct in five seconds. Good Luck!

      --
      Just callin' it like I see it.
    3. Re:the message by hclewk · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Google has measured the slashdot effect.

      http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?q=orthogonal+terwilliger+accordion&date=2008-11-25&sa=X

  2. STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously, I'm all for change but this is FUCKING RIDICULOUS!

    The main page is now TITLES ONLY? WTF?

    The more you try to "upgrade" Slashdot, the more useless it becomes. Morons.

    1. Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Indeed, What the fuck. STOP. If I wanted Digg I'd go there.

      1) I only go to my profile to see if I've been modded. I don't care about some pseudo fire hose.
      2) WHAT THE FUCK have you done to the main page. I actually want to read TFS.

    2. Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Heh, I switched to classic view ages ago, and it looks like this is part of that because my view hasn't been affected. I tried out the new system for about 10 mins, decided it sucked, and switched back. You can change the settings here (at least, you can in classic mode).

      AC to avoid off-topic mods.

    3. Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I would mod you +1, Informative, if I had the points. Sadly, some purveyors of online forums believe that because they created it, they aren't answerable to the users -- they do first and ask forgiveness later. Of course, there's the flip--one of the earlier posters in your thread mentioned Digg; Despite it being a really crappy feed, it listens to its userbase. Which is probably the reason why it's so crappy. -_- In days of old, Slashdot would make 'meta' posts about upcoming features or changes to the main page, thus allowing for feedback while still tipping the hat to the authors. Maybe we should petition to bring back that bit of forward thinking...

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    4. Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT by djupedal · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The main page stacked w/titles is discouraging to use (not enough information thwarts scanning and forces click-thru...or is that the marketing plan now?) and visually distracting via misuse, or lack of, white space -- the rework to the comments page/list is confusing. Please stop messing with the layout, thanks.

    5. Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT by DerCed · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Actually you have to switch off the "Use Beta" checkbox that is in the "Index" preferences. I did not find it quickly, but it certainly pays off. The old school Slashdot homepage will greet you in the morning!

      Slashdot folks, what the fuck do you think you are doing?! If you will ever remove classic mode I will personally travel to the states and punch you in the nuts!

  3. Not very stenographic by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's a nice idea, but the messages are still being sent in the clear, and anyone monitoring your internet traffic would be able to readily identify which sites were visited and in which order. If you're trying to hide something, this is a poor way of doing so. Especially since it's likely there would be a need for repeated communication, and there's still the problem of "key exchange" as it were. In short, it might fool a casual observer, but I doubt it would get past someone with training -- this is something even an FBI field agent would likely pick up on (note the sarcasm). A proper stenographic technique should perform even under close surveillance.

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    1. Re:Not very stenographic by Java+Pimp · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's a nice iDea, but the messages aRe stIll beiNg sent in the clear, and anyone monitoring your internet traffic would be able to readily identify which sites were visited and in which order. If you're trying to hide something, this is a poor way of doing so. Especially since it's liKely there would be a need for repeated coMmunicatiOn, and theR E's still the prOblem of "key exchange" as it were. In short, it might fool a casual obserVer, but I doubt it would get pAst someone with training -- this is something even an FBI fieLd agenT would lIkely pick up on (NotE the sarcasm). A proper stenographic technique should perform even under close surveillance.

      I see what you did there!

      --
      Ascalante: Your bride is over 3,000 years old.
      Kull: She told me she was 19!
  4. who gives a rats behind. by EdelFactor19 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    complaining about the potential for abuse is like complaining your search could pull up a porn site. its retarted. if you dont like it then a. keep them minimized and dont read them, or b. go use a different search engine. honestly after reading this lady's page i think she's a paranoid nut who thinks its her job to police everyone.

    in short she's a moronic douche.

    --
    "Jazz isn't dead, it just smells funny" ~Frank Zappa
    EdelFactor
  5. Re:kdawson by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Funny

    In your Preferences, click the Suck? tab and uncheck the kdawson checkbox.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  6. That was fast by declain · · Score: 5, Funny

    Top 10 google trends:

    Today's Hot Trends (USA)
    1. dancing with the stars 2008 winner
    2. orthogonal terwilliger accordion
    3. siri pinter
    4. chelsea handler playboy
    5. brooke burke
    6. who won dancing with the stars season 7
    7. the shield finale
    8. the shield forum
    9. melioidosis
    10. callies biscuits

    It seems that a lot of people are suddenly interested in orthogonal terwilliger accordion. I wonder why?

  7. Re:Slashdot by isorox · · Score: 5, Funny

    What the hell? I cant see anything but the headlines!

    What happened to the articles and tags?!

    Bring back OMG PONIES!!!!!1!!1

  8. Re:The main page is all screwed up by smoker2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not sure if you're serious, but last night all the rss feeds for slashdot (http://rss.slashdot.org/Slashdot/slashdot) were ending at a google error page.

  9. What about meta-moderation ? by dargaud · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Since we are complaining about /. recent changes, I want to pipe about the metamoderation: I don't understand how it runs anymore. On the firehose (and now main) page you click [+] if the articles are good. Also on the moderation page, if you see a comment moderated insightful and it is so, you click [+]. OK. Now what if it's flaimebait or troll and moderated as such ? Do I click [+] to indicate that the moderation is accurate or do I click [-] to imply that it sucks and the comment should go to the pit of hell ?

    --
    Non-Linux Penguins ?