To those few of you that don't yet speak geek, != is 'does not equal'
To those that don't understand the statement. Just because something happens in sequence or at the same time (correlation), it doesn't mean that the one has anything to do with the other (causation).
To give you a real world example you can laugh at, I had a lady inform me that the local gas station was selling bad gasoline. She knew this because she filled up her tank the other day, and didn't get half a block away when two tires blew out. To her, it was obvious that the events must be linked. And yes, I really did have someone claim this to me. I've had worse, but this is the easiest of the funny ones that doesn't cause me to pull my hair out in frustration.
People blaming games is as common as all other excuses. These include TV, Poetry, Twinkies (yes, look it up), Bad Genes, Demonic Possession, and even being Poor (not as a socio-economic incentive for the illegal gains, but rather as an indication of being inferior and less civilized. Yes, it was a Victorian theory.).
Since there is no science to back up this supposed link, what he is basically saying is: "I don't have any proof, but let's ban it just in case. Of course, we should also ban everything else, just in case..."
As to his assertion to ban WoW and other 'addictive' entertainments, what he is really thinking is apparently: "Since humans can obsess about anything they enjoy, let's ban everything fun..."
Hopefully some people with at least 3 functioning brain cells will take him aside and explain his folly. Even if it requires a burlap bag and some 'funtime' for him to get it. Maybe then he'll understand that violence is caused by many things, not the least of which are politics, and also stupidity.
And before anybody asks, no I am not advocating the use of violence, I merely used that particular imagery to make a point.
Ever since they've made computers with flashable BIOSs, this became possible.
Ever since they've removed the physical jumper to prevent unintentional flashing of the BIOS it's become probable.
The scum that make most viruses and other malware wouldn't be able to do this, and even believed it impossible. Now that a researcher has done it, and made that knowledge public means it's only a matter of time before we see real ones in the wild.
It doesn't matter which BIOS you have if it is flashable without a physical restriction active (like a jumper that has to be moved). It's easy to give your software the access codes for multiple BIOSs. All you need to do is a little research, especially since most BIOS manufacturers have already given you the tools to do it with.
I almost find it hard to believe those idiots did this. It's been an unwritten research area for decades because of the known risk. (Or more accurately, what the unintended effect would be, the eventual creation of a BIOS infector.)
Well, when the inevitable happens, the only way to fix it will to be getting a fresh BIOS chip, or New Motherboard, or New Computer. Hmmm... Maybe a side effect will be a rise in home brewed BIOS and chip burners. Then again, 99% of the users out there wouldn't open their case for anything, they're afraid the magic pixies will escape...
Giving an advanced science degree with creationism is like duct taping Charles Manson and the head of the Satanist church and making them the next Catholic Pope....
No matter how you stack it, creationism (even when search & replaced with intelligent design) is NOT science and can't be used for accreditation of an advanced science degree.
When I worked at Office Depot, anybody doing something like that would be fired on the spot. Of course, that was over a decade ago... (I left because I got a job that paid enough I could stop getting unemployment...)
The Sci-Fi channel was created because a study determined that overwhelmingly the public wanted a new channel that focused on - - - Science Fiction... In fact, it was over twice as popular as any other choice.
Now we have Sci-Fi showing tons of marginal or completely unrelated garbage. For example, I know wrestling is fictional, but then again, so are political speeches... (Though I do see how Comedy Central has justification to cover the presidential elections.)
I guess they've so totally lost focus with what they were meant to be that they are flailing about trying to help themselves. Too bad they think rebranding will solve their issues, when the problem is they've strayed from their foundation and purpose.
And just a side note: I agree with the other posters that SyFy only brings to mind Syphilis.
As they don't know what the P2P traffic is, you can't say it's illegal. Statistically, it probably is violating a copyright, but that isn't sufficient justification for singling out the P2P traffic alone. That would be like sending everyone in your city with a drivers license a traffic ticket, because you just know that virtually all of them will speed, roll through a stop sign, or commit some other traffic violation this year. Besides, he didn't even mention what kind of traffic was going on during peak hours, just that the company is (my interpretation) screwing customers by oversubscribing them 70:1 (his statement). It's possible that their biggest traffic spike is youtubers. Until someone does an analysis, you just won't know.
What kind of moron would allow legislation proposed by a possible psychotic who's ethics and actions are so out of bounds that he's been permanently disbarred from the profession of lawyer?!?!
This question leaves itself open to some interesting answers...
He does a non-violent misdemeanor. He was arrested at gunpoint and is looking at 6 months in prison?!?! WTF !!! Don't get into a fist fight in that city, or they might execute you!
I've a little insight relevant to this situation you might like to know before you superglue your tinfoil hats on.
First, let me clearly state that I do not work for Symantec, I have worked for 'security' software for companies that will not be named. (This is my opinion, not theirs.) And no, I have not hacked the programs to identify exactly what that file does.
Root kit? You're dealing with powerful software that wants to be able to interrupt the actions of malware. As such, they tend to run in Ring 0, and hide certain parts of themselves so they can't be easily targeted by malware. The 'invisibility' to the user is just a side effect.
Why keep it secret? Very simply, the malware writers aren't all that talented (most, not all) and can't program their crap to disable what they don't know about. Yes, safety through secrecy. An old idea that is officially shunned by most modern security experts, but still widely used because it works when it's kept secret.
Forum Deletions? Yeah, that may be part of the trying to keep it secret, but somebody really screwed up there. Everybody should know by now that deleting posts will only piss off the users and cause an instant internet sensation, kind of like this, the exact opposite of what they probably wanted. Besides, deleting other peoples valid and non-offensive posts is rude.
Proper response? Kinda hard to second guess, but I would have suggested an honest yet vague answer.
"That file belongs to (software whatever), and I can not discuss it's functionality in this forum. The alert was unintentional and we are currently working to resolve that situation, please keep checking for updates."
No lies, all facts, nothing important given away to malware writers. Something like this would have made this entire event a non-issue, just another bump in evolving software. As to the update being worked on, yeah, that's a given. They are always working on updates, especially when something blows up in their face.
Oh yes, one more small thing. That file may keep disappearing because it may only have a transient existence. Some programs are only removed from archive and dropped on the drive under specific non-continuous situations, after which, they are deleted. One example of this is how some software does it's live updates. So just because the file isn't there when you go looking for it doesn't mean as much as some people seem to think...
A camera is a camera, the only difference is if it's considered a hidden camera. If you were trying to film people in public, then go for it, it's public. On the other hand, you try filming in my house without my consent, you're going to have a whole lot of trouble.
Anytime the legislation tries to use it's legislative powers to silence an individual, ESPECIALLY on religious grounds, you should start taking immediate action to remove them from office. If I have to explain all the founding principles of this country they are violating, you really need to take a civics class.
Let's see, Dawkins, as an atheist, is saying that your religion (those not atheist) is wrong. Gee, let's see... Hmmm.... Yep, a quick review of all major religions reveals that they all say the same thing... Except they like to use the terms of heretic or pagan and the like. Most of them say things far worse than those people are misguided and wrong, several say they are evil and dangerous.
At a conference dedicated to the founding publication of what is probably the most important basis of biology, they didn't invite naysayers? Mind you, not critics, those would have to use science, and no, so called I.D. isn't science any more than Astrology is. Gee, I wouldn't invite them either. If they can get tickets and partake as audience members that don't cause disruption, that wouldn't be a problem either, but there is no way I'd be giving those anti-science demigogues a science spotlight.
when I was in the UK the trains I took were always on time, within 2 minutes. The buses on the other hand were a joke, they were never on time, and that varied by up to 2 days... Yes, I said days, and I meant that literally... They claim there was a bus war on, in my opinion the only thing they could be fighting over is which bus company gave the worst service on the planet. Yes, I rode the trains when the bus didn't show, in other words, a LOT.
He's going to have to sue all the newspapers as well if that's all it takes...
Besides, is that even legal? Aren't law enforcement supposed to arrest lawbreakers, not sue them...
There is a much larger market for a $20-$30 game than a $50-$60 one. Even Steam has come out and said this. So let's see, if packaging, shipping and promotion work out to about $5 per unit, and you sell 100,000 at $60 each for a total profit of $5.5 million. But if you only sold them for $25 each, and the lower price increased units sold to 300,000, (reasonable expectation based on personal expectations and the info from Steam) then your total profit would be $6 million. Maybe it's just me, but it seems that many people either didn't take, or else failed economics 101. (more like economics 30). If you don't know what I'm babbling about, Increasing price Reduces unit sold, Decreasing price Increases units sold. Of course there are some constraints on that system, available supply, market window, economy of scale, etc, but for the most part they really don't bung up the basic principle. You want to sell low enough to sell enough units sold so that the total profit, not the per unit profit, is maximized. Right now, the software industry is failing in that aspect completely.
I'll bet that they'll use this as an excuse to try and ban filesharing, when the problem isn't P2P, it's a basic I.D.10-T error.
Wonder if the dope that did this works for the same company that had their entire network as internet routable addresses... Yep, their entire network could be accessed by anyone in the internet, we tested that, and their IT Manager still refused to fix his security issue. Nothing more we could do for him.
who said they have to be false? allegations are unproven... Hmmm.... shall we make allegations against the higher ups at that ISP? Oh, let's really tweak with them and make allegations against Canada's Telecom Regulator. The only thing worse than getting screwed with, is getting tricked into screwing the guy you bosses you around....
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To those few of you that don't yet speak geek, != is 'does not equal'
To those that don't understand the statement. Just because something happens in sequence or at the same time (correlation), it doesn't mean that the one has anything to do with the other (causation).
To give you a real world example you can laugh at, I had a lady inform me that the local gas station was selling bad gasoline. She knew this because she filled up her tank the other day, and didn't get half a block away when two tires blew out.
To her, it was obvious that the events must be linked.
And yes, I really did have someone claim this to me. I've had worse, but this is the easiest of the funny ones that doesn't cause me to pull my hair out in frustration.
People blaming games is as common as all other excuses. These include TV, Poetry, Twinkies (yes, look it up), Bad Genes, Demonic Possession, and even being Poor (not as a socio-economic incentive for the illegal gains, but rather as an indication of being inferior and less civilized. Yes, it was a Victorian theory.).
Since there is no science to back up this supposed link, what he is basically saying is:
"I don't have any proof, but let's ban it just in case. Of course, we should also ban everything else, just in case..."
As to his assertion to ban WoW and other 'addictive' entertainments, what he is really thinking is apparently:
"Since humans can obsess about anything they enjoy, let's ban everything fun..."
Hopefully some people with at least 3 functioning brain cells will take him aside and explain his folly. Even if it requires a burlap bag and some 'funtime' for him to get it. Maybe then he'll understand that violence is caused by many things, not the least of which are politics, and also stupidity.
And before anybody asks, no I am not advocating the use of violence, I merely used that particular imagery to make a point.
Ever since they've made computers with flashable BIOSs, this became possible.
Ever since they've removed the physical jumper to prevent unintentional flashing of the BIOS it's become probable.
The scum that make most viruses and other malware wouldn't be able to do this, and even believed it impossible. Now that a researcher has done it, and made that knowledge public means it's only a matter of time before we see real ones in the wild.
It doesn't matter which BIOS you have if it is flashable without a physical restriction active (like a jumper that has to be moved). It's easy to give your software the access codes for multiple BIOSs. All you need to do is a little research, especially since most BIOS manufacturers have already given you the tools to do it with.
I almost find it hard to believe those idiots did this. It's been an unwritten research area for decades because of the known risk.
(Or more accurately, what the unintended effect would be, the eventual creation of a BIOS infector.)
Well, when the inevitable happens, the only way to fix it will to be getting a fresh BIOS chip, or New Motherboard, or New Computer. Hmmm... Maybe a side effect will be a rise in home brewed BIOS and chip burners.
Then again, 99% of the users out there wouldn't open their case for anything, they're afraid the magic pixies will escape...
Giving an advanced science degree with creationism is like duct taping Charles Manson and the head of the Satanist church and making them the next Catholic Pope.... No matter how you stack it, creationism (even when search & replaced with intelligent design) is NOT science and can't be used for accreditation of an advanced science degree.
When I worked at Office Depot, anybody doing something like that would be fired on the spot. Of course, that was over a decade ago... (I left because I got a job that paid enough I could stop getting unemployment...)
The Sci-Fi channel was created because a study determined that overwhelmingly the public wanted a new channel that focused on - - - Science Fiction... In fact, it was over twice as popular as any other choice.
Now we have Sci-Fi showing tons of marginal or completely unrelated garbage. For example, I know wrestling is fictional, but then again, so are political speeches... (Though I do see how Comedy Central has justification to cover the presidential elections.)
I guess they've so totally lost focus with what they were meant to be that they are flailing about trying to help themselves. Too bad they think rebranding will solve their issues, when the problem is they've strayed from their foundation and purpose.
And just a side note: I agree with the other posters that SyFy only brings to mind Syphilis.
As they don't know what the P2P traffic is, you can't say it's illegal. Statistically, it probably is violating a copyright, but that isn't sufficient justification for singling out the P2P traffic alone. That would be like sending everyone in your city with a drivers license a traffic ticket, because you just know that virtually all of them will speed, roll through a stop sign, or commit some other traffic violation this year.
Besides, he didn't even mention what kind of traffic was going on during peak hours, just that the company is (my interpretation) screwing customers by oversubscribing them 70:1 (his statement).
It's possible that their biggest traffic spike is youtubers. Until someone does an analysis, you just won't know.
What kind of moron would allow legislation proposed by a possible psychotic who's ethics and actions are so out of bounds that he's been permanently disbarred from the profession of lawyer?!?!
This question leaves itself open to some interesting answers...
He does a non-violent misdemeanor. He was arrested at gunpoint and is looking at 6 months in prison?!?! WTF !!! Don't get into a fist fight in that city, or they might execute you!
I've a little insight relevant to this situation you might like to know before you superglue your tinfoil hats on.
First, let me clearly state that I do not work for Symantec, I have worked for 'security' software for companies that will not be named. (This is my opinion, not theirs.) And no, I have not hacked the programs to identify exactly what that file does.
Root kit? You're dealing with powerful software that wants to be able to interrupt the actions of malware. As such, they tend to run in Ring 0, and hide certain parts of themselves so they can't be easily targeted by malware. The 'invisibility' to the user is just a side effect.
Why keep it secret? Very simply, the malware writers aren't all that talented (most, not all) and can't program their crap to disable what they don't know about. Yes, safety through secrecy. An old idea that is officially shunned by most modern security experts, but still widely used because it works when it's kept secret.
Forum Deletions? Yeah, that may be part of the trying to keep it secret, but somebody really screwed up there. Everybody should know by now that deleting posts will only piss off the users and cause an instant internet sensation, kind of like this, the exact opposite of what they probably wanted. Besides, deleting other peoples valid and non-offensive posts is rude.
Proper response? Kinda hard to second guess, but I would have suggested an honest yet vague answer.
"That file belongs to (software whatever), and I can not discuss it's functionality in this forum. The alert was unintentional and we are currently working to resolve that situation, please keep checking for updates."
No lies, all facts, nothing important given away to malware writers. Something like this would have made this entire event a non-issue, just another bump in evolving software. As to the update being worked on, yeah, that's a given. They are always working on updates, especially when something blows up in their face.
Oh yes, one more small thing. That file may keep disappearing because it may only have a transient existence. Some programs are only removed from archive and dropped on the drive under specific non-continuous situations, after which, they are deleted. One example of this is how some software does it's live updates. So just because the file isn't there when you go looking for it doesn't mean as much as some people seem to think...
A camera is a camera, the only difference is if it's considered a hidden camera. If you were trying to film people in public, then go for it, it's public. On the other hand, you try filming in my house without my consent, you're going to have a whole lot of trouble.
Anytime the legislation tries to use it's legislative powers to silence an individual, ESPECIALLY on religious grounds, you should start taking immediate action to remove them from office. If I have to explain all the founding principles of this country they are violating, you really need to take a civics class.
Let's see, Dawkins, as an atheist, is saying that your religion (those not atheist) is wrong. Gee, let's see... Hmmm.... Yep, a quick review of all major religions reveals that they all say the same thing... Except they like to use the terms of heretic or pagan and the like. Most of them say things far worse than those people are misguided and wrong, several say they are evil and dangerous.
At a conference dedicated to the founding publication of what is probably the most important basis of biology, they didn't invite naysayers? Mind you, not critics, those would have to use science, and no, so called I.D. isn't science any more than Astrology is. Gee, I wouldn't invite them either. If they can get tickets and partake as audience members that don't cause disruption, that wouldn't be a problem either, but there is no way I'd be giving those anti-science demigogues a science spotlight.
when I was in the UK the trains I took were always on time, within 2 minutes. The buses on the other hand were a joke, they were never on time, and that varied by up to 2 days... Yes, I said days, and I meant that literally... They claim there was a bus war on, in my opinion the only thing they could be fighting over is which bus company gave the worst service on the planet. Yes, I rode the trains when the bus didn't show, in other words, a LOT.
He's going to have to sue all the newspapers as well if that's all it takes... Besides, is that even legal? Aren't law enforcement supposed to arrest lawbreakers, not sue them...
There is a much larger market for a $20-$30 game than a $50-$60 one. Even Steam has come out and said this. So let's see, if packaging, shipping and promotion work out to about $5 per unit, and you sell 100,000 at $60 each for a total profit of $5.5 million. But if you only sold them for $25 each, and the lower price increased units sold to 300,000, (reasonable expectation based on personal expectations and the info from Steam) then your total profit would be $6 million. Maybe it's just me, but it seems that many people either didn't take, or else failed economics 101. (more like economics 30). If you don't know what I'm babbling about, Increasing price Reduces unit sold, Decreasing price Increases units sold. Of course there are some constraints on that system, available supply, market window, economy of scale, etc, but for the most part they really don't bung up the basic principle. You want to sell low enough to sell enough units sold so that the total profit, not the per unit profit, is maximized. Right now, the software industry is failing in that aspect completely.
"Buca De Beppo" ??? What the heck is that? An Italian pedophilia clown?
Hmmm, makes you wonder if there is a niche market around for making those dingy office machines look like new.
I'll bet that they'll use this as an excuse to try and ban filesharing, when the problem isn't P2P, it's a basic I.D.10-T error. Wonder if the dope that did this works for the same company that had their entire network as internet routable addresses... Yep, their entire network could be accessed by anyone in the internet, we tested that, and their IT Manager still refused to fix his security issue. Nothing more we could do for him.
I get 100 mbit fiber for $65/mo in a small town in Iowa. WTF is taking the rest of you so long?
One word, comcast...
grey goo is for nano-machines, not synthetic life forms. A better terror reference would be the Andromeda Strain.
Baen Free Library http://www.baen.com/library/ Will that link do for you? (read the intro)
who said they have to be false? allegations are unproven... Hmmm.... shall we make allegations against the higher ups at that ISP? Oh, let's really tweak with them and make allegations against Canada's Telecom Regulator. The only thing worse than getting screwed with, is getting tricked into screwing the guy you bosses you around....