I would also help if Firefox's automatic updates could be automagically installed without administrator-level rights on Windows boxes, perhaps as a service.
...And I believe in order to really get the message through, IT Department needs to have some sort of security drill (like fire drill, annoying but everybody gets the idea after several attempts)....For example, if a user clicked on an obvious suspicious link (spoofed by yours truly IT Department of course), his computer will be taken away for "maintenance" for a week, and he'll be assigned to another area of the office with a crappy machine. This way, not only does he suffer from his action, others will know why he is working at the "Concentration Cubicle".
It is not IT's job to discipline users. Doing so in this manner will only serve to make a user's job more difficult, and result in decreased productivity. Such an result will lose the company money, and the IT group will ultimately not be doing their job. Remember that an IT group's job is to serve the users, and increase their productivity by providing systems solutions to handle data and communications. The day-to-day support role should only be a small part of this. Further, when users are constantly doing dumb things, it represents a failure on behalf of the IT department. The IT group should educate the users where possible, and when education is not possible, the users should be protected from themselves. This can be accomplished by techniques similar to what the article criticizes; firewalls, anti-virus, and a restrictive set of permissions...and a helpful IT group to put out fires.
I understand the rationale that a single user can disrupt the entire company's data services. Of course this can be far more costly than a single user losing their computer for a week and sitting in the penalty box. However, in the case of your example, the ends don't justify the means.
In the case you mentioned, what is needed beforehand is a solid set of user policies, which all users must read and sign. When a user consistently violates those policies, that user's supervisor and/or the HR group should be contaced and the user disciplined by those groups. Internal audits (or security drills), can be a very helpful tool in identiying potential problem-users. Once identified, the users need to be warned and educated. Upon further violation of policy, the user is reported to the appropriate personnel.
While I agree with most of your post, I feel that there is a better way to manage problem users.
I like to fill my spare drive bays with these on my beige boxes, and these for my more modern and stylish systems. When these devices occupy your extra drive bays, you may have some money leftover when you find something useful to put in their place.
Use any anti-virus software with year-old definitions. Tell me how that works out for you.
I've never had to pay for the definitions for ClamAV, which claims to publish new definitions more quickly than the commercial versions. I remain unconvinced that the subscription-based model is customer friendly in any way.
Remember that there are many different types of antivirus solutions out there. I assume that you're looking for a basic desktop virus scanner. I've heard all kinds of great things about AVG, which is supposedly free, but have no experience with it. If they are ever planning on growing their network/userbase, a managed AV client/server is the way to go. Otherwise, you have to worry about different configurations and whether or not systems are being regularly updated with the latest definitions.
If you're looking for something on the mail gateway side, I would highly recommend looking into ClamAV. The price is certainly right (free/free). Supposedly, ClamAV gets definitions for the latest and greatest viruses before commercial vendors are able to...although I have no evidence to back this claim up. The main selling points for me are first, that works. Second, it's free - there are no per-seat license fees. Third, there are no subscription models to deal with.
I'll close with a short on-topic rant. I can't stand antivirus subscriptions. Having to track, budget for, and renew subscriptions is a huge PITA. It's not a service - it's software. I'm sort of bummed that so many people have accepted this subscription BS, enabling the vendors to keep pulling it.
This is as vaporwarish as anything that I've ever seen from Leibermann, Inc.. The only differnce? These guys seem to make even more outrageous claims than Leibermann (but didn't set up a phoney "store"). My question is: what the hell this BS is doing on Slashdot? Are the/. editors trolling us with stories, or did they forget to turn their bullshit story filters on after getting out of bed this morning?
A very well thought-out and articulate post, Sancho. I'll just say that when I was in school, certain students repeatedly broke rules. They were suspended from school and those who continued were eventually expelled. Usually, there was no legal involvement for anything shy of drug dealing or weapons possession. I think that part of my objection is that I just don't see an equivalency there.
Lastly, I'm not sure as to whether the DA wanted to try those students as adults or not. It's becoming quite common, as part of a crackdown on kids 'getting off easy'. Again, I don't know the nitty gritty details in this case. If they were tried as adults, I do not believe that the students would be able to expunge this part of their juvenile records.
They gained unauthorized access (e.g. Administrator access) to computers they didn't own (the laptops which were on loan).
This IS against the law.
Yeah, and when little Johnny pulls little Susie's pigtails, it's assult, which is also against the law. We've been soft on these little kids for too long. We need to crack down and not let these obvious felonies go unnoticed. Let's make an example of these kids too.
Just because they're kids doesn't mean that they're incapable of rational thinking. So many apologists on Slashdot (I have no idea if you're one of them, so apologies if you are not) are quick to step forward and say that kids are capable of making distinctions between right and wrong when it comes to discussing video game regulations, but when it comes to them having commited a cyber crime, they're just kids, give 'em a break?
Let's see...they can't get a credit card, get married, drink alcohol, drive a car (in many states), or live independantly without a lengthy legal emanicpation proceeding. So -- which is it? Are they capable of rational thinking or not? It's a bit of double talk that they have all the responsibilites of an adult, with none of the privileges. Even putting this aside, I still don't think that it makes any sense at all to over react to a minor crime, where there was no personal or property damage. These intentionally heavy-handed tactics of making an example of someone have been used for quite some time, and they don't work. They just destroy lives. In this case, the punishment doesn't fit the crime. IMO, what they did is akin to spitting on the sidewalk.
As far as your black-and-white law and order stuff goes, I have a feeling that you've ever been acquainted with our criminal justice system in any way. Go work in corrections for a while (just about any area), gain a minimally basic understanding of the other side of our criminal justice system. Perhaps with a tiny bit of perspective, you will have a difficult time spouting your black-and-white justice BS.
Finally, your earlier example of driving on the centerline at high speed is called reckleess endangerment, and is not a victimless crime. It is a felony. Your analogy makes an inappropriate comparison.
Does this somehow reduce the significance of the crime, or was it just an aside you were adding?
Considering that they were charged with a felony for what essentially amounts to youthful mischief, I'd say that the significance of the crime is pretty minor relative to what they were charged with. No person or property was damaged in any way.
When I first read about this case, I thought the school was justified. When I found out that the passwords were taped to the machines, I changed my mind. When I found out that later, there was indeed "hacking", I changed my mind again. The students broke the law--the very same law that protects you from having to worry about unauthorized computer access.
Yeah -- those kids really do deserve punishment. I'd think that 3 weeks of detention, possibly even in-school suspension would be an appropriate action. I'm still baffled by how this all adds up to a felony charge. The students didn't break anything, they didn't access sensitive data, and they didn't disrupt anything. The fact is that this is a mostly harmless crime. I'd want more severe punishment for the kid who uses a sharpie to tag all over my neighborhood. If these kids were convicted of a felony, it would have ruined their lives. Convicted felons don't tend to get jobs, and often resort to crime as its the only way to make a living. Let's save the felony charges for those who are truly harmful and disruptive.
I hope that maybe some day if you or I ever slip up and are caught commiting a minor or victimless crime, neither of us have to experience heavy handed tactics of making an example of someone.
Oh, and with regards to your mention of the students breaking the "very same law that protects you from having to worry about unauthorized computer access." It does absolutely nothing of the sort. If I didn't worry about unauthorized computer access, I'd be out of a job. Unreasonably stiff penalties do not make the world a safe place.
That we don't know, and some people think that's the same as us being safe and not needing to change anything, is what scares me. We need to know. And in the give and take of "maybe, maybe not" there's a lot to say "maybe" and therefore a lot to say we are screwing ourselves by doing nothing and waiting for a final answer.
Here's the thing. People have been making apocolyptic predictions about everything...especially religious people. The idea is that if an unsubstantiated claim is made, the more dire the consequences, the less proof is needed. Please reference heaven, hell, and eternal damnation for evidence of this. Is there a single shred of evidence, other than a group of stories? Do the severity of the consequences make it any more real? No. There are quite a few people who are wise to this tactic, and are numb to apocolyptic predictions.
So what do we do if we do want to act on it? Do we all bullshit ourselves by recycling half of our trash and buying hybrid cars so we can feel better about ourselves believing that we're 'doing our part' while we still dump Co2 into the air (yeah, hybrids are a half-measure, see biodiesel and the carbon cycle)? Do we research change and then force someone else's findings down everyone's throats via strict government regulation which will alter our lifestyles greatly? What about a market-based solution? Why not convince people that it's time for change, and people will demand change. More efficient electricity (I understand that in some municipalities, you can pay a small fee on your electric bill for renewable energy sources), a biodiesel transportation energy network, as well as a number of other advancements -- these will come with demand. Remember, American automobile manufacturers didn't start making smaller, more efficient cars in the late 70's and early 80's due to any government mandate. They did it because of the gas crisis and concerns about fuel prices/economy. There was demand. The problem is that many environmentalists feel that people aren't catching on to this fast enough. The other part of the problem is that most of the environmentalists don't seem too willing to lead by example. Is that going to be the end-all-be-all solution? Probably not...I'm sure that a hybrid solution would be best, where some solutions are market-driven and some are mandated. The only question is when to start mandating based on what we've found. Personally, I'm not quite ready for heavy regulation.
Holy crap, you mean global climate change takes a while to happen?
Maybe I'm misreading something, but who ever said that the hole in the ozone layer ever had anything to do with global climate change?
...that must mean it will never happen huh?
It wasn't me who you replied to...but after reading your response, I'm left wondering. Are you suggesting that environmentalists don't tend to have a political agenda, generally propigated through fear, uncertainty, and doubt?
I'm neither a grammar Nazi, nor is my grammar particularly good, but I wonder if the poor wording in both the/. headline and the article text is indicative of the direction that that Internet news is headed:
Activision Accused Of
Trying To Killing Off Indie Studio
The headline error is obvious.
Activision induced Spark into reducing and
delaying certain of its rights under the contract
I don't see any glaring errors there, but it just seems wordy. Why not "...Activision induced Spark into reducing and delaying certain rights granted under the contract..."?
The Register has a good commentary about blocking
Chinee IP space and some of the pros and cons surrounding that action
I know that these aren't all/. typos, but what's up with/. editors lately? Do they wear lots of other hats and are too busy to do a careful job, or are they just lazy?
I didn't make the original claim, but your counterexample doesn't work. Abu Grahib and Guantanamo are not necessarily prisons in the criminal justice sense, and would never pass constitutional muster for citizens. As horrible as American prisons are, we 'enjoy' some of the nicest prisons in the world. The 8th amendment has been stretched to ensure that prisoners are given certain 'rights'. Did you know that inmates in American prisons are the only citizens in the country with a constitutional right to free physical and mental health care?
I do, however, agree that these guys will be made an example of...and IMO, unfairly so. Not that I support what they did. It deserves punishment, but I'm sure that they will be doled out more than they deserve.
I live in NYC too, and I suppose it's pricey. But how often have you been annoyed? In five years of going to the movies, about 100 shows, I've almost never had a problem with noisy or obnoxious patrons--pretty much only at the Magic Johnson on 125th, where you're out of place if you aren't yammering.
Funny, one of the last times I went to a movie in the NYC metro area, I was caught in the middle of a fight in a mens room (between me and the door). Granted, it was at the Pavilion in Park Slope, Brooklyn...but nonetheless, this is pretty indicative of my moviegoing experience around NYC. Perhaps the other boroughs are not as nice as the city. I will say that the Angelika is cool, however.
How about giving someone the benefit of the doubt before calling them an ass? Maybe he has a good reason for it. Chill out a little -- life is too short to get in people's faces over what amounts to nothing.
90 percent of laptop drive failures *where I work* are caused by
I'm curious...you all take hard drives apart when they fail and determine the cause of their failure? It sounds a little strange, since as long as the data's backed up, figuring out what failed can cost many human-hours. Do you work in a very specialized field?
Children up until a certain age have NO CONCEPT of the difference between cartoons and real life, or video and real life. They have little developed sense of judgement, either.
Yeah, after watching Bugs Bunny cartoons, kids are dropping anvils on each other in the schoolyard all the time. I suppose that if we're really conservative with the 'up until a certain age' statement, there is some basis of reality in what you just said, however; I do not feel that it applies to any school-aged kids. Children can understand that certain things are "make-believe" from a very young age.
Is that why children think there's Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc?
Careful there, there are plenty of adults who believe in the metaphysical (Gods, etc) without a shred of observable evidence. We don't blame their lack of cognative abilities for this.
I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but storing due dates is the most basic function that any hendheld device can perform. Even my cell phone does a pretty good job with that.
Are you looking for some specific function beyond basic scheduling?
I know that this does not answer your question, but I've used PDA's for similar functions and found that I was much more efficient with a scheduling book. YMMV.
Slashdot Mirror
I would also help if Firefox's automatic updates could be automagically installed without administrator-level rights on Windows boxes, perhaps as a service.
It is not IT's job to discipline users. Doing so in this manner will only serve to make a user's job more difficult, and result in decreased productivity. Such an result will lose the company money, and the IT group will ultimately not be doing their job. Remember that an IT group's job is to serve the users, and increase their productivity by providing systems solutions to handle data and communications. The day-to-day support role should only be a small part of this. Further, when users are constantly doing dumb things, it represents a failure on behalf of the IT department. The IT group should educate the users where possible, and when education is not possible, the users should be protected from themselves. This can be accomplished by techniques similar to what the article criticizes; firewalls, anti-virus, and a restrictive set of permissions...and a helpful IT group to put out fires.
I understand the rationale that a single user can disrupt the entire company's data services. Of course this can be far more costly than a single user losing their computer for a week and sitting in the penalty box. However, in the case of your example, the ends don't justify the means.
In the case you mentioned, what is needed beforehand is a solid set of user policies, which all users must read and sign. When a user consistently violates those policies, that user's supervisor and/or the HR group should be contaced and the user disciplined by those groups. Internal audits (or security drills), can be a very helpful tool in identiying potential problem-users. Once identified, the users need to be warned and educated. Upon further violation of policy, the user is reported to the appropriate personnel.
While I agree with most of your post, I feel that there is a better way to manage problem users.
Furthermore, if we're all deaf, we will not be sending RIAA any more of our dollars.
It's disturbing that I know exactly what you're talking about.
I like to fill my spare drive bays with these on my beige boxes, and these for my more modern and stylish systems. When these devices occupy your extra drive bays, you may have some money leftover when you find something useful to put in their place.
I've never had to pay for the definitions for ClamAV, which claims to publish new definitions more quickly than the commercial versions. I remain unconvinced that the subscription-based model is customer friendly in any way.
Remember that there are many different types of antivirus solutions out there. I assume that you're looking for a basic desktop virus scanner. I've heard all kinds of great things about AVG, which is supposedly free, but have no experience with it. If they are ever planning on growing their network/userbase, a managed AV client/server is the way to go. Otherwise, you have to worry about different configurations and whether or not systems are being regularly updated with the latest definitions.
If you're looking for something on the mail gateway side, I would highly recommend looking into ClamAV. The price is certainly right (free/free). Supposedly, ClamAV gets definitions for the latest and greatest viruses before commercial vendors are able to...although I have no evidence to back this claim up. The main selling points for me are first, that works. Second, it's free - there are no per-seat license fees. Third, there are no subscription models to deal with.
I'll close with a short on-topic rant. I can't stand antivirus subscriptions. Having to track, budget for, and renew subscriptions is a huge PITA. It's not a service - it's software. I'm sort of bummed that so many people have accepted this subscription BS, enabling the vendors to keep pulling it.
This is as vaporwarish as anything that I've ever seen from Leibermann, Inc.. The only differnce? These guys seem to make even more outrageous claims than Leibermann (but didn't set up a phoney "store"). My question is: what the hell this BS is doing on Slashdot? Are the /. editors trolling us with stories, or did they forget to turn their bullshit story filters on after getting out of bed this morning?
Nothing to see here, move along people.
Oh, right on. In that case, you're 100% right :)
A very well thought-out and articulate post, Sancho. I'll just say that when I was in school, certain students repeatedly broke rules. They were suspended from school and those who continued were eventually expelled. Usually, there was no legal involvement for anything shy of drug dealing or weapons possession. I think that part of my objection is that I just don't see an equivalency there.
Lastly, I'm not sure as to whether the DA wanted to try those students as adults or not. It's becoming quite common, as part of a crackdown on kids 'getting off easy'. Again, I don't know the nitty gritty details in this case. If they were tried as adults, I do not believe that the students would be able to expunge this part of their juvenile records.
Yeah, and when little Johnny pulls little Susie's pigtails, it's assult, which is also against the law. We've been soft on these little kids for too long. We need to crack down and not let these obvious felonies go unnoticed. Let's make an example of these kids too.
Let's see...they can't get a credit card, get married, drink alcohol, drive a car (in many states), or live independantly without a lengthy legal emanicpation proceeding. So -- which is it? Are they capable of rational thinking or not? It's a bit of double talk that they have all the responsibilites of an adult, with none of the privileges. Even putting this aside, I still don't think that it makes any sense at all to over react to a minor crime, where there was no personal or property damage. These intentionally heavy-handed tactics of making an example of someone have been used for quite some time, and they don't work. They just destroy lives. In this case, the punishment doesn't fit the crime. IMO, what they did is akin to spitting on the sidewalk.
As far as your black-and-white law and order stuff goes, I have a feeling that you've ever been acquainted with our criminal justice system in any way. Go work in corrections for a while (just about any area), gain a minimally basic understanding of the other side of our criminal justice system. Perhaps with a tiny bit of perspective, you will have a difficult time spouting your black-and-white justice BS.
Finally, your earlier example of driving on the centerline at high speed is called reckleess endangerment, and is not a victimless crime. It is a felony. Your analogy makes an inappropriate comparison.
Considering that they were charged with a felony for what essentially amounts to youthful mischief, I'd say that the significance of the crime is pretty minor relative to what they were charged with. No person or property was damaged in any way.
Yeah -- those kids really do deserve punishment. I'd think that 3 weeks of detention, possibly even in-school suspension would be an appropriate action. I'm still baffled by how this all adds up to a felony charge. The students didn't break anything, they didn't access sensitive data, and they didn't disrupt anything. The fact is that this is a mostly harmless crime. I'd want more severe punishment for the kid who uses a sharpie to tag all over my neighborhood. If these kids were convicted of a felony, it would have ruined their lives. Convicted felons don't tend to get jobs, and often resort to crime as its the only way to make a living. Let's save the felony charges for those who are truly harmful and disruptive.
I hope that maybe some day if you or I ever slip up and are caught commiting a minor or victimless crime, neither of us have to experience heavy handed tactics of making an example of someone.
Oh, and with regards to your mention of the students breaking the "very same law that protects you from having to worry about unauthorized computer access." It does absolutely nothing of the sort. If I didn't worry about unauthorized computer access, I'd be out of a job. Unreasonably stiff penalties do not make the world a safe place.
Here's the thing. People have been making apocolyptic predictions about everything...especially religious people. The idea is that if an unsubstantiated claim is made, the more dire the consequences, the less proof is needed. Please reference heaven, hell, and eternal damnation for evidence of this. Is there a single shred of evidence, other than a group of stories? Do the severity of the consequences make it any more real? No. There are quite a few people who are wise to this tactic, and are numb to apocolyptic predictions.
So what do we do if we do want to act on it? Do we all bullshit ourselves by recycling half of our trash and buying hybrid cars so we can feel better about ourselves believing that we're 'doing our part' while we still dump Co2 into the air (yeah, hybrids are a half-measure, see biodiesel and the carbon cycle)? Do we research change and then force someone else's findings down everyone's throats via strict government regulation which will alter our lifestyles greatly? What about a market-based solution? Why not convince people that it's time for change, and people will demand change. More efficient electricity (I understand that in some municipalities, you can pay a small fee on your electric bill for renewable energy sources), a biodiesel transportation energy network, as well as a number of other advancements -- these will come with demand. Remember, American automobile manufacturers didn't start making smaller, more efficient cars in the late 70's and early 80's due to any government mandate. They did it because of the gas crisis and concerns about fuel prices/economy. There was demand. The problem is that many environmentalists feel that people aren't catching on to this fast enough. The other part of the problem is that most of the environmentalists don't seem too willing to lead by example. Is that going to be the end-all-be-all solution? Probably not...I'm sure that a hybrid solution would be best, where some solutions are market-driven and some are mandated. The only question is when to start mandating based on what we've found. Personally, I'm not quite ready for heavy regulation.
Maybe I'm misreading something, but who ever said that the hole in the ozone layer ever had anything to do with global climate change?
It wasn't me who you replied to...but after reading your response, I'm left wondering. Are you suggesting that environmentalists don't tend to have a political agenda, generally propigated through fear, uncertainty, and doubt?
I'm neither a grammar Nazi, nor is my grammar particularly good, but I wonder if the poor wording in both the /. headline and the article text is indicative of the direction that that Internet news is headed:
The headline error is obvious.I don't see any glaring errors there, but it just seems wordy. Why not "...Activision induced Spark into reducing and delaying certain rights granted under the contract..."?
Finally, as I type this and scan the headline above this, I see:
I know that these aren't all /. typos, but what's up with /. editors lately? Do they wear lots of other hats and are too busy to do a careful job, or are they just lazy?
I didn't make the original claim, but your counterexample doesn't work. Abu Grahib and Guantanamo are not necessarily prisons in the criminal justice sense, and would never pass constitutional muster for citizens. As horrible as American prisons are, we 'enjoy' some of the nicest prisons in the world. The 8th amendment has been stretched to ensure that prisoners are given certain 'rights'. Did you know that inmates in American prisons are the only citizens in the country with a constitutional right to free physical and mental health care?
I do, however, agree that these guys will be made an example of...and IMO, unfairly so. Not that I support what they did. It deserves punishment, but I'm sure that they will be doled out more than they deserve.
The door won. It was steel. I'm still recovering. I'll never go back to that theater again...punk-ass steel doors.
Funny, one of the last times I went to a movie in the NYC metro area, I was caught in the middle of a fight in a mens room (between me and the door). Granted, it was at the Pavilion in Park Slope, Brooklyn...but nonetheless, this is pretty indicative of my moviegoing experience around NYC. Perhaps the other boroughs are not as nice as the city. I will say that the Angelika is cool, however.
How about giving someone the benefit of the doubt before calling them an ass? Maybe he has a good reason for it. Chill out a little -- life is too short to get in people's faces over what amounts to nothing.
Ooooooooooooh, so that's where I've been going wrong.
I'm curious...you all take hard drives apart when they fail and determine the cause of their failure? It sounds a little strange, since as long as the data's backed up, figuring out what failed can cost many human-hours. Do you work in a very specialized field?
I prefer to save my body cavity blows for those who perform the searches.
Yeah, after watching Bugs Bunny cartoons, kids are dropping anvils on each other in the schoolyard all the time. I suppose that if we're really conservative with the 'up until a certain age' statement, there is some basis of reality in what you just said, however; I do not feel that it applies to any school-aged kids. Children can understand that certain things are "make-believe" from a very young age.
Careful there, there are plenty of adults who believe in the metaphysical (Gods, etc) without a shred of observable evidence. We don't blame their lack of cognative abilities for this.
I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but storing due dates is the most basic function that any hendheld device can perform. Even my cell phone does a pretty good job with that.
Are you looking for some specific function beyond basic scheduling?
I know that this does not answer your question, but I've used PDA's for similar functions and found that I was much more efficient with a scheduling book. YMMV.