As a technology service professional and an alumnus of Nerds On Site, I have to say that the scene featuring their technician was positively dreadful. While watching David Redekop watch the entire scenario unfold, my heart broke too.
In the defense of my former colleagues, I have to say that what you see here is entirely contrary to the culture of this great organization.
I am in the unique position of having serviced clients as an EntrepreNERD, done work for Nerds On Site corporate under David Redekop''s personal direction, and maintained a company-wide vendor relationship offering services to individual Nerds, with both my current and previous employers.
My experience in these capacities has given me a large sampling of the kind of people who make up Nerds On Site. By and large, they are professionals who are a pleasure to deal with, have the utmost of integrity, and the best interests of their clients at heart. I know for a fact that there are far more positive customer survey results than negative ones. Please do not paint the entire organization with the same brush as you would the ""Headline Nerd"" from this story. "Not A Geek" and others make good points about the fairness of this test, so I shall not repeat them.
That said, David Redekop put it best: "This is a wakeup call for all of us!""
This piece demonstrates that there are opportunities for improvement and lessons to be learned by all computer service professionals and organizations. For the good of the public and the sake of our profession, I hope we learn them well.
I work at a data recovery firm. With modern drives, Once bits have been overwritten there is no commercially viable method for determining the previous values.
My favourite example is the mangling of the immortal line from Die Hard: "Yippee kaiay, my friend" Also, Samuel L. Jackson's line: "a racist melon farmer like yourself"
I originally read the book written by Dr. Sears and was convinced to give it a try. Through biochemical analysis, he determined that the ratio of energy from carbohydrates to protein to fat should be around 40:30:30. Compare to the typical North American diet of 60:30:10.
He draws a similarity between food and drug intake, calling food a drug that regulates hormones such as insulin and glucagon, which in turn affect a class of meta-hormones known as eicosanoids. It was a very interesting read. He describes some of his studies both in the book and on his site.
The ratio has translated to roughly mean "cut out bad carbohydrates and eat more fruits and vegetables". On his site and in the book he lists good and bad carbohydrates and quantities that amount to serving sizes.
In November, I started following the plan with some level of discipline (we'll say 70%) as well as worked out (mostly cardio) for about 45 minutes per session, 3 times a week. I've lost about two inches off my waist and decreased by mass by about 5 kg. I've probably lost 10 kg of fat but gained 5 kg of muscle.
But, more importantly, when I eat in the proper proportions and at the right frequency, as well as work out, I feel good, and my brain seems to spin much faster, allowing me to work more efficiently and get stuff done before my boss starts nagging me about it.
Actually Windows XP has built-in support for PPPoE. When configurating the network it asks if you have dsl/cable and if you have a login/password to connect... enter those and it will automagically connect when you log in.
The Connection shows up in your "Network Connections" folder.
I used to work for a telemarketing company in North Bay, ON and I can certainly vouch for the fact that they use an autodialer. It's actually a pretty slick system but for the shear evilness of it all. All of the 'operators' sit at their stations waiting. When the dialer gets somebody on the line the call is re-routed to an available operator. The name of the person to ask for shows up on the green screen terminal, but sometimes this happens after a delay. It's somewhat comical to see an operator get a call and have to make idle chit chat before finally getting the name to ask for:
Victim: "Hello?"
Operator: "Hello... this is... Joe Blow from the ABC Widget Cleaning Company.... may I please speak with....."
GreenScreen: MR SMITH
Operator: "Mr Smith?"
Victim: "GO AWAY!"
The IT guys at that company boasted that the autodialer could chew through a list of 20000 numbers in an afternoon.
Nice ad hominem attack.
However, I am not a jackass driver. I drive with both hands on the wheel, and never eat or use my cell phone while driving. I even insist on my passengers not involving me in conversation.
I take driving very seriously, unlike the stereotypical soccer mom driving her minivan in the fast lane doing 55, driving with her knee, talking on the cell phone with one hand, pumping breast milk with other, while facing the back smacking her insolent children.
People like that deserve to die horrible flaming deaths.
As a former Exchange admin (well, and all the other BackOffice stuff too), I can say that PHB's like being able to see each other's calendars. Exchange/Outlook makes this really easy to implement and for a small shop (single server, and say under 100 users), it's really easy to set up right out of the box.
Has anybody had any experience with that *NIX MAPI product? What was it called? MailOne? I'd be interested in playing with that sometime I think.
One of the programmers were I work has gone through the.vbs file and summarized what it does and how to fix it. You might have a better chance reading this than clicking on the slashdotted links that CT just added.
OK, here's a summary of what the script file does:
1. Disables the timeout in the scripting host so that the script may run indefinitely. (The default behavior kills a script after a time limit because it is assumed to have failed). 2. Copies itself to c:\windows\system\mskernel32.vbs. a) Adds this to registry at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run \MSKernel32 3. Copies iteslef to c:\windows\win32dll.vbs a) Adds this to registry at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Services\Win32DLL 4. Copies itself to c:\windows\system\lover-letter-for-you.txt.vbs 5. Creates a file called c:\windows\system\love-letter-for-you.htm, which downloads itself and runs the script. (Tells the user it needs an ActiveX control so the user must click a button to run it). 6. Iterates through all the files in the system on fixed drives mounted network drives (not unmounted shares) a) It overwrites all files with the extensions.vba,.vbe,.js,.jse,.css,.wsh,.sct,.hta,.jpg,.jpeg with a copy of itself. i) Note: this mearly destroys.css,.js,.jse,.hta,.jpg,.jpeg files. b) It writes a copy of itself for every.mp3 and.mp2 file on the system (A file called Bobs.mp3 will have a matching Bobs.mp3.vbs) c) If a folder containing MIRC is found, it writes a script into the script.ini (run at startup) that send the previously generated love-letter-for-you.htm to every person in any group you join. 7. If outlook is installed, it goes through every name in every address book and forward the message you probably received. 8. If c:\windows\system\winfat32.exe exists (which isn't part of a normal install and the script dosen't install it so I don't know where it comes from), it resets the start page to download an EXE. Again the user will be prompted to accept and run the file. a) If the user manages to download this program, and the script is run again, it kindly resets the home page to blank.
So, to remove this virus, delete: All.vba,.vbe,.js,.css,.wsh,.sct,.hta,.jpg,.jpeg files. c:\windows\system\mskernel.vba c:\windows\system\lover-letter-for-you.htm c:\windows\system\lover-letter-for-you.txt.vbs c:\windows\system\win32dll.vbs your MIRC script.ini HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\R un\MSKernel32 HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\R unServices\Win32DLL HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Scripting Host\Settings\Timeout
All-in-all it's pretty destructive and pretty dumb, definitely the product of some 13 year olds with terrible english.
Yeah, and my team (U of Guelph) beat the Waterloo B team at the East North American Regionals in November. Maybe next year we'll do some preparation and go after the A team:-)
Re:Eighty-Eight Miles Per Hour!!!
on
Flying Trains
·
· Score: 1
This post actually motivated me to buy the BTTF trilogy AND play the Back to the Future Drinking Game! w00t w00t! BTW I'm completely trashed right now. yay!
>Buster, if you like your work, then you don't >like being creative,
Leave it to an open-sores hippie to blather on about creativity. I haven't seen anything creative out of the open-sores movement. What I have seen consists mostly of amateurish knock-offs of 5 year old technology.
I have used Linux and don't mind it. The one thing that drives me away from it is the stigma of being associated with the knee-jerk anti-corporate zealots that go about preaching the Gospel according to St. IGNUcious.
They'll probably make use of the @home infrastructure that's now available to most Rogers customers (well, except the folks in remote communities... Billy will need a "Death Star" of some sort to make that work.)
Now you Yankee/.ers will be at war with us for sure! And I thought the Rogers Cable monopoly was evil before.... Currently we have Rogers@Home and of course their cable tv service. There are no immediate plans for ADSL service in my area (Guelph), and a DSS is beyond the price range of a household of poor students:-(
Slashdot Mirror
Doesn't work on wood, watch out Doctor!
As a technology service professional and an alumnus of Nerds On Site, I have to say that the scene featuring their technician was positively dreadful. While watching David Redekop watch the entire scenario unfold, my heart broke too.
In the defense of my former colleagues, I have to say that what you see here is entirely contrary to the culture of this great organization.
I am in the unique position of having serviced clients as an EntrepreNERD, done work for Nerds On Site corporate under David Redekop''s personal direction, and maintained a company-wide vendor relationship offering services to individual Nerds, with both my current and previous employers.
My experience in these capacities has given me a large sampling of the kind of people who make up Nerds On Site. By and large, they are professionals who are a pleasure to deal with, have the utmost of integrity, and the best interests of their clients at heart. I know for a fact that there are far more positive customer survey results than negative ones. Please do not paint the entire organization with the same brush as you would the ""Headline Nerd"" from this story. "Not A Geek" and others make good points about the fairness of this test, so I shall not repeat them.
That said, David Redekop put it best: "This is a wakeup call for all of us!""
This piece demonstrates that there are opportunities for improvement and lessons to be learned by all computer service professionals and organizations. For the good of the public and the sake of our profession, I hope we learn them well.
I work at a data recovery firm. With modern drives, Once bits have been overwritten there is no commercially viable method for determining the previous values.
zoom zoom zoom
crash!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm working on a beowulf cluster of soviet russian kung fu grit-heating robots
My favourite example is the mangling of the immortal line from Die Hard:
"Yippee kaiay, my friend"
Also, Samuel L. Jackson's line:
"a racist melon farmer like yourself"
Enter the Zone
I originally read the book written by Dr. Sears and was convinced to give it a try. Through biochemical analysis, he determined that the ratio of energy from carbohydrates to protein to fat should be around 40:30:30. Compare to the typical North American diet of 60:30:10.
He draws a similarity between food and drug intake, calling food a drug that regulates hormones such as insulin and glucagon, which in turn affect a class of meta-hormones known as eicosanoids. It was a very interesting read. He describes some of his studies both in the book and on his site.
The ratio has translated to roughly mean "cut out bad carbohydrates and eat more fruits and vegetables". On his site and in the book he lists good and bad carbohydrates and quantities that amount to serving sizes.
In November, I started following the plan with some level of discipline (we'll say 70%) as well as worked out (mostly cardio) for about 45 minutes per session, 3 times a week. I've lost about two inches off my waist and decreased by mass by about 5 kg. I've probably lost 10 kg of fat but gained 5 kg of muscle.
But, more importantly, when I eat in the proper proportions and at the right frequency, as well as work out, I feel good, and my brain seems to spin much faster, allowing me to work more efficiently and get stuff done before my boss starts nagging me about it.
Actually Windows XP has built-in support for PPPoE. When configurating the network it asks if you have dsl/cable and if you have a login/password to connect... enter those and it will automagically connect when you log in.
The Connection shows up in your "Network Connections" folder.
I used to work for a telemarketing company in North Bay, ON and I can certainly vouch for the fact that they use an autodialer. It's actually a pretty slick system but for the shear evilness of it all. All of the 'operators' sit at their stations waiting. When the dialer gets somebody on the line the call is re-routed to an available operator. The name of the person to ask for shows up on the green screen terminal, but sometimes this happens after a delay. It's somewhat comical to see an operator get a call and have to make idle chit chat before finally getting the name to ask for:
Victim: "Hello?"
Operator: "Hello... this is... Joe Blow from the ABC Widget Cleaning Company.... may I please speak with....."
GreenScreen: MR SMITH
Operator: "Mr Smith?"
Victim: "GO AWAY!"
The IT guys at that company boasted that the autodialer could chew through a list of 20000 numbers in an afternoon.
Nice ad hominem attack.
However, I am not a jackass driver. I drive with both hands on the wheel, and never eat or use my cell phone while driving. I even insist on my passengers not involving me in conversation.
I take driving very seriously, unlike the stereotypical soccer mom driving her minivan in the fast lane doing 55, driving with her knee, talking on the cell phone with one hand, pumping breast milk with other, while facing the back smacking her insolent children.
People like that deserve to die horrible flaming deaths.
As a former Exchange admin (well, and all the other BackOffice stuff too), I can say that PHB's like being able to see each other's calendars. Exchange/Outlook makes this really easy to implement and for a small shop (single server, and say under 100 users), it's really easy to set up right out of the box.
Has anybody had any experience with that *NIX MAPI product? What was it called? MailOne? I'd be interested in playing with that sometime I think.
http://slashdot.org/articl e.pl?sid=00/06/21/2130258&mode=flat
One of the programmers were I work has gone through the .vbs file and summarized what it does and how to fix it. You might have a better chance reading this than clicking on the slashdotted links that CT just added.
n \MSKernel32 n Services\Win32DLL .vba, .vbe, .js, .jse, .css, .wsh, .sct, .hta, .jpg, .jpeg with a copy of itself. .css, .js, .jse, .hta, .jpg, .jpeg files. .mp3 and .mp2 file on the system (A file called Bobs.mp3 will have a matching Bobs.mp3.vbs)
.vba, .vbe, .js, .css, .wsh, .sct, .hta, .jpg, .jpeg files. R un\MSKernel32 R unServices\Win32DLL
OK, here's a summary of what the script file does:
1. Disables the timeout in the scripting host so that the script may run indefinitely. (The default behavior kills a script after a time limit because it is assumed to have failed).
2. Copies itself to c:\windows\system\mskernel32.vbs.
a) Adds this to registry at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ru
3. Copies iteslef to c:\windows\win32dll.vbs
a) Adds this to registry at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ru
4. Copies itself to c:\windows\system\lover-letter-for-you.txt.vbs
5. Creates a file called c:\windows\system\love-letter-for-you.htm, which downloads itself and runs the script. (Tells the user it needs an ActiveX control so the user must click a button to run it).
6. Iterates through all the files in the system on fixed drives mounted network drives (not unmounted shares)
a) It overwrites all files with the extensions
i) Note: this mearly destroys
b) It writes a copy of itself for every
c) If a folder containing MIRC is found, it writes a script into the script.ini (run at startup) that send the previously generated love-letter-for-you.htm to every person in any group you join.
7. If outlook is installed, it goes through every name in every address book and forward the message you probably received.
8. If c:\windows\system\winfat32.exe exists (which isn't part of a normal install and the script dosen't install it so I don't know where it comes from), it resets the start page to download an EXE. Again the user will be prompted to accept and run the file.
a) If the user manages to download this program, and the script is run again, it kindly resets the home page to blank.
So, to remove this virus, delete:
All
c:\windows\system\mskernel.vba
c:\windows\system\lover-letter-for-you.htm
c:\windows\system\lover-letter-for-you.txt.vbs
c:\windows\system\win32dll.vbs
your MIRC script.ini
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Scripting Host\Settings\Timeout
All-in-all it's pretty destructive and pretty dumb, definitely the product of some 13 year olds with terrible english.
http://www.benews.com/story/3073.1.html
I don't think this story has quite enough links in it.
when I hit the word "e-business" Christ, it's even more annoying than "Information Superhighway".
Yeah, and my team (U of Guelph) beat the Waterloo B team at the East North American Regionals in November. :-)
Maybe next year we'll do some preparation and go after the A team
This post actually motivated me to buy the BTTF trilogy AND play the Back to the Future Drinking Game! w00t w00t! BTW I'm completely trashed right now. yay!
yeah, the movie sucked, but no less than the u of guelph cis program does :-)
Wouldn't it be nice to just let things run without any tweaking or caring for at all? Ahh... no more whining (l)users.
Nothing says "Please slap me before I start talking about Linux and snorting" like talking about anagrams.
>Buster, if you like your work, then you don't >like being creative,
Leave it to an open-sores hippie to blather on about creativity.
I haven't seen anything creative out of the open-sores movement. What I have seen consists mostly of amateurish knock-offs of 5 year old technology.
I have used Linux and don't mind it. The one thing that drives me away from it is the stigma of being associated with the knee-jerk anti-corporate zealots that go about preaching the Gospel according to St. IGNUcious.
Dear God you people are scary freaks!
NW
> Most WebTV's use a telco (phone line) return...
They'll probably make use of the @home infrastructure that's now available to most Rogers customers (well, except the folks in remote communities... Billy will need a "Death Star" of some sort to make that work.)
Now you Yankee /.ers will be at war with us for sure! :-(
And I thought the Rogers Cable monopoly was evil before....
Currently we have Rogers@Home and of course their cable tv service. There are no immediate plans for ADSL service in my area (Guelph), and a DSS is beyond the price range of a household of poor students
But the whole thing smacks of being written by a clueless-twit marketing drone. Ugh.
This might put my empeg purchase plans on hold...