No matter what OS you are running, the level of security is directly related to the persistance and skill level of the Admin. This "worm" for Apache exploited a security hole that has been out for quite a while. If the Admins had done their jobs, this story would never have been published. The same can be said for the Nimda virus, Code Red, and the numerous others out there. The admins of the Windows boxes didn't patch them either.
Do you think that the reason most viruses affect MS products could be do the the fact that MS is has the largest distribution of product, and that the tools to create a virus are easier for the script kiddies to use. Let's face it, a Linux or UNIX virus takes a degree of skill that is not present in most of the people producing these worms.
With all the MS bashing that takes place here and other places, it seems that the Linux Admins are just as lazy as the MS Admins. A virus is only as good as a Sys Admin is bad.
I would like to meet the guys who were able to find this hole. I understand that software needs to be tested for security, but come on...what are the chances of this exact exploit being used.
I work with a lot of less than brilliant users, but even they will not modify a word document from someone they do not know an send it back. If it is someone in the office running this exploit, there are a lot easier ways to "steal" files.
Reading over the article, I noticed that targeting specific users for litigation is mentioned as a way to stop P2P. Am I the only one who sees this as dangerous?
For example, if someone is prosecuted for sharing information from their computer, what have they actually done? 1. Allowed access to their system 2. Placed files to be shared on the system
They do not force a user to download the material; the user does this of their own free will.
Now, take this a step or two further. If I can be charged with a crime for the above actions, what is to prevent the prosecution a clueless user on a corporate LAN that allows a hacker or virus into the LAN, or even an educated user who has a legitimate reason to have a share on his system, and some company data is stolen?
When we start prosecuting people for sharing information on their NON COMPANY OWNED, personal, private PC, we open up a huge can of worms that will eventually stifle innovation and growth.
The RIAA has a valid case, theft of property is a crime, but the solution to the problem cannot be so invasive as to threaten the rights of people with legitimate reasons for their actions. If anyone should have a case, it should be the artist, not the recording companies. I have seen several artists who welcome P2P as a new way to distribute their wares, allowing them to break away from the "legal criminals".
Just because a company has enough money to have a law passed making a morally questionable act legal does not make it right. Who knows, maybe P2P will cost the RIAA enough money that they will go out of business(fat chance), but alcohol was legalized due to the fact that the people wanted it.
I know, sounds like a buzzword....but think about it.
What is software meant to do? What is the purpose? To me the best app would be one that allows a person to perform a job that they are completly inexperienced at. Like it or not, Windows is as popular as it is for that reason, it allows people who know absolutly nothing about PC's to use them. Don't get stuck in the rut of creating software simply for it's own sake.
Research your chosen market, find out what is lacking in all the software currently being used, and create something that will exceed it. Ask non-techies what they want out of software, what are their biggest complaints about the software they use know. My company develops software for a select accounting market, but it is so complex that it takes a week of training or more just to get started using it, and none of the training is technical. To me the best peice of software is the one that thinks the way I do, or at least appears to.
If you create a really good app, and are willing to customize it (for a fee of course), you will have more business than you can handle. Don't make the mistake of giving it away either, shareware has been the death of many good ideas, simply because the creator could not afford to develop it any further. Develop the app, take it to the customer. If it is really good, it will sell itself.
I can remember when I first decided to get into IT (in a support role, not a programmer) the only thing that I was thinking about was working on PC's all day, keeping the up, upgrading, etc...
Only one problem with this, I had no idea what PC's are used for in business. Like it or not, how users us their systems is of great importance. Basic business says if it saves money, it is good, if it costs money it is bad. For the last 5 years, IT has cost money. The typical user is not the multi-billion dollar international company with 1000 servers and 10000 workstations. It is the small mom and pop shop on the corner. They buy PC's because everyone says they will save them money, without ever finding out how PC's are supposed to do this. In the end, most of them find that they are spending more money, because they either hired a "shadetree" IT person who sold them an NT server to handle their accouting, or because their users are not educated in using the equipment. A lot of companies have cut spending on IT because of this and feel they can do without IT.
We have to remember what PC's were designed to do, which is replace people. In order for a small business to justify using a PC, they have to be able to cut payroll costs, or production costs. Most of them still have the same number of employees, or more employees with the IT staff. As much as we like being the center of attention, we have to get to the point where we are invisible to the user. They never see us, and the system always works. The key to creating a market for IT is changing some very old habits in business, and improving what we offer.
"Microsoft released a patch today to correct the deadly such and such virus, which has claimed the lives of over 200 tech-enhanced workers. MS CEO Bill Gates Jr. claimed that the security breach that allowed the virus to infect so many people was caused by a disgruntled programmer who was fired, but was never unplugged from the MS Development net."
I would love to see the day when the human mind has the recall capability of a PC, but there is a long road ahead.....
Re-direct (change the target) on the My Documents folder to a central network drive that is backup up nightly, and instruct all users that any data that is not stored in the My Documents folder will be deleted on a nightly basis.
This does two things, it insures that the data will be backed up, and it simplifies administration. Having to install and administer remote backup software can be a major pain.
What is the market share for OpenSource software. Just how much of it is there? To approach MS you will have to come at them from the money direction. If you can prove that by not supporting OpenSource, they are losing money, they might listen to you. From what I have seen in the past, this will be the one thing they will listen to.
However, I have seen 3 CD's auto-destruct in the 52X Creative CD-R in the last few months. It always happens during the spin up. The machines are sitting on a level surface, so the CD "should not" be hitting anything to cause the explosion. Judging by the posts, I assume that the limit proposed in the story is 57X, and I would agree with it.
The CD's in question are all SCO UNIX install CD's
If you wanted/. to be a pay service, you should have launched it that way. Nobody likes the idea that what they once got for free, now they have to pay for. I understand and sympathize with the cost of running the site, and ad revenues not being what you would like, but do you honestly think that a group of geeks who get bent out of shape about some company selling (gasp!, shock!, outrage!) Linux is willing to pay for this site?
Once free, always free.. Once cost, open to debate... Once cracked, always free....
Have to disagree with you on this one. My site, which is a graphics site, with images and backgrounds that I create, is very low on jpg's for anything other than the images themselves. This is to keep the bandwidth to a minimum, due to the fact that the images take up most of the bandwidth. Before you speak about designers, you should take a look at some sites built by designers. Hit my links page and take a look, you will find fast loading pages with lots of content.
I wonder if putting up a headline like the one for this story to attract readers could be a form of SPAM, or even posting misleading stories so they get listed on/.?
Seriously, I seriously doubt any system admin worth his title with block an entire country from there servers. If anyone has bothered to monitor the RFC Duscuss posting boards, you will see that blocking is done on a case by case basis.
The person who wrote this article should have their email address changed to one based in China so we won't have to deal with them anymore.
After reading the article, the trend seems to be that the people being laid off are at the non-technical end of the industry. Quality Assurance People, Marketing Manager's, News Writers. All of the jobs mentioned in the article are typical white collar jobs, that exist in all areas of employment, not just the "dot.com" and tech areas.
The moral? If you are truly a techincal person, it seems that you are not being laid off, at least that is what I get from the article. If you stay on top of things, and keep your skills sharp, you should be able to ride out this down-turn without too much damage.
A WYSIWYG world, where respect and rewards are based strictly on merit, is an Asperger's dream ...then we could use a lot more of it. I am so tired of people who have no clue getting ahead in life based on who they know, not what they know. I would love a world in which rewards are based on merit. Sign me up!!
From what I have seen in the past, using UDP is not always a good thing. Many of the major backbone providers, and a lot of ISP's block UDP traffic at different times for many different reasons(Smurf attacks, DoS). This can lead to several services being shutdown.
The idea itself sounds good. You more or less send a description of the file in a mathematical equation. If the equation itself is smaller in size than the file, great.
If you routinely browse with Internet Explorer or read mail with Outlook, keep in mind that any web page you visit or any email you open can take over your computer, steal sensitive files, destroy your machine, anything. This has been true for at least two and half years
Actually, this has been true since the first personal PC was put on the market, probably longer.
Once again, I am forced to point out the fact that it is an uneducated user who will cause the comprimise of the system. Personally, I NEVER "Open file from location". You never know what it is that you are downloading, so I always save it to disk first, and then examine it.
Any user who "Opens from location" without knowing for a fact what the file is, and that the site can be trusted, is acting stupidly.
I am really disappointed to hear of the changes that have been made to a story that has stood on it's own for 50+ years. One of the things about the story is the depth that Tolkein gave to the characters, and the variety of characters (ie Tom Bombadil)
I think changing the characters is even worse. Having Arwen take the place of Glorfindel is a MAJOR change, one which can and probably will ruin the movie for me.
Yes, I am a fanatic about this. But after waiting for 20 years for someone to have the nerve to make this movie, the least we can expect is that they remain true to the story.
This is nothing more than the continuing efforts of the Utopian tree huggers trying to tell you how to raise your kids. I am sorry, but if my child gets a video game that depicts violence for X-Mas, first it is my decision as to whether they keep it or not, and second, if they go out and start commiting acts of violence against society, there was a serious problem before the game ever made it to the house.
When are people going to stop trying to blame everyone else for their childs problems. I get so sick of the "blame game" that has infected society.
Prime example, Andrea Yates. I have heard more people state that her husband or her doctor are responsible for her acts....Hello...I don't think either one of them were at the house when she decided to drown her kids. Same rule applies to everyone else. Your kids are your responsibility, not the governments, not society.
Stand up and face the fact that if your child is F*@ked up, it is your fault. Maybe if you spent some time with them instead of working 80 hours a week, you would know what kind of person they are, and be able to raise them to be a responsible member of society.
They tell me I cannot punish my child because it will scar them for life. I would much rather have a child with a sore ass than have a monster who has no respect for themselves, let alone other people.
Advanced Digital Communications is one of four firms working in a joint venture with President Fidel Castro's government to explore Cuban waters, which hold hundreds of treasure-laden ships from the Spanish colonial era.
Slashdot Mirror
I would really like to know what self respecting sysadmin is going to promote a piece of software that is designed to eliminate thier job?
I can hear it now
"No, this software is buggy, it is full of security holes, etc......."
Im a sysadmin, singin' my little song, doin' my little dance.
MSNBC has a video clip of the other side of the door, whichever door you prefer....
Here is the link
No matter what OS you are running, the level of security is directly related to the persistance and skill level of the Admin. This "worm" for Apache exploited a security hole that has been out for quite a while. If the Admins had done their jobs, this story would never have been published. The same can be said for the Nimda virus, Code Red, and the numerous others out there. The admins of the Windows boxes didn't patch them either.
Do you think that the reason most viruses affect MS products could be do the the fact that MS is has the largest distribution of product, and that the tools to create a virus are easier for the script kiddies to use. Let's face it, a Linux or UNIX virus takes a degree of skill that is not present in most of the people producing these worms.
With all the MS bashing that takes place here and other places, it seems that the Linux Admins are just as lazy as the MS Admins. A virus is only as good as a Sys Admin is bad.
I would like to meet the guys who were able to find this hole. I understand that software needs to be tested for security, but come on...what are the chances of this exact exploit being used.
I work with a lot of less than brilliant users, but even they will not modify a word document from someone they do not know an send it back. If it is someone in the office running this exploit, there are a lot easier ways to "steal" files.
Reading over the article, I noticed that targeting specific users for litigation is mentioned as a way to stop P2P. Am I the only one who sees this as dangerous?
For example, if someone is prosecuted for sharing information from their computer, what have they actually done?
1. Allowed access to their system
2. Placed files to be shared on the system
They do not force a user to download the material; the user does this of their own free will.
Now, take this a step or two further. If I can be charged with a crime for the above actions, what is to prevent the prosecution a clueless user on a corporate LAN that allows a hacker or virus into the LAN, or even an educated user who has a legitimate reason to have a share on his system, and some company data is stolen?
When we start prosecuting people for sharing information on their NON COMPANY OWNED, personal, private PC, we open up a huge can of worms that will eventually stifle innovation and growth.
The RIAA has a valid case, theft of property is a crime, but the solution to the problem cannot be so invasive as to threaten the rights of people with legitimate reasons for their actions. If anyone should have a case, it should be the artist, not the recording companies. I have seen several artists who welcome P2P as a new way to distribute their wares, allowing them to break away from the "legal criminals".
Just because a company has enough money to have a law passed making a morally questionable act legal does not make it right. Who knows, maybe P2P will cost the RIAA enough money that they will go out of business(fat chance), but alcohol was legalized due to the fact that the people wanted it.
I know, sounds like a buzzword....but think about it.
What is software meant to do? What is the purpose? To me the best app would be one that allows a person to perform a job that they are completly inexperienced at. Like it or not, Windows is as popular as it is for that reason, it allows people who know absolutly nothing about PC's to use them. Don't get stuck in the rut of creating software simply for it's own sake.
Research your chosen market, find out what is lacking in all the software currently being used, and create something that will exceed it. Ask non-techies what they want out of software, what are their biggest complaints about the software they use know. My company develops software for a select accounting market, but it is so complex that it takes a week of training or more just to get started using it, and none of the training is technical. To me the best peice of software is the one that thinks the way I do, or at least appears to.
If you create a really good app, and are willing to customize it (for a fee of course), you will have more business than you can handle. Don't make the mistake of giving it away either, shareware has been the death of many good ideas, simply because the creator could not afford to develop it any further. Develop the app, take it to the customer. If it is really good, it will sell itself.
I can remember when I first decided to get into IT (in a support role, not a programmer) the only thing that I was thinking about was working on PC's all day, keeping the up, upgrading, etc...
Only one problem with this, I had no idea what PC's are used for in business. Like it or not, how users us their systems is of great importance. Basic business says if it saves money, it is good, if it costs money it is bad. For the last 5 years, IT has cost money. The typical user is not the multi-billion dollar international company with 1000 servers and 10000 workstations. It is the small mom and pop shop on the corner. They buy PC's because everyone says they will save them money, without ever finding out how PC's are supposed to do this. In the end, most of them find that they are spending more money, because they either hired a "shadetree" IT person who sold them an NT server to handle their accouting, or because their users are not educated in using the equipment. A lot of companies have cut spending on IT because of this and feel they can do without IT.
We have to remember what PC's were designed to do, which is replace people. In order for a small business to justify using a PC, they have to be able to cut payroll costs, or production costs. Most of them still have the same number of employees, or more employees with the IT staff. As much as we like being the center of attention, we have to get to the point where we are invisible to the user. They never see us, and the system always works. The key to creating a market for IT is changing some very old habits in business, and improving what we offer.
I can see it now...
April 27, 2130
"Microsoft released a patch today to correct the deadly such and such virus, which has claimed the lives of over 200 tech-enhanced workers. MS CEO Bill Gates Jr. claimed that the security breach that allowed the virus to infect so many people was caused by a disgruntled programmer who was fired, but was never unplugged from the MS Development net."
I would love to see the day when the human mind has the recall capability of a PC, but there is a long road ahead.....
Re-direct (change the target) on the My Documents folder to a central network drive that is backup up nightly, and instruct all users that any data that is not stored in the My Documents folder will be deleted on a nightly basis.
This does two things, it insures that the data will be backed up, and it simplifies administration. Having to install and administer remote backup software can be a major pain.
What is the market share for OpenSource software. Just how much of it is there? To approach MS you will have to come at them from the money direction. If you can prove that by not supporting OpenSource, they are losing money, they might listen to you. From what I have seen in the past, this will be the one thing they will listen to.
Is it the lines of code that are patented, or the process?
Seems to me all that can be patented would be the actual code, as the same result can be achieved in several different ways.
I am so sick of people trying to get rich patenting stuff. First, GIFS, then HTML, no this....come on people, get a life....
I cannot get to the story. I think it has been /.
However, I have seen 3 CD's auto-destruct in the 52X Creative CD-R in the last few months. It always happens during the spin up. The machines are sitting on a level surface, so the CD "should not" be hitting anything to cause the explosion. Judging by the posts, I assume that the limit proposed in the story is 57X, and I would agree with it.
The CD's in question are all SCO UNIX install CD's
how much for bandwidth?
I think the figure is presented in a misleading manner. $500 Million for a continent is not that high when you figure the percentages.
Truth in media....what a novel idea.
If you wanted /. to be a pay service, you should have launched it that way. Nobody likes the idea that what they once got for free, now they have to pay for. I understand and sympathize with the cost of running the site, and ad revenues not being what you would like, but do you honestly think that a group of geeks who get bent out of shape about some company selling (gasp!, shock!, outrage!) Linux is willing to pay for this site?
Once free, always free..
Once cost, open to debate...
Once cracked, always free....
Have to disagree with you on this one. My site, which is a graphics site, with images and backgrounds that I create, is very low on jpg's for anything other than the images themselves. This is to keep the bandwidth to a minimum, due to the fact that the images take up most of the bandwidth.
Before you speak about designers, you should take a look at some sites built by designers.
Hit my links page and take a look, you will find fast loading pages with lots of content.
Darsey Design
I wonder if putting up a headline like the one for this story to attract readers could be a form of SPAM, or even posting misleading stories so they get listed on /.?
Seriously, I seriously doubt any system admin worth his title with block an entire country from there servers. If anyone has bothered to monitor the RFC Duscuss posting boards, you will see that blocking is done on a case by case basis.
The person who wrote this article should have their email address changed to one based in China so we won't have to deal with them anymore.
After reading the article, the trend seems to be that the people being laid off are at the non-technical end of the industry. Quality Assurance People, Marketing Manager's, News Writers. All of the jobs mentioned in the article are typical white collar jobs, that exist in all areas of employment, not just the "dot.com" and tech areas.
The moral? If you are truly a techincal person, it seems that you are not being laid off, at least that is what I get from the article. If you stay on top of things, and keep your skills sharp, you should be able to ride out this down-turn without too much damage.
I found it interesting that the #1 non-bundled game(Not installed with an OS of any kind) is The Simms....
wouldn't this equate to more time spent on sex...?
A WYSIWYG world, where respect and rewards are based strictly on merit, is an Asperger's dream
...then we could use a lot more of it. I am so tired of people who have no clue getting ahead in life based on who they know, not what they know. I would love a world in which rewards are based on merit. Sign me up!!
I think you are right. Massive brain cloud here or something. Ah well, I stand corrected.
From what I have seen in the past, using UDP is not always a good thing. Many of the major backbone providers, and a lot of ISP's block UDP traffic at different times for many different reasons(Smurf attacks, DoS). This can lead to several services being shutdown.
The idea itself sounds good. You more or less send a description of the file in a mathematical equation. If the equation itself is smaller in size than the file, great.
If you routinely browse with Internet Explorer or read mail with Outlook, keep in mind that any web page you visit or any email you open can take over your computer, steal sensitive files, destroy your machine, anything. This has been true for at least two and half years
Actually, this has been true since the first personal PC was put on the market, probably longer.
Once again, I am forced to point out the fact that it is an uneducated user who will cause the comprimise of the system. Personally, I NEVER "Open file from location". You never know what it is that you are downloading, so I always save it to disk first, and then examine it.
Any user who "Opens from location" without knowing for a fact what the file is, and that the site can be trusted, is acting stupidly.
I am really disappointed to hear of the changes that have been made to a story that has stood on it's own for 50+ years. One of the things about the story is the depth that Tolkein gave to the characters, and the variety of characters (ie Tom Bombadil)
I think changing the characters is even worse. Having Arwen take the place of Glorfindel is a MAJOR change, one which can and probably will ruin the movie for me.
Yes, I am a fanatic about this. But after waiting for 20 years for someone to have the nerve to make this movie, the least we can expect is that they remain true to the story.
This is nothing more than the continuing efforts of the Utopian tree huggers trying to tell you how to raise your kids. I am sorry, but if my child gets a video game that depicts violence for X-Mas, first it is my decision as to whether they keep it or not, and second, if they go out and start commiting acts of violence against society, there was a serious problem before the game ever made it to the house.
When are people going to stop trying to blame everyone else for their childs problems. I get so sick of the "blame game" that has infected society.
Prime example, Andrea Yates. I have heard more people state that her husband or her doctor are responsible for her acts....Hello...I don't think either one of them were at the house when she decided to drown her kids. Same rule applies to everyone else. Your kids are your responsibility, not the governments, not society.
Stand up and face the fact that if your child is F*@ked up, it is your fault. Maybe if you spent some time with them instead of working 80 hours a week, you would know what kind of person they are, and be able to raise them to be a responsible member of society.
They tell me I cannot punish my child because it will scar them for life. I would much rather have a child with a sore ass than have a monster who has no respect for themselves, let alone other people.
Advanced Digital Communications is one of four firms working in a joint venture with President Fidel Castro's government to explore Cuban waters, which hold hundreds of treasure-laden ships from the Spanish colonial era.
Sounds like Castro is looking for funds.....