I guess I don't understand how data can be recovered from a HD when the entire thing has been zeroed out. Could somebody enlighten me?
Short answer: There's a gap between the tracks, and the read/write head drifts slightly. So laying a new track of data doesn't cover exactly the same space on the disk's surface as the previous track. Around the edges of the track is old data.
Imagine this: You are encoding data as morse code via long and short white lines painted on the road from a moving vehicle. To re-write, you cover the old lines with black paint and paint over the line with new data - all from a moving vehicle. Depending on your aim, chances are that at the edges, old data is still visible. Multiple re-writes with random data will mean that your wobbles should cover everything along both edges of the line.
It would be easier for the spooks to just plant some evidence. If they want you bad enough to spend $Ks on data recovery or evidence planting, you're screwed no matter what.
Yes, but if a company refuses to support a file format then it means they are being locked out of a market.
No. If a company refuses to support a file format (which anyone is allowed to implement), then they are locking themselves out of a market.
If they are prevented from supporting a file format, then they are being locked out -- but in this case no-one is preventing Microsoft from supporting Open Document.
The one I remember reading about had two parts - a male and a female. They fitted together to simulate copulation. Scientists are divided over whether is was ceremonial or recreational.
My theory is both - lots of sexual/erotic ceremony from ancient times was just an excuse to get it on - who can blame them? We haven't changed much since then.
First, you migrate users in batches of 100 at a time (the invites do refresh regularly). Then, when you engage new staff/contractors, you send a gmail invite as part of the recruitment process.
You could send invites to the heads of each department, and have them send invites to each of their direct reports, and so on right down the chain to the lowest intern.
Why should they? MS Office is their product -- they can do what they like with it. If you need a feature they refuse to support, choose a vendor who does. That's what Massachusetts are doing.
Older. I remember reading about some archeologists discovering prehistoric erotic pottery. I'm too lazy to google it - but it didn't surprise me at all when I first heard of it.
I was going to set up a small LAMP server in the near future to teach myself PHP. Now I guess I'll have to go for a LAPP server instead (PostgreSQL instead of MySQL) or maybe even a BAPP server (BSD instead of Linux - I'll decide between Free- or Open- later).
I suspect that the authorities like to spread rumours about their own incompetence to make the bad guys lower their guard. If the bad guys think the police are too dumb to find trivially hidden data, then maybe they'll be too lazy to use more complex methods.
If I was The Police I wouldn't want the bad guys to know what I'm really capable of.
How hard is it to use a proxy?... Is the IP address infallible?
Probably trivial for random l33t haxor to use a zombie to hide their activities. The woman in this case said her computer had major viruses which probably meant her machine was a zombie.
I work for a Telco. If your kid calls Timbuktu, you will be invoiced for the call as per your toll call plan current at the time of the call. If your neighbour's kid comes into your house and makes the call, you will still have to pay - it's then up to you to seek compensation from said neighbour.
Well, yes. You're right. A sensibly locked down linux box is pretty safe from automated[1] attacks. I don't believe any OS is immune from targeted[2] attacks. To protect form the latter requires a security conscious admin constantly monitoring for such activity. I'm pretty sure banks employ people whose only job is maintaining network security.
[1] absolutely no sentient involvement. [2] deliberate, driven by a sentient being determined to break in.
Here in New Zealand we are required by Inland Revenue to keep financial records for 7 years.
I have a few 6~7 year old.wks spreadsheets created by MS-Works for DOS for a small business run by my father. During the 1990s we moved from MSDos to OS/2 to Linux, and all the while we kept using MS-Works for DOS (dosemu on linux). We also have some 4~6 year old Star Office files (.sdc format) and most recently we are using OpenOffice (.sxc format). I suppose I could still install dosemu and MS-Works (I have the original disks lying around somewhere - if they're still readable). OpenOffice still reads the older StarOffice formats.
But if my MS-Works disks become unreadable then my.wks files will be useless - unless I can recover them with the strings command.
Ah, but have you run a rootkit scanner? I run linux, and admittedly I haven't got around to it, but I do know of linux boxen getting cracked, so root kit scanners and tripwire stuff is almost as important on a *nix box as spybot/adaware on a windows box.
Quick Example: In Firefox on Linux, the OK and Cancel buttons are reversed
I've never noticed that. I'll have a look when I get home tonight.
I guess I don't understand how data can be recovered from a HD when the entire thing has been zeroed out. Could somebody enlighten me?
Short answer:
There's a gap between the tracks, and the read/write head drifts slightly.
So laying a new track of data doesn't cover exactly the same space on the disk's surface as the previous track. Around the edges of the track is old data.
Imagine this:
You are encoding data as morse code via long and short white lines painted on the road from a moving vehicle.
To re-write, you cover the old lines with black paint and paint over the line with new data - all from a moving vehicle.
Depending on your aim, chances are that at the edges, old data is still visible. Multiple re-writes with random data will mean that your wobbles should cover everything along both edges of the line.
It would be easier for the spooks to just plant some evidence. If they want you bad enough to spend $Ks on data recovery or evidence planting, you're screwed no matter what.
Yes, but if a company refuses to support a file format then it means they are being locked out of a market.
No. If a company refuses to support a file format (which anyone is allowed to implement), then they are locking themselves out of a market.
If they are prevented from supporting a file format, then they are being locked out -- but in this case no-one is preventing Microsoft from supporting Open Document.
The one I remember reading about had two parts - a male and a female.
They fitted together to simulate copulation.
Scientists are divided over whether is was ceremonial or recreational.
My theory is both - lots of sexual/erotic ceremony from ancient times was just an excuse to get it on - who can blame them? We haven't changed much since then.
It's hard to take advice on sendmail from someone who displays such an obvious lack of deep thought on other issues.
Some of the most technically competent people I know have totally fucked up (IMHO) views on other (unrelated) matters.
Have you never heard the term Idiot savant?
First, you migrate users in batches of 100 at a time (the invites do refresh regularly).
Then, when you engage new staff/contractors, you send a gmail invite as part of the recruitment process.
You could send invites to the heads of each department, and have them send invites to each of their direct reports, and so on right down the chain to the lowest intern.
if you are in a "right to work" state
Er, the parent states he works for a "multimillion-pound company".
I don't think he's in the United Corporations of America.
They can, and should, implement this format
Why should they? MS Office is their product -- they can do what they like with it. If you need a feature they refuse to support, choose a vendor who does. That's what Massachusetts are doing.
Sounds like you've stepped into the education sector's equivelant of dilbertland. I do not envy you.
Sorry, no useful advice to offer.
Porn is as old as the printing press itself.
Older. I remember reading about some archeologists discovering prehistoric erotic pottery. I'm too lazy to google it - but it didn't surprise me at all when I first heard of it.
My trusty HP48s calculator and my HP LaserJet 4 Plus with JetDirect card are two solid work horses that I still use daily.
Some of the newer HP printers look a bit flimsy IMHO, but their older stuff rocks.
I was going to set up a small LAMP server in the near future to teach myself PHP.
Now I guess I'll have to go for a LAPP server instead (PostgreSQL instead of MySQL) or maybe even a BAPP server (BSD instead of Linux - I'll decide between Free- or Open- later).
I suspect that the authorities like to spread rumours about their own incompetence to make the bad guys lower their guard. If the bad guys think the police are too dumb to find trivially hidden data, then maybe they'll be too lazy to use more complex methods.
If I was The Police I wouldn't want the bad guys to know what I'm really capable of.
My stuff is in:
/home/ my name /.mozilla/default/ randomstring /history.dat
/home/ her name /.mozilla/default/ randomstring /history.dat
her stuff is in:
She can look at my history if she wants to - she knows my password, but in theory I could easily hide stuff from her.
Patch -> build -> delete patched source.
How hard is it to use a proxy? ... Is the IP address infallible?
Probably trivial for random l33t haxor to use a zombie to hide their activities. The woman in this case said her computer had major viruses which probably meant her machine was a zombie.
I work for a Telco.
If your kid calls Timbuktu, you will be invoiced for the call as per your toll call plan current at the time of the call.
If your neighbour's kid comes into your house and makes the call, you will still have to pay - it's then up to you to seek compensation from said neighbour.
Well, yes. You're right. A sensibly locked down linux box is pretty safe from automated[1] attacks. I don't believe any OS is immune from targeted[2] attacks. To protect form the latter requires a security conscious admin constantly monitoring for such activity. I'm pretty sure banks employ people whose only job is maintaining network security.
[1] absolutely no sentient involvement.
[2] deliberate, driven by a sentient being determined to break in.
Here in New Zealand we are required by Inland Revenue to keep financial records for 7 years.
.wks spreadsheets created by MS-Works for DOS for a small business run by my father.
.wks files will be useless - unless I can recover them with the strings command.
I have a few 6~7 year old
During the 1990s we moved from MSDos to OS/2 to Linux, and all the while we kept using MS-Works for DOS (dosemu on linux).
We also have some 4~6 year old Star Office files (.sdc format) and most recently we are using OpenOffice (.sxc format).
I suppose I could still install dosemu and MS-Works (I have the original disks lying around somewhere - if they're still readable).
OpenOffice still reads the older StarOffice formats.
But if my MS-Works disks become unreadable then my
Ah, but have you run a rootkit scanner?
I run linux, and admittedly I haven't got around to it, but I do know of linux boxen getting cracked, so root kit scanners and tripwire stuff is almost as important on a *nix box as spybot/adaware on a windows box.
10base2 is ethernet, just an older version.
Our building had been wired with coax before it was wired with etherner cables
You mean it was wired with coax before it was wired with twisted pair.
Coax and twisted pair can both be used for ethernet.
Would that be African swallows or European swallows?
Where in NZ do you live? Who is the provider?
I'd love to get some fast access here in West Melton, 20km west of Christchurch.
Hi from Christchurch.