Actually, it is really a fairly nice language to work with. Not perfect, but very tightly integrated into the workflow. If a user can do something in the system, a good bapper can re-create it with ABAP for other users. Fairly nice for business stuff.
Ok, I said Got an iPod? Try this (link ommitted). Much nicer.
For the RatBastards of the world, that is a conditional statement. It would say "if you ALREADY HAVE an iPod".
Now, as to the rest, I don't see how your unsubstantiated opinion is any better than mine. If you saw something totally amazing about that device, I certainly will not stop you from buying it.
Not that I really care, but here are some differences:
The Belkin device (going for between $50 and $100) is already available.
The iPod is easily replaceable, and independantly useful. Some people might even have more than one!
I can upload photos to a photo iPod and view them quite easily.
However, my photo rig has only my Canon, 5 1GB cards, two extra lenses, and my two tripods. I like being able to pop the cards directly into a photo printer, and I haven't yet reached the point of having 80GBs of perfect photos in a single shoot. Of course, I never shot 3 dozen rolls of film in a single shoot, either.
If you are in need of tons of storage, these have wireless to dump your pics down to a machine.
I am not saying it does not happen, I am saying that in my experience, I have never come across it.
In my experience, most job reqs look like this:
Title : "SAP System (Basis) Administrator"
Length / Tax term: Full-Time
Location: -----, VA
Work Authorization: US citizenship and the ability to obtain a security clearance if required.
Pay rate: $85K+ Benefits
This may not be typical, but it is certainly what I see every day. Looks to me like it would be fairly hard to get this job on an H-1B.
Hmm. I work at a company that hires quite a few H-1B workers. Some from places as far away as Canada. Many are from India, Pakistan, France, and the UK. A couple are from Australia.
The one thing I can say with certainty is that not one of them "stole" the job they have. They may have been better qualified than the other applicants, but that certainly isn't their fault. Most of them (not all, mind you, but most) are amazingly good at what they do. Even the ones I consider pretty sub-par were still the best who were in that set of interviews.
As far as the 'who was here first/new vs. old immigrants' bit, my family has records proving that we have been landowners in North America since 1690. Technically, that means my family was here before this country even existed. I think that immigrants are the best thing to ever happen to a country. Any country.
Ok, sorry for the long post, but I just want the people out there who are reading this to know that when some of us are complaining about a particular Indian or British programmer, they mean that individual. Cultural/Racial/Ethnic background has nothing to do with some people being promoted to their level of incompetence.
I apologize if the tone seemed offensive, it was probably a residual of the DoD bend-over fest we had recently:)
My whole point was that physical access is once again able to be well armored. The world has gone from the VT220 era through the PC and out the other side. The poster's point seemed to be that PCs are a huge vulnerability, while mine was the opposite.
I am arguing that the real vulnerability is the User, not the machine.
Well, that is a very nice device, and it comes under this part:
To compromise our environment you need a full list of hosts, usernames, passwords, and a pretty good working knowledge of our apps. (snip)
Also, as a final note, we are a host-heavy environment. All data, all apps, all tools are host-centric. This does not make it impossible to breach, just more complicated.
So, this keylogger (which is quite cool) would, upon your return, allow you to have the userids and passwords. I assume it would be in some useable form.
You still wouldn't have entire documents, hostnames, or things of that nature. Those are all mouse based, or display only. You would have the CFO's password and username, and be able to view the network as they see it. Therefore, you could go through their email, network drives, etc.
Definately an issue, and I think it is one worth mentioning to our security team:). I think we need to switch to USB keyboards now.
Right. Let's assume you don't work for the company (since anyone who worked for the company I work for would be axed for doing what you just did, and wouldn't need to anyway.)
Ok, so let's take of most important corporate apps, our desktop machines, and your Knoppix disk/whatever disk for a test, shall we?
1) You have obtained physical access to the workplace, and ample time.
2) You attempt to use knoppix. Ok, first problem: We don't install or allow CD drives in 99% of our desktops. No problem for you, you have a floppy too, right?
3) You boot the machine from floppy into your OS of choice. DHCP works properly, and gives you an IP, DNS, etc. Too bad that sniffing the network doesn't give you much! Our NIS team designed most of our subnets with zombies and sniffers in mind. Private VLANs, reverse-proxies, multiple firewalls, SSH, SSL, etc. To get anything good, you would need to compromise an actual server floor network, and that would be a bit harder.
4) You look on the local drive. Unfortunately, there is nothing there except for a tiny Win2K NTFS partition. Ok, Second problem: NTFS. No problem for you, since you have an NTFS 5 reader on floppy!
5) Once able to access this disk, you find that there are only a few directories. Windows, Apps, Program Files, Temp. Hmmm. With some smarts, you install a keystroke logger/ICQ bot/VNC/what-have-you (for future use). That is nice, but it won't actually run when the user returns... more on that later. You find our Reflection app (and know what it is and how to use it). Of course, there are no host shortcuts or session logs.
6) You go through the IE cookies and temp info, to learn a little about the habits of this individual. Third problem: nothing older than about 5 days... bummer.
Summary)
To compromise our environment you need a full list of hosts, usernames, passwords, and a pretty good working knowledge of our apps. Our desktops are locked down to the point of being useless, and are designed to be useless if taken. Users are not even allowed to run the executables needed to double-click on a file. If you actually worked here, you would never need to recover data from a person's computer. They can't store anything on it. Laptops here are almost a joke, since for the people outside of IT, they are practically paperweights.
Also, as a final note, we are a host-heavy environment. All data, all apps, all tools are host-centric. This does not make it impossible to breach, just more complicated.
My whole point is that physical access to a machine on modern secured network is not the keys to kingdom it used to be. You need to have a lot more now than just a system and a few minutes.
I fully understand what you mean. I use (and enjoy) just about every platform I can get my hands on!
At home:
2 Sun SPARC boxes (NetBSD and Solaris 5.9)
3 Apple G4 Macs (OSX 10.3.5)
1 Apple Mac Plus (800k drives... real PCs don't have harddrives;) )
8 x86 PCs running FreeBSD 5 in a render farm
At work:
Solaris 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
VMS 7.3
AIX 5.1
Windows 2000
I have found delightful things about all of these platforms, areas of total supremacy. I have found horrible flaws in all of these platforms, that just make me pissed off.
I am not surprised that people are looking at Apple after liking the iPod. I typically "inherited" a new platform, as people were laid-off, but I have grown to love all of them. Once you break the seal and try a new platform, you typically will find something nice about it.
For me, the biggest things are editors... I write a lot every day (email, code, scripts, SQL, etc), and so editors make a big difference to me. The finest editor I have ever used is probably LSE or EVE on VMS, followed closely by TPU. Then, Vim and Emacs following along. However, NetBeans is also very nice (though language specific). Dead last would be XCode... possibly the worst code editor I have ever used.
But anyhow, the point of this was that it is important to be platform agnostic, and go where the tools or money are. Spending your life on one OS is like living in one town forever. BORING.
I am a gamer, I also create games and do sound. I don't need the latest and greatest either. NetBeans, Soundtrack, Photoshop and Maya are all about the RAM, but 2 GB is enough to be snappy.
I bought my last computers in 2002, and the one previous to that in 1998. My next purchase date? Probably 2006...
I have a Sun SPARC 10 for web hosting, two G4 1.25s for development, rendering, some games, and random stuff. I have a stack of older machines that I got for free that I use as a renderfarm (where 10 slower machines are way better than 1 fast machine... and way cheaper).
I also have a Mac Plus that I need to get working. Maybe it will be my next machine:)
My first computer (that I owned, rather than used) was a Commodore Plus 4. I still own it, in fact. It is one of the best machines I have ever used, and I would still use it if I could write papers long than 99 lines. Well, and email them. That would be good too.
Guess I'll keep using the Dual G4 I have here, then. Oh well:) At least I use OO.o. It at least makes me feel like I'm using a twenty year old piece of software...
Ok, in the spirit of the parent, I present my shocking theory:
In 2014, Linux will be the Unix of the 21st century. OpenVMS will run on every moderate sized box, and MS Windows 2012.L (linux version... AIX admins will get this one) will be an X client/server for remote control of all the other boxes.
And it has just the basics: 1) Drivers license 2) Visa/ATM card 3) 'Real' credit card 4) Two thin "junk cards" (local Co-Op and Gamestop) because when the credit cards rub, they seem to last about 4 weeks. I went through several before I hit on that.
No money, no receipts. What would I keep those for? I dump them as soon as I get home.
I do agree. But isn't a mission statement as generic as possible?
Would you want things like "maintaining the food distribution center at 15th and L", or "helping to feed the needy"?
Further off-topic: What would you consider the validity of places that offer human services (food, shelter, etc) only to christians of a particular sect? I personally consider it to be a serious wrong. I don't see why a Catholic is the only person who could be fed at a Catholic charity, or a Baptist at a Baptist charity. I think it tarnishes the point.
Church (presumably christian) mission statement: "To help as many poor and unfortunate people as possible, to save and forgive as many souls as possible, and to make the community and the world a better place"
Seems simple, but I thought that the bible was the christian mission statement?
-WS
Re:Surely you must be joking Mr Feynman
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Steel Bolt Hacking
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· Score: 1
I've heard of Ultrix. I just find it as highly improbable that someone would be running that as to leave their root password something so easily guessed.
Both point to a sick mind. Waste of good hardware.:)
-WS
Re:I work for a bike parts/accessories wholesaler.
on
Steel Bolt Hacking
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· Score: 1
For example, my WIFE (not the strongest person around) got locked out our house by accident, and thought she smelled smoke. She couldn't quickly find the keys, and so she just put the boot it. Two kicks later, she had completely destroyed the frame, as well as the surrounding frame. Turns out the smoke was nothing, BTW.
Further example... a hotel in Monterey, Ca said "The door to this room sticks. Kick it if it does". So I did. A minute later, I found that it *did* stick. The whole damn frame (minus the piece where the hinges screw in) was on the floor of the hotel room. The manager was a bit miffed.
So now, I say screw the lock. Boot the door.
-WS
Re:Surely you must be joking Mr Feynman
on
Steel Bolt Hacking
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· Score: 1
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, it is really a fairly nice language to work with. Not perfect, but very tightly integrated into the workflow. If a user can do something in the system, a good bapper can re-create it with ABAP for other users. Fairly nice for business stuff.
;)
Like Cobol. Or AppleScript
-WS
I checked out the site, and this looks really cool!
What next? One-Man does the Geek Trilogy? (Matrix, Star Wars, LOTR)
Heh. That would rock. Wish I could go see this.
-WS
Ok, I said Got an iPod? Try this (link ommitted). Much nicer.
For the RatBastards of the world, that is a conditional statement. It would say "if you ALREADY HAVE an iPod".
Now, as to the rest, I don't see how your unsubstantiated opinion is any better than mine. If you saw something totally amazing about that device, I certainly will not stop you from buying it.
Not that I really care, but here are some differences:
However, my photo rig has only my Canon, 5 1GB cards, two extra lenses, and my two tripods. I like being able to pop the cards directly into a photo printer, and I haven't yet reached the point of having 80GBs of perfect photos in a single shoot. Of course, I never shot 3 dozen rolls of film in a single shoot, either.
If you are in need of tons of storage, these have wireless to dump your pics down to a machine.
-WS
-WS
I am sorry you have had those problems.
I am not saying it does not happen, I am saying that in my experience, I have never come across it.
In my experience, most job reqs look like this:
Title : "SAP System (Basis) Administrator"
Length / Tax term: Full-Time
Location: -----, VA
Work Authorization: US citizenship and the ability to obtain a security clearance if required.
Pay rate: $85K+ Benefits
This may not be typical, but it is certainly what I see every day. Looks to me like it would be fairly hard to get this job on an H-1B.
-WS
Hmm. I work at a company that hires quite a few H-1B workers. Some from places as far away as Canada. Many are from India, Pakistan, France, and the UK. A couple are from Australia.
The one thing I can say with certainty is that not one of them "stole" the job they have. They may have been better qualified than the other applicants, but that certainly isn't their fault. Most of them (not all, mind you, but most) are amazingly good at what they do. Even the ones I consider pretty sub-par were still the best who were in that set of interviews.
As far as the 'who was here first/new vs. old immigrants' bit, my family has records proving that we have been landowners in North America since 1690. Technically, that means my family was here before this country even existed. I think that immigrants are the best thing to ever happen to a country. Any country.
Ok, sorry for the long post, but I just want the people out there who are reading this to know that when some of us are complaining about a particular Indian or British programmer, they mean that individual. Cultural/Racial/Ethnic background has nothing to do with some people being promoted to their level of incompetence.
-WS
I apologize if the tone seemed offensive, it was probably a residual of the DoD bend-over fest we had recently :)
My whole point was that physical access is once again able to be well armored. The world has gone from the VT220 era through the PC and out the other side. The poster's point seemed to be that PCs are a huge vulnerability, while mine was the opposite.
I am arguing that the real vulnerability is the User, not the machine.
-WS
Pretty funny, but we don't use Outlook, and, like I said, users can't run any executables at all.
-WS
To compromise our environment you need a full list of hosts, usernames, passwords, and a pretty good working knowledge of our apps. (snip) Also, as a final note, we are a host-heavy environment. All data, all apps, all tools are host-centric. This does not make it impossible to breach, just more complicated.
So, this keylogger (which is quite cool) would, upon your return, allow you to have the userids and passwords. I assume it would be in some useable form.
You still wouldn't have entire documents, hostnames, or things of that nature. Those are all mouse based, or display only. You would have the CFO's password and username, and be able to view the network as they see it. Therefore, you could go through their email, network drives, etc.
Definately an issue, and I think it is one worth mentioning to our security team :). I think we need to switch to USB keyboards now.
-WS
Right. Let's assume you don't work for the company (since anyone who worked for the company I work for would be axed for doing what you just did, and wouldn't need to anyway.)
Ok, so let's take of most important corporate apps, our desktop machines, and your Knoppix disk/whatever disk for a test, shall we?
1) You have obtained physical access to the workplace, and ample time.
2) You attempt to use knoppix. Ok, first problem: We don't install or allow CD drives in 99% of our desktops. No problem for you, you have a floppy too, right?
3) You boot the machine from floppy into your OS of choice. DHCP works properly, and gives you an IP, DNS, etc. Too bad that sniffing the network doesn't give you much! Our NIS team designed most of our subnets with zombies and sniffers in mind. Private VLANs, reverse-proxies, multiple firewalls, SSH, SSL, etc. To get anything good, you would need to compromise an actual server floor network, and that would be a bit harder.
4) You look on the local drive. Unfortunately, there is nothing there except for a tiny Win2K NTFS partition. Ok, Second problem: NTFS. No problem for you, since you have an NTFS 5 reader on floppy!
5) Once able to access this disk, you find that there are only a few directories. Windows, Apps, Program Files, Temp. Hmmm. With some smarts, you install a keystroke logger/ICQ bot/VNC/what-have-you (for future use). That is nice, but it won't actually run when the user returns... more on that later. You find our Reflection app (and know what it is and how to use it). Of course, there are no host shortcuts or session logs.
6) You go through the IE cookies and temp info, to learn a little about the habits of this individual. Third problem: nothing older than about 5 days... bummer.
Summary)
To compromise our environment you need a full list of hosts, usernames, passwords, and a pretty good working knowledge of our apps. Our desktops are locked down to the point of being useless, and are designed to be useless if taken. Users are not even allowed to run the executables needed to double-click on a file. If you actually worked here, you would never need to recover data from a person's computer. They can't store anything on it. Laptops here are almost a joke, since for the people outside of IT, they are practically paperweights.
Also, as a final note, we are a host-heavy environment. All data, all apps, all tools are host-centric. This does not make it impossible to breach, just more complicated.
My whole point is that physical access to a machine on modern secured network is not the keys to kingdom it used to be. You need to have a lot more now than just a system and a few minutes.
-WS
Ok, so that's an armored Porsche, but still :)
Nothing wrong with AIX. I use it daily, and I adore it. Nothing like the good 'ol mksysb bare metal backup/restore when you are doing DR.
-WS
See, you can use simple logic (format for your language of choice):
Heh. YMMV
-WS
Yup.
:)
I do furniture. All of those odd, nitpicky, anal-retentive habits you get from this line of work translate into stuff people really appreciate
-WS
I fully understand what you mean. I use (and enjoy) just about every platform I can get my hands on!
;) )
At home:
2 Sun SPARC boxes (NetBSD and Solaris 5.9)
3 Apple G4 Macs (OSX 10.3.5)
1 Apple Mac Plus (800k drives... real PCs don't have harddrives
8 x86 PCs running FreeBSD 5 in a render farm
At work:
Solaris 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
VMS 7.3
AIX 5.1
Windows 2000
I have found delightful things about all of these platforms, areas of total supremacy. I have found horrible flaws in all of these platforms, that just make me pissed off.
I am not surprised that people are looking at Apple after liking the iPod. I typically "inherited" a new platform, as people were laid-off, but I have grown to love all of them. Once you break the seal and try a new platform, you typically will find something nice about it.
For me, the biggest things are editors... I write a lot every day (email, code, scripts, SQL, etc), and so editors make a big difference to me. The finest editor I have ever used is probably LSE or EVE on VMS, followed closely by TPU. Then, Vim and Emacs following along. However, NetBeans is also very nice (though language specific). Dead last would be XCode... possibly the worst code editor I have ever used.
But anyhow, the point of this was that it is important to be platform agnostic, and go where the tools or money are. Spending your life on one OS is like living in one town forever. BORING.
-WS
What, like London? Dresden? Paris?
I think you're wrong. When both sides like to blow stuff up, it is a bit worse. Terrorists gain nothing by blitzkreig tactics.
I do think this new ARPA Mark 2 is pretty funny, though.
-WS
I am a gamer, I also create games and do sound. I don't need the latest and greatest either. NetBeans, Soundtrack, Photoshop and Maya are all about the RAM, but 2 GB is enough to be snappy.
:)
I bought my last computers in 2002, and the one previous to that in 1998. My next purchase date? Probably 2006...
I have a Sun SPARC 10 for web hosting, two G4 1.25s for development, rendering, some games, and random stuff. I have a stack of older machines that I got for free that I use as a renderfarm (where 10 slower machines are way better than 1 fast machine... and way cheaper).
I also have a Mac Plus that I need to get working. Maybe it will be my next machine
-WS
My first computer (that I owned, rather than used) was a Commodore Plus 4. I still own it, in fact. It is one of the best machines I have ever used, and I would still use it if I could write papers long than 99 lines. Well, and email them. That would be good too.
:) At least I use OO.o. It at least makes me feel like I'm using a twenty year old piece of software...
Guess I'll keep using the Dual G4 I have here, then. Oh well
-WS
Ok, in the spirit of the parent, I present my shocking theory:
In 2014, Linux will be the Unix of the 21st century. OpenVMS will run on every moderate sized box, and MS Windows 2012.L (linux version... AIX admins will get this one) will be an X client/server for remote control of all the other boxes.
-WS
And it has just the basics:
1) Drivers license
2) Visa/ATM card
3) 'Real' credit card
4) Two thin "junk cards" (local Co-Op and Gamestop) because when the credit cards rub, they seem to last about 4 weeks. I went through several before I hit on that.
No money, no receipts. What would I keep those for? I dump them as soon as I get home.
-WS
I do agree. But isn't a mission statement as generic as possible?
Would you want things like "maintaining the food distribution center at 15th and L", or "helping to feed the needy"?
Further off-topic: What would you consider the validity of places that offer human services (food, shelter, etc) only to christians of a particular sect? I personally consider it to be a serious wrong. I don't see why a Catholic is the only person who could be fed at a Catholic charity, or a Baptist at a Baptist charity. I think it tarnishes the point.
-WS
Here ya go:
Church (presumably christian) mission statement:
"To help as many poor and unfortunate people as possible, to save and forgive as many souls as possible, and to make the community and the world a better place"
Seems simple, but I thought that the bible was the christian mission statement?
-WS
I've heard of Ultrix. I just find it as highly improbable that someone would be running that as to leave their root password something so easily guessed.
:)
Both point to a sick mind. Waste of good hardware.
-WS
Good point. I'll try this in the future.
-WS
Not really, for two reasons:
1) Hinges
2) Door frames
For example, my WIFE (not the strongest person around) got locked out our house by accident, and thought she smelled smoke. She couldn't quickly find the keys, and so she just put the boot it. Two kicks later, she had completely destroyed the frame, as well as the surrounding frame. Turns out the smoke was nothing, BTW.
Further example... a hotel in Monterey, Ca said "The door to this room sticks. Kick it if it does". So I did. A minute later, I found that it *did* stick. The whole damn frame (minus the piece where the hinges screw in) was on the floor of the hotel room. The manager was a bit miffed.
So now, I say screw the lock. Boot the door.
-WS
Root password on a Microvax? I call BS :)