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User: MorphOSX

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  1. Re: I'm pretty sure that's not the case on Sprint Faces Backlash For Adding MDM Software To Devices (csoonline.com) · · Score: 1

    Actually, that's wrong. I work for a company that develops MDM software, and what you can do to a smartphone is incredibly limited, especially non-Samsung devices and iPhones.

    Firstly, the iPhone can never be touched or targeted directly by an MDM server, it can only relay information through apple's Push Notification Services servers.

    Secondly, Apple explicitly blocks any tool sets of access to contents of the device, including personal information. It is literally impossible to read that data on an iOS device. We never could. I can at most see a list of apps on the device and hardware details like Serial Numbers or IMEI data.

    Thirdly, Apple explicitly blocks MDM software from leveraging Geolocation except under very specific circumstances. The only way to do this is by building an iOS app and registering it through Apple's Enterprise iOS developer program, which then generates private provisioning profiles and code-signs the apps to be trusted on the iOS device. No apps in the App Store are allowed to provide geolocation to third-party services without express end-user consent. Our product does offer the functionality, but in order to use it even under these circumstances, there has to be a signed app installed and opened on the device to authorize it. I cannot force it to be authorized.

    Fourthly, on the android side, an app has to be installed, and configured and authorized on the device in order to bring the device into management. Geolocation is limited here, too.

    Fifth, unless the device is registered to a company and enrolled in Apple's Device Enrollment Program, or is manually configured on a Mac using apple's configurator software, the level of restrictions and control is limited. Only corporate owned devices enrolled through those methods can be made to be "supervised" in order to allow additional restrictive features.

    Sixth, there is no means in any current MDM to enable or perform any type of screen sharing or access anything like cameras or other electronics.

    Bottom line, MDMs are quite limited in their ability to do any snooping of any user data. The worst that can happen is someone issuing a remote erase command or device lock command. Nothing more invasive can be done.

  2. Re:Lots of highly paid folks on A Tool For Analyzing H-1B Visa Applications Reveals Tech Salary Secrets · · Score: 1

    Eh, "highly paid" is subjective. Tech Companies got caught in this vicious cycle of inflation because of where they chose to settle, and it's self-perpetuating. We demand these high paychecks for work, or see jobs that pay six figures for whatever, and only after we get the stars out of our eyes and the dollar signs out of our gut that we realize "shit, I'm being paid $250k and the cost of living means I'm keeping less take-home now than i was when i was making $55k at Podunk High." Have friends that took jobs in Silicon Valley because "Zomg six figures" who had to downsize their homes, downsize their families, and otherwise tighten their belts because they failed to do due diligence. I really hope that in tech, telecommuting becomes more of a thing. I'll gladly work for 60-70k/year in a job that would pay double if it means I can live somewhere with a low cost of living that I enjoy living and just work from there.

  3. Re: A sane supreme court decision? on Supreme Court Rules Extending Traffic Stop For Dog Sniff Unconstitutional · · Score: 2

    You realize Scalia ruled with the majority on this one, right?

  4. Re: Idea on Apple, Google, Bringing Low-Pay Support Employees In-House · · Score: 1

    I think both "Employment At Will' and "Right To Work" are BS covers, both looking to screw over the common worker.

  5. Re: Good. on Apple, Google, Bringing Low-Pay Support Employees In-House · · Score: 2

    Yes they are. They are also one of the biggest drivers pushing companies away from long term employment investments and towards the quick, cheap, expendable talent. It's one step up from the H1B visa worker, but not by much.

  6. Re: Idea on Apple, Google, Bringing Low-Pay Support Employees In-House · · Score: 1

    You mean, right to get fired legislation? It's one thing to give employees an option to not join a union, and another thing entirely to use it as a cover to make it easy to fire anyone for anything. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but it would be nice if we weren't so quick to champion laws that do away with employers having, you know, a good reason to fire someone.

  7. Re:Actually on Stephen Hawking: Biggest Human Failing Is Aggression · · Score: 1

    That's like trying to remove pain, fear, or other emotions that provide a motivation to people. Unfortunately, there's no way to control the dosage finely enough through wide dispersal that it would have universal effect. Then there's the issues of whether it is morally justified forcing people to ingest chemicals without their knowledge or consent. And the issues of dealing with the inevitable adverse reactions, the unintended consequences, etc. How about people learn to stand up to the BS and force our species to do better?

  8. Re:The sad part? on DEA Planned To Monitor Cars Parked At Gun Shows Using License Plate Readers · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually, if you go back and review the US code, other areas of the constitution, other legal writings and opinions from the people responsible for writing the constitution and this amendment, and the rest of the mountains of historical evidence, you'll find that the 2nd Amendment means exactly what you think it doesn't mean. Historically, in context, the People were considered to be the Militia (US Code). The constitution gave the US Government the right to call up from the Militia an army, etc; and for the states to maintain a militia. As discussed here: http://www.constitution.org/co... (and supported through other sources of linguistic study and writings of the period), the term "well-regulated" referred to something being in proper working order or well trained. So, we have these facts: 1. The people of the United States themselves were considered the main defensive body, and all (male) members of society of a certain age range were automatically considered members of the unorganized militia. 2. The Constitution in other parts indicated that the States, and the Federal Government, had the right/duty to call up from the militia a military force, and that the militia was to exist. 3. We know that in the vernacular of the time, "well regulated", as stated in the amendment, was understood to mean "in good working order". As such, and with laws down the line, it is, and has been, a right of the people to be armed. Now, we may argue that times have changed, etc. etc. This does not denigrate or otherwise contradict the existence and persistence of an individual right to keep and bear arms, and given the extensive laws in place that control the manufacture, sale, and possession of firearms, said right is also well-regulated by a modern definition as well. I submit, further, that the fear over the private ownership of firearms is a topic which, due to the political nature of the discussion and the pressures of the media, has been blown greatly out of proportion. Such events such as Sandy Hook, Columbine, etc. are seriously dark tragedies, and heinous crimes a la ted bundy and charlie manson. They should likewise be treated not as events decrying the "sad state of our society", as they are neither systemic nor pandemic, and instead be treated as the brutal crimes that they are, the same as any other serial killer or other major criminal escapade. When placed in context with other crimes unrelated to firearms, the frequency of such events and severity of the crimes are on par with the major spree and serial killers, rapists, etc. We have simply fetishized firearms on both sides into a totem of power, rather than viewing such things as simple tools, much as we have fetishized war and conflict to such a degree as to be an unhealthy fixation.

  9. Re:not New news on DEA Planned To Monitor Cars Parked At Gun Shows Using License Plate Readers · · Score: 1

    Yep. This has been a thing since long before Obama was in the office, and ever since there have been political points to be made around firearms. I expect they ramp it up any time they perceive a circumstance that could cause major issues, such as the violent protests that occurred during Viet Nam, during the civil rights movement, etc. etc. I think it's pretty damn well known that various agencies start looking much harder at groups when they start making waves that could upset the apple cart, and given the general unpopularity of Obama, the general attitude of some of the ultraconservatives who like to frequent gun shows, and the gullibility of some of the various nutjobs that listen to such ultraconservatives, I'm pretty damn sure they figure a little wasted manpower in keeping an eye on things is a good trade against a repeat of Tim McVeigh, etc.

  10. Re:planned? on DEA Planned To Monitor Cars Parked At Gun Shows Using License Plate Readers · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When the government comes out and says anything resembling "planned", "suggested", "considered", etc., it really means that they've been doing it for decades, someone discovered something that might expose it, and they want to get ahead of the exposure in order to characterize anyone who tries to discuss it or believes it as a crackpot conspiracy theorist. Companies and governments have seeded public discussion with enough chaff that they can make anyone look like an idiot if they want to, and the public's already primed to believe it.

  11. Re: What's the point ? on Downtown Project Suicides Shock High Tech Community · · Score: 3, Interesting

    To end one's life is a choice, and the ultimate right of all human beings. To choose to die is not a punishment, nor should it be considered such.

  12. Re: What's the point ? on Downtown Project Suicides Shock High Tech Community · · Score: 1

    Seems a bit cold-hearted, don't you think? Not everything should revolve around money and achievement. Have some compassion for people dealing with stress.

  13. Lipstick on News Aggregator Fark Adds Misogyny Ban · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, you can put lipstick on a pig, not sure it makes it a princess, though.

  14. Heisenberg? on Scientists Record Quantum Behavior of Electrons Via Laser Lights · · Score: 1

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the act of observing the quantum behavior of the electron necessarily change it? I thought one of the fuzzy things about anything "quantum", other than "quantum bullshit", was that its state/behavior is not finite unless observed directly, thus causing it to collapse into a specific state? Or do I have that wrong?

  15. Re: +1 for this Post on Ask Slashdot: Life Beyond the WRT54G Series? · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've been very happy with my Asud RT-n66g or whatever it is. Good signal, stable, lots of advanced features, and plenty of aftermarket firmware options. Plus Asus is responsive on support and updates. Went comcast business class (slightly more expensive, but need/wanted the prioritization and QoS standards, like same day service calls, etc.), got their netgear business class modem (no built in wifi whatsoever, and works fine in total bridge mode), hooked it up to the Asus, and off I went. Only thing I need to add to it is a high-gain directional antenna to beam signal out to my workshop.

  16. Re: Yeah sure on Court Releases DOJ Memo Justifying Drone Strike On US Citizen · · Score: 1

    To be fair, during WWII, there were Americans who left the US to fight with nazi germany. These Americans fighting with the Nazis were often executed without trial. The concept of killing an American who is fighting for the "enemy" is nothing new. If you're fighting with our enemies, as an enemy combatant, why do you believe you should get a trial as a criminal rather than simply being killed on the battlefield after identification As an enemy? Now, the real question is whether there was sufficient evidence to consider him an enemy combatant and thus subject to the rules of war and not just a criminal. Finally, I'd also like to point out that while the US abides by the Geneva convention and other treaties and accords, it is not a signatory of the same, so while the Geneva convention sets good rules, the US is only bound to them as long as they voluntarily comply.

  17. Re: I always thought... on How the Black Hole Firewall Paradox Was Resolved · · Score: 2

    So instead of educating you choose to belittle and trash others. You want more erudite folks? Teach.

  18. Re: I always thought... on How the Black Hole Firewall Paradox Was Resolved · · Score: 1

    I did, but I was hoping for the "for dummies" version

  19. Re: I always thought... on How the Black Hole Firewall Paradox Was Resolved · · Score: 1

    Fair enough, so then what's the big deal with this firewall thing?

  20. Re:And this is why I'll never live in a walled gar on Apple Orders Memory Game Developers To Stop Using 'Memory' In Names · · Score: 1

    Mod parent up!

  21. Re:And this is why I'll never live in a walled gar on Apple Orders Memory Game Developers To Stop Using 'Memory' In Names · · Score: 0

    And if the company exercising their trademark case against you gets a cease and desist order forcing you to stop selling the product, you'll have the same problem: you cannot legally continue to sell the product until the case is over or the order is vacated. The only difference here is that you're banking on the company either not noticing the infringement and not going after you, or them not getting a C&D to force you to stop selling. If I've learned anything, it's that the companies that are assholes enough to do this are also assholes enough to not care how small you are.

  22. Re:I remember when... on Fox's Attempt To Block Ad-skipping TV Recorder Autohop Fails · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Rates will go down when the number of things causing accidents does. Texting/distracted driving has gone WAY up, so even if all the features making the insurance rates go down, in theory, are there, then the average cost to all insurers to cover the people that get into wrecks while distracted driving, etc., jack them right back up again, since it all works off of an aggregate pool. So, while income from subscriptions to cable/satellite may ultimately negate the need for commercials, the cost of funding the programing goes up as well, through greed and inflation. So, what cost maybe $1.5m to make in 1990, now costs 10.5+, and considering the amount of stuff on TV that people watch, the sheer enormity of the costs to produce it all would nowhere near be covered by subscription fees alone. that leaves you with the basic other source of funding: advertisements.

  23. Or it just sucks... on Mozilla: Browser Ballot Glitch Cost Us 9m Firefox Downloads · · Score: 0

    Personally, I find firefox is slow, kludgy, and generally a poor browser. Chrome outdoes it by far.

  24. Re:iSore? on Steve Jobs' Yacht Revealed · · Score: 0

    Let's see. Walled garden of apps that work in 99% of cases, don't crash or cause harm to the device, and are generally pretty stringently screened for what kind of data they can collect and how they utilize what's on your device, or total freedom for anyone to write any kind of app and Caveat Emptor rules the day. Think I'd rather have a platform that worked seamlessly without having to hunt down drivers, recompile shit, worry about malicious or half-baked code, and a wide-open platform with no controls.

  25. Re:Subsidies in the wrong place. on Prospects Darken For Solar Energy Companies · · Score: 1

    This is why you subsidize research, not production.

    This is a point, but ultimately the methods of making green energy need to be cheap to produce to begin with. As long as the technology is not being made in ways that are at a low cost, people will choose the cheaper option, or no one will be able to afford it. Solar is, as much as it's a nice idea, not a really viable option because it works better being installed on individual buildings, and unless you're large enough to afford it, it's not a great plan. Wind power, too, is very weather-dependent. There are other alternatives to fossil fuels that can help us bridge the gap (thorium/liquid salt reactors, etc), and research into other technologies like fusion generators and such is good. But like the parent said, have to put lots of funding out there to develop the new technologies, not just produce what we already have.