Anyone who uses anything but real backup media for backup deserves to loose his data. CDs and DVDs are not for backup. Yes, you can use them to transfer data, or even for short term storage (6 months or less). HD is also not a good media for backup. If you keep it running, it will break down soon. If you don't, it will also break down, since it doesn't live long without some spinups. Flash (and other solid state media) also will loose its content in a short time if not refreshed.
We really don't have many options besides tapes. And even tapes are still a problem, since the tape using tend to break down, and you can't find units around for old media (tried to buy a hexabyte unit lately ?).
All in all, tape is the way to go, but make sure you have backups for your tape drives too. Make sure you have humidity and temp control.
I don't think you've got my idea. I'm not talking about mandatory rating, but about advisory rating. Based on that, users can filter what stories they want to read, based on the rating. Just like we already have for comments (threshold), or even editors (which we can filter out).
The point is: the editors can decide what stories they want to publish, and let the users that want it out to filter it.
For the casual reader, slashdot will remain the same. Actually, most casual readers don't even have an account.
We could even limit the number of users that can rate the story. Say, users with max karma (was it 50 ?), or subscribers, or 50 karma for non-subscribers, and 40 karma for subscribers.
What I'm proposing is a secondary advisory control. Editors control what get approved, and users get one more tool to decide what they want to show up on THEIR screens.
Why not have a moderation system for the stories ? Let the users rate the story posted, and that information stick to the submitter profile. Then, users can filter the stories on their preferences, just like we can filter comments. That way, you can publish the stories, and let the users decide what they want to see. We already have that for editors. Why not have it for the stories (step 1) or maybe even for submiters (step 2).
One has to wonder if google will implement DRM as we know it. After all, they have a tradition of doing things in a different way, so getting people to shift to their side. Of course, the *AA are still the same.
One might wonder if they will not simply put a watermark on the files, so they are traceable. Or maybe some other kind of DRM we never saw or heard about.
The real question is: why care ? It will simply be broken. Google should know better and, perhaps, they do. After all, they need it to be able to get *AA to sign.
But I have to wonder on what kind of Linux and MAC support we will have. Google is heavily based on Linux. One would expect they to support it.
You actually can already do it, at least here in Brazil. Dell offers the n-Series of Desktop computers, without any MS software. It comes with FreeDOS.
Free translation from Dell homepage (originaly in Portuguese):
"The n-Series systems are some of the desktop and workstations selected from the Dell Dimention(TM), Dell OptiPlex(TM) and Dell Precision(TM) series sold without an operation system.
Avaliable for IT professionals wishing to have control over instalation and development of their systems. A copy of the FreeDOS(TM) open source operating system is provided with the n-Series systems, inside its box ready for instalation. Some of the n-Series systems are also avaliable with the Linux operating system".
Humm, we didn't have any terrorists attack in Brazil since 9/11 either, but that doesn't mean it is because of the NSA actions.
Do you know of any attack attempt that was stopped by NSA, Homeland Security or any of the other agencies ? Isn't it just as possible that the terrorists are not trying to attack the USA, maybe because the current state of terror is just what they wanted ?
I mean, considering how important popular support is for a government, it is to be expected the moment they actually stopped an attack, they would brag about it, so I don't buy the "oh, they did stop, but it is a big secret" talk.
Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Just using those write-block devices might not be enough. The handling of the HD itself can not be done lightly (more than one HD has failed due to poor handling). The evidence collecting process has to be done right, with the right tools, otherwise it has no value.
Just by using a write-blocker will not give you enough assurance he is a competent professional. I don't think that is what you said, but one can understand that this way.
Make sure you do a good background check on the forensic lab you are hiring.
Actually, 5-pass wipes are considered obsolete for high classified data destruction. There are labs and equipments these days that can read the data as it was before the last 6 rewrites.
===WARNING, VERY INCOMPLETE AND SIMPLISTIC ANALYSIS=== The point is that, magneticaly speaking, we don't have 0's and 1's. Lets day that for a given data system, 0 is marked by -5 Magnetic Field Unities, while 1 is marked by 5 Magnetic Field Unities. Now, of course, the hardware itself is not digital (given number of isolated discrete states), but analogic (infinite number of states). So, when we have a bit set to +5 MFUs, and we write 0 on that place, we won't have -5 MFUs but, lets say, -4.83 MFUs. Then, if I write 0 again, it will go to -4.87 MFUs. Then I write 1, and it goes to +3.7 MFUs, and another 0 takes it to -4.84 MFUs. As you can see, it is possible to extrapolate the old values.
Of course MFU is not a real unity, and those values are not real. But the concept still applies. It is just simpler to explain this way, considering that many of the readers don't possess deep knowledge of the subject (no offense intended).
You want a simple answer to a complicated question.
And short answer is, unfortunatelly: "It is impossible to know".
There data might be there. Then again, it might not be. Yes, it is possible to track many records and cross many small pieces of information. One could, for instance, detect that he burnt 6 CDs, not only 5. Or maybe he burnt 10. Maybe some filed he access where not accessed since then. Maybe the machine clock changed, or some space space with critical data was reused by the system.
Your best bet is to hire the professional, and see what he can pull out. But remember that the forensics process might compromise the machine, so make certain you are hiring a good and respectable lab to do the job, and make sure they follow all the current standards.
I'm speaking here as both a business owner and a former IT employee.
If you go the burocratic path, expect to be treated by burocratic procedures. In the "right and wrong" what you did was right, and so was what the company did.
Thinking outside the burocratic box, tho, there are some important things that can be done, if possible, to make your departure more friendly, and issue that you leave an open door behind you:
1) Try never to leave a project in the middle of it
2) Always talk to your boss. Explain while you are leaving, and ask what would be the best time for you to leave. If possible, try to acomodate that.
3) Always make sure you boss is the first to hear about it. Learning about it through an HR communication will make him feel cheated.
4) Asking your boss if he wants you to do anything to make the transition easier
These ideas will help you to keep the door open, if you ever want to get back to work at the same company, if other companies decide to phone your former boss to ask for references, or even if you start a company and decide to provide services to your former employer.
As Dr. Thompson pointed out, his study is not conclusive (and never tried to be) on the Linux vs. Windows war. He was simply doing a case study. Even small changes on the way it happened to wield different results. Choosing Redhat or Slackware instead of SuSE.
The problem is not the study, but what the outside parties will do with it. It provides with a set of data that can be used to many different marketing campaings: "Windows is better than Linux", "SuSE sucks, buy RedHat", "XXXX e-commerce solution is crap" and so on and so forth. One can even question the competence of the sysadmins (both Windows and Linux ones).
That is the problem with studies of this kind. It is very easy to pervert it to "prove" anyone's opinion on the subject.
That is why I reduce my mouse usage to the minimum. Using a high productivity WM (IceWM in my case, but there are others) enables me to make use of several keyboards shortcuts, multiple desktops and so on.
I also use Mutt to read e-mail. It enables me to read and reply to e-mails much faster than with anything else (Thunderbird etc etc). I would recomend, tho, that you fully understands its features, otherwise your productivity will drop. Quick search and display limiting, as long as color and folder hooks can save you a lot of time.
All in all, I try to take the best of both words (GUI and CLI). I have, most of the time, about 8 xterm's along with Firefox opened in different virtual desktops. Using bash's autocompletion makes it easy to find the host I want to ssh to (start typing the hostname and hit tab).
Also, I try using my notebook as often as possible. The location of the touchpad allows me to use it without removing my hands from the keyboard, which also gives me another speedboost.
I have keyboard shortcuts to all aplications I use often. CRTL+ALT+T open a regular xterm, whicl CRTL+ALT+W opens a verticaly maximized one. And so on, and so forth.
I have tried to use all the "nice" window managers, like KDE and Gnome. In all cases, I suffered a severe drop of productivity, since I had to use the mouse much more often.
I invite all of them, and anyone else who is interested, to see what "populism" is doing to Brazil.
Curruption on the government has pretty much increased threefold. The parliament hasn't really been any to conduct any real business in the past year (at least). In a nutshell: things are going to hell in a handcart.
I would like to recomend Embassy Systems, if your development is to be done in either Java or C++. They are a very skilled small company in Brazil, that already did work for many companies, including IBM and some telecom companies from USA.
I think they are exactly what you are looking for.
You will find here a very interesting technical analysis on the subject, by Bryan J. Smith, on why Hyperthreading is crappy engeneering. From the message:
Since then, Intel has made a number of "hacks" to the i686 architecture. One is HyperThreading which tries to keep its pipes full by using its control units to virtualize two instruction schedulers, registers, etc... In a nutshell, it's a nice way to get "out-of-order and register renaming for almost free." Other than basic coherency checking as necessary in silicon, it "passes the buck" to the OS, leveraging its context switching (and associated overhead) to manage some details.
That's why HyperThreading can actually be slower for some applications, because they do not thread, and the added overhead in _software_ results in reduced processing time for the applications.
It is not beyond imagining IBM traying to drain SCO of all of its money. Specially considering IBM can afford to have this case going on for the next 20 years, without much impact on its bottomline.
It is quite simple, really. When I want to watch a movie (or series etc etc), I don't want to be interrupted. I want to be confortable, and I want peace. So I'll want to be in my room, livingroom or even computer room for that. I can get my notebook with me to an hotel, and watch some DVDs. Same for an airplane. I can even do that in my car, is someone else is driving (good batteries and car adapter cords are avaliable).
Where else would I want (and be able to) watch a movie ? I can't think of a single place where the ViPod would be a better option than my notebook.
Considering how much the price of notebooks have dropped lately, you can get one with better image and sound quality than an ViPod for, humm, 10% more ? Maybe even less than that, if you can settle for a refurbished one.
Yes, iPods are great for music, but for Video ? No, thank you.
It's a free market. If a programmer can negotiate some sort of royalty/residuals deal, I'm sure we'd applaud her (especially if the software's good).
Many already do. It is called Stock Options.
Yes, it is not exactly the same thing as royalties, expecially since it will take you some time before you are able to collect it. But the ultimate effect is about the same.
As long they are not releasing the software, they don't need to release the code. GPL controls distribution, not usage. They can modify the software as much as they want under the GPL, and don't need to provide the code for anyone.
Re:hats off to Bram, Bill Joy, and ATT
on
Vim 6.4 Released
·
· Score: 1
Which proves that it is (nearly) impossible for a single person to completely master VIM:)
Tkx for the closing curly brace tip.
I might keep escaping it, tho, since (just tested) you need to escape it with sed. Using the same syntax in both utils is easier to remember:)
Slashdot Mirror
Anyone who uses anything but real backup media for backup deserves to loose his data.
CDs and DVDs are not for backup. Yes, you can use them to transfer data, or even for short term storage (6 months or less).
HD is also not a good media for backup. If you keep it running, it will break down soon. If you don't, it will also break down, since it doesn't live long without some spinups.
Flash (and other solid state media) also will loose its content in a short time if not refreshed.
We really don't have many options besides tapes. And even tapes are still a problem, since the tape using tend to break down, and you can't find units around for old media (tried to buy a hexabyte unit lately ?).
All in all, tape is the way to go, but make sure you have backups for your tape drives too. Make sure you have humidity and temp control.
That is a very good explanation of the issue. Thank you.
You are correct. The idea I proposed would make no difference.
I don't think you've got my idea. I'm not talking about mandatory rating, but about advisory rating. Based on that, users can filter what stories they want to read, based on the rating. Just like we already have for comments (threshold), or even editors (which we can filter out).
The point is: the editors can decide what stories they want to publish, and let the users that want it out to filter it.
For the casual reader, slashdot will remain the same. Actually, most casual readers don't even have an account.
We could even limit the number of users that can rate the story. Say, users with max karma (was it 50 ?), or subscribers, or 50 karma for non-subscribers, and 40 karma for subscribers.
What I'm proposing is a secondary advisory control. Editors control what get approved, and users get one more tool to decide what they want to show up on THEIR screens.
Why not have a moderation system for the stories ? Let the users rate the story posted, and that information stick to the submitter profile. Then, users can filter the stories on their preferences, just like we can filter comments.
That way, you can publish the stories, and let the users decide what they want to see. We already have that for editors. Why not have it for the stories (step 1) or maybe even for submiters (step 2).
One has to wonder if google will implement DRM as we know it. After all, they have a tradition of doing things in a different way, so getting people to shift to their side. Of course, the *AA are still the same.
One might wonder if they will not simply put a watermark on the files, so they are traceable. Or maybe some other kind of DRM we never saw or heard about.
The real question is: why care ? It will simply be broken. Google should know better and, perhaps, they do. After all, they need it to be able to get *AA to sign.
But I have to wonder on what kind of Linux and MAC support we will have. Google is heavily based on Linux. One would expect they to support it.
You actually can already do it, at least here in Brazil.
Dell offers the n-Series of Desktop computers, without any MS software. It comes with FreeDOS.
Free translation from Dell homepage (originaly in Portuguese):
"The n-Series systems are some of the desktop and workstations selected from the Dell Dimention(TM), Dell OptiPlex(TM) and Dell Precision(TM) series sold without an operation system.
Avaliable for IT professionals wishing to have control over instalation and development of their systems. A copy of the FreeDOS(TM) open source operating system is provided with the n-Series systems, inside its box ready for instalation. Some of the n-Series systems are also avaliable with the Linux operating system".
This comes from this url.
Humm, we didn't have any terrorists attack in Brazil since 9/11 either, but that doesn't mean it is because of the NSA actions.
Do you know of any attack attempt that was stopped by NSA, Homeland Security or any of the other agencies ? Isn't it just as possible that the terrorists are not trying to attack the USA, maybe because the current state of terror is just what they wanted ?
I mean, considering how important popular support is for a government, it is to be expected the moment they actually stopped an attack, they would brag about it, so I don't buy the "oh, they did stop, but it is a big secret" talk.
Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Just using those write-block devices might not be enough. The handling of the HD itself can not be done lightly (more than one HD has failed due to poor handling). The evidence collecting process has to be done right, with the right tools, otherwise it has no value.
Just by using a write-blocker will not give you enough assurance he is a competent professional. I don't think that is what you said, but one can understand that this way.
Make sure you do a good background check on the forensic lab you are hiring.
Actually, 5-pass wipes are considered obsolete for high classified data destruction. There are labs and equipments these days that can read the data as it was before the last 6 rewrites.
===WARNING, VERY INCOMPLETE AND SIMPLISTIC ANALYSIS===
The point is that, magneticaly speaking, we don't have 0's and 1's. Lets day that for a given data system, 0 is marked by -5 Magnetic Field Unities, while 1 is marked by 5 Magnetic Field Unities. Now, of course, the hardware itself is not digital (given number of isolated discrete states), but analogic (infinite number of states). So, when we have a bit set to +5 MFUs, and we write 0 on that place, we won't have -5 MFUs but, lets say, -4.83 MFUs. Then, if I write 0 again, it will go to -4.87 MFUs. Then I write 1, and it goes to +3.7 MFUs, and another 0 takes it to -4.84 MFUs. As you can see, it is possible to extrapolate the old values.
Of course MFU is not a real unity, and those values are not real. But the concept still applies. It is just simpler to explain this way, considering that many of the readers don't possess deep knowledge of the subject (no offense intended).
You want a simple answer to a complicated question.
And short answer is, unfortunatelly: "It is impossible to know".
There data might be there. Then again, it might not be. Yes, it is possible to track many records and cross many small pieces of information. One could, for instance, detect that he burnt 6 CDs, not only 5. Or maybe he burnt 10. Maybe some filed he access where not accessed since then. Maybe the machine clock changed, or some space space with critical data was reused by the system.
Your best bet is to hire the professional, and see what he can pull out. But remember that the forensics process might compromise the machine, so make certain you are hiring a good and respectable lab to do the job, and make sure they follow all the current standards.
I'm speaking here as both a business owner and a former IT employee.
If you go the burocratic path, expect to be treated by burocratic procedures. In the "right and wrong" what you did was right, and so was what the company did.
Thinking outside the burocratic box, tho, there are some important things that can be done, if possible, to make your departure more friendly, and issue that you leave an open door behind you:
1) Try never to leave a project in the middle of it
2) Always talk to your boss. Explain while you are leaving, and ask what would be the best time for you to leave. If possible, try to acomodate that.
3) Always make sure you boss is the first to hear about it. Learning about it through an HR communication will make him feel cheated.
4) Asking your boss if he wants you to do anything to make the transition easier
These ideas will help you to keep the door open, if you ever want to get back to work at the same company, if other companies decide to phone your former boss to ask for references, or even if you start a company and decide to provide services to your former employer.
I have to seriously question the technical knowhow of people who call this 3 core setup an asynchronous core configuration.
ASYMMETRIC ! Not asynchronous.
As Dr. Thompson pointed out, his study is not conclusive (and never tried to be) on the Linux vs. Windows war. He was simply doing a case study. Even small changes on the way it happened to wield different results. Choosing Redhat or Slackware instead of SuSE.
The problem is not the study, but what the outside parties will do with it. It provides with a set of data that can be used to many different marketing campaings: "Windows is better than Linux", "SuSE sucks, buy RedHat", "XXXX e-commerce solution is crap" and so on and so forth. One can even question the competence of the sysadmins (both Windows and Linux ones).
That is the problem with studies of this kind. It is very easy to pervert it to "prove" anyone's opinion on the subject.
That is why I reduce my mouse usage to the minimum.
Using a high productivity WM (IceWM in my case, but there are others) enables me to make use of several keyboards shortcuts, multiple desktops and so on.
I also use Mutt to read e-mail. It enables me to read and reply to e-mails much faster than with anything else (Thunderbird etc etc). I would recomend, tho, that you fully understands its features, otherwise your productivity will drop. Quick search and display limiting, as long as color and folder hooks can save you a lot of time.
All in all, I try to take the best of both words (GUI and CLI). I have, most of the time, about 8 xterm's along with Firefox opened in different virtual desktops. Using bash's autocompletion makes it easy to find the host I want to ssh to (start typing the hostname and hit tab).
Also, I try using my notebook as often as possible. The location of the touchpad allows me to use it without removing my hands from the keyboard, which also gives me another speedboost.
I have keyboard shortcuts to all aplications I use often. CRTL+ALT+T open a regular xterm, whicl CRTL+ALT+W opens a verticaly maximized one. And so on, and so forth.
I have tried to use all the "nice" window managers, like KDE and Gnome. In all cases, I suffered a severe drop of productivity, since I had to use the mouse much more often.
Yes, there is something to be said: stupidity.
I invite all of them, and anyone else who is interested, to see what "populism" is doing to Brazil.
Curruption on the government has pretty much increased threefold. The parliament hasn't really been any to conduct any real business in the past year (at least). In a nutshell: things are going to hell in a handcart.
I would like to recomend Embassy Systems, if your development is to be done in either Java or C++. They are a very skilled small company in Brazil, that already did work for many companies, including IBM and some telecom companies from USA.
I think they are exactly what you are looking for.
It is not beyond imagining IBM traying to drain SCO of all of its money.
Specially considering IBM can afford to have this case going on for the next 20 years, without much impact on its bottomline.
It is quite simple, really. When I want to watch a movie (or series etc etc), I don't want to be interrupted. I want to be confortable, and I want peace. So I'll want to be in my room, livingroom or even computer room for that. I can get my notebook with me to an hotel, and watch some DVDs. Same for an airplane. I can even do that in my car, is someone else is driving (good batteries and car adapter cords are avaliable).
Where else would I want (and be able to) watch a movie ? I can't think of a single place where the ViPod would be a better option than my notebook.
Considering how much the price of notebooks have dropped lately, you can get one with better image and sound quality than an ViPod for, humm, 10% more ? Maybe even less than that, if you can settle for a refurbished one.
Yes, iPods are great for music, but for Video ? No, thank you.
I agree, but it sure should give you the ability to say: I don't want your services.
It's a free market. If a programmer can negotiate some sort of royalty/residuals deal, I'm sure we'd applaud her (especially if the software's good).
Many already do. It is called Stock Options.
Yes, it is not exactly the same thing as royalties, expecially since it will take you some time before you are able to collect it. But the ultimate effect is about the same.
AT LAST!!! :)
I know someone was on the same page
You had binary code ? Lucky you.
When I was a kid, I had to write the Hello World program using only 0's.
As long they are not releasing the software, they don't need to release the code.
GPL controls distribution, not usage. They can modify the software as much as they want under the GPL, and don't need to provide the code for anyone.
Which proves that it is (nearly) impossible for a single person to completely master VIM :)
:)
Tkx for the closing curly brace tip.
I might keep escaping it, tho, since (just tested) you need to escape it with sed. Using the same syntax in both utils is easier to remember