I took a class in cryptography last semester. The professor offered the best words of advice I ever heard in the subject: "Don't try to create new algorithms. We know how to do that already. What we have is secure. What you need to work on is the implementation. Just because something uses encryption, it is by no means secure."
He then proceeded to explain how easily NTLM can be defeated in a brute force attack.
"As we know, There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know There are known unknowns. That is to say We know there are some things We do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, The ones we don't know We don't know."
But we only know what they think we don't know...ya know?
As computer people, we see this kind of crap all too often. Let's have a look at what we have learned about our field from modern entertainment:
Laptop computers, over a modem connection, have the capability to do full 1024x768 resolution video conferencing with sound. (sometimes you don't even need the modem...)
You can get by password security by simply typing "OVERRIDE SECURITY"
If the system you're using doesn't support the "OVERRIDE SECURITY" feature, you can either A) defeat the cryptography in less than a minute or B) guess the password in less than a minute.
Computer viruses and worms are so fast-spreading and technically advanced that they can turn machines against their owners, such as making the robots in a factory will begin ripping the factory workers to pieces.
Every program ever written runs on any computer regardless of architecture or operating system.
Desktop workstations and laptops have the 3D rendering capabilities of an SGI Origin cluster.
The list goes on...so many things are done for dramatic effect, and so that Joe Blow can follow the "high-tech" plot line. Sigh. Well, back I go to explaining to my mother that the computer is running slow because it's bogged down with spyware, not because the government has taken control of it and is reading all her documents.
I beg to differ. I am majoring in Mathematics, and have had to take a year and a half of programming. I am fluent in Java and C++, and I use them both on a regular basis in my course study and research.
In a Linear Algebra class, it is useful to check yourself by computer, and you can really get a good understanding of operations like inversion, Gaussian reduction, and determinanat computation by writing the algorithms.
Moving on to a course in Nonlinear Dynamics, a computer is almost an essential tool for modeling dynamical systems that can't be solved in closed form. I had to write my own methods in Mathematica to model these sytems, seek out points of equilbria, and examine their stability. Want a hard core programming exercise? Write a program that will attempt to find Lyapunov functions for a given dynamical system - that will really test your self-worth as a programmer.
Even in a course like Abstract Algebra, you're going to need a grip on programming to get a deep understanding it, for example, reducing polynomials in GF(256), as is done in Rijndael. You can sit there and mechanically do it out by hand if you like, but if you want to get anywhere, use a computer. Write it in C++, another good programming exercise if you want to link mathematics and computer science.
Most math majors in their time will need to take a numerical analysis course, which will include most of what I have previously mentioned. Numerical Linear Algebra, root-finding, interpolation, and differential equation solving. It's a much larger challenge to write an RK4 solver for a given differential equation than it is to move information from a database to the web. You'd have alot more self-respect as the 'computer guy' if you wrote a program to fit an optimal Bezier curve or cubic spline to a set of points, instead of simply hitting 'smoothe curve' in Excel. You'd also understand why the 'smooth curve' function doesn't work so well sometimes.
A computer of this stature would have an incredible demand in my field. I work with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, specifically, microfluidics. Computing the solutions to atrocious systems of partial differential equations is a bear of a problem, even for a cluster. A 50-microsecond simulation takes about 24 hours to compute on my 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM workstation.
I certainly have a demand for this kind of computation power, and then some. If I had my way, I'd be working on a 100+ node cluster, but unfortunately thats cost prohibitive.
Their HTTP 200 error message owns, though. Instead of telling you to 'try again later' its like 'please refresh! we love getting out ass pounded into the floor!'
i even use it on my MacOS X PowerBook AND my Windows 2000 workstation as the primary media player because of its extreme ass-kickery.
ironic, really. Mac has always been touted as "the video OS" of sorts, yet quicktime shits the bed trying to play a DivX file. unacceptable. mplayer can take a punishing. you can smear poop on a blank cdr, put it in your drive, and mplayer will play it.
Ripping the reflective surface off CDRs is a good way to impress kids with shiny things. The only problem is, they then want to do it.
While counselor at a computer camp, once I showed a kid how to rip the reflective face off a CDR with some duct tape, and he spread that information to all the kids. Little did they know that the dye underneath is toxic, and like 7 or 8 kids were puking up their lunch later on. I told the boss I had no idea what happened.:-\
IT rules with an iron fist:
You will use passwords and you will like it.
But certainly users giving away passwords for chocolate is double-plus-ungood. They would have to offer me some money, but of course none of my passwords protect anything of any real value:(
It's nice for creating secure point-to-point links, but that's only roughly half of data security. Transmission security is great, but what happens when someone steals the hard drive out of the server?
With all due respect to the quantum guys, the traditional byte-crunching cryptography kind of has the market by the balls here.
Slashdot Mirror
I caan atttttessst ttoooo thaaatttt. Juussst goot baaacckkk ffroommm Staarbuccckksss...anddd myy haaandds aaaree shaaakiing......
I took a class in cryptography last semester. The professor offered the best words of advice I ever heard in the subject: "Don't try to create new algorithms. We know how to do that already. What we have is secure. What you need to work on is the implementation. Just because something uses encryption, it is by no means secure."
He then proceeded to explain how easily NTLM can be defeated in a brute force attack.
It's a pity how few people realize the power of Congress. A bill doesn't get to the president lest it passes through congress...
Sigh. Americans need a course in American Government.
"As we know, There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know There are known unknowns. That is to say We know there are some things We do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, The ones we don't know We don't know."
But we only know what they think we don't know...ya know?
Teachers are just being stubborn. They have to change with the times. Instead of grading a paper "F", grade it "OMFG n00b".
Instead of grading it "A", grade it "<3".
When the kids get rowdy, instead of trying to yell over the crowd, just write "STFU kthx" on the board.
Change with the times, people.
Laptop computers, over a modem connection, have the capability to do full 1024x768 resolution video conferencing with sound. (sometimes you don't even need the modem...)
You can get by password security by simply typing "OVERRIDE SECURITY"
If the system you're using doesn't support the "OVERRIDE SECURITY" feature, you can either A) defeat the cryptography in less than a minute or B) guess the password in less than a minute.
Computer viruses and worms are so fast-spreading and technically advanced that they can turn machines against their owners, such as making the robots in a factory will begin ripping the factory workers to pieces.
Every program ever written runs on any computer regardless of architecture or operating system.
Desktop workstations and laptops have the 3D rendering capabilities of an SGI Origin cluster.
The list goes on...so many things are done for dramatic effect, and so that Joe Blow can follow the "high-tech" plot line. Sigh. Well, back I go to explaining to my mother that the computer is running slow because it's bogged down with spyware, not because the government has taken control of it and is reading all her documents.
where is my tinfoil hat....
Has the release of the section of Windows 2000 source code had any effect on development? Or are you not at liberty to say?
it's all over once that happens.
okay, everyone go home. the intarweb is ruined.
then why don't you have a degree in math, too?
you took calculus and discrete math, not modern algebra and galois theory.
I beg to differ. I am majoring in Mathematics, and have had to take a year and a half of programming. I am fluent in Java and C++, and I use them both on a regular basis in my course study and research.
In a Linear Algebra class, it is useful to check yourself by computer, and you can really get a good understanding of operations like inversion, Gaussian reduction, and determinanat computation by writing the algorithms.
Moving on to a course in Nonlinear Dynamics, a computer is almost an essential tool for modeling dynamical systems that can't be solved in closed form. I had to write my own methods in Mathematica to model these sytems, seek out points of equilbria, and examine their stability. Want a hard core programming exercise? Write a program that will attempt to find Lyapunov functions for a given dynamical system - that will really test your self-worth as a programmer.
Even in a course like Abstract Algebra, you're going to need a grip on programming to get a deep understanding it, for example, reducing polynomials in GF(256), as is done in Rijndael. You can sit there and mechanically do it out by hand if you like, but if you want to get anywhere, use a computer. Write it in C++, another good programming exercise if you want to link mathematics and computer science.
Most math majors in their time will need to take a numerical analysis course, which will include most of what I have previously mentioned. Numerical Linear Algebra, root-finding, interpolation, and differential equation solving. It's a much larger challenge to write an RK4 solver for a given differential equation than it is to move information from a database to the web. You'd have alot more self-respect as the 'computer guy' if you wrote a program to fit an optimal Bezier curve or cubic spline to a set of points, instead of simply hitting 'smoothe curve' in Excel. You'd also understand why the 'smooth curve' function doesn't work so well sometimes.
just my $.02.
A computer of this stature would have an incredible demand in my field. I work with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, specifically, microfluidics. Computing the solutions to atrocious systems of partial differential equations is a bear of a problem, even for a cluster. A 50-microsecond simulation takes about 24 hours to compute on my 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM workstation.
I certainly have a demand for this kind of computation power, and then some. If I had my way, I'd be working on a 100+ node cluster, but unfortunately thats cost prohibitive.
What a dumbass. Phoning in a bomb threat to your school from your cell phone...how do you expect not to get caught?
oh i thought they were talking about the disease. thanks for clearing that up. ;)
But.....
shouldn't song download you?
Their HTTP 200 error message owns, though. Instead of telling you to 'try again later' its like 'please refresh! we love getting out ass pounded into the floor!'
parent is right, mplayer owns.
i even use it on my MacOS X PowerBook AND my Windows 2000 workstation as the primary media player because of its extreme ass-kickery.
ironic, really. Mac has always been touted as "the video OS" of sorts, yet quicktime shits the bed trying to play a DivX file. unacceptable. mplayer can take a punishing. you can smear poop on a blank cdr, put it in your drive, and mplayer will play it.
Yes. Find your club/torch/pitchfork and join the lynch mob.
This is the best troll I've seen in a while. Really, brilliant. Bravo, sir.
Irregardless is not a word. Where are you, spelling nazis? Troll the article!
No, the pledge is unconstitutional now. We have the Democrats to thank for that one.
Cheers to Textpad, mate. The perfect editor for all your development needs. It's worth it if not just for the contextual menu in explorer feature.
Ripping the reflective surface off CDRs is a good way to impress kids with shiny things. The only problem is, they then want to do it.
:-\
While counselor at a computer camp, once I showed a kid how to rip the reflective face off a CDR with some duct tape, and he spread that information to all the kids. Little did they know that the dye underneath is toxic, and like 7 or 8 kids were puking up their lunch later on. I told the boss I had no idea what happened.
IT rules with an iron fist:
:(
You will use passwords and you will like it.
But certainly users giving away passwords for chocolate is double-plus-ungood. They would have to offer me some money, but of course none of my passwords protect anything of any real value
It's nice for creating secure point-to-point links, but that's only roughly half of data security. Transmission security is great, but what happens when someone steals the hard drive out of the server?
With all due respect to the quantum guys, the traditional byte-crunching cryptography kind of has the market by the balls here.