The prize is shared amongst two ex-Xerox people...
Did they have to share because they...copied each other's work?
::rimshot::
Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all day folks. Try the linux; it's really secure today.
Re:Tech Support for some large company (true story
on
Orwellian Tech Support
·
· Score: 1
*ahem*...according to the NDA I signed with them (I think I did anyway)...I am to say "No comment."
Tech Support for some large company (true story)
on
Orwellian Tech Support
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
I got hired on doing tech support for (one of?) the largest software companies in the world. The only call center for this department of theirs is in Austin. If anyone knows who I'm talking about, say it, for I am fearful of their wrath. I'm not fond of getting LEGAL WARNINGS AT MY HOME ADDRESS FOR SOMETHING I DID ONLINE (HINT HINT).
The training was decent, when the instructor was able to speak over the people in the back of the class talking. Usually that was only when the people in the back of the class were sleeping. We were told to try and keep a 7-minute average call time, which was impossible because the databases to search for registered customers were slow as hell (especially since they ran off the software developed by the company we were supporting...HINT HINT). If a customer wasn't in the database, we had to add them, which was even slower. Then we had to search on the intranet's knowledge base (KB), which, by the way, was slow, until we found the problem. We were told specifically not to say anything that wasn't in the KB and that if we were smart, the only words coming out of our mouths would either be from a script from training or a script from the KB. This included denying knowledge of pending lawsuits against said company for fraud, much less denying knowledge of the Attorney General looking into unethical business practices, etc. Thankfully, I was fired on the third day because I opened up a DOS prompt to ping a user. Sure, I had to save a file called dos.bat onto the desktop that contained the line "cmd" in it to get to the prompt, but even so, I was never told that going to a DOS prompt was an offense punishable by termination.
I wasn't sad to go, though. So many calls were related to the previously mentioned class action suit against the company or the problem that inspired the lawsuit that I wanted to wash my hands each time I finished a call. The official policy was that if the user hadn't purchased an extended warranty (possibly needed 2-3 if they had purchased their product long enough in the past), then they would have to send in their product and pay a $100 repair fee because a faulty part in the product finally failed completely and, even though the company was aware that many products were shipped with said faulty products, they still charged the customers. They also did not recall the products or even acknowledge that there was any kind of specific problem. We were simply told to alert the user that they needed to send the machine in and our repair center would take care of the rest.
Lets face it, without viruses alot of the flaws in our operating systems would still be open today, then hackers would have free reign into your system without your knowledge.
If you research the subject a little, you'll notice a few things:
1) In the past, before the internet became popular, viruses did not abuse security flaws in the operating systems (unless you count not having a virus scanner to detect whatever current virus is spreading).
2) Since the internet has become popular, the number of 0-day (brand new) exploit viruses out there are almost zero (and I say "almost" because I don't know for sure, but I know the number is low).
3) You are referring to "worms" and not "viruses." The Morris Worm is the program that brought the internet crashing to its knees in its infancy. Once again, though, worms generally don't propogate through unknown vulnerabilities. They simply rely on the idea that people have not patched their systems. One could easily argue that the user is the security flaw, since there is a patch for the system, but the user is now the reason the vulnerability remains.
Your post makes it sound as if viruses are a necessary evil. They are not. They tend to be uninspiring annoyances, made for no other reason besides to make the writer feel powerful.
I've read some people saying that a malicious user could simply sniff the network and determine the key. I don't see this as a major problem, though. You could set each machine to have its own individual knock, requiring an attacker to also spoof a machine who's knock he's discovered. Again, this could be complicated by having some sort of function that defines legal knocks, but that generates so many that each knock can only be used once...a sort of one-time pad for the knocks. This would assume that you have a secure method of trading the knock lists (flashback to Mission: Impossible's "NOC-list"...heh). I'm sure there's some sort of encryption scheme you could setup based on the time that keeps a sniffed knock from being able to be used again, but that can also be dynamically generated by any machine attempting to connect to the server. I think this assumes a little bit about the topology of the network. I'm sure it could be tweaked for most setups, though.
I had the same problem all through middle school, high school, and a short time of college. I've been diagnosed with ADD, I'm not hyperactive, and I'm not fidgety. I simply have trouble focussing without a fire under my ass.
Smoking marijuana actually helps me focus on one thing. It all started when I was taking a Linear Algebra correspondence course and wasn't able to just make myself sit down and do the work. After smoking a little, it was easier for me to concentrate on the work. I would go back and scan it for errors sober, but any mistakes I made were the same ones I tend to make when I'm not under the influence.
As far as how much to use, that's a personal thing. Just a small amount makes it easier for me. Of course, don't do this at work...only when you're working at home.
Mad Hacker: "Pop quiz, hotshot! Hacker just started compiling and executing a killer virus on his machine! You can either save the internet or capture the bad guy. What do you do?" Keanu Reeves: "Shoot the boxen." Mad Hacker: "But it's got a bullet-proof cover over it with a keyboard entry system...and YOU DON'T KNOW THE PASSWORD" Keanu Reeves: "I'm already in!" Mad Hacker: "But how?!" Keanu Reeves: "The three most commonly used passwords: love, secret, and sex...not necessarily in that order" Mad Hacker: "But it's not any of those" Keanu Reeves: "Don't forget about 'God'. System operators love using 'god'."
Are you blood related to other known and hated demonspawns that plague this earth, such as Jack Valenti?
How does it feel to be despised more than Martha Stewart and that crazy president of CloneAid?
Do you have any plans for the future as far as furthering the movement to restrict American freedoms go? Should we expect you to be running for the Republican party in 2004?
Linux PL - You can specify only the specific functions, objects, etc needed and thus makes programs very small and compact. Several "flavors" exist, only a few of those are taught in schools. However, the language is highly customizable...even to the point of completely changing what every built-in function does. This will result in several local dialects of Linux PL, some of which are only known to one person: the geek that made it.
Mac PL - Very easy drag and drop interface...and has lately actually just added a Mac PL GUI to a version of the Linux PL...so basically, see Linux PL.
Windows PL - Easy to use, save the random crashing of the compiler. Also, very slow. Some things, whether used in a program or not, have to be included to compile (one of these is a web browser). Essentially, just drag and drop what you want and add a small bit of code to each object for a fully functional program. People that only know how to program in Windows PL have the nerve to call themselves programmers, even though they do not understand many programming concepts. To sum it up in two words: Visual Basic.
Thanks for the clarification. The article simply adds to the respect I already have for Gore. I voted for him in 2000 and would vote for him if he had decided to run in 2004. Bush and most of his administration is the cause of way too many problems plaguing the US at the moment. But who said you didn't have to admire/respect someone to poke fun at them?
And of course I believe the internet can survive a nuclear war. Afterall, it IS just a bunch of people dialing into ISPs linked up with sattelites, right? See? Joking again...I know that all the backbones of the internet aren't in space, but instead are housed in underground armored bunkers in secret locations around the world.
Microsoft has announced that Windows will be slower and more bloated than before. Most of the new slowdown will be experienced when running java programs. When asked for comment, Bill Gates simply mumbled something about "stupid anti-trust laws."
Probably something along the lines of Rise of the Triad, except the only weapons besides the Hand of God would be a bible and a cross, each having several different forms of attack. For example, the crucifix could be used like a boomerang, a stabbing weapon, or be used to call down the wrath of god. The speed enhancement would be bicycles and the armor would be a black suit and tie. It be some kind of AD&D mod, instead of ROTT, though. That way there's less work involved in adding Pray and Bless spells.
Slashdot Mirror
Did they have to share because they...copied each other's work?
::rimshot::
Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all day folks. Try the linux; it's really secure today.*ahem*...according to the NDA I signed with them (I think I did anyway)...I am to say "No comment."
I got hired on doing tech support for (one of?) the largest software companies in the world. The only call center for this department of theirs is in Austin. If anyone knows who I'm talking about, say it, for I am fearful of their wrath. I'm not fond of getting LEGAL WARNINGS AT MY HOME ADDRESS FOR SOMETHING I DID ONLINE (HINT HINT).
The training was decent, when the instructor was able to speak over the people in the back of the class talking. Usually that was only when the people in the back of the class were sleeping. We were told to try and keep a 7-minute average call time, which was impossible because the databases to search for registered customers were slow as hell (especially since they ran off the software developed by the company we were supporting...HINT HINT). If a customer wasn't in the database, we had to add them, which was even slower. Then we had to search on the intranet's knowledge base (KB), which, by the way, was slow, until we found the problem. We were told specifically not to say anything that wasn't in the KB and that if we were smart, the only words coming out of our mouths would either be from a script from training or a script from the KB. This included denying knowledge of pending lawsuits against said company for fraud, much less denying knowledge of the Attorney General looking into unethical business practices, etc. Thankfully, I was fired on the third day because I opened up a DOS prompt to ping a user. Sure, I had to save a file called dos.bat onto the desktop that contained the line "cmd" in it to get to the prompt, but even so, I was never told that going to a DOS prompt was an offense punishable by termination.
I wasn't sad to go, though. So many calls were related to the previously mentioned class action suit against the company or the problem that inspired the lawsuit that I wanted to wash my hands each time I finished a call. The official policy was that if the user hadn't purchased an extended warranty (possibly needed 2-3 if they had purchased their product long enough in the past), then they would have to send in their product and pay a $100 repair fee because a faulty part in the product finally failed completely and, even though the company was aware that many products were shipped with said faulty products, they still charged the customers. They also did not recall the products or even acknowledge that there was any kind of specific problem. We were simply told to alert the user that they needed to send the machine in and our repair center would take care of the rest.
What if you're hosting a webserver on your pens and some jerk posts it to /.? Does it squirt ink all over you to let you know that it's died?
is hosted on a TI-86, but I'm sure as hell not going to post a link to it on here!
Never does the "Borg Gates" image seem so appropriate as when I read about Microsoft influencing international political bodies.
Lets face it, without viruses alot of the flaws in our operating systems would still be open today, then hackers would have free reign into your system without your knowledge.
If you research the subject a little, you'll notice a few things:
1) In the past, before the internet became popular, viruses did not abuse security flaws in the operating systems (unless you count not having a virus scanner to detect whatever current virus is spreading).
2) Since the internet has become popular, the number of 0-day (brand new) exploit viruses out there are almost zero (and I say "almost" because I don't know for sure, but I know the number is low).
3) You are referring to "worms" and not "viruses." The Morris Worm is the program that brought the internet crashing to its knees in its infancy. Once again, though, worms generally don't propogate through unknown vulnerabilities. They simply rely on the idea that people have not patched their systems. One could easily argue that the user is the security flaw, since there is a patch for the system, but the user is now the reason the vulnerability remains.
Your post makes it sound as if viruses are a necessary evil. They are not. They tend to be uninspiring annoyances, made for no other reason besides to make the writer feel powerful.
I've read some people saying that a malicious user could simply sniff the network and determine the key. I don't see this as a major problem, though. You could set each machine to have its own individual knock, requiring an attacker to also spoof a machine who's knock he's discovered. Again, this could be complicated by having some sort of function that defines legal knocks, but that generates so many that each knock can only be used once...a sort of one-time pad for the knocks. This would assume that you have a secure method of trading the knock lists (flashback to Mission: Impossible's "NOC-list"...heh). I'm sure there's some sort of encryption scheme you could setup based on the time that keeps a sniffed knock from being able to be used again, but that can also be dynamically generated by any machine attempting to connect to the server. I think this assumes a little bit about the topology of the network. I'm sure it could be tweaked for most setups, though.
I had the same problem all through middle school, high school, and a short time of college. I've been diagnosed with ADD, I'm not hyperactive, and I'm not fidgety. I simply have trouble focussing without a fire under my ass.
Smoking marijuana actually helps me focus on one thing. It all started when I was taking a Linear Algebra correspondence course and wasn't able to just make myself sit down and do the work. After smoking a little, it was easier for me to concentrate on the work. I would go back and scan it for errors sober, but any mistakes I made were the same ones I tend to make when I'm not under the influence.
As far as how much to use, that's a personal thing. Just a small amount makes it easier for me. Of course, don't do this at work...only when you're working at home.
Mad Hacker: "Pop quiz, hotshot! Hacker just started compiling and executing a killer virus on his machine! You can either save the internet or capture the bad guy. What do you do?"
Keanu Reeves: "Shoot the boxen."
Mad Hacker: "But it's got a bullet-proof cover over it with a keyboard entry system...and YOU DON'T KNOW THE PASSWORD"
Keanu Reeves: "I'm already in!"
Mad Hacker: "But how?!"
Keanu Reeves: "The three most commonly used passwords: love, secret, and sex...not necessarily in that order"
Mad Hacker: "But it's not any of those"
Keanu Reeves: "Don't forget about 'God'. System operators love using 'god'."
Ok...maybe I went a bit overboard with it...
Are you blood related to other known and hated demonspawns that plague this earth, such as Jack Valenti?
How does it feel to be despised more than Martha Stewart and that crazy president of CloneAid?
Do you have any plans for the future as far as furthering the movement to restrict American freedoms go? Should we expect you to be running for the Republican party in 2004?
Wouldn't it make "In God We Trust" much more meaningful and truthful??
How do you like my tux?
Overblown? The fact that you would need more than one email account to keep from having your time wasted by spam proves otherwise.
Linux PL - You can specify only the specific functions, objects, etc needed and thus makes programs very small and compact. Several "flavors" exist, only a few of those are taught in schools. However, the language is highly customizable...even to the point of completely changing what every built-in function does. This will result in several local dialects of Linux PL, some of which are only known to one person: the geek that made it.
Mac PL - Very easy drag and drop interface...and has lately actually just added a Mac PL GUI to a version of the Linux PL...so basically, see Linux PL.
Windows PL - Easy to use, save the random crashing of the compiler. Also, very slow. Some things, whether used in a program or not, have to be included to compile (one of these is a web browser). Essentially, just drag and drop what you want and add a small bit of code to each object for a fully functional program. People that only know how to program in Windows PL have the nerve to call themselves programmers, even though they do not understand many programming concepts. To sum it up in two words: Visual Basic.
Thanks for the clarification. The article simply adds to the respect I already have for Gore. I voted for him in 2000 and would vote for him if he had decided to run in 2004. Bush and most of his administration is the cause of way too many problems plaguing the US at the moment. But who said you didn't have to admire/respect someone to poke fun at them?
And of course I believe the internet can survive a nuclear war. Afterall, it IS just a bunch of people dialing into ISPs linked up with sattelites, right? See? Joking again...I know that all the backbones of the internet aren't in space, but instead are housed in underground armored bunkers in secret locations around the world.
Microsoft has announced that Windows will be slower and more bloated than before. Most of the new slowdown will be experienced when running java programs. When asked for comment, Bill Gates simply mumbled something about "stupid anti-trust laws."
Unless you happen to be Al Gore...in which case, YOU are the one responsible!
I can't believe I got a +1 Informative modding for paraphrasing the movie "Hackers"! Cmon mods...show me the funny!
Love, secret, and sex. And don't forget God. System operators love to use God. It's that whole male ego thing.
Until we figure out a way to make a distributed system of these so that my Bar-Monkey can use someone else's liquor, I'm not interested.
Do not attempt to use Bar-Monkey as webserver.
Did they honor the deal?
Doesn't matter. From what I understand, the code was hacked for a very specific compiler and assembler. Good luck!
Probably something along the lines of Rise of the Triad, except the only weapons besides the Hand of God would be a bible and a cross, each having several different forms of attack. For example, the crucifix could be used like a boomerang, a stabbing weapon, or be used to call down the wrath of god. The speed enhancement would be bicycles and the armor would be a black suit and tie. It be some kind of AD&D mod, instead of ROTT, though. That way there's less work involved in adding Pray and Bless spells.