"The technology behind Zephyr could be used as a communications platform for mobile phones in remote areas, or disaster zones, or even by the military for surveillance."
Zephyr is the little glider/solar powered plane (which is it, BTW?) that will take pictures of the balloon.
Strike one. Got any other ideas how a balloon is useful?
This is flamebait? This is pretty much what it would take to get an email worm to propagate on Linux. And it still couldn't do any system-level damage.
Email viruses are Windows specific for two reasons.
1: Windows does a piss poor job of providing isolation for non-admin user accounts. In practical terms, you're forced to run your desktop as an admin because it's too hard to switch to an admin account to do mudane things like install printers, and some software will just not run right in a restricted account.
2: MS likes to provide all sorts of neat 'features' in their apps, like scriptability and 'run the attachment' stuff.
Put those two together, along with a few bugs (which ALL systems have) and a gullible user base, and you have a great virus propagation system at your disposal.
Linux (or any system with true multi-user support) is not very vulnerable to email viruses because programs run fine in 'mere mortal' accounts, so that even if a virus does get executed, it can't do ONE BIT of system-level damage. It CAN destroy the user's data, but the system continues to boot and run and other users are unaffected.
Service exploits are a completely different animal. They rely on bugs in the service software. ALL systems have bugs. As a programmer, it's annoying to keep hearing about the infamous 'buffer overflow', but they exist all over the place in all sorts of software. Until server software is either written in languages that provide better buffer support (I.E. not C), or programmers stop writing crap network code, the problem will continue.
Somebody mod this crap DOWN. Web defacements are due to the same thing on both systems: buggy web servers and failure to patch. Period. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the underlying systems.
"Amusingly, Darl McBride started his rant about copyright infringement by copying some footage from a James Bond movie."
Actually, Darl had a dream about some footage just like that, back in 1962. Therefore, the entire Bond series is one big derivitive work based on that one dream, which makes SCO the rightful owner of all Bond IP.
As soon as this Linux thing blows over, they'll be charging anyone who ever watched any Bond movies $500 to be in compliance. Next year, the price goes up to $1500 per viewing, per retina.
And tomorrow, I'm going to load up on SCO stock so I'll be ready for the phat profits!
I think wardriving is a stupid term. The first time I heard it, I pictured a bunch of college kids in hopped up rice burners (with the performance enhancing belly lights, of course - think "Fast and Furious") tearing down I-5 trying to run each other off the road. So, wireless wardriving... huh? You mean they used to use some sort of wire to run each other off the road, but they became obsolete? I'm confused!
And what do you call it of you hop from cafe to cafe on foot with a laptop trying to connect to wireless access points? Wireless wardining?
Hey, if GW talks to Rumsfield on his cell phone, is he wireless warmongering?
Too many bright young slashdotters are making light of this dark situation. I have but a glimmer of hope that the truth will come shining through and enlighten us all!
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, but you DID get an anti-climax from reading slashdot. All I got was icey disappointment.
Earth shattering, isn't it? The scientific community has been rocked by this far out and chilling news.
No no, it's where they're headed.
Strike one. Got any other ideas how a balloon is useful?
Excellent!
</MontyBurnsVoice>
But then SCO would end up owning Sears or something, wouldn't they?
Well, it isn't like it's gonna get any weaker...
This is flamebait? This is pretty much what it would take to get an email worm to propagate on Linux. And it still couldn't do any system-level damage.
Email viruses are Windows specific for two reasons.
1: Windows does a piss poor job of providing isolation for non-admin user accounts. In practical terms, you're forced to run your desktop as an admin because it's too hard to switch to an admin account to do mudane things like install printers, and some software will just not run right in a restricted account.
2: MS likes to provide all sorts of neat 'features' in their apps, like scriptability and 'run the attachment' stuff.
Put those two together, along with a few bugs (which ALL systems have) and a gullible user base, and you have a great virus propagation system at your disposal.
Linux (or any system with true multi-user support) is not very vulnerable to email viruses because programs run fine in 'mere mortal' accounts, so that even if a virus does get executed, it can't do ONE BIT of system-level damage. It CAN destroy the user's data, but the system continues to boot and run and other users are unaffected.
Service exploits are a completely different animal. They rely on bugs in the service software. ALL systems have bugs. As a programmer, it's annoying to keep hearing about the infamous 'buffer overflow', but they exist all over the place in all sorts of software. Until server software is either written in languages that provide better buffer support (I.E. not C), or programmers stop writing crap network code, the problem will continue.
Somebody mod this crap DOWN. Web defacements are due to the same thing on both systems: buggy web servers and failure to patch. Period. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the underlying systems.
>> I thought everyone knew that.
Good point... this IS slashdot afterall...
>> will she recognize 8 / 0?
:-)
See, I think to that she should say "divide by zero? fuck you." I can wish
Actually, Darl had a dream about some footage just like that, back in 1962. Therefore, the entire Bond series is one big derivitive work based on that one dream, which makes SCO the rightful owner of all Bond IP.
As soon as this Linux thing blows over, they'll be charging anyone who ever watched any Bond movies $500 to be in compliance. Next year, the price goes up to $1500 per viewing, per retina.
And tomorrow, I'm going to load up on SCO stock so I'll be ready for the phat profits!
>> 10. If it's useless, it's yours!
11. If you make it useful, it automatically becomes mine, along with anything else you have.
The whole machine locked solid when the RAID unit died? That's not terribly useful, either...
> If I had power I could First Post.
And if I had the power power of moderation, I could mod you down for it!
I think, therefore I stink!
> The discussion on spin is wrong.
So then what you're saying is, the article is all spin?
Kirk: I don't need any resistance from you, Mr. Scott!
Scotty: We haven't go the power capt'n, the electrons are spinning out of control!!!
Hey, I'm here, and I've got like, at least 19 brain cells!
Ah! So, Rumsfield and GW could be called Dubya Ass Reconaissance. Unfortunate choice indeed.
Yeah, gee, and much funnier than the crack about throwing the 18 volt drill away, too...
What the hell would he need the battery for? He's not some sort of beginner!
I think wardriving is a stupid term. The first time I heard it, I pictured a bunch of college kids in hopped up rice burners (with the performance enhancing belly lights, of course - think "Fast and Furious") tearing down I-5 trying to run each other off the road. So, wireless wardriving... huh? You mean they used to use some sort of wire to run each other off the road, but they became obsolete? I'm confused!
And what do you call it of you hop from cafe to cafe on foot with a laptop trying to connect to wireless access points? Wireless wardining?
Hey, if GW talks to Rumsfield on his cell phone, is he wireless warmongering?
I would say that anyone who thinks they understand sendmail configuration is totally in the dark.
Too many bright young slashdotters are making light of this dark situation. I have but a glimmer of hope that the truth will come shining through and enlighten us all!