Umm, there was. Of course, he was also accused of being a spy... and possession of marijuana is illegal in the US too, but still... there were a lot of demands made, yes.
Did you see the CNN report of his return, which apart from mentioning how the "Russian authorities accused Tobin of training to be a spy" didn't mention his military and intelligence training. I thought it all rather hypercritical: "It's great to be back in a country where basic human rights are respected and the due process of law is also a respected institution".
Nobody seemed interested in explaining just why someone who has had US Intelligence Russian language and interragation training happened to coincidentally win a scholarship to Russia. IMHO this guy either really was spying or training to be a spy, or was really stupid to think that he could visit Russia without them finding out about his background.
And CNN doesn't make mention of the facts of the case. Makes you wonder who bought them, eh?
Wednesday, 25 July 2001 - 14:48
Conectiva launches version 7.0 in Portuguese.
The product substitutes version 6.0 launched at the end of 2000, and will be presented in two editions: Conectiva Linux 7.0 and Conectiva Linux 7.0 Professional Server.
São Paulo, July 2001 - The new version of the open source operation system that is most used in all of the world, will be available starting at the next Fernsaoft (São Paulo computer show), which will be from the 30th of July to the 4th of August. The product substitutes version 6.0, launched at the end of 2000, and will be presented in two editions: Conectiva Linux 7.0 and Conectiva Linux 7.0 Professional Server.
The biggest new features of this version are the tools to facilitate the use of the RPM automatic upgrade utility, called APT. Thanks to resources which are exclusive to Conectiva, it is possible for each user to install only the packages which are suitable for them.
Another modification which Conectiva prepared for CL 7.0 was the extinction of the boot (startup) disks, seeings that practically all modern machines are able to accomplish this process directly from the CD-ROM. But, if necessary, the user can create their own boot disk with the utilities and images on the five CDs which are part of the product. They also bring a program to help in the creation of the diskette and facilitate the installation in machines with the Windows operating system.
According to the company's new strategy, which intends to show that Linux is now profession and has won a large part of the market, the design of the boxes has also changed. CL version 7.0 has a more simple appearance than the earlier versions, and maintains the predominance of the colour blue, whereas the Professional Server version also follows this 'clean' look, with an emphasis on the colour white.
Among the advantages of the new version, it is worth also mentioning the support and documentation, which is even more complete, and directed towards the user. Conectiva Linux version 7.0 documentation is composed of the "User's Guide" and "Quick Installation Guide", whereas the Professional Server version has the "Quick Installation Guide", the "Conectiva Linux Server Guide" and the new book "Understanding Conectiva Linux", which presents information about the operating system through pratical examples. In addition to the manuals, the package is composed of five CDs, one for installation (operating system and applications), one of extra applications, two with the source code of the first two CDs and one containing StarOffice for Linux in various languages.
To provide support, the user will have coupons in the packet which give the right to two hours of telephone support and three months via email. If the validity of the supports expires, Conectiva also offers extended support, in both versions, so that the user can adquire more time to resolve their questions.
Technical Characteristics
In this version, the automatic upgrade tool for RPM packages, the APT, has a system which is much more stable and better integrated with tools such as Synaptic. This, in turn, is a graphical interface created to simplify the remote installation and upgrading of programs through APT, without needing to resort to the command line. "To meet these objectives, various packages were rebuilt, being subdivided into smaller packages, for the purpose of economizing disk space and making them more flexible", explains Alfredo Kojima, creator of Synaptic and the WindowMaker graphical interface, and a member of the Conective development team.
In Conectiva Linux 7.0 it is worth mentioning as well the inclusion of the Kernel 2.4, which signficiantly improves the performance of the version, principally on servers which run large applications and multiprocessing systems. This performance also helps a lot in the utilitization of Linux in the corporate environment. In addition to the Kernel 2.4, you can also choose the 2.2.19 Kernel.
XFree86, a Linux graphical interface server, is now in edition 4.03, which has new drivers for SiS and S3 cards, both very popular in Brazil. This upgrade resolves stability and performance problems which previously existed. In addition, it has 3D image support and anti-aliasing, a resource which smooths-out fonts on the screen for easier reading.
The standard graphical interface for Conectiva Linux 7.0 is KDE 2.12, which now has various upgrades and improvements in terms of security. KDE has integrated a series of applications, such as the e-mail reader KMail, the dialer KPPP, the browser and file manager Konqueror and the office suite KOffice, as well as other small tools.
As always, another advantage of the Linux operating system, which is repeated in this new version, is the better utilization of the hardware, make available constant investments in upgrades. In Conectiva Linux 7.0 there are four installation profiles available: minimum, standard, complete and personalised, each with a package of pre-determined applications. The standard installation occupies an average of only 510 MB, which is little when compared to other Open Source distributions. Also it is worth saying that the whole installation process has interactive help available.
Conectiva Linux 7.0 will be available for sale at the Fenasoft (computer show), at suggested prices of R$ 88,00 (around US $36) (Conectiva Linux 7.0) and R$ 225,00 (around US $105) (Conectiva Linux 7.0 - Professional Server).
That's the one thing I've been wishing somebody would say here on/. - doesn't someone have contact with Dmitry? Why doesnt someone ask him all those questions we've been theorizing over: what he thinks about it all, whether he wants to stay and fight this out (without asking if he plans to skip bail, of course!), his point of view on all of this.
In his analysis, Cooper said the only way victims can reclaim a compromised system is to reformat it, essentially wiping it clean. That's because there's no way to tell if a vulnerable computer has been implanted with other back doors.
He forgot the phrase and install a more secure operating system right after the bit about reformating the infected system.
Think about, folks - I'm no script kiddie, but using information posted on/. under this article, I grabbed the URL of an infected system and using my Internet Explorer (on Win95 no less) was able to do a DIR C:\ on aforementioned system (following the instructions in a posting here on/.).
Surely that means that Slashdot is contributing to the problem by making all the necessary information available where any script kiddie can find it.
Now that we've made that information available, surely we have a responsibilty to at the least remotely shut down the systems so that they aren't at further risk until the owners see them tomorrow morning?
Now of course, that may be still considered 'hacking' so is there a suitable government or non-government organization which could legally do this?
My Brazilian ISP has been filtering out SirCam infected messages since the 19th(as far as I can tell from their somewhat vague announcement). Any rate, I haven't received one infected message yet.
I run a small non-profit project for at-risk kids in a slum area in Rio de Janeiro state. We have a small Novell 3.11 network (legally licensed, even though the server does think we're in 1901) and running on a variety of ancient, often rebuilt hardware, ranging from 386-SX-16s to a 486-DX-120. The reason for such low-end hardware is very simple: money (or rather the lack of it).
I have been unable to find a Linux version with a GUI that runs on such low end boxes. Windows 3.1 runs on some, I have OS/2 2.1 on a 386 and Windows 98 on the 486-DX. I'm also using FreeGEM and homewritten VB/DOS software on most machines.
Does anybody know of a low-end Linux distribution (that will ideally install without needing a CD drive) with some sort of GUI and some useful application software that could be used for teaching purposes on such ancient hardware?
Maybe Linux couldn't be installed on some of the existing hardware in some Mexican schools for the reasons?
It seems that Brazilians have fairly recently deluded themselves into thinking that SPAMming is some sort sort of credible mass-marketing technique.
In the last couple of months, the amount of SPAM in my in-box seems to have increased by an order of magnitude. The interesting part is that Im Pretty Darn Sure (tm) that my bleeding ISP sold my address to the Spam CD makers, as I only use an alias and not my ISPs domain, and yet most SPAM arrives at both addresses.
The Dumbest of All Spammers has to be the citizen the recently sent me six copies of his Curriculum Vitae, claiming to be Support Analyst and looking for work! I tried to point out his stupidity, but his ISP account had already been blocked by the time my message got to him.
Im not normally in favour of the death penalty, but am prepared to make an exception in the case of spammers...
Slashdot Mirror
Umm, there was. Of course, he was also accused of being a spy... and possession of marijuana is illegal in the US too, but still... there were a lot of demands made, yes.
Did you see the CNN report of his return, which apart from mentioning how the "Russian authorities accused Tobin of training to be a spy" didn't mention his military and intelligence training. I thought it all rather hypercritical: "It's great to be back in a country where basic human rights are respected and the due process of law is also a respected institution".
Nobody seemed interested in explaining just why someone who has had US Intelligence Russian language and interragation training happened to coincidentally win a scholarship to Russia. IMHO this guy either really was spying or training to be a spy, or was really stupid to think that he could visit Russia without them finding out about his background.
And CNN doesn't make mention of the facts of the case. Makes you wonder who bought them, eh?
The product substitutes version 6.0 launched at the end of 2000, and will be presented in two editions: Conectiva Linux 7.0 and Conectiva Linux 7.0 Professional Server.
São Paulo, July 2001 - The new version of the open source operation system that is most used in all of the world, will be available starting at the next Fernsaoft (São Paulo computer show), which will be from the 30th of July to the 4th of August. The product substitutes version 6.0, launched at the end of 2000, and will be presented in two editions: Conectiva Linux 7.0 and Conectiva Linux 7.0 Professional Server.
The biggest new features of this version are the tools to facilitate the use of the RPM automatic upgrade utility, called APT. Thanks to resources which are exclusive to Conectiva, it is possible for each user to install only the packages which are suitable for them.
Another modification which Conectiva prepared for CL 7.0 was the extinction of the boot (startup) disks, seeings that practically all modern machines are able to accomplish this process directly from the CD-ROM. But, if necessary, the user can create their own boot disk with the utilities and images on the five CDs which are part of the product. They also bring a program to help in the creation of the diskette and facilitate the installation in machines with the Windows operating system.
According to the company's new strategy, which intends to show that Linux is now profession and has won a large part of the market, the design of the boxes has also changed. CL version 7.0 has a more simple appearance than the earlier versions, and maintains the predominance of the colour blue, whereas the Professional Server version also follows this 'clean' look, with an emphasis on the colour white.
Among the advantages of the new version, it is worth also mentioning the support and documentation, which is even more complete, and directed towards the user. Conectiva Linux version 7.0 documentation is composed of the "User's Guide" and "Quick Installation Guide", whereas the Professional Server version has the "Quick Installation Guide", the "Conectiva Linux Server Guide" and the new book "Understanding Conectiva Linux", which presents information about the operating system through pratical examples. In addition to the manuals, the package is composed of five CDs, one for installation (operating system and applications), one of extra applications, two with the source code of the first two CDs and one containing StarOffice for Linux in various languages.
To provide support, the user will have coupons in the packet which give the right to two hours of telephone support and three months via email. If the validity of the supports expires, Conectiva also offers extended support, in both versions, so that the user can adquire more time to resolve their questions.
Technical Characteristics
In this version, the automatic upgrade tool for RPM packages, the APT, has a system which is much more stable and better integrated with tools such as Synaptic. This, in turn, is a graphical interface created to simplify the remote installation and upgrading of programs through APT, without needing to resort to the command line. "To meet these objectives, various packages were rebuilt, being subdivided into smaller packages, for the purpose of economizing disk space and making them more flexible", explains Alfredo Kojima, creator of Synaptic and the WindowMaker graphical interface, and a member of the Conective development team.
In Conectiva Linux 7.0 it is worth mentioning as well the inclusion of the Kernel 2.4, which signficiantly improves the performance of the version, principally on servers which run large applications and multiprocessing systems. This performance also helps a lot in the utilitization of Linux in the corporate environment. In addition to the Kernel 2.4, you can also choose the 2.2.19 Kernel.
XFree86, a Linux graphical interface server, is now in edition 4.03, which has new drivers for SiS and S3 cards, both very popular in Brazil. This upgrade resolves stability and performance problems which previously existed. In addition, it has 3D image support and anti-aliasing, a resource which smooths-out fonts on the screen for easier reading.
The standard graphical interface for Conectiva Linux 7.0 is KDE 2.12, which now has various upgrades and improvements in terms of security. KDE has integrated a series of applications, such as the e-mail reader KMail, the dialer KPPP, the browser and file manager Konqueror and the office suite KOffice, as well as other small tools.
As always, another advantage of the Linux operating system, which is repeated in this new version, is the better utilization of the hardware, make available constant investments in upgrades. In Conectiva Linux 7.0 there are four installation profiles available: minimum, standard, complete and personalised, each with a package of pre-determined applications. The standard installation occupies an average of only 510 MB, which is little when compared to other Open Source distributions. Also it is worth saying that the whole installation process has interactive help available.
Conectiva Linux 7.0 will be available for sale at the Fenasoft (computer show), at suggested prices of R$ 88,00 (around US $36) (Conectiva Linux 7.0) and R$ 225,00 (around US $105) (Conectiva Linux 7.0 - Professional Server).
...please read this to the very end, and give this dude a 5.
That's the one thing I've been wishing somebody would say here on /. - doesn't someone have contact with Dmitry? Why doesnt someone ask him all those questions we've been theorizing over: what he thinks about it all, whether he wants to stay and fight this out (without asking if he plans to skip bail, of course!), his point of view on all of this.
How about the next /. interview being with Dmitry?
REFORMATTING ONLY CURE
In his analysis, Cooper said the only way victims can reclaim a compromised system is to reformat it, essentially wiping it clean. That's because there's no way to tell if a vulnerable computer has been implanted with other back doors.
He forgot the phrase and install a more secure operating system right after the bit about reformating the infected system.
...to shut down these systems now?
Think about, folks - I'm no script kiddie, but using information posted on /. under this article, I grabbed the URL of an infected system and using my Internet Explorer (on Win95 no less) was able to do a DIR C:\ on aforementioned system (following the instructions in a posting here on /.).
Surely that means that Slashdot is contributing to the problem by making all the necessary information available where any script kiddie can find it.
Now that we've made that information available, surely we have a responsibilty to at the least remotely shut down the systems so that they aren't at further risk until the owners see them tomorrow morning?
Now of course, that may be still considered 'hacking' so is there a suitable government or non-government organization which could legally do this?
My Brazilian ISP has been filtering out SirCam infected messages since the 19th(as far as I can tell from their somewhat vague announcement). Any rate, I haven't received one infected message yet.
I run a small non-profit project for at-risk kids in a slum area in Rio de Janeiro state. We have a small Novell 3.11 network (legally licensed, even though the server does think we're in 1901) and running on a variety of ancient, often rebuilt hardware, ranging from 386-SX-16s to a 486-DX-120. The reason for such low-end hardware is very simple: money (or rather the lack of it).
I have been unable to find a Linux version with a GUI that runs on such low end boxes. Windows 3.1 runs on some, I have OS/2 2.1 on a 386 and Windows 98 on the 486-DX. I'm also using FreeGEM and homewritten VB/DOS software on most machines.
Does anybody know of a low-end Linux distribution (that will ideally install without needing a CD drive) with some sort of GUI and some useful application software that could be used for teaching purposes on such ancient hardware?
Maybe Linux couldn't be installed on some of the existing hardware in some Mexican schools for the reasons?
Comments anyone?
It seems that Brazilians have fairly recently deluded themselves into thinking that SPAMming is some sort sort of credible mass-marketing technique.
In the last couple of months, the amount of SPAM in my in-box seems to have increased by an order of magnitude. The interesting part is that Im Pretty Darn Sure (tm) that my bleeding ISP sold my address to the Spam CD makers, as I only use an alias and not my ISPs domain, and yet most SPAM arrives at both addresses.
The Dumbest of All Spammers has to be the citizen the recently sent me six copies of his Curriculum Vitae, claiming to be Support Analyst and looking for work! I tried to point out his stupidity, but his ISP account had already been blocked by the time my message got to him.
Im not normally in favour of the death penalty, but am prepared to make an exception in the case of spammers...