Reading the comments on their blog I stumbled upon this:
I commend the actions of the two graduate students. For those of you here preaching, you might as well walk out and shoot the police officer who provides you with the security you need and desire. The problem is real and people need to be aware. I sit and read about student so sarcastically thanking these fellows for taking their identity, and aside from the sarcasm, everything they are saying is correct.
One contributor states "I'm so sure this 'lesson' is going to make me think real hard the next time I really want to click on a random, suspicious looking, link."
And he's completely correct. This sentence, spoken through the teeth of cynicism, simply sums up the success of this project. No injustice was committed and no wrongful actions have been taken.
For those of you seeking legal action, your minds have more than likely been made and no amount of rebuttal will likely change your course. But I ask that you step back and take all measures of fully informing yourselves before your begin your battle. Go, speak to these gentlemen in person. Learn their truest intentions face to face. Written words can easily become harsh when the reader draws out what they want rather than what was intended.
These men have taken drastic measures to exploit the faults of our system of knowledge. Great faults can only be overcome by even greater measures. If you take nothing from this experiment, understand that at the least, you can consider yourself informed.
I do not attend IU or live in the city of Bloomington. I bring an unbiased opinion.
I should learn to double-check a post before posting... (changes highlighted in bold)
You're missing the point. I don't want to get into a long debate about this, but there are distinct philosophical differences at work here. I'd first say that you ignore the fact that most people would rather be able to restrict access to their computers, whether its from family members or not. Secondly, Windows "simple file sharing mode" is not identical to OS X's public folder, seeing as the folder shared is My Documents, a folder commonly used by most people to store documents they don't necessarily want shared, and it doesn't have a drop box in it. And finally before I oblige your request, I'd like to say that the way OS X does it means that there's little reason to share specific folders. I challenge you to come up with an example where the public folder won't do, and giving them access privs also won't do.
However, if you want to share a specific folder you have to use a third-party app called SharePoints (available off versiontracker.com). This is an admittedly very user-unfriendly application, but hey, few people will have any use for it, unlike the situation with Windows, where usually the preferred method of file sharing is with access restrictions.
You're missing the point. I don't want to get into a long debate about this, but there are distinct philosophical differences at work here. I'd first say that you ignore the fact that most people would rather be able to restrict access to their computers, whether its from family members or not. Secondly, Windows "simple file sharing mode" is not identical to OS X's public folder, seeing as the folder shared is My Documents, a folder commonly used by most people to store documents they don't necessarily want shared, and it doesn't have a drop box in it. And finally before I oblige your request, I'd like to say that the way OS X does it means that there's little to share specific folders. I challenge you to come up with an example where the public folder won't do, and giving them access privs also won't do.
However, if you want to share a specific folder you have to use a third-party app called SharePoints (available off versiontracker.com). This is an admittedly very user-unfriendly application, but hey, most people will have any use for it, unlike the situation with Windows, where usually the preferred method of file sharing is with access restrictions.
Hey, was wondering if you could checkout a bug I submitted to apple regarding their JVM. Currently (at least in 10.3), Java apps can't go into fullscreen mode properly for resolutions higher than 800x600 on macs with CRT displays.
when you click "Add.." - makes sense right? - you can get a nice list) is just astroturfing.
Silly me, how could I not have seen that option there with Microsoft's great interface? Just in case there are any other silly dolts out there like me who miss such an obvious option, I'll outline the steps to do this:
Open up windows explorer, and open the Folder Options item under the Tools menu.
Click the View tab
Scroll down and uncheck the box that says "Use Simple File Sharing [Not Recommended!]" Don't let the warning fool you, it's perfectly safe I'm sure.
Click OK and right-click a desired folder to share and click Properties.
Go into the sharing tab and click Permissions.
Remove "Everyone" and click Add...
Click Advanced...
Click "Object Types" and select what you want to add (Users, Groups, etc).
Click "Find Now".
Select from the list the desired user you want to allow access to the share and click OK.
Repeat Steps 7 to 10 to add any additional Users or Groups.
Click OK in all windows.
Step 13? There is no step 13! Congratulations! You just shared a single folder securely using Microsoft Windows!
Hear that? That's the sound of you completely missing the point. The point is that Window's default "Simplified File Sharing" is completely insecure, allowing everyone access to your files. Most people don't want everyone on the network to have access to their files, and so I outlined the steps necessary that one must take to bring Windows to the same "level" of file sharing as OS X, which is secure by default.
2. Microsoft tries to automatically do complicated things for the user.
Actually, Microsoft doesn't even do this. As an example, we can compare network sharing between the two operating systems:
Mac OS X:
To turn on sharing, open up System Preferences > Sharing > Turn On File Sharing. Done. If anyone connects to the shared computer, they have to either login with the user name and pass, or access it as a Guest. Guest's only have access to each user's Public folder (which also has a dropbox inside).
Windows:
Right-click a folder > Sharing Tab > Share this folder. Now by default anyone can access this folder. To moderate access you have to open up Windows Explorer > Tools Menu > Folder Options > *View* (wtf??) > scroll down and check a box that says something along the lines of:
Show advanced sharing options (NOT RECOMMENDED!)
Then you've got to go back and right click the shared folder, go the sharing tab, and configure the new confusing options. The options make you manually type in the name of the users (or groups) that are allowed to have access to the folder. Finally, you're done setting up sharing on Windows.
Though admittedly this is a shameless plug (please forgive), I've created a website for just this purpose. BlackListedISP.com is where you can go to see which ISPs are compromising your privacy without a fight. Currently you can just submit ISPs, but soon I'll have a page up with a full list.
I DO own several Macs. I have linux installed on all of them. I am an outspoken Apple critic. I have sold, configured and repaired HUNDREDS of Apple machines over the years. Because of my experiences with Apple, I haven't bought any new Apple hardware in almost 8 years and have no plans to in the future.
wtf. So according to this, you own 8 year old macs (meaning you own the shit that's back in the days of the PowerMac 8600), and you have LINUX installed on them. This tells me you've probably had very little experience with modern macs, which are about as different from yours as my asshole is; and you're an outspoken critic of them? Could you at least cite some reasons for us?
ditto is a command on OS X and some BSD systems that's used to copy files. On OS X it has the flag -rsrc that ensures it copies the resource forks of various documents and applications. Currently on 10.3, 'cp' will ignore the resource forks, breaking some applications that use them.
ooo wow. A pain in the ass. But tell me this: Was anybody's life ruined? I think a year and a half in prison is more than enough punishment for a few hours or days of unpleasantness. But I guess that's where we disagree.
Damn right. If I'd been infected by his worm it would cost me time cleaning my system, verifying the integrity of my data, and so on. Time I could have spent making money or enjoying myself. Giving a free pass to someone who willfully takes action to damage my property does not sit well with me.
Oh please, you are so full of it. Do you even know what the blaster worm does? The only thing it does is create a DOS against windowsupdate.com. Oh no! This guy needs to be flogged with a very pointy stick, and while we're at it, why don't we just ruin his life for it. You simply just have trouble understaning the situation, and putting yourself in his shoes. No one's giving him a "free pass", and he didn't "damage [your] property". 18 months in prison is more than enough punishment for such a prank. If you think ruining his life for it is an "OK" thing to do, then you've got your head up your ass.
Ok, so after this kid has spend over a year in prison, you're going to ask him to pay you $25 that don't mean shit to you. Then, a bunch of other insensitive clods will also ask for their $25 that they don't need, and very soon thereafter you'll find him hanging himself from a rope because the only greeting he finds after spending 18 months in pound-me-in-the-ass prison is a $200,000 debt.
Bill Nye, coupled with The Magic School Bus, set me up with enough knowledge as a child that I was set in all my science classes up to the 9th grade. When I have kids I'll be sure to buy both series for them;-)
Sorry to rip off a bash quote, but this has to be said:
<xterm> The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?
we have determined that the only difference between Sun's Solaris OS and Microsoft's Windows OS, is the executive decision to refer to the computer as "This Computer".
Slashdot Mirror
*ahem* For those not aware Disk Utility is a free hard disk utility that comes with every mac, and every OS X installation.
when the above post gets +5 insightful on slashdot!
...pssst... hint: it was a joke!
Anyone else read this as, "Firefox nears 50 Million Dollars"?
I should learn to double-check a post before posting... (changes highlighted in bold)
You're missing the point. I don't want to get into a long debate about this, but there are distinct philosophical differences at work here. I'd first say that you ignore the fact that most people would rather be able to restrict access to their computers, whether its from family members or not. Secondly, Windows "simple file sharing mode" is not identical to OS X's public folder, seeing as the folder shared is My Documents, a folder commonly used by most people to store documents they don't necessarily want shared, and it doesn't have a drop box in it. And finally before I oblige your request, I'd like to say that the way OS X does it means that there's little reason to share specific folders. I challenge you to come up with an example where the public folder won't do, and giving them access privs also won't do. However, if you want to share a specific folder you have to use a third-party app called SharePoints (available off versiontracker.com). This is an admittedly very user-unfriendly application, but hey, few people will have any use for it, unlike the situation with Windows, where usually the preferred method of file sharing is with access restrictions.
You're missing the point. I don't want to get into a long debate about this, but there are distinct philosophical differences at work here. I'd first say that you ignore the fact that most people would rather be able to restrict access to their computers, whether its from family members or not. Secondly, Windows "simple file sharing mode" is not identical to OS X's public folder, seeing as the folder shared is My Documents, a folder commonly used by most people to store documents they don't necessarily want shared, and it doesn't have a drop box in it. And finally before I oblige your request, I'd like to say that the way OS X does it means that there's little to share specific folders. I challenge you to come up with an example where the public folder won't do, and giving them access privs also won't do.
However, if you want to share a specific folder you have to use a third-party app called SharePoints (available off versiontracker.com). This is an admittedly very user-unfriendly application, but hey, most people will have any use for it, unlike the situation with Windows, where usually the preferred method of file sharing is with access restrictions.
Hey, was wondering if you could checkout a bug I submitted to apple regarding their JVM. Currently (at least in 10.3), Java apps can't go into fullscreen mode properly for resolutions higher than 800x600 on macs with CRT displays.
What's not fair about them?
- Open up windows explorer, and open the Folder Options item under the Tools menu.
- Click the View tab
- Scroll down and uncheck the box that says "Use Simple File Sharing [Not Recommended!]" Don't let the warning fool you, it's perfectly safe I'm sure.
- Click OK and right-click a desired folder to share and click Properties.
- Go into the sharing tab and click Permissions.
- Remove "Everyone" and click Add...
- Click Advanced...
- Click "Object Types" and select what you want to add (Users, Groups, etc).
- Click "Find Now".
- Select from the list the desired user you want to allow access to the share and click OK.
- Repeat Steps 7 to 10 to add any additional Users or Groups.
- Click OK in all windows.
- Step 13? There is no step 13! Congratulations! You just shared a single folder securely using Microsoft Windows!
I don't know how I missed that!*whoosh*
Hear that? That's the sound of you completely missing the point. The point is that Window's default "Simplified File Sharing" is completely insecure, allowing everyone access to your files. Most people don't want everyone on the network to have access to their files, and so I outlined the steps necessary that one must take to bring Windows to the same "level" of file sharing as OS X, which is secure by default.
Mac OS X:
To turn on sharing, open up System Preferences > Sharing > Turn On File Sharing. Done. If anyone connects to the shared computer, they have to either login with the user name and pass, or access it as a Guest. Guest's only have access to each user's Public folder (which also has a dropbox inside).
Windows:
Right-click a folder > Sharing Tab > Share this folder. Now by default anyone can access this folder. To moderate access you have to open up Windows Explorer > Tools Menu > Folder Options > *View* (wtf??) > scroll down and check a box that says something along the lines of: Then you've got to go back and right click the shared folder, go the sharing tab, and configure the new confusing options. The options make you manually type in the name of the users (or groups) that are allowed to have access to the folder. Finally, you're done setting up sharing on Windows.
Though admittedly this is a shameless plug (please forgive), I've created a website for just this purpose. BlackListedISP.com is where you can go to see which ISPs are compromising your privacy without a fight. Currently you can just submit ISPs, but soon I'll have a page up with a full list.
ditto is a command on OS X and some BSD systems that's used to copy files. On OS X it has the flag -rsrc that ensures it copies the resource forks of various documents and applications. Currently on 10.3, 'cp' will ignore the resource forks, breaking some applications that use them.
ooo wow. A pain in the ass. But tell me this: Was anybody's life ruined? I think a year and a half in prison is more than enough punishment for a few hours or days of unpleasantness. But I guess that's where we disagree.
Damn right. If I'd been infected by his worm it would cost me time cleaning my system, verifying the integrity of my data, and so on. Time I could have spent making money or enjoying myself. Giving a free pass to someone who willfully takes action to damage my property does not sit well with me. Oh please, you are so full of it. Do you even know what the blaster worm does? The only thing it does is create a DOS against windowsupdate.com. Oh no! This guy needs to be flogged with a very pointy stick, and while we're at it, why don't we just ruin his life for it. You simply just have trouble understaning the situation, and putting yourself in his shoes. No one's giving him a "free pass", and he didn't "damage [your] property". 18 months in prison is more than enough punishment for such a prank. If you think ruining his life for it is an "OK" thing to do, then you've got your head up your ass.
Ok, so after this kid has spend over a year in prison, you're going to ask him to pay you $25 that don't mean shit to you. Then, a bunch of other insensitive clods will also ask for their $25 that they don't need, and very soon thereafter you'll find him hanging himself from a rope because the only greeting he finds after spending 18 months in pound-me-in-the-ass prison is a $200,000 debt.
If you had a box that caught blaster there is nothing preventing you from taking this kid to civil court for damages.
Other than any sense of empathy for the kid.
IceWM is where it's at. It's lightweight, fast, and has more essential features that blackbox is missing.
Bill Nye, coupled with The Magic School Bus, set me up with enough knowledge as a child that I was set in all my science classes up to the 9th grade. When I have kids I'll be sure to buy both series for them ;-)
Uh... F9 is mapped by default to Expose. Change your expose prefs and then it won't do it.
we have determined that the only difference between Sun's Solaris OS and Microsoft's Windows OS, is the executive decision to refer to the computer as "This Computer".
Against the MS behemoth supporting HDDVD? Why exactly?
Gee... maybe because a large portion of Hollywood and creative professionals that make the movies you watch use Macs?
Mmmm... You can do that on a Mac as well.