My question: is Gentoo really that much (or any) faster than other linux distributions? Or is it more along the lines of "Look at me! I built this whole system from source, including the bootloader!"
It seems like unless its at least 10% faster than FreeBSD or RedHat or whatever else, why bother with the extra time investment? If you're to the point where an extra 3-5% speed will really help (eg: a business setting), why not build another machine and load balance? I'm not saying speed isn't nice, I'm just saying I dont understand the excitement.
Gentoo is a decent OS; I dont see anything wrong with it. I just dont see the excitement when it comes to compiling everything optimized for an extra 2% speed, taking 10x as long to get the job done, and possibly having to worry about optimized compiler bugs in the process.
Maybe I'm just not seeing the cause of excitement.
Plain and simple, I think spyware is one of the nasty parts of computing/the internet that should be illegal and carry heavy fines (which is how I feel about spam as well).
Since it's unlikely that governments will take time out of their busy lives trading and selling each other's votes on porkbarrel bills, I'd hope that they'd at least set some guiderules for it..
- The EULA should be required to be understandable by a user with a 6th grade reading comprehension level. No legalese.
- In the EULA, they must specify
a) Exactly what data is collected and how,
b) which domains/companies this data is sent to,
c) Anyone they share collected data with
d) Which servers/domains the spyware opens connections to.
e) A valid physical address of the company, to file claims or complaints.
- Spyware should not be allowed to change the user's homepage.
- Spyware should NOT be allowed to be bundled with another program, in such a way that installing the software automatically installs the spyware without giving the user an option.
- By default, spyware should be "unselected" during install if bundled with another application.
- Spyware companies should be required to be bonded, and should be required to have enough cash on hand/on deposit to pay for any violations of the rules
- There should be a HUGE fine if removing the spyware destroys any part of network connectivity. There have been SO MANY times that removing spyware on a client's machine has completely destroyed IE's ability to browse, or destroyed the TCP/IP stack itself. I can't tell you how many times TCPFix has saved the day..
Anyway, for those of you who've had AdAware partially remove spyware (and thus bork the machine), or for those spyware programs that do a great job of destroying networking while they uninstall themselves, the following utilities are extremely useful.
TCP Fix: Win9x or if the TCP fix doesn't solve it, sometime's it's a LSP issue: LSP Fix. One of those two has never failed to restore a broken network connection after cleaning up spyware. It's useful to have them in your tech toolkit cd... -J
Their server is slow as all hell right now (big suprise), so here's the text of the article:
Let me start by saying that I'm not a technical expert. Although this might be a handicap it could very well be a positive in looking at the issue of Sun versus Linux in the server business from a decision maker's point of view.
Until today, the discussion around Linux pushed by Red Hat and recently by Novell after it took over Suse has been around the risks and opportunitites of the open source model versus the costs and slow adaptation of the proprietary model.
Opponents of open source software always argued that due to its nature there is a risk that version control, compatibility, future development and support is not guaranteed and could leave companies who use it at some point with a free but outdated system that is difficult to maintain.
Companies like Red Hat and Novell and on occasion other big players have tried to take away these arguments by committing to the open source model and vowed to make it work. Despite their efforts and some success, there still is a lot of skepticism within corporate IT departments and as a result Linux is not taking the market by storm.
With the decision by Sun to give away their latest version of their software, Solaris 10 for free all of these concerns have evaporated in one blow in favor of the now open source and compatible Solaris 10 supported by Sun.
Looking at the advantage of going the Sun route versus the Linux route it is hard to see why any IT executive would chose to switch to Linux.
- The Solaris software is of proven quality and at least equal or better then Linux and the open source model will assure that it stays up there.
- By making it work with competing hardware platforms, there is no reason anymore to switch software to facilitate lower hardware costs.
- Sun with Solaris has already a large installed base and by becoming free and open source there is no reason for existing Solaris users to switch to Linux.
- Sun has a proven reputation in terms of quality of support. This should be at least as good or better then that of the Linux supporters.
- Because Sun by default is the only designated party managing the open source software, there will be no risk of a version bonanza with multiple incompatible versions.
Again as a non technical person, the decision for me would be simple, I would go with Solaris unless I was already using Linux; Why take risks when I can choose a proven, high quality solution at comparable costs?
As a result Linux will probably not grow much beyond its current market share of about 10 % leaving Red Hat and especially Novell with a big problem
Of course I might very well be overlooking something here, if so, please let me and other readers know by posting your opinion in a reaction (see below).
Betty Carty figured she ought to be in the digital fast lane [...] Last Christmas, Carty purchased a Dell desktop computer, then signed up for a Comcast high-speed Internet connection. But her new Windows XP machine crashed frequently and would only plod across the Internet. [...] Zombie victim Carty took matters into her own hands: She did research on how to clean up and protect her PC and diligently updates programs that scan her computer for various types of malicious code. Her PC now runs clean. "
I had no clue at Christmas that I would become a security expert," she says.
... and I had no clue that installing antivirus on your machine and turning on automatic windows-updates qualified you as a security expert. Unless of course you also consider anyone who's done hard time in prison with a cellmate named Bubba a "sex expert". I knew I shouldn't have wasted my time with the CISSP..
-J
There is a link at the bottom of this comment that I think many would be interested in reading. At least it is a more objective source of "fact checking" than Michael Moore and his own website..
I'll agree that some of the movie has less spin than other parts of it. However, I would submit that since he enjoys twisting the truth in his movie, there is absolutely no reason to believe that he won't twist the truth again on his website.
You're not using additional sources to validate his claims. That's not corroborating evidence.
His movie is all about spin, and it's completely about influencing the election. He made back what it took to create the thing opening weekend. After that, he said he was cool with people posting it and sharing a copy on kazaa and bittorrent. Now he wants to air it on national TV the night before the election.
I have no problem with him having an agenda, nor do I expect him NOT to be biased. I'd like him not to be, but I don't expect it. He doesn't like Bush, and he wants him gone. He's using his position as a filmmaker to help with that goal. However, I just wish he'd be MORE up-front about his bias. But if he did that, then he wouldn't have as many sheep..
I don't like being lied to by our current administration. I don't like the whole "we never said there were definately WMD" game. I don't think the President is above a little stinging sarcasm or humor. Just don't pass off your propaganda as "the full truth" when it's really just an interesting movie with lots of creative editing and half truths. Michael Moore knows that the great majority of his viewers will NOT seek out additional information, nor validate his claims. He hopes they will presume that since he is not (currently) being sued out of his pants, what he says must be true.
He is very crafty at perfectly phrasing a response to any question. Read the site linked below, then watch him sometime on one of the many media shows he is currently whoring himself (and his viewpoint on). Watch how exquisitely careful he is to avoid direct and complete answers for many of the questions he is asked. I will give him some credit: He is a master of semantics.
...keep my access point wide open for anyone to use. If you want to look at my GF's reciepe's or our photos, go right ahead.
Yesss.. that sounds like a great idea.
However, if you don't mind, I think I'll skip all the "take a look at my recipies" formalities and go straight to
- sniffing your email passwords,
- reading your email,
- sending email under your account from your IP,
- using your wireless access point to spam,
- surf some underage porn using your IP,
- seed my "next big worm" from your connection,
- browse/sample your internal network from the IP your WAP so conveniently gave me,
- and finish up by making various explicit threats against the president on the newsgroups while simultaneously using your cable connection to make VoIP calls to the NSA and reading them some of your previously mentioned fine recipes.
I almost forgot to say thank you for the free access point. Where are my manners... ;)
If the US Government can't even decide to clear their own Senators for air travel, I sympathize with anyone who has anything negative to say about the government. "I realise that you're a senator, privvy to confidential information, on the board of various committees, but I'm just not sure if I can trust you to get on an airplane."
This is due to intentional malice, disorganization, stupidity, or any combination of the above. You'd think, though, at the very least - they'd remember to clear at least some of their more influential employees. I guess not.
Then again, it's all too often that those in power selectively choose which laws they are subject to, or get special treatment -- so it's refreshing to see some of them inconvenienced by the same laws they thought were good enough to create.
The reality of the situation is, most users don't look at security the same way that admins do. When security becomes enough of an inconvenience, they dont care about it anymore.
Sure, technically they're supposed to care -- and they'll go through the motions... but they're primarily interested in doing their job (just like you are).
If an attacker is already in a position to start brute forcing your password files, you've already had a security failure. Passwords that are 8 characters in length are supposedly more secure - but typically a user will try to use a dictionary word, or a word that is familiar to them.
Using a combination of SecureID keychains with user passwords is, IMHO, a much better alternative than being draconian about password policies and asking them to pick an 18 digit password with letters, numbers, and symbols. While consulting, I've seen people become overwhelmed at their standard company policy, and (I'm SO not making this up) put their password on a sticky note, and place it on their monitor.
Teaching users how to think up a better password is always a good idea. For example:
My son Billy was on the honor roll this year.
The first letter taken from each word in that sentence would be: "MsBwothrty"
It's not flawless, but it's much better than "Butterfly" or something similar in the dictionary. Couple that with SecureID keychains or something similar, and you're less likely to have users try to circumvent.
I think the standard future of authentication will be multi-layered methods, instead of "one complex entry point" such as long or complicated passwords.
You do realize, of course, that posting Penguin's email addresses on a popular website such as Slashdot is CRAZY! Lots of spam spiders crawl Slashdot all the time, and they are likely to get spa...
I'm in the middle of mirroring the site here... his server is responding very, very slowly, so if you would look at the mirror instead of his site, I might actually be able to finish downloading the images, etc.:)
I remember my worst accident when I was 11 or 12, and my best friend's dad had decided to upgrade his machine.
He purchased a brand new motherboard, a 486/25 processor, and a video card. It was at least $400-500 worth of upgrades. Because they had spent so much money on the thing, they decided to ask me to come hook it all up, because I (supposedly) knew what I was doing.
I pulled out all the old hardware, and wired up the new board. My friend was watching intently as I plugged in the monitor, and said "ok lets power up this thing..."
*flicks the power switch on the power supply* *sees a really bright white flash on the monitor*
... nothing happens. I click the power on/off a couple more times, but it is completely silent. After about 30 seconds, I realize what I had done.
On a completely unrelated note, does anyone else remember when the power supply cables that ran into the motherboard were rectangular (instead of curved on one side), and you could plug the cables into either slot?
Yeah.
Blowing up $500 is a big thing when you're twelve.
... I'm glad the author's submission about camera phones was accepted. Most people don't understand how important it is to take good camera phone pictures. It would be pointless to use half of your camera phone's cabilities; why not use it to it's fullest potential, right? Crappy camera phone pictures are a waste of batteries, time, and besides -- they're boring. I suggest everyone start following this camera phone guide - so that the virtual art critics wandering the web will have something better to look at.
Mirror Here. I'll mirror the rest of the page, as soon as he recovers from the shock and replaces the charred, smoking remains of the server he once had.
Isn't that like finding someone who's homeless and giving them the title of National Economic Advisor? Isn't it like the NTSB giving Firestone an exemplary safety award?
Windows Server 2003 is a small step in the right direction, except it's 10 years late. [by the way - I LOVE the caption on the Windows 2003 page - I initially misread it as "do less with more".
I like to tell users the reason they are paying me $xxx to repair their computer is because Microsoft was busy working on Clippy instead of fixing the mess they call "Content Zones" in IE/OE. In all fairness, if users would "just keep up to date on their patches" then this wouldn't be (as much of) an issue...
And this is Microsoft's fatal flaw: They look at computers/software completely differently than the typical user.
Microsoft: Install the OS, update drivers occasionally, Check for system security fixes daily, and upgrade when a new OS comes out.
Typical User: OK, this envelope thing with the blue recycle signs around it is what I have to click to get mail, right?
(most) People want to use computers like any other appliance: their vcr, tv, radio -- they don't want to schedule updates and check for vulnerabilities and install firewalls -- they just want it to work.
As long as Microsoft (or ANY admin, for that matter) depends on the end-user to secure their equipment, they will be sorely disappointed.
Scene: Interrogation room, deep under FBI headquarters.
AGENT: We know you did it. We have proof. YOU: You've got nothing! AGENT: [to other agent] Bob, play the tape.
YOUR VOICE: I'd like the double cheeseburger meal, supersized with no pickles MCDONALDS DRIVE THROUGH: What kind of drink? YOUR VOICE: A large Coke please
There's a piece of commercial bulletin-board/forum software that does this. When you purchase and register your copy, the company keeps a record of which IP you're on, your name, as well as a few other small details.
If you change IPs, their database is updated and the old IP is deactivated in their database.
If you've never purchased the software, none of your IPs are listed in their database, and obviously the rest of your [fake] registration details you key-generated won't be on file with them either. The software "pings" in with the main company's website from time to time; I would presume once every few weeks. The serial number and name you're using is probably sent during those pings...
They apparently verify that the software is in fact not legitimately registered, and then try to contact the user directly. If that fails (or the user fails to respond), they contact the ISP directly.
I was probably contacted by them 4-5 times total when I worked for a large ISP. Every time I contacted the colocated/vhost customer, the software was in fact being used without being purchased.
I'm sure this isn't the only company that does this, though. For example -- Bulletproof FTP phones home from time to time, to invalidate widely used warez serials and things like that.
[in a discussion about how receiving unsolicited spam is, apparently to some people, just like receiving incorrect files from a P2P app]...
Spam is sent to you without request.
No it isn't. It's only sent to me when I hit "receive."
Incorrect.
In P2P, the file stays on the senders drive until you search it out, retrieve it, and initiate a transfer. Nobody can start 'pushing' files at you in P2P. The receiver initiates the transfer.
In spam, the sender initiates the transfer, WITHOUT any request from the recipient. The recipient has no say in the transaction.
"But, I only receive the spam when I click the button! So I am choosing to receive the spam."
You've apparently totally forgotten about your ISP's T3 lines, mail servers, and hard drives. You pay for all of those, and that is exactly where the spam waits for you, until you pick it up.
Just because you haven't picked up your mail [from your mailbox, similar to the postal service] doesn't mean you haven't already paid for it. You have -- you just haven't picked it up. You're still paying the middleman for it, though.
ISP's buy bigger drives when they run out of space, faster processors when the load gets too high, and bigger pipes when the existing T3s dont handle the traffic. You realize all of that cost is paid for by the customer, which is of course, you.
The problem with spam, and the problem of people sharing incorrect files are completely seperate issues. I hope people keep them VERY seperate, because I do not wish for a favorable ruling for the RIAA to create some extra loopholes in the law for spammers.
And included is a flabbergasting claim from RIAA head Hillary Rosen that only 3 percent of consumers polled are buying less music because prices are too high--
-- unfortunately, Hillary neglected to mention the fact that she limited her little poll to customers leaving Best Buy that had 2 or more CDs in their hand.
Slashdot Mirror
My question: is Gentoo really that much (or any) faster than other linux distributions? Or is it more along the lines of "Look at me! I built this whole system from source, including the bootloader!"
It seems like unless its at least 10% faster than FreeBSD or RedHat or whatever else, why bother with the extra time investment? If you're to the point where an extra 3-5% speed will really help (eg: a business setting), why not build another machine and load balance? I'm not saying speed isn't nice, I'm just saying I dont understand the excitement.
Gentoo is a decent OS; I dont see anything wrong with it. I just dont see the excitement when it comes to compiling everything optimized for an extra 2% speed, taking 10x as long to get the job done, and possibly having to worry about optimized compiler bugs in the process.
Maybe I'm just not seeing the cause of excitement.
Thanks for the direct link, Kev. Their server seems to be extremely slow right now, so I'd suggest using the Coral Mirror of the file.
Oops. I forgot the link to the Windows XP version of "TCP Fix" (from the parent comment): XP TCP Fix
Plain and simple, I think spyware is one of the nasty parts of computing/the internet that should be illegal and carry heavy fines (which is how I feel about spam as well).
Since it's unlikely that governments will take time out of their busy lives trading and selling each other's votes on porkbarrel bills, I'd hope that they'd at least set some guiderules for it..
- The EULA should be required to be understandable by a user with a 6th grade reading comprehension level. No legalese.
- In the EULA, they must specify
a) Exactly what data is collected and how,
b) which domains/companies this data is sent to,
c) Anyone they share collected data with
d) Which servers/domains the spyware opens connections to.
e) A valid physical address of the company, to file claims or complaints.
- Spyware should not be allowed to change the user's homepage.
- Spyware should NOT be allowed to be bundled with another program, in such a way that installing the software automatically installs the spyware without giving the user an option.
- By default, spyware should be "unselected" during install if bundled with another application.
- Spyware companies should be required to be bonded, and should be required to have enough cash on hand/on deposit to pay for any violations of the rules
- There should be a HUGE fine if removing the spyware destroys any part of network connectivity. There have been SO MANY times that removing spyware on a client's machine has completely destroyed IE's ability to browse, or destroyed the TCP/IP stack itself. I can't tell you how many times TCPFix has saved the day..
Anyway, for those of you who've had AdAware partially remove spyware (and thus bork the machine), or for those spyware programs that do a great job of destroying networking while they uninstall themselves, the following utilities are extremely useful.
TCP Fix: Win9x or if the TCP fix doesn't solve it, sometime's it's a LSP issue: LSP Fix. One of those two has never failed to restore a broken network connection after cleaning up spyware. It's useful to have them in your tech toolkit cd... -J
Their server is slow as all hell right now (big suprise), so here's the text of the article:
Let me start by saying that I'm not a technical expert. Although this might be a handicap it could very well be a positive in looking at the issue of Sun versus Linux in the server business from a decision maker's point of view.
Until today, the discussion around Linux pushed by Red Hat and recently by Novell after it took over Suse has been around the risks and opportunitites of the open source model versus the costs and slow adaptation of the proprietary model.
Opponents of open source software always argued that due to its nature there is a risk that version control, compatibility, future development and support is not guaranteed and could leave companies who use it at some point with a free but outdated system that is difficult to maintain.
Companies like Red Hat and Novell and on occasion other big players have tried to take away these arguments by committing to the open source model and vowed to make it work. Despite their efforts and some success, there still is a lot of skepticism within corporate IT departments and as a result Linux is not taking the market by storm.
With the decision by Sun to give away their latest version of their software, Solaris 10 for free all of these concerns have evaporated in one blow in favor of the now open source and compatible Solaris 10 supported by Sun.
Looking at the advantage of going the Sun route versus the Linux route it is hard to see why any IT executive would chose to switch to Linux.
- The Solaris software is of proven quality and at least equal or better then Linux and the open source model will assure that it stays up there.
- By making it work with competing hardware platforms, there is no reason anymore to switch software to facilitate lower hardware costs.
- Sun with Solaris has already a large installed base and by becoming free and open source there is no reason for existing Solaris users to switch to Linux.
- Sun has a proven reputation in terms of quality of support. This should be at least as good or better then that of the Linux supporters.
- Because Sun by default is the only designated party managing the open source software, there will be no risk of a version bonanza with multiple incompatible versions.
Again as a non technical person, the decision for me would be simple, I would go with Solaris unless I was already using Linux; Why take risks when I can choose a proven, high quality solution at comparable costs?
As a result Linux will probably not grow much beyond its current market share of about 10 % leaving Red Hat and especially Novell with a big problem
Of course I might very well be overlooking something here, if so, please let me and other readers know by posting your opinion in a reaction (see below).
There is a link at the bottom of this comment that I think many would be interested in reading. At least it is a more objective source of "fact checking" than Michael Moore and his own website..
I'll agree that some of the movie has less spin than other parts of it. However, I would submit that since he enjoys twisting the truth in his movie, there is absolutely no reason to believe that he won't twist the truth again on his website.
You're not using additional sources to validate his claims. That's not corroborating evidence.
His movie is all about spin, and it's completely about influencing the election. He made back what it took to create the thing opening weekend. After that, he said he was cool with people posting it and sharing a copy on kazaa and bittorrent. Now he wants to air it on national TV the night before the election.
I have no problem with him having an agenda, nor do I expect him NOT to be biased. I'd like him not to be, but I don't expect it. He doesn't like Bush, and he wants him gone. He's using his position as a filmmaker to help with that goal. However, I just wish he'd be MORE up-front about his bias. But if he did that, then he wouldn't have as many sheep..
I don't like being lied to by our current administration. I don't like the whole "we never said there were definately WMD" game. I don't think the President is above a little stinging sarcasm or humor. Just don't pass off your propaganda as "the full truth" when it's really just an interesting movie with lots of creative editing and half truths. Michael Moore knows that the great majority of his viewers will NOT seek out additional information, nor validate his claims. He hopes they will presume that since he is not (currently) being sued out of his pants, what he says must be true.
He is very crafty at perfectly phrasing a response to any question. Read the site linked below, then watch him sometime on one of the many media shows he is currently whoring himself (and his viewpoint on). Watch how exquisitely careful he is to avoid direct and complete answers for many of the questions he is asked. I will give him some credit: He is a master of semantics.
Here's a more objective analysis of Farenheit. [ pdf]
Yesss.. that sounds like a great idea.
However, if you don't mind, I think I'll skip all the "take a look at my recipies" formalities and go straight to
- sniffing your email passwords,
- reading your email,
- sending email under your account from your IP,
- using your wireless access point to spam,
- surf some underage porn using your IP,
- seed my "next big worm" from your connection,
- browse/sample your internal network from the IP your WAP so conveniently gave me,
- and finish up by making various explicit threats against the president on the newsgroups while simultaneously using your cable connection to make VoIP calls to the NSA and reading them some of your previously mentioned fine recipes.
I almost forgot to say thank you for the free access point. Where are my manners...
If the US Government can't even decide to clear their own Senators for air travel, I sympathize with anyone who has anything negative to say about the government. "I realise that you're a senator, privvy to confidential information, on the board of various committees, but I'm just not sure if I can trust you to get on an airplane."
This is due to intentional malice, disorganization, stupidity, or any combination of the above. You'd think, though, at the very least - they'd remember to clear at least some of their more influential employees. I guess not.
Then again, it's all too often that those in power selectively choose which laws they are subject to, or get special treatment -- so it's refreshing to see some of them inconvenienced by the same laws they thought were good enough to create.
Uh dude.. Why are you looking at Crash Override in the dress?
The reality of the situation is, most users don't look at security the same way that admins do. When security becomes enough of an inconvenience, they dont care about it anymore.
Sure, technically they're supposed to care -- and they'll go through the motions... but they're primarily interested in doing their job (just like you are).
If an attacker is already in a position to start brute forcing your password files, you've already had a security failure. Passwords that are 8 characters in length are supposedly more secure - but typically a user will try to use a dictionary word, or a word that is familiar to them.
Using a combination of SecureID keychains with user passwords is, IMHO, a much better alternative than being draconian about password policies and asking them to pick an 18 digit password with letters, numbers, and symbols. While consulting, I've seen people become overwhelmed at their standard company policy, and (I'm SO not making this up) put their password on a sticky note, and place it on their monitor.
Teaching users how to think up a better password is always a good idea. For example:
My son Billy was on the honor roll this year.
The first letter taken from each word in that sentence would be: "MsBwothrty"
It's not flawless, but it's much better than "Butterfly" or something similar in the dictionary. Couple that with SecureID keychains or something similar, and you're less likely to have users try to circumvent.
I think the standard future of authentication will be multi-layered methods, instead of "one complex entry point" such as long or complicated passwords.
[video|page]
You do realize, of course, that posting Penguin's email addresses on a popular website such as Slashdot is CRAZY! Lots of spam spiders crawl Slashdot all the time, and they are likely to get spa...
oh. Right. -J
I'm in the middle of mirroring the site here ... his server is responding very, very slowly, so if you would look at the mirror instead of his site, I might actually be able to finish downloading the images, etc. :)
I remember my worst accident when I was 11 or 12, and my best friend's dad had decided to upgrade his machine.
... nothing happens. I click the power on/off a couple more times, but it is completely silent. After about 30 seconds, I realize what I had done.
He purchased a brand new motherboard, a 486/25 processor, and a video card. It was at least $400-500 worth of upgrades. Because they had spent so much money on the thing, they decided to ask me to come hook it all up, because I (supposedly) knew what I was doing.
I pulled out all the old hardware, and wired up the new board. My friend was watching intently as I plugged in the monitor, and said "ok lets power up this thing..."
*flicks the power switch on the power supply*
*sees a really bright white flash on the monitor*
On a completely unrelated note, does anyone else remember when the power supply cables that ran into the motherboard were rectangular (instead of curved on one side), and you could plug the cables into either slot?
Yeah.
Blowing up $500 is a big thing when you're twelve.
You can (with just a few mouse clicks) automatically create an up-to-date ISO of Windows XP/2000/2003 with XPCreate. It's a really nice utility.
You already know the answer to "can you hear me now?!"
... I'm glad the author's submission about camera phones was accepted. Most people don't understand how important it is to take good camera phone pictures. It would be pointless to use half of your camera phone's cabilities; why not use it to it's fullest potential, right? Crappy camera phone pictures are a waste of batteries, time, and besides -- they're boring. I suggest everyone start following this camera phone guide - so that the virtual art critics wandering the web will have something better to look at.
I'd like to see which software Mitch Bainwol has on his desktop: Shareaza, eMule, BitTorrent, or DC++.
Mirror Here. I'll mirror the rest of the page, as soon as he recovers from the shock and replaces the charred, smoking remains of the server he once had.
Isn't that like finding someone who's homeless and giving them the title of National Economic Advisor? Isn't it like the NTSB giving Firestone an exemplary safety award?
Windows Server 2003 is a small step in the right direction, except it's 10 years late. [by the way - I LOVE the caption on the Windows 2003 page - I initially misread it as "do less with more".
I like to tell users the reason they are paying me $xxx to repair their computer is because Microsoft was busy working on Clippy instead of fixing the mess they call "Content Zones" in IE/OE. In all fairness, if users would "just keep up to date on their patches" then this wouldn't be (as much of) an issue...
And this is Microsoft's fatal flaw: They look at computers/software completely differently than the typical user.
Microsoft: Install the OS, update drivers occasionally, Check for system security fixes daily, and upgrade when a new OS comes out.
Typical User: OK, this envelope thing with the blue recycle signs around it is what I have to click to get mail, right?
(most) People want to use computers like any other appliance: their vcr, tv, radio -- they don't want to schedule updates and check for vulnerabilities and install firewalls -- they just want it to work.
As long as Microsoft (or ANY admin, for that matter) depends on the end-user to secure their equipment, they will be sorely disappointed.
Scene: Interrogation room, deep under FBI headquarters.
AGENT: We know you did it. We have proof.
YOU: You've got nothing!
AGENT: [to other agent] Bob, play the tape.
YOUR VOICE: I'd like the double cheeseburger meal, supersized with no pickles
MCDONALDS DRIVE THROUGH: What kind of drink?
YOUR VOICE: A large Coke please
AGENT: Damnit. Fast forward the tape a bit.
There's a piece of commercial bulletin-board/forum software that does this. When you purchase and register your copy, the company keeps a record of which IP you're on, your name, as well as a few other small details.
If you change IPs, their database is updated and the old IP is deactivated in their database.
If you've never purchased the software, none of your IPs are listed in their database, and obviously the rest of your [fake] registration details you key-generated won't be on file with them either. The software "pings" in with the main company's website from time to time; I would presume once every few weeks. The serial number and name you're using is probably sent during those pings...
They apparently verify that the software is in fact not legitimately registered, and then try to contact the user directly. If that fails (or the user fails to respond), they contact the ISP directly.
I was probably contacted by them 4-5 times total when I worked for a large ISP. Every time I contacted the colocated/vhost customer, the software was in fact being used without being purchased.
I'm sure this isn't the only company that does this, though. For example -- Bulletproof FTP phones home from time to time, to invalidate widely used warez serials and things like that.
In P2P, the file stays on the senders drive until you search it out, retrieve it, and initiate a transfer. Nobody can start 'pushing' files at you in P2P. The receiver initiates the transfer.
In spam, the sender initiates the transfer, WITHOUT any request from the recipient. The recipient has no say in the transaction.
"But, I only receive the spam when I click the button! So I am choosing to receive the spam."
You've apparently totally forgotten about your ISP's T3 lines, mail servers, and hard drives. You pay for all of those, and that is exactly where the spam waits for you, until you pick it up.
Just because you haven't picked up your mail [from your mailbox, similar to the postal service] doesn't mean you haven't already paid for it. You have -- you just haven't picked it up. You're still paying the middleman for it, though.
ISP's buy bigger drives when they run out of space, faster processors when the load gets too high, and bigger pipes when the existing T3s dont handle the traffic. You realize all of that cost is paid for by the customer, which is of course, you.
The problem with spam, and the problem of people sharing incorrect files are completely seperate issues. I hope people keep them VERY seperate, because I do not wish for a favorable ruling for the RIAA to create some extra loopholes in the law for spammers.