Why is everyone thinking that Google is going to force audio based ads on there users. I would think that everyone that RTFA noticed that a PC is going to be required. Think about it. There are so many different ways for Google to push their text based ads to your PC, that voice ads are most likely never going to happen.
IMHO, it seems that Google is trying to make ALL information searchable for everyone. In order to accomplish that, they need to earn money. In order to earn money, they are looking for new ways to not only search information, but also new ways to get end users to view their ads. If they can get you to use there services (i.e. search, email, blog, news groups, etc.), then they can get you to view there ads. If they require you to use your PC for any part of the VoIP service, then that is one more Google page that will get loaded on your PC pushing Google ads.
I can't see how a phone based system can rely on that business model. As many of the more comical posts on this article have pointed out, a third party interrupting a phone conversation with an ad about some product or the other is... well... annoying.
How about this instead:
1.) You call someone that is using google's voice service. 2.) There not home, so you go to their voicemail and leave a message. 3.) Your friend checks his voicemail messages via a Google web interface. 4.) Based upon the conversations recorded in your voicemail, the web interface displays google text ads. 5.) Your friend listen to voicemail over the web 6.) Google makes money off of ads displayed when people go and check their voicemail. 7.) Google has premium service for monthly cahrge that does not include ads.
If I was Google, that is why I would want to get into the business. Think of it like gmail, but for voice.
It looks like Googles end game, is to make it easily available for all people to search any and allinformation. Not just the Web. If Google can simplify my life by making information more available, without forcing upon me outrageous EULA's and licensing fees, then let them invade my life.
"...but that's a long shot and likely to spook people."
I don't see that as a long shot at all, and it most likely will not spook the average computer users away.
Think about it. Google right now is working on searching video over the Internet. It would not be to far from possible to believe that part of that search capability would include audio and voice recognition. Why not incorporate that into a phone service that uses your PC, so they can display ads. Google seems to be the master of displaying non-intrusive ads. Most average users don't even notice a google ad as an ad.
I can also see Google offering voice search and conversation lists kind of like gmail does for your email. Think of it kind of like a searcheable answering machine on the web. Of course, these are all of my assumptions, and you know what happens when you ASS-U-ME.
Like what sell PC's preloaded with a Linux distro? Please! I'll probably get mod'ed as a troll, but I am so tired of this argument. Dell probably would LOVE to sell Linux preloaded on all of there desktops. Unfortunately the marketplace will not support that business model. The average user does not wnat to learn how to use Linux. The average user is compfortable using WinBlow$.
If Dell was to drop the WinBlow$ market and go strictly open source, they would lose over 90% of there potential customers. If that were to happen, they probably would not be in business for very long. Don't blame Dell for the problems, blame the users for not being motivated enough too learn a new OS and set of applications.
Then a standard desktop would have been used probably with no backup at all. Users do not know about tape backups.
That's not completely true. Today's "standard" desktop usually comes with at least a cd burner, if not a CD/DVD burner. The majority of burning software that is include has some type of backup feature. Not to mention most users burn disks all the time (i.e. photo's, duping CD's, MP3's, etc.) Unfortunately, they never seem to backup all there important data, like business receipts.
Why should we pay the cost of the ISP running these services...
Because the ones that are vulnerable, are driving up your cost due to the increased storage needed for the mail servers, and the increase in bandwidth needed to transmit the virus. It would be cheaper for the ISP to scan and remove viruses, thus reducing a portion of there operating cost, which theoretically they could then pass that cost savings on to you.
Exactly! I'm in the same boat as you. I am extremely careful with the software I install and what sites I visit. I apply email spam filters and have a dedicated firewall that is extremely strict with it's rule set. I also keep my AV up to date. With these tools in place, and a little bit of common sense I very rarely have any malware problems, but I am an IT professional, so I have been trained and educated on what to do to protect myself and my l-users at work.
Unfortunatelly, the average home user does not understand that by surfing the armpits of the Internet, downloading and installing "free" software, reading every email message sent to them, using P2P applications, and/or not deploying any type of firewall or AV software can cause these problems. If users were to be educated on Internet safe practices, it would greatly reduce these kinds of problems. Personally myself, I feel that someone (maybe an ISP) should provide some type of trainning or literature to help educate a home user on how to safely surf the net.
Maybe they could even offer a discounted monthly rate or some other incentive for taking the trainning and/or setting up a secure computing environment. Kind of like when you get 10% off of your car insurance for taking a defensive driving course.
Hell, they should just bring back lead based paint. It's quite durable and can have the same effects. Trying setting up an AP in an old house that has layers of old lead paint on the inside and out. Good luck getting any type of consistent connections.
Besides, lead based paint whas removed from the market because people were experiencing health problems from being exposed to it. Would this new paint with copper and aluminum cause the same or new set of health problems? I was just over to Force Field Wireless' web site and can not seem to find any information on possible health concerns.
How long would this 'beta version' have taken to be released, if at all, if it were not for Firefox pushing the standards to a higher level?
Personally, I think Adaware and SpyBot had more to do with it than Firefox. Not to mention Symantec is now bundling spyware detection into theie security software, and CA just acquire PestPatrol so that they can incorporate it into their software.
It seems to me that Microsoft's closed source products has created so many exploits for malware to take advantage of, that a new emerging market with great potential has been created. Microsoft is now getting involved in this lucrative market. This is a prime example of how Microsoft feels about closed source products being good for innovation.
Create a crappy product that others can't openly fix, so that it will innovate new products, so that it will make a new market that they can try to dominate.
I agree with you. Without Exchange integration, an Outlook knockoff would be useless to me.
I would rather have an Exchange knockoff and then give my l-users the option to use any calendar client (including Outlook) that they want. If M$ would stop being greedy, and use real calendar standards. Unfortunately, by keeping everyone locked into Exchange, they are stifling the possible inovation of new technologies.
Damn, I wish I was a programmer. This would be the greatest M$ killer of all.
Or here. I just ran the test from work. All of my http traffic goes through a transparent squid proxy. When you click on the link, all I receive is an error. Seems to me that if you go through a transparent proxy, the vulnerability does not effect you. I'm running the fully patched IE 6 on a W2K pro workstation. My IE security settings are medium, and I have java and active x enabled. I'm running squid 2.5 stable. Has anyone eles seen this, or is it just me? Kind of cool that I can use an open source product transparently to protect my users at work.
If you must change passwords constantly then issue everyone with SecureID+Pin
Not every organisation can afford to implement SecureID.
They totally disregard the different types of memory the human brain has...
Apparentlly you have a sh*ty IT staff. Complex passwords can be done if implemeted correctly. You must at a minimu provide the l-users proper security trainnig, and improve the customer service skills of the IT department so that the l-users don't feel bad/mad/stupid/etc. for calling for help. I make the passwords complex, and it definetilly seesm to work. I also make sure that I stress to my l-users that there is no shame in forgetting it, and that they will never be chastised for calling to have it reset.
CHANGING PASSWORDS EVERY 60 DAYS IS TOO HARD YOU DICKFUCK!
Try looking at
ifoxtrot's post below users. He made fine arguments trying to persuade me to see their view.
Unlike you, who just proved to me that you are the type of l-user that causes me to have to implemt those polices to protect the organisaztion. Not to mention l-users like you are the owns that make me rant like i do in the post above.
Let me put it in caps for you to understand:
WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE ASSETS FROM L-USERS INABILITY TO THINK THAT USING THERE KIDS NAMES ARE SECURE.
L-users need to understand that security starts with them, not the IT department. If l-users could be trusted to have secure passwords, then the IT department would not have to implement password policies. Just like the IT department would not need to lock down workstations (which by the way I do not believe in and do not practice) to protect l-users from fubaring their PC's. Another example is like when the IT department deines certain attachment type in via email due to viruses being deployed from l-users opening unknown/untrusted/unexpexted email. The IT department is just doing it's job.
Unfotunatelly they can not implement policies for that one's that don't get it (like you)and not others(like ifoxtrot). That would open the organisation up to another whole set of problems.
I just wanted to let you know that pretty much everything you describe decreases the security of your organisation.
And 4 charachter passwords that never expire of your wife/child/pet name or initials is better. How about picking a plain word out of the dictionary, like say 'password'. Insecure passwords, post notes, what's the difference. You have to pick one evil or the other. I choose to try and have secure passwords. Apparently you have never been involved in a security breach that occurred from the direct result of password hacking. At least if I have policies in place, I can not get in the sh*t again. Trust me upper management will come down on IT when a breach occurs, and they usually come down alot harder on IT then the l-user that had his kids name for his password.
(Yes that is the voice of experience speacking, I used to believe like you, make it easier for the l-users to do their jobs. Unfortunately, I was burned on this particular topic. I have since left that employer, but I also have the motto fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.)
At least by having complex passwords that expire and must change,(Notice I did not say random charachters I preffer to have pass phrases, and instead of spaces, I reccomend special characters for example insecure-passwords&suck1) clean desk policy, security policies, and security trainning, for all my l-users my arse is now protected. Now someone has to try and bruteforce a password which would take an extremely long time, find a security exploit, or (IMHO the easiest way)social engineer the user.
If they social engineer the employee or find the post-it note, then that employee is now in trouble and not IT. Not only is your IT staff trying to protect the organisations information assets, but they are also looking out for there arse as well. Hmmm let me think, make it easy for the users or protect my job so I can continue to support my wife/children/parents/coke habit/etc.
This is actually a great way to recover data when somebody leaves the company and doesn't pass on knowledge of a computer's usernames/passwords.
I actually have a better one than that. I found a floppy distro that will boot and then prompt you to change Admin password on any NT/2000 server or workstation. It will even tell you the Admin name if it has been changed. It has saved my arse a many of time. You can find it here here
Either you are of sub-average intelligence, or just a troll looking for someone to b*tch slap you!
<BITCHSLAP>
You can't come up with another imaginitive complex password. Jesus!! It's not difficult. Try using passages from books. Not popular one's like RomeoRomeowherefroartthou. Pick a passage from a novel that you read that stands out to you. Or try spelling things phonetically, using special charachters to breakup the syllables. For example foo%br&1971. Get away from the boob tube and video games and try exercising your imagination. I have a hole organization of l-users like you.
"It's too hard to think of a new password every 60 days"
BOO-F*CKING-HOO!!!!Try using your brain for more than filling your damn skull l-user!! Your IT staff is just doing their job, trying to make your information assets secure. Dumb asses like you that circumvent the security policies should just be fired on the spot!!! Luckily for you, the worst offenders always seem to be upper management. Upper management will never fire you for doing something that they do as well.
</BITCHSLAP>
That is why my organisation has implemeted password policies require at least 8 characters, at least 1 uppercase letter, 1 number, and one special character, or it will not let you change it, and will lock out your account. We then run security audits to ferret out the l-users like you that make them to simple. If we find a password that is to simple, or easy to crack, we force you to change it. If you do not, then your account will be locked out.
Security is no joke, and I wish more people would take it seriosly. Unfortunatelly, l-users never seem to get into trouble for it. Even when a breach occurs due to insecure passwords, usually its not the l-user that gets into trouble, it is the IT staff. If it were up to me, every l-user would be canned for having an insecure password. Like I said earlier, it's not difficult to come up with something that is secure.
Slashdot Mirror
The world sucks...
That is why there is no such thing as gravity.
Fortunately, I don't have to worry about that, because I have excellent internet skills, I'm a great driver, and I'm irresistable to the chicks
I feel the same way as you do, now that I'm taking Prozac.
Why is everyone thinking that Google is going to force audio based ads on there users. I would think that everyone that RTFA noticed that a PC is going to be required. Think about it. There are so many different ways for Google to push their text based ads to your PC, that voice ads are most likely never going to happen.
IMHO, it seems that Google is trying to make ALL information searchable for everyone. In order to accomplish that, they need to earn money. In order to earn money, they are looking for new ways to not only search information, but also new ways to get end users to view their ads. If they can get you to use there services (i.e. search, email, blog, news groups, etc.), then they can get you to view there ads. If they require you to use your PC for any part of the VoIP service, then that is one more Google page that will get loaded on your PC pushing Google ads.
I can't see how a phone based system can rely on that business model. As many of the more comical posts on this article have pointed out, a third party interrupting a phone conversation with an ad about some product or the other is... well... annoying.
How about this instead:
1.) You call someone that is using google's voice service.
2.) There not home, so you go to their voicemail and leave a message.
3.) Your friend checks his voicemail messages via a Google web interface.
4.) Based upon the conversations recorded in your voicemail, the web interface displays google text ads.
5.) Your friend listen to voicemail over the web
6.) Google makes money off of ads displayed when people go and check their voicemail.
7.) Google has premium service for monthly cahrge that does not include ads.
If I was Google, that is why I would want to get into the business. Think of it like gmail, but for voice.
I find myself wondering what Google's endgame is.
It looks like Googles end game, is to make it easily available for all people to search any and allinformation. Not just the Web. If Google can simplify my life by making information more available, without forcing upon me outrageous EULA's and licensing fees, then let them invade my life.
"...but that's a long shot and likely to spook people."
I don't see that as a long shot at all, and it most likely will not spook the average computer users away.
Think about it. Google right now is working on searching video over the Internet. It would not be to far from possible to believe that part of that search capability would include audio and voice recognition. Why not incorporate that into a phone service that uses your PC, so they can display ads. Google seems to be the master of displaying non-intrusive ads. Most average users don't even notice a google ad as an ad.
I can also see Google offering voice search and conversation lists kind of like gmail does for your email. Think of it kind of like a searcheable answering machine on the web. Of course, these are all of my assumptions, and you know what happens when you ASS-U-ME.
They do have other options.
Like what sell PC's preloaded with a Linux distro? Please! I'll probably get mod'ed as a troll, but I am so tired of this argument. Dell probably would LOVE to sell Linux preloaded on all of there desktops. Unfortunately the marketplace will not support that business model. The average user does not wnat to learn how to use Linux. The average user is compfortable using WinBlow$.
If Dell was to drop the WinBlow$ market and go strictly open source, they would lose over 90% of there potential customers. If that were to happen, they probably would not be in business for very long. Don't blame Dell for the problems, blame the users for not being motivated enough too learn a new OS and set of applications.
Then a standard desktop would have been used probably with no backup at all. Users do not know about tape backups.
That's not completely true. Today's "standard" desktop usually comes with at least a cd burner, if not a CD/DVD burner. The majority of burning software that is include has some type of backup feature. Not to mention most users burn disks all the time (i.e. photo's, duping CD's, MP3's, etc.) Unfortunately, they never seem to backup all there important data, like business receipts.
Why should we pay the cost of the ISP running these services...
Because the ones that are vulnerable, are driving up your cost due to the increased storage needed for the mail servers, and the increase in bandwidth needed to transmit the virus. It would be cheaper for the ISP to scan and remove viruses, thus reducing a portion of there operating cost, which theoretically they could then pass that cost savings on to you.
Exactly! I'm in the same boat as you. I am extremely careful with the software I install and what sites I visit. I apply email spam filters and have a dedicated firewall that is extremely strict with it's rule set. I also keep my AV up to date. With these tools in place, and a little bit of common sense I very rarely have any malware problems, but I am an IT professional, so I have been trained and educated on what to do to protect myself and my l-users at work.
Unfortunatelly, the average home user does not understand that by surfing the armpits of the Internet, downloading and installing "free" software, reading every email message sent to them, using P2P applications, and/or not deploying any type of firewall or AV software can cause these problems. If users were to be educated on Internet safe practices, it would greatly reduce these kinds of problems. Personally myself, I feel that someone (maybe an ISP) should provide some type of trainning or literature to help educate a home user on how to safely surf the net.
Maybe they could even offer a discounted monthly rate or some other incentive for taking the trainning and/or setting up a secure computing environment. Kind of like when you get 10% off of your car insurance for taking a defensive driving course.
Just my 2 cents
Hell, they should just bring back lead based paint. It's quite durable and can have the same effects. Trying setting up an AP in an old house that has layers of old lead paint on the inside and out. Good luck getting any type of consistent connections.
Besides, lead based paint whas removed from the market because people were experiencing health problems from being exposed to it. Would this new paint with copper and aluminum cause the same or new set of health problems? I was just over to Force Field Wireless' web site and can not seem to find any information on possible health concerns.
How long would this 'beta version' have taken to be released, if at all, if it were not for Firefox pushing the standards to a higher level?
Personally, I think Adaware and SpyBot had more to do with it than Firefox. Not to mention Symantec is now bundling spyware detection into theie security software, and CA just acquire PestPatrol so that they can incorporate it into their software.
It seems to me that Microsoft's closed source products has created so many exploits for malware to take advantage of, that a new emerging market with great potential has been created. Microsoft is now getting involved in this lucrative market. This is a prime example of how Microsoft feels about closed source products being good for innovation.
Create a crappy product that others can't openly fix, so that it will innovate new products, so that it will make a new market that they can try to dominate.
I agree with you. Without Exchange integration, an Outlook knockoff would be useless to me.
I would rather have an Exchange knockoff and then give my l-users the option to use any calendar client (including Outlook) that they want. If M$ would stop being greedy, and use real calendar standards. Unfortunately, by keeping everyone locked into Exchange, they are stifling the possible inovation of new technologies.
Damn, I wish I was a programmer. This would be the greatest M$ killer of all.
It's the perfect crime if you're a goddamn idiot.
Apparently you don't work in technical support.....
Or here. I just ran the test from work. All of my http traffic goes through a transparent squid proxy. When you click on the link, all I receive is an error. Seems to me that if you go through a transparent proxy, the vulnerability does not effect you. I'm running the fully patched IE 6 on a W2K pro workstation. My IE security settings are medium, and I have java and active x enabled. I'm running squid 2.5 stable. Has anyone eles seen this, or is it just me? Kind of cool that I can use an open source product transparently to protect my users at work.
and a good amount of traffic to it, could send a powerful message...
Just think of all the revenue you could generate with popup ads on the site.
oops,
forgot the link here
d00d, coming from an AC, that's a compliment. Try logging in, or is that 2 complicated for U.
If you must change passwords constantly then issue everyone with SecureID+Pin
Not every organisation can afford to implement SecureID.
They totally disregard the different types of memory the human brain has...
Apparentlly you have a sh*ty IT staff. Complex passwords can be done if implemeted correctly. You must at a minimu provide the l-users proper security trainnig, and improve the customer service skills of the IT department so that the l-users don't feel bad/mad/stupid/etc. for calling for help. I make the passwords complex, and it definetilly seesm to work. I also make sure that I stress to my l-users that there is no shame in forgetting it, and that they will never be chastised for calling to have it reset.
CHANGING PASSWORDS EVERY 60 DAYS IS TOO HARD YOU DICKFUCK!
Try looking at ifoxtrot's post below users. He made fine arguments trying to persuade me to see their view.
Unlike you, who just proved to me that you are the type of l-user that causes me to have to implemt those polices to protect the organisaztion. Not to mention l-users like you are the owns that make me rant like i do in the post above.
Let me put it in caps for you to understand:
WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE ASSETS FROM L-USERS INABILITY TO THINK THAT USING THERE KIDS NAMES ARE SECURE.
L-users need to understand that security starts with them, not the IT department. If l-users could be trusted to have secure passwords, then the IT department would not have to implement password policies. Just like the IT department would not need to lock down workstations (which by the way I do not believe in and do not practice) to protect l-users from fubaring their PC's. Another example is like when the IT department deines certain attachment type in via email due to viruses being deployed from l-users opening unknown/untrusted/unexpexted email. The IT department is just doing it's job.
Unfotunatelly they can not implement policies for that one's that don't get it (like you)and not others(like ifoxtrot). That would open the organisation up to another whole set of problems.
I just wanted to let you know that pretty much everything you describe decreases the security of your organisation.
And 4 charachter passwords that never expire of your wife/child/pet name or initials is better. How about picking a plain word out of the dictionary, like say 'password'. Insecure passwords, post notes, what's the difference. You have to pick one evil or the other. I choose to try and have secure passwords. Apparently you have never been involved in a security breach that occurred from the direct result of password hacking. At least if I have policies in place, I can not get in the sh*t again. Trust me upper management will come down on IT when a breach occurs, and they usually come down alot harder on IT then the l-user that had his kids name for his password.
(Yes that is the voice of experience speacking, I used to believe like you, make it easier for the l-users to do their jobs. Unfortunately, I was burned on this particular topic. I have since left that employer, but I also have the motto fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.)
At least by having complex passwords that expire and must change,(Notice I did not say random charachters I preffer to have pass phrases, and instead of spaces, I reccomend special characters for example insecure-passwords&suck1) clean desk policy, security policies, and security trainning, for all my l-users my arse is now protected. Now someone has to try and bruteforce a password which would take an extremely long time, find a security exploit, or (IMHO the easiest way)social engineer the user.
If they social engineer the employee or find the post-it note, then that employee is now in trouble and not IT. Not only is your IT staff trying to protect the organisations information assets, but they are also looking out for there arse as well. Hmmm let me think, make it easy for the users or protect my job so I can continue to support my wife/children/parents/coke habit/etc.
This is actually a great way to recover data when somebody leaves the company and doesn't pass on knowledge of a computer's usernames/passwords.
I actually have a better one than that. I found a floppy distro that will boot and then prompt you to change Admin password on any NT/2000 server or workstation. It will even tell you the Admin name if it has been changed. It has saved my arse a many of time. You can find it here here
Either you are of sub-average intelligence, or just a troll looking for someone to b*tch slap you!
<BITCHSLAP>
You can't come up with another imaginitive complex password. Jesus!! It's not difficult. Try using passages from books. Not popular one's like RomeoRomeowherefroartthou. Pick a passage from a novel that you read that stands out to you. Or try spelling things phonetically, using special charachters to breakup the syllables. For example foo%br&1971. Get away from the boob tube and video games and try exercising your imagination. I have a hole organization of l-users like you.
"It's too hard to think of a new password every 60 days"
BOO-F*CKING-HOO!!!!Try using your brain for more than filling your damn skull l-user!! Your IT staff is just doing their job, trying to make your information assets secure. Dumb asses like you that circumvent the security policies should just be fired on the spot!!! Luckily for you, the worst offenders always seem to be upper management. Upper management will never fire you for doing something that they do as well.
</BITCHSLAP>
That is why my organisation has implemeted password policies require at least 8 characters, at least 1 uppercase letter, 1 number, and one special character, or it will not let you change it, and will lock out your account. We then run security audits to ferret out the l-users like you that make them to simple. If we find a password that is to simple, or easy to crack, we force you to change it. If you do not, then your account will be locked out.
Security is no joke, and I wish more people would take it seriosly. Unfortunatelly, l-users never seem to get into trouble for it. Even when a breach occurs due to insecure passwords, usually its not the l-user that gets into trouble, it is the IT staff. If it were up to me, every l-user would be canned for having an insecure password. Like I said earlier, it's not difficult to come up with something that is secure.
Yeah, but after an hour or two of hacking on your laptop, then it's considered a decaffinated tea bag.
I wish I had some Mod points!!!! You would get am all!!!
I remember when I found out: I was sitting in bed playing a video game and all of a sudden, I felt electricity flowing through my legs.
Yeah, videogames...In bed.... RIIIIIIGHT!!
Where can I get an IBM T20, so I can look at pr0^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H play video games in bed.