The password crack the researchers used requires physical access to the machine. They aren't cracking the passwords via a login from another country, they're cracking the passwords stored in the file on the physical Windows machine.
This then allows them to use the recovered password to login to OTHER machines that use the same password.
Re:You strike me as....
on
All The Rave
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· Score: 1
Signal-to-noise probably referred to the lack of correct labelling and the unreliable content within the MP3 files. The technical "signal to noise" might have been fine, but files were mislabelled, cut-off 2/3 of the way through, full of pops and clicks, and other noises. Was it "The Beatles" or "The Beetles", "John Lennon" or "John Lenon" (or "John Lenin")? Add that to the frequent disconnects from users and what you get is a dirty "pool" of music rather than a pristine sample of MP3 files. Of course, what do you expect for free?
John
Re:The end for the middle men?
on
AOL: Amazon Who?
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· Score: 3, Interesting
It could be the end for "middle men" like Amazon, but it might be a boon to local retail stores. Two of the primary reasons for retailers were distribution and returns. Manufacturers could not profitably sell one or two pieces of a product at a reasonable price.
The manufacturer's plants are built to package and distribute cases and pallets of materials via truck freight, not individual sales units via UPS. They rely on retailers to break down the product to individual selling units and present the product for sale. Online retail has evolved to bring the costs down (expansion of UPS and other carriers, centralized distribution, computerized inventory control) so a manufacturer can effectively become a retailer.
However, there are still kinks to be worked out with returns. We offer UPS shipping services at our hardware store, and unhappy consumers are constantly returning stuff to Amazon, QVC, etc., griping about what a hassle it is. It's much more convenient to return a product to a local retail store...quick exchange, no return shipping fees, and potentially the opportunity for the retailer to sell additional product while the customer is back in the store. Local retail stores still have a big advantage by offering convenient returns, so there is still hope for the middle man.
I doubt they will remove the tags. The idea of RFID is to reduce the data processing...eliminate the manual scanning of UPC codes. RFID will enable self-checkout at the big box stores so they can reduce their staff size. Many tags will be embedded in the product at the point of manufacture and be nearly impossible to remove.
Seriously, is there still room to put warnings like this on cigarette packaging? With the cancer warnings and cartoon camels (not anymore:)), how much room is left?Seriously, is there still room to put warnings like this on cigarette packaging? With the cancer warnings and cartoon camels (not anymore:)), how much room is left?
They'll put the tag in the cigarettes themselves.:-)
Watch Minority Report for an example of what can happen if RFID tags are used by stores to market based on your personal buying habits or the items you are wearing. Tom Hanks walks into a store after getting an eye transplant, and the kiosk at the entrance scans his iris and asks if he enjoyed the pants he purchased on his last visit.
Imagine if an RFID kiosk at the entrance identified that you were wearing stain blocker Dockers and announced "I see you are wearing stain blocker pants...we stock a complete selection in your size, and today they are on sale".
After yet another read of the article it looks like they are just building a mock-up Internet on which to test their distributed apps. This would allow them to see how their apps will perform when linked over the Internet rather than in a closed lab 100mb network environment.
This would help them avoid comments like "Gee, those data packets sure take a long time to get back to us" once they move their app to the real world outside the lab.
It took a few readings of that article as well as a visit to the PlanetLab site for me to get an idea what they are trying to do. In simple terms, it looks like a network designed specifically for distributed computing projects like SETI@Home (as an example of a publicly accessible research project). Instead of relying on the Internet to link up your distributed machines, PlanetLab would be a closed high performance network that would allow the researchers to avoid the usual Internet traffic jams.
a copy of the Bible, Stuart Little, the soundtrack to Oklahoma, Goodnight Moon....and ummm, [whisper]can you turn off the porn filter on PC number 8?[/whisper]
You're right, it is the systems that are broken (How else to explain the increasing frequency of identity theft?). The posting of their numbers is not a real big deal even though it's a great PR ploy.
Your SSN would be tougher to come up with as you're not quite as public a figure as the legislators. A lot of their basic info can be found easily (home address and DOB for example). Your info would be a bit more challenging without knowing where you live.
Yeah, I don't think it will either. People believe what they believe even when evidence points to the contrary. Lack of evidence is proof enough for some.
I assume the truth is out there...it just hasn't been to earth yet.:-)
It may wind up being the only profitable quarter in their history.:-)
Seriously, if they become profitable and can make adjustments to their business model then they can survive Wal*Mart. NetFlix doesn't have to worry about closing down stores or unloading real estate when Wal*Mart moves in. Virtual storefronts have low rental costs. By the same token, once Wal*Mart gets up a head of steam then they will be able to add a broader range of DVD's to match the NetFlix selection. It costs very little to add new titles to the database.
I'm just pointing out that even though Wal*Mart has a lousy selection in their video department they are still the number one retailer of DVD's in the country. The fact that NetFlix has a bigger selection than Wal*Mart means nothing to most consumers...it's all about convenience and price.
I certainly agree with "Down with Wal*Mart!", but I also don't know why anyone should worry too much about NetFlix. It's not like they're some 100 year old family business. They employ drones just like Wal*Mart. NetFlix hasn't even made a profit yet.
Wal*Mart sucks compared to most other sources of product. Their music and video departments carries fewer titles than Virgin or Tower, but Wal*Mart is the #1 distributor of music and video in America. Once they start to bleed customers from NetFlix it won't matter how good the selection is. The only hope NetFlix has is that they can downsize accordingly, although from what I've read they haven't yet shown a profit. They have to move quickly or they're dead.
Slashdot Mirror
The password crack the researchers used requires physical access to the machine. They aren't cracking the passwords via a login from another country, they're cracking the passwords stored in the file on the physical Windows machine.
This then allows them to use the recovered password to login to OTHER machines that use the same password.
John
Not interesting or funny.
Signal-to-noise probably referred to the lack of correct labelling and the unreliable content within the MP3 files. The technical "signal to noise" might have been fine, but files were mislabelled, cut-off 2/3 of the way through, full of pops and clicks, and other noises. Was it "The Beatles" or "The Beetles", "John Lennon" or "John Lenon" (or "John Lenin")? Add that to the frequent disconnects from users and what you get is a dirty "pool" of music rather than a pristine sample of MP3 files. Of course, what do you expect for free?
John
The manufacturer's plants are built to package and distribute cases and pallets of materials via truck freight, not individual sales units via UPS. They rely on retailers to break down the product to individual selling units and present the product for sale. Online retail has evolved to bring the costs down (expansion of UPS and other carriers, centralized distribution, computerized inventory control) so a manufacturer can effectively become a retailer.
However, there are still kinks to be worked out with returns. We offer UPS shipping services at our hardware store, and unhappy consumers are constantly returning stuff to Amazon, QVC, etc., griping about what a hassle it is. It's much more convenient to return a product to a local retail store...quick exchange, no return shipping fees, and potentially the opportunity for the retailer to sell additional product while the customer is back in the store. Local retail stores still have a big advantage by offering convenient returns, so there is still hope for the middle man.
John
Cornell's True Value
I doubt they will remove the tags. The idea of RFID is to reduce the data processing...eliminate the manual scanning of UPC codes. RFID will enable self-checkout at the big box stores so they can reduce their staff size. Many tags will be embedded in the product at the point of manufacture and be nearly impossible to remove.
Probably would have been better with Tom Hanks though. :-)
They'll put the tag in the cigarettes themselves. :-)
"We stock a complete selection of Docker's for Extra Large men. We also are having a sale on Ultra Slim Fast."
How convenient, the store will make assumptions based on the hidden tags on my person.
Imagine if an RFID kiosk at the entrance identified that you were wearing stain blocker Dockers and announced "I see you are wearing stain blocker pants...we stock a complete selection in your size, and today they are on sale".
Thanks...kind of like a widely distributed VPN.
After yet another read of the article it looks like they are just building a mock-up Internet on which to test their distributed apps. This would allow them to see how their apps will perform when linked over the Internet rather than in a closed lab 100mb network environment.
This would help them avoid comments like "Gee, those data packets sure take a long time to get back to us" once they move their app to the real world outside the lab.
At least that's what it sounds like to me.
You're right, it is the systems that are broken (How else to explain the increasing frequency of identity theft?). The posting of their numbers is not a real big deal even though it's a great PR ploy.
Your SSN would be tougher to come up with as you're not quite as public a figure as the legislators. A lot of their basic info can be found easily (home address and DOB for example). Your info would be a bit more challenging without knowing where you live.
John
Email it to me privately and I'll post it for you.
John
Exactly...in fact the article says that the legislation may be reconsidered on Monday.
based on the research done by this site.
Yeah, I don't think it will either. People believe what they believe even when evidence points to the contrary. Lack of evidence is proof enough for some.
:-)
I assume the truth is out there...it just hasn't been to earth yet.
I knew they were getting close. Will they be able to stay profitable and still compete with Wal*Mart. (IMHO - no)
It may wind up being the only profitable quarter in their history.
Seriously, if they become profitable and can make adjustments to their business model then they can survive Wal*Mart. NetFlix doesn't have to worry about closing down stores or unloading real estate when Wal*Mart moves in. Virtual storefronts have low rental costs. By the same token, once Wal*Mart gets up a head of steam then they will be able to add a broader range of DVD's to match the NetFlix selection. It costs very little to add new titles to the database.
I'm just pointing out that even though Wal*Mart has a lousy selection in their video department they are still the number one retailer of DVD's in the country. The fact that NetFlix has a bigger selection than Wal*Mart means nothing to most consumers...it's all about convenience and price.
I certainly agree with "Down with Wal*Mart!", but I also don't know why anyone should worry too much about NetFlix. It's not like they're some 100 year old family business. They employ drones just like Wal*Mart. NetFlix hasn't even made a profit yet.
Too bad I saw it before the gang at Netflix!
Sam Walton
Wal*Mart sucks compared to most other sources of product. Their music and video departments carries fewer titles than Virgin or Tower, but Wal*Mart is the #1 distributor of music and video in America. Once they start to bleed customers from NetFlix it won't matter how good the selection is. The only hope NetFlix has is that they can downsize accordingly, although from what I've read they haven't yet shown a profit. They have to move quickly or they're dead.