What I meant (and failed) to say, is that maliciousness must be taken into account when a software is to be classified as Malware.
Viruses => Malware.
Cracks, Keygens, etc => Malware. Yes, their intent is to violate security algorithms. Even if some of us benefit from it.
Spyware (Including invisible proxies, keyloggers, etc) => Can both be malware, or just pernicious. Or even beneficial. Depends on intention and use.
I find it very hard to believe Oracle would have the intent of wasting your computing resources and giving you a hard time by bundling the ASK toolbar in the Java Installer. I believe their intent is to earn money with sponsors. Yet it is pernicious behavior, since it non intently causes you harming.
I keep repeating the example from the OP, but this is the same for mostly everything.
Clarification on beneficial spyware (before the flaming starts): I find it useful when the application generates a crash log and allows me to send this report to the software maker.
This behavior can be classified as spyware, since it's actually recording my footprint in the application.
But (hopefully) with the beneficial intent of improving the software.
I will go by the definition of malicious as "characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm"
Oracle has the intent of causing harm by installing the ASK toolbar? Yes -> malware, No -> not malware.
ASK has the intent of causing harm with the toolbar? Yes -> malware, No -> not malware.
Buuuuuuut....
I will also go by the definition of pernicious as "having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way" To bring up a new classification perniciousware (or pernware)
Is ASK toolbar causing a gradual, subtle harmful effect on the user's computer? I don't think it's possible to answer no to this question. For me it's of course, at the very least by consuming resources (disk space, memory, cpu time) on unwanted software. So it's pernware
Is Oracle causing a gradual, subtle harmful effect on the user's computer by including the ASK toolbar, specially when it's the default installer behavior to install it? Yes (not no here either)-> Java installer is pernware.
Both Malicious and Pernicious definitions supplied by Google search:)
As a side note, I would say most big players are having serious pernicious behaviour on software distribution.
By automatically configuring the startup of their apps/services without asking; bundling software which has little to nothing to do with the provided one (i.e: Flash including an antivirus...) etc.
And ofc the well known un readable by general layman EULAs which gives them superpowers to do mostly anything they want with YOUR computer, software, and data.
Worst thing is. The smaller players uses these as excuses to do the same, and people has "accostumed" to this, and pay no longer any notice.
Opening wide breaches in most security and allowing anyone with malicious intent to do anything they want...
No only that.
Quote from their site "The HTTPS Everywhere extension fixes these problems by using a clever technology to rewrite requests to these sites to HTTPS"
What is this clever technology?
Could it be a hook on every single request, analysing the host to "know" if the request "should be rewritten as HTTPS"
How do they decide when a server has HTTPS capabilities? Are they just "probing" each webserver? Do they have a DB? Do website owners have a say in this?
What is disabling the extension from logging and saving a DB on every single request you send to the web?
What is disabling the extension from saving your username and passwords for sensible sites?
More than securing your phone browser, this seems like the definition of spyware to me...
This should be not forgotten: What is Software? A set of instructions executed to obtain a result.
While the term SDR is broadly used on the article, it just means the hardware(radio chip) is delegating the decision making to a piece of software... Not necessarily end-user level software.
This device is just a chip, unless we live in 1970s cartoons you can't install a chip on a computer. You need a controller board which works on the same protocol as the devices comm bus on the motherboard. And this controller board usually have a controller chip which holds the firmware for the interactions between it's components. Thus having the software which controls the radio chip and communicates with the OS level driver which allows for user level apps to "use" the device.
That, would be the worst move ever done in the history of computers... Once again, history shows historic errors have been repetead time and time again.
Your point is valid. I too tend to keep my books for as long as the paper takes to brake from oldage.
But you can't deny not everyone in the world is willing to increase the lifecycle of books as we and others do.
Every book I had to buy in high school was resold or given free to undergraded schoolmates, but most my class mates did quite the opposite, some even burnt them as a way to show relief from school years end.
Also you didn't take in account text-books, analytic reports, manuals, and plenty others mass printed books which can cost several thousands to millions paper sheets.
Anyway as you said a tablet is as good as any e-paper device for me, but it doesn't mean a Tablet is better cause it lets you connect to internet, convergence is not the only thing in mind when you want to read a book
THE BLOODY STUFF DOESN'T EXIST YET. Yes it does, a few products are already out there.
I for one can't really see the benefit of having e-paper used to package my groceries. Have you thought of taking your own bag to the store? maybe a ecologic one?
Just because we pay a premium for paperbacks does not mean we will pay the same for a tiny amount of data. I totally agree with you on this one.
Books unlike say CD's got tremendous extra value for some reason. Maybe it is because most bookstores don't blast our ears with crap music that the idiot behind the counter happens to like, and most bookstores actually bother to hire people who like their job. I like going to my local bookstore, the musicstore BAH. Forget it, non consumables stores are in for fast disappearing.
WHO IS RAKING IN THE CASH? Wanna bet it ain't the author? I will bet you, and win. How many Authors do you know who has the printing facilities, warehousing, distribution and publicity logistics for mass selling books? It's the Editorial the one ranking up the cash. Maybe the author will see a little increase in his royalties, but pretty much sure it will be VEEERY little.
I agree with you, if they save this much money... I wanna save it too.
LOWER THE GODDAMN PRICE! third time is the charm, So I'm quoting your price rants for the third time:D
From 2012 predicted and scheduled events
February 6 -- If she is still on the throne, Elizabeth II will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. A series of festivities across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations will likely run throughout the year. There won't be enough e-ink to fill in that many billboards.
May 20 -- Annular solar eclipse, a Sunday. Batteries won't suffice to let us read that day.
October 19 -- at 1:36 UTC, the Earth will be home to 7 billion people, according to the US Census Bureau. 7 billion people will mean 7 billion readers... come on, Dead Tree Format won't suffice.
November 13 -- Total solar eclipse (visible in northern Australia and the South Pacific). Good luck I'm in South Atlantic, I'll be able to keep reading.
December 21 -- The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, notably used by the Maya civilization among others of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, completes its thirteenth b'ak'tun cycle since the calendar's mythical starting point (equivalent to 3114 BC August 11 in the proleptic Gregorian calendar, according to the "GMT-correlation" JDN= 584283).[7] The Long Count b'ak'tun date of this starting point (13.0.0.0.0) is repeated, for the first time in a span of approximately 5,125 solar years. The significance of this period-ending to the pre-Columbian Maya themselves is unclear, and there is an incomplete inscription (Tortuguero Stela 6) that records this date. It is also to be found carved on the walls of the Temple of Inscriptions in Palenque, where it functions as a base date from which other dates are computed.[8] However, it is conjectured that this may represent in the Maya belief system a transition from the current Creation world into the next. The December solstice for 2012 also occurs on this day. Yep, they were right... no more ink over paper just flipping ping pong balls from now on.
Based on the Bible being the first mass printed book, it will be a total new era.
# December 23 -- The alternative date for the completion of the thirteenth b'ak'tun cycle in the Maya calendar, using a version of the GMT-correlation based on a JDN of 584285 (a.k.a. the "Lounsbury correlation"), which is supported by a smaller number of Mayanist researchers.[9] Also, my 30th birthday. Of course it's the most important fact.
I am the target audience. No, you're not. You are not interested in just reading a book. You are insterested in much more at the same time.
Have you taken into account the ecologic impact paper books have? or paper(even recycled) printed newspapers?
Any "normal" book reader as you said, with a little ecologic conscience would choose an electronic paper device, even those who just want to save money on the long run.
Also, you seem to expect a full grown product from a child technology (it's still in pretty early development).
I share your vision, on tablets being practical, just as much as any modern cellphone, blackberry, laptops, etc. But sometimes it's more comfortable a just for book reading device when you want to read a book.
Sure they're all kind of expensive, but you can load up with free classic books from Project Gutenberg and you'll save money in the long run (if you read a lot and are too lazy/busy to make trips to the library). QFT, I'm a novels enthusiast but books costs, difficulty to take along and lazyness to go to the book stores makes me read one to two books a year tops, I don't read on a PC cause it really messes my eyes and I don't own a laptop.
I'm waiting for e-ink based devices to grow in popularity, include an optional back light for night reading as the ones I've seen don't come in such a flavor, and for virtual libraries becoming popular web 3.0 era e-businesses.
Once all this happen (and we know the last one WILL happen), I will buy oneof this devices and be happier than kid in a candy store.
The only good use I can think of is for:
Adaptive GUI coloring, when I get overheated because some lame-o though bright yellow could be a funny background color.
Music automatic volume control, when stressed low volume music can calm me.
Maybe a health advisor (Clippo better stays 6 feet under or I'm suing microsoft on necromancy)
For making the software interact better with the user, each software should have infinite interaction ways...
So I guess programmers would be the first ones needing this device, but there won't be stress headband ready software yet !!
Time's effect
on
Ask Rob Malda
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
10 years is a long, long time... How much would you say time has affected your personal feelings and drives related to slashdot content?
Is Microsoft applying a more serius and complete beta testing enviroment for newer products like Vista? I mean the "all the users of the world testing it" didnt seem to work very much good. In fact I think the most capable guys when talking about beta testing, dont bother to free ride an uncomplete product, so the real testing done by users is way uncomplete.
Slashdot Mirror
"once someone puts your name in the Peeple system, it's there unless you violate the site's terms of service"
Can't wait to violate me some terms of service!
Came to say that. Can't get outta the system, get kicked!!
What I meant (and failed) to say, is that maliciousness must be taken into account when a software is to be classified as Malware. Viruses => Malware. Cracks, Keygens, etc => Malware. Yes, their intent is to violate security algorithms. Even if some of us benefit from it. Spyware (Including invisible proxies, keyloggers, etc) => Can both be malware, or just pernicious. Or even beneficial. Depends on intention and use. I find it very hard to believe Oracle would have the intent of wasting your computing resources and giving you a hard time by bundling the ASK toolbar in the Java Installer. I believe their intent is to earn money with sponsors. Yet it is pernicious behavior, since it non intently causes you harming. I keep repeating the example from the OP, but this is the same for mostly everything. Clarification on beneficial spyware (before the flaming starts): I find it useful when the application generates a crash log and allows me to send this report to the software maker. This behavior can be classified as spyware, since it's actually recording my footprint in the application. But (hopefully) with the beneficial intent of improving the software.
I will go by the definition of malicious as "characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm"
:)
Oracle has the intent of causing harm by installing the ASK toolbar? Yes -> malware, No -> not malware.
ASK has the intent of causing harm with the toolbar? Yes -> malware, No -> not malware.
Buuuuuuut....
I will also go by the definition of pernicious as "having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way" To bring up a new classification perniciousware (or pernware)
Is ASK toolbar causing a gradual, subtle harmful effect on the user's computer? I don't think it's possible to answer no to this question. For me it's of course, at the very least by consuming resources (disk space, memory, cpu time) on unwanted software. So it's pernware
Is Oracle causing a gradual, subtle harmful effect on the user's computer by including the ASK toolbar, specially when it's the default installer behavior to install it? Yes (not no here either)-> Java installer is pernware.
Both Malicious and Pernicious definitions supplied by Google search
As a side note, I would say most big players are having serious pernicious behaviour on software distribution. By automatically configuring the startup of their apps/services without asking; bundling software which has little to nothing to do with the provided one (i.e: Flash including an antivirus...) etc. And ofc the well known un readable by general layman EULAs which gives them superpowers to do mostly anything they want with YOUR computer, software, and data.
Worst thing is. The smaller players uses these as excuses to do the same, and people has "accostumed" to this, and pay no longer any notice. Opening wide breaches in most security and allowing anyone with malicious intent to do anything they want...
No only that.
Quote from their site "The HTTPS Everywhere extension fixes these problems by using a clever technology to rewrite requests to these sites to HTTPS"
What is this clever technology?
Could it be a hook on every single request, analysing the host to "know" if the request "should be rewritten as HTTPS"
How do they decide when a server has HTTPS capabilities? Are they just "probing" each webserver? Do they have a DB? Do website owners have a say in this?
What is disabling the extension from logging and saving a DB on every single request you send to the web?
What is disabling the extension from saving your username and passwords for sensible sites?
More than securing your phone browser, this seems like the definition of spyware to me...
Increased production cost for uping the production factor?
Since when mass production was a cost increaser?
This should be not forgotten: What is Software? A set of instructions executed to obtain a result.
While the term SDR is broadly used on the article, it just means the hardware(radio chip) is delegating the decision making to a piece of software... Not necessarily end-user level software.
This device is just a chip, unless we live in 1970s cartoons you can't install a chip on a computer. You need a controller board which works on the same protocol as the devices comm bus on the motherboard. And this controller board usually have a controller chip which holds the firmware for the interactions between it's components. Thus having the software which controls the radio chip and communicates with the OS level driver which allows for user level apps to "use" the device.
I certainly wouldn't like to have a TCP packet lost each time I press a key on my keyboard :)
That, would be the worst move ever done in the history of computers...
Once again, history shows historic errors have been repetead time and time again.
Finally, WTF?? No Bluetooth??
* ducks *
LOL!! How about infusion?
Your point is valid. I too tend to keep my books for as long as the paper takes to brake from oldage.
But you can't deny not everyone in the world is willing to increase the lifecycle of books as we and others do.
Every book I had to buy in high school was resold or given free to undergraded schoolmates, but most my class mates did quite the opposite, some even burnt them as a way to show relief from school years end.
Also you didn't take in account text-books, analytic reports, manuals, and plenty others mass printed books which can cost several thousands to millions paper sheets.
Anyway as you said a tablet is as good as any e-paper device for me, but it doesn't mean a Tablet is better cause it lets you connect to internet, convergence is not the only thing in mind when you want to read a book
How many Authors do you know who has the printing facilities, warehousing, distribution and publicity logistics for mass selling books? It's the Editorial the one ranking up the cash. Maybe the author will see a little increase in his royalties, but pretty much sure it will be VEEERY little.
I agree with you, if they save this much money... I wanna save it too. LOWER THE GODDAMN PRICE! third time is the charm, So I'm quoting your price rants for the third time
February 6 -- If she is still on the throne, Elizabeth II will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. A series of festivities across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations will likely run throughout the year. There won't be enough e-ink to fill in that many billboards. May 20 -- Annular solar eclipse, a Sunday. Batteries won't suffice to let us read that day. October 19 -- at 1:36 UTC, the Earth will be home to 7 billion people, according to the US Census Bureau. 7 billion people will mean 7 billion readers... come on, Dead Tree Format won't suffice. November 13 -- Total solar eclipse (visible in northern Australia and the South Pacific). Good luck I'm in South Atlantic, I'll be able to keep reading. December 21 -- The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, notably used by the Maya civilization among others of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, completes its thirteenth b'ak'tun cycle since the calendar's mythical starting point (equivalent to 3114 BC August 11 in the proleptic Gregorian calendar, according to the "GMT-correlation" JDN= 584283).[7] The Long Count b'ak'tun date of this starting point (13.0.0.0.0) is repeated, for the first time in a span of approximately 5,125 solar years. The significance of this period-ending to the pre-Columbian Maya themselves is unclear, and there is an incomplete inscription (Tortuguero Stela 6) that records this date. It is also to be found carved on the walls of the Temple of Inscriptions in Palenque, where it functions as a base date from which other dates are computed.[8] However, it is conjectured that this may represent in the Maya belief system a transition from the current Creation world into the next. The December solstice for 2012 also occurs on this day. Yep, they were right... no more ink over paper just flipping ping pong balls from now on.
Based on the Bible being the first mass printed book, it will be a total new era. # December 23 -- The alternative date for the completion of the thirteenth b'ak'tun cycle in the Maya calendar, using a version of the GMT-correlation based on a JDN of 584285 (a.k.a. the "Lounsbury correlation"), which is supported by a smaller number of Mayanist researchers.[9] Also, my 30th birthday. Of course it's the most important fact.
Have you taken into account the ecologic impact paper books have? or paper(even recycled) printed newspapers?
Any "normal" book reader as you said, with a little ecologic conscience would choose an electronic paper device, even those who just want to save money on the long run.
Also, you seem to expect a full grown product from a child technology (it's still in pretty early development).
I share your vision, on tablets being practical, just as much as any modern cellphone, blackberry, laptops, etc. But sometimes it's more comfortable a just for book reading device when you want to read a book.
I'm waiting for e-ink based devices to grow in popularity, include an optional back light for night reading as the ones I've seen don't come in such a flavor, and for virtual libraries becoming popular web 3.0 era e-businesses. Once all this happen (and we know the last one WILL happen), I will buy oneof this devices and be happier than kid in a candy store.
The only good use I can think of is for: Adaptive GUI coloring, when I get overheated because some lame-o though bright yellow could be a funny background color. Music automatic volume control, when stressed low volume music can calm me. Maybe a health advisor (Clippo better stays 6 feet under or I'm suing microsoft on necromancy) For making the software interact better with the user, each software should have infinite interaction ways... So I guess programmers would be the first ones needing this device, but there won't be stress headband ready software yet !!
10 years is a long, long time... How much would you say time has affected your personal feelings and drives related to slashdot content?
I vote a soundly YES! When I played Eternal Darkness I was so much more scared at sounds, images and inexpected events than I were with any movie.
Is Microsoft applying a more serius and complete beta testing enviroment for newer products like Vista?
I mean the "all the users of the world testing it" didnt seem to work very much good.
In fact I think the most capable guys when talking about beta testing, dont bother to free ride an uncomplete product, so the real testing done by users is way uncomplete.