When you purchase a copyrighted work you own the media that it came on, meaning you can do anything you want with it as long as it is not a derivative work. Just like that Cleanflix crap from earlier this week, they are breaking copyright law by producing derivative works without the concent of the copyright holder. When you buy a copy of a CD, DVD, book, magazine, anything, you own that media and can sell it, destroy it, burn it, use it to wipe your ass. You just can't cut out the letters to make a ransom note - that is copyright infringment.
Because in any group of people there are the legits and the posers. A real geek is going to openly admit to listening to music with some musical merit like jazz, classic & progressive rock, or just about anything that rarely ever makes it onto billboard. But for the wannabe geeks, they need to proclaim this sort of thing in order to prove their geek cred. It's all about image and their way to garner respect from people.
Plus they're all middle class white boys from the burbs who don't know anything about bitchez, ho's, bling, benz, poppin' caps but couldn't buy enough Death Row records. So when they decided to be rappers the only thing they knew about rapping was geek stuff. I get this image of Michael Bolton from Office Space dressed up like Grandmaster Flash.
I was thinking about something similar myself. Why wouldn't someone just write a little game, like Super Breakout Tetris 3000 and stick a keylogger in it. Spread it by word of mouth / email and have an offshore webpage that posts top scores. Send all the data encrypted to the server which includes the keylogger logs. Use some simple social engineering to convince people to log into their email address while the application is open - like to register an account. The hard part is the propagation, hence the website, offer to forward the game onto friends - just enter their email address. Once you have their email it would be a walk in the park to set up a database and keep statistics on them. I'll let your imagination run wild with that.
... need to stop. urge to be malicious rising...
There is so much more that someone can do to get someone than to simply own their system. Sure it might be hacker pride to be able to completely control a system, but all most as much can be accomplished with just user level permissions.
A while back I worked for a virtual company - there was no brick and mortor location - that sold car insurance to high risk people. Brilliant idea if you ask me, no where for anyone to show up with a shotgun and shoot somebody! I think it was American Horizons or something like that. If you bought it, I probably took your call, and I'm sorry!
My best call was from a man who had been on hold for 45 minutes and screaming at me about how he wasn't able to have dinner with his family because he had to stay on the phone. His screaming continued for a good 5 minutes before I was able to say anything. Now I was the last person on the lines until we switched to the evening call center so I was all this guy was going to talk to. So I told him that I was the last person left, all my collegues had gone home to eat dinner with their families and I was left there to listen to him scream at me when I could be at home with my family. There was a lull for a good 30 seconds before I said, "Now what can I do to help you." We had his issue taken care of it a matter of moments. He was very respectful after that.
Another favorite was when a caller got very irrate and asked to speak with the manager I would tell them I was the manager and I was all they were going to get to talk to. It's strange how people suddenly assume that once the manager is on the line everything is going to be fine.
A long time ago I was very similar to you. I had been working with computers since the ripe age of 5, with my father's 8086, installing software, writing code, and maintaining the 286 DOS box, objecting to upgrading from 3.11 to Win95. I knew these machines inside and out; I had completed hardware upgrades (that violated warranty, because back then, looking at a store bought computer voided the warranty) and generally reversed every stupid problem my family did to that machine. But that was years ago.
But then I decided that all of that wasn't worth it anymore. Why should I have to help people keep their computers clean. When I did get paid, it was more that I thought I could ever make in my life; $40/hour to defrag a harddrive and install a ram module was a steal especially when you are 16. Even the certifications looked to be a good idea, and I thought about it, but there was no way I was going to throw down hundreds of dollars for something like that.
And then I realized something, certs like A+, MSCE and Oracle are worthless (at the very least the entry level certs). They really don't get you anything. While friends of mine were getting certified and making $40,000+ a year right out of highschool I knew that a degree was going to do so much more. So the dot com boom busted and they were out of a job, no money, credit card debt, and new cars they couldn't afford. I did what any enterprising young college student would do and I started networking friends, family, teachers and found that my Shakespeare teacher's husband (English Lit is one of my best subjects) was a big shot manager for a global defense contractor. Before I knew it I was a coop intern making more per hour than anyone else I knew. To this day I still work for the company, going on 5+ years.
But my point being is this, people who have walked that path before as a tech just realize that it's just not enjoyable for the long term and decide to just simply pay someone else to do it for them, like an auto mechanic for a car. Second, people need to realize that you get what you pay for. If you want good tech support go to a local college and post an add on the bulletin board and you'll have a few dozen people contacting you for help. Every one of them is looking to build a resume and you can get killer rates for talented individuals. Third, remember that you are expendable. There is always some one out there with more knowledge, experience, certs, better looking, smells better, etc than you; knowing that will help you realize what you do and how you go about doing it. Finally, no matter how qualified you are for a position there is no guarantee that you will get the job. It can go to someone else with less skill than you, or maybe because they are easier on the eyes, tell better stories because building a team is more about how the team works together than individuals in the team.
I ransacked my parents house a few weeks ago looking for spare computer parts from college and found my self the old Voodoo 2; been tempted to put it in an old frankenstein box again.
I convinced my dad that we needed to get a Voodoo 2 at Best Buy for the sole reason of being able to play Need For Speed. Everything went from lame solid colors to fully textured amazingness. We coupled that with a drop in 200 Mhz overclocking chip and that damn Packard Bell lasted us a good 5 years!
But wouldn't it be a logical path that once this service is included into the main Windows installation it becomes a sort of built in watchdog. So you have a constantly updated and always watching application that doesn't kill the system like McAfee or Symantecs offerings that can provide zero-day protection to exploits? Then once the patch is available it is downloaded from the Windows Live Update service.
So I have the Windows Malware Buster running on my machine and there is an issued warning for a possible exploit. That day Windows Malware Buster updates it's definitions and is now aware of the potential risk and how to remove it or prevent it from installing/infecting. The next day, slashdot.org gets infected (hypothetical of course) and the exploit is, well, exploited. The Windows Malware Buster eliminates the exploit before it has an opportunity to do any exploiting. Later in the week, an official patch is downloaded from Windows Live Update.
Funny. Linux sometimes is just not an option. Currently in my posession are one Debian server, one Ubuntu laptop and one Windows Desktop. If there were applications that I needed available on a linux distribution then I would switch the desktop machine to Linux. Until that time, I will continue to run Windows on the desktop. For that reason, I would like to see a hardened Windows.
As an aside, I have never had a security issue with any windows computer I have ever owned and maintained, this dates back to the very beginning of windows 95. The same follows through to my Linux computers. However, I cannot say the same for other Windows computers that I have had to restore. This can only be a good thing. Windows becoming more secure allows competent computer users (like those of us who prowl slashdot) to get back to doing work instead of fixing everyone else's mistakes.
All those products do is bog down computers. Give me a hardened version of Windows that is more resistant to attacks and doesn't require me to run heavy applications to keep my computer clean. Give me that and I'll be happy. Good Riddance to McAfee and Symantec.
So why not just turn your job into the "perfect" job. Just because you are doing one thing doesn't mean that there aren't opportunities with more rewarding potential inside your company. If you want to be doing something more challenging just ask! Management always has ideas of things to do, side projects to work on, software that needs a design overhaul. Or take a bold stance and propose something that will "add value" to your company and project and have it be something that you really want to work on.
Most manangers I have worked with do not like to lose a talented person. There is usually have some sort of investment in them.
If this does not work, and you are still unhappy, jump ship.
I was thinking of that after I posted it and figured it was completely wrong. It's been almost 7 years since I did any major chorale singing and I forgot to check my resources. There were so many little things I used to know, but alas, age fades them.
I have sung in professional and ametuer choirs also. The one thing that helped me the most was getting a few minutes, maybe fifteen at most, with the director before or after rehearsal to go through the material you haven't mastered yet. Just remember a minor third is the second note of "Mary had a little lamb". Those little musical mnemonics can help a lot. I often jot them onto my score so I can remember particularly tricky passages.
Coders may do the real work, but I would never trade positions with my manager. That has got to be the single worst spot a person could ever be in. Now as far as CEOs go...
1. Don't get in trouble with the law (other than traffic/minor juvenile offenses)
2. Don't screw up your credit (i.e. bankruptcy)
3. Don't use drugs (rather, don't admit to or get caught using drugs)
4. Keep your alternative lifestyle choices in the closet
Contrary to popular belief, the US government doesn't care what you have done with your life as long as you are honest and put all of your cards out on the table first. Obtaining a security clearance is more a test of character than anything else. They recognize that no one is perfect/ideal. I know this from my experiences gaining a clearance and from fellow friends of mine and their experiences.
My roommate passed the DLAB with flying colors and was on track to learn arabic for his unit, but he has been shipped out now, so that's not going to happen.
Yeah, I get that your post was intented to be a little funny.
Anyone can copy. Competition is an important part of the web field. It is what drives new innovation and pushes the boundaries of what is possible. Just because it looks like Google or Apple did something first, doesn't mean that it is the end all of that technology.
There is nothing wrong with copying. Find a new and interesting way to implement the technology, extend the functionality, and give us end users something enjoyable and interesting to use.
I personally have a google start page. I don't use it other than as my browser home, but I am interested in their techniques for smooth interaction. I will most certainly use some of their ideas for any upcoming projects I might have.
Slashdot Mirror
This is my Trace Bustah, Bustah... Bustah!!!
Thank you The Big HitWhen you purchase a copyrighted work you own the media that it came on, meaning you can do anything you want with it as long as it is not a derivative work. Just like that Cleanflix crap from earlier this week, they are breaking copyright law by producing derivative works without the concent of the copyright holder. When you buy a copy of a CD, DVD, book, magazine, anything, you own that media and can sell it, destroy it, burn it, use it to wipe your ass. You just can't cut out the letters to make a ransom note - that is copyright infringment.
Because in any group of people there are the legits and the posers. A real geek is going to openly admit to listening to music with some musical merit like jazz, classic & progressive rock, or just about anything that rarely ever makes it onto billboard. But for the wannabe geeks, they need to proclaim this sort of thing in order to prove their geek cred. It's all about image and their way to garner respect from people.
Plus they're all middle class white boys from the burbs who don't know anything about bitchez, ho's, bling, benz, poppin' caps but couldn't buy enough Death Row records. So when they decided to be rappers the only thing they knew about rapping was geek stuff. I get this image of Michael Bolton from Office Space dressed up like Grandmaster Flash.
I was thinking about something similar myself. Why wouldn't someone just write a little game, like Super Breakout Tetris 3000 and stick a keylogger in it. Spread it by word of mouth / email and have an offshore webpage that posts top scores. Send all the data encrypted to the server which includes the keylogger logs. Use some simple social engineering to convince people to log into their email address while the application is open - like to register an account. The hard part is the propagation, hence the website, offer to forward the game onto friends - just enter their email address. Once you have their email it would be a walk in the park to set up a database and keep statistics on them. I'll let your imagination run wild with that.
... need to stop. urge to be malicious rising ...
There is so much more that someone can do to get someone than to simply own their system. Sure it might be hacker pride to be able to completely control a system, but all most as much can be accomplished with just user level permissions.
A while back I worked for a virtual company - there was no brick and mortor location - that sold car insurance to high risk people. Brilliant idea if you ask me, no where for anyone to show up with a shotgun and shoot somebody! I think it was American Horizons or something like that. If you bought it, I probably took your call, and I'm sorry!
My best call was from a man who had been on hold for 45 minutes and screaming at me about how he wasn't able to have dinner with his family because he had to stay on the phone. His screaming continued for a good 5 minutes before I was able to say anything. Now I was the last person on the lines until we switched to the evening call center so I was all this guy was going to talk to. So I told him that I was the last person left, all my collegues had gone home to eat dinner with their families and I was left there to listen to him scream at me when I could be at home with my family. There was a lull for a good 30 seconds before I said, "Now what can I do to help you." We had his issue taken care of it a matter of moments. He was very respectful after that.
Another favorite was when a caller got very irrate and asked to speak with the manager I would tell them I was the manager and I was all they were going to get to talk to. It's strange how people suddenly assume that once the manager is on the line everything is going to be fine.
A long time ago I was very similar to you. I had been working with computers since the ripe age of 5, with my father's 8086, installing software, writing code, and maintaining the 286 DOS box, objecting to upgrading from 3.11 to Win95. I knew these machines inside and out; I had completed hardware upgrades (that violated warranty, because back then, looking at a store bought computer voided the warranty) and generally reversed every stupid problem my family did to that machine. But that was years ago.
But then I decided that all of that wasn't worth it anymore. Why should I have to help people keep their computers clean. When I did get paid, it was more that I thought I could ever make in my life; $40/hour to defrag a harddrive and install a ram module was a steal especially when you are 16. Even the certifications looked to be a good idea, and I thought about it, but there was no way I was going to throw down hundreds of dollars for something like that.
And then I realized something, certs like A+, MSCE and Oracle are worthless (at the very least the entry level certs). They really don't get you anything. While friends of mine were getting certified and making $40,000+ a year right out of highschool I knew that a degree was going to do so much more. So the dot com boom busted and they were out of a job, no money, credit card debt, and new cars they couldn't afford. I did what any enterprising young college student would do and I started networking friends, family, teachers and found that my Shakespeare teacher's husband (English Lit is one of my best subjects) was a big shot manager for a global defense contractor. Before I knew it I was a coop intern making more per hour than anyone else I knew. To this day I still work for the company, going on 5+ years.
But my point being is this, people who have walked that path before as a tech just realize that it's just not enjoyable for the long term and decide to just simply pay someone else to do it for them, like an auto mechanic for a car. Second, people need to realize that you get what you pay for. If you want good tech support go to a local college and post an add on the bulletin board and you'll have a few dozen people contacting you for help. Every one of them is looking to build a resume and you can get killer rates for talented individuals. Third, remember that you are expendable. There is always some one out there with more knowledge, experience, certs, better looking, smells better, etc than you; knowing that will help you realize what you do and how you go about doing it. Finally, no matter how qualified you are for a position there is no guarantee that you will get the job. It can go to someone else with less skill than you, or maybe because they are easier on the eyes, tell better stories because building a team is more about how the team works together than individuals in the team.
Sorry... that was a tangent.
I ransacked my parents house a few weeks ago looking for spare computer parts from college and found my self the old Voodoo 2; been tempted to put it in an old frankenstein box again.
I convinced my dad that we needed to get a Voodoo 2 at Best Buy for the sole reason of being able to play Need For Speed. Everything went from lame solid colors to fully textured amazingness. We coupled that with a drop in 200 Mhz overclocking chip and that damn Packard Bell lasted us a good 5 years!
I understand this is a meat market, but I don't think we need the USDA's regulation!
That was beyond pathetic. I think I am dumber for having read it.
WTF, why am I responding to an Anonymous Coward?
Answer, you saw it in a movie once. Here is a hint, it stars a woman whose name beings with 'L' and ends in 'inda Lovelace'.
Sure. After work. Maybe we can find a decoy.
So I have the Windows Malware Buster running on my machine and there is an issued warning for a possible exploit. That day Windows Malware Buster updates it's definitions and is now aware of the potential risk and how to remove it or prevent it from installing/infecting. The next day, slashdot.org gets infected (hypothetical of course) and the exploit is, well, exploited. The Windows Malware Buster eliminates the exploit before it has an opportunity to do any exploiting. Later in the week, an official patch is downloaded from Windows Live Update.
I can only see this as being a good thing.
Funny. Linux sometimes is just not an option. Currently in my posession are one Debian server, one Ubuntu laptop and one Windows Desktop. If there were applications that I needed available on a linux distribution then I would switch the desktop machine to Linux. Until that time, I will continue to run Windows on the desktop. For that reason, I would like to see a hardened Windows.
As an aside, I have never had a security issue with any windows computer I have ever owned and maintained, this dates back to the very beginning of windows 95. The same follows through to my Linux computers. However, I cannot say the same for other Windows computers that I have had to restore. This can only be a good thing. Windows becoming more secure allows competent computer users (like those of us who prowl slashdot) to get back to doing work instead of fixing everyone else's mistakes.
All those products do is bog down computers. Give me a hardened version of Windows that is more resistant to attacks and doesn't require me to run heavy applications to keep my computer clean. Give me that and I'll be happy. Good Riddance to McAfee and Symantec.
It's so famous it's IN famous.
[sarcasm] I mean come on, for all intensive purposes that's just lazy, they must be taking spelling for granite. [/sarcasm]
So why not just turn your job into the "perfect" job. Just because you are doing one thing doesn't mean that there aren't opportunities with more rewarding potential inside your company. If you want to be doing something more challenging just ask! Management always has ideas of things to do, side projects to work on, software that needs a design overhaul. Or take a bold stance and propose something that will "add value" to your company and project and have it be something that you really want to work on.
Most manangers I have worked with do not like to lose a talented person. There is usually have some sort of investment in them.
If this does not work, and you are still unhappy, jump ship.
He probably got a job. I remember him mentioning he was not employed recently.
I was thinking of that after I posted it and figured it was completely wrong. It's been almost 7 years since I did any major chorale singing and I forgot to check my resources. There were so many little things I used to know, but alas, age fades them.
I have sung in professional and ametuer choirs also. The one thing that helped me the most was getting a few minutes, maybe fifteen at most, with the director before or after rehearsal to go through the material you haven't mastered yet. Just remember a minor third is the second note of "Mary had a little lamb". Those little musical mnemonics can help a lot. I often jot them onto my score so I can remember particularly tricky passages.
I just looked at the main page and saw "Windows Is Officially Broken" and then it disappeared. Did anyone else notice?
Coders may do the real work, but I would never trade positions with my manager. That has got to be the single worst spot a person could ever be in. Now as far as CEOs go...
You sir, are and invalid.
1. Don't get in trouble with the law (other than traffic/minor juvenile offenses)
2. Don't screw up your credit (i.e. bankruptcy)
3. Don't use drugs (rather, don't admit to or get caught using drugs)
4. Keep your alternative lifestyle choices in the closet
Contrary to popular belief, the US government doesn't care what you have done with your life as long as you are honest and put all of your cards out on the table first. Obtaining a security clearance is more a test of character than anything else. They recognize that no one is perfect/ideal. I know this from my experiences gaining a clearance and from fellow friends of mine and their experiences.
My roommate passed the DLAB with flying colors and was on track to learn arabic for his unit, but he has been shipped out now, so that's not going to happen.
Yeah, I get that your post was intented to be a little funny.
Anyone can copy. Competition is an important part of the web field. It is what drives new innovation and pushes the boundaries of what is possible. Just because it looks like Google or Apple did something first, doesn't mean that it is the end all of that technology.
There is nothing wrong with copying. Find a new and interesting way to implement the technology, extend the functionality, and give us end users something enjoyable and interesting to use.
I personally have a google start page. I don't use it other than as my browser home, but I am interested in their techniques for smooth interaction. I will most certainly use some of their ideas for any upcoming projects I might have.