Published on
20090505 in
Stuff and Tech.
Tags: e-mail, glug, internet, internet connectivity solutions, linux, linux users group, local network, luser, mail, mail list, man in the middle attack, network, software, Tech, website, windows.
If you are an IT professional providing customers with Internet connectivity solutions you know that the internet is a scary place. Back in the dark ages (before 1993) when things started out everyone using the internet trusted each other. Unfortunately things changed drastically and trust is a thing of the past on the internet.
When you set up an internet connection for a customer you do everything you can to protect them, you set up a restrictive firewall, you have a proxy that enforces policy for web surfing as far as possible. You also use all possible means to block spam and viruses in e-mail before they reach the lusers that still believe Bill Gates will give them free Nokia cellphones.
After you did all the technical stuff, you tell everyone (you know it falls on deaf ears, but you have to try) that they must not visit those porn sites, that they must copy links in e-mail and paste them into their browser rather than simply clicking on them etc. So what happens when one of the lusers that actually listened goes to a legitimate website and still have his windows computer exploited? Or if they are lucky the lusers get a warning from their anti-virus software and the site gets blocked.
Continue reading ‘The internet is a scary place!’
Published on
20090311 in
Bad Tech and Stuff.
Tags: ccc, cell phone providers, chaos computer club, clueless, computer, computers, curse, equipment, hack, hack a day, nokia, nokia smartphone, software, Tech, vulnerabilities, vulnerability.
While browsing through hack a day yesterday I found this Nokia smartphone vulnerability.
If you go to the link you will notice that it was the Chaos Computer Club that published the vulnerability. I have written about them before and think they do great work to raise awareness about the risks in computers and other electronics. Some may think that they are irresponsible, but are the large companies that release equipment with these kinds of vulnerabilities not way more irresponsible?
Continue reading ‘Curse Of Silence’
Published on
20080723 in
Bad Tech.
Tags: Apple, blog, crash, fun, ICT, licence, linux, Mac, mail, microsoft, open source, software, sysadmin, systems, user, vista, war, windows, work.
Yesterday Andrew McGill posted the message below on the Gauteng Linux User Group mailing list. Because he is not blogging I’m doing it for him. What he is describing is one of the biggest frustrations people have with so called new and improved software. more....
Slashdot
News for nerds, stuff that matters
Brazil Considering Legalizing File Sharing
An anonymous reader writes "It looks like Brazil may be the country to watch if you're interested in much more consumer-friendly copyright laws (assuming US diplomatic pressure doesn't interfere). As that country goes through a copyright reform process, among the proposals is one that would create fines not just for infringing, but also for hindering fair use and the public domain. Also, there is a big push underway, with widespread support — even from some artists groups — to legalize file sharing in exchange for a small levy (~$1.74/month) on your broadband connection. Of course, one reason why Brazil may be doing it this way is because of the massive success the Brazilian musical genre technobrega has had by embracing file sharing as a way to promote new works, and making money (often lots of it) through other avenues, like live shows."
more....
Published on
20080409 in
Bad Tech and Stuff.
Tags: brute force, clueless, Countermeasures, countries, FUSSP, ICT, idiot, Mac, machine guns, mail, mail list, mail server, microsoft, network, open relays, open source, police, postfix, software, spam problem, Spammers, suck, Tech, ultimate solution, user, war, weapons, windows, work, zombies.
Anyone that runs a mail server very quickly learns how to fight spam if he wants to do his job properly. It is also one of the favourite pastimes of the clueless to think up stupid ways to fight spam. Today I saw a brilliant answer to one of these ideas on the postfix mail list. more....
Published on
20080330 in
Bad Tech and Stuff.
Tags: authentication, bad idea, blog, e-mail, exchange, fun, internet, ldap server, mail, mail server, memo system, mere mortals, open source, open source system, openldap, optimist, plugin system, postfix, runes, software, suck, systems, upgrade, user, vista, war, widows, windows, work.
WordPress, the software I use for this blog is great and has a wonderful plugin system that allows people to add functionality that is not originally included in wordpress. Unfortunately many of the available plugins are not so wonderful and often do not work as expected (advertised). more....
