* Posts by adnim

2081 publicly visible posts • joined 11 Apr 2007

How do you future-proof your critical IT gear and other systems?

adnim
Happy

How do you future-proof your critical IT gear and other systems?

For me, its always short term, things move too quick for long term future proofing.

Don't go proprietary, avoid lock in. Use industry standard hardware and open source software, move along with progress as that progress becomes ratified and stable. Have a clue about what one is doing and wishes to achieve. Evolve your systems and keep it simple, use the command line and avoid the layers of separation from the underlying system written by third parties that allow a five year old to administer a server or a database. Did I say avoid lock in?

I bought a 386SX once to replace my Epson PCe. I am still using it although it has evolved a bit over the years. To be honest nothing of the original remains. I didn't realise how future proof it was when I bought it.

Anonymous UK 'leader' fined for revealing ID of rape complainant

adnim

Presumably

if the accused is cleared and proved innocent then the accusations are either false, erroneous, wrong or malicious. (immoral and expensive lawyers aside)

Being a victim of rape is nothing to be ashamed of, being a convicted rapist is. An accused rapist is on some strange middle ground where many will think... no smoke without fire. Simply being accused of rape can seriously fuck up ones life.

"As a complainant in a rape case she is entitled to automatic lifetime anonymity under law, which remains in place despite the not guilty verdicts"

So a potentially lying victim who concocted a story out of malice is protected from exposure whilst the accused is deemed a sex offender before a trail has even taken place.

If it can be proved that the victim is lying, either to protect their image or as malicious intent to the accused, then they should face a trial for perverting the course of justice. And it should be made just as public as the initial arrest and naming of the accused.

Whilst rape is seen as a particularly heinous crime, it seems false accusations are not seen in such a light. It's about time they were.

Feeling sweary? Don't tell Google Docs

adnim
Meh

No problem here

I don't tell Google docs anything, never will. Oh I do tell Google to fuck off, but it is under my breath and they never hear me, just like they never see any of my communications (apart from the odd search query tied to my IP address). The Internet works without Google and works a lot better when all Google ad and tracking services are blocked at the router.

They have a damn good search facility and Google maps can be useful. Yet there are very good alternatives. No one *NEEDS* Google. They have just managed to convince the ill-advised and lay person that Google ARE the Internet.

Another chance to win a 6TB Western Digital Black hard drive

adnim

What are you so upset for? You're not exactly easy to wipe off you know.

Microsoft turns on Windows 10 file backup to Azure

adnim

That's two backups per machine

The known data one places on Azure and the unknown data Microsoft takes from the device

FAIL: Windows 10 bulk patch produces INFINITE CRASH LOOP

adnim
Meh

Re: Film @ 11

Nope its to be avoided.

I said windows 10 would be a train crash... How did I know? 20+ years experience of supporting Microsoft's broken products.. And this shit was so rushed. Can't tell kids anything these days, they know it all.

Windows 7 is/was the pinnacle of Microsoft OS after SP1. Prior to that it was Horace goes skiing.

Games are the only reason I run Windows 7.... I am such a sad git, still gaming since '83. wish I had a life :-)

Brit-educated bloke takes Dept of Homeland Security's infosec reins

adnim
Meh

"Brit-educated bloke"

That used to mean something... When was he educated?

When the British education system actually taught its pupils or when the British education system taught one how to pass an exam?

IWF shares 'hash list' with web giants to flush out child sex abuse images online

adnim

"in an attempt to hasten the removal of such content across the globe."

Nope just stops it being indexed and forces it further underground.

Here comes controversy...

I myself do not understand how an adult can be sexually aroused at images of naked children, let alone images of children being abused. Unfortunately there are those that do get aroused at such images. Simple images of naked children are generally harmless to the child. Images of children being abused are something else entirely. Sexual abuse of a child causes long term psychological damage to the child's understanding of love and sexual relationships. And indeed serious problems with the formation of relationships which often last into late adulthood.

I do not have a problem with a paedophile masturbating to images of naked children, perhaps this release will stop some physical abuse, perhaps it will exacerbate the problem and cause those with such desires to go on to commit abuse of children. Although not everyone seeking a high goes on to the next level, else everyone that had a pint or a spliff would be an alcoholic or a heroin addict. I do have a very serious issue with an adult physically abusing a child for sexual gratification and believe they should be kept away from children.

The view of society is to vilify those that do get aroused by images naked children. It is certainly right to vilify those that get off on images of child abuse or perhaps even treat them, I see it as a total lack of empathy and a mental illness.

I thought long and hard before I posted this because I expect outrage at what some of what I have written. Before all the down votes flood in I wish to state that I speak from experience not as a paedophile but as a victim.

Cant find an icon suitable, beginning to get depressed now, I should fuck off shut up and think of something else.

You'll LITERALLY PAY for getting tricked into visiting these scam sites

adnim
Mushroom

Rooted my Android

What adverts?

I do have some sympathy, but not much for those who buy a device that they do not actually control.

Direct to bill payments shouldn't even exist.

"Frauds along this line have been a constant source of complaints on forums and other sites for a number of years." So nothing new then, why is it still happening?

"Payforit, an operator-run direct-to-bill payment service" Operator run?

Why is the payforit website a .org?

Ahhh..

"Payforit is not a company. It is a set of mobile consumer experience flows and a trust mark. It is supported by the 4 UK Mobile Network Operators– Vodafone, O2, Three and EE"

For fuck sake... Now you know why the operators do fuck all about it despite it going on for years

A close shave: How to destroy your hard drives without burning down the data centre

adnim
Devil

Remove platters

degauss, gently caress platter surfaces with an angle grinder, leave to soak in hydrochloric acid.

Overkill perhaps?

Microsoft vacates moral high ground for the data slurpers' cesspit

adnim

Re: Instructions on how to increase privacy in Windows 10

Thanks for this, I have sent this link to my clients.

adnim

Re: Ka Blam! There goes the other foot.

Actually it started a long time ago perhaps as long as 15 years ago... The moment that setup/install programs began to phone home to report that they were being installed or to check for updates on install.

I remember when setup/install programs did not access the Internet and one had to visit a website to check for updates. Yes a little inconvenient I will admit. But at that time the only data one shared was what the browser used to download the update leaked. Nowadays without using Wireshark and being able to decrypt the sent data one does not have a clue what data is being sent.

MoD splashes £1.5bn on 10-year IT deal to 'keep pace with threats'

adnim
Facepalm

Spending

1.5b to save 1b... How does that work?

I have obviously missed something and will be down voted for my ignorance

Don't want Windows 10 FILTH on the company network? Step this way

adnim

@David Re: Has anyone read

Have I used Google services?

Most of Google is blocked at the router.... googletagservices, google-analytics, doubleclick, googleadservices, googlesyndication, googletagservices. Unfortunately ajax.googleapis.com is allowed, it breaks to many websites if blocked.

Other Google services such as gstatic and googlemaps are allowed on a per site basis. I sometimes search using Google. I did write a scraper similar to Scroogle for search but Google keep changing the tags around their search results and I got fed up of updating my code.

I use a Gmail address for registering at websites, I last checked mail there over a month ago. I only allow Google to set session cookies. So I guess the answers is yes I do use Google. I don't think they use me much though.

Citing the bad practice of one company as an argument for the bad practice of another seems illogical to me.

adnim

Has anyone read

and understood Microsoft's privacy policy?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement/default.aspx

It will require jumping through hoops and installing a 3rd party software firewall (ingress/egress) to keep your data private.

A default install will allow Microsoft to log all your keystrokes, read all you communications, log all websites you visit, scan all your files and record everything you say ... I am not sure yet if Cortana listens if it is not addressed. I would be interested in finding out if one disables all of the operating systems snooping ability, what still gets sent to Microsoft.

MORE Windows 10 bugs! Too many Start menu apps BREAK it

adnim

Re: idiotic attitudes all round

Anthony, I don't know why you were voted down so much. Perhaps it was... "nobody trusts Microsoft" when it is apparent many do.

I did trust Microsoft to earn me a living and they did for so many years with Windows. If Windows just worked I wouldn't have managed to pay my mortgage. So they are, were in my case good for something.

Have an up vote in a vain attempt to redress the balance.

adnim
Happy

Face it

Windows 10 is not ready for release.

I am going to pop a blank HD into my kit and install it onto that for just one reason... I play games in windows and the alleged extra performance of DX12 will be appreciated. I want to check it out.

No doubt this will be a frustrating experience as I try to stop the OS talking to Microsoft without breaking anything. Why would I want my OS not to talk to MS?.... It is my computer, its my data it has fuck all to do with Microsoft how and what I use my PC for. And have no intention of being a beta tester for MS.

Windows 10 is free for several reasons:

It is no real improvement over Win 7. It is broke and Microsoft expect users to beta test for them. MS want to emulate Apple and lock people into a Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft want every windows users to become their bitch.

I supported Windows from 3.1 through to Windows Vista. Fortunately during the debacle that was Vista I was made redundant due to business closure. Now that I am self employed I have choice and no matter how lucrative fixing and supporting a fucked up Microsoft OS might be, I prefer an easy life... Goodbye MS, don't let the door hit ya ass on the way out.

I really shouldn't show glee at someone else's misfortune but this is Microsoft and I am pleased as punch at this train wreck... I do however have a modicum of sympathy for the victims of Windows 10 and Microsoft's business model. The same kind of sympathy I have for those that cross a busy road without looking.

So just WHO ARE the 15 per cent of Americans still not online?

adnim

The

smart ones

Ford's parallel PARCing: Motor giant tries to craft new tech just like Xerox

adnim

Finding a parking space is easy...

Just drive on to the M25.

By the time self driving car tech is mainstream there will be no space to drive let alone park.

I was going to use a joke icon but it ain't that funny.

Boffins' audacious plan to blow up aircraft foiled by bomb-proof bag

adnim

My feelings are mixed too... I prefer my intestines

not to be mixed, especially with the local environment.....

Testing should have been done at 29,000 feet with the cargo hold pressurised to the equivalence of atmospheric pressure at 5,000ft. Preferably with a full passenger compliment of marketing executives, patent trolls and lawyers, just in case the calculations were a little off.

Lottery IT security boss guilty of hacking lotto computer to win $14.3m

adnim

Optional

And so is your trust in ...

Humans are fallible, they may have families to support and protect, they may have drug or gambling habits. They might do things that lead them open to blackmail.

Even if the hardware and software is secure, the human that has access might not be, never has been and never will be.

TITSUP: Apple Music, App Stores, iCloud, iTunes, Radio, iBooks

adnim
Holmes

@AC Re: I hadn't noticed

"Copying CDs to music players is illegal in the UK. You have to buy the same content again or face 10 years in jail in the UK."

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not.

However.. Thank you for the advice and ensuring my future liberty.... Deleting gigabytes of flac and mp3 now. </genuine sarcasm>

adnim
Meh

I hadn't noticed

I buy content in the form of CD's It can't then be deleted from the media/devices I then choose to transfer it too.

Jeep drivers can be HACKED to DEATH: All you need is the car's IP address

adnim

Once my

2002 Focus falls apart... I have had it from new and it don't look or drive much different. I will buy a car I can root and lock down or another 10+ year old car.

If someone else has or can gain control.... including manufacturers it ain't yours...

An EPIC picture of Earth, sunny side up, from one million miles out

adnim
Joke

Perhaps

they do not obey the Pauli exclusion principle.

Everything I see is Windows 10, says Microsoft's SatNad

adnim

None

of the above. I will never trust any cloud service.

I don't even trust that my own servers are beyond hacking and I like to think I know what I am doing.

Large Hadron SMASHER: Boffins BLOW OPEN the PENTAQUARK's secrets

adnim
Joke

Five

sided quarks, cool.

As for Gell-Mann ... "If I have seen further than others, it is because I am surrounded by dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants."

Google says its AI will jetwash all traces of malodorous spam from your box

adnim
Meh

I guess my gmail boxes will

now be forever empty.

I only ever use gmail for registering at websites that I suspect would sell my email address to third parties or spam me anyway.

Now if everyone did the same thing, I could delete mail sent from gmail addresses from the mail server instead of downloading them. Unfortunately some people use gmail for legitimate reasons.

What Google really need to do is clamp down on those that use gmail to send spam, that would be far more helpful than filtering it after it has been sent.

DOUGHNUT (donut?) and whale FOUND ON PLUTO

adnim

Not looking down...

but in a few 10's of thousand years he may well be part of your great x 10^3 grandchildren.

Nature the great recycler

Samsung, Oppo collared in smartphone bloatware probe

adnim

As much as I

feel that a device (any device) should be supplied with the OS and basic apps only... Apps that are essential to getting full functionality from said device... It is the sole choice of the manufacturer what they install.... However, full disclosure of what the apps do, what data they collect and send and how to completely remove them should be mandatory.

Wanna go all Gandalf – YOU SHALL NOT PASS – on Windows 10?

adnim
Facepalm

Sigh

Upgrade to 10 is NOT a critical update. And although I can accept that Microsoft would want it to be a recommended update, it really should be an optional update.

All it needs is that little box to be unticked by default, such a simple solution.

Apple Music: First three months for free? We lasted less than 3 hours

adnim

Re: Autorenew is the next thing the EU should crack down on

I would go a step further...

The word "free" should not be used for any product or service where the consumer has to provide something in return. Be that a credit card number or even something as simple as an email address.

Microsoft: This Windows 10 build has 'NO significant known issues'

adnim

Cortana popped up a dialogue box...

explaining that the microphone “was not designed for Cortana”

Shouldn't Cortana, having come after the invention of the microphone, be designed for microphones?

Abort, abort! Metal-on-metal VIOLENCE as Google's robo-car nearly CRASHES

adnim
Meh

Two self driving cars...

avoid each other. Or... Two "uncrashable" cars don't crash.

mkay.. Someone might find this newsworthy.

Indiana Jones whips Bond in greatest movie character poll

adnim

Something to do with....

the memory span of the average media consumer or indeed the average human.... It also explains why as a species we continue to make exactly the same mistakes.

I have a memory and wonder why Arthur Daley didn't make it to the TV list

Microsoft U-turns on 'free' Windows 10 upgrade promise for ALL previewers

adnim

Re: Guessing games

There will come a time when the words ... "I vaguely remember Microsoft" drift into obscurity.

Taylor Swift boycotts Apple Music over no-pay-for-plays shocker

adnim

Anyone with integrity...

wouldn't deal with Apple.

Apple no-pay-for-plays streaming risks indie boycott

adnim

"One of these days... I'm going to cut you into little miracles

"...An honest man finally, reaped what he had sown

And farmer in Ohio has just repaid a loan.

It's a miracle" - Roger Waters

Vintage Ask toolbar is malware – and we'll kill Jeeves, says Microsoft

adnim

Microsoft Advisory:

"Older versions of software can restrict or limit your control over your search provider. It can prevent you from disabling or modifying your search provider,"

Fair enough...

Now where's the advisory that tells how Windows 10 can restrict or limit your control over your search provider and can prevent make it technically difficult for you to disable or modify your search provider? Or indeed what where and how it searches?

Don't panic. Stupid smart meters are still 50 years away

adnim
Thumb Down

Re: ??

The profits from the energy companies go into the pockets of share holders. The use of smart meters is of no real benefit to the consumer but, due to the redundancy of meter readers/data input staff and their support infrastructure, the energy suppliers will make tremendous savings and even larger profits.

So why again is the tax payer financially supporting private business?

The argument for supporting the banks had at least some reason but this is simply stupid.

Four of the "big six" energy suppliers in the UK are French, German and Spanish owned. Only British Gas and SSE have UK parent companies and they are all very profitable indeed. So why the fuck is the UK taxpayer paying for upgrades to the energy supply network of privately owned companies?

'Draconian' French Charteur des Snoopeurs gets senate approval

adnim
Unhappy

They is...

only playing catch up.

As much as I hate to be a defeatist. The monitoring, storing and mining of communication data will be uppermost in the minds of ALL those that govern nations (it's all about being in control). And they will do it regardless. Laws will/are being changed and new laws are drafted to compensate for any breaches of established law.

No matter how much the law abiding disagree, those that govern nations have drawn up laws which ensure that those whom do disagree and are in opposition, appear to be the very thing the laws were drawn up to protect "us" against. Kinda scary... If I speak up and criticise am I an insurgent or a terrorist?

Nothing to fear, nothing to hide?

I will have nothing to fear and nothing to hide when the rest of the people on this plant are as tolerant as I am.

Mad John McAfee: 'Can you live in a society that is more paranoid than I'm supposed to be?'

adnim

Re: Paranoid consumers and schizophrenic vendors

Hi,

Society does exist, it is the sterile, stagnant way of thinking, consuming, conforming and obeying that governments world wide want their respective voters or conquered victims to adhere to. That's what is meant when a politician talks about society.

We are all individual, that doesn't stop us looking out for one another. That sentence from Maggie although imbuing a sense of self importance to those that hear it, is also divisive. A nation of individuals is far easier to control than a like minded community of many thousands or millions.

adnim
Happy

Re: Paranoid consumers?

Yes... I see the distinction. It is sad that people are not society.

Please don't see this as a sarcastic insult through a play on words.. It is a sardonic view of the system to which we acquiesce.

adnim

Paranoid consumers?

'Can you live in a society that is more paranoid than I'm supposed to be?'

The problem is John that is isn't.

Much of the society you talk of are device users, the vast majority of which are just lay (IT wise) consumers. Now consumers are not really paranoid at all, at least when it comes to the data they enter into devices that they think they own and have been led to believe are private.

If the average user/consumer understood what the device they think they owned was capable of and actually read (perhaps got a lawyer to help understand) the terms and conditions they agreed to, they would be very paranoid indeed!

Chlorine gas horror leak at Apple data center puts five in hospital

adnim
Joke

Re: Quart in a pint pot

in an excited Homer Simpson voice....

"Because this is magical, fairy Apple-land"

It's FREE WINDOWS 10 time: 29 July is D-Day, yells Microsoft

adnim
Meh

Re: I'll upgrade...

After I am convinced it will not wipe the restore partition on my laptop. And then, if I can install a third party firewall and discover that there is still sufficient function left after I stop it talking to Microsoft, I may just keep it long term. My win 7 restore partition will remain until I am convinced that this is not a bait and switch scam.

To be honest the ONLY attraction of this OS is Direct X 12. And curiosity as to how much user data win 10 will actually want to send to Microsoft. I can't see any other benefit (other than it allegedly being a little quicker) to me personally and my usage patterns to warrant a change.

Enjoying the Spring? Microsoft has 13 ways to fix that

adnim

Re: What's

Netflix? ;-) Don't use that either