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Encryption

How Did Wikileaks Do It? 973

grassy_knoll writes "Related to the Wikileaks video recently released and discussed here, the NY Times reports: 'Somehow — it will not say how — WikiLeaks found the necessary computer time to decrypt a graphic video, released Monday, of a United States Army assault in Baghdad in 2007 that left 12 people dead, including two employees of the news agency Reuters. The video has been viewed more than two million times on YouTube, and has been replayed hundreds of times in television news reports.' The article is light on details; what encryption algorithm was used? Was this a brute force attack? Did someone pass the decryption keys to Wikileaks along with the video? Something else?"
Cellphones

Canadian Android Carrier Forcing Firmware Update 238

Wolfier writes "For wireless carrier Rogers in Canada, it seems that 'Customer Safety' only becomes a concern after months of neglect. Rogers is the only GSM carrier in Canada and so the only choice for Android users. Months ago, a customer called Rogers to report a firmware bug that was preventing users from making 911 calls under certain circumstances, and informed the carrier that Google had fixed the bug (recording of that call). But Rogers is only doing something about it now — namely, cutting data access of paying customers until they accept a mandatory firmware upgrade that not only fixes the 911 problem, but also contains 'extra' features that prevent users from ever gaining root access to their phones — even non-subsidized ones. And some phones are also getting bricked by this 'official' update. The moral: we really need to open up the competition here up North."

Comment Re:Physicists? (Score 1, Insightful) 466

You're not qualified to answer the question. Information technology is not computer science. They are called different things for a good reason.

There is little or no similarity between computer science and IT because they are completely different fields. In IT, you use programs and systems that real computer scientists created, and write scripts and Visual Basic things to glue them together, in order to get something that does what you want. IT is about integrating systems. Computer science is about math, scientific analysis, designing optimal algorithms, and so on. Therefore your lack of need for math in your IT work has no connection to the question being asked.

Comment Re:attack is a primitive response (Score 1) 836

Thank you for your correction. Using "origin" would have indeed made more sense.

Not to be a nit picker, but I did clearly state that I kept reading in spite of the cringe-inducing opening of the article. I'm not sure why you're calling me unwise because of that. But, your trite network communication metaphors are almost as cringe-inducing as Mr. Spiegel's writing.

You're right, the article is in fact "a stream of information not forced onto [my] consciousness." But it appeared on the Slashdot front page, and when there is something on the front page of Slashdot that annoys us, we speak up.

I fail to understand your generalization that "attack is a primitive response to a stream of information not forced onto your consciousness." To clarify, are you saying that when information is not forced on me, and I am primitive, my response is to attack? I beg your pardon. That makes no sense at all. I hope that English is not your first language; if it is, you are probably a sloppy programmer.

Comment Re:proofreading for the college graduate? (Score 5, Interesting) 836

I agree with acidfast.

Furthermore, Mr. Spiegel, you are keen to use cliche phrases without even putting in the effort to understand their meaning, or know their correct spelling. This helps you come across as a pompous idiot.

For example: "Queue awkward silence."

The correct spelling is "cue awkward silence." It comes from stage and movie production, where the producer will "cue" actors, lights, or special effects. How does one "queue" awkward silence?

I almost stopped reading there. But I kept going, hoping to find some redeeming value.

It was hard to finish your article, as your tone makes it clear that you are a cocky, holier-than-thou ladder climber. You provoke a regular guy eating his lunch into a pissing match, and then you claim to have said things like, "Everyone is making valid points," in actual conversation. Who does that?

God help any of us who may have to work with you, or even worse, for you. I don't care if you have Asperger's or not. You are a douchebag, period.

Comment Re:Sure, let's have more unschooling... (Score 1) 1345

I'm pretty sure most kids wander around and are curious about things anyway, whether or not they go to school. Nothing dangerous about it. What supporters of "unschooling" are suggesting is that that is all that kids should have to do.

Classes go from 9am to 3pm in most schools. That leaves plenty of time after school and during weekends for wandering around, acquiring knowledge, and "being dangerous" as you call it. I guess my question is, why go to the extreme of "unschooling" and let kids do whatever the hell they want, all the time? Or am I missing something?

Comment Re:Sure, let's have more unschooling... (Score 1) 1345

I'm not sure why you assume anything about my father being strict. Perhaps you just read a book about conservative/liberal politics, and are keen to apply your new buzzwords?

Anyway, I beg you to show me one kid who would by his/her own accord sit down and learn to read, write, do math, and so on. Most kids would rather play games and colour books all day, which is what "unschooling" is all about.

Comment Sure, let's have more unschooling... (Score 1, Troll) 1345

Sounds like a another way to continue the trend of child-proofing the world, so that "everyone can learn at their own pace." Right. What these people are unable, or unwilling, to recognize is that the world meets nobody half-way. We either work hard at learning how to succeed and survive, or we fail hard.

"Unschooling" is just another way for lazy, stupid parents to coddle their children toward a lifetime of failure, mediocrity and narcissism. In 20 years, when these kids turn out to be useless tools who are unable to work for what they want or even support themselves, they will turn around and blame the government and you and me, for not doing enough to help them. (And no doubt they will do the complaining in a petulant, entitled tone that makes you want to punch them hard in the mouth.) Is this what we, as a society, want?

Yes, let's have more unschooling! Looks like a winning strategy to me.

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