> What if he's just a savant (at video games)? Then he'd be exceptional, to the point where it would look, to an observer, like a cheater.

No, not really. Anti-cheat software has never and probably will never work that way.

It checks things that are easily verifiable.

For example; some anti-cheat software will:

- Look for programs running in the background that are known to be used in cheating. That is, if software shows your running "CheatBox.exe -MapHacking" than you might be a cheater

- Also checks checksum of files. Cheats modify files/code to do things not intended. Obviously if the checksum doesn't match what you released and something that is not allowed to change then you might have a cheater on your hands.

- False conditions for achievements. There are known xbox cheats that will get online only achievements while offline. Hrm, I don't know how a savant is so good that he can play with online friends when his internet is down?

- Achievement push. If you get 200 different achievements in the exact same millisecond; that is suspecting no? Also most of these will be false conditions too (see above). How can you be "Flying High", "Running Fast" and "Diving Low" at the same moment in time?

- Logic checks. For example in one of our games you can only get 20 strength max though legit means. In fact, even if there is a bug in one of our items to give you 21 then the client will auto correct it back to 20. Obviously if someone logs into the server and we have a modified packet (checksum doesn't match) saying that their str is 40; well, we probably have a cheater.

- Look for cheats. We had a problem that allowed users to execute certain server commands though the console that would give them unfair advantages. Obviously we fixed it, but we also put logging in to record any cheaters still trying to abuse it.

- Looking for cheats 2. We log a bunch of stuff. We also have an automated server process that parses/processes current and old logs. For example, recently we put in a trigger that'll flag anyone who gains more than X amount of XP in Y time. It'll flag it and an admin will look into it. Gaining 100 xp in 4 seconds. Quote possible. Gaining 200 xp in 2 seconds? Maybe, but very suspect; could be really good. Gaining 400 xp in 1 second? Well, let's look into it. Ok, this player some how got 2 different quests at the same time from different NPCs that are in different towns even though he didn't meet the quest requirements. HRM.

- Action checking. If the max theoretical speed a character can run is 17 mph in your game and you have someone running 40; then you might have a cheater. No matter how good that kid is, he can't be running faster than 17 mph unless he has 1) Found a bug 2) Exploiting a bug 3) Using a cheat 4) Problems in recording speed.

It depends on their anti-cheat software. If their software shows that "HackBot2020.exe -CheatALot -EnableMassiveHacking -CheatsEnabled -CheatSomeMore -PrefectTeaBagging" running and matches checksum of known cheater software; than that is probably proof enough for most folks.

Today on Slashdot; Microsoft releases all details of all cheaters on XBOX Live. Is Microsoft evil as Satan or just Hilter?

Citiain?

> 70 credits paid full-time, actually above the tuition level, plus health insurance, you can pocket the difference.

I live in the USA and never heard of this. Google doesn't turn up much expect Georgia lottery and even that is having problems:
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/07/hope-fades-on-georgias-free-college-tuition-program/

> 'If you have to make significant, identical changes to a bunch of Linux servers, is it easier to log into them one-by-one and run through a GUI or text-menu tool, or write a quick shell script that hits each box and either makes the changes or simply pulls down a few new config files and restarts some services? And it's not just about conservation of effort -- it's also about accuracy. If you write a script, you're certain that the changes made will be identical on each box. If you're doing them all by hand, you aren't.'" If you are using a bad GUI tool. Nothing says you can't have one GUI that connects to all servers and has a mutlti list select. Select the ones you want, run the command. It'll be the same command across all servers. That doesn't mean shell script is better, it means you suck at writing GUI interfaces. Anything you can do in shell scripting you can do in a system language.

Instead of a ssh script that logs into each server, you can create a GUI program that logs into each server the exact same way.

I'm the other way. Every time I load up Witcher, Oblivion or Dragon Age I say to myself "this would be so much better if it had multiplayer". Specially co-op.

> Yes; but that doesn't mean he knows anything about computers.

Yea, I mean... who would expect the CEO of a large computer company to know anything about computers. PFft.

What year are you living in? Most companies these days will properly dispose of their electronics. Gone are the days of throw CRTs in the trash. The other day I fixed my grandma's computer and even see said "how do I get rid of this broken modem? They say you are suppose to put electronics in the trash any more" But I agree, you can get old electronics for free, including access points. Just not though dumpsters.

Totally agree here. Most any pre-packaged system comes with at least 80 gig hdd. Does grandma really need 80 gigs to check her email and check the weather?

It's just so they can put it in their sale material. 500 Gigs of disk space! Over 3 GHZ of Processor!

wow, you seem like a grade a jerk.

It's an new generation Atom, dual gig nics, 4 HDDs and a SSD. It uses 23 Watts at 100% load (CPU and IO cranking away).

Great! Show me a 10 year old Linux distro that does that?

Hell, show me a 10 year old Linux distro that has support for modern sound cards.

Couldn't you set it up so if web cam detected motion then use X10 to say, turn on some lights, TV and maybe play a dog barking on your stereo?

A theif is going to be jump as it is. If weird stuff starts happening and/or he think someone is home, it might be enough to spook him.

> Or that you'll accidentally shoot a family member coming in late at night?

That's sure as heck what I do. I load up on whiskey with my shotgun in my lap. If I hear even the smallest sound I start blazing off shots in the dark in all directions.