More particularly: Anyone who has obtained a pirate copy of a recent Microsoft operating system (either by themselves or through the 'local computer guy') is probably locked out of the Windows Update system altogether. I think this is a major part of the problem, and probably makes up a large percentage of compromised machines.

We need the resources *now* though, and should be using our existing resources to achieve this. When we finally get to the point where humanity wants [or needs] more resources it will be too late for breakthroughs in space travel. Or at least that is the risk which will result in humanity's downfall.

I agree this is over engineered, and from the video it looks like the machine only pierced the disk once?

SSI make a shredder which seems more fit for purpose, as it actually breaks the drives down to shrapnel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQYPCPB1g3o

Sorry, I can't come to work this weekend, my weather station is trying to attack me.

Did you not read it with even a slight hint of 1984? I thought *that* was obvious.

The Kinect is pretty smart. Finally a device with which a computer can both *remember people it sees*, and *differentiate between their voices*. As more money gets poured in, eventually they will embed this type of system in TVs. Now your TV can remember you and recognise you when you get home from work. - Hang on while I go and get my secret diary which is stashed out of the camera's view.

Yes, except the primary reason for this design isn't to protect your data from law enforcement: rather to protect the idiots from themselves.

This feature aims to protect your data when your ex hard drive finds itself on Ebay, or being picked up from the local recycling centre.

That's what they want you to think! It's about what's IN the container!

http://uk.gizmodo.com/5787176/this-is-the-moon-and-the-earth-like-you-have-never-seen-them-before

The one linked in TFS seemed to take me to the front page with adverts. The above link goes straight to the article.

What, you bricked the router? Fat chance of connecting back to Kansas by fibre now you fool. You better hope the great oz has more than brains, hearts and courage behind that curtain.

Just follow the yellow cable!

Hi Welcome to my auction.

You are bidding on an AS NEW IPHONE4.

This iPhone is in the original box, with all cables, and has been FULLY restored back to factory settings. Rest assured, there will be no private data on this device.

The screen is melted, and most of the circuitry has disintegrated. All this for a $0.99 starting price!

Happy bidding.

1. Encrypt the data into your own 'insurance' file, and upload to bit-torrent tracker.
2. Post a Slashdot article with links to the torrent, and and a crappy article/summary.
3. Inform computer shop.
4. ...
5. Profit?

Wow. Not a bad deal if the unit was some kind of laptop-desktop hybrid, can you please send pictures.

On a serious note though, I had similar issues when I did installation services for a retail chain. We started writing our initials on some of the cash-office hardware, as we suspected that we were returning DOA equipment, only to have it show up as "new" a few weeks later on another site.

s/your =\/=you\'re/s\/your\/you\'re

Get it right son.

Yeah they put one of the windows on backwards, so it stopped the visible light, but let through all the harmful radiation.