Delta - Slashdot User

Comment: It depends. (Score 1) 467

by Delta on Sunday September 19 2010, @04:02PM (#33629582) Attached to: Distinguishing Encrypted Data From Random Data?

If everything is perfect? No.

If you have two plaintext blocks, and encrypt using ECB mode with the same IV though, then the two cipher blocks would turn out identical cipher blocks. Would make it trivial to see which was the encrypted one.

So basically the answer is; it depends.

If you need to ask the question, do more research before you continue your work. This is stuff you really should understand before you embark on such a project.

Comment: Companion Mic (Score 1) 727

by Delta on Saturday March 13 2010, @03:41PM (#31465898) Attached to: Why Are Digital Hearing Aids So Expensive?

Hi,

No idea about pros and cons and so on, but figured it could be interesting to take a peek at these for a less expensive solution, even though different.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/compmic.aspx

Microsoft Patches "Google Hack" Flaw In IE 142

Posted by timothy on Thursday January 21 2010, @05:40PM
from the you-saw-this-coming dept.

An anonymous reader writes "As expected, Microsoft has issued an out-of-band security patch to address a remote code execution hole in Internet Explorer that was used in the recent Chinese attacks disclosed by Google. Ars Technica has all the download links you need."

NASA To Cryogenically Freeze Satellite Mirrors 47

Posted by Soulskill on Friday January 08 2010, @10:12PM
from the ain't-it-cool dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA said it will soon move some of the larger (46 lb) mirror segments of its future James Webb Space Telescope into a cryogenic test facility that will freeze the mirrors to -414 degrees Fahrenheit (~25 K). Specifically, NASA will freeze six of the 18 Webb telescope mirror segments at the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility, or XRCF, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in a test to ensure the critical mirrors can withstand the extreme space environments. All 18 segments will eventually be tested at the site. The test chamber takes approximately five days to cool a mirror segment to cryogenic temperatures."

3 Years Prison in CA For Covering Laptop-> 7

Submitted by mrcaseyj on Saturday October 24 2009, @09:31PM

mrcaseyj writes "California penal code section 537e makes it a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison to be in possession of an integrated computer panel where the serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been covered. It's also a crime punishable by 6 months or a year to cover or obliterate the serial number or identification mark of just about any other personal property, from tools to CDs and much more. While a district attorney might have a hard time prosecuting you for such a crime, it appears a police officer could still take you to jail without having to worry about getting in trouble, because covering is apparently illegal by the letter of the law."
Link to Original Source

Should I care if my credit gets ruined? 1

Submitted by 100k-in-the-hole on Saturday October 24 2009, @02:54AM

100k-in-the-hole writes "I have been having some financial trouble lately, and have for the first time stopped paying some of my bills (mostly credit cards). I already have a fixed rate mortgage, and have no intention of using a credit card ever again. Has anyone else here stopped paying their bills? What kind of experience can I expect? I sort of feel like a low credit score will help me to avoid this problem in the future."

Comment: Start your own ISP? (Score 1) 504

by Delta on Tuesday January 13 2009, @01:29PM (#26435763) Attached to: Internet Communications While At Sea?

There are 600 students, most of which will probably bring a laptop, and want to stay in touch, just as you do.

Seems like it could be an idea to bring a satellite uplink, provide services to the students at a small upmark in your costs, and use the earnings to pay for your own bandwidth use?

Alternatively set up a proxy;

Charge the others for their used bandwidth, on their side of the connection. If two people download the same URL, you're charging them twice, leaving earnings to cover your own use.

Be honest with them about that though, so nobody feels cheated.

Another thing to consider is to go to a satellite provider and simply ask if they want to provide you with equipment and/or some bandwidth for free, or at a reduced cost. It's a great way for them to market themselves to the 600 students, which throughout their careers might need a similar service, and guess which provider they'd think of first? Surely the one that helped them out when they were students.

The three options can be combined offcourse. If you can borrow equipment for free, get slightly lower bandwidth fees, and a flexible payment plan, so you don't get stuck with a huge bill, you could be set for the duration. :)

Comment: Spire (Score 1) 128

by Delta on Thursday May 04 2006, @02:21AM (#15260346) Attached to: Carrying Your IT Equipment With You?

I'm *very* pleased with the Spire products:

http://www.spireusa.com/

They're great for use, and abuse. I've rolled over it several times rollerblading, with the laptop still on, and so on. Never any problems. I've had mine for 3-4 years now, and while it is showing slight wear, it seems to be good for another 3-4 years without a problem.

You should peek around their site, and pay attention to the details, like the laptop room not being all the way against your back, so it's a very comfortable fit.