Slashback: Enigma, Google, Java Games 120
Enigma security concerns. Chris writes "The Enigma cracking client mentioned [this past week] is a huge security risk -- it creates an 'enigma-client' user on Windows systems with the password 'nominal'. I daresay that most /. users who installed the client would want to know about this so they can take corrective action." Thanks to Chris and other who pointed out the security flaw the enigma client has updated their changelog to warn users about this potential flaw and point out a quick work-around. "Users should change 'nominal' to a random password in eclient-XP-Home-install.bat or eclient-XP-Pro-install.bat."
German ISP targets net companies "free lunch". TheAxeMaster writes "Deutsche Telekom AG is the latest ISP to decide to suck money from both customers and content providers according to Computer World. From the article, 'The CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG became the latest head of a major telco to call for Web companies, such as Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc., to help pay for the billions of dollars required to build and maintain high-speed Internet infrastructure.' CEO Kai-Uwe Ricke said 'Web companies that use this infrastructure for their business should also make a contribution.' The article suggests that, if implemented, both you AND web sites would have to pay for the privilege of delivering you content through a tiered, 'quality of service' internet."
Total Information Awareness Program lives on. notmtwain writes "Democracy Now follows up on reports that the NSA has continued the TIA (Total Information Awareness) program, which was building an enormous database merging information on internet usage, phone calls, purchase, banking records and reading material. Democracy Now's Amy Goodman interviews Shane Harris, the National Journal Reporter who broke the story. The Total Information Awareness program was supposedly killed by Congress in 2003."
Higgins takes on Microsoft. An anonymous reader writes "InternetNews reports that IBM, Novell, and Parity Communications announced today increased support for the Higgins project at Eclipse. The project, based on early work done at Harvard's Berkman Institute and by SocialPhysics.org is focused on providing open source 'user-centric' identity management. The initiative has been widely reported as a challenge to Microsoft's new Infocard online identity-management system."
Google answers analyst concerns. imlepid writes "Earlier this week Analysts were asking Google to provide more insight into future earnings reports. Well, it appears that the analysts calls have been answered as the Google CFO has warned that growth has slowed. However, today's decline is still being blamed on the tight lips at Google."
Patriot Act provision not just for terrorists. An anonymous reader writes "Pass a law to go after certain criminals, and it will be used for everything possible. A basic lesson, but one that we learn again from an article in the New York Sun, describing a couple of U.S. District Court decisions unsealed earlier in February. The two judges both agree that Congress intended the 'nationwide search' provision for going after email or other Internet data to apply to the investigation of all federal crimes and not just to cases involving terrorism."
Java 4K game contest submissions available. CuriousKangaroo writes "Java Unlimited, as previously reported on Slashdot, is running a contest to develop a game in Java using only four kilobytes of bytecode and resources. Entries are now closed, and judging is about to begin, but you can check out and play all 55 of this year's entries for yourself!"
Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:1)
Aren't you glad your new US passport has a trackable RFID in it, Citizen Comrade?
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:2)
In United Soviet States of America, old bureaucracies keep changing names, but never die.
In Soviet Union... old bureaucracies never die, they just keep changing names.
Under Dzerzhinsky, you was the Cheka.
In the 20s, Cheka was reorganized as the GPU/OGPU.
In the 30s, OGPU became part of the NKVD.
After WW2, NKVD and NKGB were renamed to MVD and MGB.
Under Beria, MVD and MGB were merged
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:1)
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:1, Interesting)
Now that the terrorists have infiltrated even suburban households in their quest of destruction, it's important to draw a greater distinction between the good-doers (such as government workers, Congressmen, jail wardens, etc.) and the evil-doers. When choosing names like "Total Information Awareness" we should take that into account. For a replacement name, I nominate "Patriotic Anti
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:1)
I vote for Patriotic Anti-Terrorist
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:2)
I'm afraid that being part of the government is not a defacto statement about one's ethical behavior.
All of this information can be abused, and people with power are in the best position to abuse it. Everything has two sides. Guns don't kill, it's the people who use them, and some of those people are using the guns defending me from other people with guns (which is how I like it). If we didn't have guns we'd certainly kill each other by different means, and I'd still want so
New name... (Score:1)
Re:New name... (Score:2)
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:1)
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:1)
I prefer using tin foil, myself.
Actually, it's a good thing I got my passport before all this and my non-RFID drivers license renewed this month, so it will be five years before the man tracks me
Re:Of course NSA continuing TSA (Score:1)
Wow, only 4k, crazy (Score:2)
The one game that has been downloaded the most until now (Miners4k [javaunlimited.net] is great fun: Reminds me alot of the (a href=http://chir.ag/stuff/sand/>Falling Sand-game.
4K really does allow a lot. (Score:2)
It was a real-time moon lander program with simple graphics, and it's own input-editing code (since it had to read the keyboard 'the hard way' to avoid blocking input).
Given how much can now be done with a single call in Java these days, I'm not going to bet against much of anything.
I'll try running some of the programs later.
Re:4K really does allow a lot. (Score:2)
Like when they put their DNS servers back online.... I guess that, even with 4K programs, they have some bandwith limitations that a good slashdotting can still exceed.
Re:Wow, only 4k, crazy (Score:2)
It wasn't just a question of C being larger, incidently. I expected that. He did a lot of stupidity like copying big sections of code over and over instead of writing a subroutine. I should mention that the multiuser computer in question onl
Re:Wow, only 4k, crazy (Score:1)
there's ~480 gold available, and 1000 required to move to the next level. Am I doing something wrong here?
Re:Wow, only 4k, crazy (Score:1)
Re:Wow, only 4k, crazy (Score:1)
Re:Wow, only 4k, crazy (Score:2)
"Free Lunch" (Score:3, Insightful)
I wonder when the ISPs will get the memo: WITHOUT CONTENT, THEY ARE USELESS!!
Re:"Free Lunch" (Score:2)
As it stands, I pay for my access to the comcast network. Google isnt accessing the comcast network when I google something. I AM. the network that I pay to access is interacting with the network that
hrmmm (Score:1)
Re:hrmmm (Score:2)
In the case of you searching Google; You're paying for the downstream, they're paying for the upstream. In the case of them indexing a page, they're paying for the downstream, you're paying for the upstream.
In both cases, both Google's ISP and yours makes money.
What the ISPs are asking for amounts to "I see you run a successful business, and make millions of dollars. Cut us in or
Re:hrmmm (Score:2)
If I have a website on ISP X's network, I'm already paying for ALL the bandwidth that site uses. I'm already paying for ALL traffic accessing ISP X's network in order to access my site. If ISP X thinks
Re:hrmmm (Score:1)
corporate + politics
yay
Re:"Free Lunch" (Score:1)
No, the really annoying part is that most of the so-called "infrastucture" that they already have is mostly dark fiber. Which means this is extortion.
What google needs to do is buy up/purchase an interest in the companies that have fiber already. And start laying some of their own fiber.
That way when some ISP comes out of their crack haze long enough to say that content providers owe them money, they can tell them to get lost.
Re:"Free Lunch" (Score:3, Interesting)
One could easily make the argument that it is the ISPs that are getting the free lunch. If there was no content, they would be out of business. In the 1980's, before the internet and when dial-up BBS ruled, the ISPs were the one who had to produce the content. AOL hired news people, GEnie had to manage their own forums, The Source actually had to be The Source for information. Now all the content is produced by other people, and most of it is now provided free
Re:"Free Lunch" (Score:1)
Don't forget no maintenance fees for the idle equipment either! Or not having to pay the linemen!
"Wait," they say, "we could set this up like a tax on the bottom of the bill, so that the customers don't recognize what it's for, and they pay it anyways, and we just pocket the money for existing! Great Idea!!!"
<before I get off my rant box> Pardon me, could you pass the KY.
3 Things (Score:2)
Re:3 Things (Score:1)
Re:3 Things (Score:2)
Re:3 Things (Score:1)
But that still leave some ISP in the cold. What if the traffic traverses an ISP? ISP1 may not connect to the client or to Google, but traffic from client to Google travels over ISP1. (I'm thinking of the old WilTel days.) ISP1 would want its share from both parties.
Thus I do not see a bandwidth tax is what these ISP's are ultimately aft
Re:3 Things (Score:1)
The libertarian belief is that there should be less government, but we do understand its place, and understand that some government is needed. Just spouting that you hate government and how
Re:3 Things (Score:2)
Re:3 Things (Score:1)
Re:3 Things (Score:1)
Re:3 Things (Score:2)
It doesn't, really. What does create the bad name for libertarians is their willingness to remove social security - and let poor people starve to death on the streets - just so they can avoid paying taxes.
Re:3 Things (Score:1)
Obligatory Walt Whitman... (Score:3, Informative)
Europe [The 72d and 73d Years of These States] by Walt Whitman [daypoems.net]
Re:Obligatory Walt Whitman... (Score:1)
-g.
Re:3 Things (Score:2)
1) The government sucks. I hate it. We're all fucked. 2) Google pays for bandwidth. People connecting to google are paying for bandwidth. ISP's are getting payed on both ends for a single connection between google and a user. These ISP's are greedy shitbags. End of story. 3) The government sucks. I hate it. We're all fucked.
As much as you hate government eminent domain may be the only way to stop those greedy shitbag ISPs from interfering with interstate commerce on the information superhighway.
Re:3 Things (Score:2)
Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:1)
I also think that local cities should ban this kind of extreme billing;. We all are paying for this anyway. I soubt that google et al. is gettin free acess.
Seattle did this with bank machines. They banned extra-user fees. They figured that the banks were getting the monthly money from you, and the interac fee, and now some are charging a 'convience' fee.
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:2)
They are clearly stated. You can avoid banks that charge a fee when you use some other bank's ATM, and you can avoid the other charge by the ATM operator by avoiding such ATMs.
No one is getting tricked here. As an aside, as the market for money clears, you find that on the balance, [fees + interest] (aka the price of money) tends to equilibrate.
Just because something takes some extra thinking or is not necessariliy convenient is no reason in my mind to outl
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:1)
When it is a small town, with one bank machine, and the old-folks get off a bus. They are being forced to use that machine. No-where does that bank tell them that there are other banks around(Not that they should).l Now if they only want to take out 40$. The 1.50$ Interac fee, and now a 1.50$ 'convince fee'. Now it cost them almost 10% to take their money out. Of course it scales up. If your
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:2)
As someone on both the content and the consumer side of the broadband argument, I am also against double dipping on that front. In this case, I think that the major players will be our biggest advocates here. The people who are using the bandwidth (Google, Alexa, etc.), are the same one's with the clout to say no. Together, they have considerable monopson
Monopoly (Score:1)
you can avoid the other charge by the ATM operator by avoiding such ATMs.
Unless one bank operates all ATMs within 15 kilometers of where you are staying. I don't know if it is still the case in Terre Haute, Indiana, but when I went to school there, First Financial [first-online.com] was pretty much the only bank in town. I learned to rely on Wal-Mart for withdrawals using my Visa check card.
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:1)
clears, you find that on the balance, [fees + interest] (aka the
price of money) tends to equilibrate.
yeah, a couple of billion per year in the banks favor
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:2)
Then they decided to charge a quid a time to use the cash machine (now there's few branches left).
Idiots.
it didn't last long before all the banks were boasting they THEY didn't charge for ATM use.
Co-op bank NEVER charged for ATM use and also allowed post offices to be used as branches.
-Which also makes it funnier about pensioners complaining about pensions being paid into bank accounts and not collectable from the post office, a
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:1)
Odd, I always thought that if it wasn't for our parents, we wouldn't be here.
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:2)
Re:Well, this whole double charge thing. (Score:1)
Why oh why no sandbox? (Score:2)
That said, this is one instance where it would have been nice to be able to play the games as applets in the browser. Note that I am not suggesting that they be submitted (for judgment at least) in this form, as making an applet+application would add some m
Re:Why oh why no sandbox? (Score:2)
I couldn't agree more. Having them available to play as applets would be incredibly convenient for people who want to test drive the games a bit. It's one reason HTML/JavaScript is so popular...it's incredibly easy and accessible to the consumer of the technology.
Java Web Start is interesting and cool technology, but I feel so much less safe running Java Web Start programs compared to apple
Re:Why oh why no sandbox? (Score:1, Informative)
>one at a time.
Run javaws(.exe) for launching apps, removing apps or installing shortcuts.
Re:Why oh why no sandbox? (Score:1, Informative)
Most 4k entries will run just fine in a sandbox. There are only a few which need extra privileges for going fullscreen.
Time to aim for 3k (Score:1)
Just like RICO (Score:4, Insightful)
RICO [wikipedia.org] is the quintesential example of this. While intended to go after organized crime, it has been used to go after everyone from the RIAA to anti abortion protesters to Major League Baseball and even video store owners who rent adult movies.
Absolute power, and all that.
Patriot Act provision not just for terrorists. (Score:2)
Everyone with a fucking clue knew that the Patriot Act was going to massively change the legal landscape when it came to warrants and privacy.
Even your representatives in the Government who obviously didn't RTFA (Read The Fucking Act) knew that parts of it were oppressive enough to warrant a sunset clause.
I won't say that there was significant public outcry before The Patriot Act was passed, because there wasn't. The Nation was hysterical over what had happened and as a result, a grab bag of previ
Re:Patriot Act provision not just for terrorists. (Score:1)
Re:Patriot Act provision not just for terrorists. (Score:1)
Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing the latest version of "We had to destroy the village in order to save it."
You're going to do rather well. . . (Score:2)
Remarks which support the current leadership will put the people who make them in line for nice cushy positions behind the iron fist of the New Fascism, (served up American-Style).
I salute you. Really. Please don't report me to the Homeland goon squad for my flagrant association with my brown-skinned friends. I cower under your suspicious glare. Honest. You really do send chills down my spine.
--After all, that recent contract awarded to Haliburton to build spiffy new Dete [unknownnews.org]
Re:Patriot Act provision not just for terrorists. (Score:1)
Yes because that is the whole point of terrorism.
Re:Patriot Act provision not just for terrorists. (Score:2)
Re:Patriot Act provision not just for terrorists. (Score:1)
Yes.
Tiered Internet (Score:4, Insightful)
My other question is...if this does get pushed through, is there anything preventing another company from starting up and basically offering things the way are currently? I mean, if the whole telecom industry decides to force us into tiered internet, couldn't some company just NOT do it, and rake in the cash hand over fist from all the users and companies that flock to them?
Re:Tiered Internet (Score:2)
So yes, if the telcos push this through, we're screwed.
Re:Tiered Internet (Score:1)
Re:Tiered Internet (Score:2)
Re:Tiered Internet (Score:2)
They have the infrastructure, they'll be getting cash from the content providers, it's going to force some competition, as they'll be able to charge more for more traffic coming through their networks, so the companies will want more users and will be trying to offer the rates which keep more users.
Deutsche Telekom: Fick Dich. Get WiMax instead. (Score:1)
Re:Tiered Internet (Score:2)
If Google just detected Deutsche Telekom AG connections, and put on a note that says that the reason pages are so slow for you is that your ISP makes them slow, DT would probably lose a lot of customers. Google could probably actually extort a bunch of money from DT now, if they wanted to, by
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Tiered Internet (Score:1)
The problem of course is that dreaded last mile. Since the FCC has decided that telcos and cable companies do not need to share their lines you have an effective monopoly on the existing infrastructure. Any competitor trying to enter the market would have to build out infrastructure reaching each and every home they want to service, and do you know how expensive that is to do?
If you want to go wireless then you have a bunch of options - satellite, terrestrial fixed with exi
US ISPs do not have common carrier status! (Score:2)
You nailed on the head the most common misconception in this argument. The telcos DO NOT HAVE COMMON CARRIER STATUS FOR ISPs. Not in America anyway. Yes, the TELCO part of the business has common carrier status, but there is a different article (I believe section 6) of the Communications Act which applies to ISPs and they are not granted common carrier status so you can't hold that over
tiered internet (Score:1)
Patriot act? Dont even get me started on that powergrab farce.
Java games (Score:1)
anyway, like I said, original and fun...
The Judges were right to rule that way (Score:2)
They are right too.
Since most of congress did not even read the patriot act, then the "intention" in it is pretty much that of the author's - John Asscraft. We all know how upon becoming AG he went from a champion for privacy rights (he was a major vocal opponent to the Clipper Chip back
Uh, yeah, that's already covered in the docs. (Score:2)
http://www.bytereef.org/howto/m4-project/enigma-c
Re:Uh, yeah, that's already covered in the docs. (Score:2)
Tagging dupes! (Score:2)
Re:Tagging dupes! (Score:1)