Follow Slashdot stories on Twitter

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×

Comment Re:Corporate (Score 1) 9

by todopoderosita (#23823571) Attached to: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
You know, I think I'm starting to see a trend here with this shit. Some upper-level overpaid manager makes some shitty decision that will garner the company more money and the poor underpaid drone in the store has to enforce it. Then I feel like shit bitching at the minimum wage monkey because, obviously, he didn't make that stupid decision. It's just like when you go to Walmart and the poor guy at the exit asks for your receipt. Some overpaid asshole makes some stupid decision and gets insulated from the consequences of that decision, but I'm sure he gets a bonus for it. Goddamn management. Maybe I need to go get an MBA...
Security

AT&T, 2Wire Ignoring Active Security Exploit [Updated] 134

Posted by kdawson from the complicit-in-the-attacks dept.
An anonymous reader writes "2Wire manufactures DSL modems and routers for AT&T and other major carriers. Their devices suffer from a DNS redirection vulnerability that can be used as part of a variety of attacks, including phishing, identity theft, and denial of service. This exploit was publicly reported more than eight months ago and applies to nearly all 2Wire firmware revisions. The exploit itself is trivial to implement, requiring the attacker only to embed a specially crafted URL into a Web site or email. User interaction is not required, as the URL may be embedded as an image that loads automatically with the requested content. The 2Wire exploit bypasses any password set on the modem/router and is being actively exploited in the wild. AT&T has been deploying 2Wire DSL modems and router/gateways for years, so there exists a large vulnerable installed base. So far, AT&T/2Wire haven't done anything about this exploit." Update: 04/09 17:48 GMT by KD : AT&T spokesman Seth Bloom sends word that AT&T has not been ignoring the problem. According to Bloom: "The majority of our customers did not have gateways affected by this vulnerability. For those that did, as soon as we became aware of the issue, we expeditiously implemented a permanent solution to close the vulnerability. In fact, we've already updated the majority of affected 2Wire gateways, and we're nearing completion of the process. We've received no reports of any significant threats targeting our customers."
Security

Submission + - Sears Web "Community" is a Spyware Install (ca.com)

Submitted by
Panaqqa
Panaqqa writes: "After several weeks of security alerts from CA and denials by Sears, spyware security researcher Ben Edelman has joined the chorus accusing Sears of surreptitiously installing Comscore tracking software on the PCs of people who join the Sears "community". Kmart (owned by Sears) is apparently involved also. After installation, the software sends details of all online activities — including secure sites such as banking — directly to Comscore, despite the Sears website's assertion that it does not share collected data with anyone. Various technology blogs are likening this breach of online privacy to the recent Facebook Beacon fiasco."
Censorship

Submission + - Online Video at Risk of Private Censorship (american.edu)

Submitted by
American University Media Relations
American University Media Relations writes: "Online Video at Risk of Private Censorship American University study finds many uses of copyrighted material could be entirely legal WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 2, 2008) — A new, first-of-its-kind study conducted by American University Professors Pat Aufderheide and Peter Jaszi finds that many online videos creatively use copyrighted materials in ways that are eligible for fair use consideration under copyright law; In short, they potentially are using copyrighted material legally. These uses — an exercise of freedom-of-speech rights — are threatened by anti-piracy measures online. The authors will share their findings during a panel discussion on digital rights management at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show Monday, Jan. 7 in Las Vegas, NV. The study, Recut, Reframe, Recycle: Quoting Copyrighted Material in User-Generated Video (centerforsocialmedia.org/recut), identifies nine kinds of uses of copyrighted material, ranging from incidental (a video maker's family sings "Happy Birthday") to parody (a Christian takeoff on the song "Baby Got Back") to pastiche and collage (finger-dancing to "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"). Researchers in AU's Washington College of Law and School of Communication followed thousands of links for videos on 75 online video platforms and discovered nine popular kinds of use (extensive database of examples at centerforsocialmedia.org/recutvideos). 1. Parody and satire: Copyrighted material used in spoofing of popular mass media, celebrities or politicians (Baby Got Book at http://www.whiteboydj.com/babygotbook.html) 2. Negative or critical commentary: Copyrighted material used to communicate a negative message (Metallica Sucks at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YgcblNUnG0) 3. Positive commentary: Copyrighted material used to communicate a positive message (Steve Irwin Fan Tribute at http://www.metacafe.com/watch/233511/tribute_to_steve_irwin/) 4. Quoting to trigger discussion: Copyrighted material used to highlight an issue and prompt public awareness, discourse (Abstinence PSA on Feministing.com at http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2007/10/10/why-does-bush-still-support-abstinence-only-sex-ed/) 5. Illustration or example: Copyrighted material used to support a new idea with pictures and sound (Evolution of Dance at http://www.theevolutionofdance.com/) 6. Incidental use: Copyrighted material captured as part of capturing something else (Prisoners Dance to Thriller at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o) 7. Personal reportage/diaries: Copyrighted material incorporated into the chronicling of a personal experience (Me on stage with U2 ... AGAIN!!! at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKgJa7HnyLk) 8. Archiving of vulnerable or revealing materials: Copyrighted material that might have a short life on mainstream media due to controversy (Stephen Colbert's Speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879) 9. Pastiche or collage: Several copyrighted materials incorporated together into a new creation, or in other cases, an imitation of sorts of copyrighted work (Apple Commercial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jvUFQsgmqE) "Today, user-generated video accounts for a sizeable portion of all broadband traffic. Some of these videos add value to existing copyrighted material, usually without the copyright owner's consent," Aufderheide said. "This kind of work is the harbinger of an emerging era of participatory popular culture." "New makers and copyright holders both need to understand and honor the key copyright principle of fair use," said Jaszi. "Owners understandably need to control improper access to their materials. But many common online uses today could comply with fair use as currently understood." The study is part of a larger participatory media project (centerforsocialmedia.org/press/ugc_taxonomy), funded by the Ford Foundation as part of the Center For Social Media's Future of Public Media Project. As the report notes, next steps include further research and the convening of a blue-ribbon committee to establish best practices in fair use for online video. Aufderheide is a professor in American University's School of Communication and the director of AU's Center for Social Media (centerforsocialmedia.org). Jaszi is a professor in American University's Washington College of Law and co-director of the law school's Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (wcl.american.edu/pijip). About American University's Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property: Through research, scholarship, public events, advocacy, and provision of legal and consulting services, the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (PIJIP) promotes public interest approaches in the law governing information protection and dissemination. This study was supported by PIJIP's Fair Use and Public Media project, which works to explain and promote interpretations of copyright, communications and other laws that protect and facilitate the growth of media that help the public come into being through the recognition of common social problems. wcl.american.edu/pijip/ About American University's Center for Social Media: American University's Center for Social Media showcases and analyzes strategies to use media as creative tools for public knowledge and action. It focuses on social documentaries for civil society and democracy, and on the public media environment that supports them. The Center is part of AU's School of Communication, a laboratory for professional education, communication research and innovative production across the fields of journalism, film and media arts, and public communication. centerforsocialmedia.org About American University: American University (www.american.edu) is a leader in global education, enrolling a diverse student body from throughout the U.S. and nearly 150 countries. Located in Washington, D.C., the university provides opportunities for academic excellence, public service and internships in the nation's capital and around the world. american.edu # # #"
Power

Submission + - Molten Salt based Solar Power Plant (wsj.com)

Submitted by
rcastro0
rcastro0 writes: "Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of United Technologies, announces today that it will start to commercialize a new type of solar power plant, says this WSJ article. A new company called SolarReserve will be created to "provide heat-resistant pumps and other equipment, as well as the expertise in handling and storing salt that has been heated to more than 1,050 degrees Fahrenheit." According to venture capitalist Vinod Khosla "Three percent of the land area of Morocco could support all of the electricity for Western Europe." Molten Salt storage is already used in Nevada's Solar One power plant. Is this be the post-hidrocarbon world finally knocking?"
The Matrix

Submission + - Online ad tracking targetted by privacy groups (yahoo.com)

Submitted by
Technical Writing Geek
Technical Writing Geek writes: "A coalition of privacy groups Wednesday called for creation of a "Do Not Track List," that would prohibit advertisers from tracking online movements of consumers.

Similar to the popular Do Not Call telephone lists, the Internet proposal comes as online advertising revenues are growing rapidly, providing critical revenue to startups and Web giants such as Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_hi_te/online_advertising_privacy;ylt=omg_wtf"
Security

Submission + - QVC computer glitch scammer enters guilty plea (networkworld.com)

Submitted by
coondoggie
coondoggie writes: "A computer glitch in home-shopping network QVC's computers let a woman scam the company for $412,000 and more then 1,800 items. That woman, Quantina Moore-Perry, 33, of Greensboro, NC pled guilty to the scam in Federal court this week and agreed to surrender the $412,000. Authorities said Quantina Moore-Perry of Greensboro, exploited a glitch in QVC's computer system where she would receive merchandise without being charged if she canceled an order immediately after placing it. Authorities said there was no evidence Perry caused the computer glitch, rather she just took advantage of it. Perry then took the 1,800 products she received and resold items on eBay from March to November 2005. http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/21356"
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - Photo of Bigfoot? (yahoo.com)

Submitted by $lingBlade
$lingBlade writes: Rick Jacobs of Ridgeway Pennsylvania setup a camera in the woods to photograph deer and other animals. On September 16th of 2007 His camera appears to have caught a photo of something resembling an ape or bear with a severe case of mange Here's the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Allegheny-National-Forest-Rick-Jacobs-Pennsylvania/photo//ydownload_ap/20071029/photos_net_ap_ts/1193702239//s:/ap/20071028/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bigfoot_in_pa;_ylt=AqqlHbJOrFpgfU2HUXVFUZUuQE4F
Biotech

Submission + - Did Gas Kill Dinosaurs?

Submitted by
Ponca City, We Love You
Ponca City, We Love You writes: "Nature reports that volcanic eruptions from the Deccan Flood Basalts in India that released huge amounts of sulphur dioxide gas to the atmosphere may have had more to do with wiping out dinosaurs 65 million years ago than the meteorite strike at Chicxulub on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Marine sediments reveal that Chicxulub hit Earth 300,000 years before the mass extinction while the Deccan volcanism released vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere over a period of more than a million years raising worldwide temperatures. "On land it must have been 7-8 degrees warmer," says Princeton University paleontologist Gerta Keller. "The Chicxulub impact alone could not have caused the mass extinction, because this impact predates the mass extinction.""
Microsoft

Submission + - DirectX 10 is Dying (extremetech.com)

Submitted by ChristmasOnMars
ChristmasOnMars writes: ExtremeTech's Joel Durahm points out that DirectX 10 is a dog, noting that Microsoft made a lot of promises that aren't coming true. "I haven't noticed much of a performance improvement, or the promised visual splendor, that Microsoft seems to think DirectX 10 provides. So far, in most games, engaging DirectX 10 mode cripples them on all but the most powerful computers."
Power

Submission + - Are We in a Speculative Bubble with Regard to Oil? (theoildrum.com)

Submitted by
Prof. Goose
Prof. Goose writes: "Maybe the two most common explanations (or myths) about high oil prices are:

1. oil companies are manipulating prices
2. speculators are driving prices up

Of course, these two explanations are satisfying our natural impulse to find scapegoats rather than facing the depressing facts of fossil fuel depletion. Let's debunk them with some data.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3157"
Space

Submission + - Link with hyper kids and artificial preservatives (itwire.com)

Submitted by
WaltonNews
WaltonNews writes: "Sodium benzoate and other food preservatives and colorings have been linked with hyperactivity in children. Although such ingredients have been thought in the past to produce adverse behavior in children, this study is considered the first scientific evidence of its kind."
Toys

Submission + - Entry Level Astronomy 2

Submitted by
brobak
brobak writes: "I'm getting ready to move into a new home on a couple of acres of rural property a significant distance from any large source of light pollution. I've always been interested in astronomy in general, and I was thinking that putting my dark skies to use by picking up decent telescope and learning a bit about the skies over my head. I have been doing a decent amount of web research, but I thought that the Slashdot community would be the perfect place to get opinions on entry level equipment, websites, and books.

The overall budget for this project is going to be around $1,000, and observations will be made from the back of my home primarily. I am particularly interested in the subject of astrophotography, but I understand that may be outside the scope of the initial budget. I would welcome any and all of your comments and suggestions for getting started in this fascinating hobby.

PS — I've already signed up for my local astronomy clubs next monthly meeting."
Software

Submission + - Apple Cripples iPod Touch, Eliminates "Add" (gizmodo.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: According to photos, support discussions and their own description pages, Apple has removed the ability to add events in the iPod touch's Calendar application, even while it uses the same operating system and application frameworks as the iPhone. The article shows captures from the modified US features page compared to the international pages, which haven't been changed yet, as well as analysis on this kind of artificial product segmentation similar to Microsoft's Windows marketing strategy.

Slashdot Top Deals

Love makes the world go 'round, with a little help from intrinsic angular momentum.

Close