Most of the storage media in common use (disks, tapes, CD/DVD-R) already do use ECC at sector of block level and will fix "single bit" errors at firmware level transparently. What is more of an issue at application level are "missing block" errors; when the low-level ECC fails and the storage device signals "unreadable sector" and one or more blocks of data are lost.

Off course this can be fixed by "block redundancy" (like RAID does), "block recovery checksums" or old-fashioned backups.

Agile works for software because it is cheap to redesign software and also cheap to do a few test runs. Building a rocket, filling it with fuel and then see whether it flies or explodes is expensive when you talk about the size needed for manned spacecraft. It is more or less the same for Boeing and Airbus who spend years and years designing before they start building their first full scale planes for test flights. We're talking planes that cost over $100 million each, not something you like to throw away on a test.

It could make a short-circuit very painful!

No, 2^43,112,610-1 can be divided by 3.

If it would be hard for you to find the $50.000 to patent it, you won't have the $5.000.000 to enforce your patent in court.

It is just a reminder to programmers of public forum software how important input sanitation is.

Apparently the damage was limited to only one site... But similar hacks could be done on other vulnerable sites.

How do you upgrade Android? Do you get a single firmware image from Google containing both the Linux kernel and the Google apps? If it is a single firmware image the GPL says that the full image should be distributable under the GPL. Denying someone the right to remix it would be a GPL violation!

What I heard from a Coverity employee doing a presentation is that the best closed source/commercial projects score as good as the best Open Source projects; bad commercial projects do as bad as bad Open Source projects.

In other words, the variation in both categories is so big (more than a factor 10!) that one can not say either side is better with statistical relevance.

Doesn't look like it captures the OSS development spirit, to me...

But it almost perfectly captures Microsoft's view on the software market.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1467270710/Police-say-irate-car-dealership-customer-recorded-altercation

Or did I completely miss the bus? Something I missed?

You missed the lock in model of being forced to work with the applications that the cloud provider supports.

So far, software patents are still not enforcible in EUrope. And the EU economy is bigger and doing better than the US.

How can using a username and password, given to you by the owner of the system, be hacking?
Am I hacking when a co-worker allows me to use his account?
Should violation of "MySpace can change these terms and conditions without giving notice" terms and conditions ever give rise to criminal proscecution?

Do you want to make all US Citizens Felons?

I have read the article and the verdict and I would call Judge Wu wise and intelligent.
The doorman allowed Mrs. Drew access to the "private club", where she mixed in with the rest of the crowd and talked with Megan, a girl that, because of her age, should not be allowed in the club anyway. Yes, MySpace's door policy leaves something to be desired; it is assumed that the majority of the visitors have not been 100% honest in filling out their application forms.

While Mrs. Drew might have violated the law (Fraud/Impersonation and Harassment), she did not exceed the access to MySpace that she was granted after processing of her application. BTW, we all know that 90% of the girls commit suicide after being dumped by a cyber-boyfriend.

What Judge Wu ruled is that breaking the contract that you have with a website should be seen as a "civil matter", and should not be treated as a crime. (This is for access that the website owner granted you in return for accepting his terms.) When you exceed the granted access and really hack the system, you still risk criminal prosecution.

P.S. Civil action may cost you tons too, in damages and attorney fees.