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Comment Re:from the five-days-too-late dept (Score 1) 42

Check the app store for your smart phone of choice - the same one that's going to receive the SMS message. There are at least a dozen SecurID-style token apps that are easy to set up and use, work with multiple sites, and free. Google Authenticator is my token of choice. It meets your criteria: universally compatible (or nearly so - I haven't found a place were I can't use it yet, but YMMV), and in my experience, handles user failures gracefully.

Comment Re:32% would vote clinton (Score 1) 993

Nevada has an option to vote "None of these." In many ways, it's a so-called wasted vote, as it doesn't do anything except register displeasure - if "None of these" actually wins an election, the person who comes in second would take office. However, it is a very clear notice that can't be taken as anything other than "I took the time to come down here and let you know that none of y'all is acceptable in my eyes." Voting for a third party candidate as a protest vote can be seen as a vote for that candidate rather than against the main candidates.

And someone who takes office coming in second to "None of these" carries that stigma of knowing they were literally seen as the lesser of two evils. They can't claim a mandate. They can't claim that the majority supports their ideals or goals. And if they want to keep the job, they know they have to do better.

I really like living in Nevada....

Comment No, that's not insecure at all... (Score 5, Insightful) 375

"You'll be able to ask it to make a note, play music, set a reminder, and lots more without ever logging in. "

All I can think when reading that is "attack vector." No matter how much they claim it's limited, sand-boxed, walled off and segregated from the rest of the system, someone will figure out a way to gain system access through it. Microsoft may as well advertise Windows 10, Now With Built In Password Bypass!

Comment Poor system design (Score 5, Interesting) 58

Every time I read about these, it strikes me that it all goes down to poor system design. The computers and functions dealing with the operation of the car need to be isolated from the entertainment systems, including WiFi, at least so far as inputs are concerned. Apps that allow the user to unlock the doors or start the engine, WiFi and OnStar systems that allow on-the-air updates of control software, these are all inherently insecure and always will be! They tie into systems that need to be air-gapped and only accessible via physical access to the car.

Security is almost always a trade off with utility or convenience. But auto makers have gone way too far, to the point of threatening public safety. These car computer systems need to be redesigned from the ground up with proper security practices and risk assessments in place.

Comment Tee Shirt (Score 1) 363

I want a tee shirt that says "Star Wars", written in the Babylon 5 font, at the top of the graphic, and "To boldly go...", written in the Blade Runner font, at the bottom. The main graphic should be Serenity, with Tricia Helfer as 6 standing behind it. I will wear it to Comic Con. Gonna troll somebody, troll 'em all.

Comment A single life (Score 1) 492

I did tech support for AMD back in the 90's, and stumbled upon this idea back then. A friend had an old camper-van that I could buy cheap; AMD was a 24-hour campus with cafeteria, gym and other amenities. A cell phone and PO Box was all that was needed to complete the picture.

If I wasn't married, I might have tried it. Things were not nearly as expensive back then as they are now, but AMD paid their tech support folks crap; I would have been hard pressed to afford a one-bedroom apartment in the area on my salary. If you're willing to live simply, it's definitely a viable option.

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