jvervloet - Slashdot User

Submission + - Your GPS may be too trusting

Submitted by

mi

on Sunday April 22, 2007 @10:01AM

mi writes: "Many GPS devices today will try to scan the FM bands for traffic advisories in the area to display on their screens. The signals, however, are neither authenticated nor encrypted, and one can — with commonly available electronics — construct a device to broadcast bogus advisories. Possible codes range from "bullfight ahead" to "terrorist attack"..."

Submission + - Why are we still using the Fax?

Submitted by

neverpsyked

on Sunday April 22, 2007 @09:59AM

neverpsyked writes: "From CNN.com: On Thursday evening, Lexington, KY police arrested a man who had been wrongly released from the Kentucky Correctional & Psychiatric Center in La Grange, KY. He had been released after prison officials received a fax that "...contained grammatical errors, was not typed on letterhead and was faxed from a local grocery store. The fax falsely claimed that the Kentucky Supreme Court 'demanded' Rouse be released."

My question is this: why is anyone still using a fax machine for anything, let alone to receive and transmit documentation relating to the release of violent criminals? At the very least, shouldn't they be using a fax machine on a secure, encrypted line?"

Feed Microsoft says Samsung can offer Linux (slashdot.org)

From feed by lcfeed on Thursday April 19, 2007 @10:13AM

Computerworld reported yesterday that Microsoft and Samsung have signed a new cross-patent protection agreement which specifically provides Samsung rights to any of the unspecified patents which Microsoft claims are being violated by Linux usage. In...

Ubuntu Feisty Fawn Released 590

Posted by kdawson on Thursday April 19, 2007 @09:51AM from the have-at-it dept.

Lots of readers told us about the official release of Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn (screenshots here for Ubuntu and Kubuntu). Some readers report that the distribution servers are being hammered. Here is a review of Feisty Fawn. Reader LinuxScribe sends us to LinuxPlanet for the story on a pleasant Java surprise in the release.

Submission + - Microsoft US$3 software to fight Linux

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 19, 2007 @09:40AM

An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft has launched an effort to double its user base to 2 billion by 2015 by offering a US$3 Microsoft package, which will be sold to qualifying governments. This package includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Microsoft Math 3.0, Learning Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft Office, and Windows Live Mail desktop. From the article: "The last thing Microsoft wants to see is a Linux third world. Therefore, since most recycled PCs will be Windows machines running XP, it is in Microsoft's interests to persuade cash poor governments to buy cheap recycled PCs which will be capable of running its US$3 software." Microsoft, which has a massive piracy problem in developing countries, is caught between a rock and a hard place in poorer nations. Most consumers cannot afford its premium priced software and the only way to access Microsoft products is to buy cheap pirated copies. The problem for Microsoft is if it cracks down too hard on piracy in poor countries it risks pushing consumers into the arms of open source alternatives such as Linux."

Feed Reducing spam with OpenBSD and spamd (slashdot.org)

From feed by lcfeed on Wednesday April 11, 2007 @10:32AM

We all know about the rampant spam email problem. Nearly all of the potential solutions offered for it are based on the idea of the mail server receiving messages, classifying them as either spam or legitimate, and then processing further (deleting...

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