A good method would be to configure your iptables to drop all packets that come in from a new connection on all ports by default, and only allow through the specific ports you want the outside world to have access to. It is also an extremely good idea to move the ssh port higher than 5k. With the right iptable rules you can configure your system to ignore repeat attacks at the kernel level. And for the love of all that is good do not use passwords use key auth only, and disable root ssh login.

It makes you wonder if they are doing this with pot and other illicit drugs.

Is there any other trusted third party software that can be used to verify what Microsoft is saying?

To be honest the chances of China backing down, (i would think) are fairly slim. If anything them standing firm and Google leaving would show they are not weak in their minds.

China just does not have the disposable income for a company like Google to be very profitable. The largest profits are going to be for company's that do manufacturing there since the labor cost is so low.

No, and you are retarded for asking.

The frightening thing is that the system itself probably did function. Most of us who've held a help-desk job will understand this when we think about it.

The call was answered correctly, got all the information, went through their checklists, and closed the call in under 15 minutes. The customer's computer was still broken, but the process was followed completely and correctly, so you won't be docked any points on your evaluation.

When she says the "the system worked" this is likely what she means. The process was followed and each person and part did what it was scripted to do.

I carry a thermos to work.

Seriously, how damaged would the world be without form-based PDFs? I removed almost every plug-in from my copy of Adobe Reader. I don't need their "rights management" or their "braille reader" or their "web submission plugin" or any of that other cruft.

And somehow my life is not incomplete as a result.

Actually they have an office in Atlanta too. Unfortunately my wife doesn't want to move there...

Why would anyone pay anything to these guys, this technology has been around for at least 15-20 years.