Posts by adam payne

Modern life is rubbish – so why not take a trip down memory lane with Windows File Manager?

For some reason I now feel the need to boot up my Windows 3.11 VM.

Sysadmin shut down the wrong server, and with it all European operations

CPU cooker

I was having a look inside a PII 350 PC. A clone machine with no badge on it and i've no idea where they got it from. PC was on, top off and I may have slightly nudged the CPU with my wrist.

Fast forward a couple of minutes just hung up the phone and smelt burning. Turn around and noticed said PII 350 was smoking, cue rip cables out the back and get the PC out the fire escape without setting the fire alarm off (good thing the fire escape was just across from the IT office, hmmm was that planned?).

After it had finished smoking I notice that the CPU didn't have the clips to properly secure it to the retention bracket, oops.

Co-op says IT upgrade project going swell since axing IBM

The firm is now attempting to sue IBM in a £130m lawsuit over the cancelled programme, having claimed Big Blue missed its deadlines. IBM has denied any wrongdoing.

Of course IBM denies any wrong doing they walk on water and they have a new corporate font so everything is good.

O2 wolfs down entire 4G spectrum as pals fiddle with their shiny 5G band

Re: Empire

O2 was BT Cellnet and Cellnet before that.

Danish Navy expert finds no trace of exhaust gas in private submarine

This man should just stick to one story because it's getting confusing trying to follow this. Better still he should tell the truth.

Law's changed, now cough up: Uncle Sam serves Microsoft fresh warrant for Irish emails

"Microsoft no longer has any basis for suggesting that such a warrant is impermissibly extraterritorial because it reaches foreign-stored data, which was the sole contention in its motion to quash... There is thus no longer any live dispute between the parties, and the case is now moot."

You can not pass laws in your own country and expect all other countries to follow your laws. Sorry but it doesn't work that way. That law doesn't apply to a different country.

Anyone would think they passed this law to get back at Microsoft.

Floyd Mayweather-endorsed cryptocoin startup knocked out by fraud allegations

The charges come amid growing concerns about fraudulent initial coin offerings and follows repeat advice from the SEC that investors should not trust celeb endorsements, pointing out that they may be part of a paid promotion.

<sarcasm> What? celebs get paid to endorse products they probably don't use, when did this happen? </sarcasm>

Facebook supremo Mark Zuckerberg has flunky tell UK MPs: Nope, he's sending someone else

Meanwhile, Facebook said it was changing its Login feature to reduce the amount of data an app can request to name, profile photo and email address – any more information will need Facebook's approval.

Shouldn't that be the approval of the person using it?

GoDaddy told off for reeling in punters with 'misleading' prices

Naturally, GoDaddy denied it had misled anyone: it said customers could configure their order in the cart to select the annual service term that would equate to that monthly price

That's the point your advert doesn't say anything about an annual service and that is why your advert is misleading.

Sysadmin wiped two servers, left the country to escape the shame

The only good cock-up is one you are able to recover from.

What a mesh: BT Whole Home Wi-Fi users moan over update

A BT spokesperson told The Register: “We’re aware that a small number of customers have been having problems with their Whole Home Wi-Fi. We’re working to fix the issue as quickly as possible.”

Isn't it always a small number of customers

UK watchdog finally gets search warrant for Cambridge Analytica's totally not empty offices

Cambridge Analytica (CA) sent two QCs – top barristers – to argue against the ICO’s application. They suggested that the application for the warrant was flawed because, among other things, CA had offered to allow the ICO access to its offices, subject to agreeing the terms and scope of access with the regulator.

Presumably the scope the ICO wanted was full access and CA didn't want to give it.

Ex-ZX Spectrum reboot man threatens sueball over unpaid invoices

RCL it's way past time for you to give it up. Refund people and call it a day.

UK's data watchdog seizes suspected Scottish nuisance caller's kit

I bet the MD of the company is already putting plans in motion for another company to be setup.

BOFH: Give me a lever long enough and a fool, I mean a fulcrum and ....

<"Well which game are you trying to make it like? I'm quite a fan of murder in the dark. Get the lights, will you, Stephen?">

It's much more fun if they don't know what's coming/

What ends with X and won't sue security researchers?

Stay within the bounty's rules, and Netflix promises not to sue, which is an important consideration in a world where litigation is increasingly deployed to try and silence research rather than fix vulnerabilities.

Another company that appears to have seen the light. Work with people don't just stick your fingers in your ears or threaten them with legal action.

We sent a vulture to find the relaunched Atari box – and all he got was this lousy baseball cap

It looks sexy but I get a whiff of vapourware.

If they were so close to launching they would have something to show.

Five things you need to know about Microsoft's looming Windows 10 Spring Creators Update

1. Is that Microsoft minutes or normal minutes.

2. Is there going to be a privacy control for that? bet that gets uploaded to Microsoft by default.

3. Surely ground breaking oh wait Bluetooth etc.

4. Don't want to use Edge, Firefox will do for me.

5. They don't want to because it's still a buggy mess but they'll announce it on the day of release just to makes us all happy.

US govt's final bid to extradite Lauri Love kicked into touch

Fifteen years of terrible public policy in which British hackers were left open to the vindictive instincts of US prosecutors has now been brought to an end.

15 years of a policy that should not have even been considered.

Windows 10 to force you to use Edge, even if it isn't default browser

“we will begin testing a change where links clicked on within the Windows Mail app will open in Microsoft Edge” and this will help boost our market share figures.

Windows Mixed Reality: Windows Mobile deja vu?

After much fanfare, one of the United Kingdom's largest retailers, Currys PC World, have quietly dropped the entire range while retaining the Oculus and Vive models.

You know you are in trouble when PC World drops your product.

Keep Calm and Carillion: Outsourcers seek image rebrand after UK construction firm crash

Outsourcing outfits across the land should seize on the opportunity to "stand up and be counted, to celebrate our successes, and to demonstrate the almost incalculable value that we deliver every day."

Is it incalculable because you have no idea of the number or is it that you aren't quite sure you deliver any value?

CEO of smartmobe outfit Phantom Secure cuffed after cocaine sting, boast of murder-by-GPS

However, in reported discussions with Ramos, it seems GPS capability is left intact, with very sinister intent. After Ramos said the primary vulnerability is an informant, an undercover agent said GPS helped "locate and kill the informant". Ramos response: "Yeah, it does".

Well that's one way to incriminate yourself.

Tim Berners-Lee says regulation of the web may be needed

"These dominant platforms are able to lock in their position by creating barriers for competitors. They acquire startup challengers, buy up new innovations and hire the industry's top talent. Add to this the competitive advantage that their user data gives them and we can expect the next 20 years to be far less innovative than the last."

That sounds like most of the corporate world to me not just the web.

Auto manufacturers are asleep at the wheel when it comes to security

“The only difference is when you have a problem with computer it won’t affect your physical security, but a car can put your life in danger and automotive security is something that the industry needs to take seriously.”

The car manufacturers will do nothing until they are forced to.

Less than half of paying ransomware targets get their files back

Of those who caved to the demand and paid the ransom, 49.4 per cent said they could recover their data, while 50.6 ended up losing it anyway. The not-so-shocking conclusion is that criminals don't always stay true to their word.

I can't say i'm that surprised. As soon as you pay the criminals they have what they want.

and the number of companies that were frequently attacked, more than six times in a year, was also down.

If you have been attacked six times in a year then something is seriously wrong.

Unidentified hax0rs told not to blab shipping biz Clarksons' stolen data

The judgment, handed down by High Court judge Mr Justice Warby earlier this week, orders the unknown hackers not to publish the stolen data and to pay Clarksons' legal costs.

Good luck with that because it's never going to happen.

What makes them think that the hackers are even in this country?

DVLA denies driving licence processing site is a security 'car crash'

The security certificates of all of our websites meet industry standards and we use recognised industry best practice methods to ensure that all our URLs are secure. The security of our customers' data is always paramount and we constantly review our websites to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Instead of just dismissing everything why don't you work with the security professionals to look into the potential issues and fix them.

FBI chief asks tech industry to build crypto-busting not-a-backdoor

None of this means a backdoor, he said, because he defines a backdoor as “some type of secret, insecure means of access. What we’re asking for is the ability to access the device once we’ve obtained a warrant from an independent judge, who has said we have probable cause.

Seems they have learnt a few lessons from the backlash over asking for backdoors.

So instead of the back door they want to walk through the front door instead.

Defra to MPs: There's no way Brexit IT can be as crap as rural payments

I can assure you that we are very mindful of, and [have looked] closely at what lessons we can take from the most recent experience of implementing the CAP system."

Lessons that will no doubt not be learnt.

She identified four systems that the department would have to build in a no-deal scenario. "These are builds that are significantly less complex than the CAP delivery system

Oh you said it, that's going to come back and bite you.

British military spends more on computers than weapons and ammo

The Reg asked the MoD for a fuller breakdown of the top-line figure but was told it will "not release contract detail for commercially sensitive reasons". We know, unsurprisingly, Microsoft features in there.

A breakdown would give people a better understanding of MOD spending, obviously they don't want that.

123 Reg suffers deja vu: Websites restored from August 2017 backups amid storage meltdown

Hardware failure yeah that happens but backups dated last year should not be happening ever.

Microsoft builds Uncle Sam custom versions of 365 and Azure Stack

The package bundles Windows 10, Office 365, and Enterprise Mobility + Security with Microsoft's secure government cloud service - an isolated data center run by accredited staff intended solely for use by the US government.

One data center, what could go wrong?

British clockwork radio boffin Trevor Baylis terminally winds down

Mr Baylis might not have made a lot of money but I can only hope he is an inspiration for many people.

RIP

Facebook regrets asking whether it's OK to let adult men ask underage girls for smut pix

I would hope the vast majority of the community would say no not ever.

"We run surveys to understand how the community thinks about how we set policies," said Rosen via Twitter. "But this kind of activity is and will always be completely unacceptable on FB. We regularly work with authorities if identified. It shouldn't have been part of this survey. That was a mistake."

Another mistake in a long line of them.

Let me guess it was all automated?

Copper feel, fibre it ain't: Ads regulator could face court for playing hard and fast with definitions

CityFibre chief exec Greg Mesch said: "The ASA's short-sighted decision to allow yesterday's copper-based infrastructure to masquerade as the future-proof full fibre networks of tomorrow is a clear failure in its duty.

"It has failed to ensure honest and truthful broadband advertising, it has failed to enable consumers to make informed choices and it has failed to support a national infrastructure project critical to our success in a digital age.

Not that you have a vested interest in it being reviewed, no certainly not.

BOFH: Honourable misconduct

I think I even have a script for that.

Scripting is an art form in itself.

UK's Dyson to vacuum up 300 staffers for its electric car division

Dyson electric car - very loud, very expensive and made of cheap plastic.

Stop us if you've heard this one: Ex-Googler sues web giant claiming terrible treatment. This time, sex harassment

We have strong policies against harassment in the workplace and review every complaint we receive. We take action when we find violations - including termination of employment.

It's all well and good giving a stock statement but with all the lawsuits coming your way people are going to start to wonder.

If half of these things are true then Google need to get a grip and do something about this.

German government confirms hackers blitzkrieged its servers to steal data

On Wednesday local news site DPA International reported that the German government discovered a serious intrusion into its servers in December 2017. The attack is thought to have seen data exfiltrated for up to a year before its discovery.

A year and no sysadmin saw anything, seriously?

US Supremes take a look at Microsoft's Irish email slurp battle, and yeah, not a great start

The Supremes' early opinions on the matter were released to the public on Tuesday. The transcripts revealed two of the nine justices were particularly scathing of Redmond's claim that the US government cannot lawfully demand access to data stored outside America's borders. The others showed varying levels of concern.

When will the US government respect other countries borders?

You can pass all the laws and judgements you want but none if those mean anything outside the US anyway.

RIP... almost: Brit high street gadget shack Maplin Electronics

“We will now work tirelessly alongside Zelf Hussain, Toby Underwood and Ian Green, from PWC, who have been appointed as the joint administrators of Maplin Electronics Ltd to achieve the best possible outcome for all of our colleagues and stakeholders,” said Harris.

Best possible outcome for everybody except the staff.

Time to pay, Paypal pal Venmo! Oh no, haha, put away that wallet – just promise to be nice

"This brings to an end the investigation that included a focus on Venmo platform issues and practices prior to acquisition by PayPal. Since then, as a core part of PayPal’s and Venmo’s business and operations, we’ve taken steps to significantly strengthen our privacy and data security practices."

That's right PayPal blame other people, take no responsibility at all.

Mobile industry wants less regulation, mooooar radio spectrum

Otherwise, the refrain at the opening keynotes at this year’s MWC was: "Better Future". How this would be reached involves stripping away regulatory barriers, placing more radio spectrum into the hands of the mobile industry and "relaxing" data laws, said senior industry figures.

Give them an inch and they will take a mile.

Telefónica is also understood to be figuring out a way to pitch total data harvesting of customers' home lives as "empowerment", rather than surveillance.

Not quite sure how you can pitch data harvesting as in empowerment for people using you services.

Is there an opt out option? Will this be auto opt-in?

Symantec ends cheap Norton offer to NRA members

"The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world."

Defend the individual freedom to go hunting with an Uzi.

Nokia tribute band HMD revives another hit

Re: built-in "curated" apps including Facebook and Twitter...

You are already connected to the Matrix you just don't know it.

Batteries are so heavy, said user. If I take it out, will this thing work?

"You mean that little thing that was under that cute little door?" came the reply. "It made the phone too heavy!" she said.

Brains are heavy too and it looks like she removed that as well.

Venezuela floats its own oily cryptocurrency to save the world economy

It's all well and good running a country based on ideology but there comes a point when it needs to take a back seat for the good of the country. Let's hope they soon see this.

This job Win-blows! Microsoft made me pull '75-hour weeks' in a shopping mall kiosk

A former Microsoft retail manager is suing the software giant for making her work long hours without overtime and breaks.

Another person gains super hero status.

The e-waste warrior, 28,000 copied Windows restore discs, and a fight to stay out of jail

If the PCs had licenses stuck on them then who cares where the media came from.