Posts by JohnG

Hacker backdoors Linksys, Netgear, Cisco and other routers

Re: Not likely

"Most users of this gear will not have any idea why their system has gone snafu, and a knowlegeable hacker will restore the system to a functional state pdq..."

Most users would probably notice that their router had lost the settings required to login to their ISP and the hacker would not be able to replace them because they would have been disconnected as soon as the router rebooted with default settings and because the hacker would not have the necessary ISP account details in the first place.

Planning to rob a Windows ATM? Ditch the sledgehammer and bring a USB STICK

"PLANNING TO ROB A WINDOWS ATM? DITCH THE SLEDGEHAMMER..."

A sledgehammer isn't going to get you anywhere - according to several news reports, the tool for the job is a JCB from a nearby building site.

Time travellers outsmart the NSA

Re: Well I'm convinced.

"Getting desperate, the researchers have also asked time travellers, if they exist, to post to the hashtag “#IcanChangeThePast2” or “#IcannotChangeThePast2”, on or before August 2013."

If a time traveller posted “#IcannotChangeThePast2” at any point in their own past, then they would have changed their own past (by revealing the possibility of time travel in the future), thus contradicting their own post.

CryptoLocker creeps lure victims with fake Adobe, Microsoft activation codes

Re: Bastards....

"This has sod all to do with the FBI, NSA, Scotland Yard or any other government body. This is not a national security threat, it's a threat to those who want something for free."

Regardless of the actions/intentions of the victims, this is extortion or fraud and it is a criminal offence/felony, so the relevant authorities in the UK or USA are interested:

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/cryptoLocker-alert-update-dec13

http://www.fbi.gov/washingtondc/news-and-outreach/stories/cryptolocker-ransomware-encrypts-users-files

El Reg's contraptions confessional no.5: The Sinclair Sovereign

Re: Casio FX-502P Programmable

I had a Casio fx-201P - this too was programmable but had a nice green vacuum fluorescent display (which meant that I almost always used it on mains power). I still have it and the associated programming manual. It still works.

BT tweaks WORDING of sex-ed web block after complaints

"I can see why some people might find this kind of filtering helpful, but it should have been an opt-in choice rather than a 'lets turn it on for all' choice."

This entire story is specifically about opt-in filters, intended for parents to restrict what their children can access and is not about the idea to apply a universal porn filter on everyone in the UK.

'F*** off, Google!' Protest blockades Google staff bus AGAIN – and Apple's

Re: Rent Control wont work either

"...many people in service industries are on or close to minimum wage so additional commuting costs can make a massive impact on net income. Add in maybe working unsociable hours so public transport isn't really an option & suddenly you don't have office cleaners, early morning or late night café workers etc."

Central London has been like this for decades but there are no signs that it is falling apart due to a lack of cleaners or others in low income jobs. (Personally I hated commuting/working there, even on good money).

Parents can hide abortion, contraception advice from kids, thanks to BT's SEX-ED web block

Re: Speechless

"Blocking gay and lesbian material but not heterosexual sites is also arguably a breach of the Equalities Act."

That may be true but that is not what is happening - their filter blocks anything related to sex education, including sexual orientation. BT's statement from the article: "One of our optional filters does just that. It does not discriminate between heterosexual and LGBT content."

French gov used fake Google certificate to read its workers' traffic

"Nothing wrong with it in an enterprise network - it isn't an ISP doing it, its your employer and as such you have rules to follow internally."

True - but the employer should tell their employees clearly that they are doing this. In my experience, this is rarely the case - the information given to employees about any monitoring is vague (IMO, intentionally so).

How UK air traffic control system was caught asleep on the job

Re: Redundancy

"Redundancy means having a duplicate system"

....or perhaps a set of procedures to use regular telephones when the all singing and dancing system is down.

It seems incredible that they apparently had no alternative procedures to follow and just left everything in night mode.

REVEALED: How YOU PAY extra for iPHONES - even if you DON'T HAVE ONE

Regulators?

Bullying resellers with restrictive contracts got Microsoft into a lot of trouble with EU regulators and courts. If Apple is as arrogant with EU officialdom as Microsoft were, I guess they could expect an even bigger fine. Of course, the EC could use the cash.

Blighty's top moneymen: Hackers are SLURPING CASH direct from banks

"Banks must make more effort to retrain or re-skill their employees," he said. "Much more emphasis should be placed on retention of soft skills, IP, organisational culture, the evolution of internal security policies and knowledge of legacy systems."

What employees? When you've outsourced all this stuff to some nice chaps in India and made your employees redundant, it is clearly not your problem any more (well - that's what the salesman from the outsourcing outfit said).

US puts Assange charge in too-hard basket - report

Re: And of course....

The silly thing is that, because he has broken bail in the UK, he will go to jail in the UK. If he had gone to Sweden and hired a competent lawyer, it is probable that the rape allegations would have been quashed.

Thai man reportedly dies clutching his scorched iPhone 4S

Re: It's all about the money

"A CE marking means nothing"

Whilst it is true that manufacturers apply the CE and RoHS marking themselves and some cheat, it is illegal throughout the EU to sell products which are falsely labelled or which do not comply with CE and RoHS rules. Those that sell this crap on ebay risk prosecution for manslaughter if their defective product kills someone.

Meet the FOUR-TON DINO that made little Tyrannosaurs SOIL THEMSELVES

Re: The Real Truth

"... the dolphins know more than they're letting on..."

I think the Japanese are dealing with the dolphins.

Murdoch stands between your kids and filth with BSkyB network-level SHIELD

"Still no mention of any rights that the website owners have."

That's an interesting point. EU single market rules mean that legitimate businesses should be able to sell their goods and services across the single market without hindrance - that includes legal porn businesses, like this is Germany and the Netherlands.

There has already been a case of this nature back in the 1990s. The government of the day in Britain was trying to stop a hardcore porn channel called Red Hot Dutch from selling subscriptions in the UK. This was deemed to be in breach of single market rules as RHD's services were legal in the country of origin (the Netherlands) and the British government was ordered to stop interfering with RHD's legal business. RHD subsequently went bankrupt and this was rumoured to be due to British government pressure but the reality was that RHD lost too much business to pirated cards for their services.

True fact: Britain is losing its brains

"But the study also has implications for education policy here in the West. Why educate people in science and technology if other countries are going to reap the reward?"

This is a chicken and egg issue. Take a look at the salaries and career prospects for people in science and technology - that may explain why so many leave and why so many choose careers in other sectors. Any time people in these sectors look like reaching professional salaries, the government of the day will come up with a scheme to solve the shortage of skilled workers AKA import cheap labour.

Antivirus bods grilled: Do YOU turn a blind eye to government spyware?

When selecting AV and other security software, maybe it is worth thinking about which jurisdiction(s) the company may be subject to and therefore, which government(s) may be able to make demands on them which they cannot refuse. In a way, you are selecting which government(s) can snoop on you.

Mac OS X Mavericks 'upgrade' ruins iWorks

Re: I never really understand these companies...

"Looks like Apple have contracted the same thing that Microsoft caught while they were designing Windows 8: in an attempt to "harmonise" platforms..."

I don't think there have been armies of users clamouring for the amalgamation of desktop and tablet O/S and applications. MS and Apple both seem to have decided that their users must be herded down this path.

I am a recovering Superwoman wannabee

Re: Relax!

"...reserve some quality time for yourself, you only get to live once."

Agreed. Also, the people that matter may not notice, understand, appreciate or care about the sacrifices you are making for them - in which case, it is all wasted.

Please, PLEASE, Skype... Don't kill our apps and headsets, plead devs

Re: "iPhones, iPads, Android gear and Windows Phone"

"I think the trick here is to not update your copy of Skype..."

Like this:

HKLM\Software\Policies\Skype\Phone, DisableVersionCheck, REG_DWORD = {0,1}

Personally, I like the reduced advertising and lack of home screen in Skype version 4.2 for Windows.

Apple accused over 'secure' iMessage encryption

"Apple accused and apple responded..."

Apple implied that interception would require a redesign of their imessage system, where they actually only need to send updated certificates. They then send "they had no plans to do this", which is not the same as "this is not possible". Their plans could be changed by a court order.

FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS: Microsoft faces prising XP from Big Biz

Re: Or

I like LibreOffice and use it at home every day - but the idea of a Linux desktop for corporate use is dead in the water for as long as Microsoft doesn't provide Office for Linux and keep changing their Office file formats as every upgrade.

Last living NEANDERTHALS discovered in JERSEY – boffins

People with origins outside Africa have about 4% DNA in common with Neanderthals. Whether this is down to shared common ancestry or hybridisation is not known.

Divorcing ICANN and the US won't break the 'net nor stop the spooks

Re: I just don't see how this makes a difference

"You don't really think the countries of the rest of the world will take ICANN away from the US and not see an opportunity to exert more control over the Internet themselves, do you?"

Actually, the ITU has done a pretty good job of getting everyone to agree on things like international telephony, despite many of the countries having deep political and ideological differences. I doubt that a US administered body would have achieved the same level of cooperation.

The problem with ICANN and the Internet is that countries like China and Russia see the US control as a potential threat and are considering to implement their own systems in their countries, thereby leading to the balkanisation of the Internet that most would like to avoid.

Assange: 'Ecuadorian embassy staff are like my family'

Re: Even assuming the Swedish allegations are false and are dropped...

"..the US only has to ask and we would happily hand him over.."

It seems extremely unlikely that the Swedish authorities would agree to this and their claim has precedence.

Brazil's anti-NSA prez urged to SNATCH keys to the internet from America

personal, personnel

*personnel

Turkish TV presenter canned for flashing too much cleavage

Re: Cultural

"Why it isn't in the European Union..."

Israel is not in Europe, although that hasn't stopped Cyprus and is not stopping Turkey. However, Russia seems to be excluded from the EU's definition of Europe.

British support for fracking largely unmoved by knowledge of downsides

Fear

I guess it comes down to a question of what to fear most: the potential hazards of fracking or the certainty of higher energy prices.

UK.gov's e-Borders zombie still lurks under the English Channel

Re: Ferry

For those using the channel tunnel, the government could just ask Eurotunnel for the data. The Eurotunnel automated check-in terminals at Folkestone always greet me by name before I have provided any data. As I have never provided my car registration details to Eurotunnel, it seems that they use number plate recognition and link this data with passenger bookings when passengers enter the UK.

Re: Just join Shengen and get over with it

For the UK to join Schengen, there would need to be internal controls i.e. a requirement to carry ID, address registration and probably some other changes to bring the UK into line with other Schnengen states. As ID cards have been thoroughly killed off in the UK, Schengen membership for the UK seems extremely unlikely for the foreseeable future.

Chaos Computer Club: iPhone 5S finger-sniffer COMPROMISED

Re: OMG

"The fingerprint scanner is enough to keep your wife out, but if you see her with a bottle of liquid latex....."

No need to be paranoid - she might be planning something kinky.

You thought NFC tags were Not For Consumers? Well, they're in Maplin's

My LG Android phone came with one free tag and has the same profile setting idea. The idea is to have tags for Living Room, Bedroom, Car, Office/Desk, etc. with settings for alarms, sound volume, ring or vibrate, bluetooth handsfree, etc. - but they should have supplied more than one tag!

400 million Chinese people can't speak Chinese: Official

Re: sloppy

"they speak chinese just fine, just not the state sponsored dialect"

...except for the Tibetans, the Uyghurs and others who lands have been designated as part of China but who have their own languages, cultures, etc.

China's corruption crackdown killing off Unix

Re: It always starts at the low end.

"Huawei started making candybar phones and less than spectacular cell/networking equipment."

Huawei's origins were somewhat grubbier than that - they started out making counterfeit Cisco kit.

Want the latest Android version? Good luck with that

Re: google play

"Could this be the first part of Google's very own walled garden?"

Of course - but Google Play doesn't have a very high wall. It is easy to install things from outside Google Play.

However, that isn't really the problem that the article describes. Whereas Apple do provide O/S updates to users, Google does not. It is all left in the hands of the device manufacturers and cellular network carriers, who typically don't care about devices they sold last year.

Android malware spotted hitching a ride on mobile botnet

"...the flaw that allows Obad to embed itself has been patched, but only in the Android 4.3 build – meaning that unless you have one of a very few Nexus devices, you're wide open."

This is one of the big flaws of Android: Google leaves updates entirely up to the hardware manufacturers but most hardware manufacturers aren't interested in devices which they sold a year ago, so most remain stuck on older versions of Android. Apps may get updated regularly in the market but updates to Android OS are pretty rare for most users.

Torched £30 server switch costs phone firm millions in lost sales

Re: Planning

"Was at the conference in question. Oddly, Delran was one of the few presenters not selling anything."

Unisys CM manager Michel Delran, setting out a case for CM. It is all part of the sales pitch, even if he isn't talking prices.

Sage 50 activation blackout: Shops sent back to paper age

Re: Crap product we know...

I guess sage are hoping their customers are unfamiliar with the concept of consequential damages.

Are you for reel? How the Compact Cassette struck a chord for millions

Re: Just remember...

Bow Wow Wow:

C30 C60 C90 Go

off the radio I get a constant flow

hit it, pause it, record it and play

turn it, rewind, and rub it away

....and yet, music survived, contrary to the prophecies of the BPI.

US court: Dell can't hound debtor with robocalls to her mobile

Re: PAY UP!!!

"As far as I'm aware, the only bank in the UK that lets you do international transfers online is HSBC."

NatWest allows online international payments.

Guardian teams up with New York Times for future Snowden GCHQ coverage

Re: But.... but...

"...you can't have the Americans providing information on the Brits, and the Brits providing information on the Americans!"

Ironically, this has long been the arrangement between the English-speaking intelligence services. Remember when Margaret Thatcher didn't trust some of her minsters and had the Canadians do the necessary spying (via Echelon). This was not illegal for the Canadians but might have presented some issues for the British intelligence services.

Mind you, it seems the Americans can't be bothered with this arrangement and just spy on their own people regardless.

Wait, don't ditch that IT career just yet: UK vacancies hit 5-year high

Re: "Wait, don't ditch that IT career just yet"

"Too late."

Quite. In any case, there may be more IT jobs being advertised but they still aren't paying enough (in the UK).

Re: Lies, damned lies and recruitment agencies.

"...would LOVE to live/work in Cornwall, but it always comes down to the simple fact... No jobs in IT."

There must be a few jobs at Bude/Morwenstow at that GCHQ site http://goo.gl/maps/Nk56x - especially if the yanks have coughed up 15 million towards it.

Mystery of Guardian mobos and graphics cards which 'held Snowden files'

Re: PPE

I hope that the Guardian sent their Safety Officer to check not only the PPE but that everyone had the correct certifications (a relevant ECS card?) for the actions they were performing (materials handling, power tools), that the room had adequate ventilation and that any hazardous materials were correctly recycled.

"I'd send guys who look after physical security, probably former policemen with shiny boots and narrowed eyes."

The snag is, it is probably trivial to fool these guys into chopping up any obsolete kit that the Guardian IT blokes could dig out of a cupboard. It seems likely that the Guardian would have established procedures to cope with a visit from the authorities once they got involved with Wikileaks.

"If the Guardian still has a copy on UK soil, they can then have them up for lying about the destruction..."

The Guardian folk would be in the clear if they don't have copies in the UK on the day they are asked.

They could have a bit of fun by phoning the men from the ministry to tell them every time they have had more copies in the UK for a week or so.

Green German gov battles to keep fossil powerplants running

Re: What they want to do is make money, and they will.

"California went through this"

The snag is, it is not a simple free market in Germany - providers cannot simply pass on wholesale energy price increases to consumers as there are constraints in the maximum price increases that can be applied during a contract.

Re: nuclear is not an option

"All the better for France..."

and the Poles - they are building a nuclear power station which will be closer to Berlin than the closest German nuclear power station (now closed down, of course). In return for closing down the nuclear power stations and accepting the prospect of higher prices and increased likelihood of power cuts, the Green party promised that everyone could feel safer - try telling that to Berliners now.

Re: The answer is obvious...

Yeah - I am sure that German companies like EON, despite all their years of experience in power generation and distribution have failed to asses the profitability (with the subsidies for green projects) of the various types of power generation.