* Posts by Sir Runcible Spoon

5770 publicly visible posts • joined 29 May 2007

Line by line, how the US anti-encryption bill will kill our privacy, security

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: long-in-tooth

If your password is 'incorrect', maybe it is 'expired'.

Sir Runcible Spoon
Headmaster

"And for the none americans living in America?"

There aren't any.

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: 2 thoughts

Get real, Davros was a genius.

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: ORLY?

"Interestingly, the use of encryption in https is not to hide anything, merely to prove that it really is you"

Wait, what?

I agree that there are two uses for encryption keys and that one of those is to digitally sign data to prove it was written by you, but I'm not sure you understand https as it isn't implemented like that.

The certificate exchange and verification process is to create an encryption key for the data flow between you and the web server. Anyone else looking at that data stream wouldn't know what it contained unless they had the key.

Unless I've totally misunderstood your point :/

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Evil one time pad

"but wouldn't that make your "evil message" (now being used as the one-time-pad and containing structured data) easier to decrypt?"

I don't see why it should. If I've understood correctly the fake pad is just to convert something you know (the encrypted message) into something else you know (the fake unencrypted message).

The original pad will will decrypt the original encrypted message to the real one. All the fakery stuff only relates to the faked message so should reveal nothing about the real pad or message.

Sir Runcible Spoon
Thumb Up

Re: The government [of USA] can lead by example...

Nice analogy there Harmony, and not a car in sight ;)

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Amazing

I think the US should put this bill forward for a vote immediately.

That way, anyone who votes in its' favour will have shown themselves to be unfit for office - right down to the point where they shouldn't be allowed to make the tea.

Sack anyone who votes for it and ban them from ever having any more authority than over their own bladders.

Lauri Love backdoor forced-decryption case goes to court in UK

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Question

"Because in the US, you're innocent until proven guilty."

No. This sentence presumes guilt, but you are classed as innocent until they can prove your guilt.

The correct phrase is:

Innocent unless proven guilty.

Sir Runcible Spoon

Sir

Well, I don't think he is actually accused of a crime in the UK, it's the US that's doing the prosecution.

The US knows it can't compel the passwords out of him, and the UK has been asked to do it for them -but the UK doesn't have a legal way to do it, so they are trying to bully him into giving the passwords over.

I might be wrong, but it sounds about right :)

Prof Hawking to mail postage-stamp space craft to Alpha Centauri using frickin' lasers

Sir Runcible Spoon

Also, encountering any un-mapped mass will put the probe off course and it will lose it's home address in the process (i.e. it's no longer directly behind it!)

China's Great Firewall inventor forced to use VPN live on stage to dodge his own creation

Sir Runcible Spoon

Still..

"Nigel Farage is"

Must have slipped through the net that one :)

Sir Runcible Spoon
Black Helicopters

Not to put too much of a downer on your daughters mood - but you do realise that is her future she's laughing at don't you?

Sir Runcible Spoon

Thank you for posting that - most enlightening.

Managing infrastructure, a newbie's guide: Simple stuff you need to know

Sir Runcible Spoon

"I've been told I'm part of the problem enough times by bright young things so maybe it really is just me."

Only in the sense you are making them think. Experienced consultants cost money for a reason, and it isn't because they know the latest buzz-words.

Doing things right first time is never popular for some reason - I reckon it's because when they look at costs they miss out all the stuff that has to be re-done because they deployed something piece-meal without reference to the big picture.

You aren't costing them money - you are saving it - they're just too stupid to understand because it isn't tallied at the bottom of a spreadsheet table.

That naked picture on my PC? Not mine. The IT guy put it there

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: When I was in a similar position...

How did you recognise his Mum? ;)

Inside Nvidia's Pascal-powered Tesla P100: What's the big deal?

Sir Runcible Spoon
Black Helicopters

Re: Voice recognition

"I don't know why google still makes you send data to its servers"

Go on, have a guess.

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Charles 9

It seems to me that whilst Pascal is quite grunty - it isn't aimed at graphics processing as it's primary function.

So, it will probably compete with the 980ti out of the door, and at a lower price point - but I expect the more consumer oriented Polaris GPU's might well steal the show (for this generation at least)

Waiting for your Oculus to arrive? Yeah, it's going to be some time

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: Two thoughts.

"I'd be more concerned about the ads for "SQUIRREL!!!""

I didn't know your dog had ADHD!

The Register to publish Mindful Sysadmin adult colouring book

Sir Runcible Spoon

http://reg.cx/2kkT

It's an oldie - but a timeless classic ;)

Here's a great idea: Let's make a gun that looks like a mobile phone

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

I thought they were AK-47's?

The FBI lost this round against Apple – but it aims to win the war

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: End of the War

When Stingray is used, the law hoovers up everyone on that cell, not just their target.

Did their warrant cover this? Did they explain that to the judge? No, which is why they tried to hide what they were doing for so long.

The trouble with your post, Tom, is that it is based on a degree of trust in those who have these powers over us, and that trust has been badly shaken in recent times.

That this would be a logical conclusion of their activities which was communicated to them many years ago seems to be ignored, because they now claim that the loss of trust is *because the public now know what they are doing due to whistleblowers like Snowden*.

It's a crock.

Internet users don't understand security or privacy, says survey

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: Surveys R Us

But those are really easy to answer!

1: When did you stop beating your wife?

-I have never stopped beating my wife.

2: By how much did you cheat on your tax last year?

-Only half as much as the year before.

3: When was the last time you stole something?

-Is that the time? Must be off.

4: Did you enjoy your time in the Hitler youth?

-Didn't you?

Police create mega crime database to rule them all. Is your numberplate in it? Could be

Sir Runcible Spoon
Black Helicopters

Re: Peasants! It's all your fault

I was thinking more along the lines of civil disobedience.

Trouble is, that kind of thing only works if people are motivated, and most people only seem to be motivated by simple, easy to understand, subjects. (which encryption/privacy/mass surveillance are not)

If (when?) people do finally wake up and smell the shackles, the internet is a grand tool for organisation. The only thing that would prevent it would be if it had been totally compromised by the vested powers who might conceivable object to such disobedience.

Oh yeah, it's all for terrorists, right.

I was always told to never ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence. Never did find out what happened to them when they disappeared.

I am Sparticus and so are you, and you and you etc.

Sir Runcible Spoon
Black Helicopters

We already know what's planned

"After that who knows what is planned for us Citizens but it's not good."

A boot, stamping on our face, forever.

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Peasants! It's all your fault

On the other boot, if it's all our fault, then we should put it right?

French publishers join Swedish 'Block Party' to pester ad refuseniks

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: addblock block block block blocker

How many Ads would and Ad-block block,

If an Ad-block Ad-blocked Ads?

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: And what of El Reg?

At least the content doesn't jump around like a mexican bean whilst all the ads are loading.

One of the most annoying things I find these days is when I try to click on a link, and it's hopping about due to the page changing layout mid-load - you never know what you end up clicking on.

Sir Runcible Spoon
Facepalm

Re: Let's see how it plays out, shall we?

I can top that. Not only does my wife consider the monitor to be 'the computer' but I have given up (after 20 years) trying to explain how a thermostat works.

Apparently the radiator is 'on' or 'off'. If it's cold - it gets turned up, if it's hot it gets turned down.

Apparently the concept of setting the thermo-valve such that a median temperature is maintained no matter whether it's generally colder or warmer outside doesn't compute.

Point-in-case: I come home the other day - all the windows in the living room were open, and yet the radiator was on full blast. When I asked why, my wife said that she had turned the radiator down a bit (but not off) never expecting it to keep on getting hotter the colder the room got. Arrrrgggggggghhh!

These days I just bury my head in a bottle of spirits straight away - it saves time :)

FBI backs down against Apple: Feds may be able to crack killer's iPhone without iGiant's help

Sir Runcible Spoon
FAIL

Re: precedent

"And, whether we like it or not, the FBI still stand a good chance of winning."

Balderdash.

Let's say that the FBI win the case in the courts and 'Apple' (the company) is forced to create the new ios.

1. Who goes to jail if they don't do it?

2. If you answered #1 as being the CEO/CTO etc. then take into consideration that the techies who would do the actual writing could also decide not to do it (they could resign/go on strike or whatever)

3. If you got this far then perhaps you can explain who actually goes to jail and why.

Mystery Kindle update will block readers from books after Wednesday

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: I got an email for my Kindle Keyboard 3G

Since I got my Kindle several years back, I was paranoid that they might take my books away from me.

So I *always* download the kindle file and copy it across manually. That way they can't revoke anything and I have a local copy of every e-book I've purchased.

What to call a £200m 15,000-tonne polar vessel – how about Boaty McBoatface?

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: @Clockworkseer

"I saw a commenter on another forum refer to it as a Twatdangle."

I was under the impression that a commentard coined that particular (accurate) observation?

When I saw him in his box, I could hardly make him out due to the quantity of raw eggs covering the box :)

Web ads are reading my keystrokes and I can’t even spel propperlie

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

You could try using the exclusion filters..

-thc

-marijuana

-"chocolate frenzy"

-cripsps

etc. etc.

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: Real-time massaging

"and the police"

You forgot: "The Police Commissioner, the Police Commissioners' wife, his wife's coffee-club friends, the hairdresser that pops in once a month, the dog groomer, the dog groomers mother..."

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Ads suck

This is a techie site, we techies use terms that others would consider non-English.

In light of this, and the bravery shown (albeit behind an AC skirt) in posting, I think we should cut the bloodsucker some slack* :)

*for now.

Labour: We want the Snoopers' Charter because of Snowden

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: FFS

"assuming the Tory Whips are doing their job"

I can think of nothing more un-democratic than a locally elected official, chosen to represent the voice of his constituency in parliament, is told how to vote - especially if it's against the wishes of the voters.

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: More and more . .

It isn't so much what Snowden revealed that has increased awareness, it's the response from the established powers that has raised awareness.

The co-ordinated mass media propaganda machine has started to show too much synchronicity and it reveals it's inner workings by the footprints it leaves.

I really think a lot of people are waking up to this, and one reason (I believe) why Trump is doing so well in America.

I think a lot of U.S. citizens are pissed off being told what to say and think. Along comes someone who says and does what he likes and he gains a bit of support.

However, when the media machine is turned against him and people start to see how they are being manipulated and told not to support Trump, his popularity soars. I think it's an indicator that people are waking up and starting to stand up to the system of control that has been imposed upon them.

Bring it on I say.

Snowden WAS the Feds' quarry in Lavabit case, redaction blunder reveals

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Missed it by that much!

We demand the cone of silence!

Blundering ransomware uses backdoored crypto, unlock keys spewed

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Legitimate uses...

Thanks, that one flew straight through my ears :)

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Legitimate uses...

@dan, are you suggesting that you would be using the Stack Overflow with the blessing of the OS maker?

Hard to tell what parallel you are trying to draw here :)

Sir Runcible Spoon
FAIL

Legitimate uses...

there are none.

"A software developer whose example encryption code"

Anyone using it is not doing so with his permission, obviously.

'Just give me any old date and I'll make it work' ... said the VB script to the coder

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Visual Basic

If you 'less' a file, I seem to recall you can search within it (which would give you the contextual position of the code).

Or has my mind finally slipped into senility? :)

Cops hacked the Police National Computer to unlawfully retain suspects' biometric data

Sir Runcible Spoon
Flame

Vigilantism

If the system is such that the police feel they cannot do their job properly, then the correct thing to do is to effect a change in the system through the proper channels within the relevant consultation process.

To do otherwise is to take the law into your own hands and become guilty of committing criminal acts.

However, the CPS can refuse to bring a prosecution if it isn't "in the public interest". This is a very vague term as far as I can tell and assuming they don't want the public to become alarmed that their so-called protectors are bent as nine-bob notes then they can just invoke this 'get-out-of-jail free' card whenever they feel like closing ranks.

What was that quote from Bladerunner...."If you aren't a cop, you're little people". Quite.

What's next? FBI telling us to turn iPhones into pocket spy bugs? It'll happen, says Apple exec

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: I totally agree with Mr. Cue here

'Sarcasm', they say, is the lowest form of wit.

I usually tell those people to just fuck off.

How a Brexit could stop UK biz and Europe swapping personal data

Sir Runcible Spoon
Joke

Re: British Channel?

It's where they apply the vaseline.

Sir Runcible Spoon
Meh

Re: Nice that someone else realized it

I suppose the in/out question comes down to what is most important to you as an individual.

By all means we should consider the cost and all implications for staying/leaving and base our decisions on balancing out many conflicting judgements.

For example, the TTIP is really good reason to get out as far as I'm concerned. Regardless of whether it is actually selling us all out to the multi-nationals, the way in which the treaty has been composed makes it sound like it came straight out of a Bond movie plot.

If there is one thing that means a *lot* to you, it can outweigh all the other arguments (however valid and correct they might be) that argue against that one thing.

Am I prepared for the cost of standing up for my principles? Probably not, but it won't stop me because I feel I will be doing the right thing.

I'm only one vote though, so don't panic.

I beg you, please don't back up that secret directory full of photos!

Sir Runcible Spoon
Gimp

Sir

Back in my ISP support days, the company ran a lot of hosting, which happened to include porn sites.

Since part of my job might involve me having to see the contents of these sites, I actually had a clause in my contract that excluded me from the 'no porn at work' punishments. They also forgot to remove that clause when I moved out of support into other areas of the business.

Not that I ever needed to invoke it of course :)

Boffins bust biometrics with inkjet printer

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: I have thought of a cunning plan...

That sounds awfully like a dongle :)

Sir Runcible Spoon
WTF?

Re: It very much depends on the reader

" It means she frequently gets to stay in airports for anything up to 5 hours past arrival, simply because they can't read her prints."

They take your fingerprints at the airport now!?

Knackered Euro server turns Panasonic smart TVs into dumb TVs

Sir Runcible Spoon
Thumb Up

Re: Real world problems ?

Well, consider my flabber well and truly ghasted! Who'd-a-thunk-it?

Although I do note that the story was from 2007 and that it would take 2-3 years for the crop to mature enough to harvest. Considering the financial crash in 2008 does anyone know if these people realised their dream of an *actual* Yorkshire Tea?

What a pair of ace-holes: Crooks bug gambler's car with GPS tracker, follow him and rob him

Sir Runcible Spoon

Re: Which one is it?

"I'm playing Saints Row IV at the moment, I swear I'm going to be scarred for life by that game..."

Cool, that's on my list now :)