Posts by Flexdream

Sir Tim Berners-Lee and the BBC stage a very British coup to rescue our data from Facebook and friends

'We do need a revolution that puts the power in the hands of the people, but we probably don’t want to shoot the Czar and his family.'

Lovely writing and metaphors as ever Rupert. A pleasure to read.

Tomorrow's wireless world will be fatter, faster, and creepier

New frontiers

Great summary and forecast Rupert. The future will be exciting, I really like the idea of WiFi sense, and backscatter. I know there's a downside such as misuse for surveillance etc. But on balance - wow! I want some goggles so I can see all this radiation made visible and overlaid.

NASA’s getting really good at this flying a helicopter on Mars thing

Re: Awesome

Would a tethered observation balloon on Perseverance be a useful supplement?

Average convicted British computer criminal is young, male, not highly skilled, researcher finds

They're the ones who get caught and convicted.

Microsoft emits 83 security fixes – and miscreants are already exploiting one of the vulns in Windows Defender

Re: "And earlier this month, Google published 43 CVEs"

Google's problem is the large number of Android devices which can't be updated anyway. Especially phones.

SolarWinds malware was sneaked out of the firm's Orion build environment 6 months before anyone realised it was there – report

Re: Very

Agreed. Very impressive.

'To prevent detection, Sunburst’s creators “included a hash verification check” to ensure the injected malicious code “is compatible with a known source file”. Once the build process was complete, Sunburst waited for MsBuild.exe to exit “before restoring the original source code and deleting the temporary InventoryManager.bk file” containing its malicious code, now compiled into the Orion product.'

But it's a high risk game to play as this would seem to be an attack by an nation, presumably Russia, on the US and its allies.

World’s largest dark-web marketplace shuttered after Euro cybercops cuff Aussie

Re: Continued co-operation assured?

He's an Australian living in Germany. Australia isn't in the EU. Co-operation against crime will continue regardless whether the UK is in the EU or out.

Hacker given three years for stealing secret Nintendo Switch blueprints, collecting child sex abuse vids

' The judge recommended Hernandez be placed in “a Bureau of Prisons facility for inmates with cognitive challenges.” '

GDP-arrrrrrgggghhh! A no-deal Brexit: So what are you going to do with all that lovely data?

Re: Brexshit

IP, thanks for your kind words and thoughtful reply. As you'd expect I'm unconvinced by your arguments, as I will explain.

'I remember the "Cod Wars" over disputed fishing grounds - do you? A British 200 mile limit would overlap with Norway's limit, and possibly with Iceland's. The EU has reduced tensions in these waters, which is good.'

I remember those days too ;) so I guess we're a similar vintage. Obviously the '200 mile' limit is shorthand, and allows for that, e.g. Norway and Sweden. Reduced tensions? Not if you're African http://www.iuuwatch.eu/2017/09/fish-cash-batter-eu-robs-africa-seafood/

'Also, having come from an area in which two other industries (coal and steel) were decimated by purely UK government action, I don't see why fishermen should get special regard.'

I don't understand this, unless you're saying you approve the decimation of coal and steel, but even if you do then fishing is different and has not been decimated by market forces.

'The UK government were quick enough to bail out domestic banks, which I disagreed with, so why would this putative bailout be any different?'

I disagreed with that too, and the bailout of French and German banks which I think was the reason the ECB broke its own rules to 'help' Greece. Unlike your conclusion I don't want to be party to repeating a banker's bailout.

'I live in Scotland where immigrants are a) welcome and b) vital to the economy. Also, I have always been an advocate of weak border controls, so I'd rather that we allow more immigrants from anywhere in the world.'

I live in Edinburgh, and I agree on a) and b). However I value British cultural identity and cohesion and I think British voters should decide who and why people come here..

'Lastly, I'm married to a citizen of another EU country, which I probably wouldn't be except for EU funding of academic activities.'

Congratulations, but I think you'd still be married to someone without the EU :)

'Free to make trade deals:

I think I already addressed this

- we are a tiny country with very little regard in the rest of the world.'

We are a huge economic power, even if our leaders are inept. Australia, NZ, Canada, S Korea, Taiwan, Singapore all manage. The problem with the EU is we get signed up for deals which might protect a European interest, such as Italian rice growing (really) but don't help us. How well is the EU doing in its dealings with the US? What's the problem with GM soya?

'Free to have different standards eg better animal welfare, relaxed on GM:

This is a valid point. I am very unhappy with the eco-nuttery coming out of the EU, and the standards of farm animal welfare. However, I don't think any UK government is going to do anything different on these points, because the eco-loons are taking over all the parties, and they don't seem to have any concerns about animal welfare, except to tell us all to be vegetarian or vegan.'

Glad we agree. I would never want bull fighting to be legal in the UK, even if the EU don't object, but nor do I want the EU dictating to Spain. Let each country decide. I'm sure Spain is heading towards outlawing it.

'Drop punitive tariffs on developing countries' textiles:

To be honest, this does not impact on my consciousness at all. However, what makes you think that any future trade deals won't have similar restrictions - c.f. Trump and China?'

It seems to me Trump is the only politician prepared to stand up to the Chinese dictatorship and its outrageous trade practices.

'Review our participation in the European Arrest Warrant:

I don't know what you are referring to, specifically. I know that some academics have issues with the EAW, but I'm not knowledgeable about it. However, whatever the problems, look at the extradition treaty with the USA and tell me that you think that any renegotiation will be of advantage to the average person.'

Many, not me though, were pleased that McKinnon wasn't extradited to the US. If the Greeks for example wanted him we couldn't stop it. I rest my case.

'Avoid the militarisation of the EU:

I have no real concern about this, partly because it is unlikely to happen. Even if it did, do you have problems with the UK being part of NATO? If yes, then I applaud you consistency; if no, what are the relevant differences?'

Yes I have a problem, though less, with NATO. I want my peace dividend! Remember that eh?

'Encourage the democratic vote for independence of Catalonia ignored by the EU:

Independence for Scotland would do that much more effectively.'

Good luck with that! https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scottish-independence-eu-bid-extremely-difficult-says-jose-manuel-barroso-9131925.html

'Save our huge and growing financial contribution:

Which is pointless given that the financial losses from crappy trade deals and erosion of standards will cost more for the foreseeable future. At least the country gets something back from paying in to the EU.'

I disagree and think we're financially much better off out the EU. But I don't believe anyone can predict the future. I do see the EU's relative decline comoared with the US and developing Asia continuing.

'Many of the problems you point to are down to the UK government. As a country, we could have dealt with this years ago by adopting Proportional Representation and developing a codified constitution so that ordinary people know the rules if the game. The EU has nothing to say about this, but consecutive governments have unfairly blamed the EU for their own failings. If you were to give that as reason for leaving the EU, I would not be able to argue with you :-)'

Dang, wish I'd remembered that one! You'll be pleased to know for the imminent election how much you accord with the Brexit Party policy on this :)

Regards

Re: Brexshit

The UK and Ireland being in the EU did nothing to help bring peace in Northern Ireland. The USA made an enormous contribution, a Canadian negotiator helped too. The GFA didn't involve the EU or mention them. Not long since SF was opposed to the EU and might be again. The UK and Ireland have repeatedly both said they will not build a hard border. The UK and Ireland are both net contributors to the EU. The EU supports the Spanish government in suppressing Catalan independence, and made it clear that an independent Scotland would have to apply for membership as a new country, Euro and all.

Yet somehow leaving a customs union will start a new terrorist campaign in Ireland? How does that work?

Re: Brexshit

I don't think I can give you any reason you would consider valid. Not;

200 mile fishing zone like Norway, Iceland

No liability for a likely/possible European bank bailout

Control of immigration just like Canada and Australia

Free to make trade deals

Free to have different standards eg better animal welfare, relaxed on GM

Drop punitive tariffs on developing countries' textiles

Review our participation in the European Arrest Warrant

Avoid the militarisation of the EU

Encourage the democratic vote for independence of Catalonia ignored by the EU

Save our huge and growing financial contribution.

I know, none of those will seem valid do they?

Hapless engineers leave UK cable landing station gate open, couple of journos waltz right in

Re: "A terrorist or foreign agent would have been free to plant explosives ..."

I've seen enough movies to know how much better it is to place your explosives right on what you want to destroy rather than sort of near it. Unless you only want to blow the bloody doors off.

This must be some kind of mistake. IT managers axed, CEO and others' wallets lightened in patient hack aftermath

Re: well, there's a bit of a big hint...

Who knows? Maybe, maybe not. Why speculate?

Oregon can't stop people from calling themselves engineers, judge rules in Traffic-Light-Math-Gate

Re: What an engineer does in the UK

I thought the engineering councils were promoting the idea of 'chartered engineer' to raise status. 'Graduate engineer' would be another option.

Security procedures are good – follow them and you get to keep your job

Re: Do as I do

What do people use for packet analysis if not WireShark?

The future of radio may well be digital, but it won't survive on DAB

Re: AM ? Luxury!

In it's day Atlantic Radio could reach a car radio where other bands just couldn't go, even if it sometimes seemed to move about a bit.

Has DAB radio been a con?

Was the purpose all along to free up bandwidth to sell?

Years and years of propaganda about the wonderful sound quality of DAB - still not delivered. That muffled underwater sound, and reception is variable. Even in a small area covering Edinburgh the reception is inconsistent. The price of radios has come down, and I use my DAB radio in the kitchen often, but really I think the internet and wifi makes DAB obsolete for most listeners.

Early adopters who believe the hype are punished again. Smart meters anyone?

Either my name, my password or my soul is invalid – but which?

Re: "Wrong" email addresses

Works with @hotmail.com too

Re: Plus sign in email addresses is often fun

The + label is a great tip. Seems to work with @hotmail.com too.

Re: Got to watch those password lengths

I most enjoyed the system which rejected three different new passwords for being non-compliant without saying why, then locked me out for three failed password change attempts.

"..all a thief has to do is nick your phone and he sits and waits for the second password to light up in front of him."

And your better alternative to this is?

US Congress mulls expanding copyright yet again – to 144 years

Congress?

".. your representatives in Congress .."

Who represents Edinburgh in Blighty?

HMS Queen Elizabeth has sprung a leak and everyone's all a-tizzy

"“An issue with a shaft seal has been identified during HMS Queen Elizabeth’s sea trials2

What are they doing with a marine mammal loose on the ship I ask? But at least it was and accident, not on porpoise.

Want Edward Snowden pardoned? You're in the minority, say pollsters

Axis of weasel

Wouldn't stay in communist China, couldn't reach communist Cuba, claimed asylum in Putin's Russia. Snowden seems to like places which have little regard for privacy, freedom or dissent.