* Posts by a_yank_lurker

4139 publicly visible posts • joined 16 Nov 2013

Bank tech boss: Where we're going, we don't need mainframes

a_yank_lurker

Re: Utter drivel

Drivel would be an improvement. I would not recommend ING to anyone since their management is unusually clueless.

Mainframes are like COBOL, still very useful for many situations. Also, replacing the mainframe applications is not a trivial task and is likely to be quite risky.

Microsoft: Give us better staff

a_yank_lurker

@Mark 85 - Often a company's hiring woes and inability to attract top flight talent is because the word on the street is they are lousy place to work. Slurp has used the much reviled 'stack ranking' for years and it has apparently alienated employees and made them only able to attract second tier talent. Anyone who can avoid working for them will; there are better places to work.

a_yank_lurker

Talking out of both sides

Slurp wants more US grads but will not hire them because they are too expensive. What does not make sense with this picture?

Larry Ellison, Oracle and litigation: A business that's not a business

a_yank_lurker

@TVU - Winning long term customer loyalty is hard and takes real work. It does have the advantage of gaining consistent income and profits. Suing is a short term game that leaves current and potential customers a vile taste and destroys loyalty.

Companies fail for many reasons but losing customer loyalty is a kiss of death. A company in trouble, if they have enough loyal customers might survive financial troubles; loyal customers might still give them a chance. But a company where they burned the customers will not get the break.

Microsoft's Windows 10 nagware goes FULL SCREEN in final push

a_yank_lurker

Subscriptions

Slurp is forgetting something about subscriptions; people do not like them and only will put with a limited number of subscriptions. Most are getting nickeled and dimed for various subscriptions that they will not be thrilled to add for the OS. OS X and Linux are either effectively free or actually free to the user; no subscriptions required.

Peter Gabriel-backed music startup goes titsup, takes £500k of your money with it

a_yank_lurker

Re: Pubic-Money cosy backroom Deals...

Public investment and loan guarantees often onlly enrich the backers of the project before it fails. The fact that a startup failed does not surprise me, most fail within a few years. When they fail all the investor money is lost since most startups fail for basic business reasons: poor marketing, under-capitalized, bad management, etc.

Honey, why are porno apps on your Android?! Er, um, malware did it!

a_yank_lurker

Be Wary

"The infection point is thought to be third-party app stores. While Google has largely cleaned malware out of its official Play store, secondary markets are less careful about checking code and Hummer can be disguised as a legitimate-looking app." - The problem with any third party app store, not just Android, is how aggresseve are the owners/admins about removing malware and crapware and generally policing the site. This can occur with any OS when one is uses unofficial sources for applications.

Kremlin hackers and the Democratic National Committee: How deep is the rabbit-hole?

a_yank_lurker

Re: The blame game

GrumpyKiwi, you are an optimist.

ACL-Sue: Civil rights warriors drag Uncle Sam to court for hacking laws

a_yank_lurker

CFAA

Finally, someone is asking the courts to do their jobs and not rubberstamp what America's Native Criminal Class thinks should on the books.

Alleged Brit hacker Lauri Love bailed amid US extradition battle lull

a_yank_lurker

Looking for a scapegoat

This smells. The ferals seem to be looking for a scapegoat for their incompetence. So indict someone who looks like someone you can ludicrous charges against.

If he did hack the systems as charged this points to a very severe intelligence flaw. If any bloke can do it so has every foreign spookhaus.

Cali bloke accused of illegally trousering $68k using mom's Apple AuthenTec gobble tip-off

a_yank_lurker

Abusing the law?

Insider trading laws are to protect outsiders from the machinations of insiders and prevent insiders from making a market play before the information is readily available. Thus, does this guy and his mom meet the definition of an insider or is this some bored shyster trying to make an easy kill.

For the record, Martha Stewart was not convicted of insider trading but of making false statements to the ferals.

While you filled your face at Noodles and Co, malware was slurping your bank cards

a_yank_lurker

How?

Has anyone indicated how the infection occurred? Often, they are preventable by proper security practices (aka do not act like Target).

'I urge everyone to fight back' – woman wins $10k from Microsoft over Windows 10 misery

a_yank_lurker

"And in any case, since when has it been good business practice to run a business reliant solely on one PC with no backups! If I'd have been MS, Id have told this lady where to stick her complaints!!" shows you are an idiot who never worked in very small company whose part-time IT department was the most computer literate of an illiterate bunch. Most small businesses are not run by geeks but by people who are using a computer to as a tool.

a_yank_lurker

Re: Now the precedent has been set ...

Most people are not closely following tech and what Slurp is doing unlike most on tech sites. They are vaguely aware that something is going on but are not following Winbloat release schedules. Also, many do not normally change OSes except when they buy new kit. So, it is very likely she was not paying attention to the Winbloat releases and was not really aware what was going on with Slurp.

Most people USE computers as a tool and as long as it is doing what they need it for they will largely ignore the antics of Slurp, Chocolate Factory, Chipzilla, Little Chipzilla, etc. They are not planning on replacing or upgrading their kit so they are not paying attention. I would not be surprised if many could not tell you how many cores the cpu has or what software versions they have.

a_yank_lurker

Re: Now the precedent has been set ...

Class action lawsuits do make lawyers rich but if the award is large enough and suit is well known enough losing one can be financial and public relations disaster. Actually, I would like to see both class action and small claims court cases. One for the media and the others to kill Slurp with thousands of cuts.

No means no: Windows 10 nagware's red X will stop update – Microsoft

a_yank_lurker

@jan Hargreaves - Slurp's behavior has driven away former paying customers and is making many others consider their options. I personally know of several in both camps. W7 has a few more years so many can linger on without making a final move for awhile.

a_yank_lurker

Re: Yes, I know, but Apple --

My very limited experience with Apple is that updates are handled much more gracefully than I have ever seen with Slurp. Linux probably does updates and upgrades the best way; notify the user with a list of all the packages to be updated and wait for permission.

IRS kills off PINs citing increasing suspicious activity

a_yank_lurker

IRS strikes again

The IRS fiasco with pins may be the best reason to abolish income taxes and replace them with something else such as a national sales tax (similar to VAT).

Judge rules FBI can hack any time, any, place, anywhere

a_yank_lurker

This shyster apparently believes because computers are hacked that users are consenting to hacking. Thus, according der Shyster, the ferals can hack with impunity. The logic flaw is that hacking is by definition done without user consent. And it is done in such away to avoid detection by users.

NASCAR team red-flagged by ransomware attack

a_yank_lurker

@AC - NASCAR has its origins with moonshiners try to outrun the law in the South. Given the "good-ole-boy" background, if does not have anything to do with cars they are pretty much below clueless.

Gartner: Brexit to wipe $4.6bn off tech spending in Blighty

a_yank_lurker

Gartner

Gartner can not read tea leaves or chicken entrails correctly. If they say Brexit witl cause a drop in spending I expect the actual result to be an increase of double the amount they said it would go down. All I have is my navel and the fact Gartner is totally clueless.

From Watson Jr to Watson AI: IBM's changed, and Papa Watson wouldn't approve

a_yank_lurker

@ Ian Joyner - IBM relied heavily on the myth they were the best computer manufacturer for decades. The fact they always had clay feet is not surprising to those familiar with technology but that is not who they were marketing to. They were marketing to the era's PHBs & MBAs who did not know how a computer worked at all.

Part of what did them in was the shift to PCs and networks which allowed people to actual use a real computer for tasks no one would ever use a mainframe for. In the 80s & 90s they had a schizophrenic relationship with PCs; too afraid they would cannibalize minis and mainframes and would not put enough emphasis on PC based systems. What happened is others pushed PC based systems and killed the mini computers and put a dent into mainframes.

Also, consider that one might own several different computers including smartphones and tablets that are in many respects more powerful than mainframes of 20 - 30 years ago. And these devices cost <$1,000 each compared to many orders of magnitude more for a mainframe.

There is a strong parallel to Slurp, similar myth and marketing strategy; the myth they are technical leader and selling to PHBs and MBAs. A strategy that works only a period of time until there is major shift in how business and computing is done.

a_yank_lurker

Customers,

To paraphrase, I've Been Moved mantra is "Customers! We don't need no stinking customers!" Itsy Bitsy Moron, now Little Blue, is now just another bloated company with no compelling products or services. In respects they are much worse shape than Slurp who has a product every computer user needs - an OS.

Israeli researcher fans fears: here's another way to cross the airgap

a_yank_lurker

Distance

From what the various articles imply, one has to be fairly close to the target, say a couple meters max and in the same room. This would imply one's physical security is non-existent or someone is not vetting the stuff hanging on the walls.

Opera cries foul over Microsoft Edge power-slurping claims

a_yank_lurker

Source

The problem is the Slurp "research" is basically a PR ploy and should be treated as form of false advertising. One point Slurp is overlooking is people are getting an OS for the browser.

Deploying software every day is... actually... OK – what devs tell their real-life friends

a_yank_lurker

@ Boldman - Your suspicion of the frequent installs covering bug fixes is probably accurate. What is needed is to allow devs enough time to write quality code and have adequate testing.

Dell tempts hordes with MASSIVE DISCOUNTS on PCs

a_yank_lurker

Re: Ah, DELL (time to lament the 90's)..... Now, anyone for MSI....???

I build my own or buy from a white box builder.

a_yank_lurker

Why?

For that whopping discount I think I will wander into the local Apple store after that insult.

US Senate strikes down open-access FBI hacking warrant by just one honest vote

a_yank_lurker

Re: They're now using Orlando as an excuse? Really?

The ferals will try to use any mass victim attack to expand their Stasi powers. But they can not show that the expanded powers would have stopped the latest attack. Usually, there are serious reports of feral bungling and incompetence in most of these cases.

Google enlists Microsoft VoIP partner to unseat Office 365+Skype

a_yank_lurker

Re: You're almost right

The PHBs running most companies believe "you will never get fired for buying Microsoft". Before it was IBM and it will be someone else in the future. The PHBs are afraid of anything different, new, possibly better, etc.

Google medical search

a_yank_lurker

Self-diagnosis via Google

"users should seek advice from an actual doctor" per the Chocolate Factory is probably not going to be followed by far to many.

Maine town plans to become 'Gigabit Island'

a_yank_lurker

Economics

$360/month is a bit steep for most people. A city like Chattanooga has more people and businesses to spread the costs over lowering the monthly bite to a more reasonable number.

Chattanooga mayor credits muni broadband with aiding city's revival

a_yank_lurker

City ISP

Too often the cable and ISPs have a legal monopoly in given city/county in the US. So the question is for a city/county, which is better run their own, own but hire someone to manage, grant a monopoly, or let anyone who wants set up shop. It seems some cities have decided if they are getting crappy service they should keep the money in the city instead of having some leave it. At least the voters can have a say.

Filet-O-Phish: Insecure NFC tag relics hidden under Maccas tables

a_yank_lurker

Re: So

Which is bad news for both.

Dad of student slain in Paris terror massacre sues Google, Twitter, Facebook for their 'material support' of ISIS

a_yank_lurker

Re: This is why...

Loser pays is not the norm on this side of the pond. Normally, both sides pay for their shysters out of their pocket. What the problem with the US system is when one side has enough money to spend the other side into bankruptcy and the tendency for some very daft personal injury judgements.

a_yank_lurker

Re: Bah!

According to a few reports it took the Orlando PD 3 hours to get the courage to storm the club. So there might a legitimate suit against Orlando for negligence. It is almost a certainty storming the club within 15 or 20 minutes with whoever was there would have ended the tragedy sooner. The likely trade off would have a couple of donut eaters for more civilians.

a_yank_lurker

Re: Some points to consider.

The devil in policing posters and users. Since anyone can sign up without any vetting it makes stopping these posts, tweets, etc. an exercise of 'whack-a-mole'.

a_yank_lurker

Re: What a wanker

The real slime is the shyster pursuing the case. I can sort of understand the family lashing out at more or less innocent bystanders but the shyster is enamored with a big payday.

a_yank_lurker

Re: 1-800-LAW-FIRM

1-800-SHY-STER would be better.

FBI's iPhone paid-for hack should be barred, say ex-govt officials

a_yank_lurker

Basic Problem

The problem is too many TLA ferals want the ability to spy, thinking this is an excellent substitute for old-fashioned pavement-pounding while sitting the local donut shop. Two major problems with intercepts; context of the message and completeness of the message. There are numerous, well-known stories about intelligence information suffering from both. A good example of this is shown in the movie "Tora, Tora, Tora".

a_yank_lurker

Re: stupid government

Governments are often not much different from Mafia crime families. In fact, some Mafia families may be an improvement over many governments.

Tor torpedoed! Tesco Bank app won't run with privacy tool installed

a_yank_lurker

Re: Best security practice

One should limit all the apps to the bare minimum and remove the banking, commercial apps. This has nothing to do with OS security but the fact it is rather easy to lose a phone or have it stolen. I limit the types of apps on my phone so that if it is ever missing I do not need to worry about my bank or credit card details being stolen; they are not on the phone.

a_yank_lurker

Re: Security risk?

It sounds like you are confusing privilege escalation as is common in Linux distros with always running as root. The first case is only done for administrative/limited reasons such as installing/removing apps. The second, what is common with Winbloat, allows malware to be installed without user permission because you are at root.

Kill Flash now. Or patch these 36 vulnerabilities. Your choice

a_yank_lurker

Re: Not just the BEEB

Many news site insist on using Flash which I have set to run on demand.

Virgin Media goes TITSUP* in South London due to painful piles

a_yank_lurker

Re: It's always been a problem

The only way for this to stop is find a way to hit the company directly with fines and possible jail time. One avenue might be to go after them on endangering employee safety.

Spam King sent down for 30 months

a_yank_lurker

Re: The mental health evaluation has potential..

I am surprised by the mental health evaluation's timing. Normally it comes before the trial not after.

Cats understand the laws of physics, researchers claim

a_yank_lurker

Alternative Explanations

Did they account for cats have better hearing than humans? Also, cats are predators with very good vision and smell. Some prey animals may not be making much noise but moving.

I think Ig-Noble prize is appropriate for this "research".

Admins in outcry as Microsoft fix borks Group Policy

a_yank_lurker

Re: Testing?

Testing is hard but when a patch borks enough systems to make headlines one should wonder if they even bothered to test it. Also, this is not the first time a patch caused major problems for a lot of users.

SpaceX winning streak meets explosive end

a_yank_lurker

As Craig 2 noted, they have shown it can be done so the concept is sound. What is no happening is the learning phase of finding and fixing problems before the technology can be said to be fully ready. They are close but I suspect there will be a few failures before the bugs are squashed.

However, even with today's failure good job Space X.

Mossack Fonseca IT bod detained

a_yank_lurker

Playing Pin the Blame

Given the thoroughness of the hack, I would suspect there was badly configured server and database that were accessible to the Internet. Has anyone tried SQL injection against them?

Given the technical literacy of most shysters is lower than your average PHB, it would not surprise me that they are trying to pin the blame on some schmuck in hopes of avoiding some truly nasty charges.