Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Real Threat

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  • BenWilson, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    The software does. These things are never implemented in ASIC, they’re always done in software.

    You can't control hardware if it isn't even there. There is no onus on any manufacturer of Android phones to put this IR thing into the camera, or any other feature for that matter. They don't have to have GPS hardware, and even if they do, there's nothing to stop them having a hardware switch to physically power the circuitry down, if they can't trust the underlying code.

    Apple has a focus on gaining market share in business

    Maybe they could make a special business targeted no-civil-liberties phone, but outside of that market it would not sell well. Businesses have opted into controlling their staff since forever, and mostly staff have always had to suck on it. It's been a basic assumption in workplaces since I began working that the firm could look at pretty much all of what I do, except for in the toilet, and I could be held accountable for any and all of it. But they're opt-in fascisms.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • DexterX,

    A healthy democracy needs a wide range of dissenting views - this bill will be used to silence, discredit and curtail dissent. It will be a mechanism used by governments to retain power – presently we have a government that is run in a virtual policy vacuum, which acts as a special self-interest group/collective.

    Key’s responses on Campbell live tonight were churlish - that is the real threat right there.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-NZers-care-more-about-snapper-than-GCSB/tabid/817/articleID/308665/Default.aspx

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I'm sorry Barack, I can't let you do that...*
    Not to worry the NSA won't let pesky humans and their foibles and scruples get in the way, no, they're gonna let the machines decide!

    “What we’re in the process of doing – not fast enough – is reducing our systems administrators by about 90 per cent,” Alexander said. The NSA currently employs approximately 1,000 systems administrators.
    “We’ve put people in the loop of transferring data, securing networks and doing things that machines are probably better at doing,” he said, going on to describe how technology will make NSA secrets “more defensible and more secure.”
    Gen. Keith Alexander, NSA

    - nothing about making America more defensible and secure - just their secrets!

    *there'll be HAL to pay...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    PS: this was interesting in the Herald at the weekend:

    The ability for US intelligence agencies to access internet data was used as a bargaining tool by a Telecom-owned company trying to keep down the cost of the undersea cable from New Zealand.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    no, they're gonna let the machines decide!

    Another one for fans of 1970's schlocky dystopian future type stuff:

    Colossus: The Forbin Project

    First ten minutes here:

    The press conference from 6.20 onwards makes very interesting watching, given current events. I also remember watching this as a pre-teen, and being shocked by some of the stuff later in the film, mostly the US firing squads and summary executions.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Rich Lock,

    I believe Android has an app for that now, who needs pesky rooms of computers? the Prime Minister can do it all from his Samsung Galaxy S4.now.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Utah Stains!

    The NSA does. In Utah.

    Telecom does. In Christchurch and 19 other sites around NZ.

    Telecom's information technology subsidiary Gen-i has today unveiled its new $10.5 million Christchurch data centre.
    The new data centre would add to a combined network of 14 other Gen-i data centres and five Revera Homeland data centres across New Zealand.

    Ya gotta worry about an IT Data storage firm that thinks Homeland (trademarked!) is a reassuring word to use in relation to information management...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Can’t wait for the day when JK tells us that he has solved the balance of payments problem.
    “Today we intercepted an eMail from Nigeria, they will send us 7.5 Billion dollar. all we have to do is send the Governments bank account details and just $30 million to show good faith and we are home free.”

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Ooops. That pesky point getting in there and dividing everything by 10.
    That should read 75 billion.
    Anyone would think I worked at Treasury making a mistook like that.
    "So, is that your final figure?. Let's move the decimal point one place to the right, that should do it".

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • ChrisW, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Attachment

    The NSA does. In Utah.
    Telecom does. In Christchurch and 19 other sites around NZ.
    Telecom's information technology subsidiary Gen-i has today unveiled its new $10.5 million Christchurch data centre.
    The new data centre would add to a combined network of 14 other Gen-i data centres and five Revera Homeland data centres across New Zealand.

    I’d take it this, the Telecom Tower/Gen-i building in Palmerston Nth, would be a strong candidate for one of those other data centres. I also think it a strong candidate for the ugliest building in NZ, giving it a photogenicity that piqued my interest, hence accumulation of something like a photo-essay.

    Standing in the middle of a narrow lane, I took many attempts with hand-held camera to get this one just so, meanwhile blocking an unheard car behind me from exiting. But the driver and passenger were tolerant – “Good to see someone spying on them .”

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • ChrisW,

    Attachment Attachment Attachment

    My attention attracted in the first instance by this distant view of maximally contrasting towers over the roof-tops. (The other striking and strikingly anaemic one proving to be the spire of St Patrick’s RC Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.)

    Prominent on entering the town via the Napier Road = Main St,

    it is well located.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • ChrisW,

    Attachment Attachment Attachment

    Back lurking in the spying lane, perhaps it is agreed that Main St façade looks a little sinister? I noted the symmetry of spiky bits tucked under the wings – ti kouka/cabbage tree on the right, but what’s that on the left?

    Ah, NZ Police comms, all is clear. The curvaceous flag in the wind and the logo’s fern leaves somehow stand out?

    If you’ve nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to fear

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • ChrisW,

    Attachment Attachment

    Some late sun warms the colours a little, but the delicate little tree just emphasises the monolith.

    A dog-shaped robot? Loyal to which master?

    [Having a little first-hand experience, I inferred the architecture under the cosmetic changes to be a work of late 1970s brutalism from the Ministry of Works and Development for the Post Office. Subsequently gratified to see on PNCC site that it was opened in May 1980 as the Post Office telephone exchange.]

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to ChrisW,

    Main St façade looks a little sinister

    Looks like an old IBM punch card...
    Maybe it's a DOS house!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Attachment

    Someone mentioned John Key and Keyholes earlier...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • ChrisW, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Looks like an old IBM punch card...

    It does indeed, but it seems I can no longer read the code.
    Perhaps something like +FU2, +FU2 ... ?

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

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