http://www.internetweek.com/security02/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=15200576&pgno=1
Swen virus activity, and how Greyware Automation Products dealt with an attack.
Very interesting, and I agree that a "quiet" virus may be spreading as we speak. Since the MS patch didn't work, and users are slow in applying the patches that do work - there is plenty of opportunity for someone to write a virus that doesn't attack or do anything exciting except to self-install when the opportunity is presented (during a download for example) to do so and then lay idle...doing a date check on boot waiting for the date to activate. I guess like Herpes or HIV?
Monday, September 29, 2003
Worker unrest? Gasp!
I'm telling you, people who outsource off shore are setting themselves up for a world of hurt in the next few years. Not only are you dealing with people who will do exactly what you tell them to do, you are dealing with different cultures. Telemarketing is probably an OK thing to outsource (thanks to the do not call list that may dwindle off to nothingness anyway). But moving critical application development to a foreign country (CHINA? for crying out loud? How about you send the code / idea / hardware you want to work with to Cuba and North Korea too?) is suicide. Not only is your application going to be riddled with security risks (oh, I'm not worried about that, I've got QA...go ahead and live in your little world) and probably ripped off and developed by another team to sell to your customers (and competitors). And, when your customer calls in for support, and gets the person with a funny accent, who doesn't speak English that well, you will alienate your customer base. Sure, all this stuff looks good on paper, but when customers find out what you are doing (hello HP?) and they discover that you offer 24/7 support, but it is scripted and sucks - they will go away, they won't tell you why (unless they like you), they just won't renew the contract, upgrade to the next version, whatever keeps your revenue coming in. That is going to affect the bottom line but by the time that happens, I hope that your customers have moved to a company that kept their customer service / development here in the US and that that company will keep that customer for life, cutting you out.
Man! OK. I'm feeling a little bit better.
I'm telling you, people who outsource off shore are setting themselves up for a world of hurt in the next few years. Not only are you dealing with people who will do exactly what you tell them to do, you are dealing with different cultures. Telemarketing is probably an OK thing to outsource (thanks to the do not call list that may dwindle off to nothingness anyway). But moving critical application development to a foreign country (CHINA? for crying out loud? How about you send the code / idea / hardware you want to work with to Cuba and North Korea too?) is suicide. Not only is your application going to be riddled with security risks (oh, I'm not worried about that, I've got QA...go ahead and live in your little world) and probably ripped off and developed by another team to sell to your customers (and competitors). And, when your customer calls in for support, and gets the person with a funny accent, who doesn't speak English that well, you will alienate your customer base. Sure, all this stuff looks good on paper, but when customers find out what you are doing (hello HP?) and they discover that you offer 24/7 support, but it is scripted and sucks - they will go away, they won't tell you why (unless they like you), they just won't renew the contract, upgrade to the next version, whatever keeps your revenue coming in. That is going to affect the bottom line but by the time that happens, I hope that your customers have moved to a company that kept their customer service / development here in the US and that that company will keep that customer for life, cutting you out.
Man! OK. I'm feeling a little bit better.
Friday, September 26, 2003
Thursday, September 25, 2003
FlexStand - Flexible Web Camera Stand
There it is, the amazon.com entry for the FlexStand. Please note that they don't have it in stock, because we haven't sent them any yet. Oh...this is too cool. I'm still quivering.
There it is, the amazon.com entry for the FlexStand. Please note that they don't have it in stock, because we haven't sent them any yet. Oh...this is too cool. I'm still quivering.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
This is funny. Banned because it is "immoral" in the country with the naked news.
Quirky people they have over there.
Quirky people they have over there.
OK, the ruling in favor of Eolas against M$ has people shook up (including the W3C).
Now, above and beyond, that. This is more than M$, for example Netscape is probably lible as well for royalties, since they use plug-in technology as well.
I got curious about Eolas and looked at their technology page. There is a patent there that makes me wonder if they are going to sue the computer gaming industry next.
From their site:
The patent also covers image space collision detection technology believed to be currently in widespread use throughout the computer game industry.
Now, above and beyond, that. This is more than M$, for example Netscape is probably lible as well for royalties, since they use plug-in technology as well.
I got curious about Eolas and looked at their technology page. There is a patent there that makes me wonder if they are going to sue the computer gaming industry next.
From their site:
The patent also covers image space collision detection technology believed to be currently in widespread use throughout the computer game industry.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Only 80 stars?
This makes me sad, because surely more than 80 people in the CIA have died serving our country?
This makes me sad, because surely more than 80 people in the CIA have died serving our country?
This is an interesting read about the origins of Murphy's Law. I haven't been able to go through the whole thing, but you may want to bookmark it for future reference.
Origin of Murphy's Law
Origin of Murphy's Law
Monday, September 22, 2003
Yahoo! IM shutting out Trillian.
I tried Trillian in early? 2001. It was a pain in the buttocks. It was such a pain, I have never tried it again. I'm on Yahoo! Messenger & I have an ICQ# laying around that I never use (I don't like ICQ either). I don't like MSN Messenger, nor do I like AOLs Messenger. Unless and until Yahoo! does something seriously stupid, I'll be sticking with them and their IM software. So, go ahead and call me either stubborn, loyal, or lazy (all three or a combination, would be acceptable as well).
As far as Trillian goes, I've heard that if you pay for it, it works much better than the free version does. One day, I may have to debase myself, and see how the webcam integration is going for each (~shudder~). I've already been through an MSN Messenger installation (after they announced the webcam integration in their latest version - I do believe I mentioned that it was not nearly as easy to use as Yahoo! and was .... icky) and I'm still working on disinfecting my home computer.
Ah, the sacrifices I make for my work.
I tried Trillian in early? 2001. It was a pain in the buttocks. It was such a pain, I have never tried it again. I'm on Yahoo! Messenger & I have an ICQ# laying around that I never use (I don't like ICQ either). I don't like MSN Messenger, nor do I like AOLs Messenger. Unless and until Yahoo! does something seriously stupid, I'll be sticking with them and their IM software. So, go ahead and call me either stubborn, loyal, or lazy (all three or a combination, would be acceptable as well).
As far as Trillian goes, I've heard that if you pay for it, it works much better than the free version does. One day, I may have to debase myself, and see how the webcam integration is going for each (~shudder~). I've already been through an MSN Messenger installation (after they announced the webcam integration in their latest version - I do believe I mentioned that it was not nearly as easy to use as Yahoo! and was .... icky) and I'm still working on disinfecting my home computer.
Ah, the sacrifices I make for my work.
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Well. Here is some more excitement about computer vulnerability:
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/333628
CERT Advisory
Vulnerability Note VU#333628
OpenSSH contains a buffer management error
Another buffer overrun/overflow issue. When are they going to fix the code that they write with/the compiler?
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/333628
CERT Advisory
Vulnerability Note VU#333628
OpenSSH contains a buffer management error
Another buffer overrun/overflow issue. When are they going to fix the code that they write with/the compiler?
I have returned from the new members breakfast for the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce.
I will be taken out back and horsewhipped, because I forgot to take business cards with me (networking, networking, networking). We are considering also offering a computer troubleshooting business, and small project computer programming to Strange Solutions, Inc's list of offerings. Tony and I are both "computer people," you know - the person who gets called by ex-wives and family members to do phone tech support for free. I think we should turn that into another (biz talk here) revenue stream.
I will be taken out back and horsewhipped, because I forgot to take business cards with me (networking, networking, networking). We are considering also offering a computer troubleshooting business, and small project computer programming to Strange Solutions, Inc's list of offerings. Tony and I are both "computer people," you know - the person who gets called by ex-wives and family members to do phone tech support for free. I think we should turn that into another (biz talk here) revenue stream.
Monday, September 15, 2003
Friday, September 12, 2003
Open Source Search Engine
http://www.nutch.org/
Being able to view the algorithms responsible for the search results returned, and for indexing will be interesting. The only concern I have is fraud/spam results. Look at the "google dance" watchers. People literally sit around and watch what Google's reaction to their website is and then tweak it. If you could view the source, surely that would make the results that much more contrived?
http://www.nutch.org/
Being able to view the algorithms responsible for the search results returned, and for indexing will be interesting. The only concern I have is fraud/spam results. Look at the "google dance" watchers. People literally sit around and watch what Google's reaction to their website is and then tweak it. If you could view the source, surely that would make the results that much more contrived?
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