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Microsloth Found Guilty as Sin
by George＠Orwellian.Org 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

Ashcroft is on TV now, saying he was pleased the appeals court found Microsoft guilty of monopoly practices. Dig the "Deceiving Java developers" section of the ruling. ---- 5/7/2001 # Microsoft to Put Digital ID Into Its Products # --------- -- --- ------- -- ---- --- -------- # # Microsoft plans to incorporate a user-identification approach # into its operating systems and software products, and the company # says the change could speed up business-to-business transactions # and increase the level of confidence in those online transactions. # # The user-ID system, known as Identrus, employs a technology for # identifying people and organizations online through the use of # digital signatures. # # Under the Identrus system, those digital certificates will be # certified by banks, an extra measure of security that Microsoft # says should enhance the public's trust in online transactions. # # Microsoft said it was designing many of its new business products, # including Windows 2000, Microsoft Outlook, and the software in # its new .Net line, to work with the Identrus system. # # The system was developed by Identrus L.L.C., a company formed # by a group of major banks... # # http://identrus.com/

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Re: Phoning Home
by mmotyka＠lsil.com 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

> The Ztrace software is probably much the same as the Computrace > software from Absolute Software located in Vancouver BC. The > Computrace software was discussed on this list a number of years > ago, before the call home thru the Net feature was added. > I think when writing a Master Boot Record ( it's been 10 years since I wrote tools that did this ) you can leave as much space as you want completely uncomitted anywhere on the drive. This space should still be accessible by logical block address on the device. What could get fairly interesting is that drives typically reserve some sectors on each track for replacement use should one of the logical sectors on the track go bad. Western Digital http://www.wdc.com offers utilities that manage their drives, apparently even the recent models. What I wonder is are the proprietary APIs published or would the tools have to be reverse engineered? This would allow access to substantial storage that would not show up using that standard ATA calls. In the end though, that storage must be accessed from code in the BIOS or the booted OS so wiping those will probably do the job. Seems like whether you're talking about asset recovery or Napster and copyright the only solutions are men with briefcases and guns or proprietary Si. SW is too easily manipulated. Regards, Mike ********************* > There is 20 to 40 KB of unused space in the system area of any AT > type formated hard drive, same area, or nearby, to where your > partition information is written on the hard drive. This area is > normally not over-written when you use Fdisk to partition a hard > drive or when you do a high level format. > > The software is loaded into this area. The software is configured to > call home base, the security service provider (SSP), on a pre- > determined basis. When it calls home it basically identifies itself > and asks for instructions. In normally circumstances it is given none. > > If an asset is reported stolen and then calls home it is instructed to > call home on a more frequent basis. If it calls home via a telephone > line the SSP gets the calling from number from ANI. If you > terminate incoming digital telephone lines (T1) in a Telco system > compatible device you will be given the ANI, Automatic Number > Identification. You can't block ANI. If it calls home via the Net they > get an IP address. Either way the location of the remote asset is > easily determined. > > When they get a location they contact the nearest local law > enforcement agency, explain the situation and normally the local law > seizes the asset. I use asset as this type of product is marketed for > use in desktop and server type computers. It is also marketed to > insurance companies, want a discount on the policy, just load this > software and keep this number handy incase you lose it. > > experience so I can't speak with any authority. Last time this was > discussed in this forum it was thought the Linux Fdisk would delete > it. I have some other tools for deleting disk partitions which I figure > would work plus there was some low-level format programs for > certain brands of IDE hard drives which would probably work on > older model hard drives. A good guess would be anything which > could delete a Disk Manager boot record would delete this > application. > > Virtually > Raymond D. Mereniuk >

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The Surveillance Camera Players tour England
by Matthew Gaylor 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

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Dick Cheney: the new Hillary Clinton
by mmotyka＠lsil.com 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

Caught a snippet of Shrub's DOE speech this morning. He refers to the US Government as "my government." Says it'll be doing its best to bring great technology to market, that there are no limits to what technology can achieve. I'd be less negative about the current administration if Shrub had said "your government" but hey I live in a dreamworld. I don't expect anything from Shrub but pandering faith-based waste. Mike > > Heh. Dick Cheney is formulating an energy policy, > but refuses to say who he's meeting with. Just > like Hillary Clinton and her health panel meetings. > > Oh, and after being slammed (Bush/Cheney) for ridiculing > energy conservation, and having made fun of Gore during > the presidential campaign for wanting to offer tax credits > for hybrid car purchases, now recommends doing the same thing. > > Politicians. > > ---- >

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Re: DCMA: You must use Ford Gas in Ford Cars or Else We Repo The Car
by George＠Orwellian.Org 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

From: Steve Schear <schear(a)lvcm.com> # # No need, you can buy these kits for about $100 (by the time you've # used up the initial ink supply included with the kit you've save # about $300 by their reckoning) from MIS http://www.inksupply.com. Heh. http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/arcnew.html # # We have brand new cartridges that are pre filled with the archival # ink. These are available for the all Epson printers except the # 777, 870, 875, 1270, and 2000P. # # Epson has put a chip on the cartridges for # these printers that prevents refilling. Elsewhere they have a link for defeating the chip.

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The Register - UK govt. new encryption system only works with MS kit
by Jim Choate 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/20037.html -- -- ____________________________________________________________________ Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent. Ludwig Wittgenstein The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage(a)ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------

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Poll: More Americans Think Amendment Goes Too Far
by Jim Choate 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=383930&nav=0s3c -- -- ____________________________________________________________________ Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent. Ludwig Wittgenstein The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage(a)ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------

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apt bugs considered cheap
by John Doe #N 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

EL asks: >Do you bug your apartment, and leave subliminal tripwire >implements around? Given that computer-ready cameras are essentially free (e.g., at Fry's, with rebates) it makes a lot of sense to run a frame-differencer and log the events offsite.

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Microsloth Rich Text Format security hole!
by George＠Orwellian.Org 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

http://www.kaspersky.com/news.asp?tnews=0&nview=1&id=199&page=0 # # Thursday, June 14, 2001 # # Malicious Code in RTF Files: Yet another Prediction Comes True # # A Trojan program penetrates computers when reading RTF files # # Kaspersky Lab, an international data-security software-development # company, warns users about the discovery of the Trojan "Goga" # that steals and sends out from infected computers user details # for Internet access (i.e. login, password and other information). # Kaspersky Lab has already received several reports of the Trojan # being detected "in the wild." # # "Goga" has two distinguishing features: the first is that it # utilizes files in RTF format as a means for spreading, confusing # users in as much as they believe these files to be absolutely # safe, often opening them without first administering an anti-virus # check. The second is that the Trojan exploits a well-known breach # in the Microsoft Word security system, allowing a malefactor # to launch a malicious code, unbeknownst to a user, immediately # following the opening of an infected document. # # Breach hyperlink: # # http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security… # # Should a computer not be installed with the proper patch thwarting # this breach, then when the infected RTF file is read, MS Word # automatically downloads a template containing the malicious # macro-program from a remote Web site without any warning # whatsoever. This macro-program extracts additional utility from # the RTF file?s binary section. This utility searches the infected # computer and creates another TXT file containing user Internet # access details. At this point, "Goga" starts up the script program # that publishes the newely created TXT file in a Web-site guest # book open to the general public. The virus writer is now able # to periodically cull stolen information from this site. # # Kaspersky Lab warned users about falling prey to this RTF-file # danger on May 29. We once again recommend that users install # the MS Word patch defending against this Trojan and any other # malicious programs exploiting this breach ASAP. # # Detection and removal procedures have already been added # to the Kaspersky Anti-Virus database daily update.

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Cyborg deployment in Scotland
by George＠Orwellian.Org 28 Jun '01

28 Jun '01

Excerpt: # ...the extension of Restriction of Liberty Orders... # # There are also plans to use the orders as a condition of a # probation order or a drug treatment and testing order... http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,10-2001221674,00.html # # THURSDAY JUNE 28 2001 # # All sheriff courts to have power to tag offenders # # BY GILLIAN HARRIS, SCOTLAND CORRESPONDENT # # POLITICIANS and community leaders gave a cautious welcome # yesterday to plans to increase the use of electronic tagging # of offenders. # # Every sheriff court in Scotland is to be given the option of # electronically monitoring offenders under a scheme announced # by the Scottish Executive. Iain Gray, the Deputy Justice Minister, # unveiled details of the move during a visit to General Security # Services Corporation Europe in East Kilbride. # # Pilot schemes are already under way in Hamilton, Aberdeen and # Peterhead and the firm has the contract to provide the electronic # monitoring service to Hamilton Sheriff Court. # # Mr Gray said 418 offenders had been electronically tagged since # the pilot scheme was launched in August 1998. He described the # initiative, which predominantly sees offenders limited to their # own home for up to 12 hours a day, as a success that should be # extended throughout Scotland. # # Donald Dickie, a senior manager with the community safety # organisation Safeguarding Communities Reducing Offending, welcomed # the move as an alternative to custody. He said that the prison # population in Scotland was too high and that not all offenders # need to be locked up. # # Mr Dickie also welcomed moves to use tagging for inmates released # from prison on licence and under supervision. He said: "It has # the potential to assist in helping people to lead stable lives." # # Roseanna Cunningham, the SNP's Shadow Justice Minister, gave # the announcement a muted welcome but expressed concerns that # no timescale had been given. She said: "I cautiously welcome # the announcement today by the Deputy Justice Minister that # Restriction of Liberty Orders will play a greater role in the # criminal justice system. # # "It is important, however, that these orders are used as a direct # alternative to custody as it makes a great deal of sense both # in terms of justice and in terms of cost." # # Phil Gallie, the Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman, said # tagging should be used as an additional tool in the fight against # crime. He said: "Electronic tagging must not be an instrument # with which the Scottish Executive can empty our prisons. I have # always been an advocate for electronic tagging, however I never # envisaged that this would provide an easy option for criminals. # # "At all times our courts must ensure that punishment and # deterrence along with protection of the public stands as the # highest priority." # # Mr Gray said the extension of Restriction of Liberty Orders, # under which offenders are fitted with electronic transmitters # so monitoring authorities can keep track of their movements, # would take place once a competitive tendering exercise has been # completed. # # There are also plans to use the orders as a condition of a # probation order or a drug treatment and testing order and for # monitoring of prisoners released on licence under supervision # such as sex offenders. ---- Occasional double emails: I'll be off PSINet within a week.

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