Culture, revolution, Security, Soapbox, Software, technology

@defcon just retweeted me!

| be3n

In a tweet by @todayininfosec we were all reminded of this day in 1999 when @Dildog and the cDc crew presented Back Orifice 2000 (BO2K) to a delighted crowd at Defcon 7.  It was quite a show complete with music, projectors, lights, lasers, and even a Speak-n-Spell.  It was a lot of fun, and i was elated to be there. i replied early with my memories, but then i remembered that i had found some photos while cleaning. . .so i posted them. These were film prints from an instamatic (as was the style at the time), so they didn’t come out great!  they do offer a tiny keyhole through which me may peer into the past.  i am glad it is bringing joy.  Then @defcon (the official conference account) retweeted. *blush*

Defcon Retweets Me

 

hardware, Soapbox, Software, technology

I am joining the largest super computer in the world to help fight COVID-19!

| be3n

The amazing people behind Folding@home have set their sights on COVID-19.  Their efforts are to better understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 can be targeted with small molecule and antibody therapeutics.  Got any computers that aren’t doing anything?  join up.

folding@home status panel

The Mac client needs work to support GPUs, but my stats are rising!

hardware, Politics, Soapbox, Software, technology

I hope everyone is having a Super Tuesday!

| be3n

super tuesday - i voted

I got out to vote a little later than i hoped and encountered a longer line than i have ever before (at least from voting).  Only 55 minutes, nothing like some lines i have heard about. I got to play with the new electronic voting system.  “It’s not connected to the internet” was the response that i received when inquiring into the device security.  I have high confidence of the paper trail on these units, but I imagine that these machines do some sort of tabulation.  Unless we actually count the paper ballets, it is those tabulations that we are expected to trust.  These tabulation are trivial to manipulate if the devices are tampered with.  “Don’t worry, it’s offline” dissuades none of these fears.  Here are some pictures i took.  Not pictured are the 2 broken units that were taped off at my precinct. Also, i was told that they should not have allowed me to take these pictures.  i don’t know if that is true, but they did not seem to mind at the time.  (i wasn’t wearing that shirt at the time)

super tuesday - electronic votingsuper tuesday - paper ballotsuper tuesday - electronic voting - bernie

hardware, Soapbox, Software, technology

Finally retiring my last legacy windows box!

| be3n

Final transfer from an ancient windows

This particular ancient server has stood as the glue holding several ancient record keeping systems together.  Today marks the last day that it was operating.  I supported this computer for almost it’s entire lifespan.  This Dell ran consistently for over 10 years with very little trouble.  Now your watch is over.

I have been retiring or upgrading unsupported systems all year. it’s to know that all the critical systems are up to date.  Let this be yet another warning if you are running Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 2008 Server (or anything earlier), you should upgrade immediately if you are online in any capacity.  Same goes for macs older then 10.13 (High Sierra). Seriously, don’t let it become a problem.