“Peggy” from “Computer Support Department” just won’t give up. He called me again at about 8 PM this evening. This time, I played along. I had a thrift-store junker PC for him to infect with his malware. The only problem was, the hard drive wasn’t connected and neither was the power cord. So I quickly [...]
All posts tagged profession
How I accidentally found a way to mess with “Peggy”
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 20, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/how-i-accidentally-found-a-way-to-mess-with-peggy/
“Computer Maintenance Department” called me again from India
So, “Peggy” from “Computer Maintenance Department” called me again last night. This time I decided to mess with him a bit more. This is the second time. (No, “Peggy” wasn’t his real name, nor did he identify himself as “Peggy,” but that’s the name I’ll use, thanks to that old Discover commercial.)
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 9, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/computer-maintenance-department-called-me-again-from-india/
Step 1 to landing a security job: Become conversant in security
So last week, I wrote about the difficulty of landing a security job and promised to explore it further. And I think the first key, and what should be the most crucial key, is being conversant in security. Having a certification is one thing, but at the end of the day, the biggest thing it [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on April 30, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/04/step-1-to-landing-a-security-job-become-conversant-in-security/
The re-segregation of baseball
The Kansas City Star had a piece today about the sharp decline in the number of African-Americans playing baseball. Of course, when I grew up, the Royals relied heavily on African-Americans. George Brett was the star, but without Willie Wilson and Frank White hitting ahead of him and Hal McRae and Willie Aikens or John [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on April 13, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/04/the-re-segregation-of-baseball/
Another benefit of not having debt
I’ve written about how not having debt gives you power, though I can’t find the particular post at the moment. But I remember when I got my first mortgage. I went to a party, and my boss was there, along with my five other bosses, and the big boss got this look in his eye [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on April 13, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/04/another-benefit-of-not-having-debt/
The problem with dictionary passwords
Consulting firm Deloitte is warning that 8-character passwords will be obsolete this year. Sound familiar? Of course, the Slashdot crowd blamed it as security “experts” (their words) creating hype to make money. Well, I’m a certified security professional who doesn’t have a dog in this fight, except that I don’t want your accounts getting stolen. [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on February 11, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/02/the-problem-with-dictionary-passwords/
Making gradual improvements, starting with whatever bugs you the most
A long project can be paralyzing at times, making it hard to figure out where to start. A trick that I learned in model railroading is to just work on whatever small percentage of the project that bothers you the most. Then, when that’s done, cycle back, create another subproject that fixes whatever bugs you [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on February 10, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/02/making-gradual-improvements-starting-with-whatever-bugs-you-the-most/
The lines between white hat/gray hat/black hat hacking and moral laws
Longtime reader/commenter Joseph asked two questions yesterday: What’s the boundary between gray and black-hat hacking, and is it moral to pick and choose between moral and immoral laws? The first question is easier than the second. So I’ll tackle that one first.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on January 26, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/01/the-lines-between-white-hatgray-hatblack-hat-hacking-and-moral-laws/
The real benefits of having a CISSP
Another question from the big box o’ Google search queries: What are the real benefits of having a CISSP? I don’t want to be flip, but here it is in two words: job security.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 18, 2012
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2012/05/the-real-benefits-of-having-a-cissp/
Maybe this is the difference between US and UK journalists
I’ve always wondered about the difference between US and UK journalists. I’ve always noticed a difference, but never quite figured out what it was or why. This CNN editorial is good insight. There’s a certain irreverence and snarkiness in the UK press that you don’t see often in the States. The linked is an opinion [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on July 15, 2011
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2011/07/maybe-this-is-the-difference-between-us-and-uk-journalists/