Author: Dave Farquhar

Microsoft just priced its Windows 8-based tablets out of the market

Dave Farquhar Hardware

Microsoft just priced its Windows 8-based tablets out of the market.

Extremetech reports that they expect Windows 8-based tablets to sell for $600-$900. I think Microsoft is forgetting its history.
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Confessions of a hacker for hire

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized , , , ,

A story on Slashdot yesterday encouraged IT departments to hire a hacker, in spite of the stigma.

I’ve been that guy, and I suspect I’ll be that guy again. I’ve also had to clean up after that guy, so I may be able to add some perspective.
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Bacon and ice cream

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized

So Burger King decided that a bacon sundae is a good idea. I have to mention it because this blog’s original name, back in October 1999 was, believe it or not, Bacon and Ice Cream. No kidding, though I’m not sure many people are still around who remember that. A week or two later, I decided that was too weird and re-launched as The Silicon Underground.

The name was a reference to an obscure Lou Reed song called What’s Good, which contained the line, “Life’s like bacon and ice cream. That’s what life’s like without you.”

So the question is, if life’s like bacon and ice cream, does Lou Reed think life is something good, or something bad?

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Some lessons from cracking the compromised Linkedin password database

Dave Farquhar security , , , , , , ,

Here’s a blow-by-blow account of a security researcher’s attempts to crack the compromised Linkedin database as a result of its 2012 breach. This is a very good example of ethical hacking.
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TCP/IP Manager makes a good companion for DNS Bench for road warriors

Dave Farquhar Software

So you like the results you get with DNS Bench, but you have a laptop you take on the road a lot?

Use DNS Bench to find the best results for the places you go most frequently, then use TCP/IP Manager to save those settings and switch between them. Read more

One road to the CISSP: Do SSCP first

Dave Farquhar security , , , , , , ,

As my crazy week wound down, I had a number of visitors, including someone who’s been on the fence about taking the CISSP. She wanted some advice. The (ISC)² Code of Ethics says to give generously of such things when asked, so we talked for about 30 minutes. Read more

Things got really weird this week

Dave Farquhar Personal

I’m still processing the events of this week. That writing gig I wrote about earlier this week got unbelievably ugly, I felt trapped, then a recruiter called me with an offer I couldn’t refuse, and I ended up quitting my job.

Like I said, weird.

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Bargain potential for AMD Socket FM1s

Dave Farquhar Hardware, security , , ,

Anandtech has an interesting overview of building HTPCs using AMD’s dead-end Socket FM1. I think it has interesting implications for anyplace you’re looking for value, not just in HTPC applications.

Yes, it’s a dead end, because Socket FM1 will be going away in favor of Socket FM2 in the coming months. But that’s one reason why there’s value potential here.
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Change your Linkedin password now

Dave Farquhar security , ,

If you use the professional social networking site Linkedin–which I recommend, albeit now with caveats–you need to be aware that someone stole at least part of its passwords database and leaked it onto the Web. You should assume your password is among the stolen passwords and change it.
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Don’t overthink writing

Dave Farquhar Writing

A longtime reader asked me a few weeks ago about my writing process. Today I’ll finally address the question. He asked me whether I correct as I go, or whether I write as fast as I can and correct later. But my experience over the last few weeks makes me think there’s something a lot more important for me to say.

Do what works, and don’t overthink it.
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