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Viewtron and Videotex: Internet-like technology, circa 1983

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing March 3, 2012September 13, 2024

IT World profiled Viewtron, AT&T’s implementation of Videotex, as an interesting what-if. Think of it as 1983’s version of WebTV. What if it had caught on? Why didn’t it?
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Don’t use Password1 as your password

Dave Farquhar security March 2, 2012passwords, Two-factor authentication

CNN reported yesterday that Password1 is the most common password in business environments. It’s the simplest password that meets common “complexity” requirements. It illustrates the problem with complexity requirements–a password can meet those requirements while still being extremely predictable.

As such, those passwords can be easy to guess, and they cast doubt on the entire idea of complexity.

Yesterday was Windows 8 day, but I found this e-reader hack more interesting

Dave Farquhar Hardware March 1, 2012android, Angry Birds, Nook Color, Nook Simple Touch, windows 8

Yesterday, the consumer preview of Windows 8 hit the streets. I haven’t downloaded it. I’m mildly curious, but have a number of things higher on my priority list. Being a late adopter of Windows versions serves me well more often than not anyway.

I found something else yesterday that I find a lot more interesting: An e-ink Android tablet. Humor me.

A cloud computing-related Security+ question

Dave Farquhar security February 29, 2012August 12, 2018CISM, cissp, datacenter, DBA, SSCP

Someone tossed a Security+ study question my way this week. This is an example of Security+ trying to be CISSP Lite, but it’s still a valid question–probably for either test, and for SSCP and CISM too.

A small not-for-profit organization needs to invest in a new expensive database. There is no budget for additional servers or personnel. Which of the following solutions would allow it to save money by avoiding hiring additional personnel and minimize the footprint in their current datacenter?
A. Linux
B. Software as a Service (SaaS)
C. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
D. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Let’s take it one at a time.

Living with a past-its-prime computer

Dave Farquhar Hardware February 28, 2012July 15, 2017defragmenter, firefox, IBM, intel, Intel Atom, Libre Office, lifehacker, Linux Mint, McAfee, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Security Essentials, model m, oatmeal, office 2007, office 2010, Open Office, optimizing windows, overclocking, ramdisk, symantec, vista, Windows 10, Windows XP

I’m playing catch-up a bit. This weekend, Lifehacker ran a guide about living with a computer that’s past its prime.

I’ve made a career of that. One of my desktop PCs at work (arguably the more important one) is old enough that I ought to be preparing to send it off to second grade. And for a few years I administered a server farm that was in a similar state. They finally started upgrading the hardware as I was walking out the door. (I might have stayed longer if they’d done that sooner.) And at home, I ran with out-of-date computer equipment for about a decade, just this summer buying something current. Buying something current is very nice, but not always practical.

So of course I’ll comment on a few of Lifehacker’s points.

Kids these days, not knowing the name Grace Hopper

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized February 28, 20121980s, commodore, consolidation

The guys at Hackaday dug up a video of the late Commodore Grace Hopper (the rank is now called Rear Admiral, but the rank of Commodore just seems appropriate for a computer science pioneer) and the poster admitted he’d never heard of her before. The resulting discussion was rather… interesting.

Why can’t St. Louis repurpose buildings like Baltimore does?

Dave Farquhar St. Louis February 27, 20121940s, antique mall

I had the opportunity to visit Savage Mill, near Baltimore, recently. Savage Mill is an old textile mill dating to the 1820s that fell into disuse in the 1940s. Today, the complex houses a variety of businesses. While the place has vacancies–the economy is still struggling, after all–it’s crowded, and it’s a great reuse.

It makes me wonder why we can’t do the same thing in St. Louis.
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How to pass CISSP: Test taking strategies

Dave Farquhar security February 26, 2012September 28, 2016cissp, isc, ISO, OSI, osi model

The CISSP is a 250-question, multiple-choice test. You have six hours to complete it. It’s not like any college final I ever took, though cramming all of finals week into a six-hour session is almost a fair comparison. If you’re wondering how to pass CISSP, I can’t guarantee my method, but I’m glad to share what worked for me.

How to study for CISSP

Dave Farquhar security February 25, 2012August 6, 2018CBK, christmas, cissp, isc, New Year, reference book, trenches

I got the letter this week. The one from (ISC)². If the first word is “congratulations,” it means you passed. But if the first two words are “thank you,” you didn’t. If you want the letter that says “congratulations” in your future, it helps to know how to study for CISSP. Here’s how I studied for mine. Hopefully it will help you. It’s a long road. But it’s doable.

And on a personal note, I passed the CISSP

Dave Farquhar Personal February 24, 2012cissp

I can’t believe I forgot to post this, but yesterday I got word that I passed the CISSP. So, after a vetting process that can take up to six weeks, I’ll be able to sign off with a “, CISSP” after my name.

Now that I can give advice on taking the test without being presumptuous, I’ll write about that this weekend.