SonicWall Is Silly
@ 2010-01-20 11:59:23
Filed under: Frustration Security Tech
Ever hear of SonicWall? Sure you have! More than likely you have been a user in a coffee shop or at a restaurant (though you may have not known). The idea is to protect both the user and the local network from accessing content that is undesirable. Thankfully they tell you why the content has been blocked. Sadly, they block users from resources to help block scams. Why? Becuase they may not be smart enough to tell the difference. For instance, I had gone up to Phishtank to post up a phish email to warn others and SonicWall blocked me from accessing the site all the while allowing access to the VirusTotal which is a similar type of service but for file scans. You are probably saying "Ashcrow! It's obviously a mistake! Go, tell them to fix it!" and let me stop you there, because I did try. Two times actually and both times I received the same response:
At first I thought maybe they kept the same rating but opened access. Many people (and companies) don't know the difference between hacking, cracking, phishing and fraud. The next time I was out at the restaurant I tried hitting PhishTank. No dice.
So what does this mean? That is a hard one. It could mean a lot of things but the way I take it is that the folks making decisions on blocking content are nor proficient enough to tell the difference between a hostile site and one that helps protect users --- and that is NOT a good quality to have in a security content filtering vendor of any kind.
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RDU Airport Security Frustration @ 2009-11-25 05:19:40
Filed under: Frustration Personal
I usually will put up with a decent amount when it comes to travel. Lots of people are trying to get to many places and everyone is afraid they won't make it. I've been frustrated by the security checks at airports before, but today was a bit different. It started while I was waiting to put my stuff on the belt. Two security checkpoint guys were giving the instructions at the same time (though not saying the same thing at the same time) about 5 feet from each other. If I didn't know what to do (say, if I wasn't from the US) I wouldn't have been able to figure out what they were saying. So I get my bags on the belt and walk through the metal detector. Usually that means 'yay, you don't have anything crazy on you.' Not this time. I don't know if this was added in the last few months but I got a pat down to verify I didn't have anything. OK, so maybe it's an added safeguard, I'll go with that, but what happens next really irks me. My stuff 'clears' except for my backpack. I'm asked if I have a laptop in there. I explain that I don't, but there is a Nintendo Wii ... so he opens my bag and takes it out and states it has to be checked. The lady at the xray machine says 'pfff, I can't help what they put in their bags' and checks my Wii for bombs (... I assume). I stand and wait for my stuff to come through and it does after a few other bags. The lady behind the xray machine is pumping out reviews so much so that peoples stuff is getting pushed off the end of the belt. Luckily, I was able to get my stuff before it got to the end, but to do so I had to kick my shoes down the hallway while wearing my backpack, holding my laptop case and holding on to the items that I had to remove from my person/was removed from my bag.
I know there isn't a big screening process to work in airport security. I also know that I should put up with it because they get paid little and have frustrating jobs, but, on the other hand, I spent $550 on a plane ticket that last year at this time was about $200. Taking a train and being able to do work while I travel with less frustration (and, checking out Amtrak tickets online -- MUCH cheaper) seems to be looking better.
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How Business Guys Seem @ 2009-05-16 16:10:56
Filed under: Comedy Frustration Media
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The Security Reporting Conundrum @ 2008-10-22 23:03:43
Filed under: Frustration Security Tech
I'm sitting here browsing the web and I come across an XSS in a popular hosted website/application. My immediate reaction is to alert the company ... but then I think about it .... some companies get offended when you report security issues or, worse yet, freak out and think your some kind of evil guy when all your trying to do is be helpful.
No one should have to think about it this way. If you see someone leave their keys in their door they won't freak out if you knock on their door and tell them ... they are happy! If someone leaves their front door open and you point it out they are thankful you caught it before someone walked in. Reporting a security vuln should work like that ... companies should be happy they get the report!
In the end I think I'll go ahead and report it to them. If they freak out then, well, they freak out ... I should do the right thing.
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Comments: 0
Installing Linux on Acer's M4641 Desktop @ 2008-10-18 13:44:46
Filed under: Frustration Linux Tech
For about 3 hours last night I could not figure out why F10 x86 and x86_64 and Gentoo x86 and x86_64 install CD's all failed. It was really frustrating. After a bit of time I found out that there is a bios setting related to the OS that is booted .... Changing this from the default to the last setting (I think it was ANY or ALL or something like that) allowed me to start the installation. The funny thing is that by default it is NOT set to Windows (that was the second option) but it seems the first two only work with a Windows install ... and, well, I don't use Windows :-).
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Comments: 0
Filed under: Frustration Security Tech
Ever hear of SonicWall? Sure you have! More than likely you have been a user in a coffee shop or at a restaurant (though you may have not known). The idea is to protect both the user and the local network from accessing content that is undesirable. Thankfully they tell you why the content has been blocked. Sadly, they block users from resources to help block scams. Why? Becuase they may not be smart enough to tell the difference. For instance, I had gone up to Phishtank to post up a phish email to warn others and SonicWall blocked me from accessing the site all the while allowing access to the VirusTotal which is a similar type of service but for file scans. You are probably saying "Ashcrow! It's obviously a mistake! Go, tell them to fix it!" and let me stop you there, because I did try. Two times actually and both times I received the same response:
Dear Customer:
You submitted the following rating request to SonicWALL CFS Support:
Rate phishtank.com as "27.Information Tech/Computers" at 2010-01-12 17:25:02.167
The request has been reviewed and rated as:
"28.Hacking/Proxy Avoidance" at 2010-01-20 03:35:03.190
You should see this rating change reflected within 1 to 3 business days.
Thank you for your request,
SonicWALL CFS Support
At first I thought maybe they kept the same rating but opened access. Many people (and companies) don't know the difference between hacking, cracking, phishing and fraud. The next time I was out at the restaurant I tried hitting PhishTank. No dice.
So what does this mean? That is a hard one. It could mean a lot of things but the way I take it is that the folks making decisions on blocking content are nor proficient enough to tell the difference between a hostile site and one that helps protect users --- and that is NOT a good quality to have in a security content filtering vendor of any kind.
digg it
seed it
del.icio.us
ma.gnolia
Comments: 0
RDU Airport Security Frustration @ 2009-11-25 05:19:40
Filed under: Frustration Personal
I usually will put up with a decent amount when it comes to travel. Lots of people are trying to get to many places and everyone is afraid they won't make it. I've been frustrated by the security checks at airports before, but today was a bit different. It started while I was waiting to put my stuff on the belt. Two security checkpoint guys were giving the instructions at the same time (though not saying the same thing at the same time) about 5 feet from each other. If I didn't know what to do (say, if I wasn't from the US) I wouldn't have been able to figure out what they were saying. So I get my bags on the belt and walk through the metal detector. Usually that means 'yay, you don't have anything crazy on you.' Not this time. I don't know if this was added in the last few months but I got a pat down to verify I didn't have anything. OK, so maybe it's an added safeguard, I'll go with that, but what happens next really irks me. My stuff 'clears' except for my backpack. I'm asked if I have a laptop in there. I explain that I don't, but there is a Nintendo Wii ... so he opens my bag and takes it out and states it has to be checked. The lady at the xray machine says 'pfff, I can't help what they put in their bags' and checks my Wii for bombs (... I assume). I stand and wait for my stuff to come through and it does after a few other bags. The lady behind the xray machine is pumping out reviews so much so that peoples stuff is getting pushed off the end of the belt. Luckily, I was able to get my stuff before it got to the end, but to do so I had to kick my shoes down the hallway while wearing my backpack, holding my laptop case and holding on to the items that I had to remove from my person/was removed from my bag.
I know there isn't a big screening process to work in airport security. I also know that I should put up with it because they get paid little and have frustrating jobs, but, on the other hand, I spent $550 on a plane ticket that last year at this time was about $200. Taking a train and being able to do work while I travel with less frustration (and, checking out Amtrak tickets online -- MUCH cheaper) seems to be looking better.
digg it
seed it
del.icio.us
ma.gnolia
Comments: 0
How Business Guys Seem @ 2009-05-16 16:10:56
Filed under: Comedy Frustration Media
digg it
seed it
del.icio.us
ma.gnolia
Comments: 0
The Security Reporting Conundrum @ 2008-10-22 23:03:43
Filed under: Frustration Security Tech
I'm sitting here browsing the web and I come across an XSS in a popular hosted website/application. My immediate reaction is to alert the company ... but then I think about it .... some companies get offended when you report security issues or, worse yet, freak out and think your some kind of evil guy when all your trying to do is be helpful.
No one should have to think about it this way. If you see someone leave their keys in their door they won't freak out if you knock on their door and tell them ... they are happy! If someone leaves their front door open and you point it out they are thankful you caught it before someone walked in. Reporting a security vuln should work like that ... companies should be happy they get the report!
In the end I think I'll go ahead and report it to them. If they freak out then, well, they freak out ... I should do the right thing.
digg it
seed it
del.icio.us
ma.gnolia
Comments: 0
Installing Linux on Acer's M4641 Desktop @ 2008-10-18 13:44:46
Filed under: Frustration Linux Tech
For about 3 hours last night I could not figure out why F10 x86 and x86_64 and Gentoo x86 and x86_64 install CD's all failed. It was really frustrating. After a bit of time I found out that there is a bios setting related to the OS that is booted .... Changing this from the default to the last setting (I think it was ANY or ALL or something like that) allowed me to start the installation. The funny thing is that by default it is NOT set to Windows (that was the second option) but it seems the first two only work with a Windows install ... and, well, I don't use Windows :-).
digg it
seed it
del.icio.us
ma.gnolia
Comments: 0
