Re: I have been asked to leave the company for having spotted serious security breaches

From: Bill Unruh (unruh_at_string.physics.ubc.ca)
Date: 02/04/05 

Date: 4 Feb 2005 17:45:40 GMT

"Some Bloke" <somebloke@that.uk.net> writes:

>Agent C. . .

>Yes, while I think that George may be a bit flippant about his approach,
>there was another bloke he reminds me of back in the late 1930's who went
>around warning about an attack on the US by Japan. His name was Billy
>Mitchell and for his troubles he was court-martialed.

>I think that you are being a bit too harsh on him. While he may be an
>annoying little brat in your eyes, in my eyes I think that he brought about
>what is a glaringly obvious problem to his superiors and they choose to do
>nothing about it. In my estimation, his actions are commendable and while
>his approach may appear a bit bratty, I think that the nature of the problem
>he has discovered and his organization's failure to address the issue is at
>stake.

I took the bus in to the University yesterday, and while riding scanned
with my laptop ( iwlist scan)
Almost everywhere along the route I found between 5-11 listed wireless
ports, and over half of them stated that they had no key.
Some with business names listed (eg CUPExxxx-- for those not from Canada,
that is a Union-- Canadian Union of Public Employees.).

What astonished me was that I could detect all of these from a bus roaring
by on the highway.

>Maybe you should reconsider your chastizement of this lad.

While his first post did make it look like he was somewhat obnoxious, it is
hard to tell whether or not he had a legitimate concern. The proximate
issue was the open wireless, which in itself is not necessarily a great
danger. It depends on what is on that wireless.
On considered reflection, I guess I would not want an open wireless at a
school-- not that it is a real danger in itself if all critical parts were
firewalled off from that wireless, but because of the danger that predators
could use it to get at the kids. Having an open entry into a net where you
know there are lots of andlots of kids does not seem like the safest thing
to do.

Mind you with the state of WEP, it is not clear how much of a shield even
that would do much but I guess it might keep out the more clueless.

>M
>"Agent_C" <Agent-C-hates-spam@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
>news:aih501pmuthdcre7ro1hdashus5oaauqrr@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 19:49:37 -0500, "Curious George"
>> <curious@spampoop.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> >What the hell sort of world do you work in?
>>
>> You completely miss the point. I'll bet you do all the time and THAT's
>> why you get on the wrong side of your superiors.
>>
>> Bottom line, is that I'm sure you're perceived as a annoying little
>> brat, who isn't nearly as brilliant as you think you are.
>>
>> "A Little Knowledge Is Dangerous" -Voltaire, 1777
>>
>> A_C
>>
>>

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