Computer General Discussion Thread

[Soldati Senza Confini]

https://www.krackattacks.com/

There is rumor now that the WPA2 encryption standard has been compromised. Nearly every wireless network will have this vulnerability at this point.

I'm not surprised about it. But, they cannot directly "crack" the wireless key with technological tools. They have to have someone who has the key have a piece of malware that allows them to figure out the key.

It's not "compromised" in the sense of a direct outside attack, but it is a matter of educating users about it. Further, you've always been able to figure out a wireless key anyways by social engineering, this is kind of the same thing.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

I'm about to start learning assembly...any tips before I venture into hell?

Yes, sharpen your binary and hexadecimal mathematics, and how they apply to computers.

[Minoa]

https://www.krackattacks.com/

There is rumor now that the WPA2 encryption standard has been compromised. Nearly every wireless network will have this vulnerability at this point.

I'm not surprised about it. But, they cannot directly "crack" the wireless key with technological tools. They have to have someone who has the key have a piece of malware that allows them to figure out the key.

It's not "compromised" in the sense of a direct outside attack, but it is a matter of educating users about it. Further, you've always been able to figure out a wireless key anyways by social engineering, this is kind of the same thing.

Ethernet’s the future of networking?

[The Alexanderians]

I'm not surprised about it. But, they cannot directly "crack" the wireless key with technological tools. They have to have someone who has the key have a piece of malware that allows them to figure out the key.

It's not "compromised" in the sense of a direct outside attack, but it is a matter of educating users about it. Further, you've always been able to figure out a wireless key anyways by social engineering, this is kind of the same thing.

Ethernet’s the future of networking?

The vendors have apparently been aware for a long while so work arounds are likely already in the works if not being put out already.

[Vassenor]

Ethernet’s the future of networking?

The vendors have apparently been aware for a long while so work arounds are likely already in the works if not being put out already.

Apparently the Windows end of the vulnerability was patched out a while ago.

The problem is old devices and IOT devices that can't be patched.

[The Alexanderians]

The vendors have apparently been aware for a long while so work arounds are likely already in the works if not being put out already.

Apparently the Windows end of the vulnerability was patched out a while ago.

The problem is old devices and IOT devices that can't be patched.

Issues involving vulnerabilities are going to happen in old devices anyway. This isn't exactly unique.

[Minoa]

I found an old floppy disk while clearing out old stuff: who still uses floppy disks for actual work (i.e. apart from the fans of old technology)?

[Nordengrund]

Can you get malware for seemingly no apparent reason at all?

[Salandriagado]

Can you get malware for seemingly no apparent reason at all?

It depends what you mean by "seemingly no apparent reason at all", but yes.

[Nordengrund]

Can you get malware for seemingly no apparent reason at all?

It depends what you mean by "seemingly no apparent reason at all", but yes.

I’m preparing a speech for class and I chose to do computer safety. I want to mention that I had malware mess up my PC pretty badly even though I never downloaded anything or click on any ads.

[Minoa]

Can you get malware for seemingly no apparent reason at all?

It depends what you mean by "seemingly no apparent reason at all", but yes.

More specifically, ‘malvertising’, where malware authors exploit loopholes in the advertising network to foist drive-by downloading of things like file-encrypting ransomware on unsuspecting users.

[Salandriagado]

It depends what you mean by "seemingly no apparent reason at all", but yes.

I’m preparing a speech for class and I chose to do computer safety. I want to mention that I had malware mess up my PC pretty badly even though I never downloaded anything or click on any ads.

You absolutely did download things: how exactly do you think web pages get displayed?

[Nordengrund]

I’m preparing a speech for class and I chose to do computer safety. I want to mention that I had malware mess up my PC pretty badly even though I never downloaded anything or click on any ads.

You absolutely did download things: how exactly do you think web pages get displayed?

Ah. I see. I normally don’t think of that as downloading, but I guess you’re right. What I mean is that I didn’t go searching for free software and hit the download button.

[The Alexanderians]

It depends what you mean by "seemingly no apparent reason at all", but yes.

More specifically, ‘malvertising’, where malware authors exploit loopholes in the advertising network to foist drive-by downloading of things like file-encrypting ransomware on unsuspecting users.

This can happen via certificates if you don't pay attention to the ones you trust.

[The Corparation]

I found an old floppy disk while clearing out old stuff: who still uses floppy disks for actual work (i.e. apart from the fans of old technology)?

USAF Minuteman launch crews.

[Minoa]

I may be switching to Waterfox because Classic Theme Restorer won't run on Firefox ESR (Extended Service Release) after Summer 2018. I think WebExtensions is too restrictive for customising browsers, what do you think?

However, I have switched from Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin because the latter doesn't allow ads by default, period (ABP by defaults allows 'non-intrusive' adverts, which is hard to tell in the era of malvertising, aka ransomware just by being served adverts).

[Hirota]

I may be switching to Waterfox because Classic Theme Restorer won't run on Firefox ESR (Extended Service Release) after Summer 2018. I think WebExtensions is too restrictive for customising browsers, what do you think?

However, I have switched from Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin because the latter doesn't allow ads by default, period (ABP by defaults allows 'non-intrusive' adverts, which is hard to tell in the era of malvertising, aka ransomware just by being served adverts).

The only reason I ever saw for running ESR was if you were in a business environment and couldn't be done with the regular updates changing everything.

But yes, uBlock is much better than Adblock Plus, mainly because as far as I know uBlock hasn't started whitelisting ads for money.

[Minoa]

I may be switching to Waterfox because Classic Theme Restorer won't run on Firefox ESR (Extended Service Release) after Summer 2018. I think WebExtensions is too restrictive for customising browsers, what do you think?

However, I have switched from Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin because the latter doesn't allow ads by default, period (ABP by defaults allows 'non-intrusive' adverts, which is hard to tell in the era of malvertising, aka ransomware just by being served adverts).

The only reason I ever saw for running ESR was if you were in a business environment and couldn't be done with the regular updates changing everything.

But yes, uBlock is much better than Adblock Plus, mainly because as far as I know uBlock hasn't started whitelisting ads for money.

ESR drops legacy extension support later around Summer 2018. The release channel goes WebExtensions only next month.

EXTRA 1 Nov 2017: macOS has rolled out fixes for the KRACK vulnerability.

[Minoa]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41900880

This is quite relevant to me because I have noticed myself abandoning posts before sending more often here on this forum. The most common reason I tend to abandon posts before sending is that it either doesn't make sense or it doesn't look good enough.

Nevertheless, it seems the Twitter fan-base want more action on hate crime and bots, than just a character increase.

[Seraven]

Any recommendations on good adblock application? And what is the usefulness of an adblock application?

[Saiwania]

Any recommendations on good adblock application? And what is the usefulness of an adblock application?

I use Adblock Plus, but I've heard of uBlock. What you'll want is dependent on what works for which browser you're using. If Pale Moon as one example, is a niche browser with tiny market share rather than a mainstream browser like Mozilla Firefox, then you can only use the officially supported add-ons to maintain full compatibility and not Mozilla's, even if Pale Moon is essentially a Firefox fork. Pale Moon's version of Adblock is known as Adblock Latitude.

The usefulness of an Adblock extension is so you don't use as much bandwidth loading web page graphics and elements that you don't need and you won't get 30 second or so commercials while watching videos, provided your filter subscriptions are up to date. With no online ads, you have one less major attack vector for potentially getting infected with malware. Your web surfing is what makes your device vulnerable to the outside world.

The problem is that if Adblockers are used on a wide enough scale, then there is a systemic collapse with regards to how websites get funded. But the assumption is that there will be enough internet users who aren't bright enough to go beyond using a stock browser configuration, so advertisers will still get money to some extent. Some websites make it as difficult as possible to view, unless you specifically Whitelist them from your Adblocker. But letting their ads display defeats the purpose.

[Minoa]

Any recommendations on good adblock application? And what is the usefulness of an adblock application?

I have said just a few days ago that I switched from Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin, because the latter doesn't allow ads by default. It seems Ad-blocking extensions are a paradoxical necessity, especially since the ad networks are basically playing whack-a-mole with authors of drive-by malware aka ‘Malvertising’ on the toughest difficulty, while there is the question of how websites can get funded under such circumstances.

I am reluctant to say this, but websites who are hostile to ad-blocker users (like the Proboards forums) are unwillingly allowing the spread of ransomware if they skimp on the advertiser vetting.

[Grand Britannia]

Any recommendations on good adblock application? And what is the usefulness of an adblock application?

Adnauseum is great if you can find its installation(it was removed from Chrome at least)

Not only does it block ads, it prevents Google from creating a profile on you for marketing purposes(hence its ban).

[Salandriagado]

Any recommendations on good adblock application? And what is the usefulness of an adblock application?

uBlock Origin, and both preventing obnoxious ads and avoiding viruses that use similar methods to ads to insert themselves into the webpage.

[Minoa]

Any recommendations on good adblock application? And what is the usefulness of an adblock application?

Adnauseum is great if you can find its installation(it was removed from Chrome at least)

Not only does it block ads, it prevents Google from creating a profile on you for marketing purposes(hence its ban).

IMO I see Firefox or Waterfox as promising alternatives to Chrome, although you should be aware that some extensions may not work with Firefox 57, and time is running out to port the extensions to the WebExtensions platform.