Random thoughts: computers, Internet, security and privacy

[Psinter]

I'll also have a look at Denningers blog.

The what?

If it serves you of something, recognizing in Android, if done through the Google API, (to my knowledge) requires the audio stream to be sent to a server since it is the servers the ones that do the speech recognition. Meaning that if used constantly, you would notice heavy network activity and possibly a drain in battery.

The implementation of this API is likely to stream audio to remote servers to perform speech recognition. As such this API is not intended to be used for continuous recognition, which would consume a significant amount of battery and bandwidth.

-Source (which to recognize speech without displaying a dialog also requires the implementation of another interface: RecognitionListener)

I once, while using the speech recognition API for Android for a project at uni experimented with the Japanese engine. It appears the little amount of Japanese I speak, I speak it clearer than English because it was very accurate to recognize my Japanese while when recognizing my English it changed words I had spoken with other words. So either I speak Japanese better than I speak English or the Japanese engine is better at recognizing than the English engine.

How does one even pronounce "though" anyway. Is it like "thought"? I'm going to use the text to speech from Google to show me... Done...

And is it Even though? or Even thought?

 

[Sophia]

The what?

If it serves you of something, recognizing in Android, if done through the Google API, (to my knowledge) requires the audio stream to be sent to a server since it is the servers the ones that do the speech recognition. Meaning that if used constantly, you would notice heavy network activity and possibly a drain in battery.I once, while using the speech recognition API for Android for a project at uni experimented with the Japanese engine. It appears the little amount of Japanese I speak, I speak it clearer than English because it was very accurate to recognize my Japanese while when recognizing my English it changed words I had spoken with other words. So either I speak Japanese better than I speak English or the Japanese engine is better at recognizing than the English engine.

How does one even pronounce "though" anyway. Is it like "thought"? I'm going to use the text to speech from Google to show me... Done...

And is it Even though? or Even thought?

Jim Hardy mentioned that blog you are confused about. I haven't been there yet.
The thing about huge traffic and battery sounds logical. I didn't notice anything like that.
And I've got strong accent when speaking English as well :-/ I was surprised when Google Now was able to get what I said in English. But when I spoke to my 5yrs old cousin from Australia, sometimes he stared at me like whaaat? And sometimes his grandparents just repeated my words, only with the correct accent and he understood :-D

 

[Psinter]

Jim Hardy mentioned that blog you are confused about. I haven't been there yet.
The thing about huge traffic and battery sounds logical. I didn't notice anything like that.

Oh, I see.
_____________________
Hmmmm. What is going on with these icons these days...
Source

 

[Bran]

Great thread idea!

Now I am happy with the combination of Linux for security and AdBlock plus. It is the right balance between security and usability for me.

I also rely on Linux for personal use. I used to be a Windows user; but too many factors coalesced (efficiency when it comes to use of hardware resources, control over the OS, cost, business philosophy, and hubris with regards to the rights and needs of customers / users), and I decided to give Linux a try (which you can do without even installing Linux - a so-called LiveCD will load in memory and provide a barebones experience, without needing to reside on the hard drive). I scrapped Windows that same day and started using Linux, and have not looked back since. I also use a few privacy-minded extensions in Firefox and am overall quite pleased. A small degree of tracking / profiling is something I can live with, as it does help web-based companies develop and deliver a higher quality service and experience. I also have nothing worth hiding on my computer - for me it is more the issue that I simply prefer to retain control over what I share or do not share. That being said, AdBlock, NoScript, and my browser set to open in private mode work well enough for me. Browser empties on close. I don't mind manually allowing scripts when a page loads - it's still faster than dial-up.

I don't want to sound like a Linux preacher here. Obviously, there are pros and cons to each OS. It's important to say that many games and some professional programs run only on Windows.

With WINE installed on Linux, you can run a fair amount of Windows programs, to include games. In some cases, gamers have actually reported a performance increase when playing a Microsoft game on Linux using WINE ... that this setup, using a middle man, is as fast or even faster than playing directly on Windows, is a testament to how efficient Linux can be when it comes to using hardware. Then there is also Steam for gaming enthusiasts. The problem with WINE, though, is that at least in theory, Windows-based viruses run over it just as well as any other software written for Microsoft products. I don't game, and I don't use the Windows Emulator; so my experience here is limited to what I have read in various Linux forums.

The problem I find with most popular linux distribution like Ubuntu, Kubuntu is that they always introduce the last cutting edge technology that is always full of bugs and non-working (too many broken things). I was incredibly happy with my Kubuntu 14.04, but suddenly I could not download packages anymore because it said the sources could not be found so I upgraded. Fatal Error. The new KDE is so full of bugs and I couldn't even launch a terminal.

Cutting edge distros always have something that breaks and makes your life impossible.

First I abandoned Ubuntu because of Unity full of bugs and moved to Kubuntu (I still tried Ubuntu later when Unity was more stable, but I still didn't like it). Then I recently abandoned Kubuntu because the new KDE is so full of bugs (I may try it again when it is more stable). Now I'm looking for something else that is stable.

Upgrades are optional with Linux ... I usually stay on the bleeding edge, though. I back up personal data before upgrading, and prefer to do a clean installation from a disk I've burned with data integrity I've verified before and after the burning process. I also keep in mind what one of my instructors taught me in school, that there are only two kinds of data that exist: the data one has lost, and the data one has not lost yet. That having been said, the new Kubuntu releases I've worked with do seem to have a bit of bugginess to them. I switched from Ubuntu to Kubuntu after about six months of use, as it was a little too much like Windows in a few ways. I love Kubuntu / KDE, and as long as I have my personal data backed up, I can handle the occasional re-install of the operating system ... it takes nearly no time at all to install a functioning and fully-updated OS, especially when compared to Windows. I also enjoy tinkering quite a lot, as it helps me better understand what I have in front of me.

Where will development of home computers /electronic lead?
What I mean is that after watching several reviews of computers, some tablets and recently kindle readers it seems like the difference between older and newer generations is not so big for mainstream consumers who only want to browse the Internet, use office and watch videos.
The resolution of screens had reached the point where human eye can't see the difference in higher resolution. Browsing the Internet has become reasonably fast.
What will persuade/ force this type of customer to buy new models each couple of years when they can do all they want on older machines?
What features will attract them in the future? Or will they be forced to buy new machines as only limited storage will be offered and short - lived non removable battery will eventually make the device unusable?
This is only anecdotal, but it seems that domestic appliances such as fridges or washing machines are built to last for a limited amount of time. Definitely shorter time than used to be in the past.
Will this be the scenario for electronics as well? Or will the developers invent new features to make non-gamer, non-teenager (who suffer from peer pressure) users want to buy new stuff?

Disposability is a business model. Some companies want you to throw away your older products for newer ones, as it increases their revenue. Factors that tech companies use to justify steady upgrades (and with many companies, it's important to point out that these factors are legitimate) include security, stability, and energy / resource efficiency. Personally, I have no problem with this in theory; but in practice, I feel not enough is being done with regards to recycling.

Here is something about it (and a math professor has something to say about it): http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35639549

I googled and found various people talking about the same thing. It is clear beyond reasonable doubt that it can happen. Programmers know it can happen and it is a reproducible event to the extent of recognizing the words that has been spoken. Just sit down, open Android Studio and write a program to make it do what is being described. But as to it actually happening, I don't know. So in resume: It can happen, but Google rejects the idea of it happening when it responded.

...
You are not paranoid. Your worry is legitimate.

I agree 100%.

I did a small experiment. I took the phone and talked for a long time about something with high commercial value that I normally never talk about and I have never googled it. I will repeat those words a couple of times and see if it works. It probably won't do anything, but I was bored and curious :-)

I'll also have a look at Denningers blog.

Thus the mind of a true scientist is revealed :-)

 

[Sophia]

.

With WINE installed on Linux, you can run a fair amount of Windows programs, to include games. In some cases, gamers have actually reported a performance increase when playing a Microsoft game on Linux using WINE ...

, I can handle the occasional re-install of the operating system ... it takes nearly no time at all to install a functioning and fully-updated OS, especially when compared to Windows..

Thus the mind of a true scientist is revealed :-)

Great to see another Linux fan here :-)

Yes, Wine is a very useful tool and it had helped me a few times. But I once had a dvd that I needed for work and it was impossible to install it even with wine. I had to create a virtual machine with Windows to make it work. That can be done but for an average user that would be too much I think. So there is still some room for imprisonment when it comes to things like compatibility, installation and making programs and hardware run. In many cases everything can be solved easily, but definitely there are still things that could put an average user off. But once things are installed, Linux is perfect and I wouldn't ever use Windows on my machine again! I love how reliable it is and also the community behind it.
What I like about Linux mint is that you can upgrade straight from the update manager so there is no need for clean install every 6 months. You simply download the upgrade and next time you restart your computer, there's a new version and all your data are still there. (backup is still necessary, of course, but I didn't have to use it).
I also love another thing about the Mint update manager and that is that all updates are rated on scale 1-5 according to their safety and you can choose to install only ones you want. So you are not forced to install all or nothing.

 

[Bran]

What I like about Linux mint is that you can upgrade straight from the update manager so there is no need for clean install every 6 months. You simply download the upgrade and next time you restart your computer, there's a new version and all your data are still there. (backup is still necessary, of course, but I didn't have to use it).

I also love another thing about the Mint update manager and that is that all updates are rated on scale 1-5 according to their safety and you can choose to install only ones you want. So you are not forced to install all or nothing.

I'm generally a fan of any free and open approach to knowledge and technology - most Linux distros seem to share this idea. I'm also always happy to encounter Linux fans ( - imagine this icon waving 'hello!' in your general direction)!

The clean install is an old habit of mine, from the Windows days, that was reinforced by a catastrophic attempt to upgrade Linux over the Internet. Granted, that was also over a Wi-Fi connection when I was first getting to know Ubuntu. The other reason why I tend toward clean installations is because it gives me the chance to play a little further with different partition setups. What you wrote about the Mint update manager - the rating system - is something I find very attractive and think is a wonderful idea. Which DE are you using with Mint?

What I love most about the update / upgrade process with Linux is the speed at which it happens. When I decide to do a clean installation, from the moment I download, verify and burn and re-verify the OS to the time I am sitting in front of a fully-installed, fully-updated system is a matter of an hour or so. I've performed fresh installations of Windows and seen it take.. so... much... longer. And I know it's a petty thing to nit-pick over, but it seems every update (not upgrade) from Windows used to result in a mandatory restart of the machine, with the obnoxious message "Windows is updating. Do not turn off your machine." It always bothered me that this message seemed more like an order, and I saw it as symbolic for Microsoft's arrogance toward its users. That may have changed lately; but at least for personal computing, I will stay with Linux.

 

[Sophia]

I'm generally a fan of any free and open approach to knowledge and technology - most Linux distros seem to share this idea. I'm also always happy to encounter Linux fans ([emoji14]enguin: - imagine this icon waving 'hello!' in your general direction)!

The clean install is an old habit of mine, from the Windows days, that was reinforced by a catastrophic attempt to upgrade Linux over the Internet. Granted, that was also over a Wi-Fi connection when I was first getting to know Ubuntu. The other reason why I tend toward clean installations is because it gives me the chance to play a little further with different partition setups. What you wrote about the Mint update manager - the rating system - is something I find very attractive and think is a wonderful idea. Which DE are you using with Mint?

What I love most about the update / upgrade process with Linux is the speed at which it happens. When I decide to do a clean installation, from the moment I download, verify and burn and re-verify the OS to the time I am sitting in front of a fully-installed, fully-updated system is a matter of an hour or so. I've performed fresh installations of Windows and seen it take.. so... much... longer. And I know it's a petty thing to nit-pick over, but it seems every update (not upgrade) from Windows used to result in a mandatory restart of the machine, with the obnoxious message "Windows is updating. Do not turn off your machine." It always bothered me that this message seemed more like an order, and I saw it as symbolic for Microsoft's arrogance toward its users. That may have changed lately; but at least for personal computing, I will stay with Linux.

Oh yeah, that Windows message is just great! [emoji14] no one asks you if you want to update right now, it just happens. It was sure a result of Murphy law that updates of Firefox usually took place when I was in a hurry and really needed to check something or send my assignment ASAP.

I prefer not to play with disc partitions because that's too advanced topic for me. But I'm sure it gives you even more control of the machine and you can learn a lot by experimenting with it.

I use cinnamon desktop on mint. I find it the prettiest one. For example, KDE with its x special effects is too much, while Mate is too old fashioned and not pleasant to look at. Cinnamon is the right combination of modernity and simplicity, at least for my taste :-) but that is the magic of Linux, everyone can choose exactly what he likes. You've got full control of your machine and you can make it as simple, fancy, secure or comfortable to use as you like. What's your favourite DE?

Nothing is 100% safe though, as was shown by attack on the mint website a few months ago. One still has to be alert and careful about what he does online. But compared to Windows and the number of viruses and issues I used to get there... Omg that can't be even compared :-)

 

[Bran]

Oh yeah, that Windows message is just great! [emoji14] no one asks you if you want to update right now, it just happens. It was sure a result of Murphy law that updates of Firefox usually took place when I was in a hurry and really needed to check something or send my assignment ASAP.

I prefer not to play with disc partitions because that's too advanced topic for me. But I'm sure it gives you even more control of the machine and you can learn a lot by experimenting with it.

Partitioning is easier than you might think; but I remember how intimidating it was when I was first learning how to do it. I do it because I like the modular approach, and don't much like having to use a partition manager after I've already installed the OS.

I use cinnamon desktop on mint. I find it the prettiest one. For example, KDE with its x special effects is too much, while Mate is too old fashioned and not pleasant to look at. Cinnamon is the right combination of modernity and simplicity, at least for my taste :-) but that is the magic of Linux, everyone can choose exactly what he likes. You've got full control of your machine and you can make it as simple, fancy, secure or comfortable to use as you like. What's your favourite DE?

Nothing is 100% safe though, as was shown by attack on the mint website a few months ago. One still has to be alert and careful about what he does online. But compared to Windows and the number of viruses and issues I used to get there... Omg that can't be even compared :-)

I'm using Kubuntu; so KDE is my thing. I like what I've seen with Cinnamon; but I guess I just sort of fell in love with KDE, bugs quirks and all, and have yet to fall out of love with it.

Way back when, when I was still a student taking a course on basic networking, our instructor made a big deal about giving a presentation on network security - he invited pretty much every student he could find in the building to attend. Once everyone was there, he asked class members to leave their computers on and walk away from our desks. Then he asked the class who felt brave enough to see just how secure their workstation was. Four people in the class volunteered me - at which point our instructor held up his cell phone and proclaimed that he was going to show that you could force a computer to shut down from outside the network with a cell phone. It was a pretty good idea, and it worked once he tried it on someone else's machine, because as soon as I heard he was giving a big network security demonstration in our class, I quietly disconnected the network cable from my machine. Later in class, after the demonstration was over, I crashed the computer and lost my notes for that day. The moral of this story is that you are 100% correct: nothing is 100% safe, even when you think you have just guaranteed your data's safety, or perhaps especially when you think you have just guaranteed your data's safety. That, and before making changes to the system, it's a smart idea to first backup said system :-)

 

[Psinter]

I'm generally a fan of any free and open approach to knowledge and technology - most Linux distros seem to share this idea. I'm also always happy to encounter Linux fans ( - imagine this icon waving 'hello!' in your general direction)!

Haha, I like that smiley.

 

[jim hardy]

Has anyone run across this Apple Music Subscription deleting your music ?

https://blog.vellumatlanta.com/2016/05/04/apple-stole-my-music-no-seriously/
When I signed up for Apple Music, iTunes evaluated my massive collection of Mp3s and WAV files, scanned Apple’s database for what it considered matches, then removed the original files from my internal hard drive. REMOVED them. Deleted. If Apple Music saw a file it didn’t recognize—which came up often, since I’m a freelance composer and have many music files that I created myself—it would then download it to Apple’s database, delete it from my hard drive, and serve it back to me when I wanted to listen, just like it would with my other music files it had deleted.

If you’re wondering why Apple hasn’t been sued yet, it’s because the iTunes Terms of Use vaguely warn of this issue, then later indemnify Apple and preclude any litigation from users who’ve been boned:

“iCloud Music Library is turned on automatically when you set up your Apple Music Subscription…When your Apple Music Subscription term ends, you will lose access to any songs stored in your iCloud Music Library.

another blogger's take on it

Companies come into your private property and destroy what you own.

Seriously, that really happens today, and there's nothing you'll do about it. You signed away your right to sue, and what's worse you still buy products and services from firm that do this sort of thing.

Apple Music is a new "subscription" music service. But it has a twist -- when you sign up it will root around your hard drive (and, presumably, any network-attached drives) and any music it "thinks" it has in the "cloud" that it deems to be the "same" was(sic) what you own it will remove from your computer entirely...
...I have never owned a piece of fruit technology and never will.

This sort of outrageous practice, which I remind you began in the music realm for Apple with their iPods and "secured" music that was not transportable to anything else even though you bought it, is why.
https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=231367 (caution, strong language)

I've kept my vinyl albums and a turntable.

 

[Sophia]

That's an awful practice of Apple!
Large companies can really do almost anything and they are immune to legislation to a large degree, because it is they who create it. That's why I'm so afraid of TTIP, but that's another topic that probably shouldn't be discussed here.

By the way, do you guys use long impossible-to-guess passwords, or are you one those who use passwords such as "password"?
I only have long ones on my Internet banking, email and Facebook which I consider the most sensitive sites I use. I have also sms notification for those sites. My passwords there are not random strings of numbers and letters, as those would be difficult to remember and write. They are combination of words which make sense with small and capital letters, numbers and special characters.
Than I confess that for all other sites including this one, I use the same simple pasword that anyone who knows me personally could easily guess.
On my phone I use app locker with simple pattern instead of password. It also takes a picture of intruder who had 3 wrong attempts. At first I found it annoying but since there was a situation when it was useful and saved me from a problem I don't even think about disabling it :-)

 

[jim hardy]

By the way, do you guys use long impossible-to-guess passwords, or are you one those who use passwords such as "password"?
I only have long ones on my Internet banking, email and Facebook

I keep them short and easy to remember.

I told my bank and ira institution to disallow internet access to my accounts. So if there's any hanky-panky it is not because i failed to protect a nonexistent password .

Faceboook i consider a detraction not an enhancement to life. They snoop and sell your info to marketeers so i dumped them.

Grumpy Old Man , here.

 

[Sophia]

I keep them short and easy to remember.

I told my bank and ira institution to disallow internet access to my accounts. So if there's any hanky-panky it is not because i failed to protect a nonexistent password .

Faceboook i consider a detraction not an enhancement to life. They snoop and sell your info to marketeers so i dumped them.

Grumpy Old Man , here.

Yes, disabling Internet banking is definitely the best thing you can do. I'm just too lazy to go to the bank personally... Terrible, I know

I wouldn't have Facebook if that wasn't the only way to keep in touch with some people who don't use a normal email address (yes, people like that exist) I also used it to access a classmate group at school and at one course I attended. In fact, having a fb account was the only way to gain access to study materials. Yes, I could ask some classmate to send them to my email but since i didn't know those people well I didn't want to annoy anyone with such a request.
So I keep the account only for cases like that.

 

[collinsmark]

By the way, do you guys use long impossible-to-guess passwords, or are you one those who use passwords such as "password"?

I use passwords that are long and easy to remember.

Password Strength

 

[Pepper Mint]

crazy sensitivity! is my password.

 

[Psinter]

I once made a password 20 or 21 characters long and forgot it despite having written it correctly time and time again over months in my everyday life. It was all giberrish. Composed of small case, upper case, numbers, and symbols. What I remembered was the movements of my fingers over the keyboard. By memory I could not speak it out loud or think of it. All there was were the movement of my fingers. But something happened one day that I forgot the movement of my fingers because I memorized other finger movements for another 20 or 21 character long password and could never remember the old one. I lost big.

 

[Sophia]

I once made a password 20 or 21 characters long and forgot it despite having written it correctly time and time again over months in my everyday life. It was all giberrish. Composed of small case, upper case, numbers, and symbols. What I remembered was the movements of my fingers over the keyboard. By memory I could not speak it out loud or think of it. All there was were the movement of my fingers. But something happened one day that I forgot the movement of my fingers because I memorized other finger movements for another 20 or 21 character long password and could never remember the old one. I lost big.

That's horrible and annoying. Human memory is so weak!
I usually use something that makes sense so it's easier to remember but I still write it down.
Yesterday I watched a video with an interesting tip on how to make long and unique passwords for each site that are easy to remember.
Just combine the same short sentence with lower and upper case, numbers and special characters and than add something unique to the site. This way you get something very easy to remember but difficult to crack

Eg.
IL0veMyCuteGoldF1sh!1987*(gmail)
IL0veMyCuteGoldF1sh!1987*(facebook) IL0veMyCuteGoldF1sh!1987*(twitter)

 

[Psinter]

/\/\/\Ilik3Ch0colateM1lk/\/\/\

 

[Sophia]

I almost got a heart attack today when I saw that my laptop doesn't work at all.
It worked normally when I got up and after browsing for a while, I carried it to another room and went away to eat breakfast. When I returned, the screen looked strange and nothing worked. I couldn't click anywhere nor could I turn it off in a normal way. So I turned it off by unplugging the cable and removing the battery. What did I see after restart? BIOS screen. And the only boot option was DVD drive. After that, only black screen with "Insert correct booting media" message.
I went so nervous because I really can't afford a new laptop now!
But then I got an idea- what if SSD drive has moved? And really. I opened the machine and SSD was indeed slightly unplugged. It must have moved when I carried the laptop between the rooms. I pushed it to proper position and voila- it booted normally