Kalimat al-Mutafalsif

I've been parsing (read: reading stattraq) my logs recently, and am shocked to find two things.

First off, I get multiple image hits a day from google image searches for Linux. They all point back to my Infinite Linux Desktop post. I checked some searches and it doesn't appear I'm too high, so some people must just get bored, search for linux desktop pictures and start digging through every single picture.

The second is related, but instead of people being bored and looking through a ton, I am really high on certain searches. It turns out my post on how to legally hack your grade has gotten fairly high on a few search engines. Specifically ask.com lists me as second if you search on how to hack your grade. While I'm flattered to get more hits... I really don't like the fact that people are coming here to learn how to break the law. Specifically if you're looking for a step by step to hack a gradebook... you're in the wrong place.

Anyone I consider a hacker would go down a different route. For instance, instead of finding a file that tells exactly how to beat the system, they'd start by observing their teacher, and the systems they use. After that, they'd probably go look up vulnerabilities on said systems. After that, whether they actually go through with the plan is up to them. Suffice it to say I consider anyone who grabs a walkthrough to actually PASS A CLASS ILLEGALLY is nothing but a script-kiddie. That is not a compliment from those who don't know, it means all they can do is use what some other real hacker gives them and can't come up with real attacks.

The information I give is a specific attack on people's trust, not necessarily a way to pass a class. In addition, it is not exactly a step by step guide. You'll have to improvise somewhat for that guide for each situation. Unlike what these people are looking for, a file that gives instructions such as "type X into console, wait for Y".

So, while I'm flattered people think this site will teach them how to break systems, I am most definately saddened that people are actually coming with the intent to copy my work and try to pass high school.

Well, I'm sick. So what you ask? I'm not really digging for sympathy, and (as the people who try to help me find out) really just prefer to be left alone to let my body fight it. However, something just made me think that calling a computer virus a virus is very, very good naming. A biological virus that makes you sick, and a computer virus have much of the same characteristics.

First off, I'm slow. Ever since yesterday I haven't wanted to do anything. Even on a computer, I have no drive to program and that's minimal (physical) effort. my brain just wants to do nothing. For a computer, the virus ties up your CPUs time (depending on the type) and slows things down. Get more than one in there, and you now have a brick of a machine.

I'm also (if my diagnosis is correct) probably contagious. I can spread my disease to other humans of roughly the same type within a certain radius and by certain vectors. This is exactly the same as computer virii. They spread via some vector (email, ip scanning, whatever) to other computers of roughly the same type. Just as some people from foreign countries have immunities to certain attacks, so too does certain operating systems. A worm bred for Windows won't infect my Linux machine, in the same way that a virus attacking a machine with Apache's server installed won't affect IIS.

Then, each disease has different symptoms. Mine include being sore and having a headache. Computer virii have different symptoms as well which are side effects of whatever the virus is doing. Some may simply slow the computer down. Others will delete files, or lock certain menus.If I know a certain virus well, and see a computer displays its symptoms I can guess its my old friend MyDoom.

Virii are killed through certain medications. In humans, that's obvious, in computers those medications take the form of anti-virus softwware. It knows what files to delete to kill a virus, or what process must be taken to clean the system. Computers can also be immunized like humans by locking certain files that can expect infection by certain virii. This paragraph sucks because I'm about out of steam and already finished the post.

Finally, every virus behaves differently. Rather: It is not guarenteed that every virus will be the same. Each human disease does soemthing different. Some feed off brain tissue, others just live on your skin. In the same way, each computer virus does something different. Some delete files at random on certain days. Some watch what keys you type. Others are just broken and do nothing. The motivation of the virus is what determines its behavior.

To give an example of how varied computer virii are, here's a link to a nice list of many different types.

Well... big news... or not. I'm transfering domain registrars from Spry.com to dreamhost.com. Dreamhost is the owner of the server this is on, and amazing. Spry sold my domain to a reseller and I couldn't find out who my original registrar was... very annoying.

Also, apparently spry has a completely seperate domain (mywebpayments) that I have to login to to approve the transfer, and they didn't tell me that. I had to dig back into my email archives from last november to find that little tidbit out.

Moral of the story, I'm switching registrars. I'm also thinking of getting an actual hosting plan with them instead of bumming off of one cool smart guy. This would be if I put up a site on threeplanetssoftware.com... which once I have time I'll come up with.

This post is for anyone who uses Linux or wants to learn about it. A long time ago I started a page: "The Infinite Linux Desktop". Its purpose is to show how unique Linux desktops can be. Be it from using a different windows manager, to changing the theme of your windows, to running just a command line there's (not uite) infinite possibilities!

Because I'm dedicated to helping others learn more about Linux, I'm asking for any screenshots of your desktop you may want to submit. In addition to posting your picture on that page, I'll put up your name (or handle), website, and what you're running. of course, you can opt out of that information if you want. I ask that all pictures include (in the email, or however you get it to me) your Distro and kernel, if possible. I'm trying to show diversity, so that's kind of important. Basically just look at the existing pictures and you'll know waht to do.

If nothing else, send me the picture and get free advertising for your site!

Hopefully, later on, I'll do another post about some cool feature of linux. For now, however, you'll have to live with these cool pictures.

Well... it was 19 days and 10 hours in the making, but Segfault (my Dwarf Rogua in World of Warcraft) finally hit 60 this evening. (Note: That profile isn't finished yet... just added it tonight so I can show off).

You can see the screenshot of it here.

In other news, I've got a fun little spider that has fun with social networking websites... let the games begin.

Oh, and I've added Google Adsense to this site. Its on the side bar under 'Affiliates'. Right now I haven't been spidered to search for words to trigger off of yet (1 am on Sept. 20th) so it's just a blank box very slightly differently colored than the background. I'd kind of like to see what happens with it.

Well, here's a bunch of random ideas strung together in an update on my life so far this year. For those keeping track I'm into my thirs year of college, and credit-wise am a senior.

First off, I changed my layout back to what it was when I started the blog. Mainly because that other one I used had some quirks to it I didn't like. I hope to come up with a new one somewhat soon as well as adding a domain (Note, domain is empty as of right now not even a server for it) that I've always wanted which *just* became available.

Really busy this semester with research. Have an indepent research class with a professor I absolutely love. The guy's pretty smart when it comes to security, systems, and computer science in general. I'm in another of his courses and have to do a project (thankfully related) for that class as well. On top of that there's some ideas I want to flesh out on my own that could lead to papers. Finally, ya'll know I program for fun as well, and I barely have time for that. Hence, this blog is gonna be sorely ignored for most of the semester.

My love for Arabic is finally starting to take a back seat to security issues, so I might be able to finally make a decision about where I want my life to head. However, as with all things in my life that decision's going to be quite complicated and will not end with a definitive one or the other answer.

I may have an awesome opportunity for an internship in the spring. Don't want to say any more than that for fear of jinxing it, as I'm fairly certain I won't get it, but it'd be amazing if I did.

I'm always looking forward to entertaining so anyone interested in seeing the research I'm working on, or just coming for a college visit that can find me in real-life, make sure to drop me a line, this school is gorgeous in the fall.

Finally I'm being hit hard by spam posts. Most for porn, the others for cheap sex pills. Sorry for the misspelling... s3x p1lls. Akismet catches most of it (about 200 a week) but about 4 have been getting through a week, annoying.