1. Keystroke timing obfuscation added to ssh(1)
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
The article discusses the recent addition of keystroke timing obfuscation support to the SSH protocol in OpenBSD. This security measure is seen as an example of security through trickery and is expected to be available in other systems soon. The addition of this feature is seen as a practical security solution.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses the importance of keystroke timing in terminal input/output (I/O) for security purposes. The use of buffered I/O for password entry is highlighted as a crucial security feature. This means that nothing is sent to the other end until the user presses the return key, making it difficult for a Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attacker to intercept the password. However, there were instances in the past where applications accepted passwords in an unbuffered mode, allowing for characters to be echoed as the user typed them. While this feature gave users feedback, it inadvertently leaked keystroke timing information. The article concludes by expressing the continued relevance of buffered I/O for password entry and acknowledging the value of ssh in protecting content that cannot be buffered, such as shell and editor input.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions a similarity between a certain situation and professional Bridge. In professional Bridge, the teams are divided by a wall and they pass their cards through a window simultaneously to prevent communication based on timing. A link to a YouTube video is provided.
2. Abandoned and little-known airfields
Total comment counts : 30
Summary
The article is a website dedicated to providing information and images of abandoned and little-known airfields in the United States. The author, a pilot, has a particular interest in these airfields due to their potential safety value and fascinating history. The website contains descriptions and images of over 2,700 airfields across all 50 states. The author also requests financial contributions to support the site’s growth and operation. The site has been on the web since 1999 and has had over two million visitors.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the presence of historic airfields in the UK, many of which were built during World War II. When these airfields are redeveloped for housing, the streets are often named after old aircraft. The author shares their experience of working at a Plessey site, which was built on an old airfield near Christchurch, UK. They mention that the street names in the housing estate include Brabazon, Halifax, De Havilland, The Runway, Sunderland, Catalina, and Comet. The author also recounts a humorous incident where a team of senior Germans visiting the site presented the management with a book of World War II Luftwaffe photo-reconnaissance imagery, jokingly saying that they didn’t get them then, but they’ve got them now.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in the 1960s and their unique approach to transportation for their employees. DEC, based in Maynard, Massachusetts, was expanding at a rapid pace but struggled to find office space nearby. As a solution, they purchased additional campuses around Boston and established their own helicopter service to transport employees between locations. This approach was not limited to executives but extended to all employees, emphasizing the company’s egalitarian policy. In fact, DEC had state-of-the-art video-conferencing facilities that were rarely used because employees found it more appealing to travel by helicopter.
3. Grave flaws in BGP Error handling
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
The article discusses the flaws and vulnerabilities in the software that implements Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), which is responsible for directing routing decisions between different ISP networks. It highlights a specific BGP bug that can propagate and cause disruptions in network communication. The bug involves a corrupted attribute in a BGP route that, when encountered by certain routers, triggers an error and shuts down the BGP session, disrupting network connectivity. The article also mentions the existence of other BGP vulnerabilities in different router implementations. The author conducted testing using a fuzzer to identify attributes that could cause session resets, and discovered numerous exploitable attributes in vendors’ BGP implementations. The response from vendors to address these vulnerabilities was generally considered disappointing, with some vendors refusing to fix the issues or providing inadequate mitigation strategies. The article concludes by questioning the effectiveness of responsible disclosure and the state of networking vendors in addressing security flaws.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses an incident where a team of researchers identified a flaw in BGP software by using a feature attribute flag. However, instead of being grateful for uncovering the flaw, the BGP community responded negatively and asked the researchers to stop their experiment. This incident highlights the unhealthy relationship between the BGP community and the quality of their software as well as the work of security researchers.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights that most of the fundamental aspects of the internet do not adhere to the robustness principle. This may provide some reassurance as it ensures support contracts and keeps network engineers busy with constant on-call alerts.
4. Alexandria: A minimalistic cross-platform eBook reader
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
The article discusses a minimalistic cross-platform eBook reader that was built using Tauri, Epub.js, and Typescript. It mentions the tools and libraries used in the development process, such as Git, SVN, and GitHub Desktop. It also provides information about the current status of the project and the versions of the software used. The article highlights the sources of inspiration and support for the project, including the johnfactotum/foliate project, code snippets, and support for FictionBook and Comicbook formats provided by futurepress/epub.js and Kindle format support from bfabiszewski/libmobi.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses a desire for a service similar to Plex, but for ebooks. They want a platform where they can upload epubs to a server and easily read them on various devices such as a Kobo ereader, iPhone, web, or Mac/Windows. They also mention the need for reliable stats tracking and a feature similar to Anki for reviewing words looked up while reading. The author acknowledges that there have been some attempts at such a service, but none have achieved seamless ereader support or satisfactory UI design. The author has been waiting for a decade for a service like this, but believes there is currently not enough demand for it.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s experience with various epub readers on a Linux laptop. They found that many of these readers were unsatisfactory, either crashing when opening certain epub files or being slow and unresponsive. They mention trying out different readers such as “Foliate,” which inspired the development of a new project called “Alexandria,” and the Calibre reader which lacked important features. The author also tried a Firefox plugin but found its workflow impractical. They have since purchased an e-ink device and now primarily use Koreader, which they find perfect for their Kobo device and suitable for computer use.
5. SEC charges Impact Theory for unregistered offering of NFTs
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Impact Theory, LLC, a media and entertainment company based in Los Angeles, with conducting an unregistered offering of crypto assets in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Impact Theory raised around $30 million from hundreds of investors through the offering. The SEC’s order states that Impact Theory offered and sold three tiers of NFTs called “Founder’s Keys,” claiming that investors would profit from their purchases if the company was successful. The SEC found that the NFTs offered were investment contracts and thus securities, which violated federal securities laws. Impact Theory has agreed to a cease-and-desist order and will pay over $6.1 million in disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty. The company will also establish a Fair Fund to return money to injured investors and destroy all Founder’s Keys in its possession.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) were originally created to bypass regulations surrounding securities offerings by claiming to be “digital artworks.” However, the article mentions that some NFTs, like the one being discussed, were clearly marketed as a way to make money fast, which falls under the definition of a security according to the Securities Act of 1934. The article points out that regardless of the contract terms, if an item is marketed, bought, sold, and held as a means of making money, it is considered a security. The author suggests that this form of financial scamming has been occurring even before the establishment of the Securities Act.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights the importance of bipartisan dissent in the view of digital assets. It praises Commissioner Mark T Uyeda for being a Democrat and sharing dissimilar views with Hester Pierce, a Republican who supports digital assets. The author suggests that people who do not support digital assets may need to align with a Republican presidential candidate to get their preferred appointments. The article argues that it is insufficient for regulators to simply dislike digital assets; they must establish jurisdiction and provide clear guidelines for the industry. The author also mentions that enforcement actions are not routinely taken against sellers of other tangible items, so there should either be a comprehensive crackdown on all such products or a clear distinction made for crypto asset creators to act solely as consumer products.
6. Loose lips save sunken ships
Total comment counts : 6
Summary
The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Boston is a popular fishing spot and a route for whale migration. However, it is also home to around 200 shipwrecks that hold cultural and historical significance. The area is frequently dredged by commercial fishing vessels, including during the scallop season, which can have a devastating impact on the wrecks. Concerned about this damage, the sanctuary decided to change its approach and work with fishermen by releasing the coordinates of some wrecks and implementing a geofence system to warn them to keep their gear away. A collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was also initiated to survey and document the wrecks. The goal is to protect these underwater cultural heritage sites and create richer habitats for marine life. Although there have been challenges, the sanctuary remains optimistic about the progress being made in protecting the shipwrecks.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the policy of keeping coordinates of wrecks hidden to prevent looting. This is considered a reasonable policy since looters can cause further damage to marine environments by harvesting valuable materials such as copper, bronze, low-background steels, and memorabilia from wrecks.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the issue of fishing nets becoming a significant source of microplastics in the ocean. Despite the potential dangers and costs involved, some captains are willing to take the risk. The article suggests that legislation at a society level is challenging due to international zone laws and enforcement difficulties. At a personal level, individuals can make a small but impactful change by choosing to stop consuming fish. Additionally, the article provides a link to a scientific study on the topic for further information.
7. The sudden demise of Indian vultures killed thousands of people
Total comment counts : 16
Summary
The near-extinction of Indian vultures in the 1990s had a negative impact on human health, causing a rise in the mortality rate. Vultures play a crucial role as nature’s sanitation service, consuming rotting livestock carcasses and destroying germs with their strongly acidic digestive tracts. However, the vultures’ population declined by over 90% due to the use of diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug given to cattle that proved harmful to the birds. Without vultures, carcasses attracted feral dogs and rats, spreading diseases and pathogens to humans through drinking water. A study estimates that the loss of vultures caused 500,000 additional human deaths between 2000 and 2005. The conservation of “keystone species” like vultures should be a priority, as they play a vital role in ecosystems.
Top 1 Comment Summary
I’m sorry, but I am unable to directly access or summarize content from specific URLs or websites. However, if you could provide me with the text of the article or the main points you would like me to summarize, I would be happy to help.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author recalls seeing vultures on their grandparents’ terrace in New Delhi during the 1990s. However, they later noticed that the vultures had disappeared and eventually learned that it was due to the use of Diclofenac, a medication harmful to vultures.
8. Accessible Palette: stop using HSL for color systems (2021)
Total comment counts : 26
Summary
The article discusses the author’s mission to reconstruct a color system in Postmark to address problems with their design system. The old color palette had inconsistent perceived lightness and unpredictable contrast ratios. The author explains that the problems are due to the inherent faults in the HSL color model and the lack of support for better alternatives in design tools. They introduce the CIELAB or Lab* color space as a better alternative that closely matches human perception. The article also mentions the limitations of the sRGB gamut and the lack of widespread adoption of the CIELAB color space in design tools. The author then introduces the Accessible Palette app, which is a tool for building color systems with consistent lightness and predictable contrast ratios. The app utilizes the Advanced Perceptual Contrast Algorithm (APCA) to calculate contrast ratios. The article concludes by highlighting the benefits of using the Accessible Palette app to create consistent and accessible color palettes.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the brightness and saturation of red, blue, and green colors in ordinary display and print systems. It mentions that saturated reds and blues are usually darker than greens. The formula “Grayscale = 0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B” is commonly quoted for calculating grayscale values (possibly for sRGB color space). The article suggests that while contrast rules can make color choices accessible, they may not always make them look good. It also mentions that saturated screen greens are not as saturated as they could be, but are more saturated than most real-life greens. The author provides an example of how trees and grass look great in stereograms because they contain a lot of red, which balances the channels for good stereo and color effects.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentioned is a lengthy read that provides information on the topic being discussed. It is recommended to set aside a significant amount of time to go through it. The person referring to the article also mentions using some ideas from it in a project related to ClickHouse for color coding logs.
9. Visualization of Common Algorithms (2014)
Total comment counts : 6
Summary
The article discusses the VisuAlgo project, which is a self-paced, interactive learning platform for data structures and algorithms. It has been funded by Optiver for 2023-2024 and is now open for registration to computer science students and teachers worldwide. The platform offers various features, including the ability to visualize algorithms, use custom inputs, and compare related algorithms or data structure operations. It also has a mobile-friendly version and an online quiz system for testing knowledge. The project is ongoing and continuously being developed with new visualizations and improvements. The article also mentions the team behind the project and provides acknowledgments and references. Lastly, it discusses the use of VisuAlgo accounts and its privacy policy.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article provides links to two visualization pages related to algorithms. The first link is to a webpage hosted by the University of San Francisco, and the second link is to a webpage hosted by Mike Bostock.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses suffix arrays but fails to mention the Burrows-Wheeler Transform (BWT), which is closely related to the topic.
10. Elixir saves Pinterest $2M a year in server costs
Total comment counts : 57
Summary
The article discusses the benefits of using the Elixir programming language in businesses. Elixir is described as a dynamic, functional language that is scalable and maintainable. Examples are given of companies such as Pinterest and Bleacher Report that have experienced significant cost savings and improved performance by adopting Elixir. The article highlights how Elixir’s combination of friendly syntax, powerful metaprogramming features, and incorporation of the Actor model make it easy for programmers to understand and utilize. Additionally, Elixir is built on the Erlang platform, which is designed for concurrent software that must stay online, making it suitable for applications in various industries. The article concludes by mentioning Paraxial.io, a company that offers security services for Elixir and Phoenix applications.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how Pinterest was able to significantly reduce server costs by switching from Python and Java to Elixir. By converting certain parts of their system to Elixir, they were able to decrease the number of servers running by around 95%, ultimately saving over $2 million per year in server costs. Despite running on significantly less hardware, the performance and reliability of the systems improved.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article ponders whether a significant portion of the website’s traffic is comprised of frustrated individuals who have landed on the site unintentionally. It suggests that implementing a “robots.txt” file to prevent search engine indexing could lead to greater savings, potentially more than $2 million.