• 10 Posts
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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: June 20th, 2023

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  • The main risk on company laptops is confidential data on the machine itself or any access the machine has to internal resources, so most locks are designed to be hard agaist that. The device itself tends to have more “bypassable” protection.

    By which I mean: If the machine is locked down, it’s usually possible to clear and reset the lock somehow as long as you’re fine losing the data on it.

    The specifics vary, but try looking up the model and instructions for resetting and wiping the BIOS/UEFI and see if that has any hurdles.










  • Desktop computer: Installing a keylogger, for example, is cheap and require skills like “can purchase a cheap and simple technical part” and “can plug in a USB”, which are skills you can assume a CS student will possess.

    Laptop: Same, but have to open the laptop and install a less standard straightforward loggrr on the internal cable. This require more effort and patience.

    Phone: I have no idea, and I am a computer scientist who spends time thinking about this. I mean, all phones can be opened with corresponding equipment, and the touch screen is connected to the internal computer with a cable, but they differ in details per model and the space to work with is tiny. The research investment is significant and model dependent. Meaning, the effort cost is quite high and they’d need extremely strong motivation.




  • During the invasion of Berlin in 1945, the overwhelmed German command trying to map out the Russian advance had to resort to just calling businesses or homes of people living in areas they were uncertain about.

    If most people in a district did not pick up the phone, or someone did pick up and swore in Russian, they marked it on the map as invaded.

    Different worlds of course, but the point is that civilian phones have intelligence value.

    It could make sense as a super creepy tactical choice by Iran to deny intelligence gathering from abroad.


  • I feel that this article is based on beliefs that are optimism rather than empiricism or rational extrapolation, and trains of thought driven way into highly simplified territory.

    Basically like the Lesswrong, self-proclaimed “longtermists” and Zizians crowds.

    Illustrative example: Categorizing nannies under “human touch strongly preferred - perhaps as a luxury”. This assumes automation is not only possible to a degree way beyond what we see signs of, but that the service itself isn’t inherently human.