On Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:56:46 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

On 8/4/2010 11:00 AM, Registered User wrote:

Nope, try an external hardware device which acts as a security key for
a specific piece of software.


A major CAD (computer assisted drafting) software company made that a
popular term for its' copy protection. Anyone coming though an industry
heavily dependent on such, and working is such a department, would
certainly share your view.

After VAX boxes and other minicomputers appeared, many types of
commercial productivity applications besides CAD tool relied on
dongles as security devices. As computers moved to the desktop this
did not change. There was even a C-64 accounting application that
required a dongle. It was primitive but effective security.

This is much the same as the term "Computer
Hacker"--used to denote one who is tops in their field; This term was
usurped by the news and now in joe-blow-six-packs minds is associated
with computer criminal. Their error.

Not quite. Journalism isn't the only field where hack writers can be
found. Quick and dirty code is often referred to by the author as a
being a quick hack. It's an acknowledgement that the code is not
particularly elegant or robust, just a temporary solution to resolve
an issue or answer a question.

If a computer professional describes them self as a hacker today
(without using the word hat), it's an admission their skills and
training could be better. Calling any computer professional a hack is
a insult.

The term was coined back in the early 70's
Nope, wrong decade.


It was coined before CAD existed.

Given CAD software has been around for almost fifty years, it appears
you're disagreeing with yourself WRT computer dongles.

and used to be applied to differing externals plugged in to differing ports of a computer.
I guess you learn something new everyday.

Apparently not you as you profess to have all the answers already.

I don't profess any such thing, you do.

I'm not the one who wrote

- quote -

It is time to end the stone age of electronics!

- end quote -

and then offered USB devices as the path to enlightenment.

On 8/4/2010 3:30 PM, Registered User wrote:


Not quite. Journalism isn't the only field where hack writers can be
found. Quick and dirty code is often referred to by the author as a
being a quick hack. It's an acknowledgement that the code is not
particularly elegant or robust, just a temporary solution to resolve
an issue or answer a question.

If a computer professional describes them self as a hacker today
(without using the word hat), it's an admission their skills and
training could be better. Calling any computer professional a hack is
a insult.


Absolutely could not disagree with you more. I do all computer
languages (Assembly, Cobol, Snobal, BASIC, C/C++, Pascal, etc., etc.),
but prefer assembly and C/C++. Only hackers (doctorates) work within my
circle. We all enjoy being called hackers, we worked hard to win that
title. Anyone in disagreement works for some corporation practicing
security though obscurity, i.e. part of the security are dumb-ed down
software engineers. Or, is a member of the joe-blow-six-pack club which
watches the 11 P.M. news.

Given CAD software has been around for almost fifty years, it appears
you're disagreeing with yourself WRT computer dongles.


Let me cut to the chase, there are four types of dongles, in the context
we are discussing. One will plug into a computer port, the other is in
my pants, the third type is obsolete, the forth is walking around with
similar characteristics to the one in my pants. ROFLOL!

I'm not the one who wrote

- quote -

It is time to end the stone age of electronics!

- end quote -

and then offered USB devices as the path to enlightenment.

I did no such thing. Make a computer a cell phone ... or any damn other
thing you wish. USB dongles are the quickest/cheapest route.

It takes too much time to keep correcting your errors in text, thinking,
etc. Go play with someone else not ...

Regards,
JS

John Smith wrote:

Absolutely could not disagree with you more. I do all computer
languages (Assembly, Cobol, Snobal, BASIC, C/C++, Pascal, etc., etc.),
but prefer assembly and C/C++. Only hackers (doctorates) work within my
circle. We all enjoy being called hackers, we worked hard to win that
title. Anyone in disagreement works for some corporation practicing
security though obscurity, i.e. part of the security are dumb-ed down
software engineers. Or, is a member of the joe-blow-six-pack club which
watches the 11 P.M. news.


And yet you come down to grace us lowlife with your wisdom, looking for
all the world like an anonymous Troll. You don't get the recognition you
deserve, John.

How come you're not using your superior skills to implement this system?

- Mike -

On Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:39:53 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

On 8/4/2010 3:30 PM, Registered User wrote:


Not quite. Journalism isn't the only field where hack writers can be
found. Quick and dirty code is often referred to by the author as a
being a quick hack. It's an acknowledgement that the code is not
particularly elegant or robust, just a temporary solution to resolve
an issue or answer a question.

If a computer professional describes them self as a hacker today
(without using the word hat), it's an admission their skills and
training could be better. Calling any computer professional a hack is
a insult.


Absolutely could not disagree with you more. I do all computer
languages (Assembly, Cobol, Snobal, BASIC, C/C++, Pascal, etc., etc.),
but prefer assembly and C/C++.

You "do" all languages huh? Maybe I should be impressed but I'm not.
Reeling off a list of programming languages (with one mis-spelled)
says little about depth of knowledge and corresponding skillsets. The
list does suggest most if not all of what you do involves procedural
programming.

Only hackers (doctorates) work within my
circle. We all enjoy being called hackers, we worked hard to win that
title. Anyone in disagreement works for some corporation practicing
security though obscurity, i.e. part of the security are dumb-ed down
software engineers. Or, is a member of the joe-blow-six-pack club which
watches the 11 P.M. news.

Once again you make grand assumptions, your little circle is correct
and everyone else is wrong, wrong, wrong. AFA working with a bunch of
doctorates, what should be inferred? Both the top and bottom of a
graduating class get the same piece of paper. All the document means
is the course of study has been successfully completed, nothing more.

Given CAD software has been around for almost fifty years, it appears
you're disagreeing with yourself WRT computer dongles.


Let me cut to the chase, there are four types of dongles, in the context
we are discussing. One will plug into a computer port, the other is in
my pants, the third type is obsolete, the forth is walking around with
similar characteristics to the one in my pants. ROFLOL!


It's good you're able to keep yourself amused.

I'm not the one who wrote

- quote -

It is time to end the stone age of electronics!

- end quote -

and then offered USB devices as the path to enlightenment.

I did no such thing.

Funny thing, the written record appears to disagree.

Make a computer a cell phone ... or any damn other
thing you wish. USB dongles are the quickest/cheapest route.

Re-read what you've written previously and consider the differences
between the "is a" and "has a" relationships.

It takes too much time to keep correcting your errors in text, thinking,
etc. Go play with someone else not ...


Like where I wrote the term dongle was coined in the early seventies
and existed before CAD applications? Oh wait you wrote that and I
pointed out that the generally-acknowledged first CAD application was
produced in the early sixties.

I'll give up and will concede that you are indeed a hack programmer.
Wear the title well.