l0gic

Yep, not at all.

Suddenly I don't think I'm going to miss the Internet all that much.

I'm heading overseas soon for a lengthy stay (12+ months) with very limited Internet access. What connectivity I might have will be filtered heavily. I'll be taking my Dell D810 loaded with Gentoo Linux, and an external 1TB (2x500GB) hard disk filled with movies, music, etc. Of course, there's still plenty of room to add more data. A new 4GB thumbdrive will also be accompanying me on this trip. I've been wracking my brain trying to think of what else I should take, in terms of both equipment and data. Hardware isn't a big deal, since I'll be able to order anything I need online from Newegg or wherever. What would you take with you if you knew you wouldn't have Internet access for a year? What would might good to have setup on a dedicated server before you leave?

/me awaits the torrent of answers to such a blatant call for sarcasm

I first learned about VxWorks when I received training on NET's Promina multiplexers. Since then the only notable thing I can recall about VxWorks is Linksys switching to it from Linux on its ever-so-popular WRT54G model SOHO routers.

[ ] Mace Windu [ ] Obi-Wan Kenobi [X] Jack Bauer

Second

It is inevitable that each of us so consumed with technology will at some point become overwhelmed. In these instances we must take a moment to reflect on what originally inspired our passion. Firm grasp of the motivation which drives oneself is vital in sustaining our own interest. Perhaps it's not the particular technologies which excite us most, but rather their application as a whole. Given that technology progresses at an exponential rate, it is a near assurance that we should never exhaust our sources of inspiration. The key to preserving our excitement with the digital world around us is to never lose that sense of wonder and challenge which motivates every hacker; not in a technology itself, but rather in how it can be applied, manipulated, outsmarted, or improved. In other words, trust your technolust.

The most efficient (read: cheapest) way to do this is hide the server behind a NAT router (any SOHO router should work just fine) and forward only the ports you want to be accessible publically.

l0gic.net has been on http://fuitadnet.com for some time now. I've had very few problems with them, and what issues I did encounter were menial and quickly remedied by one of their techs in their 24/7 IRC channel (very convenient). Apparently they now even offer VPS, a good stepping stone between shared hosting and dedicated.

Maybe Hak5 should consider a new provider... *cough*

Anyone else have problems getting on irc.hak5.org? Resolves to 208.98.24.4 for me, connection times out.

What, specifically, doesn't work? Does DNS (if used) fail to resolve? Is the connection to your server timing out, or is it being refused? Fire up a sniffer if you're not sure. Also, does your school enforce the use of a proxy to reach the outside world?

Aye, public key authentication kicks ass. It may seem daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it it's extremely simple and convenient.

What? No TEMPEST-standard Faraday lining or emission-absorbing paint? And you call yourself paranoid... :P You're absolutely right. Unfortunately, law is always several years behind technology. The gap doesn't appear to be closing at all, and with people like Ted Stevens drafting legislation it never will.

Your analogies miscontrue the argument. Internet service is not a consumable as you describe it; you have to send packets to get packets. By injecting *any* traffic into a network you don't own or have lawful access to, you are intruding on another party's infrastructure. It is illegal trespass, invasion of privacy, and degredation of service. Broadcast television is a free, unidirectional service clearly advertised and intended to be utilized; this comparison has no relevance here whatsoever.

It's theft of service, plain and simple. How would you feel if someone were sitting outside using *your* wireless connection? And "but I encrypt mine" is not a relevant argument, sorry. So what if they're just checking their mail? So what if they're just downloading music? So what if they're just recording your traffic? So what if they're just launching a botnet? So what if they're just posting child porn to usenet?

That's the nature of a broadcast medium. Assuming you have a wireless adapter configured to listen promiscuously on the correct channel, you can receive all traffic traversing the WLAN without so much as associating to an access point.

First off, don't expect to make much money with such a shitty work ethic. Employers look for mature kids with good integrity and motivation. Second, check around with your municipal government (schools, city offices, etc) for work. Gov't minimum wage isn't much but it's a good way to stay out of McDonald's, and they'll usually hire young. You may even be lucky enough to get a job around your school.

unless its a decent router, which probably its not. I've got HTTPS enabled on the web interface to my little Linksys, though I think it defaults to plain HTTP.

Implementing a MAC-based ACL on a wireless AP is akin to locking your car with the windows rolled down.

If for any reason, you are not 100% satisified with an episode of Hak.5, I will personally refund the entire purchase price up to its current MSRP of $0.00. I'll even throw in a swift kick in the nuts, completely free of charge. These guys (and gals) work damned hard to produce original content. God forbid you be exposed to a little variety.

Yeah, that's bonding versus load balncing, respectively. When in doubt, call your ISP and ask if they offer bonded connections (almost certain to be business class).

I had the great fortune in being able to participate in a vocational program my junior and senior years. It consisted of spending half the day at a technical college across town, attending the online Cisco networking academy and playing with the pretty decent lab setup. I owe that school a lot for first introducing me to enterprise networking, and my first CCNA certification.