Student database to attract hackers 17 Jun 2008 Okay, so while we’re bagging on Queensland, here’s a couple of articles (Ars Technica, ZDNet) on a proposed and apparently non-negotiable database of Queensland students, including their things like photos, career aspirations, off-campus activities, contact information, behavior records, attendance, and performance records. But don’t worry: the minister has declared that it won’t be hackable, and we all know how well politicians understand hacking, and how well hackers behave when politely asked. And of course no hackers might want to use that information for nefarious purposes neither. Do these people have no idea? For a start, when you set up a system, computer-based or not, that benefits only the administrators, it follows as night follows that bright part of the diurnal rotation it’s hard to sleep through that it will end up being abused, because there’s no motive for the administrators to ensure that it is accurate and secure. It’s databasing for the sake of it. A bit like freebasing, I think, only for public servants and politicians. Politics
Metaphysics On the need for grownups [Thoughts from Kansas] 6 Mar 2010 Josh Rosenau has a sermon on the perils of attacking those who think science and religion can coexist at On the need for grownups [at Thoughts from Kansas]. It’s a pretty damned good sermon. He points out that the claim that science and religion are incompatible is itself an untested,… Read More
Ecology and Biodiversity Miscellany 26 Jun 200818 Sep 2017 Barbara Forrest has an excellent analysis and background story on the introduction of the creationist bill in Louisiana, and the organisations supporting it, here at Talk2Reason. There’s a new phylogeny of birds out. See GrrllScientist’s post, and a full size tree here. Late edit See Bird Evolution – Problems with… Read More
Education How immigration restrictions are starting to hurt academic research 1 Nov 2009 Jorge Cham of PhD Comics was nearly deported from the UK recently. His story is most interesting, and somewhat scary: From here. Part one here. Who doesn’t believe that we allowed terrorism to win? Read More
Hmmm…sounds like deliberate HAXX0R bait. Just a bit of raw and wriggling data to pull those dangerous nerds out of the woodwork so they can be “detained” as “terrorists”. Martin
Of course, hackers being hackers, they’re not going to be deterred by an obvious lure. It’s just another opportunity to prove they’re smarter than the security programmers.
All this database needs is a huge flashing sign: HACK ME! HACK ME! HACK ME!!!!!! OTOH, I suppose a sign would be redundant. Just saying “hackproof” in the fine print is enough.
Could re-publishing ( they made it visible in the first place) the names and mobile phone numbers of the project officers responsible (!!??) for deploying the oneschool “managed operating environment” thoughout the state be considered to be poetic justice, giving them a taste of what they exposing the kids to, invasion of privacy? I say yes, so here they are: Milton Chalker 0427 625 537 Mark Boustead 0428 785 790 Lex Plant 0428 714 716 Greg Moulder 0419 170 163 Ian Rosenberg 0417 607 830 Elizabeth McGowan 0427 032 284 Rudy Schumann 0427 135 414 Jason Raaschou 0407 599 251 Paul McDonald 0409 347 006 Darren Howlett 0428 755 494 The names and mobile numbers of the district liason officers reponsible (!!??) for implementing the monster can be found at http://education.qld.gov.au/oneschool/district_liaison_officers.html Gee, they make it hard don’t they? Doesn’t it inspire confidence in them? Not. And if you want to see what the data records are actually like, mine’s contained in this document which the department has shown everyone: http://education.qld.gov.au/oneschool/docs/change_management/cm_bsm_support.pdf Cheers, Kirsty.
My god, is that your real data? That is appalling. I was going to anonymise the phone numbers you put up there but on reflection I think I will leave them there.
My god, is that your real data? That is appalling. I was going to anonymise the phone numbers you put up there but on reflection I think I will leave them there.
the only thing i don’t like about it is the fact that they have taken away the right click button, apart from everything else its fine