Older Folks and Vaping Front Porch - Part Four

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clnire

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Yes, there is ransomware designed for smart TVs now.

And it's funny that this topic was mentioned. I was thinking about this the other day on how could I infect programmable mods to do the unthinkable as soon as the person pressed the fire button. One of my jobs when I was active duty was security (including anti-terrorism). It was fun dreaming up ways to create mayhem, and then draft/implement procedures to mitigate those threats.

In the case of programmable mods, depending on what the chipset controlled, I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to design malware to cause the mod to go "thermal" at the press of the fire button. And as most vapers are trusting of other vapers, one could easily go around posting a file that some would install in a heart beat. Hell, if I wanted to go whole hog, I'd break into the manufacturer's system and plant the infected file there for maximum effect.

Something to think about when you're eyeing that new shiny.

Funny you should mention this. I am currently reading a book (actually I think it is #13) my brother wrote called "SyberKombat". The main characters are gaming programmers who are kind of vigilantes. Without going into character details, the main story line in this one is some men who write a Cloud based computer game, SyberKombat, which, when downloaded, installs an invisible DLL code packet that turns the computer into a bot on a big cyber network. When someone plays the game and they want to, for instance, blow up a train, it happens in real life. Very simple description, but hopefully you get the idea. Power plants, defense systems, all vital computerized systems with internet access to the Cloud are vulnerable.

Thing is, it's based on fact. So many computer security networks are so vulnerable to a skilled hacker it's almost scary. This book is pure fiction, but ya never know.
 

2legsshrt

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@Myrany have you tried your K5 yet??
Well, yer retired. That meenz itz illegal to come downstairs in da morning. U dint reed da retirement manual? You could be brought up on charges!
Just sayin...
Is that the Manual for the recently Deceased from Beetlejuice.
 

garyoa1

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DaveP

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Some fun Sunday reading for y'all.

FLocker Mobile Ransomware Crosses to Smart TV - TrendLabs Security Intelligence Blog

And before you start laughing at the actual ransom, bear in mind that there are sites that specialize in the redemption of gift cards for cash. Some actually pay out rather well.

That looks like a C app. C is everywhere. I guess we'll be buying malware scanners for our smart TV devices now.

I guess my old 2004 Mitsubishi 65" rear projection dumb TV is safe for now (we have four 32" Insignia LCD/LED tvs in various places). I said years ago that when the behemoth Mitsubishi TV quits I want a flat screen 70" smart TV to save space. Maybe now I'm wishing it would last a while longer until all TVs can run malware and virus scanners. ;)
 

retired1

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Or just get a television that doesn't hook up to the Internet. IoT is going to be a huge, HUGE pain.

And if the bad guys weren't enough....................

The NSA wants to spy on the Internet of Things

Those mech mods are looking better and better, ain't they? :lol:
 

DaveP

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Or just get a television that doesn't hook up to the Internet. IoT is going to be a huge, HUGE pain.

And if the bad guys weren't enough....................

The NSA wants to spy on the Internet of Things

Those mech mods are looking better and better, ain't they? :lol:

Netflix and Amazon Prime have become our streams of choice when there's "nothing on". When I was a kid and there was nothing on, I'd go outside and find something else to do.

Now, they might find out that my fancy USB capable mod reported that I took 500 puffs and then threaten to tell my health insurance company.

Anyone watch the Good Wife series with the NSA paying a bunch of 20 something year old hackers to sit and sample data from the law firm's digital devices? I though that was a stretch, but 1984 isn't yet fully implemented.
 
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retired1

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Now, they might find out that my fancy USB capable mod reported that I took 500 puffs and then threaten to tell my health insurance company.

Or worse. It reports back that you're pushing your batteries beyond acceptable limits and it reports you for unsafe behavior, resulting in your insurance company dropping you like a hot potato.
 

Iffy

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Speakin' of cyber 'spyin', ain't no way I'm gonna get an 'icebox' dat monitors my consumption and creates a 'green' shoppin' list my governmental med coverage could use as leverage 'gainst moi!

BTW, cash IS king ('currently') and relatively untraceable (at dis time). CCs are more vulnerable fer data diggin' dan most folk realize.

Dis discussion leads me to ask 'bout da deeming, will PV software upgrades be subject to restrictions?

Just 'cause I may be paranoid doesn't mean I'm wrong... especially if I'm prepped! Besides, it's a win/win regardless...
BigGrin-1.gif
 

clnire

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Speakin' of cyber 'spyin', ain't no way I'm gonna get an 'icebox' dat monitors my consumption and creates a 'green' shoppin' list my governmental med coverage could use as leverage 'gainst moi!

BTW, cash IS king ('currently') and relatively untraceable (at dis time). CCs are more vulnerable fer data diggin' dan most folk realize.

Dis discussion leads me to ask 'bout da deeming, will PV software upgrades be subject to restrictions?

Just 'cause I may be paranoid doesn't mean I'm wrong... especially if I'm prepped! Besides, it's a win/win regardless...
BigGrin-1.gif

From what I understand it is a grey area so far. You can't upgrade or modify in any way, so I think that includes software updates, but to swap a broken part for a new of the same thing? Not sure.
 

Kenna

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From what I understand it is a grey area so far. You can't upgrade or modify in any way, so I think that includes software updates, but to swap a broken part for a new of the same thing? Not sure.
I don't own anything that has firmware or has to be plugged into my computer. Nope!

Sent from my LG-V700 using Tapatalk
 

Kenna

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Speakin' of cyber 'spyin', ain't no way I'm gonna get an 'icebox' dat monitors my consumption and creates a 'green' shoppin' list my governmental med coverage could use as leverage 'gainst moi!

BTW, cash IS king ('currently') and relatively untraceable (at dis time). CCs are more vulnerable fer data diggin' dan most folk realize.

Dis discussion leads me to ask 'bout da deeming, will PV software upgrades be subject to restrictions?

Just 'cause I may be paranoid doesn't mean I'm wrong... especially if I'm prepped! Besides, it's a win/win regardless...
BigGrin-1.gif

Yep!
Yep!
Prolly!
Yep! [emoji41]

Sent from my LG-V700 using Tapatalk
 

Semiretired

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From what I understand it is a grey area so far. You can't upgrade or modify in any way, so I think that includes software updates, but to swap a broken part for a new of the same thing? Not sure.

Naw, the FDA will develop an update that will shut them all down... :):w00t::lol:
 

Semiretired

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Speakin' of cyber 'spyin', ain't no way I'm gonna get an 'icebox' dat monitors my consumption and creates a 'green' shoppin' list my governmental med coverage could use as leverage 'gainst moi!

I want so much to add a comment to this, but I just can't... :yawn:
 
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