[LINK] Attacks on crucial systems

Karl Auer kauer at biplane.com.au
Tue May 1 09:00:48 AEST 2012


On Mon, 2012-04-30 at 19:02 +0000, stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:
> But hyper-speed signalling is only as good as its threat sensors.
> [...]
> "We detect changes in the sequence of code the program runs, ones often 
> introduced by malicious programs," Reeves says. "We can also verify the 
> operating system code to see if it has been modified by malware."

"Fred, these cars are too damn fast. They keep running into things!"

"Well, Nigel, we have developed a new system that will allow things to
leap out of the way! We call it 'hyper speed signalling'. The system
sends a signal out in front of the car, travelling much faster than the
car. Upon hearing this signal, things that might otherwise suffer impact
can leap out of the way! Unfortunately the hyper speed signalling device
only works on mobile things like people and dogs, and then only if they
can hear it. And recognise it. Oh, and only if the driver realises the
car is about to hit something and activates the signal in time. And only
if that happens soon enough for the impending target to react."

"Geez, Fred, that sounds like it wouldn't actually be very useful."

"True, Nigel, true. But! We have developed two seriously cool ancillary
systems which, in conjunction with the hyperspeed signalling device,
should provide the edge it needs to be effective. The first ancillary
system is called Brakes, and - get this - it *slows the car down*! This
provides the driver with more time to take evasive action and provides
the impending target with more time to react to the hyper speed
signalling. In the case of stationary objects, the Brakes can even bring
the car to a complete halt if necessary. And, depending on when the
system is deployed, it can reduce the severity of an impact if an impact
does occur! A second ancillary system we have developed is called
Education. It doesn't work with inanimate objects, and has been only
partly successful with animals, but in essence we teach people how to
avoid impacts with cars, by being aware of traffic around them and
taking certain other simple precautions. Our research shows that
Education plus Brakes plus the hyper speed signalling is very
effective."

"That sounds very cool indeed, Fred! But it occurs to me that you don't
really need the hyper speed signalling device, then. Not if you have
Brakes and Education."

"Oh..."


-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Karl Auer (kauer at biplane.com.au)
http://www.biplane.com.au/kauer

GPG fingerprint: AE1D 4868 6420 AD9A A698 5251 1699 7B78 4EEE 6017
Old fingerprint: DA41 51B1 1481 16E1 F7E2 B2E9 3007 14ED 5736 F687
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