The Internet Kill Switch

[tim-from-pa]

People were worried that Obama wanted a way to "kill the Internet" in the event of a national emergency, thus limiting free communication and speech. There's no need to worry about that. Not directly from Obama, anyway. Microsoft will do it for you. Now I hear windows 8 has a kill switch in in, so Ballmer can comfortably sit back in an easy chair so-to-speak, flip a "switch" and render everyone's Microsoft computer useless while bewildered PC users just blankly stare at an unresponsive computer screen.

This actually is nothing new. This is the reason the OS always got viruses --- it was out of design to have back doors for control in which the virus writers just take advantage of. So if you think you have control of your PC, think again. You paid for it, it's in your house, but it's NOT yours. Not by a long shot. It's theirs, and everything you do on it and have on it is theirs.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400985,00.asp

 

[The Unbeliever]

Soylent Green is people!

 

[Nick]

Well I had NO idea this was coming!

I've been here three and a half years and I never tire of your anti-Microsoft posts, Tim :D In fact I'm increasingly liking them, because I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I've tried a few linux distros and they're not for me. But at uni I've had the opportunity to try some Mac OS's - the (now second new) MacBook Pro and an iMac Mountain Lion on a VM. I'm liking what I'm experiencing, and when I get the money together I'm going to try getting a MacBook Pro.

About the kill switch.....I'm not really surprised. It just makes so much sense :gah

 

[AirDancer]

Even if you have a Mac..... the current president signed an executive order to take over communications lines, including internet, in the event of a major national security situation. This was something that he said he wanted to achieve ... but since Congress wouldn't allow it, it didn't pass thru the House & Senate.

Which is one reason why there are more HAM radio operators today than there was a year ago. So be sure to know at least one HAMmer nearby....it just might come in convenient at some point in time

 

[tim-from-pa]

Even if you have a Mac..... the current president signed an executive order to take over communications lines, including internet, in the event of a major national security situation. This was something that he said he wanted to achieve ... but since Congress wouldn't allow it, it didn't pass thru the House & Senate.

Which is one reason why there are more HAM radio operators today than there was a year ago. So be sure to know at least one HAMmer nearby....it just might come in convenient at some point in time

I agree, Airdancer. As an electronic technician, I don't want to minimize the importanance of old-fashioned radio communication, and before computers I took an interest in it.

I have nothing to say bad about Mac's, at least from a virus perspective as it is a tried and true OS (albeit an expensive one) but it's a good one. But alas it is also a commercial one like Microsoft, so it, too, can be "bought out" with a kill application.

However, at this juncture I see Microsoft conforming more to "establishmentarianism" principles that the vast majority of the people, including so-called "born-again' Christians, conform to in the masses.

I may sound like an old, paranoid man, but I'm trying to wake up people from their mindless stupor and conformism.

 

[AirDancer]

Most likely in the early part of next year, I'll have to replace my computer. So I'll be doing research on what's available out there. Would prefer a system that the 'kill' switch can be shut off, but let's face it, if a national emergency occurs & executive order privilege takes over all communications, it really won't matter if the 'kill' switch is shut off.