AC forwarded:
> In other words, a digital monoculture makes us vulnerable to all
> sorts of manipulations that have not been possible before. The more
> ubiquitous this monoculture becomes, the more vulnerable we will be.
And the worst part is that this monoculture is authored by the company with
the _least_ secure software !
> This phenomenon is growing every day. We're about to step into the
> so-called "post-PC" era, when networked computing will permeate our
> homes and everyday objects such as refrigerators, telephones, cars
> and stereos. This model is known as "ubiquitous" or "pervasive"
> computing, when the Internet will be present in everything and
> everywhere.
Yeah, and the future "virus warnings" are already circulating (below) ;-))
Chris
> Virus warning from the year 2001:
>
> If you receive an Email with the subject line "Hi, chap" delete it
> IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT READING it. This is the most dangerous E-mail
> virus yet.
>
> Not only will it completely rewrite your hard drive, but it will scramble
> any disks that are even close to your computer. It also demagnetises the
> strips on all your CREDIT CARDS.
> It reprogrammes your ATM access code, screws up the tracking on your
> VCR and uses subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD's you try to play.
> It will recalibrate your refrigerator's coolness settings so all your
> Mövenpick ice cream melts and your milk curdles. It will give your
> ex-boy/girlfriend your new phone number. This virus will mix antifreeze
> into your fish tank. It will drink all your beer.
> It will even leave dirty socks on the coffee table when you are expecting
> company.
>
> It will hide your classic-car keys when you are late for work and interfere
> with your car radio reception so that you hear only static while stuck in
> traffic. When executed, "Hi, chap" will also give you nightmares about
> circus midgets. It will replace your shampoo with ketchup and deodorant
> with Surface Spray.
> It will give you Dutch Elm Disease and Tinea. If the "Hi, chap" message is
> opened in a Windows00 environment, it will leave the toilet seat up and
> leave your hairdryer plugged in dangerously close to a full bathtub.
>
> It will not only remove the forbidden tags from your mattresses and
> pillows, but it will also refill your skim milk with whole milk.
> It has also been known to disregard 'Open This End' labels and can often
> make you 'Push' a door that says 'Pull' and vice versa. It is insidious
> and subtle. It is dangerous and terrifying to behold. It is also a rather
> interesting shade of mauve. These are just a few signs.
>
> You have been warned, chap.
>
