They can still come in via the optical drive – but as frozen data until the people on the inside decide to execute them. USB is particularly dangerous because it’s live; the protocol expects things like keyboard input as well as data files to come via USB, and the drive can contain its own processor to run its possibly malicious payload. So, as Vincent says, glue the damn ports shut.
There’s a Charles Stross line which goes something like “The only secure computer is one that’s running an encrypted operating system with a firewall, with no wireless or physical connections, no mouse, keyboard or monitor, sealed in a lead box at the bottom of a filled-in mineshaft and / turned off / .”
This is why you keep your money inside a safe with no door, orbiting the earth on a satellite. Maximum security! …what do you mean, it’s no use if you can’t access it?
Do we assume that Lovelace is evil? She seemed pretty symapthetic in Narbonic, but that was mostly by comparison to the chowderheads she was surrounded by constantly, and even the “good” characters in Narbonic were pretty evil.
Lovelace was created by an evil genius, so yes, it’s safe to assume there is evil built in to her nature, even when she has the most noble of intentions.
In that regard, she is much like Artie, who kept trying to do good, and ended up wreaking more havoc than the rest of the lab combined. So it’ll be interesting to see how much damage she can do by trying to “help”.
I was thinking that waterfall in panel one looks improbable & then I thought ‘Haven’t I seen photos of Angel Falls that looks just as improbable?’
Do an image search. It does.
I was hoping Aimee’s Virtual Whimsey World would link up with the Extirpated Anasigma World. Then we could find out if Phoebe the Canadian Model who was into unicorns is Phoebe the Extirpated Anasigma Agent from New Orleans.
That’s a real complicated little mermaid reference to name your AI group after, and not a little death-focused; Lovelace’s actions as their agent have seemed ambiguous at best.
Social engineering is the hardest hack to secure against.
I need to up-vote this very much.
The more common phrase is “Social engineering: because there’s no patch for human stupidity.”
Say, where can I find that bonus story that was brought up?
I believe the story referred to is the bonus story in Volume Eight of the collected Skin Horse.
Got to love how Aimee went from looking like a princess to greet the new citizen, to a total shlub once she learned who it was.
The shlub, of course, is her true self – she’s Nick, after all.
This is why you glue the USB ports shut.
Do thay, and nobody else can come in. Her psychopomp needs another class on information security.
They can still come in via the optical drive – but as frozen data until the people on the inside decide to execute them. USB is particularly dangerous because it’s live; the protocol expects things like keyboard input as well as data files to come via USB, and the drive can contain its own processor to run its possibly malicious payload. So, as Vincent says, glue the damn ports shut.
Cut the wires inside the hardened case. Nothing like an airgap for security.
There’s a Charles Stross line which goes something like “The only secure computer is one that’s running an encrypted operating system with a firewall, with no wireless or physical connections, no mouse, keyboard or monitor, sealed in a lead box at the bottom of a filled-in mineshaft and / turned off / .”
This is why you keep your money inside a safe with no door, orbiting the earth on a satellite. Maximum security! …what do you mean, it’s no use if you can’t access it?
Sandbox the USB ports to a VM copy, inviting the malware to reveal itself. Then migrate or delete.
The USB ports are outside, and except for a brief sojourn in Baron Mistycorn’s outside body, Aimee hasn’t been outside.
Do we assume that Lovelace is evil? She seemed pretty symapthetic in Narbonic, but that was mostly by comparison to the chowderheads she was surrounded by constantly, and even the “good” characters in Narbonic were pretty evil.
Not so much “evil” as “mad”, mostly.
Artie’s not mad, just irresponsible.
Lovelace was created by an evil genius, so yes, it’s safe to assume there is evil built in to her nature, even when she has the most noble of intentions.
In that regard, she is much like Artie, who kept trying to do good, and ended up wreaking more havoc than the rest of the lab combined. So it’ll be interesting to see how much damage she can do by trying to “help”.
Lovelace is now an agent of The Daughters of the Air.
So I’m certain her alignment is Lawful Good. For certain values of “Good”.
And certain values of “Lawful”
And given Blue-and-Orange-Morality, also for certain values of “Alignment”.
She’s not evil, but she doesn’t operate on the same moral or ethical wavelength as a human.
I was thinking that waterfall in panel one looks improbable & then I thought ‘Haven’t I seen photos of Angel Falls that looks just as improbable?’
Do an image search. It does.
I was hoping Aimee’s Virtual Whimsey World would link up with the Extirpated Anasigma World. Then we could find out if Phoebe the Canadian Model who was into unicorns is Phoebe the Extirpated Anasigma Agent from New Orleans.
Just one question: shouldn’t Baron Mistycorn recognize Lovelace?
I’d expect a jovial “Lady Lovelace! I’m delighted YOU were aboard that strange USB drive I plugged in unquestioningly” 😉
You seem to think that Baron might show something resembling courtesy.
Even in here, as a more majestic-looking unicorn, he’s still a consummate dick.
I respectfully disagree, awgiedawgie. The “majestic unicorn” represents Baron Mistycorn’s secret self-image.
I concede the point. But I must also point out that it’s only a facade. Deep down, he’s still himself.
That’s a real complicated little mermaid reference to name your AI group after, and not a little death-focused; Lovelace’s actions as their agent have seemed ambiguous at best.
The password is probably written on the side of the box with a Sharpie.