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BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

tech.michaelaltfield.net

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Re: BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

#211

Post by perl4ever »

0kl wrote: post #175
abstractbarista wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd definitely give chase. To me, it is worth dying for. Not because of the laptop, but out of principle for vigorously fighting these ridiculous crimes. We all need to collectively fight back against crime or it will be normal (as it is now).

I’m just assuming the above is not in good faith, but for anyone else that might be persuaded: You being killed by a criminal over an iPhone or laptop is not going to change anything. Fund your police, vote to change laws enough that they’re spending their time on things that are relevant, and if you’re honestly willing to die for the rule of law, become a police officer. Otherwise your body will be one more on the l…

There's no resolution to the question of "what is the right action in response to the situation" that applies to everyone.

It's always irrational to risk oneself for a principle, that might (or might not) be for the benefit of society.

If you aren't going to do it, fine. I'm not inclined either. But have the grace not to gratuitously criticize those who do. Try not to see them in the dichotomy of heroes or idiots, just as people who provide some leavening to society.

Re: BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

#212

Post by perl4ever »

ineedasername wrote: post #177
abstractbarista wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd definitely give chase. To me, it is worth dying for. Not because of the laptop, but out of principle for vigorously fighting these ridiculous crimes. We all need to collectively fight back against crime or it will be normal (as it is now).

I'm not sure what makes laptop theft any more ridiculous than another crime, but "crime is bad and it should stop" isn't really an ideal that's advanced by getting shot or stabbed and killed.

Someone else resisting a criminal advances my ideal of not being a crime victim, no matter who gets shot or stabbed...so it's bewildering to me why people should say it's stupid. I mean, there's a word for people who slag off those who benefit them, and it is "ingrate".

Re: BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

#213

Post by perl4ever »

war1025 wrote: post #178
ShakataGaNai wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe a decade or so ago this would be a good answer. But unless you're one of those ThinkPad people who are still pulling for the X220 to make a come back.... A majority of modern laptops don't have user removable batteries. Yes, they could still be removed in some cases, but its often not for the feint of heart and not something many people would want to undertake.

Is it really the majority? Or just on macbooks and the high end lines like that? I didn't think my laptops were that old (3-5 years) and they all have removable batteries.

I hadn't thought about it, but I have a newish business class Dell and I don't think it does have a removable battery. On the other hand, I have a Dell laptop from circa 2011 and it does; in fact I got the extra large one that sticks out awkwardly.

Re: BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

#214

Post by yibg »

perl4ever wrote: post #212
ineedasername wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what makes laptop theft any more ridiculous than another crime, but "crime is bad and it should stop" isn't really an ideal that's advanced by getting shot or stabbed and killed.

Someone else resisting a criminal advances my ideal of not being a crime victim, no matter who gets shot or stabbed...so it's bewildering to me why people should say it's stupid. I mean, there's a word for people who slag off those who benefit them, and it is "ingrate".

Ideally we should all stand up to injustice, but maybe try to avoid senseless loss of life over trivial things. If nothing else consider the opportunity cost of not being able to standup later when it might really matter.

Obvious loss of life is extreme and trivial things is subjective, but I think the point stands. There is a practical consideration to be made about what the risk profile is and what the degree of crime is. Clearly charging a man holding a loaded gun because he swiped some gum would be silly. Charging a man with a loaded gun because he’s about to shoot a kid, different set of equations.

Re: BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

#216

Post by Keverw »

lnanek2 wrote: post #134
abstractbarista wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd definitely give chase. To me, it is worth dying for. Not because of the laptop, but out of principle for vigorously fighting these ridiculous crimes. We all need to collectively fight back against crime or it will be normal (as it is now).

Oakland's a bit of a special place. I have friends living there who have been robbed at gun point, for example, and if you go into a Subway the workers are often behind bulletproof glass because they've been held up so often. Chasing a crook in Oakland is just going to get you dead, not change anything there. Not smart.

Wow, sounds like not a hot tourist spot probably then. Not sure why people would want to live there when safer and cheaper places in the US.

Re: BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

#217

Post by dancek »

asia92 wrote: post #205
im_down_w_otp wrote: post #200

I used to have my laptop setup to require my specific Yubikey to be inserted to allow waking from sleep and booting, and when you pulled it out it locked the machine, logged you out, suspended, or shutdown depending on which modifier key you were holding down when you removed it. Worked pretty well as a "kill switch" when getting up from my desk. I probably have the udev scripts laying around somewhere.

Sounds like a good way to hit the 10k usb-c lifespan

Isn't USB-C designed to wear out the cable (or dongle) and not the port?

So if you used a Yubikey to log in and out ten times a day, you might need to replace it every three years. Of course you'll make the same amount of connections if you require it only for login, assuming you don't leave it connected.

Re: BusKill: A kill cord for your laptop

#220

Post by elric »

vunie wrote: post #183
0kl wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m just assuming the above is not in good faith, but for anyone else that might be persuaded: You being killed by a criminal over an iPhone or laptop is not going to change anything. Fund your police, vote to change laws enough that they’re spending their time on things that are relevant, and if you’re honestly willing to die for the rule of law, become a police officer. Otherwise your body will be one more on the l…

> I’m just assuming the above is not in good faith Not GP, but your assumption is wrong. It's not about the laptop. It's about standing up for yourself and doing your part towards society. You obviously don't agree with this stance and that's fine, but it's not your place to dictate what values are worth standing up for and what aren't. I, like GP, fully intend to go after a thief. If he goes after my life, then I go…

> It's as simple as that.

Nothing is ever as simple as that. Not only is it a foolish, immoral and illegal, you've also just communicated murderous intent. Have fun spending 20-to-life in a cell because you thought ultraviolence would be a good way to do your part towards society.

I've had more than my fair share of violent confrontations, and I assure you, no matter how well you think you are prepared, once the metallic taste of adrenaline hits you, all your plans and delusions of grandeur go out the window.

A bit of violence can be acceptable. Murder over property is not.

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