Re:What is Traitorware?
by _delirium on Friday December 24, 2010 @11:12PM
(#2038506)
I don't think most people know about this sort of thing. Most non-techies I've talked to are actually quite surprised about the printer thing: the idea that a printer would secretly print a pattern of light yellow dots on your paper that wasn't in your source file is very surprising to everyone I've mentioned it to. It's the sort of thing that's weird enough that some people think I must be telling them a conspiracy theory.
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Re:What is Traitorware?
by nickpinkston on Saturday December 25, 2010 @12:09AM
(#2038554)
Yea, it's true. Companies aren't really acting in our best interests - probably the legals driving this one. It should also be mentioned that your car probably has a black box that records what you're doing - already used in many court cases.
Well I can confirm that all vehicles manufactured in Europe after 2002 do have something comparable to a "black box", recording all sorts of engine parameters which can subsequently be downloaded for analysis.
I used to worry that all this data could be used to track us, but then I realized how inefficient the government is.
Yeah, now your privacy will only get invaded if the government actively decides to cast their eye your way. The downside is that being chosen for a look is enough to convince your fellow citizens that invading your privacy is a special case that doesn't erode their rights, plus if the government is interested in tracking you, it might be dangerous not to let them.
And of course the "inefficiency" of government only helps until they reach a certain level of technological sophistication, which doesn't leave us much time even if you assume they're ten years behind the private sector.
I've heard of trucks being equipped with black boxes to ensure that employees aren't slacking off on the job, but that's the 1st I've heard about cars. Wouldn't surprise me though.
As far as I know the black box in your car just holds onto the data immediately before a crash. That said, the police can pretty much timestamp your every movement using EZ Pass.
Re:What is Traitorware?
by nickpinkston on Saturday December 25, 2010 @09:58AM
(#2038973)
I'm talking in addition to the OBD systems. This one can also record telemetry (steering angle, wheel slip, etc.).