Nalates' Things & Stuff

WARNING – Network Krack

2017/10/162017/10/16 by Nalates Urriah

We have a new hack to deal with. The WiFi encryption used by your router has been hacked. The WPA and WPA-2 security used since 2003 is the target.

WPA and WPA-2 are security choices you have when setting up your router/access point. Without a password on your router, anyone can connect to your network. It is dumb not to have a password protected network.

Routers provided by most ISP’s have a password set by default. It is the long alphanumeric number provided on a sticker on the site of the router/gateway device. The last router I bought did not have a password set by default. Manufacturers seem to think the initial setup is easier with no password.

So, if you bought your router/modem/gateway, whatever you call it, you had to set a password. If you didn’t, you should. Without one, you are open to anyone and numerous types of attacks.

The Workaround

For any web activity involving money, make sure your browser is using HTTPS. When using HTTPS the browser will display a padlock in the address/URL window.

Second Life – Content Creation UG Meeting 2017 w41

2017/10/13 by Nalates Urriah

Thursday was a long day for me. Not where I could access SL. So, the Medhue video of the meeting is what I watched to see what is currently happening with Animesh. And it is Medhue’s video I’ll write an index for.

Keep your hand or mouse close to your volume control if you watch the video. Medhue streams this video live and YouTube archives it. So, there is no editing and the audio isn’t cleaned up. Both tasks are work and time consuming. Be happy that we have any video. And expect to do a lot of volume changes.

CC UG Index

01:00 – Vir Linden is talking about the project viewer for Animesh. It is almost ready. It has passed QA. The holdup is getting some test regions ready and providing documentation. There will some test content available for us to play with.

02:16 – Alexa Linden is working on getting all the support stuff finished up.

03:00 – 4 mod regions (in a square), 1 adult region (separate), all in ADITI.

Second Life News 2017 w41

2017/10/10 by Nalates Urriah

This is a busy week for me. Not much time to blog. But, there is a bit of news. I hope to have some time tomorrow.

Servers

Main channel #17.09.29.509228 – Fixes that address object returns after the roll, hopefully.

Blue Steel and Le Tigre get #17.10.06.509429 – Which internal fixes, usually security stuff and changes in data collection.

Magnum – #17.10.06.509394 – Which is also internal fixes.

Viewers

The main viewer is 5.0.7.328060. No change since week #35.

Second Life Alex Ivy Viewer version 5.1.0.508209 – No change since week #37

Second Life Maintenance Viewer version 5.0.8.329115 – No change since week #39.

Second Life Voice Viewer version 5.0.8.329250 – No change since week #40.

Second Life Wolfpack Viewer version 5.0.8.329128 – No change since week #39.

Second Life Project 360 Snapshot Viewer version 5.1.0.506743 – No update since week #27.

Third-Party Dev UG Meeting 2017 w40

2017/10/08 by Nalates Urriah

Rider Linden filled in for Oz Linden for this meeting. Rider is the guy doing the Windlight changes. So, he generally has his head buried in EEP and apparently isn’t that much into general viewer status. We didn’t get much detail.

In server news, the first stage in sending to only to verified email addresses rolled out. Next will be a server roll and viewer change to enable/disable the checkbox in the viewer for Send Email. The server will tell the viewer to disable that checkbox in Preferences if you have not verified the email address you use with your Linden account.

Next meeting November 3^rd.

For Alex Ivy, the 64-bit viewer, the Lindens are working on a potential fix for the texture crashes.

Another voice update is coming.

Protesting in Second Life

2017/10/04 by Nalates Urriah

Hamlet has run a couple of articles about fat chicks protesting a store with the sign ‘No Fat Chicks’. (Link) Everyone commenting seems to think this is a serious ‘body shaming’ issue.

Hamlet made an effort to avoid promoting the store with The Sign, ‘No Fat Chicks’. But, the brand name is visible in the images he used so it doesn’t take long to figure out which store is being talked about, Back to Graceful.

It is hard to tell how the protest is going. Hamlet saw a bunch of people protesting. This morning there are 2 and they show as AFK. I suppose protests are boring…

Reading the articles and the follow-on comments, no one talks about basic principles or philosophical ideals. Seems most espouse narcissistic arrogance, situational ethics, and personal preferences. Protesters never seem overly bright to me. Emotional, yes. Activists seem to hold the brain trust. But, what’s the difference?

Second Life News 2017 w40

2017/10/03 by Nalates Urriah

Servers

Main channel updates to #17.09.22.508905. This version has improvements to email sending, requiring you to have verified your email address. I am a bit confused if they have activated this feature making verification mandatory or not.

Blue Steel, Le Tigre, and Magnum update to #17.09.29.509228. This version fixes that object return stuff after a roll-update as described in;

Discussion at the Server-Scripting UG makes it clear the EEP (Extended Environment Proj – or Improved Windlight) has no effect on SL Wind.