Quantum computing and programming get easier

[msbae]

2 threads for the price of 1, just because I'm too lazy to put both stories in their own threads...

Physicists Find Way To Control Individual Bits In Quantum Computers

Logo on Steroids - The new video game Kodu will teach you (or your kid) about programming. It's also actually fun.

I want to try that Kodu game.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Msbae,

Regarding the Quantum computing thing, it is interesting.

The Kodu game does sound interesting. I just hope it doesn't end up producing a generation of kids who become hackers LOL

 

[msbae]

Msbae,

Regarding the Quantum computing thing, it is interesting.

The Kodu game does sound interesting. I just hope it doesn't end up producing a generation of kids who become hackers LOL

A generation of hackers could actually be quite useful in the coming cyeber war with China.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Msbae,

Yeah, but it would also encourage a culture of people who have no respect for people's online privacy. It's bad enough that the government already has that attitude.

One thing I do wonder about quantum computing is, why does the government need such extreme computing power? Truthfully the NSA is already capable of monitoring every single call made in the United States, land-line or cell-phone, able to monitor every e-mail, IM and such sent and received, and such, something which it was doing illegally until FISA was revised to make it legal.


CuttingEdge100

 

[Jadzia]

One thing I do wonder about quantum computing is, why does the government need such extreme computing power?

Perhaps it can be compared to the nuclear arms race? Whichever nation gets there first could use it to break open the RSA encryption used by every other nation... that currently covers almost all secure communications, such as bank transactions. Practically every shred of data sent securely over the internet would suddenly become readable to one with a quantum computer.

Or alternatively, any supposedly secure piece of data could be intercepted and modified in transit. "Transfer $10 from Account Holder 1 to Account Holder 2", suddenly becomes "Transfer $1,000,000 from Account Holder 1 to Account Holder 3".

 

[msbae]

Msbae,

Yeah, but it would also encourage a culture of people who have no respect for people's online privacy. It's bad enough that the government already has that attitude.

One thing I do wonder about quantum computing is, why does the government need such extreme computing power? Truthfully the NSA is already capable of monitoring every single call made in the United States, land-line or cell-phone, able to monitor every e-mail, IM and such sent and received, and such, something which it was doing illegally until FISA was revised to make it legal.


CuttingEdge100

Not all hackers are unethical sociopaths. Also, having better machines makes the Gubmint's job easier.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

It's a bit strange, those two news items seem to be totally unrelated; how can we discuss both at the same time?

About the new variant of Logos: Quite cool; I approve.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

msbae,

Not all hackers are unethical sociopaths.

I didn't say that, but regardless people who break into people's computers for fun obviously do not have a regard for people's privacy.

Also, having better machines makes the Gubmint's job easier.

So they can monitor our phone-calls, e-mails, web-activity with even greater ease than before!

Wonderful


CuttingEdge100

 

[Lindley]

I don't see the technical ability as a bad thing. There's still judicial controls on its use.

 

[msbae]

msbae,

Not all hackers are unethical sociopaths.

I didn't say that, but regardless people who break into people's computers for fun obviously do not have a regard for people's privacy.

Also, having better machines makes the Gubmint's job easier.

So they can monitor our phone-calls, e-mails, web-activity with even greater ease than before!

Wonderful


CuttingEdge100

I know a few hackers who would disagree with you. The reason they hack is to find weaknesses in systems and alert the System Admins to those problems.

I don't see the technical ability as a bad thing. There's still judicial controls on its use.

Ditto. Blaming the the tools makes no sense. Blaming the people who misuse said tools are the ones at fault.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Msbae,

Well, those kind of hackers are employed to test security for companies computer systems. I'm not talking about these kinds of people.

I'm talking about your amateur hacker...

As for your statement about blaming the people who misuse the tools are the ones at fault, I would normally agree.

However, after the warrantless wiretapping program came forward, FISA was then amended to make it easier for the government to carry out the same stuff they were doing before. It even stated that the surveillance did not have to have anything to do with foreign intelligence, or even that it had to be pertaining to any calls that leave the US (in otherwords it can be totally domestic)

Even before the warrantless wiretapping escapade, FISA was already pretty much a rubber-stamp court that granted any government request no matter what it was. The purpose of judicial controls is to have someone who actually looks at the warrant request and based on their knowledge of the law and constitution, decides to grant or deny the warrant.

Also these judges are appointed by the government, which means the government can deliberately select judges which they know will grant any request they ask.


CuttingEdge100

 

[MNM]

msbae,

Not all hackers are unethical sociopaths.

I didn't say that, but regardless people who break into people's computers for fun obviously do not have a regard for people's privacy.

So they can monitor our phone-calls, e-mails, web-activity with even greater ease than before!

Wonderful


CuttingEdge100

I know a few hackers who would disagree with you.

Then they are deluding themselves to justify what they do.

 

[Lindley]

Also these judges are appointed by the government, which means the government can deliberately select judges which they know will grant any request they ask.

"The government" is far from monolithic. That's the whole concept behind checks & balances.

Which isn't to say the system always works perfectly, but it's more responsible than you're making it out to be.

 

[msbae]

Also these judges are appointed by the government, which means the government can deliberately select judges which they know will grant any request they ask.

"The government" is far from monolithic. That's the whole concept behind checks & balances.

Which isn't to say the system always works perfectly, but it's more responsible than you're making it out to be.

...and the Feds can monitor my phone calls all they want. They'll never hear anything they aren't supposed to hear. I'd be shocked if they weren't monitoring me as part of the background check they are (or were) doing on me for my MOS.

 

[Lindley]

Well, that's different---if you're getting a background check or other security clearance, you grant them permission to keep an eye on you. I'd be very surprised if they actually did actively monitor most such people, though----the manpower required would be too expensive without probable cause.

 

[msbae]

the manpower required would be too expensive without probable cause.

Which is why I don't freak out when I hear news reports about Feds investigating someone's activities at a public library. I'd laugh if they checked my library records.

Fed 1: It looks like he just checks out a bunch of old VHS tapes of old Sci-Fi movies and Doctor Who serials.

Fed 2: Why are we wasting our time on this guy?

Fed 1: Good question.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Lindley,

Have you ever read about the Warrantless Wiretapping scandal in depth? Also have you read about FISA in depth?

If you did you'd probably see things differently

 

[Lindley]

No, I haven't, and that's entirely beside the point.

The fact that technology might be misused is simply not a good reason to avoid developing technology.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Lindley,

Some technology has a far greater potential for misuse than others... even if people want to develop it, it would be a good idea to at least evaluate, reasonably speaking, the ramifications of such a development


CuttingEdge100

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Some technology has a far greater potential for misuse than others... even if people want to develop it, it would be a good idea to at least evaluate, reasonably speaking, the ramifications of such a development

Then we'd never actually get anything done, for you'd never be finished evaluating.