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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 9:56:22 PM   
Real_Trouble


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

Oh, I did have to crack the master password on the PDF before I could remove the invisible layers.  I used this handy little program.

I didn't even know that PDFs could be passworded.  Some geek I am.

Stephan



One of the excellent things about universal format files (things like microsoft office formats, pdfs, etc) is that they have to be standardized in terms of size, header formats, and the like, which often means it's a trivial exercise to figure out where passwords are stored, what encryption algorithm is used, and then to write something that will crack them almost instantaneously.

In fact, this is true of almost any standardized format file.

Access databases, for instance, can be cracked in about two seconds with an appropriate program no matter how complex the password for them happens to be.  The "security" is laughable.

Though if you do want something that is going to seriously lock down a file, I recommend PGP or, if you want something free, the GNU Privacy Guard (the manuals I have are in German, though, so I don't know how accessible this is to most).




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Profile   Post #: 41
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 9:57:03 PM   
DiurnalVampire


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quote:

ORIGINAL: faerytattoodgirl

do geeks stop and ask for directions when they get lost driving??? or do they have a gps in their car!

WE do both. I have a GPS, but amazingly I can still get lost when I am going somewhere it doesnt expect me t be going, and I have to stop for directions to get back to the streets on its pre-programmed trail.


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(in reply to faerytattoodgirl)
Profile   Post #: 42
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 9:59:59 PM   
GreedyTop


Posts: 52100
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From: Savannah, GA
Status: offline 		I admire geeks.. I had aspired to be one, but I haven't got the attention span..*sigh*

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Profile   Post #: 43
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 1:16:48 AM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		The bigger and more difficult and more expensive the user's manual, the more macho and manly the engineers in R&D feel. 
 

 
 
Besides, they need a hook to keep you buying more stuff for your new toy. 
 

 
 
 
All this mental frustration is designed to bring out the competitive side of your nature so you buy bigger, faster and more expensive techno-gadgetry.
 

 
So go chill out with your slave and your favorite drinks.
 



quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

Why... oh why do I bother? More importantly, why do companies go to such extensive lengths to complicate documents that will become obsolete within a year?

Stephan



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Profile   Post #: 44
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 1:21:03 AM   
Vendaval


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Status: offline 		They argue over who has the more accurate, reliable and faster GPS!



quote:

ORIGINAL: faerytattoodgirl
do geeks stop and ask for directions when they get lost driving??? or do they have a gps in their car!


_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to faerytattoodgirl)
Profile   Post #: 45
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 9:18:15 AM   
MusicalBoredom


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From: Louisiana/New York
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

Nah; weal twue geeks don't know everything, we just know how to figure things out.

If it had been a client with such a problem, they'd never know what I went through to fix it.

Stephan



Amen to that! 

On a side note, I think I'm just an old geek -- my last usage of the acronym "RPG" was for a dying language on a System/38


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Profile   Post #: 46
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 9:21:35 AM   
CalifChick


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quote:

ORIGINAL: MusicalBoredom
On a side note, I think I'm just an old geek -- my last usage of the acronym "RPG" was for a dying language on a System/38


Great.  Just.... GREAT.  Not only do I know that stands for "Report Program Generator" but I got an "A" in that class, you know, back when dirt was new.  So by your standards, I'm also an old geek.

Cali
(get outta the way of my wheelchair, ya little whippersnapper!)


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Profile   Post #: 47
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 9:32:54 AM   
MusicalBoredom


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quote:

ORIGINAL: CalifChick

quote:

ORIGINAL: MusicalBoredom
On a side note, I think I'm just an old geek -- my last usage of the acronym "RPG" was for a dying language on a System/38


Great.  Just.... GREAT.  Not only do I know that stands for "Report Program Generator" but I got an "A" in that class, you know, back when dirt was new.  So by your standards, I'm also an old geek.

Cali
(get outta the way of my wheelchair, ya little whippersnapper!)



Ok so lets call it "enlightened by experience" instead.  I think that sounds much better than old.  lol


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Profile   Post #: 48
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 10:16:54 AM   
CalifChick


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Status: offline 		I think three lines on my sig is my personal limit, but I'm tempted to add that one in... "I'm not old, I'm enlightened by experience".

Cali


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(in reply to MusicalBoredom)
Profile   Post #: 49
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 1:29:49 PM   
domiguy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

quote:

ORIGINAL: domiguy

Momentary hijack...Is there a quality mid ranged priced water proof digital?...Too lazy to look.


Depends on your budget.  Rebels do a great job, when housed in a waterproof case.  Total package, new, runs you about 900 bucks.



Good thought...Probably too much Do-re-mi for the application...Just being out on the water and in the woods...Need something relatively light that if it gets smashed, lost or eaten by a bear ...Or a cougar...lol... it's no real biggie.


Ruined my last camera to humidity....Hmmmm. Will have to do some homework. need something that is also not to big of a pain to lug around.

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Profile   Post #: 50
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 4:55:03 PM   
QuietlySeeking


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

The bigger and more difficult and more expensive the user's manual, the more macho and manly the engineers in R&D feel. 
 

 
 


My favorite is "The system isn't finished until the system documentation weighs as much as the development team."

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 51
RE: I... am a geek - 4/17/2008 5:55:48 PM   
thornhappy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

The bigger and more difficult and more expensive the user's manual, the more macho and manly the engineers in R&D feel. 
 

 

Hey, it applies to us wimmin too, don't cha know.  Our egos keep inflating the longer we can get by without reading the manuals!

thornhappy the SCPI user

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 52
RE: I... am a geek - 4/18/2008 9:48:47 PM   
Emperor1956


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Status: offline 		This post intentionally left blank.

(in reply to Real_Trouble)
Profile   Post #: 53
RE: I... am a geek - 4/19/2008 10:10:25 AM   
atursvcMaam


Posts: 1195
Joined: 5/10/2004
Status: offline 		old geeks see rpg as rocket propelled grenade, and can use a sliderule, and call it a slipstick, and were fun to sit next to on test days.
and wrote the manual, back in the days when the first instruction was "make sure the ON/OFF switch is in the ON position.  none of this I/O stuff.

< Message edited by atursvcMaam -- 4/19/2008 10:12:45 AM >

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Profile   Post #: 54
RE: I... am a geek - 4/19/2008 10:23:55 AM   
FirmhandKY


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Joined: 9/21/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

I bought a Canon Rebel Xti like new.  It didn't have an instruction manual.  No problem, I downloaded the thing from Canon.

The manual is a pdf file; no problem, I have Acrobat.  I start printing.  Wait.  Every page had COPY splattered all over it in big black letters, making the manual useless.

An hour later, I determine that the orginal PDF file has security settings to prevent alteration.  Every time I export the file, it has the same COPY on it.  I download a handy program that strips the copy protection.  Same problem.

Another hour later, I learn that PDF files also have layers.  Yet this particular layer isn't just invisible; its been hard coded in.

Finally, an hour later, I figured out that if I optimize the PDF file and discard hidden elements (namely the hidden COPY image plastered on every page.) 

Why... oh why do I bother? More importantly, why do companies go to such extensive lengths to complicate documents that will become obsolete within a year?

Stephan



aah, hell, Stephan, I run into pdf issues all the time, and have found a way that solves most of them without trying to crack passwords, turn on printing or dealing with any of that layer stuff.

I open the pdf file in AABBY FineReader as an image file, then OCR it, and save it back as a pdf file.

Totally trashes all the "security" protections instantly.

Firm


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Profile   Post #: 55
RE: I... am a geek - 4/19/2008 2:45:45 PM   
Typcynic


Posts: 27
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Status: offline 		next people will be talking APL, COBOL, PDP-10, Bell 303, KSR 33, optical cards, and all sorts of other useless junk of no more importance.  I would say it's too bad that the brain doesn't come equipped with a reformat function to clear out the trash, but there's always electroshock.

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Profile   Post #: 56
RE: I... am a geek - 4/19/2008 4:35:29 PM   
atursvcMaam


Posts: 1195
Joined: 5/10/2004
Status: offline 		i always thought that was alcohol's function.


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live hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse when you die.
Love ya, but, when the zombies start chasing us, i am tripping you.
The glass is always full, the question is, "with what?"

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Profile   Post #: 57
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