30Apr
Have you noticed one of those impossible to read word-in-a-box prompts when signing up for a service to logging into a web site like Facebook or Digg. These are called captchas, and they are used to prevent spammers from automating the login process and creating thousands of accounts in minutes. The scripts the spammers use are not smart enough (yet) to solve the CAPTCHAS. However, a number of research projects have been able to beat the visual CAPTCHAs by using following methods
- Pre-processing: Removal of background clutter and noise.
- Segmentation: Splitting the image into regions which each contain a single character.
- Classification: Identifying the character in each region.
The captchas are being made increasing more difficult for a human to read. In the very near future, a program will have an easier time solving the puzzle than humans will and the point of this additional security measure would be nullified.
Google has realized this and is trying a different and much needed approach. The new captcha method will require users to choose the correct orientation of a picture or which picture is a cat, rather than decipher a word. This method effective as it is difficult for a program to determine what should be right side up or the difference between a cat and a dog. Other methods make you solve a math problem or answer a common knowledge question.
This makes much more sense to me than trying to figure out what the letters in the box are. The issue with these methods is the inability for visually impaired people to use these systems. Such CAPTCHAs may make a site incompatible with Section 508 in the United States. In order to comply with this regulation the site should allow blind users to get around the captcha, for example, by permitting users to opt for an audio or sound CAPTCHA. It will be only a matter of time before the hackers try finding vulnerabilities in the audio captcha. Perhaps answering a question that a human would know and that can be provided in audio format is a way of providing security and accessibility.
Tags: captcha
22Apr
I might have won a few battles with my xbox but I’m afraid I have lost the war. Aftter I thought i had fixed the rrod problem, it came back and I don’t think there is anything else I can do at this point but to buy a new xbox. I was thinking of getting an Xbox Arcade system. It is cheaper since it doesn’t come with a hard drive, but I can use the drive from the old system. The Xbox Arcade also has a HDMI connection which is a plus. I would also swap the DVD since it is flashed with the iXtreme 1.51 firmware. I am probably buy it from BestBuy since they have a good protection program. I am missing Halo Wars.
18Apr
This is f#%k’n ridiculous. I got the red ring of death on my 360 again after I thought fixed it. The fix did work for a while so it was a surprise to me when it happened. I was playing Halo Wars
the other day and the game froze. I thought no big deal. Then it froze a few more times and more frequently, which is a tell-tale sign that you are going to get a RRoD soon. Well it did happen and I was pissed. I was about to go out an buy a new one, but I thought to my self that I should just try to tighten down the screws a little more. The worst case is I crack the chip and buy a new Xbox 360
(the new models have HDMI connections).
For some reason, I had the easiest time taking it apart this time. At this point I have done it enough times that I feel like Forrest Gump disassembling a rifle. After it was stripped down to the motherboard, I let the sucker overheat and tighten down the screws on both heat sinks. I got a little more than a quarter turn out of each screw which leads me to believe I was being cautious the first time around. It started up and I couldn’t believe I brought it back to life.
I guess this fix really does work. Well, while it was open I figured I would update the DVD Rom firmware to iXtreme 1.51 to fully and utterly void my warranty.
Tags: hack, Halo Wars, rrod fix, Xbox, xbox360
18Apr
My Xbox 360 RRoD again, but I was able to recover it and I updated the DVD ROM firmware to boot! I installed the iXtreme 1.51 (which has the ability to read new format games) using the Jungle Flasher beta utility. I downloaded the utility and the iXtreme bios as a torrent off the Pirate Bay, however the utilities are available off of Xbins. The package includes the original bios for all the possible Xbox drives since you will need to go back to factory default bios to install the iXtreme 1.51 bios. You can not update to the new version of the bios from an older one.
My drive is the Hitachi 78FK. Each drive has its own procedure for flashing the bios. I had the iExtreme iXtreme 1.4 flashed, using the Maximus utility, before I got the RRoD. In order for the Hitachi drive to be flashed you need to connect the DVD drive to your computer using a SATA connection and because the power connector on the xbox dvd drive is special you need to have the power connected to the xbox 360 to power the DVD drive. You can get a connectivity kit to make this part easier for the next time you need to flash the drive The DVD drive then needs to be put into “Mode B”. For the iXtreme 1.4 firmware I used a Slax 2 linux distribution to get the drive in mode B. But the Jungle Flasher utility took care of that from a single utility. I was able to put the drive in mode B, flash the drive with the original bios, and the flash it with the iXtreme 1.51 firmware. It took me a few tries to get it working right. I needed to installed .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 and install the IOPort drivers, but after that it worked great. This is all documented with screen shots in the installion manual. Good job to Team Jungle for getting this all in one tool working.
Now I can go back to playing Halo Wars
Update 5/4/09: Jungle flasher 1.59 is available
Tags: DVD, hack, iXtreme, Jungle Flasher, xbox 360
15Apr
My wife and I occasionally play World of Warcraft, but she is much more of a WoW-head than I am. I often hear from her that it is difficult to get a good cohesive guild and that makes playing end-game content a frustrating process. That’s when we came to the conclusion that there should be an e-Harmony or Chemistry.com for guilds so you can ensure your guild members will be compatible with each other. I created a proof-of-concept site using an open source social networking framework Elgg. Then I went to see if someone else has already had this concept, and of course they beat me to the punch again.
The site WoWHeadhunter.com is a place where those recruiting for a guild can screen potential guild mates based on the culture of the guild. Built more like a job site like Monster.com, those looking for a guild can search through recruiting guilds based on their class and server. The site uses some logic based on the guild culture to determine if you are a fit for that guild. Guild culture is determined on whether the guild members are Reckless / Deliberate, Sociable / Competitive, Fun /Serious, and Learners / Veterans. You can then apply to the guild and begin interviewing with the guild. Guild leaders post the classes they are recruiting and the requirements of applicants.
The site and has been reviewed by GameSpot and WoW Insider and has the concept that I was going for, except my twist would have been to make it more like a Facebook for WoW players and Guilds. Well at this point I feel I have missed the boat and will not continue to develop this any further. I am glad to have played around with Elgg since it gives me ideas for other projects. What do you think about continuing development on this concept?
