EA & SimCity

Saw this comment by alwayswinning on recent Ars thread, direct link http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/ea-offers-free-catalog-game-to-apologize-for-simcity-server-woes/?comments=1&post=24040939#comment-24040939, cutting and pasting whole thing because it includes tweet posts about problems with the BETA Sim City

IMHO this single post, along with linked Tweets, shows EA had to know there were problems even with Beta.

Below is direct cut and paste of alwayswinning's comment, all bold & etc is from original:

Lucy Bradshaw says, "a lot more people logged on than we expected. More people played and played in ways we never saw in the beta."

This, of course, is total baloney. The servers didn't work during the Beta either! I couldn't connect to a server and neither could any of my friends. EA had to know that this was going to happen because they had major server issues for the entire Beta weekend.

For proof, here are some of our Tweets from the Beta weekend:
https://twitter.com/Telly2Putts/status/ ... 7765583872
https://twitter.com/AlwaysWinning1/stat ... 3136871424
https://twitter.com/AlwaysWinning1/stat ... 5324963841

If my friends and I realized that there would be major issues on March 2nd, EA certainly should have:
https://twitter.com/AlwaysWinning1/stat ... 4873097216
https://twitter.com/ManginiNaBottle/sta ... 3788877824 (obvious sarcasm)

I can't believe EA thinks that they can lie their way out of this. This is the definition of bad PR. They're destroying their long-term value by treating customers, and the media, like dullards. I'm not an EA or Maxis "hater" by any stretch, I'm just trying to set the record straight: they're totally full of it.

Last edited by alwayswinning on Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:47 am

Arma 2 & Arma 3 System Requirements

One of my goals with this Blog, is to make Gaming & Computer/Cyber Security information easier to find. Eventually I hope to have a Wiki section to improve that aspect, till then best way to find information is just use regular Google with Cliff's Esport Corner + search term.

Important note for Arma 2, it is a simulator more than a normal FPS game, 15 FPS is supposed to be playable (per their FAQ), and 30+ FPS is supposed to be good.

Also two great resources from the Arma 2 thread linked below:

• Can You Run It (just select game and it checks your machine's specs) :  http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri
• Free Demo Arma 2 download to test your system:  http://www.arma2.com/demo/

Arma 2 System Requirements http://www.arma2.com/customer-support/support_en.html

Thread discussing Arma 2 System Requirements, has been around for years, so early part of thread is bit dated, but means most newer systems should work fine, http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?72181-Will-my-PC-Run-this-What-CPU-GPU-to-get-What-settings-System-Specifications

Arma 2 testing of Hyperthreading impact, or lack, on performance http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?80223-Arma-2-amp-Core-i7-Hyperthreading-Tested

Arma 3 System Requirement http://www.arma3.com/buy#requirements Note HD 4000 (the integrated graphics in Ultrabooks, Macbook Airs & similar) is listed at bottom of Minimum GPU but the CPU minimum of Intel dual core 2.4 GHz/Athlon Dual core 2.5 GHz rules out most if not all of those machines.

But the 13" Macbook Pro with Retina display would meet minimum requirements (running Win 7 in Bootcamp).

Thread on Arma 3 System Requirements, not as good as I would like, http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?147391-Will-my-PC-run-this-What-CPU-GPU-to-get-What-settings-What-System-Specifications

Free Arma 3 Alpha invites see (Note they won't be available till 3/14/2013) http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?147430-Looking-for-Arma-3-Free-Alpha-invites-Look-here!

Main forum for Bohemia Interactive http://forums.bistudio.com/forumdisplay.php?4-BI-MILITARY-GAMES-FORUMS

Nerd News: EA not altering return policy for SimCity buyers

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/ea-not-altering-return-policy-for-furious-simcity-buyers/

I can understand why they don't want to refund digital purchases, but think if that is their stand, then they really should be offering something to make up for the frustration.

Call it Customer Service or Public Relations,  also what I have done many times myself in Customer Service situations.

Also had the pleasure of receiving that level of customer service a few times, tend to stick with businesses that provide that level of service, since they usually don't mess up very often (ie they are reliable) and if something goes wrong, I know they will take care of me.

Nerd Gear: "Allwinner A31 Quad Core TV Stick/Mini PC sample Review"

Very interesting looking Mini PC http://blog.geekbuying.com/index.php/2013/03/06/allwinner-a31-quad-core-tv-stickmini-pc-sample-review/

Specs below from link above, does seem like a Beta product, not ready for full production yet based on review:

• SoC – AllWinner A31 quad core Cortex A7 + PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU
• System Memory – 2GB DDR3 RAM
• Storage – 8GB NAND Flash + microSD
• Connectivity – WiFi 802.11b/g/n
• USB – 1x USB 2.0 host port, 2x mini USB ports
• Reset button-Build in
• Video Output – HDMIVideo Codecs – Mpeg1/2/4.H.264,VC-1,Divx,Xvid,RM8/9/10,VP6Video Container Formats – MKV, TS, TP, M2TS, RM/RMVB, BD-ISO, AVI, MPG, VOB, DAT, ASF, TRP, FLV etc.
• Audio Formats – MP3, OGG, WMA, WMAPRO
• Dimensions – 97*38*12mm
• Weight – ~32g

SITREP [Update] from Cliff

Lot of IRL things interfering with normal pace of Blogging, wanted to apologize for that, and assure my regular readers that all is well.

This time of year is usually crazy for me, hoping by next year to have some guest articles to make up for that.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, one of the IRL items is several bits of new hardware, one of those hardware items I plan to Blog about at least a couple of times.

I don't want to say more at the moment, but I'm sure gamers will be interested in it.  [How was that for a teaser?]

Also looking forward to SC2 HOTS release!

GL HF,

Cliff

Idra vs Minigun MLG Winter Season Showdowns

Game 1 Starts at 5:00 minute mark, click this link http://youtu.be/JE0LhZS9ths?t=5m to jump there.

A Bo5 series:  Game 2  ||  Game 3  ||  Game 4  ||  Game 5

Minecraft Combat Training

YOGSCAST Lewis & Simon http://www.youtube.com/user/BlueXephos

The Chicken Gun is amusing ^_^

Evernote Hacked forces Password Reset

Articles all over the Net about Evernote Hack:

• http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/03/evernote-forces-password-reset-for-50m-users/
• http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/03/evernote-resets-all-user-passwords-after-coordinated-breach-attempt/
• http://www.darkreading.com/blog/240149848/evernote-resets-everyone-s-passwords-after-intrusion.html
• http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2013/03/02/evernote-hacked-almost-50-million-passwords-reset-after-security-breach/

Evernote is an app I have stayed away from, despite or maybe because of it's great utility, once you start using it, your going to use it for everything.

Which will expose way to much useful information to attacker if the data ever gets compromised, including information that could compromise physical security (my background).

Additionally, with the type of cloud based system used for Evernote, there is no way to make it really secure IMO.


Brian, from Krebs on Security article link at top, mentions this really good interview he did about password encryption http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/06/how-companies-can-beef-up-password-security/

Explains the difference, in simple terms, between password hash & cryptographic hash.

More Stuxnet 0.5 News

Symantec original detailed paper Stuxnet 0.5: The Missing Link [PDF] http://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/enterprise/media/security_response/whitepapers/stuxnet_0_5_the_missing_link.pdf

Ars article on it Revealed: Stuxnet “beta’s” devious alternate attack on Iran nuke program, http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/02/new-version-of-stuxnet-sheds-light-on-iran-targeting-cyberweapon/

Symantec's main page http://www.symantec.com/index.jsp

Lots of interesting tidbits, including fact that there are now samples dating back to at least 2005, 2 years prior to previously known oldest sample.

Pen Testing: Pwn Pad by Pwnie Express

Update 1/13/15: Link to free software download for those who already have hardware, found in the confusingly labeled IMHO "Community" section of Pwnie Express site https://www.pwnieexpress.com/community/

XXXXXXXXX

Pwnie Express, the same people that brought us the Pwn Plug http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/03/the-pwn-plug-is-a-little-white-box-that-can-hack-your-network/ or http://pwnieexpress.com/products/pwnplug-elite has a new, very cool piece of gear out they are calling the Pwn Pad.

Best review I have seen so far is by Wired http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/02/pwnpad/, most of the other online reviews seem to be based on Wired's article.

The Pwn Pad is a 7" Android Tablet running Android OS 4.2 and Ubuntu 12.04.

They include some interesting hardware accessories with the Tablet, a OTG cable, so the tablet can have a functioning USB port, which allows you to use the included SENE Parani-UD100 USB Bluetooth dongle.

This isn't typical Bluetooth device, it has a 300 meter range with the standard external antenna included with the Pwn Pad, but with optional patch antenna it had up to a 1000m meter range, a full kilometer!

Link for buying SENE Parani UD100 USB dongle http://www.lemosint.com/bluetooth/bluetooth_serial_adapter_details.php?itemID=612

Link for optional antennas & other options for the SENE dongle http://www.lemosint.com/bluetooth/bluetooth_serial_adapters_accessories.php

They also include a TP-LINK TL-WN722N Wireless N150, I am including these links so people can check specs of included accessories.

Also including those links for the DIY people, since according to Digital Trends http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/nexus-7-android-hacking-tablet-pwnie-express/, "Pwnie Express is also going to release the source code, allowing for hackers to install it onto other Android devices than the Pwn Pad."

Update 1/13/15:  Link to free software download for those who already have hardware, confusingly labeled IMHO "Community" section of Pwnie Express site https://www.pwnieexpress.com/community/

So if you want to make your own Pen Testing Android Table, you will have list of resources needed.

Or you can preorder the Pwn Pad at http://pwnieexpress.com/products/pwnpad



From Pwnie Express link at top of post; Features, Accessories, & Tool Kit:

Core Features

• Android OS 4.2 and Ubuntu 12.04
• Large screen, Powerful battery
• OSS-Based Pentester Toolkit
• Long Range Wireless Packet Injection

HW Accessories:

• TP-Link TL-WN722N (atheros usb wifi)
• Sena UD100 (Bluetooth USB)
• USB Ethernet
• OTG cable (USB host mode)

TOOLKIT INCLUDES:

Wireless Tools Aircrack-ng Kismet  Wifite-2 Reaver MDK3 EAPeak Asleap-2.2 FreeRADIUS-WPE Hostapd Bluetooth Tools: bluez-utils btscanner bluelog Ubertooth tools Web Tools Nikto Wa3f

Network Tools NET-SNMP Nmap Netcat Cryptcat Hping3 Macchanger Tcpdump Tshark Ngrep Dsniff Ettercap-ng 7.5.3  SSLstrip v9 Hamster and Ferret Metasploit 4 SET Easy-Creds v3.7.3 John (JTR) Hydra Medusa 2.1.1 Pyrit Scapy