B&N Removes Magazine From Nook Store Due To Feature Article On 'Hacking'
from the hacking-not-allowed dept
We've talked a lot about the difference between gatekeepers and enablers, and how the latter are becoming more important than the former. Both are types of middlemen, of course. And there have been some reasonable discussions about how enablers can become gatekeepers at times. Indeed, this is something to be aware of, and we should worry about it and speak out when we see evidence of it happening. For example, ebook platforms have become great enablers, allowing lots of new written works to be published, promoted, distributed and sold. In 2002, 250,000 books were published. In 2010 the number was over 3 million -- with much of that being thanks to the easy publishing of ebooks, and the platforms that made it possible to publish a book without a gatekeeper.But... sometimes those enablers turn into gatekeepers. Witness the news, via Slashdot, that Barnes & Noble removed Linux Format magazine from the Nook store because the magazine dared to publish an article entitled Learn to Hack. It is true that they were using "hack" in the (increasingly less common) definition having to do with breaking into other computers and networks, but the framing of it was mostly around understanding these things to keep yourself secure. Still, do we really want platforms like Barnes & Noble acting as gatekeepers concerning what people can and cannot read?
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Filed Under: enablers, gatekeepers, hacking, linux, middlemen
Companies: barnes & noble
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Just an encore for a wise man, now dead.
I know it's been here before, but for those who do not yet have this burned into their conscious mind, please read it again.
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Re: Just an encore for a wise man, now dead.
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Re: Just an encore for a wise man, now dead.
Don't give the mafiAA any ideas.
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Re: Just an encore for a wise man, now dead.
Burn in my mind? Fuck you, I have freedom you fuck, stop acting like a reverend, you fucking asshole.
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ebooks are ripe for disruption
Hmmm, I better get to work on that book store.
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I knew I read this yesterday on /.
1) I miss Borders (and the fact that they brought a level of competition and an alternative to shop at if/when B&N pulled crap like this)
2) I'm shocked, SHOCKED to hear there's gambling going on in this establishment.
(in other words, B&N is a virtual monopoly for brick and mortar book stores, and they feel no pressure to not pull crap like this, since many people have nowhere else to go)
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I just sent an e-mail to their customer support indicating my disappointment with them. I hope others do the same.
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Re:
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Please be even in your overreaction to things.
Please pull every book where there is a description of torture.
Please pull every book where there is a murder.
etc..
In other words, just pull yourself out of the market.
If you do not do this immediately one will have to assume you are censoring books, which seems like a stupid thing for a book seller to do.
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Response to: That Anonymous Coward on May 4th, 2012 @ 8:35am
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Hypocrites!
Hacking books ... the 5 minute search!
Hacking Exposed Computer Forensics: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Computer-Forensics/Aaron-Philipp/e/9780071626774
Computer Hacking: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/computer-hacking-peggy-j-parks/1103446032?ean=9781420500356
Hacking for Dummies: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hacking-for-dummies-kevin-beaver/1100296172?ean=9780470550939
Guide to Computer Hacking: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-guide-to-computer-hacking-including-vulnerabilities-hacking-tools- cyber-crime-hacker-ethics-such-as-white-hat-black-hat-grey-hat-and-more-catherine-venue/1109904604?e an=9781276185035
Counter Hack: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/counter-hack-edward-skoudis/1004710696?ean=9780130332738
Counter Hack (reloaded): http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Counter-Hack-Reloaded/Ed-Skoudis/e/9780131481046
Sockets, Shellcode, Porting, And Coding: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sockets-shellcode-porting-and-coding-james-c-foster/1101053422?ean=9 781597490054
Shellcoder's Handbook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sockets-shellcode-porting-and-coding-james-c-foster/1101053422?ean=9 781597490054
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Re: Hypocrites!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/d2600-magazine-2600-magazine/1108150347?ean=294001369923 6
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This is the only place where I found 2600 in a bookstore shelf...
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Re: This is the only place where I found 2600 in a bookstore shelf...
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Re: This is the only place where I found 2600 in a bookstore shelf...
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It's not just because there was a hacking article.
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Fuck them - they're gonna die anyway.
25 years (more than a generation) ago, I bought them by the truckload. I bought several new magazines a week. I was a voracious reader.
I haven't bought ONE since 1995. I am still a voracious reader. Only these days, I have a far greater tendency to read what I want to read, not what some "retailer" or monopoly or fascist thinks I should.
I got my fist personal internet account in 1996. Co-incidence?
To put it slightly differently: who the fuck cares? B&N is one of the last dinos standing - like UMG (or whatever the fuck they call themselves this week) they survive on the limited carcasses of other now-extinct dino species. That food supply is disappearing and they'll starved to death in less than 10 years.
I have them in the mental "fuck 'em" bin with the mafiaa and covered wagon sellers.
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Re: Fuck them - they're gonna die anyway.
An ebook reader in the bathroom is gross.
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Re: Fuck them - they're gonna die anyway.
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As spoken by John Cleese in some old training video:
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Re:
RE: Technology
EFFECTIVE immediately, you are to select the youngest person in your department, and, upon receipt of any correspondence relating in any fashion to technology, in particular The Information Superhighway, allow your young person to examine said correspondence and LISTEN TO HIS/HER ADVICE.
If you do not have a young person, contact HR and one will be issued to you.
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Re: Re:
Ignore any complaints from anyone referring to the Internet and hacking or the Internet and porn as something to do with some Information Superhighway.
Send a reply email from such persons that says nothing but has, attached, our complementary copy of "The Technopeasant Survival Manual".
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BN Customer Service Response
11:56:29 AM : AgentRouie: Thank you for that clarification. Please give me a couple of minutes so I may check the item's availability. Please stay online. Thank you.
11:59:04 AM : AgentRouie: I'm still checking on the item. Will it be okay if you'll wait for 3 minutes more?
11:59:57 AM : Customer: sure
12:01:35 PM : AgentRouie: Thank you for patiently waiting. Based on our records, Issue 154 was pulled out so you can't access it online.
12:02:07 PM : Customer: Why was it pulled?
12:04:56 PM : AgentRouie: I apologize as I can't provide the exact reason regarding the pull out. I'm still verifying it. It appears that it has something to do with the cover article which has a censorship issue I guess.
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Re: BN Customer Service Response
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Terrorism
Physics
Biology
Mechanical Engineering
The Occult
Human Anatomy
Chemistry
Crime
...
I mean - after all; they might give people ideas!! lol
Any of those books *could* be used for nefarious purposes, depending on the contents.
You could get conceptual ideas for 'terrorism' even in a Biology textbook!
Or know how to more efficiently kill a person using a book on Human Anatomy!!
OMG NO!!
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Response to: Overcast on May 4th, 2012 @ 10:47am
YOU KNOW WHAT ISNT CENDORSHIP? ME TEARING YOUR FUCKING ASSHOLE APART
YOU WJINING ONTERNET BITCHES MAKE CENSORSHIP SOUND LESS ASS SUCKIAGE
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Response to: Overcast on May 4th, 2012 @ 10:47am
YOU KNOW WHAT ISNT CENDORSHIP? ME TEARING YOUR FUCKING ASSHOLE . SINCE IT ISNT CENSORSHIP, YOU SHOULD NE FUCKING FINE WITH THAT
YOU WJINING ONTERNET BITCHES MAKE CENSORSHIP SOUND LESS ASS SUCKIAGE
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Response to: Overcast on May 4th, 2012 @ 10:47am
YOU KNOW WHAT ISNT CENDORSHIP? ME TEARING YOUR FUCKING ASSHOLE . SINCE IT ISNT CENSORSHIP, YOU SHOULD NE FUCKING FINE WITH THAT
YOU WJINING ONTERNET BITCHES MAKE CENSORSHIP SOUND LESS ASS SUCKIAGE
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Gatekeepers or Enablers
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Four Ways to Abuse a Hammer
When it came to using a table saw {or any power tool}, he would put his philosophy in action and physically demonstrate all the ways to _not_ use said table saw {tool}. i.e. Remove blade guard. Don't use a push stick. Don't use a hold down when it was possible to use one. Don't use a rip fence {push wood through 'free hand'}.
We saw chunks and splinters of wood fly the entire length of the shop floor {easily 40'plus}. He even demonstrated a dummy's arm sleeve getting caught.
Watching all the bad things that could happen taught me two things.
1) Always pay attention to what you're doing.
2) The best way to learn about anything worthwhile is to learn how to abuse it every way you can. That makes a much more lasting impression than someone droning about safety practices.
From 1974 through 2004, I never injured myself with any power tool. In 2004, I managed to slice off 1/8" of one finger nail tip on a table saw. I pay even closer attention now.
I see no difference between learning how to abuse any hand tool at least four different ways and learning how to hack my servers.
You can't learn the safest way to handle anything if you don't know how to abuse it. If you're a network or server admin of any kind, this is exactly the kind of practical, hand's on article you need to see and do and learn to best protect your network.
Shame on B&N to take it upon themselves to censor Linux Format Magazine for the magazine's excellent article on penetration testing.
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Re: Four Ways to Abuse a Hammer
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go ahead, publish it, you decry them, but you are not doing anything but whining about it
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