Do we have a Boinc virus?

I applaud this proposal. For the more paranoid, I'd allow hiding the OS version, but that's about all. There is indeed no reason to hide the hosts, unless you cheat in some way or install BOINC illegally on computers without permission.

I am very disppointed to see this kind of remark. To make this kind of generalization is not very responsible.

If an issue or irregularity occurs w/a user's account, the staff @ Berkeley can easily review the account's hosts, OS, etc. It is not our responsibility to monitor user's accounts..(we are contributing to science, right?!?!)

The purpose of "hidden" hosts is meant for privacy. If a user wishes not to share this kind of information with the public, they should be entitled to this choice.

The issues in this thread have become clouded, and "hidden" computers has nothing to do with a potential Boinc trojan/worm.

I don't have the time to monitor 300,000 + accounts so please let some off them stay hidden. :-p
____________
"The FUTURE is only a PARTICLE away from the PRESENT and the PAST."

I found this interesting googling his name. It comes back with an e-mail account for a UK company,, that just happens to be a sub division of a germany company.

Interesting connection I say


Join Hawaiian Beach Bums-Team SETI
Join Hawaiian Beach Bums-Team Predictor
Join Hawaiian Beach Bums-Team Einstein
Join Hawaiian Beach Bums-Team Climate Prediction
Join Hawaiian Beach Bums-Team LHC
Join Hawaiian Beach Bums-Team Lattice
____________

Beach Bums Current Stats:


Come Join us at Hawaiian Beach Bums

The purpose of "hidden" hosts is meant for privacy. If a user wishes not to share this kind of information with the public, they should be entitled to this choice.

I don't have the time to monitor 300,000 + accounts so please let some off them stay hidden. :-p

How would un-hiding someone’s computers help in telling if they are up to something fishy?

Hi

You hit the nail on his head.
Totally agree.

regards Mike

____________

Well, as has been pointed out, the main goal of the current production projects is to give the general public a means to give scientists a hand in some of their gnarlier computational problems on a voluntary, donation basis. A 'Stone has no intrinsic value, other than what the participant(s) place on it.

On the other hand, since credit is granted as a carrot to encourage participation, every reasonable effort should be taken to ensure the book keeping is as fair and accurate as possible. This current issue has demonstrated the SAH team intends to enforce the rules and policies they have established for the project whenever violations are brought to light and can be *proven*.

This means whether or not the number or performance of a participants equipment seems "fishy" or not to some other group of participants is irrelevant to the standard SAH *must* apply when they investigate or even choose to investigate.

Likewise, the BOINC team decided it was desirable to be able to allow participants to hide all data about their participation if they so choose, and rightfully so. I could go along with a rule change that in order for your account to be published and ranked in the publicly available individual, host, and team stats you must allow viewing of the equipment online.

On the other hand, you have this current situation where Mr. Geise has been thoroughly dissed here in a public forum, based on circumstantial evidence regardless of how "apparent" it may appear, in spite of the fact Matt has stepped in a couple of times to attempt to tone down the rhetoric.

Until one starts getting royalty checks from Berkeley, do you think it is wise to be starting the "SETI Inquisition" over something as stupid as Cobblestones?

Alinator

Kinda like NEZ and his 301,000 RAC.

Suspect...but I heard he's legit.
____________


http://www.mikesbawx.org/photo/

Regarding policing others: If anyone has the time and interest in doing so, so be it. No disagreement here.

When discussing "hidden" computers. This particuar issue regarding a trojan/worm was not discovered because of this.

I am in disagreement when one says that anyone who choses to have their computers "hidden" is guilty of cheating.

Not wanting the public to see number of systems, what types of CPU, OS and breakdown of credits is certainly a choice of privacy. Otherwise Berkeley would have never given users the discretion of keeping this information private.

Certainly this issue will have differences of opinion. Fortunately this forum allows us to voice our differences of opinion. :)
____________

I am in disagreement when one says that anyone who choses to have their computers "hidden" is guilty of cheating.

I am in disagreement when one says that anyone who choses to have their computers "hidden" is guilty of cheating.

I don't recall anyone saying that.

I do however suscribe to the idea that if someone has an ungodly amount of RAC,(301,000) that hiding the computers might seem suspect. But that's all it is, suspect.

@Michael Buckingham my latest posts are in response to this statement.

I applaud this proposal. For the more paranoid, I'd allow hiding the OS version, but that's about all. There is indeed no reason to hide the hosts, unless you cheat in some way or install BOINC illegally on computers without permission.

I'm really wondering if this NEZ guy isn't also using BOINC as a trojan payload package. Typically within the standings you should see an even progression of RAC and total credit. But his completely outclasses the #2 position of each (especally now that the alleged virus guy is gone.) Let's look at this.

(Values rounded off)

NEZ #1 in total credit: 54 million
University of Oulu #2 : 7 million

NEZ #1 in RAC: 301 thousand
Fermilab Farm #2: 64 thousand

(error in looking Fermilab's computers, can't read ../cache/cc/hosts_user.php_userid%3D40%26show_all%3D0; lastmod 1139159036)

He's ignored all questions about his computers also. If this doesn't look like cheating I don't know what does. At the very least I think Matt L should take a look at the IP addresses of the hosts sending in these results and see if we have the same issue as before.
____________

I am in disagreement when one says that anyone who choses to have their computers "hidden" is guilty of cheating.

Not wanting the public to see number of systems, what types of CPU, OS and breakdown of credits is certainly a choice of privacy. Otherwise Berkeley would have never given users the discretion of keeping this information private

Kinda like NEZ and his 301,000 RAC.
Suspect...but I heard he's legit.

I'm really wondering if this NEZ guy isn't also using BOINC as a trojan payload package. Typically within the standings you should see an even progression of RAC and total credit. But his completely outclasses the #2 position of each (especally now that the alleged virus guy is gone.) Let's look at this.

(Values rounded off)

NEZ #1 in total credit: 54 million
University of Oulu #2 : 7 million

NEZ #1 in RAC: 301 thousand
Fermilab Farm #2: 64 thousand

(error in looking Fermilab's computers, can't read ../cache/cc/hosts_user.php_userid%3D40%26show_all%3D0; lastmod 1139159036)

He's ignored all questions about his computers also. If this doesn't look like cheating I don't know what does. At the very least I think Matt L should take a look at the IP addresses of the hosts sending in these results and see if we have the same issue as before.

No, as you can see in the discussion below, it's an urband legend that someone has shown he is legit. Well, of course, unless proven guilty, he is innocent, but nobody offered any explanation of his high RAC, and his only single post on this board was completely off-topic (Misfit's Babe of the Day), where he ignored questions about his RAC with no comments. I am sorry, but I have real troubles understanding that a single person can control several (possibly many) thousands of computers to achieve such a RAC. To me a Trojan in style of Carsten Giese is the most apparent explanation. See more arguments below. Of course, I may be very well wrong, and that's why I would love that he posts some explanation or that BOINC team looks at him closer - but I understand they have other things to do, than policing abusers.

You do not want the information to be public? Sure, you can have your privacy if desired. You have your full right for it. No problem, but disappear from the listings and stats completely! It's as simple as that.

this is turning into a witch hunt now

this is turning into a witch hunt now

While we're at it let's release all convicted computer hackers from prison because in the beginning they were also the victim of a 'witch hunt'.

Put that in any color you want.

this is turning into a witch hunt now

While we're at it let's release all convicted computer hackers from prison because in the beginning they were also the victim of a 'witch hunt'.

Put that in any color you want.

ok here it is in green

[color=green is turning into a witch hunt now[/color]

Everyone