#internet download manager crack

[coktay]

IDM Latest Crack 2024

Download link: https://tinyurl.com/3b88sye2

Pass: 2024

[mecachrome]

wahh thank u @scrappyracers for the tag i enjoyed ur answers a lot :') f1 tag game...

Who is your favorite driver?: i am an oscarybro first & foremost <3 he's the only driver i truly rep because honestly i don't think i have the bandwidth for more even if i wanted to/tried!!

Do you have other favorite drivers?: i would basically put alex below oscar in his own little tier and then it's just like [WALL]... but i'm also fond of yuki + lando + lewis and respekt maxv :') the rest of the grid i honestly don't think about 99% of the time LOL not in a bad way but because i barely have enough energy for My Guys as is u know

Who is your least favorite driver?: 😔 i feel bad sharing hateurisms on my family friendly blog. 

Do you pull for drivers or do you like teams as well?: def drivers first but i genuinely like mclaren as a racing outfit so that helps!!! when oscar was still in alp i suffered so much because of it being a deeply unserious team and even back then when the cracks were still forming this was fairly evident because i had a rossi agenda, so i was like wegghhhh i guess i can enjoy a williams stint/swallow down alpine content for him. 😔 and then he replaced [answer to question above which at the time hindered my mcl support significantly] and i got the ultimate driver pairing at a team i'm actually quite fond of ❤️🤍🖤

If you like teams, what team do you pull for?: any1 else papayapilled??? 🧡

How long have you been into F1?: a little over 2 years!!! how i managed to get into this sport via an inactive reserve driver i don't know.....

What got you into F1?: several friends were getting into it & were reading mxl fic & things of that nature and even though i wasn't really invested in any of the ships presented i ended up biting as well... but fsr i was not compelled by most f1 content / barely watched dts and instead got reeaaally into feeder series, i think perhaps because at the time i was fascinated by prospect projections + mapping / modeling career trajectories + the idea of "ceilings" in hockey and was watching a ton of jr hockey so it kind of translated over and i got to enjoy masterclasses like litr the most broken broadcast streams ever of kimi driving off into the distance in adac f4. But anyway... i also watched chasing the dream and became obsessed with oscar from that and the rest was history 😌🐨🧡

Do you enjoy Fanfic/RPF?: i definitely read it!!! RPF Is Fine etc. i've written 2 effwon fics very poorly and that's it but i peruse the 814 archives regularly..... i forever need to be better at commenting and feel very bad about my own shyness but i think this fandom has such a wealth of incred authors whom i am always in awe of x__x 🧡 tho i will say i'm also a stickler for the 4th wall and it mildly horrifies me that 814 are 75% public..... also fun fact 814 is my favorite oscar ship but it's only my #3 lando ship LOL. j(e|o)ndo you are so special 2 meee

How do you view new fans?: well i'm a relatively new fan so 💗 honestly i barely witness or process most fandom discourse wrt: gatekeeping the sport or dts fans or what have you since i do not frequent those circles of the internet (no public twitter / have never downloaded tiktok in my life) so i don't even know the primary arguments!!

If you could take over as team principal for any team, who would it be and why?: i should never be put in charge of anything. now i'm just trying to think strategically like okay where would i want to live but even then i have no idea... 

Are your friends and family into F1 as well?: my family could not care less but def the former !!! 💗 going to my 2nd gp soon with my beloved chirlie friend who has been with me thru k-pop fandom for like 8 years now hehe

Are you open to talking to other fans/making friends?: yes i'm just very shy & have multiple anxiety disorders Amongst other things so pls forgive my neuroticism 😭😭😭 but i love 2 have discussions.... oscar piastri lore is my passion in fact <3

0 pressure tagging @bright-and-burning @piastrisms @miamimaiden @goingxmissing If u would like !!! these r fun qs i like hearing about people's fandom journeys/experiences hehe :')

[pearls-gone-wild]

I once played hooky from work to be an extra in a historical docudrama about the Revolutionary War, and during one of the many waiting moments, someone* started a debate about what kind of smartphone each of the Founding Fathers would have had. We ended up concluding:

George Washington has the most recent iPhone, though he makes a big deal about not knowing which one he's on. He only has ten apps on his phone, and uses all of them.

Thomas Jefferson also has an iPhone (all of the Virginians do) and downloads every app he hears about, against the advice of Madison. He has been hacked three times that he knows about, and is angry at the internet for ever charging money for stuff online. He keeps a second phone for "personal" texts, and thinks no one else knows (everyone knows).

Ben Franklin had the first Palm Pilot, then the Blackberry, before moving on to an Android. He still misses the fold-out keyboard from the Palm Pilot days.

John Adams has loaded an open source OS onto his phone, which he tweaked to fit his needs. It works, but the messaging apps are wildly incompatible with any other OS, so he mostly gets texts from Abigail, who has the other phone that he engineered like this.

Alexander Hamilton has an Android, but somehow managed to be the guy who taught Washington how to use his iPhone. He's constantly texting and emailing, and no one knows how he keeps up with it all.

James Madison is also constantly texting, but mostly Jefferson.

*Ok, it was me. I'd finished Wikipedia-ing everything about the historical moment we were filming, and I was tired of the extra making non-stop Star Wars jokes (the principle actor there voiced Obi Wan in the animated series). If you're going to crack jokes on a period movie set, at least make them historically relevant.

[crmsnmth]

Better Off Alone (Version B)

I do better when I'm alone It just suits me to never leave my home To not go out and find some trouble brewing And the freed to have lost care about anything I care about the world around me just not enough to ever do something for it

So I spend my free time alone Watching TV on the internet a thousand of my childhood wishes came true with the advent of downloads off a high speed And those are good statistics, I'll tell you that So wipe the worry from your eyes I'm swearing that this will work

I do better when I'm alone I don't go out with friends because I can't be tempted And more importantly, I don't have any friends I left every one of them behind for a life of bottles, bleeding and needle point embroidery

So I'll keep my time alone No one can twist my head No one can ever break my heart No one can do anything if I let no one around

I do better when I'm alone I strive on sleeping on a mattress on the floor next to a pile of laundry that always smells like socks When I'm on the edge of being homeless The rent checks going to bounce but I'll blame it on my land lord and manage to buy myself a month Once a con man, always a liar That doctrine is what you need to believe

I never meant to be the crack in your mirror But sometimes we're made for a purpose

I do better when I'm alone I don't need the love of another anymore I don't need the stress of loving someone else I don't need anything

This is the kind of shit I tell myself at night so I can sleep.

[champion-level-astroturfing]

Pelipper mail! It is wearing a lei, and unceremoniously drops a phone in your lap before flying off. The phone has a novelty case on it, displaying a beach at sundown and the phrase "It's always sunny in Margaritaville!"

There is a small crack in the screen that seems to shimmer and shift with the light when you tilt the phone this way and that. The default background is, predictably, a beach vista. There is a single, black boat on the water, and while you can't make out their features you can see a half dozen people on the deck looking directly at you. If you try to change the background the boat and the water it's on will somehow always reappear. The people seem to come and go as they please, but are always looking directly at you when they show up. It makes you feel vaguely nauseous.

The note attached reads:

"Ahoy hoy! Sorry to hear ya fried your old phone, hope there wasn't too much good stuff on there. Here's a new one, with a few new buddies included! You can change out the case if ya want, of course, but if I was you I definitely wouldn't let that crack get any bigger 😅

Keep it sunny, sailor!

-@poke-jimmy-butchett "

y'know what i'm PRETTY sure i told clatterclatter to tell you it was okay, i could just grab a secondhand phone from PEX, i didn't need anything haunted, but of FUCKING COURSE the little shit-

well. it's here now and it works, or at least it downloaded rotumblr and logged me in without any trouble, so i guess i'll just uh. i'll just make my peace with the dudes on the boat for the time being. or something.

clatterclatter's still got my old phone by the way but i managed to turn the internet off and i think it's too dumb to figure out turning it back on. i hope. the thing'll blow up on it sooner rather than later anyway. probably literally. i swear it was starting to smoke by the time i got it back

teach me to leave electronics unattended in the same room as a rotom i guess. even if it's never shown any inclination to leave the lawnmower previously

thanks jimmy. are you uh. having fun in the haunted margaritaville or

[mariacallous]

In today’s digital world, injustice lurks in the shadows of the Facebook post that’s delivered to certain groups of people at the exclusion of others, the hidden algorithm used to profile candidates during job interviews, and the risk-assessment algorithms used for criminal sentencing and welfare fraud detention. As algorithmic systems are integrated into every aspect of society, regulatory mechanisms struggle to keep up.

Over the past decade, researchers and journalists have found ways to unveil and scrutinize these discriminatory systems, developing their own data collection tools. As the internet has moved from browsers to mobile apps, however, this crucial transparency is quickly disappearing.

Third-party analysis of digital systems has largely been made possible by two seemingly banal tools that are commonly used to inspect what’s happening on a webpage: browser add-ons and browser developer tools.

Browser add-ons are small programs that can be installed directly onto a web browser, allowing users to augment how they interact with a given website. While add-ons are commonly used to operate tools like password managers and ad-blockers, they are also incredibly useful for enabling people to collect their own data within a tech platform’s walled garden.

Similarly, browser developer tools were made to allow web developers to test and debug their websites’ user interfaces. As the internet evolved and websites became more complex, these tools evolved too, adding features like the ability to inspect and change source code, monitor network activity, and even detect when a website is accessing your location or microphone. These are powerful mechanisms for investigating how companies track, profile, and target their users.

I have put these tools to use as a data journalist to show how a marketing company logged users’ personal data even before they clicked “submit” on a form and, more recently, how the Meta Pixel tool (formerly the Facebook Pixel tool) tracks users without their explicit knowledge in sensitive places such as hospital websites, federal student loan applications, and the websites of tax-filing tools.

In addition to exposing surveillance, browser inspection tools provide a powerful way to crowdsource data to study discrimination, the spread of misinformation, and other types of harms tech companies cause or facilitate. But in spite of these tools’ powerful capabilities, their reach is limited. In 2023, Kepios reported that 92 percent of global users accessed the internet through their smartphones, whereas only 65 percent of global users did so using a desktop or laptop computer.

Though the vast majority of internet traffic has moved to smartphones, we don’t have tools for the smartphone ecosystem that afford the same level of “inspectability” as browser add-ons and developer tools. This is because web browsers are implicitly transparent, while mobile phone operating systems are not.

If you want to view a website in your web browser, the server has to send you the source code. Mobile apps, on the other hand, are compiled, executable files that you usually download from places such as Apple’s iOS App Store or Google Play. App developers don’t need to publish the source code for people to use them.

Similarly, monitoring network traffic on web browsers is trivial. This technique is often more useful than inspecting source code to see what data a company is collecting on users. Want to know which companies a website shares your data with? You’ll want to monitor the network traffic, not inspect the source code. On smartphones, network monitoring is possible, but it usually requires the installation of root certificates that make users’ devices less secure and more vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks from bad actors. And these are just some of the differences that make collecting data securely from smartphones much harder than from browsers.

The need for independent collection is more pressing than ever. Previously, company-provided tools such as the Twitter API and Facebook’s CrowdTangle, a tool for monitoring what’s trending on Facebook, were the infrastructure that powered a large portion of research and reporting on social media. However, as these tools become less useful and accessible, new methods of independent data collection are needed to understand what these companies are doing and how people are using their platforms.

To meaningfully report on the impact digital systems have on society, we need to be able to observe what’s taking place on our devices without asking a company for permission. As someone who has spent the past decade building tools that crowdsource data to expose algorithmic harms, I believe the public should have the ability to peek under the hood of their mobile apps and smart devices, just as they can on their browsers. And it’s not just me: The Integrity Institute, a nonprofit working to protect the social internet, recently released a report that lays bare the importance of transparency as a lever to achieve public interest goals like accountability, collaboration, understanding, and trust.

To demand transparency from tech platforms, we need a platform-independent transparency framework, something that I like to call an inspectability API. Such a framework would empower even the most vulnerable populations to capture evidence of harm from their devices while minimizing the risk of their data being used in research or reporting without their consent.

An application programming interface (API) is a way for companies to make their services or data available to other developers. For example, if you’re building a mobile app and want to use the phone’s camera for a specific feature, you would use the iOS or Android Camera API. Another common example is an accessibility API, which allows developers to make their applications accessible to people with disabilities by making the user interface legible to screen readers and other accessibility tools commonly found on modern smartphones and computers. An inspectability API would allow individuals to export data from the apps they use every day and share it with researchers, journalists, and advocates in their communities. Companies could be required to implement this API to adhere to transparency best practices, much as they are required to implement accessibility features to make their apps and websites usable for people with disabilities.

In the US, residents of some states can request the data companies collect on them, thanks to state-level privacy laws. While these laws are well-intentioned, the data that companies share to comply with them is usually structured in a way that obfuscates crucial details that would expose harm. For example, Facebook has a fairly granular data export service that allows individuals to see, amongst other things, their “Off-Facebook activity.” However, as the Markup found during a series of investigations into the use of Pixel, even though Facebook told users which websites were sharing data, it did not reveal just how invasive the information being shared was. Doctor appointments, tax filing information, and student loan information were just some of the things that were being sent to Facebook. An inspectability API would make it easy for people to monitor their devices and see how the apps they use track them in real time.

Some promising work is already being done: Apple’s introduction of the App Privacy Report in iOS 15 marked the first time iPhone users could see detailed privacy information to understand each app’s data collection practices and even answer questions such as, “Is Instagram listening to my microphone?”

But we cannot rely on companies to do this at their discretion—we need a clear framework to define what sort of data should be inspectable and exportable by users, and we need regulation that penalizes companies for not implementing it. Such a framework would not only empower users to expose harms, but also ensure that their privacy is not violated. Individuals could choose what data to share, when, and with whom.

An inspectability API will empower individuals to fight for their rights by sharing the evidence of harm they have been exposed to with people who can raise public awareness and advocate for change. It would enable organizations such as Princeton’s Digital Witness Lab, which I cofounded and lead, to conduct data-driven investigations by collaborating closely with vulnerable communities, instead of relying on tech companies for access. This framework would allow researchers and others to conduct this work in a way that is safe, precise, and, most importantly, prioritizes the consent of the people being harmed.

[jgmartin]

MONSTERCALL

The Dark Web.

The name itself is a meme. It’s become the boomer boogeyman, the back alley of the internet where you go to get your kidneys harvested and sold off to a billionaire’s all-you-can-torture buffet. It’s the skeezy part of town. The no man’s land of the digital world, chock-full of society’s most vile scum.

It’s also pretty boring.

See, the dark web isn’t that much different than the surface web. Sure, it has a cooler name and better privacy, but most people use it for the same shit. Social media? Check. Shopping? Check. Pirating movies? Duh. Did you know Facebook exists on the dark web? You do now.

My parents are terrified of the dark web. They speak about it in hushed breaths, sort of like Ron Weasley talks about Lord Voldemort. It’s as though they think uttering its name too loudly will invoke the wrath of some serial hacker, just waiting in the wings to delete their bank accounts.

Ridiculous, right? I told them they were paranoid. To prove them wrong, I even downloaded the Tor browser and uninstalled Chrome. There’s nothing to fear on the dark web, I said, so long as you’ve got half a brain’s worth of sense in you.

Now, I’m not so sure.

Now, I wish I could take it all back.

I stumbled across the website after a night of drinking. I’d been out with Jared, my best friend since childhood, reminiscing about the good old days of driving Mrs. Crabtree up the wall. When I got home, I felt a bit nostalgic so I went digging for old pictures on Facebook. Like most drunk missions, one thing led to another, and I landed on an old thread listing the most exciting websites on the darkweb.

Spooky, right?

Well, most were fairly vanilla. Some free textbooks here, a bit of hacked video games there. I scrolled down through the responses until I found one buried beneath the others. It had just a single upvote. 

I stared at the link for a few seconds, then cracked a fresh beer and said fuck it.

The website was plain, mostly white text on a black background. Across the top was a banner emblazoned with the words CALL YOUR MONSTERS. I cracked a grin. It was kind of cute, in an edgelord, emo kid sort of way.

After clicking through a few menu links, I landed on the ORDER A MONSTER page. It said that, for $99, they would deliver a personalized monster to a doorstep of my choice. Free shipping, too. The flavor text read:

Perfect for getting even with terrible bosses, backstabbing friends, and childhood enemies!

I laughed. The idea was absolute gold. They even had a Monster Call Guarantee of same-day shipping. How they managed to pull that off, I had no idea. Maybe they had a network of paid actors, patiently waiting to dress up in Halloween costumes and say a few canned lines on somebody’s doorstep? Or maybe it was like Build-a-Bear, where you got to design your own stuffed version of ghouls like Dracula and the Wolfman?

Who knows.

Whatever it was, I decided I was far too drunk to give a shit about how they made it happen. All I knew was a hundred bucks was a damn steal. I smashed the order button and it brought me to a follow-up page titled DESIGN YOUR MONSTER.

I practically licked my lips. This was the juicy bit! The website gave me a drop-down list of selectable options based on modifiable body parts. The mouth, for instance, had FANGS, BROKEN TEETH, NO MOUTH, MULTIPLE MOUTHS, and TOO MANY TEETH.

I thought the idea of too many teeth sounded ridiculous enough to be awesome, so I picked that and went down the list and selected the rest of the monster’s attributes, including its body type, its subspecies, and finally its ‘power’.

The next page said LEAVE A MESSAGE. I mulled it over for a few minutes before deciding to keep it simple. I typed 'boo' into the text field.

Once I was finished, I clicked COMPLETE and it brought me to a new screen that made me jump. It was a webcam video of me, staring shocked at my laptop. The stream was live. At the top of the page, a red text banner proclaimed PERFORM THE BLOOD SACRIFICE.

Uh, what? I cocked an eyebrow. As if in answer to my confusion, a list of instructions faded into view on the bottom of the screen. 

 1. UTTER THE NAME OF YOUR RECIPIENT

 2. PIERCE YOUR SKIN

 3. CONSUME YOUR BLOOD

I burst out laughing. This was too wild! Not only were they gonna deliver a ‘monster’ to somebody’s doorstep, but they were gonna include a goofy ritual video too. 

Alright, I decided, I’m game. I went downstairs and grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer and headed back up to my room. Holding my hand up with a coy grin, I pricked my thumb with the tip of the blade.

“Jared Mayhew!” I announced dramatically, stuffing my bleeding thumb into my mouth and sucking it clean. Once I’d finished, I held it up, drunk and proud, as evidence of my dark ritual complete. Seconds passed and nothing happened. Then, the screen went black and a new page appeared.

ORDER COMPLETE! DELIVERY IN PROGRESS.

I sipped my beer, wondering how Jared would react to my spooky surprise landing on his doorstep tomorrow. I really hoped they included the blood sacrifice bit. Jared and his wife, Alyssa, both hated blood, so they’d never let me live it down— and that was exactly what I wanted.

A couple of seconds later, a new screen popped up.

DELIVERY COMPLETE. STANDBY FOR RESULTS.

Already? That didn’t make any sense. How did they manage to create my order and ship it across the country, all in the span of five minutes? 

A depressing realization swept over me. My drunk ass had been duped. There was no way they’d be able to ship something that quickly, so the only explanation was 

A) it was a scam, or

B) it was just some lame video-mail jump-scare.

Fuck.

Now the $99 made more sense. There was no way a tiny start-up could offer same-day delivery and a compelling product for so little money. It was a pipedream logistically. Who the fuck did they think they were? Amazon?

Defeated, I decided that was enough dark web shopping for one night. Time to pack it in. I closed my laptop, brushed my teeth, and hopped into bed.

My phone vibrated.

I stared at it, wondering who would be messaging me at this hour. Jared, maybe? He was just as drunk as I was and probably high as a kite by now too. I chuckled, picking up my phone. The screen indicated one new email— from MONSTERCALL. That was odd. I’d never given them my email.

ORDER DELIVERED!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW RESULTS.

View results? I heaved a sigh. This was either a virus or some guarantee that Jared got a corny ‘spooky’ email. Still drunk, still making poor decisions, I clicked the link and it opened a video feed.

Of Jared’s house.

I sat up, my tiredness vanishing in a tidal wave of what the fuck. The video was dimly lit, and the way it bobbed up and down looked like it was being recorded off of somebody’s cell phone. Jared’s small, two-bedroom home was there in all of its suburban glory. Something about the video felt off, though. Wrong.

I told myself to relax. This was just some prank or gag. The company probably put out a call for a fraction of the money to any locals, and somebody pulled the contract. No doubt they were going to walk up the front steps, knock on his door, and then say boo and run off or some shit. It wasn’t a big deal. 

So why was my heart racing?

The video neared the house, the footsteps going slowly. In the silence of the night, I heard the person behind the camera breathing. They sounded frightened. Scared. Why? 

Lights went on inside the house, painting the windows in a dull, yellow glow. I squinted, seeing dark shapes darting behind the curtains.

Thoroughly confused, I decided to message Jared and ask if he got my surprise.

TERRANCE: suuup dude, you get my special delivery?? haha

JARED: HE,P

JARED: SKMWTHING

JARED: INSIDE THE HOUSE

Dark splotches splattered against the glass. A moment later, a woman’s scream rang out, and the window shattered. Two hands reached out from behind billowing curtains, gripping the side of the windowsill. Then two more gripped the top. A figure emerged, lurching out of the opening and into the yard.

It looked familiar. 

Jesus Christ, it looked familiar.

It stood eight feet tall, with large bat wings flared out behind it, and four crooked, muscular arms clenching in and out of fists. The person behind the camera stumbled backward, muttering something incoherent. The creature swiveled its head toward them.

The video feed shifted. Images of the sidewalk flew up and down as the cameraman ran full-tilt from Jared’s house, heaving panicked gasps. I caught muffled fragments of prayers. Then a shriek sounded, followed by the flap of powerful wings.

The video crashed, tumbling in a blur of pixels. A man’s voice shouted for help, and then something heavy crunched, and his voice died with a wheeze. Another shriek filled the night, and a shadow appeared, gazing down toward the discarded cell phone. It had four arms, a pair of wings, and a mouth filled with rows and rows of teeth.

Too many teeth.

I lurched forward, swallowing the vomit in my throat. In one of the creature’s arms was a thirty-something man, struggling wordlessly against the monster’s might. His chest looked like it’d been caved in. The creature leaned towards him, pressed its teeth against his face, and slowly bit down. The man's legs kicked and jolted as the beast’s teeth began rotating like a blender, tearing his flesh from his skull.

It dropped him there, convulsing and dying, then beat its great wings and took off into the sky. Moments later I heard confused shouts. Footsteps pounded against the pavement. More hollers. People called for the police, other neighbors told children to get back inside.

I put my phone down, horrified. It had to have been a joke. There simply was no way that had actually happened. It couldn’t have. It was too gruesome— too violent. That was digital effects all the way. It had to be. Apps were great at that these days. 

Weren’t they?

______________________

The next day I got a call from Jared’s parents. His mother tried to talk, but she couldn’t get past the tears, so she put his father, Roger, on the line. He explained that something terrible happened last night.

My breath caught in my chest.

I told myself to relax, that there was nothing to worry about. Monsters didn't exist. I knew that. “What happened?” I asked, as calmly as I could.

"Terrance," Roger said quietly. "This isn't easy to talk about, and god knows it's going to be harder to hear, but last night somebody broke into Jared’s home. Police think it was around two in the morning." 

My jaw hung limp, my hand trembling as I held the phone to my ear. A terrible coincidence. That's all it was. A terrible, horrible coincidence.

"I don't know how to say this," he continued, "so I'm just going to come right out with it." Roger took a deep, shuddering breath, the kind I’d never heard a man like him take in all his life. When he spoke again his voice was as fragile as glass. "The intruder that broke in mutilated them. Jared and Alyssa."

"Mutilated?" I said in a small voice. The sound of Roger’s voice on the phone felt distant suddenly, like the world was falling away from me at a hundred miles an hour. This couldn’t be real. It couldn’t. These things just didn’t happen to people. 

"Yes,” Roger said. “God, Terrance. I hate to give you this news, I do. But you’ve always been Jared’s closest friend, and I didn’t want you hearing about it in the newspaper. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

He paused. “The police,” he began, pushing the words out. “They said the psychopath ate pieces of them. They say that the monster chewed their faces clean off their skulls.”

I held the phone to my chest as I vomited all over my bedroom floor. I hurled again. Then once more. 

“Terrance?” Roger’s voice said from the receiver. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” I said, wiping puke from my mouth. “I mean, Jesus, no Roger. I’m so sorry. Holy shit.” My hand slipped through my hair and I gripped it painfully, praying that maybe if I just pulled hard enough, the pain would wake me from this nightmare. 

“It’s—”

“The funeral preparations,” I said, guilt pooling inside of me. “I’ll handle them. I’ll handle everything. You and Charlene need to take this time to grieve for your son. It’s the—”

“There won’t be a funeral,” Roger said, voice trembling. 

“What? Why not?”

A sound reached my ears, a sound I’d never heard in my life. I listened as Roger broke down sobbing. This man, this construction foreman who’d never so much as wiped a tear from his eye in the twenty years I’d known him, was crying his eyes out.

“Jared and Alyssa… they’re alive,” he said. “Hooked up to tubes in the hospital. The sick fuck left them, my baby and his wife, mangled on their living room floor. Can you believe that?” He wheezed, and I heard Jared’s mother weeping in the background. “The monster didn’t even have the humanity to put them out of their misery.”

My mouth hung limp. What was there to say to that? What words could alleviate that sort of pain? “I…”

“You need to be careful,” Roger said, and his voice evened out a little. “You’ve gotta be careful, Terrance, alright? You might not be my son, but you were over enough that I practically raised you. Pretty soon you might be all I’ve got left. The cops… Well, they told me they haven’t caught the bastard that did this. He’s still out there. So keep your doors and windows locked, you hear? And don’t let anybody inside you don’t know.”

“Wait—” I said. “They don’t have anything? No leads at all?”

“They’ve got something,” Roger said. “It’s… not much. A crumpled up note they found on Jared’s doorstep.”

“A note?” My heart thrummed. 

"Yeah. But it was just one word. Practically useless."

A lump formed in my throat. “What did it say?”

“...Boo.”

[gamersonthego]

GOTG Review: Hypnospace Outlaw

This is the next game in my Backlog Roulette series, where each month I spin a wheel to randomly select a game on my massive backlog that I must play (though not necessarily to completion). These wheel spins occur on the monthly preview episodes I co-host with my friends on The Casual Hour podcast.

Both of my parents were educators at my elementary school (they're retired now.) Mom was a 3rd grade teacher and Dad taught gym. They both would stay after classes were over to work on lesson plans or grade papers or move equipment, and I got to freely choose which one to spend time with before we got to go home. With Dad, I would mostly practice free throws in the gym (though I never got any good at them). But with Mom, I’d often get to play on her computer (when I wasn’t watching Digimon Adventure on her classroom TV.

That was probably my first real experience with computers. I’d play things like Oregon Trail II (the best one, by the way) or an awful typing program called PAWS featuring a freaky Cheshire-Cat-like mascot. But sometimes, I would load up Netscape Navigator and just poke around on the late ‘90s internet. 

I hated this cat so much as a kid.

I only remember bits and pieces of that time online. A Sokoban block-pushing puzzler, a Super Mario Bros. fan game with all-new levels, some first-person hovercraft racer that had multiplayer LAN capabilities (I’ve never been able to find that game since, it’s definitely not Hover! by Microsoft.) a fansite for the Sonic Underground cartoon. Even with my fragmented memory, I remember the joy and adventure I had just digging around. Anything could be around that next corner, and that was half the fun.

Hypnospace Outlaw is the closest I’ve ever come to reliving those formative computer experiences. Set in an alternate 1999, you are thrust into Hypnospace — an internet stand-in that’s part GeoCities and part forum chatroom — and are asked to moderate and police this online Wild West. 

Developer Tendershoot has nailed the tone and aesthetic of this era. The highly compressed bitmap images, the way pages auto-play (incredible) music when they load, the terrible, terrible fonts, the fileshare servers that are completely inscrutable unless you know exactly what you’re looking for — it’s all just perfect. And it’s not just Hypnospace. The game has its own little desktop computer experience complete with email, virtual pets, a download manager and more. It reminds me of Cibele or Her Story, but much more freeform and robust. But all that is just aesthetic —  the game itself is pretty cool too. As a Hypnospace moderator, you’re given little jobs as you explore the various pages and zones of the browser: Take down some copyrighted material here, censor some threatening speech there, find some lost files that are hanging around…somewhere. Some of these tasks just require you to pay close attention to the pages themselves, while others force you to put on your hacker cap as you cross reference ID codes with unlisted pages, crack passwords or decrypt files, all while a corporate conspiracy bubbles up around you. 

It’s truly satisfying to use your online sleuthing skills to their fullest. And whether you’re stopping a virus from breaking the virtual world or just banning a kid who can’t seem to stop making offensive webcomics, you just feel this sense of power.

In many ways, Hypnospace Outlaw the platonic ideal of the concept of late-90s computing. I do wonder if that hyper-specific aesthetic and mechanics gives it too narrow of an audience, but as someone who is part of that narrow audience, I found my experience with it to be incredibly fun. And it’s one I won’t soon forget.

[mynewjerseycaraccident]

Benefits Of Kmspico Microsoft Windows Activator

KMSPICO works as an activation software that grants users the ability to install Windows and Microsoft Products for both free or for a lifetime. It's easy-to-use and comes with a smaller software package that can be easily installed. Furthermore, it is completely safe to use as there are no viruses nor malware in it.

There is no need to generate product keys.

It's no mystery that MS products tend to cost a lot. Nonetheless, there exist ways around paying for these heftily priced products. One method utilized is by using activation. This program allows the activation of pirated versions of Windows, as well as other Windows products, for no cost. The most notable feature is the fact that this tool is virus- and malware- free.

The application operates by interacting with a trusted server, which holds various authorized keys for Windows Activation. It's important for users to understand that all systems cannot be activated with panacea. It is also not compatible with all Microsoft Office versions.

Many people have claimed that an antivirus program has advised against downloading and installing kmspico windows 10 due to its alleged shadiness and connection with malware. Despite being warned, the KMSPICO tool continues to be used regularly by those who seek a cost-effective and dependable way of activating their pirated Windows. This holds especially true for those students who are unable to purchase a licensed version of Microsoft's software.

No risk of Fraude detection.

KMSpico acts as a fake key management service server. KMS Servers are utilized to license Microsoft applications for organizations with large volumes. KMSPICO can infringe Microsoft's service agreements and result in software piracy. Moreover, using this software can lead to legal troubles since it infringes copyright law.

Many cybersecurity experts advise against obtaining KMSPICO. These cheat tools tend to be distributed via fake downloading portals, search engines, and sales websites. These may be accompanied by self-signed certificates that attempt to make them seem authentic. These programs can potentially pose a danger as being Headless Trojans or Malware. This renders them hard to recognize by anti-virus programs.

KMSPICO may cause software activations or pop-up warnings and inhibit users' access to updates, support, and other features available only through licensed products. In addition, this application can lead users to malicious websites that aim to gather personal data or inflict viruses. To prevent these threats, only utilize a legitimate program that is also free.

KMSpico is easy to use and does not contain any viruses or malware that can harm the computer.

KMSpico is easy to use and does NOT contain any virus or malicious code that can damage the computer. It does NOT rely on an Internet connection and will not make the computer sluggish or perform poorly. Its installation and usage are simple.

KMSPICO supports both the modern as well as the vintage editions of both Windows® and MS Office®. It utilizes a software program known as KMS, which communicates with a remote server for activating Microsoft software. Unlike some activators, kmspico for windows 11 does NOT install any patches or cracked versions of the OS and remains updated frequently.

kmspico can be downloaded for FREE from reputable websites and used to reactivate Microsoft Products for ever. It is a simple tool that doesn't require any technical knowledge to operate. It's a straightforward tool to operate that doesn't require any technological knowledge. It can be used to both conserve money while still obtaining the highest quality features from branded Microsoft software.

The lifetime license is valid for two years.

KMSPico ranks among the select few activators that grants a perpetual license. It supports activating both Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office Products, which include the most recent version of Windows 10. It supports using both 32- and 64-bit systems. Unlike many other activator software, this one is not obstructed by a complicated installation and can be downloaded and utilized for free.

KMSPico, which is frequently employed by piraters to circumvent Microsoft licensing requirements, is plagued by numerous flaws and should never be used. It is particularly dangerous if it's downloaded through a phishing website. It is capable of modifying system configurations and restricting access control to disaster recovery and backup images. It's important that cybersecurity, legality, and security are given a higher priority when selecting software licenses and activations. This explains why using authentic Microsoft software is preferred. Furthermore, this approach ensures the compliance with copyright legislation and supports software authenticity. Additionally, it can prevent users from incurring expensive license fees by preventing unauthorized installation.

KMSPICO can be used free of-charge and permanently unlock Microsoft Windows and all other products. It's easy to use and relatively small in size, making it very easy for users to set up. KMSPICO is completely safe to use and doesn't include any virus or malicious code.

There is no need to purchase product keys anymore.

It's no surprise that purchasing Microsoft can become expensive. Nonetheless, there exist ways around paying for these heftily priced products. One method utilized is by using activation. This program allows the activation of pirated versions of Windows, as well as other Windows products, for no cost. The most notable feature is the fact that this tool is virus- and malware- free.

The application operates by interacting with a trusted server, which holds various authorized keys for Windows Activation. It's important for users to understand that all systems cannot be activated with panacea. It is also not compatible with all Microsoft Office versions.

Many people have claimed that an antivirus program has advised against downloading and installing kmspico windows 10 due to its alleged shadiness and connection with malware. Despite being warned, the KMSPICO tool continues to be used regularly by those who seek a cost-effective and dependable way of activating their pirated Windows. This applies particularly to students who may lack the funds to purchase a licensed version of Windows.

No risk of Fraude detection.

KMSpico acts as a fake key management service server. KMS Servers are utilized to license Microsoft products for larger organizations. KMSPICO can infringe Microsoft's service agreements and result in software piracy. Moreover, using this software can lead to legal troubles since it infringes copyright law.

Many cybersecurity experts advise against obtaining KMSPICO. These cheat tools tend to be distributed via fake downloading portals, search engines, and sales websites. These programs may also contain self-signed certificates, attempting to make them look legitimate. These programs can pose a threat because of being infected with trojan-like and potentially infected malware, which can make them extremely difficult for antivirus software to identify.

KMSPICO may cause software activations or pop-up warnings and inhibit users' access to updates, support, and other features available only through licensed products. In addition, this application can lead users to malicious websites that aim to gather personal data or inflict viruses. To minimize these risks, ensure that the software utilized is both legitimately and completely free.

KMSpico is easy to use and does not contain any viruses or malware that can harm the computer.

KMSpico is easy to use and does NOT contain any virus or malicious software that can infect or damage the computer. It does NOT rely on an Internet connection and will not make the computer sluggish or perform poorly. Its size of the software is compact, making it easy for users to easily set up and utilize.

KMSPICO supports both the modern as well as the vintage editions of both Windows® and MS Office®. It utilizes a software program known as KMS, which communicates with a remote server for activating Microsoft software. Unlike some activators, it doesn't require installing any patches or cracked operating systems, and it is frequently updated.

kmspico windows 10 can be downloaded for FREE from reputable websites and used to reactivate Microsoft Products for ever. It is a simple tool that doesn't require any technical knowledge to operate. It's a straightforward tool that doesn't require any technological knowledge. It allows users to acquire a discounted price while still getting the superior features that come with a licensed Microsoft system.

A lifetime license is available for purchase.

KMSPico ranks among the select few activators that grants a perpetual license. It supports activating Microsoft Office and Windows products, which include the most recent version of Microsoft. It supports using both 32- and 64-bit systems. Unlike many other activators, this one does not need any complicated installation and can be downloaded and used immediately.

KMSPico, which is frequently employed by piraters to circumvent Microsoft licensing requirements, is plagued by numerous flaws and should never be used. It is particularly dangerous if it's downloaded through a phishing website. It may also modify system configurations and obstruct access to recovering options such as shadow volumes. It's important that cybersecurity, legality, and security are given a higher priority when selecting software licenses and activations. This explains why using authentic Microsoft software is preferred. Additionally, this technique ensures that software is in compliance and authenticated. Additionally, it can prevent users from incurring expensive license fees by preventing unauthorized installation.

[computervrx]

Viruses in the 2000s

These times were considered some of the most destructive years for computer viruses ever. With the introduction of new operating systems such as Windows 2000 and Windows XP and computers for personal use becoming more commonplace, hackers were able to gain access to personal devices faster and more easily.

Year 2000 - ILOVEYOU Bug

This is sometimes referred to as the love bug or love letter for you virus. This virus was created by 2 men located in the Philippines named Onel Guzman and Reonel Ramones. It was initially intended to steal the passwords of the person they sent the virus to because at the time they was struggling for money and wanted to gain access to the internet without having to pay for it. However, this virus managed to spread through multiple email addresses and eventually became a worldwide issue. It was able to infect over ten million windows PCs on and after May 5th 2000.

It would present itself in the form of an email sent by a user's contacts with the subject line "ILOVEYOU" attached with a .vbs file.

Once it was opened the following tasks were performed:

Made multiple copies of itself and overwrite personal files Made changes to the user's registry key Send itself to everyone in that user's contact list Downloaded a file call "WIN-BUGFIX.exe" designed to steal passwords

The destruction it cause was attributed to the it's design, since it was a visual basic script it was easy for a user to access the source code and have the virus do whatever they wanted it to do. It was said that it caused US$5.5 - $8.7 billion in damages worldwide and estimated to cost US$10-15 billion to remove the worm. within 10 days, over 50 million infections had been reported.

The two creators eventually were the targets of a criminal investigation by agents of the Philippines (NBI) due to the number of reports made to Sky Internet provider from European computer users alleging it was sent to them.

The creators were later arrested and placed under investigating but because there were no laws against writing malware in the Philippines at the time, both of the creators were released with all charges dropped. To this day, the creator states that they never intended for the virus to spread as far as it did and was shocked to find out how much damaged was caused.

Notable Virus from this Time Period:

Blaster Worm

Hackers exploited a vulnerability in windows software and had the virus spread itself without the end user having to open any attachment

Would turn a user's computer in a "zombie" and render it unusable while recruiting other computers for self-propagation

- Able to launch DDos attacks against the microsoft corporation's own websites.

Netsky:

Created in 2004 by Sven Johnson in June 2004

29 variants of the virus roamed the internet and was the source of many DDos attacks spread via email and copied itself onto the victim's local hard drive

at one time 25% of all viruses on the internet were all Netsky variants.

This lead to the creator being arrested but only received probation due to their age.

MyDoom:

Was considered a massive threat as the worm hit thousands of computers through what was called a "peer to peer" network where files were shared through one network to another.

Notable P2P sharing site example - Limewire

At the time, it was the fastest spreading email worm in history

Was thought to have disappeared but reappeared in 2009 targeting countries like South Korea and the US.

Sasser:

Created by the creator of the Netsky virus

Did not require email to spread, simply placed itself on an infected machine and started looking for vulnerable systems. Once found, it would contact those systems and tell them to download the virus.

Conficker:

Derived from the words "configuration" and "ficker"

Exploited vulnerabilities in windows and used the standard dictionary to crack administrator passwords

Over 200 countries were affected and it affected everyone from average users to major corporations and government organizations

Attacked the ministry of defense in the UK

Each variant is named after a letter (Conficker A,B,C,D and E)