The Boston Diaries

The ongoing saga of a programmer who doesn't live in Boston, nor does he even like Boston, but yet named his weblog/journal “The Boston Diaries.”

Go figure.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

As this is all being done over email, how do I know it's not an elaborate phishing scheme?

I think I dodged a bullet.

Last Friday, I received an email from the Corporate Overlords about their impending “multi-factor authentication implementation”. They included a FAQ about the project:

Q: I don't have a company mobile. Can I install XXX on my personal mobile?

A: Yes, you can install the XXX Mobile App on your personal phone to use it as a token.

Q: I don't have a company mobile and I don't want to install XXX on my personal mobile.

A: We strongly suggest using the XXX mobile app as the most convenient features, like XXX push (one touch authorization), are not available on the hardware token. You also can use the DUO Mobile App to secure your personal accounts (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, etc…) with multi-factor authentication.

If you really don't want to install the app, please let XXX know, hardware token also available and will be distributed upon request.

I don't have a company provided smart phone, and I really don't want to install this software on my personal smart phone, given the silliness of their managed laptop. But I don't also want to come across as too obstinate in dealing with them—they do, after all, sign the paychecks.

So I recieved the email about downloading the app today and after some internal back-and-forth, I decided “Why the heck not? Let the Corporate Overlords onto my iPhone! What's the worse that can happen?”

Please don't answer that.

Much to my relief (and surprise, but in retrospect it shouldn't really have been) my version of iOS is too old to be supported! I can't use the mobile app!

Whew!

So now I'll see how long it takes for them to send me the hardware token, and where they deliver it (given that the Ft. Lauderdale Office of the Corporation is still closed due to COVID-19).

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

I knew my dad was into New Age meditation neurohacking music, but not this

The DSL has been down for a week. I'm saving the iPhone hot spot for work as just watching a YouTube video blew 50% of my current “data plan” for the month, and I finished reading the entire Harry Potter series. So now I'm going through yet another bit of my Dad's CD collection and … yeah, it's a horrible collection.

I'm now listening to “Greater California” “Somber Wurlitzer” by Somber Wurlitzer Greater California and I can only describe it as “Gothic BubbleGum Pop,” which is as horrible as it sounds.

Update on Tuesday, October 14TH, 2020

Yes, I made a bit of a mistake here ...

Obligatory Picture

[The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades]

Obligatory Contact Info

Obligatory Feeds

Obligatory Links

Obligatory Miscellaneous

You have my permission to link freely to any entry here. Go ahead, I won't bite. I promise.

The dates are the permanent links to that day's entries (or entry, if there is only one entry). The titles are the permanent links to that entry only. The format for the links are simple: Start with the base link for this site: https://boston.conman.org/, then add the date you are interested in, say 2000/08/01, so that would make the final URL:

https://boston.conman.org/2000/08/01

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