LEENTX
06-27-2004, 04:37 PM
Could some one hack their way a Starband modem and then thru three routers and delete just certain files? The reason I ask is I have been accused of it....And then I found out someone at the location did "backup" of sorts (not to CD) too much data....
This is my scenario and the email I sent to them:
I am going to set up for you , a very humbling and educational scenario:
First of all:
Late one evening, a very "well meaning" employee of a company decides they should do a backup of essential company files.
Then:
At that time , they get on their computer and create a backup directory.
Then:
They go and select all the directories and files that they want to "backup".
Then:
Innocently and unknowing of the parameters of dragging and dropping files within disk drives, They then "Drag and drop" the files into their "backup" directory. It appears on the computer that all the files are being "copied" to the backup directory.
THEY ARE NOT!
THEY ARE BEING "MOVED".
WHY? YOU ASK:
Because dragging and dropping files "within a drive" moves the files. It does not copy the files.
I, for one, like all unknowing and relatively novice users learned this the "hard" way. The following text is copied from the "windows xp" help menu:
Notes
To open Windows Explorer, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
If you drag an item while pressing the right mouse button, you can move, copy, or create a shortcut to the file in its new location.
To copy the item instead of moving it, press and hold down CTRL while dragging. ****************
Then:
Thinking they have done a wonderful thing. They close down all the windows on their computer, And go home for the evening, feeling proud of what they have accomplished for the company.
The next morning:
The company owner comes in ahead of everyone else. They get on their computer to proceed with the events of a normal busy day. One of which, is to go get a file off of the network and do some editing so that it can be printed and presented to a client. When they go to the directory where the file is supposed to be, It is gone. What happened to it they say. It was just there yesterday. I worked on it. Oh no , Someone deleted it! And because the person who used to do all the computer work for the company is no longer there, he is the one to blame. And he hacked in to our system and deleted all the files! Not so. The files are still there, just not where they are supposed to be. They were "MOVED" during the "backup" , not copied. And therefore are no longer available from the directory. And if the directory was selected, it is no longer available either.
Later:
The very "well meaning" employee is notified of the situation at hand. They are thinking to their selves, Thank God I created a backup of all those files, All along, unknowingly being the cause of all the problems. And because they did a "backup", they are the hero. And the supposed "hacker" is the villain. He never existed. Just an employee trying to what they thought was in the best interest of the company. We all do. And not knowing why this happened or too humble to admit they may have made a mistake. We let the innocent "hacker" take the blame.
In closing:
I have made this mistake more than once! It is a very common one. After I learned more about the parameters of "dragging and Dropping", I don't make it as often. Be very careful when you use this tool that Windows has provided for us , it is a very useful, but dangerous one. Pay very close attention to what the screen says when file locations are being modified. Are they being moved or copied? It will tell you! And the little graphic displayed while it is doing either looks very much the same. Do yourself a big favor and try this at home with some "test files".
Drag one to another directory on the same disk, And then drag one to a different disk ie floppy disk. The experience you gain from just seeing what happens may save you a lot of time and frustration sometime in the future. Sometimes we have to swallow our pride a little and admit to possibly making a mistake. Even if it means being embarrassed in front of our co-workers and superiors. And finally, If you are not sure,ask. We all learn from out mistakes. Maybe someone else has already learned from theirs and is ready and willing to share their knowledge. A lot of problems are avoided by asking "How Do I" .............
WE ARE ONLY HUMAN.
HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES.
MACHINES ONLY DO WHAT HUMANS TELL THEM TO.
This is my scenario and the email I sent to them:
I am going to set up for you , a very humbling and educational scenario:
First of all:
Late one evening, a very "well meaning" employee of a company decides they should do a backup of essential company files.
Then:
At that time , they get on their computer and create a backup directory.
Then:
They go and select all the directories and files that they want to "backup".
Then:
Innocently and unknowing of the parameters of dragging and dropping files within disk drives, They then "Drag and drop" the files into their "backup" directory. It appears on the computer that all the files are being "copied" to the backup directory.
THEY ARE NOT!
THEY ARE BEING "MOVED".
WHY? YOU ASK:
Because dragging and dropping files "within a drive" moves the files. It does not copy the files.
I, for one, like all unknowing and relatively novice users learned this the "hard" way. The following text is copied from the "windows xp" help menu:
Notes
To open Windows Explorer, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
If you drag an item while pressing the right mouse button, you can move, copy, or create a shortcut to the file in its new location.
To copy the item instead of moving it, press and hold down CTRL while dragging. ****************
Then:
Thinking they have done a wonderful thing. They close down all the windows on their computer, And go home for the evening, feeling proud of what they have accomplished for the company.
The next morning:
The company owner comes in ahead of everyone else. They get on their computer to proceed with the events of a normal busy day. One of which, is to go get a file off of the network and do some editing so that it can be printed and presented to a client. When they go to the directory where the file is supposed to be, It is gone. What happened to it they say. It was just there yesterday. I worked on it. Oh no , Someone deleted it! And because the person who used to do all the computer work for the company is no longer there, he is the one to blame. And he hacked in to our system and deleted all the files! Not so. The files are still there, just not where they are supposed to be. They were "MOVED" during the "backup" , not copied. And therefore are no longer available from the directory. And if the directory was selected, it is no longer available either.
Later:
The very "well meaning" employee is notified of the situation at hand. They are thinking to their selves, Thank God I created a backup of all those files, All along, unknowingly being the cause of all the problems. And because they did a "backup", they are the hero. And the supposed "hacker" is the villain. He never existed. Just an employee trying to what they thought was in the best interest of the company. We all do. And not knowing why this happened or too humble to admit they may have made a mistake. We let the innocent "hacker" take the blame.
In closing:
I have made this mistake more than once! It is a very common one. After I learned more about the parameters of "dragging and Dropping", I don't make it as often. Be very careful when you use this tool that Windows has provided for us , it is a very useful, but dangerous one. Pay very close attention to what the screen says when file locations are being modified. Are they being moved or copied? It will tell you! And the little graphic displayed while it is doing either looks very much the same. Do yourself a big favor and try this at home with some "test files".
Drag one to another directory on the same disk, And then drag one to a different disk ie floppy disk. The experience you gain from just seeing what happens may save you a lot of time and frustration sometime in the future. Sometimes we have to swallow our pride a little and admit to possibly making a mistake. Even if it means being embarrassed in front of our co-workers and superiors. And finally, If you are not sure,ask. We all learn from out mistakes. Maybe someone else has already learned from theirs and is ready and willing to share their knowledge. A lot of problems are avoided by asking "How Do I" .............
WE ARE ONLY HUMAN.
HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES.
MACHINES ONLY DO WHAT HUMANS TELL THEM TO.