Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Ubuntu - slow sudo

When I run `sudo su` on my ubuntu, there is a large delay (wait time of some sort).
`sudo su && strace -Tr -o sudo.strace sudo su` told me (almost) everything I needed:
- `sudo su` to become effective UID 0 (root)
- strace - a tool which allows you digging into the running application
- options Tr... trace options
- -o to save output into sudo.strace file
- last `sudo su` is the command to trace

The output I got had this:
0.000023 sendmmsg(4, [{...
0.000069 poll(...) <2 .059095="">
2.059222 ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [106]) = 0 0 .000076=""
0.000187 recvfrom(4, ... inet_addr("1.2.3.4")}, [28->16]) = 106 0.000075=""


The `sudo` was trying to query some network address.
Check in /etc showed that I had a strange nameserver added to /etc/ppp/resolv.conf. I have removed that.
To further improve the performance I'll need to check other requests as well. And possibly understand why the heck sudo is trying to query network at first place. And then remove that part.

2 .059095="" 0.000076="" 0.000075="">/EDIT:
2 .059095="" 0.000076="" 0.000075="">It si not solved. The /etc/ppp/resolv.conf is created by my VPN. And I still do not know how to disable sudo sending some nasty messages over the network.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Netflix issues / google is a monopolist

Netflix says 'This app is not compatible with your device.'
And I could not find netflix app on the play market.
At first I thought this is some problem with the play market configuration on my phone. Later I got this confirmed.
Then I tried to download & install manually the application itself. And this didn't work.
After some heavy digging... I realized that this is due to DRM and google monopoly.

In short:

  • Netflix won't install if your phone is not marked as safe
  • it won't be displayed by play market
  • it won't work if installed on such a device
To have a deice marked as safe your phone cannot be:
  • rooted
  • oem bootloader unlocked
  • (likely) unofficial
For sure this is how it works with google pay and recent netflix. Soon you won't be able to use netflix on older devices.
The devices are now protected by this DRM.
You could either use this ecosystem or not use those services at all.
Your device might be yours - but you must have a closed source ecosystem to use the services.
This is similar with Apple.
Google is going to take control over (too) many aspects of society. Together with other companies.
Governments are already structures existing in parallel to those larges corporations.

To get it back working:
  • Remove your google account from the device
  • Ensure there are no other google accounts
  • After that use factory reset
  • If using an unofficial rom - install stock
  • Factory reset again
  • Go to settings, info about software/device, click several times on build number to enable developer mode
  • Make sure your OEM bootloader is off (possibly other options might be required to default as well)
  • Factory reset once again
  • After restart, log into your account
  • You should be able to download netflix again
If your device was in addition using google family and child account... open google family for children, use menu (hamburger icon) and remove account before all the steps above.
If you tried to enter developer mode on a device locked by google family... it must be unlocked first using google family for parents on the parent's device. Took me some time to find it.
If you had an account before any of the factory resets and forgot (could not) to check what was the logged google account... you end with FRP (factory reset protection). If your bootloader was locked... you are in deep s**t. Like I was.

Overall the future looks very dark.
I recommend watching "The Mother" movie. Google removed their "don't be evil" motto. If not google then there are many other parties attempting to create similar super-AI.
I recommend watching "Elysium". Quite a likely future (although world in space? Unlikely.)
But we are still few steps before that.
At first expect rich people to become even richer.
Then governments fight with corporations. Or join with them.
Then labor camps under different name. (you should also read "1984" by Orwell)
Watch matrix. Imagine some group of people (or AI) that knows everything about you. And controls you better than you.

Bug bounties. Well paid. Sells our freedom. We will give our freedom away ourselves.
I am pretty sure that this will work against humanity.