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Gemini and DMM's Attacks on Consumers
For those of you who slept through this, Gemini put a MAC address Harvesting attack, in their v4.30 Image to deny Clones access to "Blue panel" features. Then in V4.31 after claiming it was free from attack, triggered a bomb to disabled units, Clone and Non-Clone alike, leaving the unit inoperable with the screen message "Warning - Clone Box Detected - Contact Your Dealer - Adios Amego!"
Though, who would want to use Gemini's image after they learn these facts, but, all Gemini images prior to v4.30, are safe to use. Dreambox has changed their head.ko file, and is planing to move it into the CVS repository soon. The bomb resides in this new head.ko file, Gemini just delivered and triggered it.
All other images writers products that pull from CVS, are currently safe. It's questionable if they will use the new file, or, continue with the current head.ko file, in their new images, it's up to the image writers discretion. All Clone and Non-Clone users, need to be aware of these facts, and watch for these change to occur.
My Editorial:
This issue is about more than a few clone boxes and bombs in images. It serves to erode consumer confidence in embedded Linux technology being able to survive and grow in what is suppose to be a free market economy. It about how a manufacture uses 3rd world sweatshop labor to maximize profit, while it denies their own countrymen the ability to maintain their standard of living. It's about how to bilk the consumer with artificially high prices for units that were produced for fractions of the cost of normally high quality consumer goods. And it's about creating a product demand, then denying access by consumers to legally purchase that product, in a emerging market, to further drive up profits.
Let the court of public opinion weigh these possibilities, before using Gemini or purchasing a Dreambox.
IMnobody
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