conferences/ofsc_2020.tex

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   7
   8 \title{The delicate disadvantage of Reverse-Engineering}
   9 \author{Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton}
  10
  11
  12 \begin{document}
  13
  14 \frame{
  15    \begin{center}
  16     \huge{The delicate disadvantage of Reverse-Engineering}\\
  17     \vspace{32pt}
  18     \Large{The consequences of maintaining}\\
  19     \Large{proprietary hardware}\\
  20     \Large{Can we do better?}\\
  21     \vspace{24pt}
  22     \Large{[proposed for] OFSC 2020}\\
  23     \vspace{16pt}
  24     \large{\today}
  25   \end{center}
  26 }
  27
  28
  29 \frame{\frametitle{Background (about me)}
  30
  31 \vspace{15pt}
  32
  33  \begin{itemize}
  34    \item First reverse-engineering was Samba-TNG\\
  35                  NTBugTraq, August 1996\\
  36                  "Welcome to the SAMBA Domain"\\
  37                  3 years later...\vspace{6pt}
  38    \item 2002: Exchange 5.5, enhancing FreeDCE \\
  39                  Copied by an "Open" team that removed all attribution\vspace{6pt}
  40    \item 2003-2005: Xanadux Project\\
  41              9 HTC smartphones reverse-engineered\\
  42              Zero income earned.\vspace{6pt}
  43    \item Lesson learned: everyone else makes money from your work.
  44   \end{itemize}
  45 }
  46
  47
  48 \frame{\frametitle{How come I could do this but others couldn't?}
  49
  50 \vspace{10pt}
  51
  52  \begin{itemize}
  53    \item Self-analysis time: what capability did I have \\
  54                  that others do not?\\
  55                  \vspace{12pt}
  56    \item Definition of Reverse-Engineering:\\
  57                  \vspace{4pt}
  58                  The ability to infer knowledge.\\
  59                  (That's really it.  No prior-knowledge is required:\\
  60                  you DERIVE knowledge)
  61                  \vspace{12pt}
  62    \item Definitions of knowledge were a clue:\\
  63                  Demster-Shafer (generalisation of Bayes)\\
  64                  Epistemology (Advaita Vedanta wikipedia page)
  65   \end{itemize}
  66 }
  67
  68 \frame{\frametitle{Advaita Vedanta, Epistemology section}
  69
  70
  71  \begin{itemize}
  72
  73         \item Pratyakṣa - perception (includes senses, but also "intuition")
  74         \item Anumana - inference (where there's smoke there's fire)
  75         \item Upamana - comparison, analogy (A is to B as C is to D;\\
  76                          also included here is the "difference" between two things)
  77         \item Arthapatti - postulation, derivation from
  78               circumstances\\
  79               (Joe is gaining weight; we do not see Joe eat during the day.
  80                Therefore Joe is eating at night)
  81         \item Anupalabdi - non-perception, negative/cognitive proof\\
  82               ("there is no jug in this room")
  83         \item Sabda - relying on word, testimony of past/present experts
  84   \end{itemize}
  85   \bf{ Reverse-Engineers develop these knowledge-derivation skills
  86   without knowing that they have them! It's incredible and valuable!}
  87
  88 }
  89
  90 \frame{\frametitle{Why do products need reverse-engineering?}
  91 \vspace{9pt}
  92  \begin{itemize}
  93    \item The profit-maximising Corporation can't be bothered to provide
  94                  documentation or source code
  95                 \vspace{4pt}
  96    \item The profit-maximising Corporation is based in China and is
  97                  happy to blatantly disregard Copyright law.
  98                 \vspace{4pt}
  99    \item The profit-maximising Corporation could be bothered but has
 100                  realised that they make more money through entrapment of end-users
 101                 \vspace{4pt}
 102    \item Bottom line: helping such Corporations helps keep their products
 103                  in circulation.
 104          \vspace{4pt}
 105   \end{itemize}
 106   \bf{ Reverse-Engineers by applying their amazing skills actively support
 107        unethical and pathological Corporations to do harm to end-users
 108        and to the environment}
 109
 110 }
 111
 112
 113
 114 \frame{\frametitle{How about an alternative?}
 115
 116
 117  \begin{itemize}
 118    \item You have unbelievably empowering and powerful skills, far
 119          beyond those of an average programmer!
 120    \item Instead of supporting unethical Corporations, why not support
 121          yourselves?
 122    \item Transition from full-time to part-time (or work evenings)
 123    \item How about creating your own products?  (You're a Reverse-Engineer:
 124          you know how products work, and what you don't know, you already
 125          know you can to find out!)
 126    \item How about designing a product and put it on Crowdsupply?
 127    \item The internet exists: you can find others to team up with,
 128          in an area of technology that interests you.
 129   \end{itemize}
 130
 131   \bf{Ultimately you could do a huge amount of good.  With your skill
 132       there is nothing that can stop you except yourself}
 133
 134 }
 135
 136
 137 \end{document}
 138