Creating A Public Record
Y'all can ignore this.
Those who know me realize I never post images of equipment w/o redacting serial numbers.
But since we’re entering a period of enhanced Finding Out, here’s a ten year old Western Digital Red 2.5” NAS drive. There have been times in the past when I’d post collections of SHA256 hashes sans file names. Not gonna do that here, the serial number of this device, which is in good order and on its way to a safe deposit box, is sufficient for the moment.
Related, but only in spirit. Since I was out and about on Tuesday, I collected a couple magnetic key holders from their hiding spots. Remember kids, 18 U.S. Code § 1519 - Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in Federal investigations and bankruptcy, applies to despoiling evidence. There’s no rule against stashing copies of stuff you might need all over the place. Loss of gear due to burglars, sanctioned or otherwise? N.B.D.
What goes on such devices? They’re Ventoy USB sticks - they boot and then offer a choice of the ISOs that are available on the drive. The age encryption utility is very, very simple, and available for all operating systems. Starting with nothing more than a cheap intel laptop from a big box store, getting back to operationing is easy.
Conclusion:
Having recently identify a weakness in my two factor auth strategy, that’s getting fixed today, too. Once that’s done those two containers go back out, then the third gets pulled in for its update. The international off site is of course just rsync.
I enjoy tinkering with equipment and software, then testing my business continuity theories. I used to do this for a living with service providers and I enjoy the feeling of a plan that survives a live test.
On the other hand, I do NOT enjoy the reason(s) compelling me to do these things. Intent observers might recall Defensive Measures back on February 10th. There are fewer rats on the fantail, more groupers in the water, and this scene from Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves almost perfectly encapsulates what I’m seeing from the wild talent.
You’re never really safe from that twirly girly slingshot, not even a 2,491 mile air gap is sufficient, when the wrath of gingers is in play.