Scorpion: Auckland Airlines

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freitasm

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Topic # 152421 25-Sep-2014 20:31

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Just because, I read the review of this (awful) TV series called Scorpion. Just watching the trailer make you feel sorry for the actors (really, an ethernet cable dropped from a plane so they can download a copy of the airport control software?)

Anyway, look at the "airline" name:

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kiwitrc

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Reply # 1137810 25-Sep-2014 20:33

Len Brown wisely investing rate payers money again?

vexxxboy

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Reply # 1137836 25-Sep-2014 21:03

have to agree about the program, if you are a geek it will make you start swearing at the TV.

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networkn

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Reply # 1137856 25-Sep-2014 21:50

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People need to RELAX. It's FICTION. I thought it has some promise. The cable from the plane was pretty awful, but the interactions between the team etc had it's moments.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1137901 25-Sep-2014 23:02

Jeez that would have to be a long cable!! plane flying at 200mph, the cable would be spooling off the drum like a form of giant Marlin fishing!

Probably would work for a helicopter......

Ramjet007

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Reply # 1137943 26-Sep-2014 05:29

I sort of liked it.

DarthKermit

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Reply # 1137957 26-Sep-2014 07:08

Is that any worse than using an Apple computer to upload a virus to the mother ship? (Independence Day 1996).

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

wasabi2k

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Reply # 1137991 26-Sep-2014 08:46

I lasted until he sent the other lackeys to the data centre to get the backup disk.

So much rage at the immense bollocks of this show. Hackers (1995) was a more realistic interpretation.

To sum it up:
A software upgrade at ATC had a bug in it, which broke ATC at all surrounding airports and prevented comms to all planes in the area.

So a software upgrade that they obviously did on all their infrastructure at once - when it hasn't been upgraded in 15 years
With no rollback
With no secondary/backup systems
With no manual procedures in case of failure
During a busy period
With restoring from backup requiring physically going to the datacentre to get the "disk"

Which somehow broke communication to planes - which for some reason all run though the ATC software - and planes don't have multiple methods of reaching the ground. Or procedures to redirect when they can't contact ATC.

So let's get this super genius to "hack" in and fix it using his super genius skills which involve.... restoring from backup.

Oh and the best place for a "wireless signal with no chance of interruption" is a frickin DINER because he just setup their WIFI. Then when he arrives he has to go and put his laptop by the router and stand there typing for 5 minutes?

AHHHHHHH.

Oh and the machine he was getting the guy to push Ctrl-C on was a VM - with a VMWare IDE Controller. Good to see ATC using VDI.

At this stage I ragequit on my wife's advice before screaming obscenities.

For a good computer related series - watch Halt and Catch Fire. At least it treats the content with some level of respect.

gjm

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Reply # 1138018 26-Sep-2014 09:33

I swear it said something about being based on a true story at the beginning of it?

It really was painful to watch which was a shame as I was hoping it would be really good. On the otherhand the blacklist was very enjoyable.

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Yabanize

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Reply # 1146115 2-Oct-2014 22:10

Apart from how unrealistic some of it was, I liked it

I noticed they used Kali Linux

Also new zealand did get mentioned in it

DravidDavid

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Reply # 1146190 3-Oct-2014 01:13

"Mayday! Mayday! Communications restored!"

LOL

Sometimes what you don't get is a blessing in disguise!

Bung

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Reply # 1146200 3-Oct-2014 05:24

gjm: I swear it said something about being based on a true story at the beginning of it?

It really was painful to watch which was a shame as I was hoping it would be really good. On the otherhand the blacklist was very enjoyable.

The real story of Walter O'brien according to some sites also contains a big dose of BS. He's Irish, from the land of the Blarney Stone. I suppose getting a director who was prepared to work on the Fast and the Furious franchise helps when you're "making stuff up". If it was a film Tom Cruise would probably be in it :-D