explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Countdown in header text/images

2022-01-18T12:17:10Z

Bartim: Made the jump to bottom a bit less hacky

'''[[#newestpicture|Jump to the newest picture]]'''
==Explanation==
*Here are (work in process) all the images from {{xkcd}} used in the [[Countdown in header text]].
**The images can also be found [https://munvoseli.github.io/xkcd-countdown/ here], on munvoseli's page.
*The images have been numbered here on explain xkcd and the number is a link to the image in the count-wimRikmef folder on xkcd.com:
**<nowiki>https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/</nowiki>
**Each picture's filename is the [[:wikipedia:SHA256|SHA256]] hash of the image itself, so it is impossible to predict future file names:
***Here the name for the first picture: ac84f99b9c41eb75e1a595ea74c7bccf48f36c345d8b88ad5dd478d4520bc0b2.png
***https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/ac84f99b9c41eb75e1a595ea74c7bccf48f36c345d8b88ad5dd478d4520bc0b2.png
****Attempting to brute-force future files, assuming you could test 1 trillion file names per second, would take 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times the age of the universe.
*****Not if you use the right wrench! ([[538:_Security]]... but of course we won't do that) [[User:Davidhbrown|Davidhbrown]] ([[User talk:Davidhbrown|talk]]) 21:42, 16 January 2022 (UTC)
* The current state (image and when to check next = every 10 min) can be found at [https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/state](https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/state)
** The script controlling the updates can be found at [https://xkcd.com/s/e3fad5.js](https://xkcd.com/s/e3fad5.js), though it doesn't reveal anything new. It just checks the current state and updates the image and the countdown.
** Source https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/s0u2vo/countdown_script/

==Images==
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/ac84f99b9c41eb75e1a595ea74c7bccf48f36c345d8b88ad5dd478d4520bc0b2.png 0001]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0001.png]] 2022-01-10 17:10 - Day 1 image 1
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/6a73d565838a58e4d3069ad6cc49cc1a1466a8e602c95fd752126900d2074e28.png 0002]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0002.png]] 2022-01-10 20:46 - End of Day 1, 2 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/98b1c93977c76fd31529ff07f8f6f83209ba69ccc5a6b245e3a1061d36093370.png 0003]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0003.png]] 2022-01-11 00:01 - Day 2 image 3
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/154e4cdc63e9b5c6874e0f8cc2146a945c6b53089854fe4827ed6a822fbf8f53.png 0004]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0004.png]] 2022-01-11 07:49
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/582bbf28305fefb09ea44beae1330585aea155adf6f5125fc70ebdfa6af8c70c.png 0005]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0005.png]] 2022-01-11 08:31
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/5c65f55f9a51a8b5bb7184a7b42e2930aea829e4d5ef2ff6373d1408fee4cce3.png 0006]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0006.png]] 2022-01-11 12:00
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/75f4551c542cadfde5b5708d40679dfb66c1477ed344d061d6ba4e28f46fc0b8.png 0007]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0007.png]] 2022-01-11 15:41
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/32fe6cc4abef25d91abebdbdd59273044061be7d49a9b4a16ce2864628247999.png 0008]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0008.png]] 2022-01-11 19:06
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/72cb154b23f959f908f5dc8eb03069c6df3f0f54aae896a0e7ed27befb2ee639.png 0009]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0009.png]] 2022-01-11 19:30
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/5a0d51a4f85c24edbd647e18e33044ffe5e49a8474c5f9850dadb742252a5582.png 0010]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0010.png]] 2022-01-11 23:13 - End of Day 2, 8 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/85cb9234739c590b3c649c80e6d388f8c53f600327abbdbe476dca495705f86c.png 0011]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0011.png]] 2022-01-12 02:54 - Day 3 image 11
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/62081002ad92456a911eae8eae3f3d74f8147eab8f42330d4f81c473aaa648ba.png 0012]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0012.png]] 2022-01-12 06:40
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/8883103b355c6cbaa0cc5f78867bfc9fee1e2e4295ccec1a0af1bd4bdd27cc6a.png 0013]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0013.png]] 2022-01-12 13:17
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/6782889ad1cf7ebdf154672b58f7260df61662537ca00536efeb3470c29d66b1.png 0014]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0014.png]] 2022-01-12 14:23
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/c3c55c15f1c5a37018c0545fd05457ca83540300d656b906e7aaede2c7d81123.png 0015]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0015.png]] 2022-01-12 18:07
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/8ec35a2a74c75a736fc4e8bf119278494e439d82b3949a75c43413b230223b22.png 0016]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0016.png]] 2022-01-12 21:48 - End of Day 3, 6 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/604a452a877071047946c3608fb002da8928d25dbc8e5788276c895df88e5ea2.png 0017]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0017.png]] 2022-01-13 01:32 - Day 4 image 17
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/56dbdf9d6728ef668cd76f40ee69bd07daf2835dd02e5e3ae500137587130d4d.png 0018]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0018.png]] 2022-01-13 05:25
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/8f001bd4f118d537d7daca170cbd5c657318887fe41873f71791c75af3e4e27e.png 0019]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0019.png]] 2022-01-13 11:38
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/609d33c4a8f81def4f2889d165e4044353191a957193aa22e1dfde85364b93fd.png 0020]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0020.png]] 2022-01-13 13:01
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/80cca5046c30c2cf6168d4a03db4389b7151ada62cf2e0574200704d79ea9408.png 0021]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0021.png]] 2022-01-13 16:43
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/6a0cebd417060775dfa2c738a4dae86cd28e7393d6dbca1421fd6f246dc5cb4b.png 0022]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0022.png]] 2022-01-13 20:25 - End of Day 4, 6 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/3be4fdde63c2b0b1b71f594255c7623815eaf4712e89a6585fc48fd7b40ad74f.png 0023]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0023.png]] 2022-01-14 00:12 - Day 5 image 23
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/e77b15a15bb84704360cf6706fff67f82042b55d505a8a5b3dbd66bd6e10ba8f.png 0024]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0024.png]] 2022-01-14 04:03
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/e8f7ac688301f46aa40d9523c175809816b1f6c393b43e4707c4feea43215974.png 0025]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0025.png]] 2022-01-14 07:53
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/b9902a9447f0aa5f978ddd118f7db67b75e903f48dc7f42198e2c118b508a659.png 0026]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0026.png]] 2022-01-14 11:38
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/7084274534bcdc2d8c386921d0016ce9d6b1939412f83d8af1c2b231a895c5ff.png 0027]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0027.png]] 2022-01-14 15:19
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/1610a177c4aa2f2cf075ffc580b7c75f9e44f83ba9a736029223c2995731c183.png 0028]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0028.png]] 2022-01-14 17:22
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/a2c4ea711851dd4b15b8c9789db1ffafe298a903e099010631d082ce4bd5b1e2.png 0029]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0029.png]] 2022-01-14 22:53 - End of Day 5, 7 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/dbea16b9b8a22123ce6be88e9178eccae01ec5531d2b8585ef59dcb4050a468d.png 0030]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0030.png]] 2022-01-15 02:57 - Day 6 image 30
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/6af529ae350311ac4678f2999f4ee9d67ddd696488363ad6b4f996adeaf269ed.png 0031]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0031.png]] 2022-01-15 06:44
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/18a524d1208ded1caefe811c55d05a011570b669670bbe9933a3c4fe395410af.png 0032]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0032.png]] 2022-01-15 10:14
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/da86d185cd11fc1104ecc523fdf59ab40570fbd465e09d206fc8911b08e3d306.png 0033]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0033.png]] 2022-01-15 13:56
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/b8c767a072b1cdc3092a644e83d7d3521b6650658a7b8419ad91c26294967a5e.png 0034]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0034.png]] 2022-01-15 17:44
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/a4db1b1ba45b9d8728f20acbca8f321864093b887e18bdcd5bd46e6ed8543150.png 0035]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0035.png]] 2022-01-15 21:34 - End of Day 6, 6 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/2c4da89ab9fee1202c3719b72331ea0d5989ac346faddfc197e7ee6e57920d39.png 0036]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0036.png]] 2022-01-16 01:24 - Day 7 image 36
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/dd0c960dfeca7942cf32f7c8d61acee2bcd623456f624723c3f54b68412e98a4.png 0037]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0037.png]] 2022-01-16 05:08
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/c003da4bd27318b9a37a8140ab660740b6be5be59d264b89b61de9917419e917.png 0038]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0038.png]] 2022-01-16 08:51
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/a29268e0d0b4edf1087b9840650c64045d5f7563af1ffbf2f74d7a4eb295e6c1.png 0039]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0039.png]] 2022-01-16 12:34
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/4b351a46aa24be1132231ed60fc770f507c4e20af18490c9bc72c6d541a2fdb3.png 0040]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0040.png]] 2022-01-16 16:24
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/682656738c15e14fa072af7f7e6a6e6b93c7d23d19da27a21c655f47570e2992.png 0041]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0041.png]] 2022-01-16 20:15 - End of Day 7, 6 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/738370be378129d5dba152cf74e8ba8e6ce7a37fc1a44373b129d83da7aea89a.png 0042]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0042.png]] 2022-01-17 00:03 - Day 8 image 42
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/3768e8da1c54222bca5939485975b4a39d7b2e21ed7b36d3f1f791c659852085.png 0043]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0043.png]] 2022-01-17 03:44
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/641771dbe15c9426e2c5c47fc333a281e32e64ba236509ea296358c1ab4e36d4.png 0044]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0044.png]] 2022-01-17 07:27
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/011ba570b6b29d0f6df4c17b3e06673cb88414878a47715e92815a42b185f533.png 0045]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0045.png]] 2022-01-17 11:14
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/ff548223203c25d67b9e920f6fc8268d3e58d20adc420f049fb3af29430b581d.png 0046]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0046.png]] 2022-01-17 15:06
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/6534766f1d9e822b602f5775d8de1ab8ef3239413b61c88f5510daafa5154330.png 0047]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0047.png]] 2022-01-17 18:56
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/5c6fe0fe595ccc14f4888d4048d844a790406ed0a4384000e8fe2a5290d7a528.png 0048]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0048.png]] 2022-01-17 22:40 - End of Day 8, 7 new images
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/bf198e744b6c8cf92aaf9021c5b7d97ce574c2360a12931f5841cc834e39214b.png 0049]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0049.png]] 2022-01-18 02:21 - Day 9 image 49
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/d5acf283f729aa7dd5d7bf3fa3e733e924b9ef439251c6cc35d2177f5ac3cefc.png 0050]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0050.png]] 2022-01-18 06:06
*[https://xkcd.com/count-wimRikmef/imgs/d964c12d03277fb4eed0045f1fe24127d857742367224391a5b91ab7d822b6bd.png 0051]: [[File:Countdown in header text 0051.png]] 2022-01-18 09:56



{{DEFAULTSORT:Countdown in header text}}
[[Category:Comic subpages]]

2527: New Nobel Prizes

2021-10-12T19:41:19Z

Bartim: The economics prize is NOT a nobel prize

{{comic
| number = 2527
| date = October 11, 2021
| title = New Nobel Prizes
| image = new_nobel_prizes.png
| titletext = They've endowed a separate prize in Physiology or Medicine or Stopping Dr. Adams.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE OR STOPPING DOCTOR ADAMS - This explanation may be incomplete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
The Nobel Prize is a set of prizes awarded in memory of Alfred Nobel to, "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind."
In this comic a Nobel prize is being awarded for the discovery of two new Nobel prizes. This parallels [[2214:_Chemistry_Nobel|Nobel Prizes awarded for the discovery of new elements]]. However, unlike elements, Nobel Prizes cannot be discovered.
The comic suggests that the doctor being awarded the prize came up with the idea of "discovering" Nobel Prizes, and no one can figure out how to stop awarding them to her.
In reality, the categories were established by Alfred Nobel's will for contributions or discoveries in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. In 1968, Sweden's central bank funded an award for economics in honor of its 300th anniversary that is also colloquially called the Nobel Prize in Economics. While there is currently a petition to add a Nobel prize for contributions to environmental conservation, it would presumably also need external funding, although the decision process is unclear.

The title text is a play on the {{w|Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine}}, insinuating that the {{w|Nobel Assembly}} (the group in charge of awarding Nobel Prizes) has become so desperate to stop Doctor Adams that they have decided to award a Nobel Prize to anyone who can stop them. The joke also plays on the name of the said prize, because as of the writing of this comic the {{w|Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine}} is the only Nobel Prize with two subjects (e.g. with "or" in the title). This may also be a jab by Randal at the fields of Physiology and Medicine, as poking fun at other disciplines is a recurring theme on xkcd.

This comic was published on the Monday the week following the announcements of the 2021 Nobel Prize recipients.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Megan stands at a podium on a stage, facing right. Behind her is a screen showing eight Nobel Prizes. Ponytail is approaching the front of the stage while waving.]
:Megan: And all eight Nobel Prizes for the Discovery of New Nobel Prizes have been awarded to...
:Megan: ''*sigh*''
:Megan: ...Doctor Adams, '''''again''''', for the discovery of two new Prizes.
:Ponytail: Thank you, thank you!

:[Caption below frame:]
:We don't know how she started this and now we can't figure out how to stop her.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Science]]

2496: Mine Captcha

2021-07-30T14:54:13Z

Bartim: Amended last edit

{{comic
| number = 2496
| date = July 30, 2021
| title = Mine Captcha
| image = mine_captcha.png
| titletext = This data is actually going into improving our self-driving car project, so hurry up--it's almost at the minefield.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a LIVE MINEFIELD. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic expects users click on the mines in a minesweeper puzzle to proceed with their task. Traditionally, the goal in minesweeper is to click on boxes where there are NOT mines, so the puzzle would be especially difficult for anyone used to playing minesweeper.

The comic shows a 4x4 grid with mostly grey squares, and a few tiles showing colored numbers. The setup and colors suggest a gaming board of the popular minesweeper game, with a few tiles uncovered. Numbers would then show the number of mines in adjacent squares. Given the current board configuration, one can deduce that there are four mines (in squares A2, B2, B3 and D3, where letters (numbers) mark columns (rows)). For example, there are two mines within the squares A2,B1,B2, as signified by the 2 in A1, but only one of those can be in B1 or B2 (because of the 1 in C1). Therefore, A2 has to be a mine. The title suggests this as a CAPTCHA, where proving to be human involves first recognizing this as a minesweeper simile, and then solving for those squares with mines.

Traditionally, the goal in minesweeper is to click on boxes where there are NOT mines, so the puzzle would be especially difficult for anyone used to playing minesweeper.

The title text is similar to [[1897: Self Driving]] where the CAPTCHA solver is asked to "answer quickly – [the] self-driving car is almost at the intersection".

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[A "CAPTCHA" box.]

To proceed, click all the pictures of MINES

[A 4 by 4 ''Minesweeper'' field, with some cells revealed with numbers.]

<pre>
2 . 1 .
. . 3 .
3 . . .
. 1 . 1
</pre>

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:CAPTCHA]]

2496: Mine Captcha

2021-07-30T14:53:36Z

Bartim: Added captcha category and info about title text

{{comic
| number = 2496
| date = July 30, 2021
| title = Mine Captcha
| image = mine_captcha.png
| titletext = This data is actually going into improving our self-driving car project, so hurry up--it's almost at the minefield.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a LIVE MINEFIELD. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic expects users click on the mines in a minesweeper puzzle to proceed with their task. Traditionally, the goal in minesweeper is to click on boxes where there are NOT mines, so the puzzle would be especially difficult for anyone used to playing minesweeper.

The comic shows a 4x4 grid with mostly grey squares, and a few tiles showing colored numbers. The setup and colors suggest a gaming board of the popular minesweeper game, with a few tiles uncovered. Numbers would then show the number of mines in adjacent squares. Given the current board configuration, one can deduce that there are four mines (in squares A2, B2, B3 and D3, where letters (numbers) mark columns (rows)). For example, there are two mines within the squares A2,B1,B2, as signified by the 2 in A1, but only one of those can be in B1 or B2 (because of the 1 in C1). Therefore, A2 has to be a mine. The title suggests this as a CAPTCHA, where proving to be human involves first recognizing this as a minesweeper simile, and then solving for those squares with mines.

Traditionally, the goal in minesweeper is to click on boxes where there are NOT mines, so the puzzle would be especially difficult for anyone used to playing minesweeper.

The title text is similar to [[1897: Self Driving]] where the CAPTCHA solver is also asked to "answer quickly – [the] self-driving car is almost at the intersection".

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[A "CAPTCHA" box.]

To proceed, click all the pictures of MINES

[A 4 by 4 ''Minesweeper'' field, with some cells revealed with numbers.]

<pre>
2 . 1 .
. . 3 .
3 . . .
. 1 . 1
</pre>

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:CAPTCHA]]

2207: Math Work

2019-09-25T19:10:52Z

Bartim: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2207
| date = September 25, 2019
| title = Math Work
| image = math_work.png
| titletext = I could type this into a solver, which MIGHT help, but would also mean I have to get a lot of parentheses right...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Cueball stands in front of a whiteboard full of formulas and diagrams, White Hat is watching him.]
:White Hat (in thought bubble): Amazing watching a physicist at work, exploring universes in a symphony of numbers.
:White Hat (in thought bubble): If only I had studied math, I could appreciate the beauty on display here.

:Cueball (in thought bubble): Oh no. This has '''two''' unknowns. That's gonna be really hard.
:Cueball (in thought bubble): Ughhhhhhh.
:Cueball (in thought bubble): '''''Think.''''' There's gotta be a way to avoid doing all that work...

{{comic discussion}}

2202: Earth-Like Exoplanet

2019-09-13T18:15:31Z

Bartim: Added transcript and category

{{comic
| number = 2202
| date = September 13, 2019
| title = Earth-Like Exoplanet
| image = earth_like_exoplanet.png
| titletext = Fire is actually a potential biosignature, since it means something is filling the atmosphere with an unstable gas like oxygen. If we find a planet covered in flames, it might be an indicator that it supports life—or used to, anyway, before the fire.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Megan is standing in front of a podium]
:Megan: We've disvocered the most earth-like exoplanet yet!
:Off-screen: Yay!!

:Megan: Well, it's in the habitable zone. Habitable-ish. "Habitable."
:Megan: The survivable zone.

:Megan: It's tidally locked. And blasted with stellar flares. And probably meteors. And bathed in acid.

:Megan: But we've detected water vapor! In between all the swinging blades.
:Off-screen: I see.
:Megan: We're hoping to find biosignatures in the form of screaming.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

2176: How Hacking Works

2019-07-15T15:38:21Z

Bartim: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2176
| date = July 15, 2019
| title = How Hacking Works
| image = how_hacking_works.png
| titletext = If only somebody had warned them that the world would roll them like this.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by SMASH MOUTH. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

In similar spirit to [[538: Security]] this comic deals with how many people perceive hacking and security best practices. Specifically, the comic points out the flaw in the argument of some security minded people that writing passwords down on a sheet of paper is a massive {{w|OPSEC|operational security}} vulnerability, not accounting for the {{w|threat model}} of the general public: reused passwords being leaked from seemingly benign places.

While it is true that storing passwords on paper is generally a bad idea, one has to keep in mind the alternatives—password reuse or unencrypted password documents on a computer—that non-technical people might otherwise engage in. These are far easier to exploit for a casual attacker that goes for quantity over quality. The trade-off of course being that targeted attacks (for example by a family member or close friend) are more easily possible.

The second panel goes into detail how such an attack is usually executed: First, a database containing usernames/emails and associated passwords/password hashes is stolen from an improperly secured website. Randall's example uses a fictional breach of a small forum, but even large companies are {{w|not immune}} to leaks. Assuming the passwords were not hashed, the crooks then go on and automatically try to log in to a popular payment service with the harvested credentials. Even though the success rate might be just fractions of a percent, due to the scale and cheapness of the attack it is likely still profitable. Such an attack has previously been discussed in [[792: Password Reuse]].

The title text is referring to Smash Mouth's song, All Star, where the first line of the lyrics is "Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me".

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Two panels with a caption below each panel:]

:[Panel 1]
:[Three masked characters standing near a desk with a computer inside a home]
:Masked Character 1 [holding a walkie-talkie]: Control, we have flown to the USA and breached the target's house.
:Masked Character 2: They wrote all their passwords in a book labeled "Passwords"!
:Masked Character 3: The fool!
:Caption: How people think hacking works

:[Two characters, each sitting on opposite sides of a desk with computers in front of them]
:Character 1: Hey look, someone leaked the emails and passwords from the Smash Mouth message boards.
:Character 2: Cool, let's try them all on Venmo.
:Caption: How it actually works

{{comic discussion}}