Some great contractor stories

[gruntling]

While searching for Freelance Informer content I came across a number of wonderful old contractor stories by the late Malcolm Cowen.

True Life - Malcolm Cowen's Pages

[sasguru]

Thanks, enjoyed that. Although some of his stories seem a bit tame compared to what I could tell - when you've worked in the City, you'll invariably have come across some of the biggest and most incompetent bulltulipters - and what's more they'll have attitude.

[Paddy]

Thanks, enjoyed that. Although some of his stories seem a bit tame compared to what I could tell - when you've worked in the City, you'll invariably have come across some of the biggest and most incompetent bulltulipters - and what's more they'll have attitude.

Yes, I agree with you, rather tame stories.

It reminds me of many years ago I contracted with one of the major UK banks. I was shocked to see that the credit-card transactions were sent overnight by modem to a PC in ASCII text and then saved onto a floppy disk. The floppy disk was then removed and and copied to a file-server in comma delimited text form and scripted into the customers account. Not only was there no error checking but also it was open to anyone to alter or delete text at will.

Some years later, the same bank was writing an online banking programme by a class idiot. it was full of security holes but they insisted they knew what they were doing until the inevitable happened...

[TwoWolves]

I worked in the City for 20 years, thereabouts. The worst projects by far are defence; a whole new level of muppet but worst of all they think they are the dogs-b*.

[CoolCat]

I worked in the City for 20 years, thereabouts. The worst projects by far are defence; a whole new level of muppet but worst of all they think they are the dogs-b*.

If you think defence is bad you should try the NHS or network rail, both make defence look perfect in every way.

[TwoWolves]

If you think defence is bad you should try the NHS or network rail, both make defence look perfect in every way.

That I can imagine is perfectly true, I don't mind people being crap - I mean that's why they call in a contractor, it's being sure you are amazingly talented at the same time that does my head.

[xoggoth]

the credit-card transactions were sent overnight by modem to a PC in ASCII text and then saved onto a floppy disk

Wasn't that back in the happy days before hackers existed? Don't remember any viruses in my Fortran IV.

[BR14]

Wasn't that back in the happy days before hackers existed? Don't remember any viruses in my Fortran IV.

PC?, floppy disk? credit card? - what magic is this??

[psychocandy]

I worked in the City for 20 years, thereabouts. The worst projects by far are defence; a whole new level of muppet but worst of all they think they are the dogs-b*.

Yep. Obviously, a lot of ex-forces people work in defence who look down on those who are not ex-forces. Trouble is a lot of them inc some really bad managers act like their still in the forces.

[vetran]

Wasn't that back in the happy days before hackers existed? Don't remember any viruses in my Fortran IV.

possibly not that early but

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...ays-of-hacking