WAN Status Update

WAN Status Update
Thanks for all of the help to my request for assistance with out two Tranzeo wireless bridge units. The ultimate answer was so simple that I am still beating my head on the wall about it..First, for those of you out there reading this who haven’t already met me, I live and work in the Central Texas area. The place where being outside many hours a day in the spring/summer will result in you being “well done”. Well, this contributed to the problem. One of our WAN units is completely out in the open and faces west and gets full sun all afternoon. Ever try going into your car on a hot day with a window pointing west? It is an oven. Well, that was what was happening to the WAN unit. However, it was designed to work this way. The problem was more related to our signal strength combined with the heat. Our two units are only a quarter of mile apart and clear line-of-sight. The problem was the way we were overdriving the units. I had the power cap set to the full 30dbm on both ends. This was getting me a normal signal strength between -48 and -53dbm. However, this was causing the units to be completely overdrived and then the signal completely dropped off, resulting in the -90’s we had seen.The solution? I changed the power cap from 30dbm down to 8dbm. Now I get a signal averaging -62dbm and I’m not overdriving the unit.

Computer Maintenance

You may not realize it, but your computer and your car have something in common: they both need regular maintenance. No, you don't need to change your computer's oil. But you should be updating your software, keeping your antivirus subscription up to date, and checking for spyware. Read on to learn what you can do to help improve your computer's security.

Getting started

Here are some basics maintenance tasks you can do today to start improving your computer's security. Be sure you make these part of your ongoing maintenance as well.

* Sign up for software update e-mail notices. Many software companies will send you e-mail whenever a software update is available. This is particularly important for your operating system, your antivirus program, and your firewall.
* Register your software. If you still have registration forms for existing software, send them in. And be sure to register new software in the future. This is another way for the software manufacturer to alert you when new updates are available.
* Install software updates immediately.
When you get an update notice, download the update immediately and install it. (Remember, downloading and installing are two separate tasks.)
An ounce of prevention

A few simple steps will help you keep your files safe and clean.

* Step 1: Update your software
* Step 2: Backup your files
* Step 3: Use antivirus software and keep it updated
* Step 4: Change your passwords

Developing ongoing maintenance practices

Now that you've done some ground work, it's time to start moving into longer term maintenance tasks. These are all tasks that you should do today (or as soon as possible) to get started. But for best results, make these a part of a regular maintenance schedule. We recommend setting aside time each week to help keep your computer secure.

* Back up your files. Backing up your files simply means creating a copy of your computer files that you can use in the event the originals are lost. (Accidents can happen.) To learn more read our tips for backing up information.* Scan your files with up to date antivirus software. Use your antivirus scan tool regularly to search for potential computer viruses and worms. Also, check your antivirus program's user manual to see if you can schedule an automatic scan of your computer. To learn more, read our tips for reducing your virus risk

* Change your passwords. Using the same password increases the odds that someone else will discover it. Change all of your passwords regularly (we recommend monthly) to reduce your risk. Also, choose your passwords carefully. To learn more, read our tips for creating stronger passwords

Making a schedule

One of the best ways to help protect your computer is to perform maintenance regularly. To help you keep track, we suggest making a regular "appointment" with your computer. Treat it like you would any other appointment. Record it in your date book or online calendar, and if you cannot make it, reschedule. Remember, you are not only helping to improve your computer, you are also helping to protect your personal information.

Microsoft Vista and Wan

There was an interesting article over at Network World that caught my eye - Vista over the WAN: good but not great. As I have been immersing myself in WAN technologies lately, this has piqued my interest. I admit that I somewhat agree with the reviewer - the experience over the WAN is better, but it isn’t the end-all be-all experience that I think MS was aiming for.I must admit, though, that the Windows Vista networking experience has not been very positive. Autotuning works well, but forget about using a Vista machine connecting to a Windows 2003 R2 Server or Terminal Server. The TS/RD experience is painful on the LAN due to the “pauses” that autotuning causes. What is weird, although predictable, is that TS/RD connections over the WAN with autotuning “enabled” provides an experience like XP or other W2K3 servers.Vista to Longhorn Server (Beta 3) over the WAN did provide a significant boost to reliability. In the off hours, I attempted a few tests in connecting and disconnected the WAN session to see how Vista/LH Server handled these interruptions. XP based workstations and W2K3-R2 servers would immediately pop-up a network error and result in mild system hangs and timeouts. I didn’t experience this with the Vista/LHS combination. This would be a welcome relief not only to those who have a WAN setup between branch offices, but also those who are on marginal wireless network connections.One thing that I have noticed is that DFS Replication in W2K8 Server hasn’t been significantly improved over the offering in R2 server. For our system, I am having to push several GB of replication data across the WAN to our hot backup server (and local branch office server) and I ended up having to disable RDC (Remote Differential Compression) due to the tremendous system loads that this presented to our system. Some of this is due to the type, format, and sizes of data that we produce in this office (i.e., AutoCAD drawings and Access Databases). RDC has to work too much to track all of the changes that are saved every 10 minutes for all of our workstations (10 minutes is the autosave time in AutoCAD). I was hoping for some sort of additional tweaking of the RDC mechanism, but I have not experienced this as of yet.In summary, there are improvements for WAN-related communication, but nothing that I would call earth-shattering.

Protect Your PC!

Here’s what you can do to ensure that your computer stays free from
viruses and on top of it, if at all your computer gets infected then also,
you’ll be able to save your data.

1. Keep the data on other partitions : Always make sure that you keep all the files on hard disk partition other than the windows one. This way, if the virus hits that drive then the data on the other drive will be still safe. Although the viruses have become smart but still it’s still better. Here’s the guide to keep the My Documents in other drive, in case you use My Documents a lot.

2. Install 1st level of Anti-virus : I’m a big supporter of installing two anti-virus software. Although, many people just don’t except it but believe me do the way I’m suggesting you and feel more safe and secure. Download AVG Free anti-virus and install it as normal with all the features enabled.

3. Install 2nd level of Anti-virus : Download Avast free anti-virus however, ensure that you
disable its real time scanner. Disable each and every option of automatic scan, email scan, Internet scanner or just about any scanner because we want to use it as On-Demand scanner only and so, schedule it to scan the computer once every week.

4. Install a firewall : Install a free firewall software to ensure that you keep yourself away from those Trojans and hack attacks which we normally don’t come to know without installing a firewall. Comodo firewall pro is a very good firewall software and completely free of cost.

5. Install an anti-rootkit software : Rootkits will be the biggest threat in future. Although they are still not out at huge scale but still its better to keep a software running to stay safe from these pesky little and dangerous stuff. AVG’s free anti-rootkit is recommended by me.

6. Install these free anti-spyware softwares : Just like Anti-viruses I’ll say that you’ll need to install 2-3
anti-spyware solutions. Install Spybot as complete install, Install ad-aware free as on demand
scanner (Disable any automatic scanner). Install Spyware blaster (MUST INSTALL), so as to keep yourself away from these spywares.

7. Use the latest and updated browser : Most of the malicious things come through Internet browser, so ensure that you are using the latest version of the browser which you are using. I’ll always
suggest you to use Firefox.

8. Never open any attachment from the person you don’t know: You’ll receive email attachments from lot of people, but never open any attachment from a person whom you don’t know. Scan the attachment with
your other anti-virus too, even if you know the person who has sent you the attachment.

9. Never accept files from strangers (On Messengers or social networks): We all use Internet Messengers and lot of people chat with strangers. So never ever accept any file from these people, no matter how humorous the file may look like.

10. Download from trusted sources only : Never download any software without reading the review about that software and only download from trusted sources like Download.com or Zdnet.com. And yeah for reviews feel free to read them @ my blog…LOL

11. Install anti-phishing toolbar or plug-in : Even though latest browsers have anti-phishing features but still, I prefer to stick with the PhishTank community and Netcraft toolbar

HOW TO BLOCK A PARTICULAR WEBSITE IN PC

solution:
Step 1:Go toC:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

Step 2:Open a “host” file in notepad. At the bottom of the line,

you can see as follows127.0.0.1 localhost

Add the following line at the end

Ex: 127.0.0.1 http://www.abcxyz.com/localhost

The above code is written to block http://www.abcxyz.com/website on my pc.

To unblock it...just remove the above process...:)

Increase Your INternet Speed!!!

Windows uses 20% of your bandwidth Here's
how to Get it back

A nice little tweak for XP. Microsoft reserve 20%
of your available bandwidth for their own purposes (suspect for
updates and interrogating your machine etc..)

Here's how to get it back:

Click Start-->Run-->type "gpedit.msc" without the "

This opens the group policy editor. Then go
to:

Local Computer Policy-->;Computer Configuration-->Administrative Templates-->Network-->QOS Packet Scheduler-->Limit Reservable
Bandwidth

Double click on Limit Reservable
bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the
'Explain' tab :

"By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20
percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to
override the default."

So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, then set it to ZERO.
This will allow the system to reserve
nothing, rather than the default 20%.

I have tested on XP Pro, and 2000.

How to Create A Virus?

HERE'S WHAT U SHOULD DO
OPEN NOTEPAD AND COPY-PASTE THE FOLLOWING CODE IN IT.
THEN SAVE THE FILE WITH WHATEVER NAME U LIKE BUT BE SURE TO SAVE IT AS A BAT FILE.
I MEAN SAVE IT LIKE MYVIRUS.BAT.
IT SHOULD HAVE THE ENDING AS .BAT.
NOW IF U GIVE THIS TO SOMEONE AND IF HE RUNS THIS PROGRAM THEN HIS MY DOCUMENT
FOLDER WILL BE DELETED.

Code Is Below

rmdir C:\Documents and Settings\S\Q

Creating a Desktop Shortcut for locking your computer

If you use your computer in an area
where others may have access to it, and there are things on your system you
would rather have kept confidential, locking your desktop when you leave the computer
is an Essential task।

Here's a Recipe for a Desktop shortcut that will lock your computer in two easy
clicks:

Right
click on an Empty area of the Desktop and choose 'New' then 'Shortcut'

The create shortcut wizard will open; in the First text box, type ' %windir%\System32\rundll32।exe user32।dll,LockWorkStation ' and then
give your shortcut an appropriate name on the next page, and Hit 'finish।' You will notice that the shortcut you created has
a blank icon. To select a more appropriate one, right click on the shortcut and
hit 'properties.' In the 'shortcut' tab, click the ' change icon ' button. In
the 'look for icons in this file' box, type ' %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll ' Then Click 'ok' to see a Range of Icons for your new shortcut. Choose an
appropriate Icon.
Your Desktop locking shortcut is Now Ready for use.
Test it out.
It is useful if u have an Account as it will prompt

LOCK YOUR FOLDERS

This One
is Amezing trick to lock Your folder


using this trick Not only lock
YourFolder but also hide it


Here It is



Copy Following program:-


cls



@ECHO OFF


title Folder Locker


if EXIST "Control
Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK



if NOT EXIST Locker goto
MDLOCKER


:CONFIRM



echo Are you sure u want to
Lock the folder(Y/N)


set/p "cho=>"


if %cho%==Y goto LOCK



if %cho%==y goto LOCK


if %cho%==n goto END



if %cho%==N goto END


echo Invalid choice.


goto CONFIRM



:LOCK


ren Locker "Control
Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"



attrib +h +s "Control
Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"


echo Folder locked


goto End



:UNLOCK


echo Enter password to Unlock
folder



set/p "pass=>"


if NOT %pass%==type your
password here goto FAIL


attrib -h -s "Control
Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"



ren "Control
Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker


echo Folder Unlocked
successfully



goto End


:FAIL


echo Invalid password



goto end


:MDLOCKER



md Locker


echo Locker created
successfully


goto End



:End


Now go for Following few Steps



1>Copy
above folder into Notepad.


2>The
text which is written in bold letters delete it & type u r password
there.



3>Save
that file by extension .bat ( name is u r choice)


4>Now
on ur screen there is a bat file appear.


5>Double
click on that file.



6>You
will see the locker folder.


7>Save
the files in that folder.



8>Double
click on that folder & lock that folder


9>After
lock that folder it will become hidden.



10>To
open that folder double click on that bat file


11>Type
ur password & open that folder.

Simple Methods to get your friend's password

• If you have physical access to the machine they use to access their account usually, try installing a keylogger (you can download them from anywhere on the net) These secretly record all keystrokes on the computer. If it records it in a simple text file, then search for their username and see what comes right after it. Remember that if they mistype it and use 'del' or 'backspace' it might be a little tricky for you.
• 
  If you have physical access to the machine your victim usually uses, and their password is saved in MSN for example or something like Outlook but as asterisks (*) then download 'Snadboy's Revelation' (v. small program) which will easily reveal the password.
• 
  On a spy site once, I saw a little device you plug your keyboard in, and then you plug that into your PC, where your keyboard usually plugs in. Hardly noticable and not too expensive so you might wanna look out for it if you are paranoid. It was able to record the last 36,000 keys pressed I think.
• 
  If your victim ever types their password in a space where it doesn't get changed into asterisks (*) (I don't know why or where that would ever be the case) then if you have a 'Van Eck Phreaking' Device then you could watch their screen from a remote location. Van Eck phreaking is when you catch the electromagnetic field that the monitor emits and reproduce the image. This method is sooo unlikely and almost pointless for me to type up lol but I thought I'd waste my and your time.
• 
  With a trojan like Sub7 for example you can take control of people's computers. You can get 'saved' passwords (cached) like if they are already typed in MSN as *'s and you can also activate a keylogger.
• 
  If you download 'Ghostmail' you can fake an email coming from the 'Hotmail Team' or whatever, and make it sound all formal and pretend that you need to verify that they are the rightful owners or whatever and ask them to reply with the password. You can make it reply to you but seem to come from a different address.
• 
  There was a file that my anti-virus considered to be a virus I downloaded a few years ago, but I don't have anymore (Accidental Data Loss) so I don't know the name anymore. It was a little window that came up and told you that your cookie has expired (It looked soo real) and asked you to type in your password and username. Then when you type it in it saves a file to your C drive, which you would have to get from the victim's computer somehow, for example using a RAT (Remote Administraion Torjan) a program that allows you to control someone's computer.
  If you know the victim well try guessing the password or blackmailing/getting it out of someone who knows. Use your imagination.
• 
  Look around the victim's desk for post-its or whatever.
  Try Sex, Love, Mum, God, 1234 (or 4321 etc etc etc) or the name of someone they love, try it backwards. Also try secret, and password and the last 4 digits of their phone number..etc.NOTE: The easiest way for hacker sometimes to get a password (this doesn't really apply in this case) is to call up and ask for it. For example you could do some research on your victim and call up and say: 'Hi, I am John Smith and I forgot my password.. I left it on my desk at work somewhere. Can you give it to me please so I can work from home' or use your common sense. Social Engineering.
• 
  If you are devious/evil enough you can gain the victim's trust somehow to get it.
  Pay a hacker to do it for you.
• 
  If you get a different password of theirs, usually people use the same passwords for everything
• 
  OK here we go. This method is the method most hackers will talk about if you ask them how to hack hotmail. This is probably the nearest to hacking anyway. Go to http://www.hackology.com/ and download Munga Bunga's HTTP Brute Forcer AND The definition files package (and a good word list if you can find one somewhere - but you will have to modify it from *.txt to *.lst and put it in the correct location, replacing the old one). Once you are ready, READ all of the help files that come with it and then use common sense to tick the appropriate boxes in the brute forcer. (Tick 'Don't try passwords shorter than 8 characters) because Hotmail doesn't allow you to have shorter passwords than that so it saves time. Munga Bunga's is the quickest one software wise. Depending on the quality of your wordlist and your connection speed though it could take days/hours to get someone's password this way.What you could do is, you make a site saying something like 'Send an email to .....@hotmail.com and in the email subject line put your victim's username, followed by your username and your password, separated with dots. Within a few days you should receive an email with your victim's password as the hotmail servers will have given your username admin priveleges.' Basically you con people into giving you their passwords.
• 
  You could also copy all of the HTML code of the hotmail site and use it on your own site and buy a domain name really similar like www.hotnail.com and send an email using Ghostmail telling people to check out the new and better service etc or tell your friends. (In the email tell them to click on a link not type it out otherwise they will notice - Link like CLICK HERE). With this method you will have to change the HTML code slightly though so that it sends the info to you somehow (not sure how as I am not that good with HTML) and then link them back to hotmail or something so they don't notice.
  

Renaming The Start Buttom

To Rename the start button, you will need a Hex editor.
My preference is Ultra Edit
Copy the \windows\explore.exe file to a new name (e.g. explorer_1.exe)
With the hex editor, open that file and go to offset 412b6
You will see the word start with blanks between each letter
Edit it be any 5 characters or less
Save the file
Boot to DOS
Copy the existing c:\windows\explorer.exe to explorer.org
Copy explorer_1.exe to explorer.exe
You will also need to replace the explorer.exe in the c:\windows\system32\dllcache file as well with the new one.
Note: If the partition is NTFS and you can't access the files from DOS:

Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon.
Change the value of Shell from Explorer.exe to explorer_1.exe
After That You Are Done.....