Aug
20
Windows Alternate Data Streams
Filed Under Personal education | Leave a Comment
Introduction
Anyone who is in the security arena should know about Windows Alternate Data Streams, otherwise known as ADS. Though not highly publicized, lack of this little known attribute of the Windows NTFS file system may affect how you solve a problem in the future. Read more
Aug
20
This tutorial will teach you how to create a transparent navigation bar for your website, similar to the navigation at the Microsoft Vista website.
1) Start by creating a new image in Photoshop with a height and width of 700*70px.
2) Filling the first layer with a dark background makes working on semitransparent layers much easier. After you have done this, create a new layer and grab the rounded rectangle tool. Set the radius to 60px and draw a rounded rectangle like this one: Read more
Aug
20
My desktop is acting up. In my power options, I have it set to Turn off monitor after 10 minutes and Standby after 15 minutes. Now for the first few days, this worked fine and my computer entered Standby in 15 minutes. But now, it only turns off the monitor after 10 minutes and thats it.
If I enter Standby manually it works without any glitches. I need to be able to let it enter Standby on its own. Any ideas on what I should do? Read more
Aug
20
A Reminder to Our members regarding hijackthis logs
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To Our Members:
As some of you may or may not know, we have a section of the forums for assistance with malware known as the “HijackThis Logs and Malware Removal” forum. This is the only forum in which HijackThis Logs should be posted.
However, we have new members seeking assistance that may not be familiar with exactly where logs should be posted or who may respond to them with advice. Read more
Aug
20
Slow Computer Checklist
Because many members post about their computer responding slowly, BC is posting a summary checklist of general steps a member can take to resolve this problem, and briefly discussing the three most common causes: malware, uncontrolled applications, and lack of maintenance. Read more
Aug
20
Slow Computer Checklist
Because many members post about their computer responding slowly, BC is posting a summary checklist of general steps a member can take to resolve this problem, and briefly discussing the three most common causes: malware, uncontrolled applications, and lack of maintenance.
Malware
Perhaps the greatest contributor to a poorly performing computer is malware. Usually this is associated with downloading an application that contains spyware, by not having browser security settings high enough, by carelessly downloading P2P files, or by failing to install security patches in a timely manner.
Step 1. Update the definitions of your anti-virus and run a complete scan of your hard drive in Safe Mode. Resolve any unfixable issues. Note that some viruses require additional steps before they can be removed; usually a websearch will find specific instructions or a special removal tool. If you cannot find a solution, use the BC forums to request help.
Step 2. If the sluggishness is sudden, and you have recently downloaded an application, the problem may reside there. Test this by completely removing it. A wise user will generally perform a websearch about the application before downloading it because in most cases, any potential problem with malware or poor performance will have surfaced.
Step 3. Adware and Spyware can drastically effect your computer’s performance, and these are all over the Internet. A very recent study indicated that one out of every 20 executable files on Web sites is spyware, and 1 in 25 domains contain at least one piece of spyware waiting for victims.
Update the definitions of your anti-spyware applications and scan your hard drives in Safe Mode. Experienced users will regularly run two or three of these applications, because each company has its own criteria for what constitutes spyware and will only search against their own set. (A list of very good, free anti-spyware applications is provided by BC). Again, resolve any open issues before proceeding to the next step.
For further reading about Malware and some malware removal applications, use BC’s Tutorial section; most of the applications have very good Help files that explain how they work as well as the unique features of each.
Uncontrolled Applications
Step 4. Review applications that self-launch on startup. You computer can be a battleground for your attention. Many programs, for instance, install a quick-launch feature that allows them to be opened quickly; other programs will include an automatic update feature that requires them to be running in the background. Each of these slows down your launching Windows and each requires a small bit of resources while your computer is running.
The easiest way to review and than to manage start-ups is to use one of the many small utilities available (see the BC list of free applications). If, for example, you have Spybot Search and Destroy, you can use its startup tool that lists startups and allows you to turn off any you do not need. If you are unsure about what can be safely deleted, remember that BC maintains a very comprehensive Startup Database that includes information about whether the questioned item is needed, optional, or not needed.
At the same time, remember that all those icons on your Desktop also take a small amount of boot time to place themselves.
Lack of Maintenance
Step 5. Clean up your hard drive (preparation for Step 7). Delete unused programs and transfer old files to a CD. Unplayed games, lots of family pictures, zipped files that you have already opened, applications you have not used in two years, software for that old printer you threw away last year—these are some examples of files you can delete. Then use Window’s Disk Cleanup to delete temporary internet files, temporary PC health files, etc..
(Note for advanced users: some experts would include the additional maintenance step of cleaning up the Windows registry, and there are several applications to help do this. For the most part, registry maintenance will not make a significant difference, and unless you are very comfortable with Windows, and carefully make backups of the registry, you can do serious harm by making registry changes, so this step is not included.)
Step 6. Run scandisk/checkdisk in Safe Mode. Have it repair anything it finds.
Step 7. Defragment your computer. Windows tends to put new files in any available open space; defragging will place associated segments of files closer together so your read arm has less travelling around the hard drive to do, saving wear and tear while speeding up programs.
Hopefully, now that you have have finished, you will see a marked improvement in computer performance. However, if you complete these steps and your computer is still sluggish, then the next step is to submit your problem to the BC user community for more detailed help. The problem, for example, may be application/operating system specific or turn into a hardware issue.
References:
Step 1 - Safe Mode
Step 3 - A list of very good, free anti-spyware applications is provided by BC
…. use BC’s Tutorial section.
Spyware study:
http://www.informationweek.com/windows/sho…cleID=179102695
Step 4 - (see the BC list of free applications)
by jgweed
Aug
20
Xp Boot “fixes”
Filed Under Personal education | Leave a Comment
How to Use This:
1) Read the first 3 pararaphs (don’t need to do anything yet)
2) Scroll through the bolded items and locate your error message
3) Do the stuff after the -’s just below your error message.
Disk diagnostic and CHKDSK /F /R are common to all in order to rule out:
- physical disk problems and
- file system problems PRIOR to trying the fix. Read more
Aug
20
I’m running XP with sp2, 2.80 Ghz processor, 512Mb RAM, and use Panda Titanium anti-virus protection.
I’ve been getting this error message for quite a while but so far hitting OK hasn’t had any effect and everything still seems to be working fine. However, since it’s bound to cause a problem sooner or later I would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me as to why I might get this error. I think wmiprsve.exe is a native windows service but I’m not certain Read more
Aug
19
Although forms are one of the most boring elements of any website, styling them can be a dangerous business. All too often it is forgotten that the way a form looks will impact greatly upon what the user uses it for. Change the style too drastically and the user might not recognize it as a form at all. In this tutorial you will learn how to style the text field element just enough to make it look good but without ever detracting from the fact that it has to be easily recognizable as a text field from a form. Read more
Aug
19
In this tutorial you will learn how to turn your images into something more like a real photograph by simply adding a white frame to them. What’s more, the tutorial is easy enough for those new to Photoshop to be able to create something impressive, and create it quickly.
First things first though, in Photoshop click file>new to create a new image. This should have a transparent background and be 500*500px. Read more
Aug
19
Flash XML Menu
Filed Under Personal education | Leave a Comment
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a simple menu using Flash, while the menu items themselves will be imported from an XML file called menu.xml.
1. Start by creating a new flash document which can be called anything you like as long as the size is set to 550 x 80 px and the frame rate to 24fps in the property panel as shown below. If you can’t see this, click anywhere on the editing area and press CTRL+F3. Read more
Aug
19
Linux Firewalls: Attack Detection and Response with iptables, psad, and fwsnort
Filed Under Operating Systems ebooks | Leave a Comment
Publisher No Starch Press
Author(s) Michael Rash
ISBN 1593271417
Release Date 15 September 2007 Read more
Aug
19
The Official Damn Small Linux(R) Book: The Tiny Adaptable Linux(R) That Runs on Anything
Filed Under Operating Systems ebooks | Leave a Comment
Publisher Prentice Hall
Author(s) Christopher Negus
ISBN 0132338696
Release Date 16 August 2007 Read more
Aug
18
CISSP Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 4th Edition
Filed Under Security ebooks | Leave a Comment
Publisher McGraw-Hill/Osborne
Author(s) Shon Harris
ISBN 0071497870
Release Date 09 November 2007
All-in-One is All You Need Read more
Aug
18
Publisher Humana Press
Author(s) John J. Barbara
ISBN 1588297829
Release Date 06 December 2007 Read more
Aug
18
Publisher Springer-Verlag
Author(s) Konstantinos Markantonakis
ISBN 0387721975
Release Date 04 January 2008 Read more
Aug
18
Publisher Cisco Press
Author(s) Greg Kellogg
ISBN 1587052709
Release Date 16 July 2007
Learn the differences between various log aggregation and correlation systems Read more
Aug
18
Wireless Network Security
Filed Under Security ebooks | Leave a Comment
Publisher Springer-Verlag
Author(s) Ding-Zhu Du
ISBN 0387280405
Release Date 05 June 2007 Read more
Aug
18
Linux Firewalls: Attack Detection and Response with iptables, psad, and fwsnort
Filed Under Security ebooks | Leave a Comment
Publisher No Starch Press
Author(s) Michael Rash
ISBN 1593271417
Release Date 15 September 2007 Read more
Aug
18
Publisher Apress
Author(s) Joseph C. Rattz
ISBN 1590597893
Release Date 19 November 2007 Read more