QFX Software, Florida startup, recently released a browser plugin named KeyScrambler for Internet Explorer to thwart keyloggers (malicious software that logs every keystroke made on the computer keyboard). The Personal edition is free for download at the company’s website and it protects all logins against keyloggers. The Professional edition protects all data typed for total protection. The new anti-keylogging tool is an invaluable addition to the IE users’ security as it protects all login pages and it does so by encrypting the user’s keystrokes at the kernel driver level, before keyloggers can record them. Download the trial here
Now this is something I wish is also available to Firefox and Opera since I only use Internet Explorer for updating my Windows and browse stupid IE-only sites like one of my online banking sites.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Sunday, September 10, 2006
The Airport Security Check Fiasco
Pinoys did it again!
The moment I read the news about a terrorism expert alledgedly was able to evade security checks at the airport and assemble a bomb, even if a dud. I was not amazed at the results or the brag since I also noticed how ineffective the "magic sticks" and "magic mirrors" and frisking at the airport. I anticipated what will happen next. And what I expected did happen-- the "expert" got the ire of authorities, his handler dropped him like a hot potato and now the "expert", identified later as Samson Macariola, recanted his tale to save his sorry ass.
The "expert" should know from the start that before he goes into a test like that he should possess the proper authorization to conduct such test and that the results of the test should be held sensitive or confidential and not to be announced to the media-- that's clear and present danger! The resulting panic, scare and backlash was expected of any thinking "expert".
It's the same situation in my line of work, called security testing. Such tests are performed to find loopholes that needed to be patched or mitigated but never announced to the public. Results are to be presented to proper authorities on a need-to-know basis.
To Samson, you've been betrayed again by Delilah because you really can't keep your mouth shut!
The moment I read the news about a terrorism expert alledgedly was able to evade security checks at the airport and assemble a bomb, even if a dud. I was not amazed at the results or the brag since I also noticed how ineffective the "magic sticks" and "magic mirrors" and frisking at the airport. I anticipated what will happen next. And what I expected did happen-- the "expert" got the ire of authorities, his handler dropped him like a hot potato and now the "expert", identified later as Samson Macariola, recanted his tale to save his sorry ass.
The "expert" should know from the start that before he goes into a test like that he should possess the proper authorization to conduct such test and that the results of the test should be held sensitive or confidential and not to be announced to the media-- that's clear and present danger! The resulting panic, scare and backlash was expected of any thinking "expert".
It's the same situation in my line of work, called security testing. Such tests are performed to find loopholes that needed to be patched or mitigated but never announced to the public. Results are to be presented to proper authorities on a need-to-know basis.
To Samson, you've been betrayed again by Delilah because you really can't keep your mouth shut!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Sophos Released Free Anti-Rootkit Tool
As part of my day job, I monitor various security-related email distribution lists and got this news that Sophos, a maker of a leading antivirus for corporates released a free tool to remove rootkits.
Now what is a rootkit? I'm actually too lazy to explain but you can read more about it from Sophos website.
download the tool, decompressed to target folder and execute
Click Start Scan and wait for results.
I'm using a test PC to quarantine and luckily no rootkit was found. It's so simple, isn't it?
Note that the tool doesn't have autoupdate feature so you regualrly have to check the latest snapshot of the tool here.
Now what is a rootkit? I'm actually too lazy to explain but you can read more about it from Sophos website.
download the tool, decompressed to target folder and execute
Click Start Scan and wait for results.
I'm using a test PC to quarantine and luckily no rootkit was found. It's so simple, isn't it?
Note that the tool doesn't have autoupdate feature so you regualrly have to check the latest snapshot of the tool here.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Cheap Battery Replacement for Palm Tungsten E
I'm a self-confessed techie that's allergic to gadgets and computers when not in the office. I don't like PDA's and fancy celphones like most people but when I was given a Tungsten E by a supplier for ordering a handful of LAN switches that came with one part of their marketing promo, I accepted it gladly but didn't actually use it.
Tried to sell that gizmo in various online stores but I only get disappointing offers so i decided to just wait. What I didn't realize was that the battery was already dead when i found someone who needed to use it. I brought the thing to Microwarehouse, the local distributor, and also to a service center in Makati but their staff informed me that indeed the battery just died on me but they can't repair it due to lack of spare battery. He however gave me an alternative to surrender my defective unit, pay $100 dollars and wait for PalmOne to replace it with a new one.
Now that is something, a hundred dollars is a lot of money in this part of the world that I refused his offer and thought of another way, the intrepid engineer that I am, that led me to open it up myself.
Luckily I have a T5 screwdriver that can open the thing that came with my T6 I use to tinker with my Nokia mobile phone. Guess what I really needed after a few trips to Greenhills to find a Lithium Ion battery that can fit inside the palm's case.
Just unsoldered the old battery and the protection circuits and connected the new battery similar to the picture shown here.
Guess what! My palm's still working well after almost a year now and it cost me just P150 for the replacement battery instead of a hundred bucks!
Tried to sell that gizmo in various online stores but I only get disappointing offers so i decided to just wait. What I didn't realize was that the battery was already dead when i found someone who needed to use it. I brought the thing to Microwarehouse, the local distributor, and also to a service center in Makati but their staff informed me that indeed the battery just died on me but they can't repair it due to lack of spare battery. He however gave me an alternative to surrender my defective unit, pay $100 dollars and wait for PalmOne to replace it with a new one.
Now that is something, a hundred dollars is a lot of money in this part of the world that I refused his offer and thought of another way, the intrepid engineer that I am, that led me to open it up myself.
Luckily I have a T5 screwdriver that can open the thing that came with my T6 I use to tinker with my Nokia mobile phone. Guess what I really needed after a few trips to Greenhills to find a Lithium Ion battery that can fit inside the palm's case.
Just unsoldered the old battery and the protection circuits and connected the new battery similar to the picture shown here.Guess what! My palm's still working well after almost a year now and it cost me just P150 for the replacement battery instead of a hundred bucks!
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