I was trying to install Videora iPod Converter on a friends notebook but it keeps on nagging me to connect to the internet and download a 23MB, dotnetfx.exe, file over an archaic dial-up connection. The program will always prompt me for an error in connection even if the link is ok and so I have to start downloading all over again.
I searched the Net for the file to download it completely and found out it's the MS .Net framework. Attempting to get it using Firefox got me disconnected again in the middle and had to start again from the beginning.
poor dial-up user :(
At this stage, I decided to get Opera from here since I don't have my USB flashdisk with me that contains the usual tools I carry so I have no choice but to fetch it from the Net. File download took quite some time for Opera but when I installed it, I proceeded to get dotnetfx.exe from Microsoft.
Note I got disconnected twice but I only have to right click then resume downloading the file and worked ok.
Kudos to Opera for making such a fast browser and now free as in LIBRE!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
Anti-keylogger plugin for Microsoft Internet Explorer released
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.
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.
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.
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