Boot Description

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Jesse Zylstra

How can I change my boot description of my Windows installation?
Simply boot into the Windows OS that you want to change the name of, and open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
Type:
bcdedit /set {current} description “Your Description Goes Here“

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Mega Downtime

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Jesse Zylstra

zylblog.com was down for a total of four days. Snow hit the cable again, displacing the connector in the fiber box.

Getting someone here took quite a while since the entire town of Waterville had an Internet outage after this local issue occurred, preventing any diagnostics from being able to be completed.

The whole issue started on-and-off on Friday, fully out by Saturday. I have determined that nothing could have been done to avoid this problem, except that I have moved more excess cable into the box to give it more lag in the event that this happens again.

Google: Be graceful, don’t displace our results for this!

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Unexpected Downtime

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Jesse Zylstra

Whenever this server experiences downtime, we tend to not only report it, but we also explain how it may have been avoided (if possible) and how it will be prevented in the future.

From around 1AM (PST) on January 1st, 2010 to 3PM the same day, zylblog.com, zylstra.randomnetirc.org, and any other attached services were down and completely inaccessible from the outside network.

This downtime was caused by weather. Snow falling off the roof fell onto the cable, displacing it enough to cause it to ever-so-slightly become removed from the fiber box. The issues was resolved by moving the cable back to where it belongs, and will soon be nailed further out of the way than it is now.

This issue was unavoidable and seems to happen every year during the cold season. Wind, snow, ice, and other acts of God and nature shift things around enough until they stop working.

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Comment and Be Nominated for Google Wave

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Jesse Zylstra

The Contest has Ended.

The first 8 people to comment on this post and say: “I want Google Wave!” (or something along those lines) will be nominated for Google Wave.

Be sure you know what Google Wave is. I highly prefer that you plan on using Google Wave for practical purposes before entering; Google Wave is a great collaboration tool.

Contest goes as follows:
Only one Google Wave Nomination per person.
You must include your real email address in the post form, but do not include your email address in the comment itself (otherwise it will be public). This address does not have to be an @gmail.com address, but should be your primary email address. I will need to be able to contact you.
Comments must be appropriate.

The Contest has Ended.

It may take up to two weeks to receive your invitation.

Since this is a nomination, I can not guarantee that you will receive an invitation from Google. The Google Wave Team must decide, using their own means, if you should receive an actual invitation. Google Wave is still in BETA and is not always stable — sensitive data or very important data should not be sent over Google Wave. You must abide by Google Wave’s terms, which you will see in the registration process. Zylblog/ZylstraBlog is not affiliated with Google Wave and this is not a sponsored or official content from Google.

The Contest has Ended.

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Hardware Keyloggers

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Jesse Zylstra

Are Hardware Keyloggers a security risk?

Short answer: Not Really, in most situations. Unless you are an organization that has extremely sensitive data, specifically when someone might know that fact, it shouldn’t be an absolute concern.

Let’s look at what a hardware keylogger is:
A hardware keylogger is typically a small device that is spliced into a keyboard’s connection. They monitor each keystroke that goes through the keyboard and record it. Using either special software, or a special code, the hardware keylogger will dump all of its’ data for someone to review it.  Take a look at a few photos of hardware keyloggers to see what you may want to look out for. These kinds of hardware keyloggers are small, they do not stand out, and they look like normal devices. A hardware keylogger should not be confused for a PS2 to USB connector, which looks similar to many keyloggers.

According to Wikipedia:
“Hardware keyloggers are used for keystroke logging, a method of capturing and recording computer users’ keystrokes, including sensitive passwords. They can be implemented via BIOS-level firmware, or alternatively, via a device plugged inline between a computer keyboard and a computer. They log all keyboard activity to their internal memory.”

Hardware keyloggers can also be installed at a Firmware level on the Motherboard itself. These keyloggers are very uncommon as they must be individually programmed for each motherboard that will be logged.

Hardware keyloggers can also “sniff” out Wireless Keyboard signals, even over bluetooth or proprietary USB dongle connection. These are also not very common due to the amount of time they can take to make.

How can I protect myself from Hardware Keyloggers?

There is no “detection” software for hardware keyloggers. If you have highly sensitive data on a machine or server, check and make sure that the consoles in the server areas do not have any unnecessary devices attached or any devices spliced into your keyboard connection.
Prevent physical access to the machine by unauthorized persons by locking the machine up in a [physically] secure environment.

Other major keyloggers include Software keyloggers (they can be installed locally or remotely under an operating system), Acoustic Keyloggers (a rapidly developing technology), or even just video recording (place a small camera by a computer and record what’s going on).

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Now Using Yet Another Related Posts Plugin

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Jesse Zylstra

We are now using YARPP, “Yet Another Related Posts Plugin”
It seems that, ironically, there are a lot of plugins of this nature.

Now, on all posts, similar posts will be displayed (unless the computer could not find a similar-enough post to include).

YARPP’s short description goes as follows:
“Returns a list of related entries based on a unique algorithm for display on your blog and RSS feeds. A templating feature allows customization of the display.”

Check out YARPP’s homepage and see if it will work out just as well for your blog.

As usual, this post is mainly to give credit. We use many plugins, and the most useful of those we will choose to share. Technically, it can be a security risk to tell users what kinds of plugins we use; however, we are too grateful for the programmers to not give any credit.

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Belkin F5D8235-4 v2000 Review

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Jesse Zylstra

Review of the Belkin F5D8235-4 v2000

I recently purchased a new Belkin Wifi Router with N+ Support. So far, it’s been alright.

The Good

  • The authentication time is almost instant on my laptop, whereas with the previous router it would take about 30 seconds to connect
  • Easy to use interface, nothing complex or non-standard
  • Advanced settings are available, such as setting the Dynamic IP Lense Time
  • The router has a good stand and will not fall over with the weight of cables.

The Bad:

  • The setup requires you to use the Setup CD. Though the installation is not difficult, and though it does not create any unnecessary startup items, it does require Linux. You will need a Windows computer to get this router up and running.
  • The router is supposed to be GPL Compatible Licensed. So far, Belkin has not released the source. No advanced software is yet available to replace the existing software.

The router has been stable with no substantial blips in the connection. This router has changed my perspective of Belkin completely.

Own a Belkin F5D8235-4 v2000, or a model very similar? Please comment and let us know what you think.

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Decisions: Windows or Linux on a Netbook

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Jesse Zylstra

Should I use Windows or Linux on my Netbook?

Largely, the the idea of using Linux or Windows on a Netbook is just a matter of personal opinion. Windows XP, the most common operating system found on Netbooks, is the only version of Windows that is largely capable of running on a Netbook due to resource capacity issues. (There may not be enough storage space to run Windows Vista and up, nor enough RAM or processing power.)

To jump into it: Non-tech-savvy people should stick with what they already know. Windows is great in the respect that it is already well known and widely used in my places. Linux, on the other hand, is progressively becoming easier and easier to use.

In general, I recommend Linux. Overall, it isn’t much different from Windows anymore. Also, due to the way the filesystem is built on Linux, your computer will withstand power losses much better and will never have to be defragmented. Also, since Linux does not use a master registry program, and since there are very few Linux programs that demand to run at startup (or services, for that matter), Linux will not slow down overtime as quickly as Windows does.

Keep in mind, Netbooks are not for gaming. No affordable Netbook on the market today (2009, of course,) is capable of running graphics-intensive games. Linux’s biggest disadvantages (though rapidly disappearing) is its’ lack of support for games — on a Netbook, this should not be a concern. If it is, you should be looking into getting a regular old laptop.

>>Try using Linux on your current computer. You can install Linux without replacing Windows by using a program called Wubi. Wubi lets you install Linux under your Windows partition, under the Windows bootloader. It is very safe and will not cause the problems that messing with partitions can cause. Carefully inspect the office programs and how the Interface looks.

Using Linux will save you some money, as it is free. Keep in mind though, if the price of the Linux installation and the Windows installation is the same, you might as well get the Windows install, and then install Linux from there. If you change your mind, you can always go back.

It is possible to use both

It is possible, by properly partitioning your hard drives, to use both operating systems. Install Windows first, then Linux. In a graphical setup which Linux provides for installation, you will be guided through the setup so that you will be able to dualboot your operating systems, allowing you to choose which one you desire to use upon boot.
An even easier way is to just use Wubi on your Netbook, just like you would on a laptop or desktop PC.

Keep in mind, your documents that are in Windows do not sync with those in Linux, unless you incorporate special software to do so, or set Windows up to read the EXT filesystem.

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EXT Filesystem on Windows

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Jesse Zylstra

Can Windows see/read the EXT Filesystem from Linux?

Yes. The easiest way to use this is the free, open source program called Ext2 IFS For Windows. Just download and install.

Does Ext2 IFS For Windows allow you to write to the Linux Filesystem?

Yes, but you will need to select that option on the setup of the program for it to be enabled.

Why would I want to use this?

When you are using a Dualboot system, Windows and Linux are not going to share their Documents folders with eachother. Installing this will allow you to access them with not additional effort, as if you were navigating the Linux drive like any other drive/folder.

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Advantages of a Netbook/Mini-Laptop

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Jesse Zylstra

What are the advantages of a Netbook? (or mini-laptop)

Netbooks hit the market big in 2008/2009, and you see people with them just about everywhere. Of course, us laptop users wonder: Why would I want one?
For the purpose of simplicity, I am going to refer to these devices as Netbooks, because that’s what they are. Other names do include Cloudbooks, Netbooks, and Ultra-Mobile Laptops,

Let’s talk about a few key features of the Netbooks:
First, portability. If this wasn’t obvious, go get your mental status checked. The keyboard is typically the same size as your regular keyboard, so typing is not an issue. Things are pushed together more, for example: The cursor keys on a Netbook are much closer, some duplicate keys (such as CTRL and ALT) may have been reduced to just one key. Other keys, such as PrntScrn, NumLk, Pause, Insert, and home may have been turned into Fn (Function) keys, due to how infrequently they are used.

Netbooks are lightweight, though not much lighter than a newer laptop. Also, the power adapter tends to have a longer cable with a smaller power brick (much smaller).

Netbooks tend to be priced around $299-$399, making them seem to be more affordable. Obviously, it is cheaper to make some parts smaller (like an LCD screen).

It should be kept in mind that a Netbook is no different from a cheap laptop. The processors of a Netbook is not as fast as what you will find in a regular laptop. Along with that, Netbooks have virtually no video capabilities beyond playing video; this means that Gaming is out. RAM is not typically extended beyond 1GB (though some will have two). If you go with a SolidState Disk, your storage will usually be limited to about 16GB.

Netbooks do not have CD drives, one of the main features that causes them to be so small. This adds complexity of adding some software, as you will need a flash drive to install things from.

Netbooks, due to the amount of power they conserve from having slower components, have great battery lives. This feature has gotten the attention of many. Battery lives of a Netbook tend to be around 4-5 hours, but vary depending on the manufacturer and model.

Netbooks are great for office-type work, playing Solitaire, watching a few movies, and browsing the Internet. “If you can’t do it on an older computer, you can’t do it on a Netbook.”

Should you get one?
It’s all up to what you need.
Myself, I would love to have one for school. It would be much easier to get out and bring with me, but I know I would not use it at home often enough to make it worthwhile. My threefour-year-old laptop (this statement written DEC 2009) can do more than the Netbook that is sitting right next to me (I repair computers). How could I ever give up The Sims 3 (R) ?

Where can I get one?
I highly recommend Costco, if you decide that you don’t like it then you can return it, no questions asked. If you want to buy online, Newegg has a wide selection of Netbooks (Netbooks).

Edit Dec 24, 2009 at 10:27pm: (same day)
Changed “Mini-Laptop” to “Netbook”, since the market term tends to be “Netbook” more than any of the other possible words.

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