True Technologies

SpaceSniffer, find lost disk space the easy way.

Michael Pratt — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:23:32 +0000

SpaceSniffer is a freeWare (donations are welcome) and portable tool application that lets you understand how folders and files are structured on your disks. By using a Treemap visualization layout, you have immediate perception of where big folders and files are placed on your devices. Treemap concept was invented by Prof. Ben Shneiderman, who kindly permitted the use of his concept into this tool.

Start a scan process and see the overall situation. Bigger are the elements on the view, bigger are folders and files on your disk. You need more detail on a big folder? Just single click on it. The selected element will be detailed with its content.

Need more and more detail? Keep selecting elements and they’ll discover their secrets to you. Need a larger view of a small folder? Then double click on it, and it’ll zoom to the full extent of the view.

If you need to understand why no more free space is left on media, keep following bigger elements. Maybe you want to focus only on particular file types… ok. Just type the file type on the filter field (example: *.jpg) and press enter. The view will react and show you only JPEG files.

Want to exclude files? Then type a starting pipe before the filter (example: |*.jpg) and press enter. The view will show everything but JPEG files.

via SpaceSniffer, find lost disk space the easy way..

Tags: Software, Tips

PassMark DiskCheckup – SMART hard drive monitoring utility

Michael Pratt — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:00:24 +0000

PassMark DiskCheckup™ allows the user to monitor the SMART attributes of a particular hard disk drive. SMART Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology is a feature on a computer’s hard disk for providing various monitoring indicators of disk reliability. If SMART is enabled on a hard disk, the system administrator can receive analytical information from the hard drive to determine a possible future failure of the hard drive.SMART monitors elements of possible long term drive failure, such as ‘Spin Up Time’, the number of start/stops, the number of hours powered on and the hard disk temperature.DiskCheckup displays the current values of the SMART attributes, along with the Threshold value for that attribute. If an attribute drops below its threshold, the drive cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet its specifications in the future.Note that SMART attributes change slowly over time and are helpful attempts to diagnose the life span of a particular drive. DiskCheckup monitors these changes over a long period and predict the date if available of the Threshold Exceed Condition TEC, which is displayed on the main window.DiskCheckup can also execute built-in Disk Self Test DST routines implemented by the vendor to detect drive failures. There are two main self test routines: Short Test and Extended Test. The results of these tests are displayed in DiskCheckup.DiskCheckup also displays device information, such as the drive geometry, serial number, model number, media rotation rate, and supported features.

via PassMark DiskCheckup – SMART hard drive monitoring utility.

Tags: Software, Tips

urlsnarf Logging Viewer – Pineapple Mark IV

Michael Pratt — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:15:40 +0000

The Mark IV does not have a way to view logs unless you are in the console. These scripts will resolve that and will tail the log and display it in the webui.

1. SSH into your pineapple and do the following

cd /www/pineapple

vi displaysnarflogs.php

paste the following code into the file and save it. You can change the refresh rate as high or as low as you want to. Default it is 30.

snarf logs

$cmd = “/www/pineapple/geturlsnarf.sh”;
exec(“$cmd 2>&1″, $output);
foreach($output as $outputline) {
                 echo (“$outputline\n”);
                 echo (“

”);
                          }

?>

2. Once you save this create the following.

vi geturlsnarf.sh

Paste the following code in the file

#!/bin/sh
tail /www/pineapple/urlsnarf.log | awk {‘print $1 $8′} | sed ‘s,http://, http://,’

3. Open the code for the navbar.php.

vi navbar.php

add the code below for another menu item. I added mine before the about menu.

| Urlsnarflogs |

4. make geturlsnarf.sh executable by issuing the following command.

chmod +x geturlsnarf.sh

Once done it should be available on your menu at the top of your webui.

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Hackers Can Steal Credit Card Information From Your Old Xbox, Experts Tell Us

Michael Pratt — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:12:49 +0000

You might not want to sell or give away your Xbox 360 any time soon. Not without taking a hammer to the hard drive.

Even restoring your console to factory settings won’t remove some of the data it stores, according to an ongoing study from researchers at Drexel University. And with a handful of common tools, hackers and modders can dig into a system’s hard drive and excavate your credit card number or other personal information.

via Hackers Can Steal Credit Card Information From Your Old Xbox, Experts Tell Us.
Tags: Information Security, News

Hylafax Server on Ubuntu ROCKS!

Michael Pratt — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:08:59 +0000

If you want a great open source Fax Server that will run just fine on a USR5637. After all the research on how to configure the system I have finally got it to work in and out and sending email. There is no reason to search any further for your solution. This is the config you need to get that system up and running. (PLEASE NOTE THE X’s IN THE CONFIG IS WHERE YOU PUT YOUR OWN PHONE)

# $Id$
#
# HylaFAX Facsimile Software
#
# Copyright (c) 1990-1996 Sam Leffler
# Copyright (c) 1991-1996 Silicon Graphics, Inc.
# HylaFAX is a trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc.
#
# Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software and
# its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided
# that (i) the above copyright notices and this permission notice appear in
# all copies of the software and related documentation, and (ii) the names of
# Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics may not be used in any advertising or
# publicity relating to the software without the specific, prior written
# permission of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics.
#
# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS-IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
# EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
# WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
#
# IN NO EVENT SHALL SAM LEFFLER OR SILICON GRAPHICS BE LIABLE FOR
# ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND,
# OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS,
# WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE, AND ON ANY THEORY OF
# LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE
# OF THIS SOFTWARE.
#

#
# Configuration for using the Class 1 command interface with
# a USR Courier or Sportster modem and XON/XOFF flow control.
#
#
CountryCode:       ”1 ”
AreaCode:       ”XXX”
FAXNumber:        X.XXX.XXX.XXXX
LongDistancePrefix:   1
InternationalPrefix:   011
DialStringRules:   etc/dialrules
ServerTracing:       1
SessionTracing:       11
RecvFileMode:       0655
LogFileMode:       0655
DeviceMode:       0655
RingsBeforeAnswer:   1
SpeakerVolume:       low
GettyArgs:       ”-h %l dx_%s”
LocalIdentifier:   ”First Bible Baptist Church”
TagLineFont:       etc/lutRS18.pcf
TagLineFormat:       ”From %%l|%c|Page %%P of %%T”
MaxRecvPages:       25
#
#
# Modem-related stuff: should reflect modem command interface
# and hardware connection/cabling (e.g. flow control).
#
ModemType:       Class1       # use class 1 interface
ModemRate:       19200       # rate for DCE-DTE communication
ModemFlowControl:   xonxoff       # software flow control
#
#ModemSetupDTRCmd:   ATS13=1&D2   # setup so DTR drop resets modem
ModemSetupDTRCmd:   AT&D2
ModemSetupDCDCmd:   AT&C1       # setup so DCD reflects carrier (or not)
#ModemNoFlowCmd:       AT&H0&I0&R1   # setup modem for no flow control
ModemNoFlowCmd:       AT&H0
#ModemHardFlowCmd:   AT&H1&I0&R2   # setup modem for hardware flow control
#ModemSoftFlowCmd:   AT&H2&I2&R1   # setup modem for software flow control
ModemSoftFlowCmd:   AT&H2
ModemResultCodesCmd:   ATQ0X4       # enable result codes
#
ModemMfrQueryCmd:   !USR
ModemModelQueryCmd:   ATI3
ModemRevQueryCmd:   ATI7       # XXX returns a multi-line result
#
# When AT+FCLASS=1 is issued the modem automatically switches
# to software flow control; these parameters let the fax software
# reset flow control as needed after entering Class 1.
#
Class1NFLOCmd:       AT&H0&I0&R1   # setup modem for no flow control
Class1HFLOCmd:       AT&H1&I0&R2   # setup modem for hardware flow control
Class1SFLOCmd:       ”"       # modem does this automatically
#
# This should resolve “DIS/DTC received 3 times” errors:
#
Class1ResponseWaitCmd:   AT+FRS=1   # wait after sending TCF for response
#
# The remainder of this configuration is included so that the
# modem “idles” in Class 0 while not sending or receiving facsimile.
#
#ModemSetupAACmd:   AT+FCLASS=0   # leave modem idling in class 0
ModemSetupAACmd:       AT+FAA=0
#ModemAnswerCmd:       AT+FCLASS=1A    # answer in Class 1
ModemAnserCmd:       ATA
#
# When using AT+FRS=n we see USR modems reset themselves in the middle of sessions
# this is not good. So, we seem to work-around that problem by not using the
# command. Unfortunately, this isn’t an ideal thing.
#
Class1SwitchingCmd:   ””

OTHER RESOURCES

http://www.serverubuntu.it/node/8
Tags: Linux

Introducing the HUD. Say hello to the future of the menu.

Michael Pratt — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:24:17 +0000

The desktop remains central to our everyday work and play, despite all the excitement around tablets, TV’s and phones. So it’s exciting for us to innovate in the desktop too, especially when we find ways to enhance the experience of both heavy “power” users and casual users at the same time. The desktop will be with us for a long time, and for those of us who spend hours every day using a wide diversity of applications, here is some very good news: 12.04 LTS will include the first step in a major new approach to application interfaces.

via Mark Shuttleworth » Blog Archive » Introducing the HUD. Say hello to the future of the menu..
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Linux – How can I set up password-less SSH login?

Michael Pratt — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 03:50:50 +0000

Execute these two commands:

ssh-keygen

Then you’ll need to copy the new key to your server.

After the key is copied, ssh into the machine as normal

ssh user@host

You can now login without entering a password from the particular machine you executed the commands at.

Example

not-marco@rinzwind-desktop:~$ ssh-keygen Generating public/private rsa key pair. Enter file in which to save the key (/home/not-marco/.ssh/id_rsa): Created directory '/home/not-marco/.ssh'. Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase): Enter same passphrase again: Your identification has been saved in /home/not-marco/.ssh/id_rsa. Your public key has been saved in /home/not-marco/.ssh/id_rsa.pub. The key fingerprint is: b1:25:04:21:1a:38:73:38:3c:e9:e4:5b:81:e9:ac:0f not-marco@rinzwind-desktop The key's randomart image is: +--[ RSA 2048]----+ |.o= . oo. | |*B.+ . . | |*=o . o . | | = . = | |. o S | |E. | | o | | . | | | +-----------------+ not-marco@rinzwind-desktop:~$ ssh-copy-id not-marco@127.0.0.1 not-marco@127.0.0.1's password: Now try logging into the machine, with "ssh 'not-marco@127.0.0.1'", and check in: ~/.ssh/authorized_keys to make sure we haven't added extra keys that you weren't expecting.

Explanation

This assumes you already have successfully connected to your server via SSH.

You’ll need to generate an SSH Keypair which will allow you to identify you as yourself without using a password. You can opt to protect keys with a passcode if you wish, but this can be left blank allowing totally password-less SSH access.

First create your SSH Keypair by running ssh-keygen this will create an id_rsa and id_rsa.pub file. The pub file is what goes on the servers, the private key (id_rsa) is what stays with you and is how you identify yourself.

Next copy the public key to your server with ssh-copy-id user@server replacing user with your remote user and server with the machine DNS name or IP address. It’ll prompt for your SSH password, enter it and if all completes successfully you’ll be able to access the machine via ssh user@server without needing a password.
Tags: command line, General, Information Security, Security, Tips, Ubuntu

Processor.com – Malware Samples Passed 75 Million In 2011, Spam Levels Fell

Michael Pratt — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:53:14 +0000

The latest McAfee threats report shows that
there were more than 75 million unique malware
samples in 2011, and mobile malware samples
surpassed 400 in Q4 2011, rising dramatically
from the usual 100 or fewer per quarter. Android
was the top target for mobile malware, though
most of the malicious code came from sources
other than the official Android Market. As for PC
malware, though the numbers are high, growth
has actually slowed over the past few months,
and incidences of fake antivirus software—for-
merly a major problem—have been declining.
Additionally, global spam has reached its lowest
point in years, although the United States saw
a slight increase. McAfee cautions that even
though levels of malicious software and mes-
sages aren’t necessarily increasing, the threats
are still dangerous and sophisticated, so enter-
prises must keep their guards up.
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All I Want For Christmas Is 10Gbase-T

Michael Pratt — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:39:39 +0000

Dear Santa: While I wouldn’t be upset to find a Mercedes SLK350 with a big ribbon on it parked in front of my apartment on Christmas morning, the best present you, and the networking industry, could give me is general availability of 10GBase-T across switches and NIC/CNAs. Once I can just order my 10gig network gear with 10Gbase-T, I can stop worrying about how to pay for optical transceivers at $350 to $1,200 a pop, as well as about the never ending compatibility problems with both optics and twin-ax direct connect cables.

via All I Want For Christmas Is 10Gbase-T – Network Computing.
Tags: General, News

Android malware clean-up exposes reliance on mobile carriers to push out updates

Michael Pratt — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:13:19 +0000

Last week there were many headlines in the security press after it was discovered that malicious apps had been found on the official Android Market.

The good news is that Google used has removed the offending apps which formed the so-called “Droid Dream” attack from the Android Market, so no-one else can be tricked into downloading them from an official source at least.

via Android malware clean-up exposes reliance on mobile carriers to push out updates | Naked Security.

There is also an Android App on the market called Lookout that may prevent your Android from getting infected from malware. I would think if it is running resident in memory all the time it would drain your battery but I am not sure. I am also not sure how reliable it is but if someone has any input on this application and the performance from running this application on a phone please post it in the comments below.
Tags: Android, General, Information Security, Malware, News, Tips