It seemed rather fitting that my 100th post would land on SysAdmin Appreciation Day. This is the day where you're intended to show your appreciation for all the hard work, skill, dedication, and time that your System Administrators put in every day to keep things up and running. This being my 100th post, I look forward to writing many more, helping you solve more problems, and … [Read more...]
AutoRuns – Beyond MSConfig for Startup Investigating
SysInternals offers a great utility for investigating the behavior of your machine. If you've ever tried tracking down spyware/adware or other malicious processes, you've probably used the msconfig tool to look at the startup processes. MSConfig allows you to reach a middle ground between Safe Mode and Normal mode where you can test the environment slowly and meticulously to … [Read more...]
Disable Firefox 3’s New “Awesome” Bar
If you find Firefox 3's new Awesomebar (what they're dubbing the URL bar) more annoying than awesome, you can disable the new feature where it searches your history and bookmarks to try and match what you're typing. To disable this, just type about:config in the url bar. You'll get a warning if this is your first time going into the about:config. You'll want to be careful, … [Read more...]
Password Security Basics
A good blend between stating the obvious and saying what needs to be said regarding password security and common sense, these articles make for a good read in understanding authentication issues with software development: The Basics of Password Security - Security Series #4 A Simple Password Strength Function - Security Series #4.1 Password Security with Hashing Functions - … [Read more...]
A Basic, Non-technical Understanding of Computer Security Issues
If you're looking to get a grasp on the basics of computer security concerns and a heads-up on what you should keep your eyes open for, the US government has provided some documents for just that reason. Written for the non-technical user, the terms are kept simple and presented in a non-intimidating manner. Read up on cyber security tips at the United States Computer … [Read more...]