Vista or XP

I like Windows XP, but I don’t much like Vista. I tried it for a few months and found it gorgeous to look at and fairly easy to navigate. I didn’t much care for the search feature. I actually use search for just about everything on Windows XP, but Vista would find everything. For example, if applications weren’t made for Vista, it would find them or show them in the Add/Remove Programs. Which brings me to that subject. Its so new that it still lacks the drivers to support even my fairly recently purchased printer. I also had trouble running VMWare and other applications. VMWare 6.0 must be purchased to work fully with Vista. I got VMWare 5.x to work partially, but it would do strange things like shut down the computer for seemingly no reason or not run certain operating systems (Ubuntu) from a disc. Ubuntu did work as an ISO image on my local computer, though.

Vista has potential to be a great Desktop OS in about a year when more vender’s support it and it becomes the new standard, but until then I will stick with XP and use Vista for practice. I really enjoyed the Media Center (which is also in some version of XP). I would NOT use it as any kind of operational system running critical resources. I’ve heard Windows 2003 Server is good stuff and I wouldn’t doubt it.

When XP first came out I was all about 2000 and not fully convinced about the new kid on the block. I now feel the same about Vista. One thing I am definitely sick of is that Microsoft releases Vista and then promises to completely stop supporting Windows XP some time in the summer of 2008. This forces everyone to move to Vista. That is pretty aggressive and I am personally not going to take it any more. I’m going to start moving to Ubuntu slowly but surely. I’d like to stay on top my MS OS skills but I don’t want to be completely at their mercy anymore.

Popularity: 1% [?]

normal.dot

The normal.dot error in MS Work 97-2003 is annoying to say the very least.  The Normal.dot is the main default template file in Microsoft Word. Because it contains a lot of customization settings, it is prone to corruption.

Here is a very simple way of fixing the Normal.dot error.  Click here for step by step instructions on how to fix the normal.dot file.

keyTags:

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Popularity: 3% [?]

How to get Malware/Virus/Trojans on your Home Windows computer:

1) Use Window 9x/2000/XP out of the box DO NOT bother to reconfigure it
  

Don't create any login accounts with strong passwords
Do all work from the adminstrator account (Windows does this out automatically  so   don't do anything)
Do not bother with patches no matter how critical (Windows will prompt you to update, just ignore it)
Don't disable the guest account
Don't change the name of default administrator account
Enable as many network protocols as you can

 

2) Use Internet Explorer

If you want your system to get infected with all kinds of malware DO NOT use Firefox or anytype of pop up blockers
When you use IE, don't increase the security under: Tools | Internet Options | Security tab, just leave it as is
Ensure all Java and ASP scripting languages are enabled, allowing other computers to load software on your computer remotely
Never patch Internet Explorer

3) Connect directly to the Internet

Do not use any kind of firewall 
Do not use Network Adress Translation (which will hide your IP adress)
Do not load SP2 for Window XP
  

4) Surf the deadliest sites with no protection

Surf Serial/Crack/Warez sites and always completely trust their sites
Porn sites with no protection
Screen Saver sites
“hacker sites”  not all hackers sites just “black hats” and script kiddie type sites
Find dark IRCs
  

5) Behavior that will help you get your system infected.

Download Screen Savers from site you are not sure about
Open emails from people you don't know
If you get a Security Warning that says “Do you want to download XXXXPROCUT NAMEXXX..” Don't even bother reading the rest just click yes.
  

6) Software that is more than likely infected

Tools bars that automatically download without your permission
Kazaa and some other free P2P tools

 

List of Tools for faster Infection:

Internet Explorer  (Firefox can affectively block malware)
Broadband/DSL (use of a firewall using Network Adress Translation will hide you system)
Windows 9.x/2k/XP (open source OSes such as Linux are less likely to be hacked)

 

Popularity: 5% [?]

Security Testing on my Window 2000 system

I've surfing on my Windows 2000 system while completely exposed to the Internet on my DMZ.  No firewalls, no anti-virus, not even a pop-up blocker.  The box is exploited immediately. 

Many of the default configuration on a fresh Windows 2000 box are just plain ridiculous.  For example, the C$, and parts of the root are shared out on earlier versions of Windows 2000.  Message services, port 139 and other very easy to exploit applications and services are turned on by default on Windows 2000. 

It is no wonder Windows systems are always getting taken down.  Just turning off some of those services do quite a bit to close some of the holes on Windows boxes.  With broadband getting more popular, the combination of unprotected systems and the viral marketing of malicious code are creating a storm on the Internet.  An unprotected system is rendered completely useless in a matter of weeks (days and hours if you surf porn or serial sites).

Here are some of the vulnerabilities on Windows systems at SANS.org.

In all honesty, if you have a good firewall, virus protection, maybe a pop-up stopper and a good security configuration you could have a Windows 98 machine and NEVER get a virus.  

Popularity: 3% [?]

Critical Windows Patch May Wreak PC Havoc

Yay, Windows! 

A Microsoft patch meant to fix critical security flaws in Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 is causing trouble for some users, the company said Friday.

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Popularity: 2% [?]