Trying to fix a computer registry problem can be a real pain to deal with. Im going to show you a few simple steps you can try to fix your problem, if all else fails I have a surefire way I can tell you about later. Lets get started; here are a few things you need to consider when fixing your registry problem.
-First, take a look back and try to remember when the problem started. Was it a site you visited or did you just turn on your pc one day and the problem was there?
-Second, you need to realize that there are some people out there who like to wreck people's computers for fun. I know it sounds pretty messed up but we are mainly talking about teenagers here who are trying to impress there friends. You need to also realize kids are smart today when it comes to computer technology; they have made it where they have all corners covered. This is a problem for you, because even methods that should work do not.
How can I fix this registry problem on my computer?
Your best bet would be to simply reinstall your windows operating system and see if that clears the problem. In all reality this will probably not work, but it works in a very small percentage of cases. You also need to be prepared to lose all your data on your computer unless you back it up. You could find some great software that will take care of your problem also; you can actually check my blog in the link below for a surefire fix if nothing else works for you. I hope you found this article helpful, and I hope you fix your computer registry.
Corey is a self proclaimed Computer expert. You can do a registry repair scan at http://registryrepaircenter.blogspot.com and Fix Your Computers Registry now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corey_J_Thompson
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Computer registry
Recover Your Data
Recent technology in the field of online computer backups has made data center disaster recovery plans a breeze.
In the old days (think before 2005), data center disaster recovery plans were only marginally effective. Data had to be stored on CD's, in folders, on zip disks (remember those?), and on backup computers. Many businesses didn't bother to backup data to a separate location at all.
The major flaw with backing up to "the backup computer" has always been an issue of security. Most backup computers are connected to a network in the office, which allows for easy data transfer. Certain threats, like system bugs or viruses, to any of the computers on the network then become threats to all the computers on the network. Clearly, this plan does not represent a secure data backup system.
Advances in technology have addressed these issues. Many computer backup systems now feature online computer backups, and businesses are now able to store their data online, keeping their data centers secure and safe from viruses and system bugs.
Online computer backup systems can add additional security to important data with the use of password systems that restrict access to the data. This type of security extends data protection to address hackers and unauthorized personnel.
Online computer backups also save space at the office. Typically, more data can be stored online than in any folder, CD or even backup computer. This translates to increases in work efficiency and production.
Businesses small and large are now better equipped to deal with any disaster, because all the important data is stored remotely, in a central location, which makes for much more efficient data center disaster recovery plans.
No matter what catastrophe hits, online computer backups have these businesses covered. Business owners can be assured that whether a file got corrupted or a full system crash occurred, their data has remained safe.
Realize, however, that when choosing a computer backup system with an online backup system, it is advisable to make sure that it can deliver the goods. If it can, then you have probably found a data center disaster recovery plan that will maximize your disaster coverage.
A good computer backup system with online computer backup can prevent the untimely death of your business. Click here to find out more about data center disaster recovery plans. Go to: http://hk-data-center-disaster-recovery-plan.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gil_Nelson
A PHP cache
If you look at a PHP source file you will notice one thing. It's a source file. Not particularly surprising, but think about when you deploy a PHP application, what do you deploy? PHP source files. Now for many other languages; Java, C, etc when you deploy an application you deploy the compiled file. So, the question that you want to ask yourself is this, how much time does a PHP application spend compiling source files vs running the code? I'll answer that for you, a lot.
There are advantages to being able to deploy source files though. It makes it easy to do on the fly modifications or bug fixes to a program, much like we used to do in the early BASIC languages. Just change the file and the next time it's accessed your change is reflected. So, how do we keep the dynamic nature of PHP, but not recompile our files every time they are accessed?
A PHP cache. It's surprising to me that this concept isn't built into the base PHP engine, but perhaps that's because some company's can sell this add on to speed up PHP. Luckily for us, some companies/open source projects provide this plug in to PHP at no charge. These plug ins are generally known as PHP accelerators, some of them do some optimization and then caching and some only do caching. I'm not going to pass judgement on which one is the best, any of them are better than nothing, but I decided to use APC, the Alternative PHP Cache. I chose this one because it is still in active development and is open source and free.
Alternative php cache can be found at php.net, just look down the left column for APC. It comes in source form, so you will need to compile it before installing it, don't worry about that part. If you're using Red Hat 4 or CentOS4 I'll tell you exactly how to do it. If you're using something else, you'll need the same tools, but getting the tools might be a bit different.
1. The Tools
Do you know how many web sites, forums and blogs I went to with my error messages before I found the answers as to what I was missing when I was trying to install APC - Alternative PHP Cache? Two days worth, but I finally found the correct combination and it's really quite obvious as is everything once you know the answer. There are three sets of dev tools that you will need.
1a. You'll need a package called "Development Tools" this will include all the important dev tools like the GCC compiler, etc.
1b. You'll need a package called php-devel which as you might guess are development tools for PHP
1c. You'll need a package called httpd-devel which of course are dev tools for Apache web server.
On Red Hat or CentOS getting these should be as easy as the following 3 commands:
yum groupinstall "Development Tools"
yum install php-devel
yum install httpd-devel
You'll do these three one at a time and follow any instructions (usually just saying yes).
Now it's time to follow the instructions contained in the APC package. Since these may change over time I'm not going to go through them. They are very complete. If you follow the instructions and get an apc.so file out of it, then you're all set, just modify your php.ini file and you're good to go.
There are two problems that I encountered that you may encounter too. The first is an error when running phpize. I ignored this error and everything succeeded okay, but not before I spent hours looking for the solution to this error. Here is the error.
configure.in:9: warning: underquoted definition of PHP_WITH_PHP_CONFIG
run info '(automake)Extending aclocal'
or see http://sources.redhat.com/automake/automake.html#Extending-aclocal
configure.in:32: warning: underquoted definition of PHP_EXT_BUILDDIR
configure.in:33: warning: underquoted definition of PHP_EXT_DIR
configure.in:34: warning: underquoted definition of PHP_EXT_SRCDIR
configure.in:35: warning: underquoted definition of PHP_ALWAYS_SHARED
acinclude.m4:19: warning: underquoted definition of PHP_PROG_RE2C
People would have had me updating my PHP version from 4.3.9 and everything else under the sun to get rid of this error, but in the end it didn't matter. My APC compiled and installed nicely and I am good to go.
The other slight problem that I ran into was the location of php-config. The install instructions wanted me to do the following:
./configure --enable-apc-mmap --with-apxs
--with-php-config=/usr/local/php/bin/php-config
However my php-config is in /usr/bin/php-config. Making that change allowed this part to work.
So, have at it, once it's done you can expect to see huge improvements in your web site response times and reductions on your CPU load. One more quick note, My server hosts about 20 web sites, but only 3 or 4 are really busy. To reduce the memory footprint of caching everything for all 20 sites I used the apc.filters property. Although this property is slightly flawed for non qualified includes, it worked nicely for my Serendipity blogs. Your mileage with this property will vary according to the software you are using and how it does it's includes.
Jon runs UFC fan site UFC Results come to UFC Results at http://www.ufcresultslive.com for UFC Results, Predictions, News and of course Fighter Rankings.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Murray
Definition Hacking and Hacker
•What is hacking?
According to Computer Crime Research Center (US), “Hacking is unauthorized use of computer and network resources”.
•Who is a hacker?
A hacker is a gifted programmer; a programmer for whom computing is its own reward and also enjoys the challenge of breaking into other computers, networks, cracking applications, etc.
•How the hacker can hack a system?
Hackers hack by exploiting the weaknesses of the target system, network, etc, for poor configuration applications and web servers, unpatched or old software, poorly chosen or default passwords and disabled security controls.
•Why hack at all?
Hackers hack because they want it that way. There is no specific reason why they do that. Some does hacking to test their computer skills, others do that to steal specific data from the target. Once a vulnerable point is identified in the system, they definitely attempt to hack to try to gain administrative access to the machine.
•Different types of hackers
The different types of hacker are
1.WhiteHats are the hackers that try to make the movement go forward by working as system administrators, security experts and by maintaining web sites with new technologies, news events, bug reports, and much more.
2.Black hackers attack other’s systems; whereas White hackers do exactly opposite i.e., defend against attacks.
3.Crackers penetrate networks and try to take advantage of something they discover in the process; they are really malicious.
4.Script Kiddie, does not really possess any skills except for the tools, uses tools and techniques developed by WhiteHats, BlackHats and Crackers to deface sites, destroy information, and do other types of digital-vandalism.
•Basic Hacking Methodology
The basic steps for any hacking methodology are
1.Information gathering (Probe)
2.Attack (Advancement & Entrenchment)
3.Infiltration or Extraction
•Most Prevalent Hacking Attack Categories
Hackers preferably attack the organizations systems infrastructure and commercial applications. If the systems are well secured then the hacker may resort to social engineering or focus upon the target application vulnerabilities.
The four most prevalent attack categories are
1.Exploitation of Application-related privileges: Some server-based applications run with specific User or group permissions. By using Race conditions or Buffer overflow attacks these applications’ security can be compromised.
2.Client-side manipulation: Hackers bypass client-side validations by supplying incorrect data formats or data to the server in an attempt to reveal both the functionality and secured data.
3.Race Conditions: When the coding is not done properly for an application to access specific variables, files, and data or installed the appropriate checks to implement simultaneous accesses then the hacker can get unintended access to data through both trusted and untrusted server application components.
4.Buffer Overflow Attacks: Normally applications take data as an input and pass it to memory buffers for manipulation. If the coders do not put a checkpoint to check whether the size of data is too big for a buffer then they are bound to be a complications. Hackers may take this condition as an advantage and can embed their own commands within the oversized data package. Perfectly implemented, these commands can acquire System Administrator privileges to the hacker.
•Cyber attacks: What are they?
Cyber attacks happen on a nation-wide scale and includes clogging up the adversary country’s computers which handle sensitive information like logistics, communications, war strategies, shutting down their civil utilities, like national power grid, jamming radar sites, crushing military’s computers, and downing commercial websites, etc.
•Hacker’s tools
There are so many tools available in the Net and also in the market using which anybody can do the basic hacking. A few tools are
1.DSniff -- a suite of programs that can be used in penetration and auditing testing.
2.Ethereal -- the widely used network protocol analyzer.
3.AirSnort -- a wireless LAN (WLAN) tool which recovers encryption keys.
4.Netcat -- a simple Unix utility which writes and reads data across network connections, using UDP or TCP protocol.
•Hacking in day-to-day life
To name a few…
1.Application hacking
2.Email hacking
3.Password hacking
4.Key Loggers…
•The key to winning the war against hackers…
The first step is to know both the state of one’s own network and its vulnerabilities and also the tactics hackers employ and deploy. Strategic analysts proclaim the key, to escape being hacked by somebody, is network security. But again, unfamiliarity of hacker’s activities and ignorance of how to deploy firewalls and other security features effectively can make you the hacker’s favorite target.
“Hope for the best and plan for the worst” should be the motto in drawing strategies against hackers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pavan_M_Kumar
Friday, November 2, 2007
ZIP then, RAR now. What’s next?
NUWAR is at it again. It has tweaked its technique one more time.
Last week, WORM_NUWAR.AOP was found arriving as a file contained in a password-protected ZIP archive, an attempt to evade file scanning. The password to the archive is in an image used as message body, an attempt to evade anti-spam technology. While NUWAR is known for its distinct social engineering schemes — either by using sensational email messages about war or love, or by using incredibly timely email details — WORM_NUWAR.AOP had an interesting scheme itself. It used email messages posing as a notification from an antivirus company. “Worm Detected!” the email message declared.
Apart from the specific detection for the file within the archive, Trend Micro also detects the malicious password-protected ZIP file as WORM_NUWAR.ZIP.
Now, a new NUWAR variant is making its rounds contained in a password-protected RAR archive. Detected by Trend Micro as WORM_NUWAR.AOS, the worm was spammed using email messages that continue what WORM_NUWAR.AOP started, albeit with a wider scope: the email messages now also declare “Virus Detected!” and “Spyware Detected”, among others. As with WORM_NUWAR.AOP, the message body is an image file. Trend Micro detects the malicious password-protected RAR archive as WORM_NUWAR.RAR. WORM_NUWAR.AOS, however, was clearly spammed, because it has a propagation routine of its own using email messages that NUWAR has been associated with — messages of love. “For You….My Love”, “I Love Thee”. Like several of its predecessors, on execution WORM_NUWAR.AOS drops NUWAR’s partner-in-crime, TROJ_SMALL.EDW, known for creating P2P-based connection between all affected computers, forming a link that ultimately assists NUWAR in its own pump-and-dump spam attack.
With the release of WORM_NUWAR.AOS, it doesn’t look like NUWAR is letting up any time soon. In just a few months, it has shown an interesting pattern of social engineering tactics. Its authors seem to be always watching out for events to exploit, or, when there is none, they come up with a new tactic altogether.
NUWAR is clearly a social engineering attack. Users are the primary target. Users should therefore be extra vigilant.
Source : Trend micro blog
ZLOB Crosses Over
ZLOB Trojans, which proliferated in 2006, are known for using fake codec downloads as their social engineering technique to entice users into downloading the malicious software on their systems. Initially, they are also known to affect Windows-based platforms only. Today, this Trojan family seems to be crossing over to the “other side”.
Intego, who recently partnered with Trend Micro to directly distribute Mac security products, tipped Macworld of the existence of a ZLOB Trojan that affects Mac OS X. Intego reports that the malware disguises itself as video program that when opened, displays a message that a codec is needed to run the program properly. In the background, however, it downloads then launches an installer that asks the user to enter administrator password. ZLOB variants are notorious for this type of routine. Thus, Trend Micro detects the said malware as TROJ_ZLOB.GAF.
It can be downloaded from the Web site http://{BLOCKED}tracodec.com/download/ and arrives as a .DMG file, the common format used by Mac installers. Depending on the IP address that downloads the Trojan, this Web site gives back a copy of the Trojan with a different MD5sum. Note that Trend Micro created the detection OSX_ DNSCHAN.A for the DMG file and UNIX_DNSCHAN.A for the Bash script file inside the said DMG.
Malware are crossing over. Mac fandom, beware!
Data provided by Trend Micro Senior Software Engineer Feike Hacquebord. Additional information from Elizabeth Bookman
Source : Trendmicro
