Encrypted Password Storage On MSWindows

PasswordSafe stores passwords. The application for MSWindows is available at SourceForge.net.

The application is more than an encrypted notepad, it has entry fields specifically for password info. The info can be stored on one machine (in MSWindows registry) or as a file that can be shared.

Improving Laptop Readability On MSWindows

Text readability on LCD displays can be improved with the following applications available at no charge from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Look for download links:
ClearType Tuner (improve text readability)
Tweak UI (modify many UI attributes)

iTunes Startup Sludge

iTunes on MS Windows installs startup tasks that may be removed.

Start --> Run --> regedit.exe

In regedit, search for qttask. Look for the qttask under the key ...\CurrentVersion\Run. This is where startup tasks are stored.

In regedit, right-click on iTunesHelper and choose Delete. Then right-click on "QuickTime Task" and choose Delete. Exit regedit.

HDTV Antenna

I had been using an older Radio Shack amplified antenna. With proper fiddling, many of the available over-the-air HD channels would be received. Most channel changes would require antenna fiddling.

I built the following antenna, and it works good. The antenna is not amplified (uses no electricity) and has not required fiddling to receive all of the channels. The antenna is leaning behind the TV, in a less-than-optimal position that is mostly hidden from sight.

Supplies:
13' #10 solid copper wire.
board > 2.5' long.
10 washers.
10 drywall screws or wood screws.
75-to-300 ohm Transformer  
RG-6 coaxial cable

Cut 8 pieces of wire, 14" long.
Cut 2 pieces of wire, 20" long.

Mark 2" from top of wood board, then mark 5 3/4" three times. Total of four marks.

Bend each wire piece into V, so ends are 2.5" to 3" apart. Remove insulation from areas where washers will connect.

Loosely screw V into board with washer.

Attach wires A and B as pictured, with insulation removed under washers. Wires A and B are electrically isolated -- they cross but don't electrically connect.

In this diagram, the Vs are not proportionally correct. When measuring, the spacing will be proportional.

 \     /   \     /          \     /   \     /
  \   /     \   /            \   /     \   /
   \ /       \ /              \ /       \ /
 --------------------------------------------
 |  o         O --wire A---X-- O         o |B
 |   \       /                  \       /  |O
T|     \                              /    |T
O|       \                         /       |T
P|    /     \                    /     \   |O
 |  O         o --wire B---X-- o         O |M
---------------------------------------------
   / \       / \              / \       / \
  /   \     /   \            /   \     /   \
 /     \   /     \          /     \   /     \

Attach balun to wires A and B, in middle of each wire, near the "x" points.

Connect short, unlooped RG-6 coaxial cable between antenna and HDTV converter/tv.






Coat Hanger HDTV Antenna: Better Than Store Bought! AMAZING!

Alternative design for very long range reception: http://www.digitalhome.ca/ota/superantenna/design.htm

Disable Windows XP Services

To conserve memory, some services unneeded on a standalone XP desktop (mainly used for web access and some word processing) by setting the services to Disabled:
Alerter
Computer Browser
Shell Hardware Detection
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
SSDP Discovery Service
Server

Set to Manual:
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Security Accounts Manager
Smart Card

How to change service settings:
Start, Run..., services.msc, highlight a service, right-click, Properties.

PC Anti-Virus

Clamwin has been a trusted anti-virus solution for years. Clamwin stays resident, has scheduled scans, and integrates with Windows Explorer.

I tried the avast! solution on an older XP system.
The product installs a couple processes that start automatically as services, using about 25M or RAM. The avast! full boot scan is a great way to find and remove trojans. A few problems were found (in the recycle bin and in an old system restore point).








Results of full virus scan.




Due to RAM constraints of the older PC, I uninstalled the product after a boot-time trojan scan and full virus scan.

Windows XP Media Sharing CPU Usage

Using Windows XP, particularly after logon, sluggish performance and high CPU usage by wmpnetwk.exe may be noticed. Media Sharing uses the service provided by wmpnetwk.exe.

If you don't need media sharing for Windows Media Player, then the service does not need to be started.
Press the START button, RUN, and type: services.msc

Near the end of the list, highlight Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. The STATUS will likely by "Started", and the STARTUP TYPE will likely be "Automatic".
Right-click the entry and choose "Properties".

Set "Startup type" to "Manual".  Press the "Stop" button to immediately stop the service, or wait until your next logon.

Disabling wmpnetwk.exe will save about 23,200K of memory.

Windows Media Player Sync'ing Cameras

In Vista, Windows Media Player suddenly started trying to sync to a camera when that was plugged in to USB. The preferred action is to use the "Windows import pictures" feature.


Follow these steps to stop Windows Media Player from trying to synchronize to a camera:
+ Start button
+ Control Panel
+ Hardware and Sound
+ AutoPlay

+ Look under Devices for your device, and choose Import Pictures using Windows
+ Save




It may be necessary to log off/on for the import feature to activate.

Time Synchronize via NTP (router, webcam)

Home wireless router DI-524 would forget the date and time when it would restart (power off, setting changes).
Time settings are on the router page http://192.168.0.1/tools_time.html and automatic NTP (network time protocol) may be configured with 0.north-america.pool.ntp.org in North America.
Save the setting and restart the device.

Trendnet Wireless Network Camera TV-IP110W can sync to a time server on page http://192.168.0.xxx/admin/setup.cgi?page=datetime


Localized time server pools may be found here.

TVersity

TVersity is a UPnP media server. It supports format conversions and streaming to multiple device types. The TVersity software is running on a MSWindows Vista PC.

TVersity can take podcasts and video/audio streams and convert and distribute the streams to other devices. It can also distribute local music, video, and pictures.

TVersity has built-in support for youtube and many RSS feeds.

Instead of streaming Bloomberg or CNN on a PC, I instead stream this video and radio and podcasts to a D-Link media player. I enjoy watching video podcasts on the sofa, and children can watch Sesame Street podcasts and other children's content.

The D-Link DSM-320 didn't support wireless WEP/WAP. I also found that using my in-building wireless caused glitches with the media server. I pulled CAT5 and video streaming is now smooth with the hard-wired connection.
The D-Link device has special codes to enable telnet and a small unix shell.

Firefox Color Management

The Mozilla browser (used by Firefox) has included color management. The color management is disabled by default, and when enabled can provide improved color management and picture display.

In the web browser address bar, type: about:config
Search for: gfx.color_management_enabled
Change gfx.color_management_enabled from false to true then restart the web browser.

VMware License Management Blues

It seems that many Windows administrators have pushed the flexibility of VM, and allowed a trojan horse on their machines.

There is a date-based license management problem that will stop some VMs from starting today.

(Distributed SaaS) PC File Sync

I rarely promote websites, but this service is so useful I may be able to stop carrying a thumb drive. It works like NFS, any is simple enough for everybody.

GetDropBox syncs files in a PC folder to the web and to other people's PCs (those who are authorized to share). A small program runs on each PC, or files can be retrieved via a web browser.

This is a simple way to share/sync files in a folder to multiple PCs and is particularly useful for carrying around files to multiple PCs.


From http://www.getdropbox.com/ :

Changes to your files are instantly synced across your computers.

It's seamlessly integrated into your desktop.

All of your stuff is available via the web, so you can get it no matter where you are.
Share the love Invite friends and family to a shared folder for easy collaboration around files.

You can undelete files or restore old versions in a snap.

Inaccurate Gigabyte Definition

Seagate to repay customers over inaccurate gigabyte definition
Qualified hard drive buyers can choose cash or backup software

(Computerworld) -- Seagate Technology LLC has agreed to settle a lawsuit by offering customers who purchased a hard drive from the company during the last six years a cash refund or free backup and recovery software.
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Oracle PLSQL Number Datatype Exploit

Researcher finds new way to hack Oracle database
'Lateral SQL injection' details released in paper

Security researcher David Litchfield has released technical details of a new type of attack that could give a hacker access to an Oracle database.

...

Litchfield's attack targets the Procedural Language/SQL programming language used by Oracle developers.

...

"If you happen to be using Oracle and you write your own applications on it, then yes, you could be writing vulnerable code," he said.

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