Switch Between Gnome And KDE Desktops In Ubuntu Or Kubuntu
http://www.watchingthenet.com/switch-between-gnome-and-kde-desktops-in-ubuntu-or-kubuntu.html
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Switch between Gnome And KDE Desktops In...
http://www.watchingthenet.com/switch-between-gnome-and-kde-desktops-in-ubuntu-or-kubuntu.html
How to Fix Windows XP ntfs.sys Errors
A great article to fix "Stop 0x24", "NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM" or other ntfs.sys errors using the Knoppix Live CD/DVD.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4690469_ntfssys-errors-using-linux-livecd.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4690469_ntfssys-errors-using-linux-livecd.html
Friday, 8 January 2010
Change Your Forgotten Windows Password with the Linux
Change Your Forgotten Windows Password with the Linux System Rescue CD
Author has tested this technique on both XP, Vista and Windows 7 with good results.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/change-your-forgotten-windows-password-with-the-linux-system-rescue-cd/
The Linux System Rescue CD is the one I mention and link to in my 'TIP: Anti-virus, Rootkits, Partitioning and Data Recovery' posting.
http://www.gb7imk.co.uk/t2_forum/viewtopic.php?t=172
* UPDATE *
If your a techie like me, that fixes computers for friends and family, you may often get given a M$ Windows PC where the owner has forgotten the Administrator or particular user's password.
You could just change the password with the utility above or, use something like Ophcrack http://sourceforge.net/projects/ophcrack/files/. This utility will crack passwords for Windows under XP, 2000, 98, and 95 users.
It is also educational to show your family and friends just how insecure there user password is, allowing you to encourage them to choose a stronger one![/url]
'How fast? It can crack the password "Fgpyyih804423" in 160 seconds. Most people would consider that password fairly secure. The Microsoft password strength checker rates it "strong". The Geekwisdom password strength meter rates it "mediocre".', says Jeff Atwood ( http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/09/rainbow-hash-cracking.html ).
Plenty of tutorials on installing and using Ophcrack so use a search engine to find one to your preference. I may write one here myself soon.
Author has tested this technique on both XP, Vista and Windows 7 with good results.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/change-your-forgotten-windows-password-with-the-linux-system-rescue-cd/
The Linux System Rescue CD is the one I mention and link to in my 'TIP: Anti-virus, Rootkits, Partitioning and Data Recovery' posting.
http://www.gb7imk.co.uk/t2_forum/viewtopic.php?t=172
* UPDATE *
If your a techie like me, that fixes computers for friends and family, you may often get given a M$ Windows PC where the owner has forgotten the Administrator or particular user's password.
You could just change the password with the utility above or, use something like Ophcrack http://sourceforge.net/projects/ophcrack/files/. This utility will crack passwords for Windows under XP, 2000, 98, and 95 users.
It is also educational to show your family and friends just how insecure there user password is, allowing you to encourage them to choose a stronger one![/url]
'How fast? It can crack the password "Fgpyyih804423" in 160 seconds. Most people would consider that password fairly secure. The Microsoft password strength checker rates it "strong". The Geekwisdom password strength meter rates it "mediocre".', says Jeff Atwood ( http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/09/rainbow-hash-cracking.html ).
Plenty of tutorials on installing and using Ophcrack so use a search engine to find one to your preference. I may write one here myself soon.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Xastir in (K)ubuntu 9.04
I installed the binary of Xastir from the Kubuntu repositories but found that when adding map images, they wouldn't display. A bit of browsing on the Xastir list archives http://lists.xastir.org/pipermail/xastir/ found that there were problems with the dependant libraries used.
So, I removed the binary and followed the HowTo documentation at http://www.xastir.org/wiki/index.php/HowTo:Ubuntu_9.04 to compile the libraries and Xastir. Thanks to Kevin KB9MQU for the HowTo. Went pretty well but, if you don't have a lot of RAM then close all other applications before trying to compile.
Maps
Hmm, maps of the UK are a bit patchy but try these at http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/aprs_map.htm
Don't forget to change the permissions of the files.
In Xastir copy the folder or files into the maps folder in /usr/local/share/xastir/maps or /usr/share/xastir/maps depending on the version of Linux.
In bash type, as root:
Code:
Change my user g0twn in the above, to the user used to download the image files.
Refresh the maps in Xastir using Map, Configure, Index: Reindex ALL Maps! Note that only the small scale maps can be used with Xastir.
Using UIView maps with XASTIR
See ZL3AME's blog at http://zl3ame.blogspot.com/2008/11/using-uiview-maps-with-xastir.html
So, I removed the binary and followed the HowTo documentation at http://www.xastir.org/wiki/index.php/HowTo:Ubuntu_9.04 to compile the libraries and Xastir. Thanks to Kevin KB9MQU for the HowTo. Went pretty well but, if you don't have a lot of RAM then close all other applications before trying to compile.
Maps
Hmm, maps of the UK are a bit patchy but try these at http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/aprs_map.htm
Don't forget to change the permissions of the files.
In Xastir copy the folder or files into the maps folder in /usr/local/share/xastir/maps or /usr/share/xastir/maps depending on the version of Linux.
In bash type, as root:
Code:
cd /usr/share/xastir/maps
find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
find . -user g0twn -exec chown -R root:root {} \;
find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
find . -user g0twn -exec chown -R root:root {} \;
Change my user g0twn in the above, to the user used to download the image files.
Refresh the maps in Xastir using Map, Configure, Index: Reindex ALL Maps! Note that only the small scale maps can be used with Xastir.
Using UIView maps with XASTIR
See ZL3AME's blog at http://zl3ame.blogspot.com/2008/11/using-uiview-maps-with-xastir.html
Saturday, 2 January 2010
TIP: Anti-virus, Rootkits, Partitioning and Data Recovery
Revision: 18th April 2010
These notes are a work in progress and outline linux tools that I use to check and clean hard drives with MS Windows OS installed. My childrens PC's run Windows XP and Vista and friends also ask me to clean their riddled hard drives too. I used to boot into MS Windows XP and then run purchased tools. Now that I run Kubuntu all the time, I just hot-plug their hard drives into either a SATA docking station or for EIDE, a EIDE/SATA adapter.
Note:-
Whilst I mention how to install the following packages from the bash prompt, it is far better to install them via Synaptic Package. Then, it is far easier to update them.
Anti-virus
If you are running a file server, interface frequently with Windows drives, or use virtualization, you will want a virus checker for your Windows files.
ClamAV is the open source virus tool for Linux. To install ClamAV with a KDE frontend:
Code:
Far better to install via Synaptic Package though as you can select clamtk (this is for clamav user interface) at the same time. clamtk allows you to run ClamAV from the GUI (desktop) but also once installed, you can right-click on any file in your file manager and then select, 'Open with...', 'Virus Scanner'.
www.clamav.net
Rootkit checkers
Rootkits are malicious trojan-like programs to allow an intruder to become a root user and therefore have complete administrative control over the system. There aren't many rootkits in the wild for Linux. Still, this is a growing security problem (especially in other operating systems) and it is a matter of time before more rootkits appear in Linux. Checking for rootkits isn't always successful from a system that is already infected. Your rootkit checker should therefore be run from another system, or a USB pendrive with a Ubuntu LiveCD installation. See the rootkit checker manuals for instructions how to do this. If you are infected with a rootkit, you must backup all your files and re-install your system. (Thank goodness this is easy with Ubuntu, unlike with other operating systems).
Chkrootkit checks locally for signs of a rootkit.
Install:
Code:
Run:
Code:
http://www.chkrootkit.org/
Data Recovery
SystemRescueCd - is a Linux system rescue disk available as a bootable CD-ROM or USB stick for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash.
http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page
SystemRescueCd - Articles about usage
Become A System Rescue Guru With Linux, Part 1
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/6484/1/
Become A System Rescue Guru With Linux, Part 2
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/6486/1/
Partition and Image Your Hard Drive with the System Rescue CD
http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-to-live/partition-and-image-your-hard-drive-with-the-system-rescue-cd-292972.php
GParted - (included in SystemRescueCd above) I prefer to install the latest version of this on my system. It is a hard drive partition editor for creating, reorganizing, and deleting disk partitions.
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
TestDisk - is a powerful OpenSource (free) data recovery software for Linux, MS Win and Mac O.S.
It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
PhotoRec - is a powerful OpenSource (free) data recovery software for Linux, MS Win and Mac O.S.
Designed to recover lost files including video, documents and archives from hard disks, CD-ROMs, and lost pictures (thus the Photo Recovery name) from digital camera memory. PhotoRec ignores the file system and goes after the underlying data, so it will still work even if your media's file system has been severely damaged or reformatted.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec
Categories: How-To, Linux, OS
Tags: Ubuntu, Kubuntu, administration, commands, maintenance, disk, anti-virus, rootkits, partitioning, data recovery.
These notes are a work in progress and outline linux tools that I use to check and clean hard drives with MS Windows OS installed. My childrens PC's run Windows XP and Vista and friends also ask me to clean their riddled hard drives too. I used to boot into MS Windows XP and then run purchased tools. Now that I run Kubuntu all the time, I just hot-plug their hard drives into either a SATA docking station or for EIDE, a EIDE/SATA adapter.
Note:-
Whilst I mention how to install the following packages from the bash prompt, it is far better to install them via Synaptic Package. Then, it is far easier to update them.
Anti-virus
If you are running a file server, interface frequently with Windows drives, or use virtualization, you will want a virus checker for your Windows files.
ClamAV is the open source virus tool for Linux. To install ClamAV with a KDE frontend:
Code:
sudo apt-get install klamav
Far better to install via Synaptic Package though as you can select clamtk (this is for clamav user interface) at the same time. clamtk allows you to run ClamAV from the GUI (desktop) but also once installed, you can right-click on any file in your file manager and then select, 'Open with...', 'Virus Scanner'.
www.clamav.net
Rootkit checkers
Rootkits are malicious trojan-like programs to allow an intruder to become a root user and therefore have complete administrative control over the system. There aren't many rootkits in the wild for Linux. Still, this is a growing security problem (especially in other operating systems) and it is a matter of time before more rootkits appear in Linux. Checking for rootkits isn't always successful from a system that is already infected. Your rootkit checker should therefore be run from another system, or a USB pendrive with a Ubuntu LiveCD installation. See the rootkit checker manuals for instructions how to do this. If you are infected with a rootkit, you must backup all your files and re-install your system. (Thank goodness this is easy with Ubuntu, unlike with other operating systems).
Chkrootkit checks locally for signs of a rootkit.
Install:
Code:
sudo apt-get install chkrootkit
Run:
Code:
sudo chkrootkit
http://www.chkrootkit.org/
Data Recovery
SystemRescueCd - is a Linux system rescue disk available as a bootable CD-ROM or USB stick for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash.
http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page
SystemRescueCd - Articles about usage
Become A System Rescue Guru With Linux, Part 1
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/6484/1/
Become A System Rescue Guru With Linux, Part 2
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/6486/1/
Partition and Image Your Hard Drive with the System Rescue CD
http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-to-live/partition-and-image-your-hard-drive-with-the-system-rescue-cd-292972.php
GParted - (included in SystemRescueCd above) I prefer to install the latest version of this on my system. It is a hard drive partition editor for creating, reorganizing, and deleting disk partitions.
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
TestDisk - is a powerful OpenSource (free) data recovery software for Linux, MS Win and Mac O.S.
It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
PhotoRec - is a powerful OpenSource (free) data recovery software for Linux, MS Win and Mac O.S.
Designed to recover lost files including video, documents and archives from hard disks, CD-ROMs, and lost pictures (thus the Photo Recovery name) from digital camera memory. PhotoRec ignores the file system and goes after the underlying data, so it will still work even if your media's file system has been severely damaged or reformatted.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec
Categories: How-To, Linux, OS
Tags: Ubuntu, Kubuntu, administration, commands, maintenance, disk, anti-virus, rootkits, partitioning, data recovery.
TIP: Useful Firefox Plug-ins
Here are some Firefox plug-ins I use and recommend.
Below, I give the commands to install plugins from the bash but, it is far better to install them via Firefox itself because Firefox will prompt you when updates become available.
From Firefox
Adblock plug-in (block ads in a web page)
Adblock Plus blocks ads that appear in web pages. You can subscribe to a free filter service, and can add ads to block with a single click.
Quote:
Noscript plug-in (controls scripts) The Noscript plugin is considered one of the most important security measures for browsing the Internet. Most viruses and trojans gain access to computers from the Internet through scripts. This plugin allows you to choose which scripts to allow and blocks the rest.
Quote:
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Firefox plug-in
This package also installs the Java Runtime Environment. (JRE is also installed when OpenOffice or ubuntu-restricted-extras is installed.)
Quote:
Note: You must accept the license to use this product.
Adobe Acrobat Reader for Firefox Plug-in
This plugin is available from the Medibuntu repository. It allows you to view Adobe Acrobat files within the Firefox browser.
Quote:
Adobe Flash Player for Firefox Plug-in
To install the official Adobe Flash plugin (Flash 10) for Firefox:
Quote:
Below, I give the commands to install plugins from the bash but, it is far better to install them via Firefox itself because Firefox will prompt you when updates become available.
From Firefox
Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Browse All Add-ons
(This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)
Adblock plug-in (block ads in a web page)
Adblock Plus blocks ads that appear in web pages. You can subscribe to a free filter service, and can add ads to block with a single click.
Quote:
sudo apt-get install mozilla-firefox-adblock
Noscript plug-in (controls scripts) The Noscript plugin is considered one of the most important security measures for browsing the Internet. Most viruses and trojans gain access to computers from the Internet through scripts. This plugin allows you to choose which scripts to allow and blocks the rest.
Quote:
sudo apt-get install mozilla-noscript
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Firefox plug-in
This package also installs the Java Runtime Environment. (JRE is also installed when OpenOffice or ubuntu-restricted-extras is installed.)
Quote:
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin
Note: You must accept the license to use this product.
Adobe Acrobat Reader for Firefox Plug-in
This plugin is available from the Medibuntu repository. It allows you to view Adobe Acrobat files within the Firefox browser.
Quote:
sudo apt-get install acroread mozilla-acroread acroread-plugins acroread-fonts
Adobe Flash Player for Firefox Plug-in
To install the official Adobe Flash plugin (Flash 10) for Firefox:
Quote:
sudo apt-get install adobe-flashplugin
TIP: Restricted Extras
The Ubuntu Restricted Extras will install Adobe Flash Player, Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (sun-java-jre) with Firefox plug-ins (icedtea), a set of Microsoft Fonts (msttcorefonts), multimedia codecs (w32codecs or w64codecs), mp3-compatible encoding (lame), FFMpeg, extra Gstreamer codecs, the package for DVD decoding, the unrar archiver, odbc, and cabextract. It also installs multiple "stripped" codecs and avutils (libavcodec-unstripped-52 and libavutil-unstripped-49).
Code:
Note: Installation only works completely and properly when done from the command-line Terminal. The entire package will not usually install completely from within a Package Manager.
ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Karmic
Code:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
Note: Installation only works completely and properly when done from the command-line Terminal. The entire package will not usually install completely from within a Package Manager.
ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Karmic
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