TTC Shelbyville – Technical Blog

Network administrators can use packet sniffers to ensure packets are encrypted on their network or so that protected code is not transmitted.  Link

Note:  In order to run this program on your computer in Vista or 7, select compatibility mode and run as an administrator.

Earlier this year I posted a Rogue DCHP server finder.  Here’s the latest tool.   Link

Another good tool for your aresenal.

Comodo AntiMalware

Free Barcode Generator – DOWNLOAD

Sweet Home 3D Online is a cool little program that allows you to create 3D drawings of a house online.

You can’t beat free -  Free Video Cutter allows you to cut videos.

• MPEG4 (Moving Picture Experts Group)
• DivX
• WMV (Windows Media Video)
• Quicktime MOV
• Flash Video (*.flv)
• MP3 (only audio)

Photoscape – Free Image Software

Check Your MAC’s file system and Startup Disk  - Link

Even MAC’s need a little help….

If you need to clone your MACs hard drive, you can use Carbon Copy.  Carbon Copy makes an exact duplicate of the drive insuring you can update or back up your hard drive in no time.

Link

Julie sent over some awesome gadget and cultural (cyber) links.

Cool Gadgets at Walyou

More great gadget information at GadgetHim and of course GadgetHer.

GeekAlerts

Like Old Stuff, visit RetroJunk.

Check out great blogging information on  http://www.geekologie.com   and the Giant Tree House (OK, not computers but cool)

Thanks Julie!

If you want to tweak Ubuntu, this freeware utility is a great way to tweak the desktop, security and other options.

43 Million People Fell for Fake Anti-Virus Scam – Cybersecurity – FOXNews.com

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Butch Arnold and his class of Industrial Maintenance students recently displayed the agility of Motoman robotics by drawing the PowerWheel.

Butch Arnold and his class of Industrial Maintenance students recently displayed the agility of Motoman robotics by drawing the schools logo.

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit is a scanner that can run across your network to find computers and inventory the computers to plan upgrades and check system readiness.   Requiring Microsoft’s SQL Server 2008, this free tool kit allows you to further assess your network during migrating periods.  Currently covering Windows 7, Vista, Office 2007, Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2008, Hyper-V, MAV, Sql and NAP, this tool is an excellent tool to analysis your network.

Please don’t drop the packets….  a demo that worked….

Great IOS Simulator…  Link

Great post from Lifehacker and Download Squad.

The animosity that comes with the question of Windows vs. Linux is just annoying.   Microsoft continues to improve and so does Linux.  Both operating systems will find their way to users desktops and Linux will become easier to use.  Until Microsoft licensing improves and until Linux finds a way for the ‘average’ user to install programs, they will both have their faults and problems.

Unrealistic and Realistic Comments

• Linux doesn’t get viruses – as of now.   The more popular an operating system gets, the more likely it will be attacked.  Statistics show Linux Operating Systems on servers are defaced more often than Microsoft.   This I believe is contributed to novice users setting up Linux servers.
• Microsoft Licensing is expensive – At the corporate level, licensing is inexpensive.  End user pricing should be ajusted for the general public.   With DreamSpark, multiple copies of SQL, Windows Server and other programs are given to college students.   DreamSpark also gives away certification vouchers for students.  Windows 7 is $29.95 for college students.
• Windows is unstable – Given the updates for security, drivers and properly configured, the OS is stable and secure.  Controlling the end user can be easier than with Linux.
• Education – feeling threatened by a savvy end user, many Linux gurus don’t stop and educate users.  (Jon a Linux savvy student would stop and educate other students in one of our classes- this is exactly what the end users need).  The art of winning someone over requires patience and understanding.
• Ubuntu is Linux – many comments on the web show Linux users bashing their own.  Ubuntu has came closer to battling Microsoft than any other OS. 
• Documentation – Linux needs to have better doucmentation of ‘why’ you put commands in.  Often documents will tell you to run a command and the ‘whys’ are missing.   Microsoft is often ‘over documented’ causing confusion on which way a problem should be resolved.

Regardless of whether or not you like Microsoft or Linux, you better know each of these OS producers.   There will be a balance of these OSs in the workplace as each continue to improve.

I have students everyday wonder why they need to know port numbers.   The amazing thing is while they are setting up a firewall and don’t have internet access, they come and ask what they need to do with the port number part of setting up the firewall.  Bottomline – you may not have access to the internet.  Know the basic port numbers -  Here’s a great list.  Link