TTC Shelbyville – Technical Blog

Often you will have to use ComboFix, SmitFraud, Superantispyware Portable or Microsoft Safety Scanner to remove malware.  Another great tool often overlooked is OTL.  OTL removes stubborn viruses and cleans your computer thoroughly.

Mark your calendar: BarCamp Nashville is set for Saturday, Oct. 15, at Cadillac Ranch. BarCamp is a free, technology focused “unconference” that’s equal parts networking, knowledge-building and fun.

BarCamp has become the premier technology conference in Nashville, bringing together the best minds and representation of the hottest companies in the internet, entrepreneurial, new media, and software industries, among others. Attendees are encouraged to get involved through volunteering, presenting an insightful session, or inspiring and leading community learning through active discussion and networking.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nationwide test will occur on Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. eastern standard time and may last up to three and a half minutes…more 

40 percent of small and medium-sized businesses have suffered a security breach due to unsafe web surfing, and nearly one-third still do not have a policy to govern the use of social networking sites,

40% of SMBs suffered breach due to unsafe Web surfing.

50 Windows 8 Tips

Here’s our articles on Windows 8.
 

75 Great iPad tips

Getting third parties that touch regulated data to comply can be as important as your own internal compliance efforts.

Compliance Outside Corporate Walls – Dark Reading.

With Windows 8 coming out next year, can mobile computing be controlled by domains?  Part of the security nightmare is the fact that mobile computers cannot be controlled.    Andrew Milam used a domain setup on his computer and how he joined Windows 8 to a domain with a roaming profile.

The steps are the exact same as with any Windows operating system when joining to a domain.  Users would use the desktop icon on the Windows 8 tablet to change into the desktop view of Windows 8.   There the user follows the same steps as they would with Windows 7 when joining a domain.

The above picture shows how Windows 8 has been joined to a Windows domain.

The above screen (right half) shows the PTR record of the Windows 8 tablet as it appears in a DNS record.  The picture to the left is of a Windows 8 roaming desktop on Windows 8.  (This picture also shows how the roaming profile ‘pulled’ the programs and desktop to the desktop of the roaming pc.

The picture to the immediate right shows the folder with the desktop information vs. the information in the left screen.

See our review of Windows 8 and see how you can run 90% of your programs, virtualize other operating systems, use your network and more.

Take a look around and it’s easy to come to the conclusion that Apple’s iPad is what the masses want. After all, nobody’s standing in line overnight to purchase a PlayBook. Next on the list is Android, though only if the price is right (and Amazon’s Kindle Fire is priced right). Where does Windows fit in with all this? Maybe much higher than you think.  Read more (Shared)

 

See our review of Windows 8 and see how you can run 90% of your programs, virtualize other operating systems, use your network and more.

My hopes are that Microsoft is smart enough to keep what they have in Windows 8 when they put it onto tablets.  See our review - Mobile computing makes me crazy – Sanity out of Windows 8 – a review.

Running on a small Dell computer, we were able to install VirtualBox and run Windows 7.  Now imagine if you have a tablet you can go on the run with, use 90% of your programs, install apps, and plug it into your large monitor, keyboard and mouse.   We have been totally impressed with everything so far.   Check out the review but remember, you can also install whatever you want with virtualbox.  Don’t worry about dual booting your tablet.  If Microsoft protects it from dual booting, you’ll still have whatever OS you want on it.  Kudos to Microsoft.

VirtualBox on Windows 8 (Windows 7 loaded)

Here’s a great program that allows you to enter tasks and use dozens of tags to prioritize, schedule and make into an easy to see graph.  MindOnTrack

Don’t have an external DVD/CD burner?  Use Paragon Net Burner.  Net Burner allows you to burn across your network.  Free Version.

Absolutely.  The conspiracy truly involves the cold war and  American technology at the time. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is slowly mapping out the moon and with that, the Apollo landing sites can be seen and although initial pictures were grainy, the pictures are getting better and better.   So is there any truth in some pictures may have been taken in a studio.  Perhaps.   Over 40 years nearly half of a century, there will be picture mix ups and some pictures may be used twice or there may be inconsistencies with stories astronauts recall.  But bottom-line, the technology at that time was truly amazing.   Even more amazing is the personnel that made it possible.

(Above – Where is LRO?)

I have nearly every Apollo and space exploration book that came out of the ’60s and ’70s.   I also have autographs of Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard, John Glenn and others.

Amazing generation of engineers, technicians and astronauts

With that said, one of my favorite stories that comes from Apollo was when Apollo 12 was struck by lightning.   The command module lost power and systems failures were apparent.  All telemetry was lost and the Saturn V along with three astronauts could be lost from this near disaster.   It is amazing but one 24 year old engineer, John Aaron who calmly said, “Flight, Try SCE to Aux”.    Mission control relayed this obscure recommendation to the command module and fortunately astronaut Alan Bean knew where this switch was.   With the hundreds of engineers and three astronauts, only two people remembered in a time of crisis where the switch was.    Astronaut Pete Conrad nervously laughed all the way into orbit.  (This is one of the best  videos  to watch and  listen to (mp3.)

There’s a moral to this story.  Because John Aaron and Alan Bean knew their  job – because they cared, they saved not only the mission but the astronauts who were on their way to the moon.

In today’s world of high tech, new IT personnel should know their jobs inside and out.  They should constantly research new technology and read as much as they can.  Dawn and I have seen a trend where new IT personnel become comfortable with knowing only one area of information technology.   That is not to say that the new generation doesn’t care.   Society has put us in a mobile world where the internet is available 24/7, creating IT personnel who become comfortable only with their job at hand.   We’re also seeing a trend in that once new IT personnel settle in their job, they don’t seek additional certifications or go to seminars.    Our advice to them, keep growing.  Your education cannot stop.

With trillions of dollars of databases exposed to the internet, it is their job to keep data safe and keep their business operational.   Looking back at the Apollo program, the 400,000+ personnel who made it possible worked 16 and 18 hour days to complete their mission.   They balanced their personal lives and business lives and continued to grow.  In the world of IT, you have to continue to grow or you’ll slowly fade away and be lost as new technology comes out.

Remember – “SCE to Aux”

Another good article
Lost? Move SCE to Aux

IPads are small enough to be taken without your knowledge. Here is a device to help keep it secure.

http://www.kensington.com/kensington/us/us/s/1634/security-cases-for-ipad.aspx

A computer virus has infected the cockpits of America’s Predator and Reaper drones, logging pilots’ every keystroke as they remotely fly missions over Afghanistan and other war zones. Computer virus hits US Predator and Reaper drone fleet.

With 67% of workers indicating they use mobile or wireless computing and 58% of companies viewing themselves as virtual (Telework Coalition report), you have a growing headache for IT managers trying to protect corporate assets. Read More  (Kensington Bookmark/Share)

Steve Job’s should be remembered as one of America’s greatest leaders of industry.  Apple’s fame and fortune is because of this great leader.   Little known to most, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were not just competitors – they were friends.

I have been asked my views on the Apple vs. Microsoft question a million times.  Here’s my personal view.

“It is the competition and ingenuity of both Apple and Microsoft that gives the consumer not only a choice, but the tools necessary to operate a successful enterprise.   By listening to each of these creators and innovators and watching these companies go back and forth with technology over the last several decades, there is no clear winner in the IT world.   Leaders such as these bring visions and dreams to the table.   Today America lost an industry leader who through his perseverance never gave up and with his creativeness helped to transform the way we live our lives today.  Companies today could and should learn from the way he lead Apple.   Being a teacher, IT Manager and private consultant, it is my hope that America’s youth has the drive for ingenuity and creativity that Steve Jobs had.”

“To create a new standard, it takes something that’s not just a little bit different, it takes something that’s really new and really captures people’s imagination and the Macintosh, of all the machines I’ve ever seen, is the only one that meets that standard.”
–Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 1984

“If I were running Apple, I would milk the Macintosh for all it’s worth–and get busy on the next great thing. The PC wars are over. Done. Microsoft won a long time ago.”
–Steve Jobs, 1996

Bill Gates’ note on Steve Jobs’ passing.

Make note of the final words by Steve Job’s during this interview below.

“And, you know, I think of most things in life as either a Bob Dylan or a Beatles song, but there’s that one line in that one Beatles’ song, “you and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.”  ” And that’s clearly true here.” , Steve Jobs referring  to his friendship with Gates….

(Part One)

Androids, iPads, and other devices are not really driving me crazy.  It’s the users who jump on mobile devices and declare it is the best or the not being able to wait – and the security of mobile devices!   Truly we are in the infancy of mobile computing.   I’m not a fanboy of Apple or Microsoft or Android.  I love them all.   Each of the devices are growing and have their flaws.   But honestly, Windows 8 is looking really good.

We are currently beginning to use all of these technologies in the classroom and honestly, Windows 8 is a good pre-beta operating system.  In a tight economy many CIOs are looking at all of the technology available but many are beginning to pay attention to the network ability and compatibility of products that are coming into the work place.

(above) Cody Chandler uses Windows 8 on a 22″ touchscreen.  Although Windows 8 will be made primarily for mobile tablets, when given a choice, students would select Windows 8 over iPads and Androids.   

The metro style of Windows 8 has been criticized but it is no different than android or iPad truly and the advanced features of simply pushing the desktop metro icon sends you into a desktop similar to Windows 7.   Imagine a majority of your programs still working and your network infrastructure remaining in place without Android’s security issues or iPads/iPhone bandwidth issues (running out to iTunes – see Picture Below).   Remember when Steve Jobs could not join the busy wireless network?

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iPhone talking to iTunes  (12 sessions alone to 12 servers –  we see this very often with Apple products)

Here’s some things to remember and things we have done to try to run it the OS into the ground -

• Windows 8 can be used without a touchscreen or tablet or mobile device but touchscreens are recommended
• If the software installed in Windows 7, there is a great chance it will run in Windows 8
• Run AutoCAD software or FeatureCAM software (design software)
• If you want to right click without a keyboard, hold down the icon and it will right click
• Manage is in the same place
• The device manager is in the same place
• Create ODBC connections to SQL servers
• Plug in digital cameras and retrieve or edit pictures
• Run SCADA software with Windows 8
• Run robotic software
• Run PLC software
• The control panel is in the same place
• Enhanced search features of applications or native search of your hard drive
• You basically have two OSs…. the mobile OS that has the metro menu and hit the desktop and you are in Windows 8 (so similar to Windows 7, very little learning curve!)
• Install over 90% of your programs on the computer and use it as a mobile computer or attach it to a keyboard, mouse and monitor and ta-da you have a desktop
• Use your company’s network!
• Use your printer!
• Use your usb flashdrive – no special attachments
• Attach NAS (Network Area Storage to Windows 8)
• Join a domain and enforce policies
• Setup users or administrators restrict users and documents and protect your company’s data
• Low cost of upgrading and replacing computers and get a mobile workforce with compatibility
• Attach storage to Windows 8 with your usb (external drives)
• Use Windows Explorer to copy, cut, paste your files!
• Attach cameras to your computer using Windows 8 or wait for a Windows 8 tablet with cameras
• Use multiple monitors (hey we got it working and that makes it even more awesome!)
• Our test computer uses 2 GB of ram and is very very fast (hardware upgrade is not necessary on most computers today)
• Very little programming of applications that have to be multi-platformed
• Use it as a PRODUCTION tool – a true production tool with very little reinvestment or play with applications that are used mostly for entertainment
• Low network profile
• Low training cost and across the board standardize of your applications and documents (don’t worry about converters and application development with production needs)
• Install Freeware and other software  - millions of programs available that worked with Windows 7 or earlier operating systems
• Map a network drive
• Backup to a network drive using Windows backup or freeware
• Backup to a usb device
• Works with Android tablets without adapters
• Everything you are use to…and more

Jared (a former student) recently created an awesome computer case that started out as a drawing on a piece of paper.  His modification turned into this -

Over the past 10 years I have taught students that SCADA systems that are related to infrastructure or manufacturing should be guarded and off of the web if it could not be protected.   With computer security hitting headlines everyday,  the infrastructure behind America is often overlooked and a natural assumption that our infrastructure is safe can be misleading.  Being on the internet, critical systems (SCADA) are computer systems that control many necessary and vital things such as electrical power, manufacturing, communications, water treatment, waste water, oil and gas systems.

Even when SCADA systems are protected properly, security analyst also have to look at the remote access into these systems from home computers of workers who may be on call.     Infections from botnets, worms, viruses or vulnerabilities on home computers could possibly lead to infections on the SCADA systems.   Work based computers that are given to workers (laptops, tablets, netbooks) should be used for work only and by the employee only.   The computers (issued to the employee) should be locked down and encrypted when communicating with the SCADA system and the computer should not allow any other type of access to the web.

A recent ZDNet article, China’s cyber-militia behind U.S. blackouts? is an excellent article on the research and analysis of reports suggesting that China may be behind blackouts in the Northeast and in Florida.  The article truly concludes that regardless of who may have broken in or who may have caused the blackouts the threats against our infrastructure is real.

*credit to Tech Paul for posting the article.

*The Dark Visitor - Inside the World of Chinese Hackers   – Interesting blog…

*U.S. lawmakers point to China as cause of cyberattacks - source Computerworld

*Android Malware Using Blog as C&C Server (Researchers at Trend Micro have discovered a unique feature circulating in some Android-based malware. The malicious application is using a blog in China to act as a Command and Control (C&C) server.) – source Security Weekly

A recent Chinese video for the military let slip the attacking of an Alabama University. more