Week 14 – Blog 14 – Viruses and FTP clients

Week 14 – Blog 14

Question 1. Search the Internet to find a "new" virus. Tell me about the virus, what is does, and more importantly, how to remove it. Don't use technical terms, I can look that up myself. Tell me like you are telling your mother to watch out for it and once she got it, how to remove it.
Answer: According to Norton, there are only a few threats from the last couple of months , http://www.symantec.com/norton/security_response/threatexplorer/index.jsp.

There are only 2 viruses listed, the rest are Trojans and worms and they are all listed as low level threats. Bloodhound.PDF.1 is listed as a Trojan, Virus, or Worm. W32.Delezium!inf and W32.Delezium are listed as viruses.

This Microsoft site http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/virusenc/ lists the top ten threats, with two viruses Win32/Sality.AM and JS/Decdec.A; they both have a low level threat classification.

My worst virus I have ever worked on is listed here: http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=308147&messageID=2855162. This virus made the C:\ drive invisible, broke the link to the shared folders, and would not let me run anti-virus executables, either from the web or from CD. I always find it interesting when the virus turns off the anti-virus software. It also added "VIRUS ALETRT!" to the clock and all the files and folders on the machine. I worked on the machine for an entire day after my son had worked on it the day before and ended up formatting the hard drive and reinstalling windows.

If my mother had this virus, I would walk her through the above mentioned site since everyone says it helped. If that did not work, I would suggest a format and reinstall.

I would also give her the following advice: Always use caution with email attachments and file transfers, even from known sources. To help protect your computer from infection, you should always run anti-virus and anti-malware software that is updated with the latest signature files. It is important to keep all software updated so that security patches are installed, use automatic update settings. Enable your firewall, either the firewall that comes with Windows, or a third party firewall. If you are concerned, use free online virus scans to double check your computer. http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/ or http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner, or http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html and my favorite house call by Trendmicro http://housecall.trendmicro.com/.

Question 2. Also, use the Internet to find a free OR shareware software that is either used for FTP, mail or something Internet related. Give me a link and describe what it does, how you would use it, and if you think it is worthwhile.
Answer: http://filezilla-project.org/ FileZilla is an FTP program for file uploading and downloading files between an FTP site, your webpage and your computer. This software lets you to perform multiple file transfers simultaneously. The interface is simple and easy to understand. The transfers are secure and the program allows bookmarking with a site manager and a QuickConnect option. FileZilla only uses 50 MB of memory. If your bandwidth is limited there is a feature that lets you automatically adjust transfer speeds based on the time of day or date. Instead of a task scheduler, FileZilla uses filters so you only see the files you need. There are hundreds of FTP clients and I think a person just needs to try a few of them and see if the programs have the features you need. The only reason I need an FTP client is to down load large files or upload pages to my website. I actually use the FTP client that is built into Dreamweaver to work on my website. For general downloading from the web I use FireFTP in Firefox. http://fireftp.mozdev.org/ I think Mozilla has many good products. I use a lot of extensions in Firefox that help me do work on the web.
 

http://www.coreftp.com/ While I was researching FTP programs, this one got my attention because of all the features. It is a secure FTP client with several secure methods for uploading and downloading files to and from FTP servers, such as SFTP (SSH), SSL, TLS, IDN. Other features include browser integration, site to site transfers, FTP transfer resume, drag and drop support, auto retry of failed transfers, file viewing & editing, firewall support, custom commands, FTP URL parsing, command line transfers, file permissions, filters, favorites, shortcuts, and bookmarks, just to name a few. The web page also claims that there are no popup ads, advertising or spyware and you will never asked or reminded to register.
 

NOTES:
For funny viruses go here: http://www.bsd.org/new.virii.html

One of the widest spread threats, a boot sector virus, is not as threatening as it used to be, mainly due to the decline in the use of floppy discs. The boot sector contains a tiny program that tells the computer how to load the rest of the operating system. Boot sector viruses can infect the boot sector of any floppy disk inserted in the machine, and on college campuses, where lots of people share machines, they could spread like wildfire. According to HowStuffWorks these viruses don't spread nearly as quickly as they once did. There is a "shrinking habitat." The environment of floppy disks, small programs and weak operating systems made these viruses possible in the 1980s, but that environmental niche has been largely eliminated by huge executables, unchangeable CDs and better operating system safeguards. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus3.htm.

Blog 13 – Week 13 – Windows ME Support

Assignment: Answer questions 1, 6, 12, 18, and 27 on page 836.
1. What are the three core components of Windows 9x/ME?
A. The Kernel, the user and the GDI (graphics device interface).

6. What are the log files Setuplog.txt, Detlog.txt, and Detcrash.log used for?
A. The setuplog.txt file is an ASCII text file that contains information from the setup. This file lists information about the specific steps, their sequence, and the error conditions encountered before hardware is detected. This file can also be used for troubleshooting errors that occur during the installation process.
The detcrash.log file is created if setup fails during hardware detection. It contains information about the detection module that was running and the I/O port or memory resources it was accessing when the failure occurred. At this point Safe Recovery then skips the action that caused the failure. Then, Safe Recovery continues the detection process, starting with the next module. If the detection process is completed successfully, detcrash.log is deleted. This file is only for the computer, not for people.
The detlog.txt file is the text version of detcrash.log for people.

12. Explain the purpose of the System Configuration Utility. How would you use it in troubleshooting?
A. The system configuration utility (msconfig.exe) can be used to disable programs and services. This allows a technician to determine which program or service is hindering the system startup. It can also be useful for checking if a service is necessary or not when booting the computer.

18. List the five phases of the Windows 9x/ME boot process and give a short description of each.
A. Phase 1: BIOS startup and POST. This looks at the computer hardware and then looks for the hidden system file so the operating system can be loaded.
Phase 2: (lo.sys) Loads DOS drivers and sets environmental variables.
Phase 3: (lo.sys is terminated) The boot files and configurations files turn control over to a Virtual Machine Manager called VxD. This starts the process of allowing hardware to talk to software.
Phase 4: Protected-Mode starts and loads the configuration meager which configures legacy and plug-n-play devices.
Phase 5: Loading the rest of the core components, fonts and other resources, including the desktop. Lastly, any processes listed in the startup directory are performed.

27. Name two ways to end an application that is hung without rebooting the PC.
A. One way is to use the Task Manager. Type Taskman in the Run dialog box. The other way is to use the kill command in the Run dialog box. The kill command can be used with –f for forced kill, and a process id, a task name or a window title.

Dell Motherboard Model 0J8885

BUT I want a BETTER, FASTER motherboard !!

Dell Dimension 5150 / 5100 / E510 Board
Item Code: MB4DELRD203
Manufacturers: Dell Computers
Model RD203 Motherboard
Categories: Intel Lga775 Motherboards

Dell Dimension E510 5150 5100 Motherboard. Dell Part# RD203 J8885 WG261 KF623 - Featuring Intel 945G Chipset LGA775. The Intel board harnesses the advanced computing power of the latest Intel Pentium 4 LGA775 processor supporting Hyper-Threading Technology. This desktop board brings exciting new levels of performance and features to the desktop by combining support for an 1066MHz system bus with Dual Channel DDR-2 memory support.

These boards are Intel made boards for Dell, so you will see a Dell logo come up when booted. All boards are fully guaranteed and come with warranty.

Manufacturer: Intel ( OEM for Dell Dimension E510 5150 5100 )
Dell Compatible Part#: RD203 0RD203 WG261 0WG261 J8885 0J8885 KF623 0KF623
Socket: LGA775 Supporting Pentium 4 5XX/6XX Processors 2.8-3.8 GHz
FSB: 800/1066Mhz System Bus
Expansion Slots: PCI Express x16 x 1 / PCI Express x1 x 1 / PCI x 2
Chipset: Intel 945G
Other Features: Hyper-Threading Technology Support
Connectors: (5 - Back - 2 Front) USB 2.0 Ports, 10/100 Network LAN
Peripheral Interface: (2) Serial ATA (SATA) Interface
Other: One IDE Channel Supporting ATA-66/100/133 and One Floppy Port
Video: Onboard Intel 950 Graphics Accelerator + 1X16 PCI Express Slot and
Audio: 5.1 Surround Sound Audio Ports
Supported Memory: DDR2 400/533Mhz
Maximum Memory: 4 Dual Channel DIMM Support for up to 4 GB of memory

Windows Millennium Edition

Week 12 -- Blog 12

Do some research and find out why ME was such a bad OS. What were some of the problems with Windows Millennium Edition?


PC World listed it as the 4th worst product on their 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time article published May 26, 2006, by Dan Tynan. The sub title of the article is “These products are so bad, they belong in the high-tech hall of shame”.

It seems that ME was hard to install, hard to run, and difficult to shut down. There were complaints about installation, software and hardware incompatibilities, excessive error messages, and disk defragmenting problems. There was trouble with the way ME handled its memory, if the memory was too busy, the computer would freeze, necessitating a reboot. It seems to have had trouble with anti-virus programs, third party software, and drivers. ME may stop installing when it detects an incompatible third-party program, hardware device drivers, or utilities. ME may stop the installation process when it encounters these conflicts, and tells you that you can't proceed.

Microsoft was trying to make ME boot faster by removing real mode MS-DOS. I think that Windows was attempting to hide the programming so the user could not modify the software. But between the problems with system restore and no access to DOS , I think this actually made the OS worse.

Microsoft has posted some information on its site to help you with the most common ME problems. There is information about what to do when your PC mysteriously crashes and how to deal with a stubborn installation wizard that refuses to accept your valid ME identification number.


Microsoft quit supporting ME on July 11, 2006.
Windows Millennium Edition Solution Center
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/6519

A few of the problems covered by Microsoft Solution Center
-- MS-DOS Versions of DriveImage Cannot Operate on Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition. When DriveImage (1.0, 2.0, 3.0) is launched on Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), the computer either stops responding with a black screen and blinking cursor in the upper left corner, or you receive an error message.
-- Policy That Disables MS-DOS Prompt Disables All MS-DOS Programs. When you double-click an MS-DOS-based program, you may receive the following error message: This program cannot be run due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator.
-- Switching Between an MS-DOS Window and Full Screen May Cause Computer to Hang. When you press ALT+ENTER to switch between an MS-DOS prompt window and a full-screen window, the computer may stop responding (hang).
-- ALT+ENTER Does Not Resize the MS-DOS Prompt Window on Some HP Computers.
-- Cannot Configure Expanded Memory Support for an MS-DOS-Based Program. You may experience any of the following symptoms: An MS-DOS-based program that requires expanded (EMS) memory may not run in Windows Millennium Edition (Me). The expanded (EMS) memory option is unavailable on the Memory tab when you right-click the...
-- How to Increase Available File Handles for MS-DOS-Based Programs in Windows Millennium Edition. Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) only parses the Config.sys file for environment variables; therefore, settings used by MS-DOS-based programs running in Windows Me are not set inside the Config.sys file.
-- Cannot Type Characters in an MS-DOS Prompt Window Using a Hewlett-Packard Multimedia Keyboard. When you use a Hewlett-Packard (HP) Multimedia keyboard, you may not be able to type characters in an MS-DOS prompt window.
-- MS-DOS-Based Programs Unable to Initialize COM Ports on Computers with ACPI Support.
-- "Invalid Switch" Error Message When Attempting to Use "Xcopy" or "Xcopy32" in MS-DOS Mode.
-- MS-DOS-Based Versions of PartitionMagic Do Not Run on Windows Millennium Edition. When you start an MS-DOS-based version of PartitionMagic (from PowerQuest) on a Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition-based computer, the computer may stop responding and display either a black screen or an error message.
-- Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard Disks.
-- "Restart Computer in MS-DOS Mode" Option Is Not Available in the Shutdown Dialog Box. In Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), when you click Start , and then click Shutdown , the option is not available.
-- Error Messages Appear Citing 'Old Disk Utility' When You Try to Start CrypKey Instant Version 4.3.
-- The "Unable to control A20 Line" error message.
-- The A20 line is the start of the first 64K of extended memory, known as the high memory area (HMA). The HIMEM.SYS device driver must control the A20 line to manage extended memory.
-- Norton AntiVirus 7.0 Corporate Edition Prevents Upgrade.
-- You receive the "Out of environment space" error message when you execute the Vcvars32.bat batch file.
-- WordPerfect 6.0 Does Not Start from a PIF File in Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition. Err Msg: The Following File Is Missing or Corrupt...
-- When you start your computer, you may receive the following error message: The following file is missing or corrupt: COMMAND.COM. Type the name of the Command Interpreter. This problem can occur if you install Windows 98 or Windows Millennium...
-- Screen Saver Does Not Start Even Though System Is Idle
-- Dinosaur Adventure 3.0 Does Not Run Properly on Windows Millennium Edition. When you run Dinosaur Adventure version 3.0 by using the Dino.bat file, your computer may stop responding (hang) or shut down.
-- "SUWIN caused a general protection fault in module verx.dll" error message when you try to reinstall Windows Me.
-- Computer Hangs After You Install Windows Me on a Computer with Creative Labs Sound Blaster Device.

Blog 11 – CIT 114b – What is Linux?

What is Linux and who would use it?

Linux is an open source operating system that is similar to UNIX. Seventeen years ago, in 1991, Linus Torvalds from the University of Helsinki wrote a Unix-like kernel based on Minix and Linux was born. Open Source Software is not "free" software; it is software with numerous licenses attached to it that is free to look at, free to change, and free to distribute. I believe that the browser wars introduced many people to Open Source Software in the form of Mozilla Firefox.

Anyone, businesses or private individuals, running servers or desktop workstations could use Linux. It is mainly used as an operating system for servers. It is very stable and secure. It uses less hard disk space and less memory than typical Windows operating systems. It is good for monitoring a network and it has all the necessary network services such as DHCP, Firewall, Router, FTP, SSH, and Mail to name a few. Anyone can learn how to use Linux. I hope more and more people learn to enjoy the power of Linux.