Date: 08/26/05 (IT Professionals)    Keywords: software, web, hosting

Hi all, I am having an issue with a network that I have been hired to set up. I'm in WAY over my head, my specialty is Cisco, and I'm doing Windows Server 2003 setup and administration.

Current Situation:

The Company is running their systems in a workgroup, with a central computer acting as the "server" for their shared software program. They currently have about ten employees on-site. The propreitor wants to make sure the new network is secure, and wants to be able to track his employees' internet usage. He also wants his two off-site employees to be able to VPN in to their internal network.

Proposed Solution:

Transferring the duties of the central computer to a server, which will also provide AD, DHCP, DNS, WINS, ISA, and Exchange(!).

Problems:
1. When I attach the computers to the new domain, a new profile is created for each domain user that logs into the network from a particular machine. However, the old local machine profiles have all the necessary user data for their old way of working (Desktop, Start Menu, and the like). This would not normally be an issue, except that their Outlook (and in one case, ActiveSync) data does not transfer to their domain account (note: we are using local profiles, not roaming). Is their any way to merge the old profile and the new profile, so all is as it was before I installed the server (except for the authentication)?

2. The company has an external web site hosted by a hosting service. The web address for this is companyname.com (no, that's not the ACTUAL URL). The AD is also named companyname.com. When an internal user goes to check his/her Outlook (their e-mail is currently hosted offsite as well, see #3), it cannot resolve the mail server (currently set to mail.companyname.com). Is there any way around this, besides taking a grenade to AD, and starting from scratch (which literally means I will have to start from scratch)?

3. Because my schedule and their company cannot permit a daytime install, the installation is to be done in phases:
1. Test (completed)
2. Domain Authentication/File Server (currently working on)
3. ISA configuration (as of right now, I am only using the internal NIC, and am using the DSL modem for DHCP and gateway services...when ISA is installed, the network config will go Internet---DSL Modem---Server---Inernal Network)
4. Exchange server (changing the MX record on their current public domain, to point to our static IP)
I have NEVER used Exchange...and it is already stumped me. How do I know everything is working as it should with Exchange, before any critical e-mails are lost?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/itprofessionals/20267.html

Date: 08/28/05 (Algorithms)    Keywords: software

I'm writing up something for the all_complexity community but I'm having trouble with my argument. It goes like this:

Explain why software code is brittle, in the sense that small changes in it break everything, while genetic codes accrete changes all the time and a written text can make do with plenty of spelling errors.

I first appeal to Shannons' work on signal theory, that natural language and possibly the genetic one has a lot of redundancy, allowing the message to persist. On the other hand, a sanely written piece of computer code is consistent and as small as practically possible.

I further argue that capturing the desired behaviour of the program in as little code as possible is in itself a form of compression, trying to shrink the size of the program down to the kolmogorov complexity of the desired output.

Here's the fuzzy part of my argument:
I claim handwavingly that since compression exploits and removes any pattern in the text, changing one byte in the compressed text will have a very large effect on the to-be-extracted plaintext. I know this is a hallmark of good encryption, but is this true for compressed text as well?

I could argue that n bytes in the compressed file must affect >n bytes in the plaintext since the plaintext has more bytes and they all need to be "caused" by the compressed bytes.

Is this a sound argument? I'd rather base the argument on real informatics than my own top-of-my-head musings. :-)

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/algorithms/64457.html

Date: 08/29/05 (Mozilla)    Keywords: software, browser, web

Firefox continues to make inroads in Europe. In a recent article written by Paula Demarzio and published by ABC Money in the United Kingdom, The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) in London has awakened to the popularity of Mozilla's Firefox web browser and has vowed to make its websites "Firefox friendly." The DWP also said that it would try to make its sites compatible to as many browsers as possible.

DWP is not the only organization, which has had to work towards making sites more compatible to a variety of browsers including Firefox and Opera. With the increasing market share of browsers based on open source software, many organizations are being forced to upgrade their sites. Software Company AutoDesk announced on Thursday that it was working towards Firefox support for MapGuide, "We consider Firefox support to be essential and are working on it for the next version of MapGuide," an AutoDesk spokesman commented.

If you are interested in reading the whole article, kindly click the following link:
http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/282005781.htm

Regards,

Omar.-

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/mozilla/312683.html

Date: 08/29/05 (Mozilla)    Keywords: software

Hello all, just wanted to post here about my idea for a Mozilla media platform.

I call it the "Windhorse/Media Project".

It, in the spirit of Mozilla trdition, will be Gecko-based, and will include a bookmark ability for your favourite online media. Plus, it will allow you the choice between streaming or saving-as (whether it be live or stationary).

Windhorse, by itself, will be a standalone platform, while Media, by itself, will come as an extension for both Firefox and Thunderbird, respectively (plus, just as in IE, it will be accessible through a drop-down media panel on the main navigation toolbar). The extension will provide for the toolbar panel and for a media sidebar (also like IE) which will (another choice) allow you to either view/listen to the clickable media in the toolbar or view/listen to it on Windhorse.

Preliminarilly, it will provide the directories for Shoutcast and Nullsoft Video, and will also (hopefully) provide other, online directories (like Vtuner [my fave] or whatnot).

Finally, while Windhorse/Media will depend upon WMP, RP, QT, and WA in order to view proprietorized content (so as to not have anything nasty upon Mozilla's conscience and legal bill - damn the proprietors), I can envision third-party, indy-made, open-source .xpi's for alternative codecs like Real Alternative, Quicktime Alternative, Winamp Alternative, and even that codec which allows you to play WM-copyrighted formats on other players without the need for WMP, all of which will allow to to play any media extension, no matter *how* proprietary, without the need for media-playing bigboys like the aforementioned.

(Also, if you want, you can add an in-the-future .xpi which will immediately convert proprietarized stationary content [like mp3s, wma, ra, qt, etc.] into open-source formats like .ogg and so forth)

So, that's my idea for a Mozilla media platform (more than just a player, dammit!). I *would* work on it, except for the fact that I'm but a lowly end-user and tinkerer of the 3rd or 4th degree (as listed in Wikipedia's "Open-source software" article). Plus, I'm in college without (at-least) a laptop right now, so I'm screwed, lol.

Harry

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/mozilla/313503.html

Date: 08/30/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, browser

Software giant probes report of a new browser flaw that, according to its discoverer, could let attackers run malicious code on users' PCs.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Microsoft+investigates+another+IE+flaw+report/2100-1009_22-5844431.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 08/30/05 (Opera Browser)    Keywords: software, browser

Cross-posted to browserfriendly, opera_browser, and pne

It's Opera Software's tenth birthday today! And so they offer free registration keys for everyone emailing registerme@opera.com from 2005-08-30 09:00 CEST (midnight PDT, 3 a.m. EDT) to 2005-08-31 09:00 CEST.

News article (in German) at heise.de here.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/opera_browser/40453.html

Date: 08/30/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, security, microsoft

Commentary--Counterpane CTO Bruce Schneier says Microsoft is stalling the adoption of a best-practices document on software security to make sure it doesn't apply to the next version of Windows.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Is+Microsoft+skirting+the+issue%3F/2100-1009_22-5844520.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 08/31/05 (Web Development)    Keywords: software, web, spam

I recently bought a domain and one week afterwards I opened my inbox to discover that the domain was being used as return addresses (they're using random non-existent usernames@my domain) for spam selling discounted (and probably pirated) software. I've informed my webhost about this and they've provided me with some information on how to report this ("Determine the appropriate abuse department(s) responsible for the message source and any URL's or email addresses used as a contact point by the spammer." "send FORGERY complaints to the abuse addresses. Many abuse departments will consider forgery a more serious TOS violation than sending UCE.") but despite having thousands of e-mails with full header information I can't find an originating IP address as most addresses in the "received from" seem to be local ISP addresses from across the world.

I have had better luck with WHOIS and nslookup, in that I know where the site is hosted (a legitimate host in Jordan) and have the registration details (a suspiciously long PO box in Beirut) but without a way of proving that the person with the discounted software websites is also responsbile for the spam and spoofing I don't really have a leg to stand on here. :(

Anyone been in my situation before or have any advice?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdev/240638.html

Date: 09/01/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, web

Software giant plans Web site to arm law enforcement officials worldwide with tips and training for fighting cybercrime.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/New+Microsoft+portal+will+help+cops/2100-1009_22-5845205.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 09/02/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, security, virus, antivirus

Security software vendor is investigating a report of a weakness in the way its corporate antivirus software stores login credentials.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Symantec+probes+report+of+antivirus+product+flaw/2100-1009_22-5845873.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 09/02/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: cms, software, html, java, security, virus, antivirus, web, microsoft, google, ebay

I'm having this wierd problem so I scanned with Hijack This! Here's the log. Which of these shouldn't be there. Please help me!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:31:07 PM, on 9/2/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\windows\system32\rlvknlg.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\AdvTools\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 9\Paint Shop Pro 9.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\owner\My Documents\My Downloads\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = proxy1.emirates.net.ae:8080
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: URLLink Class - {4A2AACF3-ADF6-11D5-98A9-00E018981B9E} - C:\Program Files\NewDotNet\newdotnet6_38.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: ST - {9394EDE7-C8B5-483E-8773-474BF36AF6E4} - C:\Program Files\MSN Apps\ST\01.03.0000.1005\en-xu\stmain.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O2 - BHO: MSNToolBandBHO - {BDBD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\MSN Apps\MSN Toolbar\01.02.3000.1001\en-us\msntb.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D80C4E21-C346-4E21-8E64-20746AA20AEB} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: MSN - {BDAD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\MSN Apps\MSN Toolbar\01.02.3000.1001\en-us\msntb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Advanced Tools Check] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\AdvTools\ADVCHK.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WeatherOnTray] C:\Program Files\Hotbar\bin\4.5.1.0\WeatherOnTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [navapp] C:\Program Files\NavExcel\NavHelper\v2.0.4d\navapp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [New.net Startup] rundll32 C:\PROGRA~1\NEWDOT~1\NEWDOT~2.DLL,NewDotNetStartup -s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [oxmx] C:\WINDOWS\oxmx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OSS] C:\windows\system32\rlvknlg.exe -boot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [googletalk] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe" /autostart
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra button: eBay - Homepage - {EF79EAC5-3452-4E02-B8BD-BA4C89F1AC7A} - C:\Program Files\IrfanView\Ebay\Ebay.htm
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Hijacked Internet access by New.Net
O10 - Hijacked Internet access by New.Net
O10 - Hijacked Internet access by New.Net
O10 - Hijacked Internet access by New.Net
O10 - Hijacked Internet access by New.Net
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {15AD6789-CDB4-47E1-A9DA-992EE8E6BAD6} - http://static.windupdates.com/cab/MusicAccess/ie/bridge-c8.cab
O16 - DPF: {2917297F-F02B-4B9D-81DF-494B6333150B} (Minesweeper Flags Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MineSweeper.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1124631707093
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {E154E3CC-0C3A-4101-91D8-6B4876F0FD64} (PrintScreen Class) - http://www.mydisplayimage.com/create/Flash2Image.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6BF0D00-0B2A-4A75-BF7B-F385591623AF} (Solitaire Showdown Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/SolitaireShowdown.cab31267.cab
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service (iPodService) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Unerase Protection (NProtectService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\AdvTools\NPROTECT.EXE
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service (SBService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: SymWMI Service (SymWSC) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/479940.html

Date: 09/02/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: software, microsoft

For the past couple days, my computer had been freezing 1-5 minutes after Windows started. I went to Microsoft's homepage and they suggested a clean boot, which i performed, and still it froze after about a minute. I decided to try starting it in safe mode to determine if it was a problem with Windows at all or a problem with the computer itself (which is a junk E-machines PC from 2002.). Like the Microsoft homepage suggested, I changed the setting in Run> MSCONFIG so it would start automatically in safe mode, rather than booting in safe mode with F8. Now the computer is stuck on a loop of trying to start, not being able to and restarting.

The screen says this: Sorry for the inconveience, but Windows did not start sucessfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.) I have no idea what to do. If anyone has any ideas at all, please help. Then, there's a menu for several different safe modes, the last good configuration, and start Windows normally. none of these load all the way to windows and the computer will restart and return to this screen.

If there's nothing that can be done aside from wiping the whole thing clean and reinstalling Windows, is there any way i can get my files/programs off the hard drive first? or are they lost forever?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/480174.html

Date: 09/06/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, security

Security researchers and companies that write commercial software seek common ground over how to report flaws.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Bug+hunters%2C+software+firms+in+uneasy+alliance/2100-1009_22-5846019.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 09/06/05 (WebDesign)    Keywords: software, web

Would anyone have recommendations for a stock photo site and web tracking software?

I tried iStockphoto.com which is cheap but they are very limited on their photo selection, especially when it comes to minorities, and Webtrends was what I used to use for tracking, but I'm not sure if there is something better out there. This is for a medium-sized non-profit org which gets it's fair share of Internet traffic, however, the stock photos are mainly for the web and not used for any other publications.

Thanks.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/971758.html

Date: 09/07/05 (WebDesign)    Keywords: software, web

(x-posted)

I still remember a piece of paper that was placed upon the wall in the class of my final year of graphic/web design. It read something like this:

"The best thing to use out of the following is: PhotoShop, Freehand, Flash, GoLive, Quark, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Your Imagination, CorelDRAW, Fireworks, InDesign."

I always enjoyed reading that :-)

On that note, whom of you believe that keeping up to date with the latest software is an absolute necessity, and whom of you believe that it's ok to work in an older package, as long as it gets the job done?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/972024.html

Date: 09/07/05 (Java Web)    Keywords: software, yahoo

Yahoo (with their Instant Messenger product), in apparent desperation, is treading the fine line between adware/malware and legitimate software. I think it has crossed the line. You decide. First Yahoo updater automatically checks the internet for the new version and then nags you repeatedly and painfully till you submit. I was in a hurry. I simply [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/yahoo-venturing-into-adware-stay-away-from-yahoo-instant-messenger/

Date: 09/08/05 (Security)    Keywords: software

Networking giant warns that a serious flaw in its software puts computer networks at risk of cyberattack.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/New+Cisco+flaw+could+pose+threat+to+Net/2100-1009_22-5853330.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 09/08/05 (Web Technology)    Keywords: software

Q&AAs he celebrates Opera Software's 10th anniversary, co-founder Jon von Tetzchner is ready to make some big claims about the company's next decade.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/He%27s+got+the+front+row+seat+at+Opera/2100-9588_22-5855089.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 09/09/05 (Computer Geeks)    Keywords: software, virus, spyware

Just a tip for windows users installing the new iTunes 5. Upon installing your computer might reboot itself automatically, uninstall your previous version of iTunes, and make it so that your music files can't be accessed. Before some of you chew me out, lots of people are experiencing the same things and are expressing their rage on the Apple discussion boards. A solution to the problem is turning off your anti-virus/spyware software before installing and everything should be fine.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computergeeks/770368.html

Date: 09/10/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, security

A quality issue has moved the software maker to pull the security update that it planned to release on Patch Tuesday.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Microsoft+pulls+%27critical%27+Windows+update/2100-1009_22-5857338.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn