Posted by Anthony Checchia on Thu, Feb 02, 2012
Dnsmasq is a lightweight DNS proxy server that is also capable of handling DHCP requests and can act as a TFTP server which is a requirement for PXE boots. There are plenty of well-known DNS services available including Windows’ DNS service available on Windows Server as well as BIND which is for Unix based operating systems, so what sets Dnsmasq apart from these popular services? Well besides being multi-purpose it’s also geared toward home networks and large office workgroups by being easy to configure and allowing your machines to effectively communicate with each other. It works by reading the host file and integrating with DHCP to match hosts with IP addresses. You can also configure it to forward DNS requests to another DNS server such as your ISP or Google’s public DNS server. When the name is mapped to an IP address Dnsmasq will cache the results so the name can be resolved locally next time.
Since I run a Linux machine at home I decided to give Dnsmasq a try. I run Fedora 16 which already had Dnsmasq installed I just had to locate the configuration file which was located in /etc. I have to say that the configuration file was rather easy to work with. The comments were descriptive enough to help me understand what each line was for and what I needed to put into each line. After setting up the configuration file it was now time to test it. I used the Linux command Dig (Dig www.trigonit.com) which shows the time it takes to have the name resolved. Running it a second time after the name and ip address were cached resulted in much faster times since it was now being resolved locally rather than from a public DNS server. At the time of this writing I have not yet dabbled in the DHCP or TFTP features. Now a word of advice despite its relative ease for set up I would still recommend doing as much research as possible before attempting to configure it and also before touching the configuration file make a copy of it just in case something doesn’t work you can revert back to the original file. If you have any questions about DNS or why it’s important for your network environment please feel free to contact us today and we can assist you.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Wed, Feb 01, 2012
So you thought that only computers could be infected by Malware? You thought wrong. According to the http://www.pcworld.com/article/248880/massive_android_malware_op_may_have_infected_5_million_users.html website, 13 apps that are available on the Android Market have been shown to be infected with Malware. The article indicates that as many as 5 million users have downloaded at least one of the apps that contain the software that attempts to retrieve user information. Symantec has titled the Malware “Android.Counterclank” and as of 3 PM ET Friday, January 27, many were still available.
Previously, those that tried to spread Malware on the Market would take a valid app, add in their own hidden code to gather information from the user, and the repost on the Market – referred to as “rebundled apps”. Symantec security experts indicate that the Malware apps available do not appear to be from real publishers, either. If you would like to see those infected apps on the Market, you can check out this website - http://www.symantec.com/connect/fr/blogs/androidcounterclank-found-official-android-market.
So how do you protect yourself? First off, it is best to wait until an app has been out for a while, as most apps that are infected or cause red flags to be raised happen soon after they are released. This doesn’t always mean that you will be safe, as the Malware reported in the above article have been on the Market for about a month and just recently were discovered as having the Malware. Another way you can stay protected is only download apps that you know are safe, such as those from reputable publishers.
Other users are also a good bet – read the reviews, as those with low reviews can sometimes indicate something that just isn’t right. You can also do some investigation before downloading an app and go with your gut instinct – if something doesn’t feel right about something you are downloading or going to install, it may be best to search for something else. There are plenty of apps out there that are similar to others, so you might be better off finding something that does what you want but doesn’t throw up those red flags.
Do you want to know more ways to protect yourself and your Smartphone? Contact us about our Philadelphia Area Mobility Solutions. You can also find out how to protect your computer network by having Trigon complete an IT Health Check to be sure your systems are clean and protected.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Wed, Jan 18, 2012
So now that I have an Android and the software applications are easier to get than my previous Windows Mobile 6.2 device, I am pleased to find out that the Android Market now has over 400,000 apps available for download. According to the http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-market-achieves-new-milestone-with-400000-active-apps/ website, there are now over 400,000 of the apps that I can download. Not that I would be able to load up my device with all of these, but I certainly have made use of a few apps already.
The website also talks about the number of apps available for the iPhone, indicating that it has taken the Android longer to reach this milestone (22 months for the iPhone and 31 months for the Android), but by contrast it has taken less time to make the jump from 200,000 to 300,000 and from 300,000 to 400,000 for the Android. This means that in the over-all scheme, the ramp-up to the 400,000 level grew faster in the second half of release than it took the iPhone App Store to get to the same amount.
One other item the website reviews is the revenue brought in by the apps in the respective sites. More than half of the apps on the Android Market are free (68% according to the article), most of which are part of the so-called “freemium” model. This is the idea that the basic app is provided free (most with advertisements) and an upgrade to an advertisement-free and/or advanced feature app can be purchased. Alternatively on the Apple App Store, more apps need to be purchased in order to download.
As I am a big proponent of the “freemium” model, I am really glad I did go with the Android versus the iPhone when making my SmartPhone purchase. What about you – what device do you have? Do you like it or are you in the “market” for a new one? Contact us about our Trigon Mobility Solutions to see how we can help your business grow with such a device.
Posted by Anthony Checchia on Tue, Jan 17, 2012
Samsung last month released its brand new phone the Galaxy Nexus, and with it Google’s latest version of Android which is 4.0. So what can we expect from Android 4.0 codenamed Ice Cream Sandwi
ch and the Galaxy Nexus? Well actually quite a lot it would seem. This version brings with it the availability of home screen folders. With this handy tool you can organize your apps in whatever way you choose or if you prefer the all apps screen it will still be available. If you like texting then you’ll be happy to hear that there are improvements made to the built in spell checker. Words that are spelled incorrectly will now be underlined and tapping that word will show word suggestions. In my opinion one of the most interesting of the latest features iAndroid Beam which will allow two people to transfer data and apps just by touching two Android 4.0 phones together.
With the release of Android 4.0 in addition to adding some great features and really refining the user interface Google is also attempting to unify Android under one look and feel. Their goal is to eventually do away with the skins manufacturers put on their phones such as HTC sense and Motoblur so that other than hardware all Android phones will be the same. Is this a good move on Google’s part? I don’t really know HTC sense tends to be a selling point for HTC’s Android based phones. I guess only time will tell on this one. If you’d like more information on Android 4.0 check out www.android.com and if you’re interested in mobile options for your business give us a call and let us assist you.
Posted by David Quiram on Tue, Jan 10, 2012
PowerShell is the tool that most of us don't use to its full potential. I know we have our excuses, the biggest one being "it will take me longer to figure out how to do (insert task) through PowerShell. I can just use the GUI and figure it out next time", so when is the next time?
Why use PowerShell? Oh my, there are many reasons.. Through PowerShell you can do anything that the GUI can do for the task you're completing and more...really more. You can create the commands and save them for use again...it’s like (gasp) scripting!
I find it most useful when trying to pull data out of Active Directory for reporting and for creating large number of users at the same time.
What are some of the things that one can do with cmdlets in with users in Active Directory?
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Create user accounts
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Manage user accounts
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Change user accounts properties
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Reporting on user accounts
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Determine a user’s last log in time or those who have not logged in recently
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Finding users who’s accounts are about to expire
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Computer management
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Join a computer to a domain
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Rename computers
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Finding computers of a particular OS
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Group Management
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Reporting on groups
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Finding users and groups
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Manage Service Accounts
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Forest Management
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Domain Management
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Manage Password Policies
Oh and all these can be done remotely too!!! I read about one administrator who used PowerShell to scan a directory for a .csv nightly. The HR staff would drop in a .csv of the new users and they would be created at night automatically through the use of PowerShell. Get work done and sleep!!!
But where are all the commands to enter in to do all this? That, you will have to find for yourself, odds are you used a search engine to get to this point, take it a few steps further. All the commands and things you want to do have probably been done by someone else. Just make sure you find several versions of the commands you want to run and compare them. Don't be a script kiddy and just run the first one that you find. If you don't understand what you’re running, that is a huge risk. Risk is bad.
Posted by Anthony Checchia on Fri, Dec 30, 2011
There is no denying that Microsoft Office is one of the most widely used suite of office programs currently. Microsoft has attempted to tailor Office to individual needs by offering many variations such as Home and Student, Standard, and Professional or you can buy individual programs rather than the whole suite. What happens though if you’re sitting on your home pc and you need to create a document or a spreadsheet but can’t afford Microsoft’s often high price tag for its office software? Believe it or not there are actually free Office alternatives available that are very useful. Though to give credit where credit is due Microsoft’s Office can’t be beat for businesses because of its feature set and compatibility. These options are better suited for personal use not business use.
The first option is OpenOffice.org. It was originally developed by Sun Microsystems and in 2010 Sun was acquired by Oracle who has now donated the software to the Apache Software Foundation. OpenOffice.org is a full software suite which offers a word processor application called Writer, a spreadsheet program called Calc, a presentation application called Impress as well as several other applications. When Sun made the decision to donate OpenOffice.org to Apache some of the developers broke away and formed The Document Foundation. This group has created LibreOffice. This is the second option available to those looking for an Office alternative. Since LibreOffice is developed by many of the same people who managed and developed OpenOffice.org it has many similarities such as the names of all the applications as well as the look and feel. Both of these pieces of software allow you to save using Microsoft’s format which makes it so you can open these files using Microsoft’s products. In my own experiences with both LibreOffice and OpenOffice.org when opening files created by them in a Microsoft product sometimes changes occur mostly in the layout of the document.
The final option which actually does have some business use as well is Google Docs. With Google Docs you don’t need to download any extra software all you need is a web browser. All of your files are also saved in the cloud so if anything happens to your computer you don’t need to worry about lost files. Another great feature is that Google allows you to collaborate with other people who are also signed up so multiple people can make changes to the same document.
So here are three great alternatives to Microsoft Office that are worth checking out for home use. If you’re looking for a business use alternative and want to find out more about what Google apps can do for you then please feel free to contact us and we can discuss the options with you.
Posted by Anthony Checchia on Tue, Dec 20, 2011
With the explosive growth of smart phones recently many more people are being introduced to the world of Android. Android is built off of Linux, which is a full operating system that can be used on many different computing devices, including desktop and laptop computers. Due to Linux being open source there are many different variations called “Distributions”. Many of these distributions cater to very specific markets. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is one such distribution. It is geared toward companies and enterprise environments, and they require a subscription plan for their technical support to ensure everything runs smoothly. There’s also Ubuntu which is currently one of the most popular distributions available and is targeting the average computer user with a home pc. Ubuntu is one of the more user friendly distributions available and has software included that most people will find useful.
There are also distributions available that are aimed at being more of a tool than a full time use operating system. One such distribution is SystemRescueCD. This one is useful for repairing operating systems that are unable to boot and also for recovering data from a crashed system. This can be booted as a live cd which means that the operating system is loaded into memory only. The great thing about this distribution is that it’s capable of repairing not just Linux but also Windows and it is capable of reading NTFS and FAT file systems.
The list could go on and on for all the different distributions available and what they’re capable of but this is a brief overview of what Linux is and what it offers. There are many different flavors and many different tools which can lead to difficulty in finding the perfect fit, but do a little research and you’ll find there is a wealth of information out there.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Thu, Dec 15, 2011
The last few blogs that I have written, as well as a few in the past, have been about the Apple iPhone. I had been using a Windows Mobile 6.2 device myself for the last few years and only had the pleasure of using friends’ and family’s iPhones. My phone was dying and I was going to see about upgrading to an iPhone (the only reason I hadn’t got one before was Verizon didn’t offer them until this year). After talking with a friend, he suggested I go with an Android.
I was thinking about getting an Android, but because of all the friends and family that have the iPhone, I was going to get an iPhone myself. I liked a lot of the apps that they have and wanted to be able to “play” with some of the features and things I have been writing about for the past few months. So, after seeing the Android first-hand, I knew it was going to be for me. For starters, it had the ability to have Adobe Flash Player installed on it, which the iPhone does not (why can’t Apple and Adobe come to some agreement?????). Next, it had an appealing interface to it. While I was used to going to the “Apple Store” for apps on friends’ iPhones, I was new to the Android “Market”. It was very easy to search and find exactly what I was looking for.
The only down-side to the Android that I have found so far is that my favorite app, Magic Piano, on the iPhone has not been written for the Android. Most of the other apps and other things that I had on my previous Windows Mobile 6.2 device, as well as a few additions I wanted, I was easily able to get for free on the new Android. For the first time, I am able to check my auto insurance coverage anywhere I want, see where I am by using Maps (including directions that rival the TomTom and Garmin) with appropriate GPS, and be able to listen to music using the Pandora app. As these are all free, it is like an early Christmas present.
So, what mobile device do you have? An iPhone, Android, Windows-based, Blackberry (perish the thought!!)? Or do you still have a device that is not a SmartPhone that can do all these fun things? What are your likes and dislikes about your device? Is it easy to use and have all the things on it you wanted? Are you able to do what you thought you could or are you disappointed that you got it and think you would have been happier with another device?
Are you in need of some assistance with the purchase of a new device that could help your business grow by increasing your productivity? Please contact us to discuss our Philadelphia IT Mobility Solutions. Or let us know how we can help you with our many Philadelphia IT Strategy Solutions. We would be happy to help you do what you do best – make your life easier while at the same time advancing your business however you think best.
Posted by David Quiram on Wed, Dec 07, 2011
Every company has data leaks.
It is impossible to plug every one of them. It is possible to manage them though. The data leak doesn’t have to be access to the network by nefarious individuals. Most likely it is your own employees taking action without really thinking of the consequences. Like the domain admin giving a domain level account and password over the cell phone in a crowded elevator -- He was trying to solve an issue, but missed the environmental conditions he was in. So now everyone in that elevator knew a domain level admin credentials for that company. But you don't know which company he works for you say...sure we do, just look at his ID badge clipped for convenience to his clothing. It’s the little things that get you in trouble too.
Some sources of data leakage are:
- Allowing access to personal email, staff can send out data without you tracking it.
- Allowing USB usage, staff can put in a USB drive, phone, and even IPods that can sip the data.
- Sensitive papers lying about on desks unsecured to be viewed by anyone.
- Talking about sensitive information in public spaces
How to manage this? Well there are several ways. The most successful way is to institute policies for your staff. Having the staff aware there are guidelines and consequences is addressing most of the issues. You will need to have a training schedule for new hires and reviews for user. Having the user acknowledge the policies with a signed document will provide you foundation for maintaining the security. These policies can be as simple as the clean desk policy which dictates what can be left out when a user is not at their desk, to technology policies which dictates what devices are allowed into the site and how they are used.
To support the policies you can leverage technology. Using Active Directory Group Policies to control access to resources on the network, device usage such as turning off USB ports, all this is possible. You can use third party applications to control web access to email, track access, and allow access.
This may seem draconian, and it can be if misused. But the trick is to apply the right amount of restrictions to protect the company and balance the access given for work. So you can't access Facebook on your work computer, big deal, you’re working. Odds are you have it on your phone anyway. Using technology to enforce the policies will enable you to maintained standards consistently all day to all staff. It is auditable and can be changed as the environment changes.
So keep you staff informed, your policies current, and use your technology to simplify and standardize, and revisit both often for review and updates.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Wed, Nov 30, 2011
According to the http://shine.yahoo.com/at-home/strange-security-hackers-could-set-printer-fire-distance-235900935.html website, a study completed at Columbia University indicated that hackers could remotely send code to a printer that potentially could cause it to catch fire. The study specifically reviewed HP printers that were made prior to 2009, as 2009 and newer printers from HP require a digital signature to verify the code prior to being implemented into the system. The study completed used reverse-engineered software that caused the fuser to overheat and brown a piece of paper, which potentially could burn the paper in the printer and start a fire.
Another website, http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/29/hackers-can-set-your-hp-printer-on-fire-researchers-demonstrate/, reports that HP denies that the printer could actually start a fire, as a thermal breaker would prevent this from occurring. No amount of software engineering firmware would be able to defeat this safety feature, as per HP’s rebuttal of the study.
The study was able to point out that hackers can do almost anything, given time, a little bit of information, and a vulnerable system. This is yet another reason to make sure that you update all items that are accessible on a network, as firmware updates provided by manufactures contain security updates that close holes which could potentially be exploited.
So, the take-away is to be sure that you update any device that has not been updated recently. Do you need help updating or reviewing your devices to be sure they are updated? Contact us to discuss available Philadelphia IT Health Check Solutions that we offer. We can also go over our Philadelphia Area Managed IT Services Program to be sure continued updates are applied to all of your systems and you are fully protected.