Category Archives: Software

Some Linux security tips for Rootkit Hunter

If you run Rootkit Hunter and you haven’t modified your stock Red Hat configuration of the SSH service (sshd), chances are it will find that you allow root logins. Rootkit Hunter considers these as possible security risks. However, to fix this, you can simply login as root, fire up a text editor, and edit the file

/etc/ssh/sshd_config

Make the following changes:
You’ll find a commented line like this:
#Protocol 2,1
Uncomment it and change it to:
Protocol 2
This will disallow logins using the older versions of the protocol

Look for the commented line
#PermitRootLogin yes
Uncomment the line and change it so it reads:
PermitRootLogin no
This will configure sshd NOT to allow root logins.

After this, be sure to restart sshd (assuming you run the service in the first place so:
Service sshd restart

By the way Rootkit scanner is scanning tool to ensure you for about 99.9% you’re clean of nasty tools. This tool scans for rootkits, backdoors and local exploits.

Computer Borders on Facebook

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We decided to begin this year publishing our semi-new Facebook Page and to re-stylish, just a few, our right side bar. We hope to meet you on Facebook and, again, Happy New Year!

Upload, store and download files with no limits! (up to 2GB single file, no space or time limitations)

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Depositfiles is a very flexible online hosting service to upload files (up to 2GB) and share them with your colleagues and friends. There is no limit to the quantity of files you can store on Depositfiles and you can protect your files and folders with a password. Depositfiles has a gold plan with faster uploads and downloads but we obviously tried the free one. After the registration, you can start uploading your files. You can choose between a multiple or a single file upload and, if you prefer, it is also possible to use your favorite FTP client. The online interface is complex but intuitive and after few tests you will able to upload big files, create folders and annotate your online file links. The free plan upload is enough fast and smooth; e.g. we were able to upload an Ubuntu 10.10 iso image in almost 3 hours. In the Tools section you find the code for a flash uploader for your website and a files checker to be 100% sure your uploaded files are till active also after months. The Depositfiles Filemanager software is free and very useful add-on for your browser if you plan to download different diles at the same time. Moreover, Depositfiles has 4 different loyalty programs which allow you to earn points to use in pro features.

How to repair the missing upper panel on Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook

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After my last update I was not able to visualize my upper panel on Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook. After some internet searches and tests I found these two solutions which were useful to me:

Solution A

– right click on the background and choose Change Desktop Background

– go to Visual Effects and click on Normal

Solution B

– ALT + F2 and when in Terminal type

gnome-panel

If you want to save the configuration and visualize the upper panel for the next time you use Ubuntu, please type in terminal:

gnome-session-save

I am sure there are better ways to solve this problem, so if you have suggestion you are free to comment this post. Thanks.

Rediscover Prism by Mozilla (Ubuntu, MAC and Windows tips)

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In 2007, when Prism was launched, there were some enthusiastic reviews about this application. Then the widget era began and Prism popularity decreased. Anyway, Prism is still a powerful application for all that people who desire to run their more often used web application saving RAM and CPU resources. Prism, based on XULRunner, is multi platform, easy to use and very flexible. To use it on Ubuntu you can launch the Terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install prism

or using the Synaptics Package Manager (System —> Administration —> Synaptics Package Manager). Then go to Applications —> Internet —> Prism and a small windows appears. Now, fill in all the required information: the web application URL, the name you prefer, settings and do not forget to click on the Desktop shortcut option. At this point you will find a new rough icon on your Desktop with the name you chose. The first time you use it, with the right mouse button click on it and go to Properties —> Permissions and Allow executing file as program. If you want to change the icon you have to click on it (with the right mouse button), go to Properties —> Basic and choose your favorite icon clicking the icon on the upper left corner. If all are steps are annoying for you, it is possible to use Prism as add-on for Firefox. In this case, on Firefox, go to Tools —> Add-ons —> Get Add-ons and type Prism on the search bar. You will install Prism as a simple add-on for Firefox. Now, you can automatically generate a Prism application just clicking on Tools —> Convert Website to Application when you are in the web application page.

On Windows or MAC we suggest to download the standalone package directly from the official web page or install Prism as Firefox add-on following the same steps we described for Ubuntu. If you use the Prism standalone package you have to decompress it in your favorite location. For Windows users: when you set up a new Prism application, try the tray menu option but do not forget to click on the Desktop shortcut or you will not be able to find again the application after you close it.

In my experience, Prism is really useful with all the Google web applications, with Zoho services and Pandora. Try and enjoy it!

Save your status, energy and time using the Hibernate shutdown option on Windows XP

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Usually, when you shut down your Linux OS, you have the option to Hibernate your computer. Using this option you are 100% sure that, when you power-on again your PC, you will find exactly the same programs, browser tabs and system configuration you. In Windows XP you have the same option but often it is hidden. If you have access to your XP computer as Administrator, you can follow the following instruction to restore it: Start —> Control Panel —> Power Options. Find the Hibernate tab and then click on Enable Hibernation. That’s it!

How to protect your profile and emails on Thunderbird 3 (Ubuntu and Windows instructions)

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On Thunderbird, the only way to be 99% sure nobody will read your emails is to save your profile on an encrypted folder (or disk partition) using e.g. TrueCrypt but if you are not concerned that you are under surveillance, you can simply use a quick and useful trick that allows Thunderbird to ask for the Master password every time you launch it.

In Ubuntu you have to follow two different steps. First of all, go to Edit —> Preferences —> Security —> Passwords and create your Master Password. Secondly, go to Edit —> Preferences —> Advanced —> Config Editor (click on “I’ll be careful, I promise”). Then in the filter bar, type password and change the parameter for mail.password_protect_local_cache to True. The next time you will launch Thunderbird nothing will be displayed (old and new emails) before you insert the correct Master Password.

If you are using Thunderbird on Windows you have to modify mail.password_protect_local_cache going to Tools —> Options —> Advanced —> Config Editor (click on “I’ll be careful, I promise”). Then, as for Ubuntu, in the filter bar type password and change the parameter for mail.password_protect_local_cache to True.

How to uninstall software on Ubuntu

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Installing software on Ubuntu is really easy but sometimes we can have problems to uninstall it if we have not used the Package Manager (Synaptic till Ubuntu 9.04 and later through the Software Center) or a .deb package. To fastly uninstall all the software you do not need or you are not fond of, you can type in the Terminal:

sudo dpkg -r your_file

An alternative and powerful way is typing:

sudo apt-get remove your_file

(where your_file it is the name of the software you want to remove)

or, if you want to completely cancel also the configuration files:

sudo apt-get --purge remove your_file

If you want to check what software is installed on you Ubuntu you can use:

dpkg --list

and you will obtain a complete list of software and a very short summary for each package.

CLI Companion: una ayuda concreta para utilizar la Consola añadiendo una lista automatizada de comandos

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Hace unos días he encontrado esta nueva aplicación para Linux, se llama CLI Companion. Aunque Linux ha evolucionado muchísimo y hay que reconocer que ya casi no hace falta hacer uso de la Consola para ejecutar programas y tareas varias, pero también hay veces que gracias al uso de la Consola se puede solucionar pequeños problema que de otra forma seria bastante mas complicado. En esos casos CliCompanion nos hecha una mano añadiendo una lista con diferentes comandos junto a nuestro terminal. La lista de los comando no es infinita, viene con unos cuantos; para cada comando hay una referencia donde se explica la función, también es posible añadir comandos y los parámetros correspondientes. Además CliCompanion tiene un apartado de búsqueda donde es posible encontrar el comando que mas nos interese en cada momento. Desde cuando lo instalé en mi Kubuntu 10.04, tengo que confirmar que es una muy buena aplicación y puede ser instalada con lo repositorios correspondientes y tener futuras actualizaciones o directamente através el paquete .DEB. Os dejo el enlace de la Web: http://okiebuntu.homelinux.com/okwiki/clicompanion

I2P a real versatile anonymizing network for Linux and Windows

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This week for our Freeware Page, we tested I2P a freeware which let you to surf internet without revealing your IP and encrypt your data. As described on the I2P Homepage, this freeware is a “anonymizing network, offering a simple layer that identity-sensitive applications can use to securely communicate. All data is wrapped with several layers of encryption, and the network is both distributed and dynamic, with no trusted parties”. During out test we used bothXP and Ubuntu because I2P is a java file even is it seems to be a exe file and it could be used on all the Linux OS. On Windows XP it is very simple to use I2P but at the beginning it is really slow and for this reason we suggest to keep it run for about twelve hours because this freeware needs to build its own network and for this it takes some hours. When ready you have to setup all the software you want to filter through it. For this reason, we setted Firefox (Preferences-> Advanced -> Network -> Settings) Manual Proxy Configuration to HTTP Proxy as localhost, port 4444. Then we put a tick on “Use this proxy server for all protocols” and we finished indicating “No proxy for” as localhost, 127.0.0.1. After some seconds we discovered that our IP was now in the northern part of the France (far away from our real location). To setup I2P it is necessary to point Firefox on http://localhost:7657/index.jsp because, by default, I2P tries to launch Internet Explorer also when it works on Linux. After a week of tests we can say that I2P is a little bit slower than TOR but it can easily be integrated on your browser, mail client, chat and others programs. For our (limited) experience I2P is the most complete anonymizing network we know. To conclude, as already discussed also on this post none or nothing can create a perfectly anonymous software but I2P can help to better improve our privacy. Recommended!