GSmartControl is a multiplatform (Windows, OS X, Linux) freeware drive health inspection tool which is very useful in all that case when you think something is not working perfectly on your HD. Today, in our Linux Page (in Spanish) we have posted a brief comment about this software which basically is the graphical user interface for smartct. The program is very intuitive and easy to use; it automatically detects all your internal HDs (with some external USB disks we had some problems because they were detected as unknown) and let you decide if you want to activate the SMART feature. This particular feature let you “predict certain kinds of failures with certain chance of success” so you have a better chance to avoid HD crashes and all the consequent data loss. If you prefer, clicking on the “Enable Auto Offline Data Collection” the HDs will be tested every four hours without impacting your CPU performance. I would like to focus your attention that GSmartControl is very well developed and it is possible to download many “personalized” versions for all the main Linux distributions, OS X and Windows. Last but not least, do not forget that SMART could predict some HD crashes but it is not 100% safe; for this reason we strongly recommend you to backup your PCs, at least every week!

Category Archives: Tecnologia
Use chkrootkit to fight against rare (but always possible) rootkits on your Linux PCs!
This week, in our Linux Page (in Spanish), we would like to focus your attention on chkrootkit, an interesting software for Linux which can really help you to detect malicious rootkits on your Linux PC. Unfortunately, the last update we have found on the chkrootkit homepage is dated December 2007 but we hope to see a new release during the 2009. To check if you have chkrootkit already installed, type chkrootkit on you Terminal:
desktop:~$ chkrootkit
and you certainly will receive this message:
The program ‘chkrootkit’ is currently not installed. You can install it by typing:
sudo apt-get install chkrootkit
Follow the above instructions and you will be ready to execute the software just typing:
sudo chkrootkit
Please, note that, at our first scan on Ubuntu 8.10, we found a false positive:
Checking `sniffer’… lo: not promisc and no packet sniffer sockets
eth0: PACKET SNIFFER(/sbin/dhclient3[4835])
Do not worry! This (unfortunately frequent) false positive has already been discussed by the community at
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=556517
and
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=270340
If you know other good anti-rootkits, please be so kind, to add a comment on this post. We are really interested to discover new “security software” (especially anti-rootkit) for Linux machines!

Instantbird: the best cross platform and multi-protocol instant messaging client on the market now!
This week, in our Linux Page (in Spanish) we have posted a brief post about Instantbird which could be actually considered as the most complete and flexible software to manage all your instant messenger client you normally use (IRC, ICQ, AIM, SIMPLE, SILC, YAHOO, MySpaceIM, XMPP, Sametime, Google, etc..). Moreover Instantbird is completely free, open source and cross platform so you can use it on every PC you have (also at work). We have tested Istantbird for a couple of weeks, without stressing it too much, and we really did not find any bugs so we are really satisfied from the results. Frankly speaking, this software does not contain any “revolutionary” new feature but it can be considered as the state of the art software in its category; something everyone has to benchmark if he (or she) is planning to develop a new instant messaging client! Recommended!

How to create a terrific slideshow in just three steps using Animoto.
This week, in our Freeware Page, we have posted some brief comments about the free part of services offered by Animoto, a Web 2.0 website which allows you to create short free multimedia slideshows. Using Animoto, it is possible to make a 30 seconds video clip which directly melts your images/photographs with a soundtrack you can freely select in their data bank. The link of the video will be sent directly to your email and to all your friends if you prefer. Obviously, a paid subscription allows you to obtain longer videos with HD quality but, after some tests, we were actually satisfied from the Animoto slideshow we had obtained without paying anything. It is a pity we had so many problems when we decided to use Linux OSs to test Animoto… Something to try if you like to show some photos on your website (especially if you have a dark background).
How to install a new Linux distribution -Linux4One- on your Netbook Acer Aspire One
Today, on our Linux Page (in Spanish), we have posted an enthusiastic review about Linux4One a very stable new Linux distribution which represents a real opportunity if you want to test a new OS on Your Acer Aspire One. Linux4One website is essential but well structured; unfortunately it does not contains many information so the best thing yo do is downloading their specially developed Ubuntu based Linux4One and test it. This particular distribution, with a customized Kernel, perfectly runs on our Aspire One: we did not find any problem with the hardware and smoothly passed all the tests. Last but not least, the Italian guys are developing a Linux4One special edition which should be mounted directly from a Usb key, we hpe it will be ready ASAP. Something you must try if you like Ubuntu and want it on your Aspire One!

How to install XBMC on Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex
This week, in our Linux Page (in Spanish), we posted a brief tutorial about installing XBMC on Ubuntu 8.10. As you certainly know, XBCM is a complete Media Center based on Ubuntu. This program is multiplatform (Linux, Windows, OS X and also XBOX – not officially supported-) and, in our opinion, is the most efficient and complete open source media center you can find today on the Internet. Moreover, XBMC has developed a special version that could be installed on a USB Key on a Live CD to freely test the application before installing on your PC. The post is brief but contains all the complete instructions to quickly install XBMC without problems. Please, be sure to digit sudo apt-get update in Terminal after you install the new repositories. Recommended!!

How to solve a troublesome problem with the keyboard and AWN (Avant Window Navigator) to when upgrading Ubuntu to its 8.10 version!
Today, in our Linux Page (in Spanish) we posted some brief notes about how to solve a graphic bug we found on Ubuntu after the upgrade to the 8.10 version. In fact, when we upgraded Ubuntu to its 8.10 version we were not able to visualize AWN (Avant Window Navigator) because it was impossible to switch the Visual Effects to Normal but we were obliged to use just the None settings. At the same time we lost the left part of our keyboard: the numeric pad and the “arrow pad”. Surfing Internet we found several different suggestions but the only one effective for us (and for our NVidia graphic card) was that which suggested to completely remove the xserver-xgl package using Synaptic Package Manager. We do not know why but, after removinging xserver-xgl, we actually solved all our problems contemporaneously. Suggested for all that people who has found the same bug when upgrading to Ubuntu 8.10!

Google Chrome: how to neutralize the unique ID tracker and partially preserve your privacy
Today, in our Freeware Page we added a post about two useful freeware which are able to remove the ID tracker contained in this new browser. Using them you will able to defend your privacy a little more effectively your navigation when using Google applications. The first is Chrome Privacy Guard (CPG), a useful tool, whose icon you will click on to activate Google Chrome. When using CPG you have to remember not to run directly the Google Chrome icon. Moreover, this software contains also a command which allows you to disable the CPG option inside Google Chrome, so your browser will send again statistical data to Google. The second one is UnChrome, an Abelssoft creation which definitively remove the unique ID contained in Google Chrome. Last but not least, I want to focus your attention on the fact that these two freeware run only in Windows PCs but we hope that a MAC and Linux version will be released in the next months. Useful!!

Do not spend money for professional hardware when you can create your hi-tech router with less than 50 bucks!!
This week, in our Freeware Page, we have posted a brief review about Tomato and DD-WRT two unofficial firmwares to upgrade your router into a professional machine which allows you to properly manage and strengthen your wi-fi signal. Surfing in Internet we found more manuals for DD-WRT than for Tomato. On one side it is possible to affirm that DD-WRT is more flexible for traditional home users than
Tomato which has been developed for more professional users. On the other side when you read the “Supported hardware” of both the websites it is clear that DD-WRT is able to support many more devices than Tomato but we really were satisfied for all the test we made with both the firmwares on a old Linksys WRT 54G v.2. If your device supports both the firmwares we really suggest to spend a couple of days for testing them and decide what is the best for your needs. Recommended for all that people who do not like to waste money!

Save your money! Install DeLi Linux on your old (or “ancient”) PCs!
Today, in our Linux Page (in Spanish) we added a post about DeLi Linux, an interesting distribution which allows you to use your old PCs and save money. The first time we tested DeLi we sincerely did not believe to obtain so interesting results. In fact we were able to install DeLi on very old PCs and laptops (486) with at least 64MB of RAM. About the RAM, we found some screenshots on the DeLi website where it runs on laptops with just 16MB of RAM. Moreover, DeLi is very light, 251.1MB for the ISO and 750MB of hard disk when installed. This particular version of DeLi Linux, the 0.8, is very flexible and complete if we think that it contains all the main programs that a medium user can ask. When we try to install it on the PCs, we have not found particular matters: the installation was easy and enough fast. When used, DeLi is fast and stable; in few words we could affirm that DeLi represents a strong reality for all that people which are looking for a PC or laptop and do want to spend just few bucks… Recommended!!

