Blunderboy

The schools in my area have their computers setup as limited clients using novel and XP pro. It has been a while but even back then they restricted user access to the C drive. I could tell that they did not use deepfreeze or something similar because files would stay on the desktop for weeks. For some reason their network security was horrible. Random computers would be down for days, because of massive amounts of downloaded porn while the school's IT guy reinstalled all the security tools.

Sounds good. I thought that you would have just laughed about it then reinstalled it. But o well.

That machine is in serious danger! Backup all user files. Then, insert the Vista repair disk and do format and a clean reinstall. OEM installations are always crap, no exceptions. I Use OEM installations all the time and I usually have no problems except that you need drivers in most cases and sometimes there are activation issues. As far as the integrity of the installation, OEMs seem to be the most constant source of good install disks that work on a wide array of computers. They tend to install and setup faster then a retail disk. I would run a HDD test to make sure that there isn't any bad sectors or that the HDD isn't failing. Also if it is an OEM disk then make sure that it isn't one manufactured by a certain manufactorer for their computers. If this is the case the disk may not recognise your hardware as being a valid HP or Gateway computer and busting up your installation. If it is just a straight OEM disk then you should have no problem but if you are still having problems I would format your user partition using a bootable software then install everything fresh again. Good luck.

Nice, I like seeing Windows trip over itself unless I have to fix it. Do you think you could supply some pics. You could install camstudio on a flash drive and record the screen. How many min. did you have left in the install?

Was it an upgrade from XP or a clean Vista install? If it is an XP upgrade then it could be that the files that control the disk clean up program were not installed or they didn't overwrite the XP version of the files and since the Vista folders are there it could be that it is viewing it as clutter. Most of the time people choose to leave the XP files and folders in place so that everything is still there and Vista looks more like their XP installation insted of a fresh install. If that person didn't do a clean install then it could be that the installation process was either interupted and restarted or that the installation was If it was a Vista anytime upgrade installation then Vista keeps a backup of the old Vista installation in case the upgrade fails. It could that the upgrade is falling back on the old installation's disk cleanup file and it may be corrupted. Or it could just be a bug in Vista that either you or your customer triggered. :) Try to back up the data and do a clean install.

Thats true the bundled software sucks serious ass.

I'm supprised at the amount of people who say that the university that they go to require that they use Norton AV. The university may only let him use one type of OS. I have heard of art schools that all but require OSX. If you are required to have windows (They are forcing you to use Windows if their monitoring software doesn't support any other OS) then just install windows install their BS program then install a virtual machine with the OS you want to use. If you are going to use linux as the primary OS then just install Windows in Wine and install their crap then you will be set. If they force you to use a certain OS then it is prabably because they have a contract with that company, so they get software at a much cheaper rate if they require their students to use it. Also if you have a wireless network somewhere around you and you can find a box that will alow you to connect to the network through them then just connect to them and you prabably wont need the program because the comp that is connected directly to the network already has it.

Nice. Thanks.

That makes sense. I was thinking if someone was within the network already then he would probably have access to at least a couple of computers. If this is the case then learning the local IP address of those computers and their default gateways would at least be a start to uncovering more usefull IPs. Securing against this would probably be have some easy fixes.

I am just wondering for GP if anyone knows of a way to squeeze internal IP addresses and subnets from a corp. network that has echo requests disabled. (ping, tracert(DOS)) I am looking especially for a solution that has the attacker inside the network. Since most security breaches are either initiated or unknowingly assisted from within the network. I ask only because I am wondering if there is a way and if so what is the means to protect against it. Since once someone has internal IP addresses and an understanding of the network's structure and layout they can spoof, knock, spy, probe, hijack, and access to their hearts content. Of course this is after research has been done of the network. So what are some common methods that someone from the inside could use to unearth some of these internal IP address. I know that someone could ipconfig /all on windows boxes and figure out their own local and the IP of their default gateway, however since most people in a work environment were the installation of software is strictly monitored the use of Nmap, BlackICE, and sing wouldn't be likely. Determined attackers usually find away around things like this. I normally would try a boot CD like backtrack2 to gain access but if I am trying to secure the network then it doesn't really help unless I have a box passively monitoring all requests across the network searching for suspicious requests from within. But then if these requests are blocked then we are back were we started. So if an employee dedicated on mapping the network from within were to try to do so then what are some ideas on how they would do it and how to prevent them from doing it either at all or in the future. I assure you that this is not for execution but for adding to my ability to secure corp. networks. I am not currently a corp. network administrator, I only setup small bus. networks for now. if it is a simple fix then please tell me I tend to miss the dumbest thing. I have seen techniques used while connected to a wireless network which had echo requests disabled but corp. networks tend to be more heavily secured and monitored.

Ahh gotcha I usually only use dictionary.com for word look up.

Most school systems these days have IT guys on hand. If they can not do their job even when you help them out like that then that school system is in for some trouble in the future. I have noticed in most cases that public school's IT guys tend to be lone rangers, so when you told them that they probably had a huge work load put on his plate. I tend to cut people like that some slack since they are in most cases up against a wall when it comes to what the school system wants and what they can actually set up. If you are looking for a job try and see if you can get a job from them. It will give you good experience and you will be on the inside in case you need to for any reason look around, but by the sound of it you already can. Pretty much all tech jobs require some sort of technical experience, especially for administration jobs, so any experience you can get out of the way it might be a good idea.

I ran across this site and read through their definition of white hat and stumbled along this definition of what a black hat hacker really is. Tell me if you agree with his definition or do you think that this guy is just blowing words out of his ass? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?...mp;defid=831964 "At the same time I would assume more Linux users are blackhats due to the large number of pinhead users while most Windows users tend to know even less and primarily stay out of the "game" (this is no game, like blackhats think it is, you just wait until they come upon a server that does remote logging). Blackhats are often pinheads who have nothing better to do then attack people to prove how "1337" they are."

1. Unstoppable Copier 2. VM Ware Workstation 6 3. Firefox 4. Acronis 5. VLC portable 6. Photoshop CS3 7. Aircrack 8. DeepBurner 9. Cam Studio 10. Get Data Back

My first computer was a really old was a Win95 box. I was also debating on installing a Win98 SE in a VM so I could run some old games.

O'Reilly books are some of the best written tech books out there.

The first issue is battery life. Try to look around and DO NOT get a laptop that has the power always going through the batter before it goes to the system. Older Dell's and some Toshiba's have it to where if the batter isn't in then the system it doesn't start up. Avoid laptops that do this because they eat through batteries. The next issue is the ability for linux to have all the drivers for all of the system's hardware. First determine which distro you want to use. If you are a network admin I would either suggest redhat for normal network administration and maintenance or some security distro like backtrack 2 for network security assessments. Go to their site and look for supported hardware drivers. Redhat will most likely cover you with what drivers you need. Backtrack 2 will also most likely support all of your new laptop's hardware except things like webcams and sometimes network cards. As far as quality, that is a tough one since everyone has their own person experience with every manufacturer. I would suggest the Sony Vaio VGN-C250N/B. I have used this computer on many occasions and found everything down to the feel of the keyboard is awesome. Vaios have been known for being expensive because of their name but this one, in my experience ranks up there. Or I would suggest the Gateway NX570X. Gateways have been getting a lot better in recent years in terms of over all quality and support. I would recommend almost any Gateway but this model looks like it would fit your needs perfectly. And it starts at $599.99 VS. the Vaio's $1,549.99. If you are planning on putting any version of windows other then another version of Vista on your new laptop look to see if the drivers are available before you install the other version. It's a bitch to find a driver that isn't out there.

If you are going to get into networking I would suggest some light reading. Here are some titles that I have read and I have gained a lot insight into networking. TCP/IP Network Administration -3rd edition -O'Reilly -- The basics of networking IP Routing -O'Reilly -- More advanced topics on protocols and packet routing Network Security Assessment -O'Reilly -- This points out where the weaknesses are in networks and tells to you how to secure them. I know that it looks like I am an O'Reilly fanboy but the books are awesome. Also if you already know or already have an A+ cert. then getting Exam Cram 2 A+ second edition by Jones Landes - This is a good reference book in case you aren't in arm's length of google. :-) I have yet to need it because it doesn't go to far into how RAID setups will effect different windows installs and things of that nature. If you work at a company who has a partnership with apple take their apple sale's training. You lean a lot about their products. Even if you don't like apples they have some sweet ass network RAID drives. You also can learn from simple online product training that company's like D-link, Netgear, and Linksys give out from time to time. Depending on how old you are you could get a tech job at a large corp. Even though a lot of people shit talk Geeksquad they do give out a lot free training. Most of it is sales based, but you can learn a some stuff. Also you get the experience encountering different problems that will enhance your understanding of things. Unfortunitly you will get your share of getting yelled at and having short fat women telling you that you that you don't know shit, but hey life moves on and no matter what anyone says you know what you know. But I agree with what was said above. "to truly become a guru one must realize that they will never know all the answers. Knowing how to find the answers is more important. Then you will truly grok"

Try reinstalling some of your drivers. I have seen a lot of computers trying to use XP drivers and even badly written Vista drivers blue screen when ever they access that particular driver. Vista's online automated driver search is acctually a lot better then XP's. If your blue screen says something like driver less then equal or something like that then it is a driver. If it isn't then it would prabably mean it isn't your drivers.

I thought that everyone in this room would love to hear that StarCraft 2 has been announced!!!! :P :P :P :P :P

try using something called ERD commander or ERD something. It is a bootable version of Windows XP. It is for fixing windows but I'm sure you could find other uses for it. You will have to buy it of course.

Yeah I've only put in Hak5's ID number. But then I saw google and I said wtf and I have been trying to reenter it but everytime it stays in google. I've never put in google's ID

I keep putting the HAK5 ID in but it keeps sticking me with the google team. This is anoying because I want to contribute to the team and of course to research. My team ID is 51258 everywhere however when I go to look up user stats it gives me google. If I go to look up team stats it shows hak5. Also I'm not shown on the list and I've done more then the guy at the bottom.

2 "gig" RAM. :) Holy crap and it only has a 40 "Gig" HDD.

Does anyone know where I can get tiger-x86-flat.img? I have googled the hell out of it and I have asked a bunch of people. I was wondering if anyone knows of any active turrents that don't die out after 30 min. or turrents that seed more then 1kbs. Thanks.