Blimming Windows XP

Just when you are about to do a backup, 'cos you've been a bit lax for a couple of weeks, it starts acting up. I started getting IRQ_NOT_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL BSODs. After hunting around forums, it appeared to be connected to pagefile issues, so I removed and recreated my pagefile.

Then I started getting POOL errors, which quickly escalated to the classic symptom of only getting to mup.sys on boot. Sadly this wouldn't let me boot from an XP CD either. After much faffing, Knoppix came to the rescue. I built an XP installation on another hard drive (with my faulty one unplugged, otherwise it wouldn't do it!) then rebooted with both drives connected, using Knoppix CD. This at least let me get all my data across. I was going to use captive-ntfs to mount my old drive read/write but the screwed up filesystem wouldn't let me.

So today I finally wiped the old drive, reinstalled and am now downloading all the relevant updates. At least I had used Slipstreaming to give me an XP SP2 CD before all this happened, but it still wants many updates, and the amount of downloads I need for my Audigy Platinum is staggering.

The only upside is that all the cruft will be gone and the machine will run faster for a while:-)

The joy of SOx

Financial Cryptography has another interesting article on Sarbanes-Oxley. The funny thing is the number of companies I have seen who aren't listed on the US Stock Exchange who want to go through something comparable to or exceeding Section 404 requirements. Just in case.

System Dynamics of Insider Threats

This is a pretty interesting analysis, even if the diagrams in the appendix are a tad on the spiderweb/cat's cradle side:-)

Automatic Flatterer

How nice:-)

Interesting BitTorrent analysis

monkey methods research group have some interesting info and analysis on BitTorrent distribution.

IDN - scary phishing tool - but there is a fix

After Boingboing's fix for the Shmoo Group exploit of the IDN vulnerability in Firefox, Skingery has a permanent fix.

Integrated WIFI Laptop Hack

This is pretty cool. Okay, these days all laptops are likely to have wireless capability anyway, but for those that don't, here's Nermal's Integrated WIFI Laptop Hack

Anti-forensics

As this Hack In The Box article shows, there is good information out there for those who do not wish to be caught out by forensic analysis of their computers.

Makes relying on forensics that bit trickier...

How to make windows more like Linux

12 steps to becoming more l33t. I think it's supposed to be pro MS, but some of it definitely looks the opposite to me.

This article over on Bruce Schneier's blog is interesting, but what is more interesting is the comment and debate fuelled by this. Remarkably similar to the whole open/closed debate in IT Security but for the physical security world.

Want that one!

Little Britain. Gotta love it. Even the BOFH does!

Slipstreaming win xp2 installs

Slipstreaming win xp2 installs - what a brilliant idea:-)

That site, and allofmp3.com - my 2 favourite sites of the day.

Wired News: India's Odd Couple: Cops and Tech

Wired News: India's Odd Couple: Cops and TechThis poses some major issues for IT outsourcing! Cripes.

Mobile users need for power

The New York Times has an article: Power Users, Ready for a Refill which points out something I hadn't really thought about - the need for power when mobile. For me, even if I use my mobile all day, a charge lasts a day - more than a week on standby, my laptop lasts 5 hours (if I'm just working on documents etc) and my main mobile mp3 device is in the car so I hadn't come across this issue. But it seems people with high current devices are desperate for a charge:-)

A new year - a new dawn

Finally -after much procrastinating...I am broadbanded. Just 'cos I got Doom 3 and Half Life 2, so I thought I should.

I guess the other upside is the speedy downloading of ISO files.

Need to go and get that linksys box though - blimming Voyager 205 broadband router from BT is a bit pants.

Happy New Year anyway

Disagreements with Bruce's Home PC Advice

Interesting discussion over on Bruce Schneier's Page on sensible things to do to secure your home PC. Amusingly this guy appears to disagree with most of Bruce's points. Not sure why as they seem eminently sensible. Gordon Luk seems to be confusing security with system maintenance, and advises not securing unless you know what you are doing.


The problem with this is that not securing your PC doesn't just affect you, but the rest of the Internet. If you don't have the savvy to secure - speak to someone who does! It is getting closer and closer to the time when you WILL become legally responsible for what attacks your PC hosts, so secure it now. There really is no excuse!

Quick summary of my thoughts on Gordon's posts -

1) If you don't know how - get someone to help, don't just ignore the issue
2) Any useful support bod can use their own versions on CD
3) 5 seconds in any microwave is good for CD wiping, and good shredders cope fine
4) Absolutely - us techies live for free lunch
5) Switching to Firefox is staggeringly easy now - it "just works"
6) Users "should" use long random passwords for anything valuable. Or else...
7) Don't rely on the "lock" icon. Relatively easily spoofed - cross site scripting!
8) Agreed - free beer helps after free lunch!
9) ROFL!
10) and 11) agreed

The art of safe cracking

The art of safe cracking.

Very cool!

Stupid Security | Airline Security: Armed Soldier Loses Housekey, Gets To Keep Weapon

I just love the real life stories at Stupid Security It does go to show just how far down the crazy road America has gone in its quest for security, bringing in draconian (or just plain stupid) measures which do nothing to increase security, in fact they often decrease it....hmmm sounds like the way speed cameras were brought in to save lives. Hahahahaha! Utter nonsense

There's a need to illuminate the darknet - apparently

There's a need to illuminate the darknet



I just like the term Darknet - in my head it ain't this, but never mind.

Ever thought you were pretty clever or good with numbers?

Read this and weep. But then again - does he have a social life?