If you cannot find the post that you are looking for, meander over to my ‘All Blog Posts‘ page.

QR Codes are two-dimensional barcodes created by a Japanese corporation in 1994. Differing from their repsective 1-dimensional barcodes, QR codes can store such detailed information as telephone numbers, Google Map coordinates, web addresses, hyperlinking, and URI direction for opening web pages. QR technology has much more data capacity than traditional barcodes.

• Numeric only Max. 7,089 characters
• Alphanumeric Max. 4,296 characters
• Binary (8 bits) Max. 2,953 bytes
• Kanji/Kana Max. 1,817 characters

For instance the QR code to the left contains the web address for the homepage of this web site.

There are several QR code generators freely available on the web (http://qrcode.kaywa.com/). This morning I downloaded an app on my iPhone that reads and creates the codes. Pretty cool. If you put your phone QR code scanner to this barcode above, it will take you to my mobile enabled BuckyComputing home. Coool.

The only downside is not knowing what information you are scanning. For instance, if someone wanted you to visit their malicious website, they could place a QR code on their website. If you scanned it, you could open yourself up to attack.

These codes have been used by the shipping industry for years. Now that mobile phones have the ability to utilize these technology, I am more certain than ever that we will be seeing more of these around.

As a sign that Chrome has really excited the Linux browser market, the next version of Ubuntu Linux, v.10.04, will include a theme to integrate it into the Gnome Desktop. Its design will use the native Metacity decorations instead of the blue Chrome bar.  It is designed to be used with the native (Metacity) window decorations, instead of the custom Chrome title bar. Thanks to UbuntuGeek for the screenshot (yes, I know it says v.9.04). Download the theme here.

“Is that a raid card in my pants or is it time for a distribution upgrade?”

bixter-baxter

Nikto is a Perl script that scans and identifies potential risks on a server, website, or network.It is run completely from the command line and does an excellent job of digging out potential security holes. Download Nikto on their website. Specifically, Nikto tests for:

• IDS Evasion
• 2300+ New RFI Tests
• 6100+ Files and CGIs
• Outdated Versions of 950+ Servers
• Version-specific Problems on 260+ Servers
• SSL Information

Clearly, some of you out there right now, perhaps some reading this article, will use this tool for no good. It is unfortunate and disappointing.Here are example results from a local computer store that I ran while writing this post.

- Nikto v2.1.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Target IP:          000.000.000.000
+ Target Hostname:    some_website.com
+ Target Port:        80
+ Start Time:         2010-03-10 4:43:04
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Server: Apache/2.0.52 (CentOS)
+ No CGI Directories found (use '-C all' to force check all possible dirs)
+ ETag header found on server, inode: 9502925, size: 10836, mtime: 0xc2f2e5c0
+ Allowed HTTP Methods: GET, HEAD, POST, OPTIONS, TRACE
+ OSVDB-877: HTTP TRACE method is active, suggesting the host is vulnerable to XST
+ Apache/2.0.52 appears to be outdated (current is at least Apache/2.2.14). Apache 1.3.41 and 2.0.63 are also current.
+ OSVDB-3092: /sitemap.xml: This gives a nice listing of the site content.
+ OSVDB-3092: /service/: This might be interesting...
+ OSVDB-3268: /icons/: Directory indexing is enabled: /icons
+ OSVDB-3268: /images/: Directory indexing is enabled: /images
+ OSVDB-3268: /styles/: Directory indexing is enabled: /styles
+ OSVDB-3233: /icons/README: Apache default file found.
+ 3818 items checked: 10 item(s) reported on remote host
+ End Time:           2010-03-10 4:50:04 (430 seconds)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ 1 host(s) tested

Scans

Once you think that your site is ready, it is time to scan your system. The scans can take upwards of 10-15 minutes, but don’t worry. The script is not frozen or dying. It’s working! To get a list of other helpful syntax, type in ./nikto.pl at Terminal.

Syntax Examples

./nikto.pl -h website.com -port 443,8080

./nikto.pl -h website.com

I wrote a post back in December 2009 about Comcast settling with a complainant about their alleged P2P throttling. Well, what do you know, I received my late bill notice from Comcast today and their it was. Spanning across 2 pages was a legal notice summarily saying that Comcast settled a $16 million dollar suit against them for the supposed throttling. Although they deny these claims against them, ” [Comcast] has revised it management of P2P and is settling to avoid the burden and coast of further litigation.” Unquote!

Read more about this settlement and see if you are eligible for a chunk of this money at http://p2pcongestionsettlement.com.

I found renamethemall today; what a great and simple tool for batch file renaming.The GUI is about as simple as you can get. Perfect! Install renamethemall by opening up terminal and typing the following commands.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:loneowais/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install renamethemall

Select your images and they populate in the window

Type in the name that you want to change your files to and it will "Preview" the name for you

You can adjust the name and numbering sequence by moving the slider

I wipe and reinstall around 3 XP machines per year, sometimes more. The most time consuming aspect of getting a client computer up to speed is installing updates and major Service Packs. Using a free Windows-based software called, nLite I can integrate updates and remove Windows software components before placing the disk in the computer. The process is called slipstreaming.

The first step is to find your updates and download them to your hard drive. I will not tell you to copy an XP installation CD to your local drive as well, but I am sure that it violates some MS TOS or Gestapo bylaw. Next, boot up nLite and follow the uber simple instructions.

You should be on your way and burning a new XP disk within 10 minutes. This particular slipstream included the integration of SP3.

Shall I dare say that the race to make the best tablet is on? Haleron Technologies, an electronics company out of Columbia, has available the iLet Mini Hal tablet. Even though the unit is back ordered until 19March2010, definitely deserves our attention.

For all of you that need to know the specifications right off the bat, here you go.

1. CPU: VIA ARM with Freescale MX  Integration 600MHz
2. 7″ TFT LCD TOUCH SCREEN /Resolution: 800*480
3. Multimedia Codes: Supports MP3/Audio Format ,AVI, Motion JPEG/Video Format supports word docs, excel, powerpoint,youtube, games, several video formats,ePub, text, html eBook formats RAM: 128MB DDR2
4. HARD DISK: 2GB NAND FLASH, Supports to 32GB Flash or 250GB USB
5. Communication: Ethernet 10/100M, WIFI:802.11B/G, 3G USB optional
6. Ports list:  SD x 1(support up to 32G HCSD), USB x 2, Stereo Audio out x 1,Microphone in x 1
7. Audio: High-Fidelity stereo speaker output
8. 16 hours  activive battery – 72 hours standby
9. Software:  Ocean Android OS (Upgradable) plus Many Pre-Loaded Apps
10. 10GB Cloud Storage via Halerons iConnect
    

The units come with a color choice of black or white. Apps are distributed through iConnect

Software: Android Apps. Free Apps at iConnect

1 Year Guarantee

Note: Ocean version of Android is based on Android 1.6. All Ocean versions are upgradable

The Haleron Technologies website even comes with a surprisingly large number of applications, plugins, and the OS as downloads on their website.

PNW Tech Forums, or Pacific Northwest Tech Forums, is an ad-free user supported forums that went live on February 28, 2010. After searching around the many months, I realized that a local cross-platform tech forums site was not to be found. Site topics range from Mac and Linux to Microsoft Server. There is also a General Topic forums so that you can login and vent about how a certain platform is a pain in the butt.

PNW Tech Forums screenshot

Registration is free and there are no ads on the site. Skill level is not a pre-requisite of joining. You can be a novice or a skilled IT Administrator; it really makes no difference. Let’s get a cross-platform dialog going here in the Pacific Northwest!

I had the opportunity to check out the Dell Remote Access Card (DRAC) today. The DRAC allows administrators to remotely boot and essentially take control of the system if it hangs or is turned off. As long as there is power, the DRAC is active and ready to work. Read more about the DRAC here http://olyurl.me/1d