Live The Life

New Master Bath

Sat, 29 Jul 2006 02:39:37 GMT

The just completed master bathroom affords privacy and convenience: I don't have to leave my bedroom to take a shower. The other three bathrooms in the house accomodate guests and the kids.

More Master Bath

Sat, 29 Jul 2006 01:31:07 GMT

I've just completed the new master bath by sealing the tile a second time. The glass block sparkles. Tomorrow, I'll be painting crown moldings in the bedroom.

Turion 64 Laptop

Wed, 31 May 2006 03:21:01 GMT

For my wife's birthday, I bought her a laptop with an AMD 64-bit CPU, ATI Radeon video processor with its own RAM (not shared memory), DVD burner, etc. I have tricked it out with layers of the very best security software available at any price. She has lots of great new games, plus Office 2003 Professional edition.

The kids are next.

New Computers

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 04:03:58 GMT

I have decided to upgrade all of the computers on my home network to 64-bit machines. This will provide my family with superior protection against viruses and hackers. If you purchase a new computer be certain it's a "64-bit" machine. 64-bit PCs allow Windows XP "data execution prevention" to function.

Really big gaming site patches have been infected with Kuang2. Kuang2 is invisible, gives the cracker all of your passwords, and offers them the ability to execute any command on your computer. Scan your patches before you double click them; delete all evil.

Jim

IM Secure and Kerio Personal Firewall

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 02:14:52 GMT

You have kids using instant messaging, and you really need to get IMsecure Pro. Study after study indicates that kids reveal too much personal information online, and are increasingly being targeted online by adult creeps. With IMsecure Pro, you can make certain that your address, telephone number, etc. never go out through an instant message. It's as easy as typing it in to IMsecure Pro:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_imsp.jsp

In my opinion, the Kerio Personal Firewall is the most effective desktop firewall presently available. Kerio also allows you be assured that kids can't post private information at Live Journal, etc. It is easier for consumers to use in default than other firewalls, but the default rules are based upon Snort. Although there are two other good firewalls on the market (Outpost and Zone Alarm Pro), Kerio is on sale for $14.95 through the end of March:
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio.cfm

Get shopping Mom :)

Update Firefox

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:24:58 GMT

To Update Firefox:
Click on the Help pull down menu, and then click on the Check for Updates menu item.

To Update your Firefox Extensions:
Click on the Tools pull down menu and click on Extensions. You will see an Extensions dialogue box open up; at the bottom of the dialogue box, click the Find Updates button. Your extensions will be updated. Click Yes or OK if you are prompted to install newer versions of the extensions.

Increasingly, malicious web sites are using web page-based javascript code to install spyware (and worse):

NoScript for Firefox:
https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=722&application=firefox

NoScript will open a bar along the bottom edge of the browser. When you are at a site that you trust, like Prevention, click NoScript's Options button and click the Allow menu item. NoScript will remember your allowed sites.

Document Deleting Worm

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 22:44:09 GMT

From SANS: "Nyxem_e, on February 3rd and every third day of the month thereafter Nyxem.E will destroy users work (see F-Secure's blog) when the worm activates and replaces "the content of user's files with a text string "DATA Error [47 0F 94 93 F4 K5]". Among these files are: DOC, XLS, MDB, MDE, PPT, PPS, ZIP, RAR, PDF, PSD and DMP" "on all available drives", and yes, available = shared drives."

Protect Yourself

Sun, 01 Jan 2005 21:42:29 GMT

Read This!

http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?rss&storyid=994

Just in Time for the Holidays

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 14:14:19 GMT

This Holiday season hackers will once again be attempting to snare credit card numbers as people purchase gifts online.
This year many attacks are focused on software (including the anti-virus and firewall programs designed to protect you) instead of the Windows operating system.
Consequently, there are a number of rather serious security updates that you need to install:

1) Using Internet Explorer to go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, install the Active X control and install the updates.

2) Install the Java update using the Windows Offline Installation: http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
3) Install this Microsoft patch (not yet available in Windows Update):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=E38372B2-3BF6-4393-B9A...
4) If you don't have anti-virus software install avast! Home Edition (free):
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html Be certain to register avast! to receive free updates for one year:
http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=ENG If you do have anti-virus software update it. If you can't update it, uninstall it and then install avast! If you have Norton, uninstall it and then install avast!

5) Update Real Player: double click the Real Player icon,
click the Tools pull down menu, and click Check for
Update. After it finishes checking, place a check in
the November Security Update check box and click the
Install button (to the lower right in the Real Player
interface). If Real Player asks you if you want it to
be the default media player answer "No". Alternatively, you can reinstall the free RealPlayer:
http://www.real.com/
6) Update Quicktime: Open QuickTime Player, click the Edit
pull down menu, click Preferences, and then click
QuickTime Preferences. In the QuickTime Settings
dialogue box, click the Update tab, and then click the
Update button. Alternatively, you can reinstall Quicktime 7 (free):
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/win.html
7) Update/reinstall Macromedia Flash player:
http://www.macromedia.com/downloads/
8) Install or update Firefox: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ There is a very dangerous, unpatched vulnerability in
Microsoft Internet Explorer. It is being exploited at
shopping sites (just in time for Christmas). Do not
use Internet Explorer to shop, use Firefox.

9) Install and run anti-spyware software. Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy are both free.
If you run them one after another you will be comparatively clean:
Download Ad-Aware:
http://www.lavasoft.de Download Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.de/en/index.html If you want the best product available, purchase CounterSpy:
http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/
10) Because many viruses and hacker scripts are designed to stealth disable anti-virus software, you should run a comprehensive online scan at Windows Live Safety Center.
Before heading out to lunch, use Internet Explorer and go to:
http://safety.live.com/
If you complete these ten steps, you will eliminate the prospect that some mistake you may have made will damage the other computers at your work or home.

Happy Holidays!

The Package System

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 20:41:07 GMT

By learning about home theater systems, you can leverage your knowledge to get a better system for less money. For this project to be considered a success, you will need to:
1) spend less on the component system than you would for a comparable package system from a discount retailer like Best Buy,
2) get better performance from the component system than the package system provides, and
3) get a better warranty with the component system.

First, let's consider what's included in a good quality package system. It should include four floor standing tower speakers, a subwoofer, a center channel, a receiver and a progressive scan DVD player (with an optical digital connection to the receiver).

After browsing Best Buy, I chose the following Pioneer system:

$999.00
6 ohm Package Surround System:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7308219&productCategoryId=pcmcat40200050002&type=product&cmp=++&id=1118842988253

Pioneer 360W 5.1-Ch. Home Theater System with Progressive-Scan DVD/CD/MP3 Player
Product Features:
Built-in surround sound decoders include Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II Movie and Music and DTS
Total output: 360 watts (front, center and surround 60W x 5; subwoofer 60W); continuous power output: 300W (50 watts x 5 @ 6 ohms, 200Hz - 20kHz, 1% THD; subwoofer: 50 watts @ 6 ohms, 45Hz-200Hz, 1% THD)
DVD-RW VR mode with CPRM playback, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA and JPEG playback capability
JPEG photo viewer for sharing your digital images; search navigator
Digital AM/FM tuner with 30 presets
4 NXT surround channel flat driver speakers with floor stands and 1 center-channel NXT flat drive speaker with 1 table stand
Detachable flat driver speaker panels can also be hung on the wall
6-1/4" bass reflex powered subwoofer
7 advanced surround modes and virtual surround sound for a customized listening experience
Other convenient features include bass and treble control, dynamic range control and sleep timer
Separate control panel display for layout-free system operation
System frequency response: 25Hz - 35kHz
Inputs: 2 optical digital, 1 coaxial digital, 1 auxiliary analog
Includes universal remote
Product Details:
Warranty Terms - Parts     1 year
Warranty Terms - Labour 1 year
Product Weight     30 lbs.
Total System Power     360W
Front Surround Power/Channel     60W x 3
Rear Surround Power/Channel     60W x 2
DVD Disc Capacity     1
Dolby Digital Decoder     Yes
DTS Decoder     Yes
Dolby Pro Logic Decoder     Yes
Number of Speakers     5 + subwoofer
Satellite Speakers     5 speakers
Digital Input     2 optical, 1 coaxial
Tuning Presets     30
Multiroom Capability     No
Remote Control     Universal
Front Speaker Dimensions     17-3/4"H x 4-3/4"W x 1-1/4"D
Center Speaker Dimensions     4-3/4"H x 16-5/8"W x 1-1/4"D
Rear Speaker Dimensions     17-3/4"H x 4-3/4"W x 1-1/4"D
Subwoofer Dimensions     17-1/4"H x 7-7/8"W x 14-3/4"D
Total Unit Weight     30 lbs.
DVD Audio     No
JPEG Viewer     Yes

It's not their most expensive home theater system, but provides 60 watts per channel. It features a system frequency response range of 25Hz - 35kHz with 6 ohm speakers. The warranty is 1 year parts and labor.