Backtrack 5

There are certain tools when you are a security consultant that are just crucial to your job. No matter how good you are, these tools will make you a lot better.
                                                                                                                     In the past couple of years one of the security tools that has risen to this rank is called Backtrack. It is a Linux based operating system that comes pre installed with a numerous amount of security programs on it.It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an expert you will find several tools that are installed on it that will help you.


In the past few weeks the newest version of the Backtrack operating system, version 5, has been released. There are several new things that the people who have used this operating system will love about the new release. There are also things about this release that will excite people who are new to the operating system as well.
                                                                     In the following article I will discuss the Backtrack operating system in more detail and I will show how you can use it on your own system to secure it.


More details about the Backtrack operating system

As I said earlier this is a Linux based operating system that comes equipped with tons of security software that you might need. But there is a little more to it than that.


First of all, the software is not only installed but also optimized for the system. You will not have to worry about configuring the software to work on your system correctly.
The Linux installation that it is based on is known as Ubuntu. Ubuntu is known as being a very user friendly operating system. The installation also has several different UI configurations that you can use to get started. There is the gnome desktop interface and KDE interface.


If you are a new user then you might want to go with the Gnome interface since some people seem to think that it is easier. More advanced users might want to try the KDE version of the operating system. It gives you more options to configure the system.


There are several different aspects of the Backtrack operating system that allow it to be the tool of choice for security professionals. One of these is the amount of different categories of security that the operating system maintains software for.


These categories include information gathering, network mapping, vulnerability identification, web application analysis, Digital forensics, reverse engineering, and basic penetration.
                                                                                                                                 So as you can see, no matter which part of the computer security field that you work in the Backtrack operating system should have you covered.

What is added with the number 5 version of Backtrack

When you install backtrack version number 5 you will find several things that are different compared to previous versions. The first thing that is different is that both KDE and the Gnome interface have been updated to the latest version.


Also you will find that the latest version of the Backtrack operating system is able to be installed in both 32 bit and 64 bit flavors. More and more computers are now 64 bit and Backtrack has upgraded to reflect that reality.


Another aspect of the new version of the Backtrack operating system is the fact that all of the software that came with it before has now been updated. The whole purpose of this operating system is to allow you to use the software that you need without any configuration.


If you have to keep track of the updates of these pieces of software then that would defeat the whole purpose. Instead the Backtrack operating system will update them for you every time there is a new version that is available.
Of course, if you want the newest version of the software you can install it yourself but with this system it is not necessary.
                                                     But it is not only the software that you use directly that has been updated. It is the software that is behind the scenes that has been updated as well. The drivers that you will need to use the Linux based system have been updated to the newest versions, especially the wireless drivers.
                                                In the past, the Backtrack operating system has had a problem with drivers for different wireless cards that were installed on the user's computer. While this problem hasn't gone away completely you will find that it is a much easier situation to deal with. There are more wireless drivers included in the installation than ever before.


In conclusion
You will find that if you are a computer security consultant that there is no better tool to use than Backtrack. It has all of your favorite tools in one place ready for you to use.
                                                                                                                                                If you own a company that has to store important data then it is vital for you to have a tool like this. That way your security people can be sure that they are testing your network with the same tools that the bad guys are using.

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Ubuntu 11.10

The look has not changed much in Ubuntu 11.10, but the features sure have. For those unable to use Unity 3D, Unity 2D is now available as well. The login manager is now LiteDM which is fast and efficient. A new window switcher has also been added and there have also been improvements to the lenses feature. Ubuntu as always, is free to try, and remains one of the top choices for Linux newcomers. For a long time Ubuntu was the most popular choice among Linux users, but for the time being the position may have been respectively passed on to Linux Mint. At least temporarily…


Ubuntu 11.10 Features
3.0.0-12.20 Ubuntu kernel, based on Linux v3.0.4 Upstream stable kernel.
Improved performance for ext4 filesystems.
With a few simple commands you can upgrade from Ubuntu 11.04 to 11.10.
A music lens which is integrated with Banshee has now been added to the dash.


Ubuntu 11.10 Applications
Banshee Media Player 2.2
Firefox Web Browser 7.0.1
Shotwell Photo Manager 0.11.4
Transmission BitTorrent Client 2.33
Totem Movie Player 3.0.1
Brasero Disc Burner 3.2.0
LibreOffice 3.4.3
Tomboy Notes 1.8.0
Empathy Instant Messenger 3.2.0
Thunderbird Mail Client 7.0.1


Ubuntu 11.10 Installation

When first booting the Ubuntu 11.10 live CD you will be prompted with a welcome screen asking if you would like to try Ubuntu with no changes to your computer, or you can begin installation. You can also change the language used for the Ubuntu installer. If you begin installation you will see a checklist for basic requirements, and a few options for updates and third-party software. Next you can manually or automatically configure your partitions. Then simply choose install now and the files will begin copying. You then have time to choose your location, your language, and input your user information. A brief slide show will entertain you while the installation finishes, then you can reboot.


Ubuntu 11.10 Desktop

As I said above, LightDM is now the default login manager and uses the Unity greeter. Gnome classic is no longer available, only Unity 2D or Unity 3D. After logging in you will see your primary panel with your system notification icons. And you will have your Unity launcher on the left side of the desktop. All applications can be found inside the Dash, and several launchers are available inside the Unity panel. The whole desktop is left quite clean, though I am still not very fond of the default wallpaper, or theme for that matter. Things are now far more stable, and as always the speed is certainly up to par.


Ubuntu 11.10 Menus

You can quickly search for all of your applications, music, and files using the Dash. The dash contains a search bar, and launchers for many of your applications. You can open the Dash by clicking on the Ubuntu logo that sits on the top of your Unity launcher panel. And now you can use the enhanced lens feature to narrow your searches. You can select one of the small icons at the bottom of the Dash to search everything, only your applications, only your music, or only your files and folders. There is also an advanced search feature that is accessible by clicking on the filter results button on the right side of the Dash search bar.


Ubuntu 11.10 Panels

A key feature of Ubuntu 11.10 is the Unity launcher located on the left hand side of the desktop. Launchers for all of your favorite applications as well as open windows will be located here. And you can add your favorite applications to the panel at any time simply by right clicking on an application inside the dash, then selecting keep in launcher. Items can also be dragged from the Dash into the Unity launcher. The launcher will often be hidden from view when you are working with full screen windows but you can always find it again by moving your mouse to the left side of the desktop.


Ubuntu 11.10 Software

Much has changed inside the Ubuntu software center. The interface has been re-designed for improved navigation. The toolbar has been upgraded, and top rated applications are now highlighted in the main window. Also the ability to filter software by top-rated, name, or date is now available. A stylish new banner has also been added to the top of the Ubuntu software center window. This banner is meant to inform users about new and popular applications. As always Ubuntu uses Debian packages, and users always have the choice of DPKG, APT, or Aptitude for installing software. But unfortunately the Synaptic package manager is no longer installed by default.


Ubuntu 11.10 File Manager

And not much has changed regarding the file manager, users will still get the speed and reliability of Nautilus. Nautilus of course is a great choice for new users because of maximized default functionality. You can launch Nautilus by clicking on the file manager icon inside the Unity dock, or click on a specific folder inside the dash. The Nautilus window is easy to navigate, and very user-friendly. All of your files and folders can be seen on the right hand side of the main window, and as usual there is a bookmarks panel on the left. A few important folders on your system are located inside the bookmarks section, and more folders can be dragged into the panel at any time for convenience.


Ubuntu 11.10 Themes

Using the Dash you can search for appearance settings to find your themes. Unfortunately only 4 themes are available by default, and you can no longer customize your themes directly through the user interface. Sadly that was one of my favorite features. The Ambiance, Radiance, High Contrast, and High Contrast Inverse themes are available. The Radiance theme can be seen in the screenshot, this is the only theme I find especially pleasing.


Ubuntu 11.10 Wallpapers

You can also change your desktop wallpaper from the appearance settings window. And thankfully there is a vast selection of beautiful backgrounds to choose from. Most are scenery and landscape wallpapers, but they are vivid and quite unique. Surely more can be added probably by dropping them into a wallpapers folder, but it seems the convenient interface options are gone. The interface seems to have been reduced and simplified to a point that it lost much of what made it great in the first place, of course that is my opinion. As always I’m sure things will continue to improve.


Ubuntu 11.10 Synopsis
I first installed Ubuntu during the 7.04 release, and it has been the primary distribution used on many of my systems since then. But for me at least, the Ubuntu days are numbered. Many of my systems are currently still stuck on the 10.10 release, at least until 10.10 becomes slightly more outdated. After that I may finally make the move to Linux Mint as my primary choice. Be sure to share your opinions.

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World’s Greatest Mysteries

1. Easter Island
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is remotely located 2,000 miles off the coast of Tahiti. The original settlers of the island were Polynesians who migrated to the far-off land between 400 and 600 BC. They built many shrines and statues, called moai, from stones quarried throughout the island including a volcano site. Researchers still question exactly how the large stones were moved.

The world is full of unsolved mysteries, some that invoke the supernatural. Many have tried to establish reason to these wild quandaries, but not all have perfect answers. Here are some of the best enigmas the world has to offer…


2. The Legend of El Dorado
The Legend of El Dorado originates from the Muisca, who lived in the modern country of Colombia from 1000 to 1538 AD. In a ritual ceremony for their goddess, the tribal chief would cover himself in gold dust and jump into a lake as an offering. This spawned the legend of a lost golden city, which led Spanish conquistadors on a wild goose chase to nowhere.

3. The Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle — located in the Atlantic between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico — is a thief, stealing planes and boats right out of existence. The area got its name after Sgt. Howell Thompson (l.), along with 27 Navy airmen, vanished from the devilish spot during a routine flight in 1945. Rumors persist on a supernatural explanation, but many specialists blame hurricanes, a heavy Gulf Stream and human error.

4. The mighty Incan Empire of South America
The mighty Incan Empire of South America flourished between 1200 and 1535 AD. They developed drainage systems and canals to expand their crops, and built stone cities atop steep mountains — such as Machu Picchu (above) — without ever inventing the wheel. Despite their vast achievements, the Incan Empire with its 40,000 manned army was no match for 180 Spanish conquistadors armed with advanced weapons and smallpox.

5. The Mayan Temple
According to the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar, made famous by the ancient Mayan people, December 2012 marks the ending of the current baktun cycle. This little bit of information has many archeologists spooked. Some believe the Mayans were warning of a coming apocalypse, while others insist it’s simply a mathematical misconception.

6. The Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines cover more than 190 square miles in the southern deserts of Peru. The mysterious shapes etched into the land rival football fields and predate the Incan Empire. The ‘Las Manos’ figure (above) is 2,000 years old. Little is know about why the Nazca people constructed such vast pieces of sand art, some believe they are extraterrestrial in nature, while others claim they may have carried and pointed to sources of water.

7. Ancient Pyramids in Giza, Egypt
Khafre (l.) and Khufu (r.) are two of the three ancient Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. Khufu is the biggest, consisting of more than 2 million stones with some weighing 9 tons. The Pyramids, built as elaborate tombs for divine kings, date back to 2,550 BC. Modern Egyptologists believe that the Pyramids are made from stones dragged from quarries and, despite ancient Greek testimony, were built predominantly by skilled craftsmen rather than slave labor.

8. Sphinx of Giza, Egypt
Another Egyptian wonder, the Sphinx of Giza has the body of a lion and the head of a Pharaoh, believed by most to be that of king Khafre. It was carved from soft limestone, and has been slowly falling apart over the years. A popular theory of the missing nose claims Napoleon’s soldiers shot it off with a cannon in 1798, but early sketches discovered of the Sphinx without a nose predate Napoleon’s rampage.

9. The Loch Ness Monster
According to Scottish folklore, a mystical creature called a water horse lures small children to a watery grave by tricking them to ride on its sticky back. The Loch Ness Monster became an English wonder in 1933, after witness accounts made newspaper headlines. No hard evidence of the creature has ever been recorded with several pictures, including the one above, being proven as hoaxes.

10. Aliens
Area 51, located on Groom Lake in southern Nevada (c.), was founded in 1955 by the U.S. Air Force to develop and test new aircrafts – such as the U-2 Spy Plane, A-12 Blackbird and F-117 Stealth Fighter. The secretive nature of the military base, combined with its classified aircraft research, helped conspiracy theorists imagine an installation filled with time-travel experimentation, UFO coverups and alien autopsies.

11. The Stonehenge
The Stonehenge landscape of Salisbury Plain, England, has become a tourist hotspot. But before foreigners with windbreakers and cameras showed up, the area may have been a burial ground and ceremonial den dating back 5,000 years.

12. The Lost City of Atlantis
The Lost City of Atlantis was introduced to the West 2,400 years ago by Plato, who claimed it to be the island home of an advanced society. Legend says it was sunk by an earthquake, with later interpretations as an underwater kingdom protected by mermaids. Its whereabouts still a mystery, recent underwater evidence suggests it was once apart of a larger landmass in Cyprus off the Mediterranean (c.), but the only true Atlantis exists in the Bahamas as a grand casino and resort hotel.

13. The Fountain of Youth
Don Juan Ponce de Leon completed Spain’s claim on America in 1509, and soon after was made governor of Puerto Rico. Six years later, following Indian rumors, he traveled north to the island of Bimini in search of the Fountain of Youth. Bimini turned out to be the peninsula of Florida, and the fountain remained hidden until July 2006, when famed magician David Copperfield claimed the waters on his $50 million Exumas Island (c.) had healing properties.

14. The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Bible as a wooden casket, gold plated, made for carrying the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The casket was carried throughout the desert and remained in the Israelite Temple until its destruction by the hand of the Babylonian Empire. Its whereabouts are still unknown, but Hollywood made its own version for ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’

15. Chupacabra
Phylis Canion holds the head of what she is calling a Chupacabra at her home in Cuero, Tex. The strange-looking animal, first reported in Puerto Rico in 1995, apparently has a taste for chicken and goat blood. Although many pictures like the above might prove its existence, biologists assure none such creature exists.

16. The Iron Pillar of Delhi
The Iron Pillar of Delhi is a 1,600-year-old, 22 feet high pillar located in the Qutb complex in India. The pillar, made from 98% wrought iron, has been astounding scientists by its ability to resist corrosion after all these years.

17. Stone Spheres in Costa Rica
Discovered in the early 1940s in Costa Rica during excavations by the United Fruit Company, these perfectly formed stone spheres date from 600 AD to the 16th century. Their makers and purpose still unconfirmed, many believe them to be some religious effigy made to worship the sun.

18. The Tunguska Explosion of Russia
The Tunguska Explosion in Russia occurred around 7:14 a.m. on June 30, 1908. To this date, the exact cause of the explosion – which leveled 80 million trees over 830 square miles – remains a heated debate. Most believe it to be caused by a meteoroid fragment, others insist either a black hole or UFO origin.

19. Mothman
A humanoid with insect wings and crimson eyes, known as the Mothman, terrorized Point Pleasant, W.Va., during the late 1960s. No solid evidence exists of the creature, except for a handful of witness reports documented in paranormal-journalist John A Keel’s ‘Mothman Prophecies’.

20. Jersey Devil

According to legend, 250 years ago a Jersey woman by the name of Mrs. Leeds cried out in despair during her 13th pregnancy, ‘Let it be the Devil!’ After childbirth, the baby was revealed to be a kangaroo-like creature with wings, and flew away to cause all sorts of Jersey Devil mischief. Today the Jersey Devil can be seen getting fans riled up during local hockey games.

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Windows 8 Consumer Preview arriving

You know that 2012 is a leap year and Microsoft plans on making good use of the day, which comes just once every four years. On February 29, Microsoft will release Windows 8 Beta for public download. The Beta will officially be known as “Windows 8 Consumer Preview” and will be made available to users to download and try out.


Like all public Betas from Microsoft, there will be an expiration date, telling you till when you’ll be able to use it, but like always, there will be a hack out that will allow you to bypass that and use it for a longer period.


From the screenshot above, we get a little glimpse into what to expect from the nearly finished product. The desktop seems to be quite a departure from what we’re typically used to. The icons seem to be very similar to Win 7, at least the recycle bin does. The taskbar also seems to be borrowed from Windows 7, where one can pin frequently used apps for quick access. However, there doesn’t seem to be a ‘Windows’ button in the bottom left corner.


The system tray has also been done away with and instead, we have a console on the left with options for toggling different networks. The design elements for this section are influenced heavily by Windows Phone 7. Given the fact that users will be able to switch between the standard Windows desktop and Metro UI-like interface seamlessly, we’ll have to just get accustomed to this new hybrid interface. Windows 8 will also be very customizable, so we guess you’ll have the freedom to move things around the place to suit your needs.


Windows 8 will be based on a brand new kernel and the same will make its way to tablets and other portable devices as well, like phones, in order to deliver the same experience. It appears that this MWC will be one of the most action packed events in a long time and one that you should definitely not miss.

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Google set to announce iCloud competitor?

Google plans to enter the cloud based storage service with Google Drive. The service is expected to be active in the coming weeks as reported by the Wall Street Journal. 




Like Dropbox, the service is expected to tap the "cloud storage" market where users can access their content on the go with their smartphones, tablets or even third party computers with the help of a simple app and an Internet connection.

Drive is expected to have limited storage available to users for free. Users will be able to purchase additional storage at a cost, something that's been tried and tested by Dropbox. The limit of free storage and cost of additional storage is still unknown. Users will be able to store any content they wish, be it photos, videos docs, etc. on Drive.


The Wall Street Journal also reports that users will also have the ability to upload a file through the Drive mobile app and share the link with people rather than sending it across as an attachment.


As of November 2011, Dropbox has recorded 45 million users and Apple's iCloud has 85 million users as of January 2012, so it's easy to understand why Google wants a bite of the cloud storage pie.

Another interesting fact that remains to be seen is how Google integrates Drive with its existing services such as Google+, Google Docs, Gmail, so on and so forth.


Google Drive will enter a market crowded with the likes of iCloud (although it is restricted to Apple devices), box.net Dropbox and Microsoft SkyDrive to name a few.

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Regedit

Regedit, You may be thinking "Regedit, what the hell is that?!" or if you have a reasonable amount of experience with computers "Oh awesome a page about what this program is.


What is Regedit?
Regedit is basically a program that lets you edit ceratin values in your computer (short for "Registry Editor"). BEWARE, DON'T JUST PLAY AROUND IN REGEDIT, SOME THINGS CAN SERIOUSLY HARM YOUR COMPUTER IF CHANGED OR REMOVED. You can do really cool things with it such as remove buttons on your computer .e.g remove the shutdown option or make a message appear at startup.

Before you do anything you will need to know how to access the program.:

So first go to your start menu

Then click run

Now type "regedit" without the quotes

Regedit should open (if it doesnt contact me)

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Lumia 900 latest Nokia phone

News about Nokia latest Windows phone has been flooding the net for so long. Finally during the Consumer electronics show held during the beginning of this month, the phone was introduced. The mobile is termed as Nokia Lumia 900. This is by far the latest and most expensive in the Nokia Lumia series.
The handset showcases during the CES 2012 was an LTE model. This makes it unsuitable for countries like India and aroused doubts whether this would be launched here. But these doubts have been cleared recently when UK based retailer UK Carphone has started accepting bookings for a non-LTE model of Nokia Lumia 900. This phone will be shipped by June.

The most attractive news for Indian customers is that Nokia has already started plans to launch the Non-LTE version of the phone in India. The mobile network providers in India is still planning to change to offer LTE network and it would at least take half an year to get the whole networks equipped with the required a circuitry and devices. It is in this scenario that the non LTE version is made especially for countries like India. If Nokia launch this device same like it did with Nokia Lumia 800 then we can expect Nokia Lumia 900 to be launched here by July.
When we first see the device we can definitely feel that some of the design cues of Lumia 900 are taken from Nokia N9 and Lumia 800. The phone is sufficiently big but will easily fit in your palms. The screen has a size of 4.3 inch and is of AMOLED type with clear ClearBlack display. This looks particularly brilliant and blends in with the overall look and feel of the device. The hardware specifications and the features of this phone are almost similar to that of Nokia Lumia 800 except for the large high resolution display.

This phone is powered by a single core APQ 8055 mobile processor that has a clock speed of 1.4GHz. This can be considered as a small draw back since most of the phones coming nowadays are powered by dual core and even Quadra core processors. This phone has a MDM9200 chip for 3G network support. There is lot of storage memory in the device and it has 14.5 GB of internal storage memory as well as 512 MB of RAM.
Nokia Lumia 900 price tag is not yet announced, we can expect an official press release from the company some time soon.

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RAF Menwith Hill

RAF Menwith Hill is a British military base with connections to the global ECHELON spy network. The site contains an extensive satellite ground station and is a communications intercept and missile warning site and has been described as the largest electronic monitoring station in the world. 
The site acts as a ground station for a number of satellites operated by the US National Reconnaissance Office, on behalf of the US National Security Agency, with antennae contained in a large number of highly distinctive white radomes, and is alleged to be an element of the ECHELON system. 

ECHELON was reportedly created to monitor the military and diplomatic communications of the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies during the Cold War in the early 1960s, but since the end of the Cold War it is believed to search also for hints of terrorist plots, drug dealers’ plans, and political and diplomatic intelligence.

It has also been involved in reports of commercial espionage and is believed to filter all telephone and radio communications in the nations which host it – an extreme violation of privacy.

(Secret place)

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Billa 2: latest news

Billa 2 is gearing up for release. As per sources in the tinsel town, the shooting schedules of this film are almost complete and the director, Chakri Toleti, is busy with the post-production works. The target for Billa 2’s release was April 14th and now it has been pushed to May 1st.

 According to the new rule imposed by the Tamil Film Producers’ Council, all films made on a big budget with leading heroes in the tinsel town should be released only during the five festive days allotted for the purpose. Therefore, it is now certain that Billa 2 would hit the screens either on April 14th or May Day. If it is May Day, Ajith fans will be the happiest because it happens to be his birthday.

On that other hand, if the producers miss the date, then Billa 2 would see the light of the day only on August 15th which is a few months away.

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