Protocol Solutions Network Security blog

Hello,

I have not being posting as you readers have probably noticed for at least 2 months. The main issue there simply was a lack of time to blog.

What I have been involved with for the last two months were:

(1) Setting up a datacenter for VPS (Virtual Private Server). This is not for Protocol Solutions, this was for a client.
(2) Configuration of the management software for looking after all the containers (of the VPS)
(3) Testing and hardening down of everything

Windows SP3:

We got a test machine to install SP3 onto Windows XP Pro (corporate version). The installation went well, however this is the only thing that actually worked. There were multiple issues with the computer we installed SP3 into after a reboot:

(1) We had intermittant USB connectivity after the install of SP3
(2) Several BsoD

The installation was tested on another computer as well, the only difference between the first computer and this one was that the above testing was running an Intel processor and this computer was using an AMD AM2 chip. Both computers had 1Gb of ram as per standard staff configuration computers.

written by admin \\ tags: Virtual Private Server, Virtualization. windows sp3, windows xp

If you are currently an RSS feed subscriber to one of our feeds, Paul Walsh would like to ask you:

(1) Do you prefer the feeds to be seperate?
(2) Or would you like all feeds from Protocol Solutions blog and website to be combined into one RSS feed?

Right now the feeds we have are:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/psarticles

and

http://feeds.feedburner.com/pspw

If you would please submit a comment with your preference.

written by admin \\ tags: , feed questions, host hacks, hosts hacking, immunize against spyware, paul walsh, paul walsh press release, paul walsh security, poll, Press Release, prevent spyware, protocol solutions, protocol solutions blog, protocol solutions press release, rss feed, rss question, windows 2000, windows 2003, windows 2003 server, windows xp

A few clients have mentioned that they do not want to have to install spyware prevention (and similar tools), because they can be quite processor and ram intensive.

So here is a quick hack to immunize against known spyware for windows XP and Windows 2003. (they keyword is known! This will not work against new spyware unless you add them in)

Here are the default locations of the HOSTS file:

(1) Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
(2) Backup the file called HOSTS (there is no extension)
(3) Open HOSTS with notepad
(4) Add all web addresses that you want to block
(5) Save the file in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc  (call the file HOSTS) with no extension

This hack will also speed up and force some web addressses to remain cached (useful for say the top 5 website you vist)

Click here to download an example that applies both techniques.

Due to the restrictions imposed by VISTA UAC (Users Access Control), this technique may not work.

Be warned, it is advised that you do update the list to keep this effective. (get the updated list 2 or 3 times a month from here : http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/updates.htm )

written by admin \\ tags: , host hacks, hosts hacking, immunize against spyware, paul walsh, paul walsh security, prevent spyware, protocol solutions, protocol solutions blog, windows 2000, windows 2003, windows 2003 server, windows xp

Today is Patch Tuesday. We hope you havent forgotten to check and test for updates for Windows!

written by admin \\ tags: patch tuesday, paul walsh, paul walsh security, protocol solutions, protocol solutions blog, windows 2003, windows xp

We are installing Windows Service Pack 3 tomrrow. The plan is to install it on a test windows XP Virtual machine. I will be posting any problems or issues here.

Please leave your own comments about Windows XP Service pack 3 if relevent.

This was meant to be done yesterday (8th January) but is defered till thursday 11th.

written by admin \\ tags: service pack 3, service pack 3 issues, windows xp