Binary Expressions

It has come to my attention awhile ago that D-Link Routers have a major security hole and was ignored by D-Link for quite some time. I became aware of this huge security problem when listening to the Security Now podcast episode #52. May I say that this security problem is not to be taken lightly as Steven Gibson explained in Security Now and I quote “This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute privileged code on an affected device. When a specific request is sent to an affected device, a traditional stack overflow is triggered, allowing an attacker complete control of the router. With the ability to execute code on the device, it is then possible to apply modified firmware and ultimately compromise the entire network.”, end quote. D-Link released an update in July. A simple rule to follow is turn of UNPnP (universal plug in play). It’s simply dangerous convince feature to use.

D-Link Routers Affected

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The D-Link routers that are affected are DI-524 Rev A, DI-524 Rev C, DI-524 Rev D, DI-604 Rev E, DI-624 Rev C, DI-624 Rev D, DI-784 Rev A, EBR-2310 Rev A, WBR-1310 Rev A, and WBR-2310 Rev A. You can identify what router you have by looking at the back (bottom) of the device. Go to D-Link’s support page to help determine what model number and revision number your device has.

How to Apply the Firmware Update

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The below firmware update instructions will work on any operating system with a web browser.

• Download the latest firmware for your device via D-Link’s support page.
• Open your favorite web browser (ie. Firefox).
• In the browser type in the address of your router. In most cases it’s http://192.168.01/.
• Click on the “Tools” menu at the top.
• Click on “Firmware” on left hand menu.
• Click on the “Browse” button on the page and locate the firmware you just downloaded.
• Click “Apply”.

How to Disable UNPnP

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• Open your favorite web browser (ie. Firefox).
• In the browser type in the address of your router. In most cases it’s http://192.168.01/.
• Click on the “Misc” menu at the top.
• Locate “UNPnP Settings” and click on “Disable”.
• Click “Apply”.

Note: Refer to the emulators to locate exactly where your settings are to disable UNPNP on the D-Link Support web page.

Source: D-Link Support
Source: Security Now episode #52
Source: eEye Digital Security - Advisory

Introduction

In Windows XP the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer is set as the default image viewer for many file types. Unfortunately there is no Windows interface that provides you the ability to disable or change this applications file associations. Follow the below steps to remove this applications association so one may use a much better alternative application such as XnView.

There is two different solutions to choice from. One is a completely manual solution and the other is a simple registry patch that does it all in one step. It’s your choice and at your own risk. I would recommend strongly to backup your Windows registry just in case.

Registry Patch Solution

• Download registry patch to a temporary location, such as the Windows Desktop.
• Left mouse double click on the registry patch file.
• A dialog will appear. Left mouse click on “Yes” to allow the registry patch to be applied.
• The installation should now be complete and in effect immediately (reboot not required).

Manual Solution

• Run the Registry Editor, Start Menu -> Run -> enter without quotes “regedit” and press enter.
• Navigate to \HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ SystemFileAssociations\ image\ ShellEx\ ContextMenuHandlers.
• Delete the ShellImagePreview key.
• Navigate to \HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\ {e84fda7c-1d6a-45f6-b725-cb260c236066}\ shellex.
• Delete the MayChangeDefaultMenu key.
• Close the Registry Editor when you’re done; the change will take effect immediately.

If at any time you wish to restore Windows Picture and Fax Viewer as the default viewer you may restore your registry backup or follow the “Registry Patch Solution” instructions above but us this registry patch file instead.

• In the menu left mouse click on File -> Import and Export. This will start the “Import and Export” wizard.
• Select Export Favorites and the click on “next.”
• Select Favorites to backup everything or select a specific folder and click on “next.”
• In the next window you can accept the default save directory or choose a new one. I suggest you select “Desktop” so you can easily find the file again. Click on “next.”
• Finally, click on “finish” and your Favorites will be saved to disk.

If you wish to import your bookmarks follow the above steps in reverse and instead of selecting “Import Favorites” select “Import Favorites” instead.

Many as do I find it quite annoying to have applications showing all the documents you have open or also known as child windows in your Windows taskbar. In my mind these child windows should only show within the parent window/application only. Here’s how to make all child windows (documents) in Adobe Reader to not show up in the Windows taskbar and end up with just one task showing.

Steps for Adobe Acrobat Reader version 6.x and version 7.x

• Load Adobe Reader.
• Go to Edit menu -> Preferences.. or press CTRL-K.
• In the preferences dialog go to “General” on the left hand side.
• Under “General” uncheck “Show documents in the taskbar (takes effect after next launch of Acrobat)”.

By default Windows XP uses a welcome screen with a list of active accounts for the users to login, unless login process has been altered. There may become a time that you wish for certain accounts not to show on the welcome screen. You can do this by following the below steps.

NOTE: An account that does not show on the welcome screen does not mean the account is disabled or deleted. The account is just simply hidden visually.

• Start the Registry Editor (Start Menu -> Run -> type without quotes “regedit” and press enter).
• Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList \.
• Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > DWORD Value.
• Name the new value exactly as the account profile name not the user name of the account.
• Leave the Value data as 0 (zero).
• Close the registry editor.

If you want to enable this user again on the Welcome Screen, either double-click the account value, and change the Value data to 1, or delete the record.

I ran across this awesome do it yourself project that tells you how to take an old TV remote parts and then take a NES controller and create yourself an NES controller TV remote.

Source: NES Controller TV Remote

This is so hard to under stand but I’m determined to learn it.

read more | digg story

To determine what version of Microsoft DirectX you have installed follow the below steps.

• On the taskbar, left mouse click once on “Start” then left mouse click once on “Run..” (or on the keyboard press and hold the Windows Key and then press letter “R” key).
• In the “Run” dialog box under “open:”, type without quotes “dxdiag”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• When done left mouse click once on the “Exit” button.

If you have Microsoft DirectX installed you should now see a “DirectX Diagnostic Tool” dialog. Under “System Information” you will see the version of DirectX under “DirectX version”.

Source: Microsoft DirectX: Home Page
Source: Download Microsoft DirectX

This OpenOffice installation instructions are intended for OpenOffice 1.x.x < 2.0. This means in future release of OpenOffice 2.0 or greater these instructions should not apply as the installation process will be different. When that time comes I will update the instructions.

• Run setup.exe - with /net parameter. This can be done by right mouse clicking on “setup.exe” and left mouse clicking on create shortcut.
• Next right mouse click on the shortcut and then left mouse click on “Properties”.
• Under the “Target” field scroll all the way to the end. Put a space after the double quote and type “/net” without quotes.
• Left mouse click on “Ok”.
• Now just double mouse click on the shortcut you just created in step one.
• During the installation of OpenOffice make sure to select “Workstation” installation. If it installed correctly you should now have an OpenOffice directory under “C:\Program Files”.
• For each user that will be using OpenOffice on the computer you will need to login to their profile and go where you installed OpenOffice (i.e. “C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org1.1.5″) and double mouse click on “OpenOffice.org Setup” shortcut. This will complete the setup and configuration of OpenOffice for each individual user.

Note: This how to article assumes that you already have a home network setup and configured. Going into details of setting up a home network is beyond the scope of this article. Also these steps may vary depending your Start Menu settings.

To share a printer, on the computer which is directly connected to the printer:

Host Computer Configuration

• Left mouse click once on the Start Menu –> Control Panel –> Printers And Other Hardware –> Printers And Faxes.
• Left mouse click once on the printer you wish to share.
• Left mouse click once on “Share This Printer” in the “Task Pane” on the left hand side of the window. Alternatively you can right mouse click once on the printer and then left mouse click once on “Sharing…”.
• In the printer’s Properties dialog, left mouse click once on the “Sharing” tab if you are not already there.
• Left mouse click once on “Share Name” and then left mouse click “OK”. If desired you may change the “Share Name” to a more descriptive or memorable name.

To access a shared printer:

Guest Computer Configuration

• Left mouse click once on the Start Menu –> Control Panel –> Printers And Other Hardware.
• Left double mouse click on “Add A Printer” then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• In the “Add Printer Wizard”, left mouse click once on “A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer”.
• Left mouse click once on “Connect to this printer (or to browse for a printer, select this option and click next)” then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Select the appropriate printer by left mouse clicking once from the list and then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• At this point you will be prompted weather you wish to set the printer as your default printer or not. I will leave this step up to you weather you want it default or not.
• Left mouse click once on “Next” and then left mouse click once on “Finish”.

Caution: Security Risk

Sharing printers or files on a computer system with Internet connection is done at a risk. Doing so can make your files and printers available to outside access. However, you can limit this risk with the use of password protecting your shares, having hardware and/or software firewall. I highly recommend these protections and to only share what you need and nothing more.

Note: This how to article assumes that you already have a home network setup and configured. Going into details of setting up a home network is beyond the scope of this article. Also these steps may vary depending your Start Menu settings.

Host/Guest Computer Network Configuration:

You will require “Client for Microsoft Networks” and “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” to be installed. If you do not see both of these two items follow the below steps other wise you may skip these steps.

• Left mouse click once on “Start Menu” –> “Settings” –> “Control Panel”.
• Left double mouse click on “Network”.
• Left mouse click once on “Add” –> “Client” –> “Add…” –> “Microsoft” –> “Client for Microsoft Networks”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• Left mouse click once on “Add” –> “Service” –> “Add…” –> “Microsoft” –> “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• At this point you should be prompted to restart the computer, left mouse click once on “Yes”.

To share a printer, on the computer which is directly connected to the printer:

Host Computer Configuration
Note: The “Host/Guest Computer Network Configuration” must be completed first if you do not have “Client for Microsoft Networks” and/or “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” installed before continuing.

• Left mouse click once on “Start Menu” –> “Settings” –> “Control Panel”.
• Left double mouse click on “Network”.
• Left mouse click once on the “Configuration” tab, then left mouse click once on “File and Print Sharing…”.
• Left mouse click once on “I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer.”.
• Left mouse click once on “OK”.
• Left mouse click once on “OK”.
• Close the “Control Panel”.

Sharing a Printer:

• Left mouse click once on “Start”–> “Settings” –> “Printers”.
• Right mouse click once on the printer that you wish to share and then left mouse click once on “Sharing”.
• Left moue click once on the option “Shared As” then type in the “Share Name” and “Password” respectively.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.

To access a shared printer:

Guest Computer Configuration
Note: The “Host/Guest Computer Network Configuration” must be completed first if you do not have “Client for Microsoft Networks” and/or “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” installed before continuing.

• Left mouse click once on “Start Menu” –> “Settings” –> “Printers”.
• Left double mouse click on “Add Printer”, this will launch the “Add Printer Wizard”.
• Left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Left mouse click once on “Network Printer” and then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Manually enter the “Network path or queue name” or left mouse click once on “Browse” to locate the printer you desire to use. Then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Left mouse click once on “Finish”.

Caution: Security Risk

Sharing printers or files on a computer system with Internet connection is done at a risk. Doing so can make your files and printers available to outside access. However, you can limit this risk with the use of password protecting your shares, having hardware and/or software firewall. I highly recommend these protections and to only share what you need and nothing more.

Oh this has to be the coolest DIY project I’ve found yet. This one I’m definitely trying. Now I just need to locate our old cordless telephone and buy a soldering iron. In this project Christoffer Jarnaker shows how one can take a old cordless telephone and turn it into a telephone that can be used to talk voice over the Internet using for example Skype, Team Speak, Netfone, etc. and not be tied to your computer. A very cool but experimental project. Saying this I mean that the instructions are not an exact science unless you are able to get your hands on the exact same cordless telephone Christoffer used. If I end up doing this project I’ll document it and let everyone here know how I was able to achieve it or not :-).

Source: How to Build a Skype Phone