Online Threats: Keyloggers

Keylogging, also called keystroke logging, is a method of capturing/recording user keystrokes. In short, keyloggers are basically the various tools (legal or not) used to capture or record user keystrokes mostly without the user's consent & knowledge. Keystroke logging can be software/hardware based, and they come in many different types and methods, usually ran through remote connections like in an Internet-based environment.

Illustration on how hackers apply keylogging tactics on their hacking process

Long time ago, before the existence of graphical user interface (GUI), keylogging is one method of which computering experts deal with interacting with their machines. Keylogging basically has lots of function and purpose; from problem analysis to studying how one commnicates with the computer. Sounds as though it's fairly useful, isn't it?

The problem with the world is that there are basically two types of computer users: one with ethical integrity while the other one....well, basically those computer hackers, script kiddies with malicious intent....you don't need me to elaborate further on unethical hackings & identity thefts. While keylogging is as useful as to help employers making sure that their employees doesn't do anything apart from daily jobs with the company's PC, its abilities are also manipulated by unethical users...to steal your username & passwords, credit card numbers, important information etc.
Example of a keylogging software. The opposite of it would be anti-keylogging software


While there are several methods to avoid being "keylogged", the most common protection for normal users is to configure their firewall settings to a higher level of protection & to install antispyware softwares on their computers. Since keylogger is also associated with spying user behavior, antispyware normally offers protection against those. Apart from antispyware software, there are anti-keylogging software which are softwares that warn you based on signatures & heuristics analysis when they think that a software/online program is trying to log your keystrokes, webcam, clipboard content etc. Even though some anti-keylogging software come bundled in with Internet Security software such as Kaspersky Internet Security, most security software still doesn't offer anti-logging protections. In that case, sensitive users often will rely on standalone anti-keylogger software.

Online companies often use an anti-keylogging environment called a secure socket layer (SSL) where users can safely complete their purchase/ transactions with the company. In a secure-socket-layered environment, you can notice that the webpage's hypertext protocol will depict a "https://" instead of "http://", often accompanied with socket symbols somewhere within the windows of your internet browsers. However, that doesn't mean users can let their guard down. Remember: the hackers know more than you do.


Illustration of how a secure socket layered environment looks like

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Software or the Week: BibleMax

I came up with the idea of "Software of the Week" because in that way i shall have more organization for my postings. I have been a Christian since i was a small boy, and there are two things that has been bothering me everytime i look up on a certain chapter and verse of the Bible. The first thing is how the Bible can make me feel sleepy with its tightly packed words and incomprehensibility. I'm sure that it is no secret that most detest Bible readings because they are easily put to sleep by the Bible's sheer amount of words and some verse are pretty incomprehensible. The second thing is people, including me, will always find excuses for not reading the Bible, for example, busy at work or at studies etc...which in God's watchful eyes, are no longer fresh excuses...:)

BibleMax is a software dedicated to all people who wanted to read the Bible in a new wave of form. It is essentially a freeware, so anyone can get a free copy of it and install it on their computer. However, it's function does not limit to Bible-readings only. For those who are intending to understand further the word of God, the software might come in handy. Why? Because the software provided side commentaries which will help you in understanding the chapters & verses more easily. BibleMax also provided live maps detailing the world of the Bible, and dictionaries are readily available in the software.

On the other hand, this software is practically useful for those doing additional researches involving the Bible; References with several bible versions will help readers in analyzing God's messages in a more accurate fashion. Adding up with the live map, commentaries and dictionary, BibleMax is probably the best digital Bible out there.

So, those saying that Bible-reading is tiresome, or that no time slots are available for Bible-reading, think again; God has just gave you the answer to your problems!!! If you are satisfied with the free version, you can even pay for an upgraded version and have access to additional features!

For more details visit their official website, http://biblemaximum.com/

Here are some screenshots from my desktop:

My desktop screenshot. The shortcut to BibleMax is the one
depicting a greenish cross

BibleMax opened in Full-Screen mode. Click picture for larger image

The Bible Map features on Bible Max. Notice that the red dot on the center of the map is Babylon,
the name of the empire that once demolished Israel.

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Online Threats: Malwares

On my previous post, I talked about how important understanding the word “PC security“ is for a computer user. Since we are prone to indulge in the binary world where imaginary has no boundaries, it is in my belief that by learning the available threats which threatens our use of PC, we are giving ourselves the chance of taking the first step towards employing necessary protection. People love the sense of privacy & a stable environment, after all.

On this post, I’ll elaborate on malwares. Firstly, what is malware? Malware is the creation of the words “malicious software”, which basically means software which contains malicious intention, ranging from destroying your data to stealing your personal information. There are several types of malwares, each with a distinct purpose and operating method.

A) Virus

Virus is a self-replicating program that produces its own code by attaching copies of itself into other executable codes and it operates without the knowledge & desire of computer users.Virus, just like a living tissue, has many identifiable characteristics:

- Resides in the memory and replicates itself while the program it is attached to are running.
- Does NOT reside in the memory after the execution of a program
- Viruses are polymorphic (they transform by changing their codes to appear different, much like a biological virus)
- Hides itself from detection via encryption, steath algorithms and disk-directory altering so as to compensate the extra virus bytes.

Our next question is, how does a virus works? Well, virus requires the trigger of events in order for it to execute itself. Most viruses operate in two phases: the infection phase and the attack phase. In the infection phase, software developers attach .exe files to infect the programs while in the attack phase, virus causes fragmentation on PC; the main reason why you’ll feel that your PC is “lagging” or “snailing” whenever you are infected.

Even though some antivirus may not detect certain viruses, a user can rely on symptoms which hint that their PC is infected by a virus. The most frequent symptoms include drastic PC slowdowns, computer program freezes unexpectedly, certain hardware problems, computer act weirdly (example, files & folders’ contents are missing when you didn’t delete them) and to a more serious degree, your computer cannot launch the operating system (OS) during startup.

B) Worms

Worms are often confused as a virus due to their close resemblance. Worms are different from viruses, though, because of certain ways they behave. Worms can replicate itself and use memory like a virus, but they do not attach themselves to programs like viruses do. Furthermore, worms are automated, which means that they can spread through an infected network automatically while viruses don’t. Worms are more likely to cause hardware failures that viruses do, such as generating power faults, decreasing a system’s useful life, damaging magnet field (which operates in CD-Rom, monitor) and many more. As a result, worms are considered to be more dangerous than viruses.

C) Spywares & Adware

Spywares, unlike viruses and worms, are any technological tools used for tracking users and collect user information besides taking partial control of a user’s computer. Spywares get into a user’s system via deception and software vulnerabilities (one reason why Microsoft often patch its systems with Windows Update) and reside among places such as registry keys and your system32 files. They collect logs from your computer, browsing history, software usage, personal information and send them all to the respective “master” who initiates the infection. Like viruses and worms, users infected by spywares will most often see degradation in PC performances and unwanted activities on their PC.

Adware are almost as similar to spywares, however they different in a way that adware, like their namesake, are more prone towards displaying advertisements, installing toolbars without your consent and displaying misleading/deceptive information. The most prevalent ways of their activities includes generating pop-up advertisement even when you’re not online, or displaying fraud information claiming that your systems are infected and urge you to buy their software (which leads to identity theft).

D) Rootkits

Rootkits are an ongrowing form of PC security threats, which evolves over the years to become one of the most difficult malwares to detect and eliminate. Rootkits are only interested in taking over the fundamental parts of operating systems and launch its intended purpose of destruction. Virus writers nowadays LOVE to apply rootkit technology in their creation, largely due to the fact that rootkits can conceal themselves better than normal viruses could. Some rootkits can never be eleiminated completely because they are so rooted into the systems of a computer that antivirus software could not interfere due to the operation of the systems, rendering the antivirus software useless. In such cases, the entire system itself is no longer trustworthy and normally users can start contemplating a reinstallation of their OS.

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A Brief Look at what are Online Threats?

I do remembered the first time when i touched a PC back in 1998. I still recall looking like an all-time noob, smoothing my hands on the keyboard and monitor of my parents' now totally outdated PC. When i, for the first time, entered the Microsoft Windows 95 world, feel the seemingly classy GUI & taskbar (100% not anymore now that i owned Vista...:)) and wondering what computer games the computer vendor helps install, i noticed the vendor was installing a software which i barely had any ideas about.

I: "What was that?"
Vendor: "It's called Norton Antivirus."
I: "Is it some kind of computer game?"
Vendor: "?!@$%"

The vendor laughed hard back then. But as i'm not allowed to touch a PC for more than 3 hours a week before i graduate from middle school education (sometimes i suffered numbers of 1-hour penalty for scoring bad marks for my school exams), i did not ponder on what is exactly Norton Antivirus, having put all of my efforts into computer gaming. Even when my enthusiasm for computer gaming is dying down to an almost nil level (thanks to my mother...=.=), i still did not try to learn what is an antivirus.

However, after i entered University studies where knowing how to operate a PC is like knowing how to survive, I gradually understood what is Antivirus, having learnt the ways of basic computering for at least 5-10 hours a day. But i also learnt that antivirus software is only part of the story on which the vendor did not tell me 11 years back then.

Online Threats. Internet Security. Privacy Protection.

I realized how computerly uncivilized i was prior to the last couple of years. It was such an inportant stuff for computer users to grasp. How could i have miss that???

And so here i am, after learning the mistakes of so many years, trying to provide sparse information on what is truly classified as "online threats". Below are the list of online threats which i will describe on further posts:

1. Malwares (deals with all your viruses, spywares, adwares, worms & rootkits)
   
2. Keyloggers (for both keyboard, webcams & clipboards)
   
3. Network attacks [commonly refered to as Denial-of-Service attacks (DOS)]
   
4. Trojan Horses (Downloaders, Backdoors etc)
   
5. Phishing
   
6. PC Hijacking (PC Hacking)
   
7. Clickjacking (This threat is relatively new; it's not popular yet but certainly will)
   
8. Botnets/Zombie Computer (closely related to network attacks)
   
9. Spams
10. Traffic analysis (The most underrated threat in my opinion)
    

I will try to give you general information on which i have learnt (doing research on these topics consumes huge amount of time), and so i will most definitely make a few mistakes here and there. Do correct me via comments if something similar happened.

On the other hand, you'll notice that i will post articles on certain internet security software (those antivirus & antispyware stuffs) every once a while after posting this article. This is because i noticed that some people only had ideas on famed PC security stuffs such as Norton and AVG that they did not notice the other equally great stuffs. With future articles, i hope to bring you out of the well and give a broader look at the internet security world.

Till then, take care!!! :)

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P2P file sharing: All you can find!

Ever wonder how you can enjoy free file, music, software, picture and video/movie download at an expenses ranging from little to none, involving no money?

That is the purpose P2P programs exist for the public. While there are lots of file sharing network, the most used is probably Gnutella. Gnutella is basically a file sharing network where people possessing certain stuffs can share their stuffs with others via the internet network. Imagine that you wanted some mp3 songs so badly, but you have no money, or you're just being reluctant, to pay for mp3-providing companies online to obtain the mp3 songs that you want. Here's an option: you can use P2P programs to search for people on the Gnutella network for the exact mp3s that you want, download it if they provided the files for sharing, and voila! You now officially possess the file and being capable of spreading it further by sharing it!

I will not go into detail about how Gnutella networking services function, as it's quite complex and i will not want to confuse those who had little computering knowledge. However, i do like to share with you about some of the popular P2P file sharing service software. It is, however, not my priority to tell you which is better. You are the consumer who needs to decide on which suits you better...On the other hand, you should also take your own PC security & the legal status of P2P file sharing in your nation into accounts...:)

1. LimeWire

Limewire is a P2P software which runs on the Java platform, and is the most famous P2P file sharing software to date. While available for free worldwide, it does encourage users to pay certai amount of fees, which grants them access to their turbocharged upgrade, Limewire PRO.

2. FrostWire

FrostWire is a fork of Limewire and thus similarly runs over the Java platform. FrostWire is a free software and like Limewire, users can pay to have a higher download speed and simultaneous peer downloading amount. Unlike its greeenish counterpart though, FrostWire is more blueish in color.

3. MP3 Rocket

Like LimeWire & FrostWire, MP3 Rocket also runs on Java platform, with similar peer downloading amount and is readily offered as a freeware (upgradable to MP3 Rocket Pro with payments). However, MP3 Rocket is also a video sharing P2P program, which allows users to directly connect to streamed videos like Youtube via MP3 Rocket. MP3 Rocket, like its namesake, spots a blue rocket as its brand logo.

4. Shareaza

Unlike previous 3 file sharing program, Shareaza is privately developed and runs on the Microsoft Windows platform instead of the Java platform. It also supports more file transfer network, from Gnutella and eDonkey to Bittorrent & HTTP networking protocol. It also offers more languages support; reportedly around 30 languages.

5. iMesh

iMesh is essentially both a file sharing and a social networking software. It is owned by American's iMesh Inc. and is one of the more legally approved software in America & Canada. It also boast a ringtone service, where global users can purchase ringtones of their choice via the software.

Other notable P2P software includes:
a) Bearshare
b) Morpheus
c) XFactor ( For Mac OS X only)

If you ask me which P2P file sharing software i'm using, i would say it's MP3 Rocket...however, like i've mentioned beforehand, all software is free and so, you can download one by one and test all of them to see which is your favorite...:)

Happy File Sharing!!!

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Windows 7: Fact List

Microsoft unleashed the pre-beta version of the highly anticipated heir to Windows Vista, Windows 7. Microsoft had not been very convenient on telling tales on Windows 7; with a perfect reason that they want to concentrate on marketing Vista and boost adoption rate both in business and home context. However, following the PDC conference, on where Microsoft not only unleash Windows Azure (the answer of Microsoft towards cloud computing), they also, for the first time, go into public detail on Windows 7 through graphical narrations and screenshots.

Here are some of the facts we now know about Windows 7 (though the description of features and functions will not be categorized as 100% final until its commercial release):

1. Windows 7 is essentially the next OS to be released after Windows Server 2008.

2. Windows 7 uses a more refined kernel similar in design to Windows Vista and Windows Server
2008.

3. Windows 7 is a "trimmed down" version of OS, meaning that some of the software previously come bundled with Vista are no longer available directly in Windows 7. Notable software are Windows Movie Maker and Windows Mail (Microsoft offers them as a service through Windows Live Services as part of their in-the-cloud project)

4. Windows 7's revamped its user interface to become slicker and more transparent.

5. Windows 7's new Windows Taskbar no longer provides running windows with wording. Instead, Microsoft replaced worded description for each running windows to be the icons of the respective software. In addition, quick launch in Windows 7 are all managed in a rectangle bar on the far right of the taskbar, where you click to access it.

6. Windows offered a new feature called "Jump List" in the Start menu. Jump list is fairly useful for people having lots of files and folder collection in their machine.

7. Windows 7 will offer touch screen functions for users

8. Windows 7 offered a configurable User Account Control (UAC), where users can select the level of UAC security they intended. This is Microsoft's response towards users annoyed by the feature first introduced in Vista.

9. Windows 7 provides more supporting for drivers and software compatibility, which Microsoft representatives describe as "almost a similar level to a fully updated Vista SP1, but with more flexibility for future course"

10. Windows 7 applies a refined method of memory management, promising users with an underpowered machine capabilities of running high amounts of workload in Windows 7. An example of that promised memory management will be to allocate similar amount of RAM to running windows. Another example is the transfer of memories allocated to ongoing background tasks towards running windows.

11. Gadgets in Windows 7 are re-designed to be more flexible. The original sidebar are no longer there to bind gadgets; gadgets can now be positioned anywhere on the desktop field because Windows Sidebar is dumped as a feature.

12. Windows 7 offers a new desktop management function. By dragging a running window to the left/right side or the top/bottom of the screen of a fully opened window, Windows 7 allows two running windows to each take up half of the screen, providing a "windows side by side" working experience. This is particularly useful for the common 'drag and drop' and 'copy and paste' procedure.

13. Windows 7 offers a "full-screen preview" function to the Theme selection and theme creation selection.

14. Windows offer the "Intelligence Display Dimming" function, which the pc can automatically dim out slightly, as similar to how handphone display works. Its purpose is to save battery consumption in laptops/notebooks.

15. Windows 7 offers a revamped Autoplay function, which users can select more than one option and see related services.

16. Windows 7 offer an improved networking function and Bluetooth Sevices.

17. Windows 7 introduces the new "Libraries" functions in the Windows Explorer. Libraries not only allow you to find scattered things in your pc easily, but also contributes to a faster Windows Search.

18. Windows 7's multimedia tools now pre-offered several media file formats which Vista and XP don't offer. Windows Media Center will return in Windows 7; no longer being constricted to a certain OS edition like what they did with Vista by providing Media Center only to the Ultimate and the Home Premium editions.

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Windows 7 Alpha Unleashed: Screenshots

Main Desktop screen of Windows 7 Alpha


















Desktop Gadgets on Windows 7



















New Windows 7 Taskbar with thumbnail preview mode








Jump List in Start Menu
























New User Account Control (UAC) Slider for configuring UAC



















"Play-To" option in Windows Media Player























Windows Paint, now with tabbed aka Ribbon interface

















Windows Media Player in Lightweight mode


















Battery indicator

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Personnel Behind the Success of Microsoft Corporation (without Bill Gates...LOL)

You're so used to the elder Bill Gates that you might be stunned (well, i do...:))

We always relate Microsoft with the one and only William Henry Gates...aka Bill Gates! Even though you can say that Bill Gates is the paramount instrumentalist for Microsoft's successes, do not forget the other bunch of Microsoft personnel who assisted Bill Gates in the making of Microsoft's current well-being!

A) Microsoft's Founders

Let's just ignore Bill Gates, shall we? Microsoft originally have two founders on which one of them is Bill Gates for certain. Hey, who's the other one, then?

Answer: Paul Allen
Bill Gates & Paul Allen, 1975.

Paul Gartner Allen is not only the founder of Microsoft, he is the one who persuades Bill Gates into joining Microsoft, seeing that they are old friends (with Paul Allen being the senior by two years..:))

Mr. Allen is no longer on Microsoft, though. He officially resigned on the year 2000 after having distanced himself for quite some time due to Hodgkin's Disease, but don't judge him too harshly if you're a fan of Microsoft's products; he is the spirit behind a deal for Microsoft to purchase a Quick-and-Dirty Operating System (QDOS) which as a result, enable Microsoft in securing a contract to supply the DOS that would run on IBM's PC line. That is how Microsoft's uprise to commercial prominence began!

B) Microsoft's Executive Leaders

Check out some of the directors...:) It would not be too detailed, but the information given will be adequate as a public consumer. The directors i gave in details are those whom you will often read and saw in news related to Microsoft. Others will only be refered to in pictures.

1. Steve Ballmer

Do not judge this bald-looking fellow lightly; he is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft!
Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft during the year 1980 and will go down in history as being the first business manager to be hired by Bill Gates!

2. Craig Mundie

Mr. Mundie here is the Chief Research and Strategy Officer of Microsoft. Previously, he also serves as Chief Technical Officer for advance strategy and policy. He joined Microsoft in 1992 as part of the Consumer Platform Division, which manufacture the earliest version of handheld PCs and Pocket PCs and many more non-PC platforms.

3. Ray Ozzie

All software developers and computer engineers can look up to Ray Ozzie as an inspiration-because he is the Chief Software Architect of Microsoft. Ray Ozzie took up the mantle of architecturing Microsoft's product in 2006, when Bill Gates first decided to reduce his responsibilities in the company (he fully relinquish his responsibilities in July 2008). He is honoured as one of the seven "Windows Pioneers" of Microsoft.

4. Steven Sinofsky

Love your Windows Live Messenger? Love you Hotmail? Love how Vista looks and feels? Then knowing this guy is a must. Steven Sinofsky is the Senior Vice President of Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group. While previously holding several production positions in Microsoft, including the development of Microsoft Office, he is now more towards making users "feel" with the development of GUI, device support, graphics, media and the user-centric experience of Windows Live & Microsoft's other online community services.

Here are the other executive officers less known in public:
5. J Allard (Chief Experience & Chief Technology Officer, Entertainment & Devices Division)
6. Robert J. Bach (President of Entertainment & Devices Division)
7. Lisa Brummel (Senior Vice President - Human Resources)
8. Jean-Philippe Courtois (President of Microsoft International)
9. Stephen Elop (President of Microsoft Business Division)
10.Chris Liddell (Chief Financial Officer)
11. Mich Mathews (Senior Vice President - Central Marketing)
12. Bob Muglia (Senior Vice President - Server & Tools Business)
13. Rick Rashid (Senior Vice President - Research)
14. Eric Rudder (Senior Vice President - Technology Strategy)
15. Brad Smith (Senior Vice President - General Council, Corporate Secretary, Legal &
Corporate Affairs)
16. Kevin Turner (Chief Operating Officer)
17. David Vaskevitch (Senior Vice President - Technical Officer)
18. Hank Vigil (Senior Vice President - Consumer Strategy & Partnership)

*All information extracted from Microsoft's Official Website

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Vista a Boon or Blog?: The Uncertain Factor

On the 26th of October 2008, i had posted two entries on what i love & hate about Windows Vista. As i promised you on my last related post entitled "Vista a Boon or Bloat?: The Bloat", i shall further enrich your knowledge & opinion with a pie's share of my personal view on uncertain stuffs regarding Vista.

1. User Account Control (UAC)

You are browsing through your folders, installing new software and downloading stuffs via internet...you clicked on one of the icons, wanting to run the program by your own will. Suddenly, everything darken out and in another few seconds, a message popped up, asking you whether you would like to continue. At first, you wouldn't mind at all, but after attempting to execute more software, using utilities on Vista and executing a downloaded file, you are starting to get annoyed by the extensive delays and prompts...the next thing you know, you are complaining and simultaneously hearing other people complaining the new, annoying stuff.


Yup. That's the new features of Windows Vista: the User Account Control feature.

Annoyed, yes. But here's the case: UAC exists for a reason!

Remember that one of the things Windows users complaint a lot on Windows XP & previous versions of Windows is their poor defenses against security issues such as intrusion, malwares and viruses? Microsoft attempt to answer that by providing this new feature on Vista. Believe me, it seriously does increase protection and security by prompting users and asking for reconfirmation every time users execute a software, thereby preventing the auto launch of unwanted programs (some malwares and viruses are designed with autolaunch capabilities). While users praised Microsoft for having provided something which really says the word "security", one question remains: does this new security features outweight its weakness?

People complaint of the extensive pop-ups of this feature; some raged at its common knack of slowing down PCs, others gradually find it tiresome especially when launching trusted software even of Microsoft's own production. Users who show expertise in computering security simply dismissed the feature as a joke, claiming that they are skilled enough to boost their PC security by themselves and believe that they have the knowledge of knowing what is going on with the security of their systems. Even newbies suggest that Microsoft should find new ways of providing security other than providing this so-called"feature bloat".

Microsoft responded towards user complaints well; they provide updates which reduces the amount of software handled by UAC, provide patches to increase UAC's performance and even permitting famed security company, Norton of Symantec Corporation, to develop a similar program called Norton User Account Control, which makes UAC more user friendly, configurable and of course, less annoying...:)

Norton User Account Control...notice that it gives you some configuration options?

I am not a fan of the UAC, since i profess myself capable of managing computer security quite well and at the same time, loathed the UAC annoyance. Nevertheless, i do suggest that if you are not so sure on how to manage PC security, leaving the UAC on will actually do more good than harm. I do praise UAC, but at the same time, i find UAC condemnable as well. I thus listed UAC under my list of uncertain factors in Vista features.

2. Internet Explorer 7 (IE7)


Although Internet Explorer still dominates the world's leading market share in Internet Browsers, i rarely find it appealing. Currently, the browser i use the most is Mozilla Corporation's Firefox browser, which in my opinion, is slightly faster and twice even more secure than Internet Explorer. In my entire computing experience, Internet Explorer is prone to bugginess and by introducing its own ActiveX controls and scripts, Internet Explorer is pronouncedly less secure, often requiring security patches from Microsoft. Worst of all, i as a user, had never seen any browser which crashes as often as Internet Explorer did. When a single browser tab crashes, IE7 simply brought down all the tabs of browsing pages you're using...without a chance of recovery (Note that Firefox provide an option to reload all your browsing page on recovery, while Google Chrome uses separate memory for tab browsing, making its tabs independent and unmoved over other tab's crashes...).

Having said all that, i still do use IE7 for certain uses. IE7 takes me to some new websites on which Firefox & Chrome do not support, and IE7 is my browser of choice for video downloading via Realplayer (Firefox doesn't support RealPlayer). IE7 also serves as my first alternative when Firefox is unusable due to updates and bugginess. Not more on a few occasions, i even discovered that IE7 loads a few certain website pages faster than any other browsers.

Because IE7 makes my day and breaks my day equally, i still find it hard to judge whether it is good or bad. I list IE7 as my 2nd uncertain factor in Vista's features.

3. "Switch Between Windows" Function


Vista provided users an option to switch between windows with a simple push of the second quick launch button, located just on the lower left corner where your default start button is positioned. While i find it beautiful, elegant and occasionally useful, i do not find it handy. When there are tonnes of windows littering my desktop, i might remember using it. However, for most of the time my reaction to closing and opening another window directly is even faster than clicking the "switch between windows" shortcut itself and browse through the windows. Now that i apply a desktop manager on my Vista, i even had less cluttered windows, as i can organize my windows from virtual desktops to virtual desktops.

However, i still like the function and occasionally use it when i'm feeling lazy to switch to another virtual desktop. So, "Switch between Windows" earned a place in my uncertain factor of Vista features.

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MP3 Vehicle FM Modulator

I ran across this tech stuff through a local IT fair...and (never mind if it is the latest technology or not) thought i might share it with those wanting a gadget as such.


Some might know what it is, but this is for those reader who are still entangled in the unknown: This gadget is called the MP3 FM Modulator equipped with a remote control.

What is it's purpose? Well, this gadget is basically a stuff which allows motorcar drivers to listen to songs while driving a car. By plugging a USB pendrive containing all your favorite songs in its USB controller, you can enjoy all your favorite MP3 tunes whenever you're on cruise control, stuck in a traffic congestion or waiting in your car for your girlfriend/boyfriend/parents/friends bla bla bla....

How does it function? All valid drivers out there (i said valid drivers because some might drive underage or without a license, and i do hope you feel remorse of your actions...), notice that you have a utility in your car where a tube with the cover depicting a "smoke" symbol is poking out? That is actually a cigarrette lighter enabling smokers to light up their cigarrettes by heating the cigarrette tips up after you heated the lighter through the slot holding it. To enable the MP3 FM Modulator, simply replace the cigarrette lighter with the modulator by sticking the long end of the modulator into the empty slot which originally heats up the cigarrette lighter. Now, any LED outputs shown on the modulator screen is an indication that the modulator is working.

If you're picturing on how to do it currently , the scene should look something like this.....

The next step will require a bit of memory, which you shouldn't have a problem with normally. As the name "FM" implies, the modulator actually requires an available radio signal from FM radio which is the key to operating the modulator. The radio signal required by the modulator to work properly different in design and configuration (something which you will need to ask your vendor), so what you should do then, is to coordinate the radio signal of the modulator to be the same as the radio signal from the radio of your car. For example, if your vendor mentions that the FM radio signal for a particular modulator is FM 90.0, then you should set both the radio signal of the car's radio and the modulator to FM 90.0.

Finally after configuring both devices, insert your USB pendrive containing all of the favorite mp3 of yours into the USB controller located normally below the framework of the modulator (you can check it out yourself because MP3 FM modulators differ from each others slightly in design). Be patient, and wait for the modulator to load the MP3s. If you hear any which of the songs in the pendrive played through the speakers of your car, voila!!!! You have just succeeded!!! If no sound are emmited, check your configuration once more..:)

Some people might said it is unnecessary to own this gadget, seeing that they have either a CD player or cassette player which comes with their vehicle but hey, remember that your CD has limited capacity in storing MP3s, as well as cassettes! Think about your USB pendrive: a single 1 GB pendrive is sufficient enough of storing at least over a 100 mp3s! You no longer have to worry about scattering music CDS or cassettes in your car because your pendrive holds it all!!!

I'm not forcing anyone to complete a purchase, however. To buy or not to buy, of course it is all down to consumer decisions...:)

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Vista a Boon or Bloat?: The Bloat

Satisfied as i am with Vista, i can't deny that there are some Vista features which i detest to the boot...Microsoft added more functionalities & features which make us take our hats off in respect. Nevertheless, they seemed to have over-pushed something a teensy bit- which left users screaming in verbal retaliation (including me).

1. Windows Defender

Here's the deal. Microsoft, whom we all know to have always experimented on other areas apart from architecturing OS, came up with a pretty decent idea of integrating a security software in its release of Vista. That should have make us users happy, that Microsoft impresses us with yet another huge release but hey...after using the software, we are not impressed any longer.

Let's admit it: Windows Defender is not even on par with the current sea of security solutions! That has to be the worst stuff Microsoft has ever come out with in my opinion; i don't care about its stability-no real anti-spyware solutions could match up with Windows Defender in terms of ineffectiveness!!!

Windows Defender: Nice to See, Bad to Use...

I conducted a simple evaluation of anti-spywares between Windows Defender and an antispyware call SUPERAntispyware Free Edition (Notice the word 'FREE'). (After updating both antispywares to the latest definition) By using some rogue malwares pose as legitimate softwares which i purposely downloaded through the internet, i run a separate scan with both antispyware engines. Out of the 32 malwares, SUPERAntispyware Free caught about 23 of them (minus one which it only rates as a suspicious item), while Windows Defender come in at a pathetic score of 15/32. That detection rate is lower than 50%!!! How are we suppose to trust our security to an antispyware like Windows Defender??? And SUPERAntispyware is not even the best antispyware out there!!! I thought my case was the only case, but my consultation with others prove me wrong; lots of folks out there had a problem with its mediocre detection rate.

In the end i scrapped Windows Defender altogether by disabling it permanently; no updates, no running services whatsoever. Let's hope that Microsoft will do some homework before releasing another security solution, or please, just collaborate with experts in that area if you really meant to improve security....

2. Compression & File Unit size

With only 77GB of hard disk space on my laptop, it feels bad to have Vista installed. Vista's installation file is so huge...that after its initial installation approximately 1.5/5 of my local C Drive is used (my partitioned D drive contains all my stored musics & pictures & miscellaneous stuffs). It takes off chunks of space again when i install the updates up to SP1, another chunk off for Microsoft Office 2007 including its updates and another 1.5 GB of free space off due to installing Adobe Acrobat & Adobe Flash CS3 (For PDF & Flash building purpose). At the end of the day after every single intended installation are completed, my C drive's free space only stands at 18++GB over the initial 55 GB allocated for that drive. It was only after doing some junk cleanup that it shows the real free space at 34. something. Still, it was a massive installation inclusive of some of the features i do NOT need on the machine (Let's say, the windows sideshow & windows mail), in comparison to XP or earlier versions.

It would be nothing if we are given the bonus option to compress our file to save disk space, as what Microsoft has done with XP. But Microsoft instead, discarded the option of compressing independant files/folders in Vista. As if it was not enough, Vista provided a deceiving option on the Sytem Drive properties to compress files & folders...which i tried thrice....and eventually corrupted the bootmgr driver thrice, making the OS unable to start during boot. I am no longer mad over it (since i can restore my pc back through the Vista Boot CD), but why offer the obsolete option of compressing files if it's not working in the first place? Microsoft should have abandon the features altogether when designing the OS! (>_<)

3. Windows Ultimate Extras

Microsoft is very smart on marketing Vista OS by offering Ultimate Extras only for the Ultimate Version of Vista...or is it? Why do Microsoft do that?....when it is obvious that hardly anyone are truly interested in those stuffs? Poker Game, for example? (I detest Poker, anyway...)

The only thing that i craved for is Windows DreamScene, the feature which offers stunning video images as your desktop wallpaper. However, as stunning as its qualities are, how is Microsoft going to make me use and enjoy it when it is such a resource hog?? If someone ask me to give an example of a favorable software on Vista which aggravates users, DreamScene will be on the top of my list, followed by Windows Sidebar & Windows Movie Maker. That feature is something like a beautiful yet resource-hogging model which provides only momentary pleasures (given that when you have all your windows closed to stare at the naked desktop). I abondoned Vista Business once to test on Ultimate Extras, and it disappoints me so deeply, adding on the fact that Vista Ultimate consumes more memory than Vista Business.

4. Licensing Terms

This will attract those believing in human freedom rights. Microsoft had resricted user license so tightly, that i consider it unnecessary. I did not take particular notice towards the licensing terms & agreements at first, but later when i came across a narration about it, i was pretty annoyed with some of them. Here are some of the licensing terms:

• If your copy of Vista came with the purchase of a new computer, that copy of Vista may only be legally used on that machine, forever.
• If you bought Vista in a retail store and installed it on a machine you already owned, you have to completely delete it on that machine before you can install it on another machine.
• You give Microsoft the right, through programs like Windows Defender, to delete programs from your system that it decides are spyware. (...and Windows Defender is a helpless software...T_T)
  
• You consent to being spied upon by Microsoft, through the “Windows Genuine Advantage” system. This system tries to identify instances of copying that Microsoft thinks are illegitimate. (Unfortunately, a recent study indicated that this system has already screwed up in over 500,000 cases)

Information extracted from:
http://badvista.fsf.org/what-s-wrong-with-microsoft-windows-vista

The second and fourth point are understandable, but what's with the rest??? Look at point 1 for example. Imagine that you buy a Vista with a PC this year and if your PC was damaged beyond repair in the next year, you cannot use that copy of Vista you bought ever again! For God's sake!!! An expensive, brand new Vista installation software rendered useless just like that!!!

Part of Vista's Licensing Terms can be read from the Boot CD installations

No wonder business organizations nowadays are trying their best to stick with Windows XP. Microsoft had now legally irked its customers for almost nothing, i must say...:(


To be continued: Vista a Boon or Bloat?: The Uncertain Factor

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Vista a Boon or Bloat?: The Boon

Screenshot of my Vista Business Desktop. Click picture
for larger image

On my previous post "Vista a Boon or Bloat?: The Introduction", i mentioned how i despised Vista at first but came to appreciate it with a second-class laptop of mine (I said second-class because my laptop is not designed for Vista and thus, not entirely suitable even if it's capable). People must have felt strange that i see things this way, though. This post is to clarify what i think is decent in Windows Vista.

Most Vista users have complain about tonnes of Vista features, but one thing on top of the list which they don't complain though, is the sheer improvement of the Windows Vista interface, commonly known as Windows Aero. Some people may still find fault with its slightly demanding resources usage especially on Aeroglass mode, but the majority never complain of how beautiful Vista's appearances are at first sight. Windows may have taken their lessons from Apple Mac OSX (whose operating system usually deal with a lot of eye-candies that are pleasant to look at), and developed their own brand new user interface codename Aero. There are different meanings with each of the alphabets which Microsoft allegely devised for marketing purposes and had since dropped it as an acronym, but i won't explain each one of them, as it is irrelevant. You may do your own research on the aero acronym here. Windows Aero are designed to stand out together with some of the famous eye candies used on the Windows operating systems including docks and desktop managers. Even though there are some software designed to emulate the much applauded Windows Aero (namely Vista Transformation Pack and WindowBlinds, which is my favorite due to its stability), you cannot deny that the original stuffs still looks & feels the best, the most stable & most importantly, the only true genuine Windows Aero. We shall see if Microsoft keeps this Windows Aero in their next release of Windows 7; if Windows 7 applies yet another new user interface, most likely users can only enjoy the true Windows Aero by using Vista...:)

Vista with the AeroGlass transparency feature on.

With Windows XP, people lauded at some of its features which seemed helpful but actually they contribute from little to none. In Vista, Microsoft, whom i believed, has corrected some of the problems and they had taken the right step. The most noticable changes i noticed, is the way they manage their prefetch method of launching applications. In Windows XP, they call this feature the Windows Prefetch but in Vista they renamed it to become a more marketable name call Windows Superfetch. Superfetch does exactly what Microsoft intends to do with Windows Prefetch in XP , only now it becomes more efficient in Vista. With Superfetch, Vista actually traces the applications that you use the most and preloads them into memory for immediate use when needed. The reason behind this is that Windows often runs lots of background tasks when your system is idle (let's say you needed a toilet or a coffee break), and when you resume your work, the memory usage had gotten rather high and that will affect your initial resume, with irritating bugginess & slower response time until the system fully unloads all the background tasks. I had 1.5 GB of RAM onboard (Microsoft recommends 2 GB in Vista), and i daresay Superfetch is the reason why my Vista's response time to resuming stuffs on applications are always quick, if not immediate.

Vista also redesign their operating structures so that they are more organized and classified...even if it seemed to complicate things at first. For example...Vista by default, hide the explorer toolbar from the Windows explorer, which is only accessible by pressing the "alt" key. Initial Vista users might feel slightly uncomfortable the first time they access the desktop properties in right click (Microsoft changed the option name to become "personalize" in Vista), it's because Microsoft wants us to remember...at it helps us remember...:)

The entire thing became structured based on functionalities & names simply because by doing that, Microsoft can ensure that we could navigate ourselves around the tonnes of features they offered us! Obviously Microsoft did not like the idea of users constantly consulting them about accessing certain functions in Vista due to its vastness but hey, they resolved the problem before it even started!!! It also ultimately became the reason why can master Vista as a whole in barely a few week's time (without the Windows Help, i daresay)! Users who complained that Vista is more complicated than XP or older version of Windows obviously never give themselves a chance to understand and learn the machine further...(=_=) What can you expect from an OS with twice the features of previous Windows?

Like the Windows Superfetch, there are also additional features in Windows Vista, which is fairly useful if you had an underpowered machine for running Vista just as i do. One of the most marketed features is the Windows ReadyBoost feature. ReadyBoost is an option given to Vista users who lacks RAM in their machines to boost their PC's RAM up to optimum level. As Vista is a very well-architected OS, they actually perform better & better with more RAM, which make Vista a formidable OS. Imagine that you have 100 workers in your "lots-of-work" company and in a matter of seconds, another 100 workers are added to the list! Vista does not function like its predecessors do, where overloaded amount of unused RAM actually hurt the system performance, much like having 1000 workers in a very small company, which will lead to redundancy. Vista is equivalent of a very LARGE company with ongrowing departments; the more RAM added to the machine, the better they are...:) People might say that ReadyBoost is worthless if we can just buy a RAM hardware and plug it in our PC but wait, ReadyBoost is flexible & always an extra! Imagine you have 2 1GB of RAM plugged in all your memory hardware slot on your laptop...with no immediate availability of another RAM chip higher than 1 GB...that's when ReadyBoost comes into play! Simply plug in a USB pendrive capable of ReadyBoost and you can have extra RAM without changing your hardware (that depends on the amount of space your pendrive has, of course...:))!

Option for ReadyBoost by inserting a USB Drive

Pity that not all USB Drives are capable of the
Windows ReadyBoost functions.

Now this one will interest the more geeky users...Vista, on all accounts, boasts a definitely better option for Vista users to diagnose & troubleshoot their own machine! Previously in Windows XP, users could only diagnose their systems through the use of Windows Task Manager and by checking on their performance logs. In Vista, however, Microsoft created branches of diagnostic systems just for you and me; the first is called Performance Information & Tools, available through the Control Panel. The second is called Reliability & Performance Monitor, basically an enhancement of the original Windows Task Manager. Using both this tool, users can for the first time, be an expert of their own computer...with access to Vista behaviour & controls, plus an incentive for them to check system performance and start thinking about what might be wrong with their machine in a more accurate fashion...without neccesarily being a total expert in that field!

Basically...just analyze everything in one go with Reliability & Performance Monitor,
providing you know the 'how' (which can be easy with just moderate computer
knowledge).

All of the above comments i made on Vista is the basics of what you should enjoy in Vista. Of course there are some other features and functions you might like as a Vista users.

Next up i will go into detail on what i HATE about Vista, so all Vista-haters, it will be worth a read...:)

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ESET SysInspector

You've heard of ESET NOD32 Antivirus...you may have heard of ESET SmartSecurity as well. ESET NOD32 & ESET SmartSecurity are both security software; only that SmartSecurity came bundled with a built-in Firewall and an Antispam Module (Anti-spyware is included in the ESET ThreatSense heuristic engines) and of course, cost more than its antivirus-&-antispyware built counterpart, NOD32.

But have you heard of ESET SysInspector???

It's no recent news that ESET had done with the beta-testing cycle of this new program and release it as a free download. The best parts on this piece of news are that not only it is a freeware program, but it offers compatibility for Windows 2000 and higher, regardless of what bit version your operating system (OS) is.

So what exactly does this ESET SysInspector do?

While not your conventional nor breakthrough security software, ESET SysInspector can be used to collect detailed information of your computer and present everything to you in a simple graphical user interface (GUI). It functions as a read-only program; no changes to your computer system will occur during its main task of collecting data. ESET SysInspector can be fairly useful, if you are a computer-geeky person who wants a software for analyzing virus/malware infected system or simply to troubleshoot issues & examine software configurations. It can come in handy as well, if you are a simple PC user just wanting to know what stuffs are running on your computer...:)

The installation of ESET SysInspector is quite simple to say, nil. ESET designed the program to be directly executable, meaning that you can directly launch the software without having to complete any installations. However, the program startup may vary, depending on the speed of your processors or the amount of software, registry & system files on your computer. The first time when you execute the program, it will leave a esi-eula.txt file alongside with the program executable which detailed all the license agreements & stuffs. Everytime when you quit the program, it will ask you whether you would like to save a log file for future analysis. This piece of software is in a conclusive word, designed to be simple, flexible, scalable (in terms of analysis quality) & effective for average users.

GUI of ESET SysInspector. For full image click the picture

You can download the ESET SysInspector from here.

I am not saying that it is the best troubleshooting software out there but i do recommend it, since its mother company, ESET, is a multi-award winning Slovak security solution software provider and i daresay you can at least have complete trust in the software offering...:)

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Vista a Boon or Bloat?: The Introduction

I often heard of more poor comments on Vista's performance abilities rather than good. Which is pretty unfair in my opinion. Microsoft spent six years developing Vista and released it to businesses and open consumers on December 2006 & January 2007 respectively; surely there must be something that makes people happy, at least. Remember how Windows XP is condemned back during its initial release, and now people are starting to accept it gradually?

My Windows XP crashed due to virus infiltration back in May (I still remember the virus being Kavo.exe), so i took the chance of testing Windows Vista on my machine (It says designed for Windows XP but still, Vista capable).

My HP Compaq branded Laptop's specifications are nothing outstanding for the very least: an Intel Core Duo T2050 processor running at a mere 1.60 gHZ, coupled with 1.5 GB of RAM and an Intel Media Graphic Accelerator 950 graphic card.

My installation comprises of a 32-bit Windows Vista Business and those hardware drivers required for the laptop to run normally.


After my installation it become clear to me why people had such a bad image on Vista; my poor machine had initial difficulty in supporting Vista's overloaded processes, and some features are downright annoying, for example the loathed User Account Control (UAC), prompting you everytime you tried to run a particular software. At some point when i tried to install some memory-heavy software (notably those Adobe stuffs), the processors behind the posh black cover began roaring for mercy until a point where i was quite frightened it will break down just like that. It took about half the entire day just trying to get the software installed on my laptop, and more than a day to install those Windows Update up to SP1.

Till now, my Vista Business however, is running as smoothly as heaven; no crashes, no constant bloat whatsoever. And be reminded that my laptop's specifications are still the same as ever!

My conclusion from this experience is: Windows Vista is actually a GREAT piece of work, depending on how the users themselves use it.

Let me clarify my exclaimation above. Microsoft have been very smart by developing Vista. Vista is developed to be very user-centric, even though some might not notice that. A Vista machine can reflect how its users have been using the machine so if the user is highly sensitive in understanding, mantaining and protecting their Vista machine, Vista is twice the OS of Windows XP. Nevertheless, if a Vista user lack certain ability of understanding how Vista works, needless to say mantain or protect their Vista, for sure we can hardly expect their Vista machine to run at the peak of their PC's performance!

I had initial trouble with Vista at first. But i swore patience and so, i learn and practise. Here i am, half a year after using Vista, trying to convince those who might care on how Vista is making a positive difference. It's not that i don't have a problem with Vista; its just that after learning how Windows Vista behaves it make sense on how a user is suppose to enjoy Vista's pros over its cons.

People are always talking of skipping Vista straight to the next major release of Microsoft, Windows Se7en. Those fellows might have forgotten that Windows 7 is built on top of Windows Vista, and that the major revamp is on performances, which in Windows Vista, is quite, if not entirely, achievable providing you know the "how".

I will comment on how I use my Vista to the maximum in future posts, so be sure to keep waiting if interested...:)

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Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS)

The world often complain of wasted energy and resources utilized far from the optimum capacity...which applies in the motor vehicle scene as well. Some couple of years ago, renowned global-leading car manufacturer, Toyota, led the innovative charge of energy recovering in vehicles by introducing the first true hybrid car, the Toyota Prius. Toyota Prius applies a Toyota-developed "Hybrid Synergy Drive" hybrid car technology which beat out the likes of Otto-cycled motor engines. Not long after Toyota's innovative successes, global automotive critics are quick to announce that "the future of commercial automobile technology is...hybrid!".

So...what's Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive got to do with KERS?

To look at KERS, first, we have to understand the meaning of the term "Regenerative Braking"

Regenerative braking, as it's name implies, is a working mechanism designed to convert kinetic energy off a moving vehicle into another form of energy while engaging in the decceleration process of vehicles. When a vehicle is reducing its speed, the vehicle's electric traction motor is operated as a generator during braking and its output is supplied to an electrical load. It is the transfer of energy to the load which provides the braking effect.

Now, a full look at KERS technology...

KERS is nothing more than just another hybrid systems, however it is so special because this hybrid systems is unique in one way: it is the first mechanical KERS hybrid technology only to be implemented in the world's leading motorsport, Formula One...for the time being, at least. The mechanical KERS systems utilizes battery & flywheel developed by Flybrid Systems to recover and store a moving vehicle’s kinetic energy which is otherwise wasted when the vehicle is decelerated. As the vehicles are subsequently released back into the driveline and the vehicle accelerates, energy recovered from the decceleration will then restored back to the engine as additional power boosts. The governing body of Formula One, the FIA, has defined the amount of energy recovery for the 2009 Formula One season as "400kJ per lap giving the driver an extra 80hp over a period of 6.67 seconds".

Some might ask the difference between electrical battery powered KERS used in normal hybrid roadcars & the mechanical ones used in Formula One, The answer is pretty straightforward: if compared with the electrical-battery systems, the mechanical KERS system provides a significantly more compact, efficient, lighter and environmentally-friendly solution, which defeinitely supports the "go-green" campaign that Formula One is trying to promote starting the 2009 season. KERS not only compelled Formula One to develop green technology but also to assist overtaking, creating much more exciting race sessions. A chasing driver could deploy his KERS device as he is catching the car ahead to give him an acceleration boost, unlike the previous seasons where overtaking is hampered by aerodynamical flow disrupting the pace of the car behind.

The rejoiceful thing though, is as FIA president Max Mosley commented: all cars will become hybrid at 2013". Therefore, this knowledge will prove useful when KERS systems is comercialized in the automotive market. Imagine less spending on petrol and depleting electrical battery charge due to KERS!!!

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