For the second time, I have run into a snag upgrading PHP, and Apache 2.x due to an Apache Portable Runtime dependency. It’s a bit of an annoying snag, that on FreeBSD at least (if you are one who uses ports) requires some fancy footwork. According to /usr/ports/UPDATING you need to: pkg_delete -f apache-2.\* portupgrade …
Author Archives: Rickc
OpenDNS stops working?
We use OpenDNS as yet another layer of security and control, as enforcement of our Acceptable Use Policy, as well as some phishing and malware protection. Today we suddenly found OpenDNS was returning perfectly valid IP addresses to queries for blocked domains, such as facebook.com. I checked our settings and nothing seems amiss, and more …
RU listening?
Russia to try to clean-up it’s .ru TLD. I mean – file this under “about time” – that top level domain has become synonymous with malware, spam and criminal activity. It’s a great concept if put into action and enforced, so we will have to wait and see. read the article
Tasklist and Taskkill – Windows util double-play
Want to know what processes are running on a remote host on your domain? First, find your way to the command prompt (START -> RUN -> cmd) tasklist -s hostname Something look suspicious – a process either from an application the user should not be running, a frozen app or a piece of malware doing …
Continue reading “Tasklist and Taskkill – Windows util double-play”
A Diatribe on Dilution
Some have voiced concerns that having AppliedUsers as well as ASCnet threatens to dilute either the pool of knowledge or ASCnet membership and will have a negative impact on the support system for Applied products. I do not buy into that line of thinking, AppliedUsers may provide some friendly competition (OK perhaps the friendly is …
Dot Sea Eh?
…and just like that we’re a .ca domain now. Got some fancy redirects going to keep y’all pointed in the right direction for now, but you should update your bookmarks post haste.
Taking down the botnets
Botnet, by and large, are responsible either directly or indirectly, for most of the malicious activity on the internet. When it’s spam, viruses, drive-by downloaded, rogueware, scareware or all-out DDoS attacks, these large, distributed networks of zombie computers are usually behind it. Recently a couple of the big ones have been taken down (or at …
ASCnet Goes Walkabout
Looks like ASCnet has had enough with the gators and hurricanes and is opting instead for snow and Oprah. More details here…
TAM Clntfile.exe errors
Look familiar? My logs are full of clntfile.exe errors, have been for years, and now that I support numerous businesses running TAM, looks like I wasn’t alone. A number of years ago I went on a crusade digging up all these TAM related errors in my log and tried to get answers from Applied as …
Anti-Virus to become obselete?
Who doesn’t run anti-virus these days (ok all you Mac users put your hands down) – the use of anti-virus, or anti-malware applications is practically a given, to the point where it seems that no matter how poorly it may perform, we keep using it. AVG itself declares that only 3% of today’s viruses are …