While developing a web application on a test server, I had a need to view the page in my browser.  Unfortunately, the server was locked away behind a firewall, and the only port I had available was 22, for SSH.  At that, the only way to SSH to that box is to hop through a different box.  So, our scenario begins to look like this: (continue reading...)

This isn't the sort of thing I typically write about here, but it's been far too long since my last update.  I figured I'd give you something useful to chew on.

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An oft neglected command (perhaps because it is little known, or perhaps because we tend not to think of the utility it provides) is the command "yes." There are no options for the command yes, but that does not mean it is any less powerful.

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Next in a long run of Windows hacks, we have a device that can not be blocked easily via software, and is fully customizable.  The Teensy 2.0 (purchased for $18 at www.pjrc.com) is an Arduino-like microcontroller that can be programmed to act as a keyboard once plugged in.  The device and vendor IDs can be changed at will, making it extremely difficult to block it as a single device.  (I, myself, have mine identifying as an Apple Pro Keyboard - as it requires no drivers in Linux, Mac OS X, or Windows - and doesn't queue off OS X to identify an unknown keyboard.)  There is an application out there that takes inventory of your USB devices and monitors for, and blocks, new devices - but unless you have this highly obscure program running, you are likely to to fall victim to this device.

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It's no secret that Windows security is akin to that of cheesecloth. As if you needed yet another reason to switch to a real operating system, let's take a look at how to get administrative access on any Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or 7 box that you can physically access, and change the boot medium on.

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Straight out of the hak5 wiki, I've been trying to build my own USB Switchblade. Unfortunately, at the time of the episode, the best we had was Windows XP. Well, time has passed, things have changed, and I'm sitting on a Windows 7 box (honestly, I only use it for gaming), and I no longer have an XP box in the house. The instructions for creating a Switchblade involve running a utility that reflashes your U3 capable USB thumbdrive with a custom .iso that includes all your fun tools. Unfortunately, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operate quite a bit differently than Windows XP, and the utility that reflashes your pen drive complains that "you can only update one U3 compatible device at a time," and that you should "unplug all other devices." Fortunately, I have found a solution.

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Introduction

This summer, I had the good fortune to spend several months working at the University of Michigan. One of the tasks assigned to me was devising a method for data collection over time for certain types of data. In particular, we were looking to collect information from /proc/meminfo and out of our lm_sensors output.

The issue that we came across with logging these sets of data was that they were set up for one-time viewing. That is, they looked similar to the following: (continue reading...)

Introduction

Ever since the Palm Pre came out, there has been a dull uproar over the inability to remove certain apps, specifically the NASCAR app that nobody seems to use. A typical downloaded application can be removed by pressing [orange] while tapping on the application icon. A dialog will pop up that gives you the option to delete the application. Unfortunately, this option does not exist for the NASCAR application, and now Sprint has decided to plague us with a second useless application: the NFL app.

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Introduction

Ever since the Palm Pre came out, there has been a dull uproar over the inability to remove certain apps, specifically the NASCAR app that nobody seems to use. A typical downloaded application can be removed by pressing [orange] while tapping on the application icon. A dialog will pop up that gives you the option to delete the application. Unfortunately, this option does not exist for the NASCAR application. (continue reading...)

There is no doubt that we will soon run out of IPv4 space. To remedy this problem, IPv6 was developed. Linux and Mac OS X have inherit IPv6 support, and many people are still avoiding Vista in lieu of XP. Unfortunately, Windows XP does not have the built in IPv6 support that comes inherit with newer operating systems.

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