• Andrey R

    TrueCrypt: On-The-Fly Disk Encryption 

    by
    Andrey R
    Published on 09-02-2010 04:23 PM

    TrueCrypt: On-The-Fly Disk Encryption


    Are you looking to encrypt your client’s (or your own) hard drive or USB flash drive? TrueCrypt is open source software that does on-the-fly encryption. It supports AES, Serpent, Twofish, and 5 cascaded algorithms. You can use TrueCrypt to encrypt files, folders, or even whole drives.

    It’s fairly easy to use, secure, and best of all – FREE.



    What is TrueCrypt?


    Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux

    TrueCrypt is a software system for establishing and maintaining an on-the-fly-encrypted volume (data storage device). On-the-fly encryption means that data is automatically encrypted or decrypted right before it is loaded or saved, without any user intervention. No data stored on an encrypted volume can be read (decrypted) without using the correct password/keyfile(s) or correct encryption keys. Entire file system is encrypted (e.g., file names, folder names, contents of every file, free space, meta data, etc).

    Files can be copied to and from a mounted TrueCrypt volume just like they are copied to/from any normal disk (for example, by simple drag-and-drop operations). Files are automatically being decrypted on the fly (in memory/RAM) while they are being read or copied from an encrypted TrueCrypt volume. Similarly, files that are being written or copied to the TrueCrypt volume are automatically being encrypted on the fly (right before they are written to the disk) in RAM. Note that this does not mean that the whole file that is to be encrypted/decrypted must be stored in RAM before it can be encrypted/decrypted. There are no extra memory (RAM) requirements for TrueCrypt...


    Main Features:

    - Creates
    ...
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    WinSCP: FTP, SFTP, & SCP (SSH) - Webmaster Worthy 

    by
    Andrey R
    Published on 08-24-2010 01:07 AM

    WinSCP: FTP, SFTP, & SCP (SSH)


    Webmasters spend a lot of time online downloading files, uploading files, moving files, and copying files. What is your FTP client of choice? FileZilla, SmartFTP, or CuteFTP? Uninstall it!

    WinSCP is one program that I use every single day. I have about 15 websites that I access regularly and I have created a profile (session) in WinSCP for each website. The profile has the host name, port, user name, password, and file protocol (usually FTP) for each website and launches a new session when clicked on. If your web hosting company/web server supports it, you can connect to it via FTP, Secure FTP, or SCP (SSH).

    My biggest annoyance with transferring files to and from the server are the transfer timeouts. Whats worse that uploading a file that is a few gigabytes and have it timeout at 95%? With WinSCP I have it reconnect and resume the upload/download where it left off.


    Here are the WinSCP features that I enjoy the most:

    - Session profiles
    - <3 Editing PHP/HTML source code and saving changes (goto line, save, refresh, find & replace, UNDO!, etc...)
    - Resuming uploads/downloads
    - Changing file permissions
    - Secure file transfers/connection
    - Moving, renaming, duplicating, copying files from the servers side

    There are also many other features that I don't use or haven't tried yet...



    What is WinSCP?

    WinSCP is an open source free SFTP client and FTP client for Windows. Legacy SCP protocol is also supported. Its main function is safe copying of files between a local and a remote computer.


    Features:

    - Graphical user interface
    - Translated into several languages
    - Integration with Windows (drag&drop, URL, shortcut icons)
    - U3 support
    - All common operations with files
    - Support for SFTP and SCP protocols over SSH-1 and SSH-2 and plain old FTP protocol
    - Batch file scripting and command-line interface
    - Directory synchronization in several semi or fully automatic ways
    - Integrated text editor
    - Support for SSH password, keyboard-interactive, public key and Kerberos (GSS) authentication
    - Integrates with Pageant (PuTTY authentication agent) for full support of public key authentication with SSH
    - Explorer and Commander interfaces
    - Optionally stores session information
    - Optionally supports portable operation using a configuration file in place of registry entries, suitable for operation from removable media



    Download URL:

    http://winscp.net/eng/download.php


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    Should You Start A Computer Repair Business? 

    by
    Andrey R
    Published on 08-21-2010 03:26 AM

    Should You Start A Computer Repair Business?

    Starting a computer repair business is exciting, hard work, requires patience, and is rewarding. Unfortunately, 50% of small business fail in the first 5 years (U.S. Small Business Administration). Should you start a computer repair business?


    Are you passionate about PCs? Are you strongly motivated to succeed?
    If computer repair isn't something you like to do... don't even think about starting your own business! Why invest your time into something you don't care much for...? You'll end up giving up because this "cause" won't be worth the sacrifices you'll have to make. Nothing is easy, except for giving up. When things are slow or aren't going the way they should, you will need your passion and your strong motivation to help you through.


    Does your spouse (or family) support you in starting your own computer repair business?
    It might take months or over a year before your computer repair business is profitable. You will be spending many hours a day working on your business. Is this something that your spouse (or family) can handle? You might have to lower your standard of living until your business becomes profitable. The one thing you don't want on top of all the difficulties ...
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    Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: Your Best Friend 

    by
    Andrey R
    Published on 08-14-2010 02:01 AM

    Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware


    We Techs have a love / hate relationship with malware. We hate the damage that malware can do and how much of a pain in the ass it can be to remove (of course most of us enjoy the challenge). We "love" malware because it's our bread and butter and job security.

    We all have probably encountered a virus that was difficult to remove. None of the virus removal steps seemed to work, the anti-virus program on that PC was disarmed, the virus prevented the installation of another anti-virus program, .exe files couldn't be opened, etc... Not fun!

    Malwarebytes is your best friend! It can detect and remove malware that other anti-viruses/anti-malware programs can't. For those difficult viruses and malware: Copy Malwarebytes to a flash drive, go into safe mode, install Malwarebytes, and run Malwarebytes.



    What is Malwarebytes?

    Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is considered to be the next step in the detection and removal of malware. In our product we have compiled a number of new technologies that are designed to quickly detect, destroy, and prevent malware. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove malware that even the most well known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to detect. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware monitors every process and stops
    ...
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    Pidgin: All Of Your Instant Messaging Networks In One 

    by
    Andrey R
    Published on 08-12-2010 04:05 AM



    As a computer repair business, it is important to support as many methods of communications with your clients as possible. They can call you, email you, but can they instant message you? There are dozens of instant messaging networks online that have from millions of users to hundreds of millions of users. Some of the larger instant messaging networks are: AIM, Google Talk, MSN/Live, Skype, & Yahoo.

    Should you run 3, 10, or more instant messaging clients just to provide your clients with another way to reach you or meet their communication preference? Is it worth the hassle? Running many instant messaging clients isn't practical and it burdens your systems resources. BUT... There is a free solution to this dilemma: Pidgin!



    What is Pidgin?

    Pidgin is a chat program which lets you log in to accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on MSN, talking to a friend on Google Talk, and sitting in a Yahoo chat room all at the same time.

    Pidgin is compatible with the following chat networks out of the box: AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, MXit, MySpaceIM, and Zephyr. It can support many more with plugins.

    Pidgin supports many features of these chat networks, such as file transfers, away messages, buddy icons, custom smilies, and typing notifications. Numerous plugins also extend Pidgin's functionality above and beyond the
    ...
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    PC Technicians: Our Mission Statement 

    by
    Andrey R
    Published on 08-11-2010 11:15 AM

    PC Technicians: Our Mission Statement

    Hello and welcome fellow Tech!

    We are hoping to build not just another PC Tech forum, but a community of computer technicians to network and support each other.
    Our mission is to become a community and resource for all PC Techs:

    - Computer technicians that want to start their own computer repair business
    - Computer technicians that currently own a computer repair business
    - Computer technicians that work for another company or are looking for work


    If you are a computer technician, will you join us? Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business (if you have one) here: Meet and Greet



    PS: We hope you use Facebook Connect, we do.


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