I've been interested in the extended functionality a Linux-based router can give but haven't found too many easy instructions on how to do this.  An example of what can be be done includes increasing the transmission power for greater range. 

" Under the Wireless>>Advanced Settings  tab, DD-WRT has a customizable setting for transmit power. Labeled "Xmit Power", this entry is 28Mw by default, but it can be set anywhere between 0 to 251mW. The "Help" menu indicates up to 70mW is safe for improving range. Raising the power level above that, they warn, may generate excess heat in the chipset, which could shorten the life of the router." (Linksys WRT54GL Linux-Based Wireless Router, Extreme Tech). 

For complex set ups involving VOIP or Wi-Fi hotspot this may be a good solution for adding important functionality

For instructions on installing SLAX, the Linux Slackware distro that can fit on a flash drive, use these quick ones.  One important thing to check is that the BIOS of the computer that you want to run this on is able to boot from a flash drive. 

Macworld Article

I don't have a Mac but I've become more interested them since using Linux which also has UNIX underpinnings. An article by Macworld, "Top OS X Tips," suggests a few good performance hints. None of these hints will be news to anyone who uses a Mac regularly but I thought I would post this as a reminder to myself or others who are interested newbies.

Newsvine



This site is fairly new to me but I like the idea of a news site with no editors (like Digg) that doesn't have a technology focus. The top of the page has several categories to choose from. With a bit of surfing I was able to quite a few interesting stories. I've recently been using reddit, which has good content, but the interface isn't nearly a good looking as Newsvine.

Running Linux in Windows

Qemu is open source software that allows the running of Linux within Windows using platform emulation. The Windows installation is experimental and found on a seperate site from the Qemu software. I used both a general and specific article to do a Damn Small Linux embedded install. By running a batch file the QEMU emulator is started and DSL is launched. It was very easy to do; my only complaint is that it runs pretty slowly.

An Encyclopedia of information on an iPod

This Encyclopodia project is hosted on sourceforge and provides a quick reference encyclopedia that can fit in your pocket. The software does not work on the most current version of the iPod (5th gen or Nano). The project is based on iPod Linux. If the Encyclopodia project doesn't seem worth checking out, iPod Linux is.

Search Engine for Open Source (Krugle)

This search engine is scheduled to go-live on March 8th at the O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference, San Diego. The idea is that programmers are building a search engine for other programmers to get access to open source code. Their blog currently is posting project updates. Sounds like a good idea, I hope it works as well as it sounds.

Running Mac on Flash Drive

I finally tried this project as it is explained on the nothickmanuals website under the mini vMac project. Unfortunately I tried to follow the instructions written for a MAC on a Windows computer and was stopped very early on by my inability to "Unpack the System_7.0.1.smi.bin archive and move the image files into the Mac-on-Stick folder" (mini vMac project). A forum suggested that Windows users use Stuffit Expander but I'm not interested in installing that trial software. Luckily I do have access to some Macs so I will continue the project very soon.

Cross Platform (Mac and PC) Versions of Firefox and Thunderbird

Cross Platform Thunderbird

Cross Platform Firefox

In the read me file its important to note that due to a problem in the Mac OS X portable Thunderbird or Firefox script, you might need to launch START OS X Thunderbird or Firefox twice the very first time you download Portable Thunderbird or Firefox. I haven't tried this yet but it is due to a flaw in the script used to make user profile files compatible. The basic app is still John Haller's work which is distributed as a PC version at Portable Apps.

Video Index of MIT Content

With search by category, host, and keyword, this is a valuable index which contains lots of valuable information.

MIT World Video Index

TOR GUI Contest

TOR, the open source privacy software supported by the EFF, has just chosen winner for its GUI competition.

"The user interface designed by the CMU Usable Privacy and Security Laboratory took the "Best Overall" award, and the entry from April3rd scored the "Most Aesthetically Pleasing" award." ("Winners chosen in phase one of TOR GUI contest," NewsForge)

Phase two of the competition is beginning, this time with the focus being a working software implementation. This is a great project which will definitely help people who currently have troubling configuring this software.

Great Sources of Information


BBC Radio

Standford on iTunes

Berkley Webcast Courses

Podcasts at MIT

Harvard Computer Science E-1

Princeton University Channel

Times Square Windows Error Message



Andy Gaffin's Blog at Network World has this photo of a two story screen with a Windows error message.
World's largest Windows error message

Documents are Disappearing From the National Archive

"In a seven-year-old secret program at the National Archives, intelligence agencies have been removing from public access thousands of historical documents that were available for years, including some already published by the State Department and others photocopied years ago by private historians." ("U.S. Reclassifies Many Documents in Secret Review," New York Times)

The program is so secret the National Archives aren't allowed to say which agencies are involved. This violates a 2003 law that requires formal reclassification. There is concern among historians and many other groups that the reclassification is being done not for national security but to rewrite history and cover up embarrassment.

Skype uses AES encryption
(Enough to defeat real-time surveillance of telephone calls)

The FBI and NSA, among other government agencies, want access to VOIP calls and encryption is hinderingtheir ability to listen to conversations in real time. Of course, privacy is exactly the intent of having encrypted communications.

"Skype executives state that their software is free of all backdoors, and a security researcher who saw some (but not all) of the code agrees. Still, the company claims that it 'cooperates fully with all lawful requests from relevant authorities,' which may mean that they turn over keys to governments upon request." ("Is Skype a haven for criminals?," ArsTechnica)

Since the encryption is hard if not impossible to break the easier method of obtaining the information is to steal the key. Keyloggers are often used to obtain this information.

"The FCC ruled last year that VoIP providers need to offer backdoors into their systems for wiretapping reasons, but Skype isn't based in the US and so is not subject to the rule. It is subject to the EU's new Data Retention Directive, though, which may require them to retain call logs and decryption keys for a period of time." ("Is Skype a haven for criminals?," ArsTechnica)

Nice Hack: A Touch Screen Mac in a Prius

This looks like a difficult project but a great one. Jeremy Kusnetz used CAN-view for video in, an Extron Emotia II to convert VGA to RGB+Sync, and a perl script to listen to the serial port using a Keyspan USB to serial converter. The script is posted to his site along with other pictures and instructions. A nice touch was his use of Front Row as the main interface. The audio portion of the project is not yet complete but so far so good.

Jeremy Kusnetz's Mac Prius

UK Asks for Backdoor to Windows Vista Encryption

When police in the UK seize computers for evidence it is much harder to get information off of the computer when the data is encrypted. The solution: Ask Microsoft to create a backdoor to this security measure thereby making all Vista computer encryption security vulnerable and no longer secure.

"A Microsoft spokeswoman said Windows Vista was designed to be the most secure version of Windows yet. She said: 'It is our goal to give PC users the control and confidence they need so they can continue to get the most out of their PCs. At the same time, we are working with law enforcement to help them understand its security features and will continue to partner with governments, law enforcement and industry to help make the internet a safer place to learn and communicate.'" ("UK holds Microsoft security talks," BBC News Thur, Feb. 16th, 2006)

The Trusted Computing Platform, which Vista would utilize to perform its encryption, may be used in combination with digital rights management.

"The system is aimed at preventing tampering with computers but it would also help prevent people from downloading unlicensed films or media." ("UK holds Microsoft security talks," BBC News Thur, Feb. 16th, 2006)

Given the recent disasters at implementing DRM, I can't imagine how much worse this could be made if Microsoft helped implement it at the operating system level.

A Good Microsoft Reference

I'm trying to learn to use both the bash shell on Linux and command line on Windows. Microsoft hosts a good page with a list of useful Windows commands which are helping me to keep the two straight while I'm learning.

Command-line reference A-Z

Gentoo has been Booted on a 17" Core Duo iMac

Using the elilo boot loader Gentoo can now be run on a Core Duo iMac. No GUI is supported yet but the Mactel project has had a successful start! The Mactel Wiki is also just getting started but it may be worth a look as their work progresses.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

F-Secure has reported a rootkit on the German version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on DVD.

"The Settec Alpha-DISC copy protection system used on the DVD contains user-mode rootkit-like features to hide itself. The system will hide it's own process, but does not appear to hide any files or registry entries. This makes the feature a bit less dangerous, as anti-virus products will still be able to scan all files on the disk. However, as we note in our article on rootkits, it's not that uncommon for real malware to only hide their processes." ("About the Hidden Smith Family," F-Secure)

There is an uninstaller for this product provided by Settec Alpha-DISC. Yet again cloaking of processes for DRM reasons is being used. This seems to be a spreading trend starting with Sony BMG CDs.