source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/135781758015295.html
tutorial - GNU/Linux Vs FreeBSD
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/135781758015295.html
tutorial - The most dangerous Rootkit
Dubbed "Mebroot," the rootkit infects the master boot record (MBR), the first sector of a PC's hard drive that the computer looks to before loading the operating system. Since it loads before anything else, Mebroot is nearly invisible to security software.
"You can't execute any earlier than that," F-Secure's chief research officer, Mikko Hypponen, said.
Once a machine is infected, the hacker controlling the rootkit has complete control over the victim's machine, opening up the potential for a variety of other attacks.For example, the hacker could try and download other malicious software to the machine to log a person's keystrokes and collect financial or personal data
It's still unknown how widespread Mebroot is. VeriSign's iDefense Intelligence Team has said 5,000 users were infected in separate attacks on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19
What is rootkit : The name for a kit of hacker utilities placed on a UNIX machine after a successful compromise. A typical rootkit includes: password sniffer log cleaners replacement binaries for common programs on the system (e.g. inetd) backdoor programs replacements to programs like ls and find so that they will not reveal the presence of the rootkit files. Key point: A rootkit contains many trojaned programs. These programs are used to allow the hacker entry back into the system and to hide the presence of the hacker
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/13578175802728.html
tutorial - Ubuntu Tweak
It provided many useful desktop and system options that the default desktop environment isn't provided.
Features of Ubuntu Tweak:
* View of Basic System Information(Distribution, Kernel, CPU, Memory, etc.)
* GNOME Session Control
* Auto Start Program Control
* Show/Hide and Change Splash screen
* Show/Hide desktop icons or Mounted Volumes
* Show/Hide/Rename Computer, Home, Trash icon or Network icon
* Tweak Metacity Window Manager’s Style and Behavior
* Compiz Fusion settings, Screen Edge Settings, Window Effects Settings, Menu Effect Settins
* GNOME Panel Settings
* Nautilus Settings
* Advanced Power Management Settings
* System Security Settings
Download here
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/13578175806572.html
tutorial - Top 10 Linux Desktop Hurdles
In the past, many desktop Linux users have opted to simply point to the hardware industry or Microsoft as the root cause of a lack of mainstream adoption. In reality, there are actually core issues extending beyond hardware -- and competition from the proprietary markets -- that simply must be dealt with head on.
With that said, hardware compatibility and competition from closed-source vendors are valid issues, just not solid core excuses for the lack of mainstream interest.
Read More
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/135781758011165.html
tutorial - Small History of "Ubuntu"
Ubuntu is one of a number of Linux distributions. The source code that makes up the Ubuntu Linux distribution originates from Debian (so called because it was started by two people named Debra and Ian). Debian is still a widely respected operating system but came under criticism for infrequent updates and less than user friendly installation and maintenance.
A South African internet mogul (who made his fortune selling his company to VeriSign for around $500 million) decided it was time for a more user friendly Linux. He took the Debian distribution and worked to make it a more human friendly distribution which he called Ubuntu. He subsequently formed a company called Canonical Ltd to promote and provide support for Ubuntu Linux. In addition Shuttleworth has formed and funded (to the tune of $10 million) a foundation to guarantee the future of Ubuntu.
The rest, as they say, is history. Ubuntu has since gone from strength to strength. Dell now ship computers pre-loaded with Ubuntu Linux and Ubuntu usually tops the chart at DistroWatch.com (a web site which tracks the popularity of the various Linux distributions).
If you are new to Linux, or already use Linux and want to try a different Linux distro it is unlikely you will find a better option than Ubuntu Linux.
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/13578175806032.html
tutorial - Beautiful Firefox wallpaper
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/135781758014096.html
tutorial - Installing the Apache Web Server on Ubuntu Linux
The standard web server on Linux is Apache. The web server is the technology that receives requests from web browsers and servers up the requested web pages to those browsers.
The desktop version of Ubuntu Linux does not install the Apache web server by default. The first step in setting up a web server, therefore, is to install Apache.
To install Apache from the command-line start a terminal window (Applications->Accessories->Terminal) and run the following command at the command prompt:
sudo apt-get install apache2
The installing process will not only install, but also start up the web server.
Testing the Web Server
Once the installation is complete the next step is to verify the web server is up and running. To do this fire up the web browser by clicking on the Firefox logo and enter 127.0.0.1/apache2-default in the address bar (127.0.0.1 is the loop-back network address which tells the system to connect to the local machine). The browser should load a page that reads It works!.
Congratulations, you have now installed the web server and served up what will hopefully be the first of many web pages.
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/13578175801497.html
tutorial - Installing Firestarter on Ubuntu Linux
Firestarter is not installed by default when Ubuntu Linux is first installed. The first step in using Firestarter, therefore, is to install it.
To install from the command line, begin by opening a terminal window by selecting the Applications menu and selecting Terminal from the Accessories menu. In the terminal window enter the following command and press enter to execute it:
sudo apt-get install firestarter
Enter your password when prompted to do so and wait while Firestarter is downloaded and installed.
Firestarter will now be listed in the System->Administration desktop menu. To launch Firestarter select this menu option. The first time Firestarter is run it will ask a number of questions about your network environment.
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/13578175806666.html
tutorial - Configure Gmail account on Linux
Click on Save Changes to complete the configuration process.
To Receive GMail Messages
Enter pop.gmail.com as the Server and your full Gmail address as the username. Finally, change the Use Secure Connection drop down menu to SSL encryption. Check the Remember password check box if you do not want to re-enter the password each time you re-start Evolution:
Sending Gmail Messages
On the Sending Email screen, set the Server Type to SMTP. Enter smtp.gmail.com as the Server and your full Gmail address as the username. Finally, change the Use Secure Connection drop down menu to SSL encryption. Check the Remember password check box if you do not want to re-enter the password each time you re-start Evolution:
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/13578175808327.html
tutorial - Configure/Install Compiz Fusion on openSUSE 10.3 for nVidia cards
Manual install of nVidia drivers
Pre-requisites:
- compiler gcc,
- program make and
- package kernel-source
You can install these from openSUSE DVD. After these are installed,
Get the drivers from nvidia’s site and save it.
Open up the terminal, and su to root by typing su root
Switch to console mode by typing init 3
Switch directory to where the driver is downloaded and saved
cd /path/to/where/driver/is/saved
Run the installer script
sh NVIDIA-Linux-
Add the composite, render-accel and ARGB-GLX visuals to xorg.conf
nvidia-xconfig --composite
nvidia-xconfig --render-accel
nvidia-xconfig --add-argb-glx-visuals -d 24
Installing Compiz Fusion
For KDE users, here’s the 1-click installer
For GNOME users, Here’s the 1-click installer
Install Compiz Manager to autostart compiz: 1-click installer
Installation is done! Just run compiz by Clicking on the Compiz-Fusion Icon
Thanks to : http://sathyasays.com/source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/135781758017733.html
tutorial - Accessing the Windows Partition from Fedora Linux
su - mkdir /windows
Next, we need to run the mount command (still as super user and assuming the Windows partition is /dev/sda1 and NTFS format - this may be different on your system):
mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /windows
Under some circumstances you may get a message that the Windows partition needs to be checked. If so, either reboot into Windows again, or force the mount:
mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /windows -o force
To automate the mount each time the system is booted, simply add the mount line to the /etc/fstab file:
/dev/sda1 /windows ntfs-3g defaults,force 0 0
To unmount the Windows filesystem at any time:
umount /windows
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/13578175808882.html
tutorial - Install/configure Compiz Fusion on openSUSE 10.3 for Intel onboard graphics
1-Click Installer for KDE
1-Click Installer for GNOME
1-Click Installer for Compiz Manager
We’ll have make some changes to /etc/X11/xorg.conf as well.
So open the Terminal and type
kdesu kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf –> This is for KDE users
gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf –> This is for GNOME users
Now scroll down to Section “Module” section and check if the below are present. If not, add them.
Section "Module"
Load "dri"
Load "glx"
Load "dbe"
Add these to Section “Device”
Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"
Option "DRI" "true"
Add these to Section “ServerLayout”
Option "AIGLX" "true"
Make sure Section “DRI” looks like this
Group "video"
Mode 0660
Finally, add this to Section “Extensions”
Option "Composite" "Enable"
Next, we’ll have to modify /usr/bin/compiz-manager to ensure that Indirect Rendering is done. For that, open Terminal and type
kdesu kate /usr/bin/compiz-manager –> For KDE Users
gksudo gedit /usr/bin/compiz-manager –> For GNOME Users
Scroll down to COMPIZ_OPTIONS and add –indirect-rendering. So now, your COMPIZ_OPTIONS should look something like
COMPIZ_OPTIONS=”–indirect-rendering –sm-disable –ignore-desktop-hints ccp –replace”
Also, For GMA X3000/3100/ 965 Chipset users, Find this section
# blacklist based on the pci ids
# See http://wiki.compiz-fusion.org/Hardware/Blacklist for details
T=” 1002:5954 1002:5854 1002:5955″ # ati rs480
T=”$T 1002:4153″ # ATI Rv350
T=”$T 8086:2982 8086:2992 8086:29a2 8086:2a02 8086:2a12″ # intel 965
BLACKLIST_PCIIDS=”$T”
unset T
And Change this to
# blacklist based on the pci ids
# See http://wiki.compiz-fusion.org/Hardware/Blacklist for details
T=” 1002:5954 1002:5854 1002:5955″ # ati rs480
T=”$T 1002:4153″ # ATI Rv350
# T=”$T 8086:2982 8086:2992 8086:29a2 8086:2a02 8086:2a12″ # intel 965
BLACKLIST_PCIIDS=”$T”
unset T
That’s about enough tweaking! To launch compiz-fusion, at the terminal type
compiz-manager
Thanks to : http://sathyasays.com/
source:http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/03/1357817580408.html