As I posted yesterday setting up a Windows system (of any kind) is a far different experience than setting up a Linux box, in that there is far more work to do after the OS install. Simply put, Windows is an Operating System only (with a few utilities and a smattering of basic applications), where as modern Linux distributions are just that – a core OS distributed with a core set of applications as well.

Now, Taking that into consideration, there is a little more leg-work involved in getting my Windows Vista workstation “work-ready” than say a vanilla Ubuntu install. Here’s a list of the Applications I consider must-have’s for my workstation. There are a variety of applications here. There are applications which are closed-source and cost money, closed-source and are free (as in beer), and free open-source projects. Often, as you will see, I install both the closed-source package as well as the open-source equivalent. I do this for two reasons – ultimate compatibility (MS Office can’t open OOo docs for example – which I find quite amusing), and often there are things in the open-source packages I like better for some tasks.

So here is my list (with links and recommendations of similar programs to try):

Windows Vista Business x64

I own both Vista Business and Ultimate editions, however I chose to install Business as I do not use, nor do I have a desire for having any of the Media Center stuff installed on this machine. Also, I’ve seen nothing in the “Ultimate Extras” that make me want the extra baggage installed.

Microsoft Office 2007 (with Visio)

As good as OpenOffice is, I need MS Office for ultimate compatibility and a complete feature set.

OpenOffice.org

As I said above, even though I install MS Office, I still keep an up-to-date OOo install around. There are some things I like in OOo, plus, MS Office can’t open files saved in OOo formats. I used to keep AbiWord installed as well, but finally dropped that off my “install list”, however be sure to check it out if you want a simple, light-weight Word Processor with a full feature set.

Dia

Dia is an open-source drawing and diagram creation program available for Linux as well as Windows. Just as with OOo, even though I have Visio installed, I prefer Dia for some things. I find it far simpler than Visio, and there are simply some things I can do faster in Dia than in Visio.

Windows Live Writer

This is what I’m writing this post in, and this is one application I always missed when running Linux (never tried it in WINE – I wonder if it will install?).

Mozilla Firefox

All I need to browse the web. Need I say more? One day I’ll do a post on my top Firefox extensions.

Pidgin

Pidgin is an open-source Instant Messaging program. Although I have been a die-hard Trillian my friend, and co-worker Josh Wyse mentioned Pidgin today and asked my opinion on it. Although I used Pidgin extensively on GNOME under Linux, I hadn’t used the Windows version in a while. For now, I still have Trillian on my work PC, but here at home I decided to try out Pidgin for a while. So far, I like it – I do like the fact that (unlike Trillian) it uses Aero and looks like a Windows app whereas Trillian had it’s own interface.

uTorrent

Best. Torrent Client. Ever. I even used this under WINE on Linux.

Paint.NET and GIMP

I can do almost anything I’ll ever need to do in Paint.NET but the combination with GIMP gives me any graphic and photo editing tools I need. Why pay for Photoshop?

Filezilla

Best free FTP client I’ve found. Not perfect, but serves my needs for what little I use an FTP client.

RoyalTS

RoyalTS is a nifty RDP connection manager written in .NET.

Google Earth

For me, nothing but a boredom killer!

Audacity

Great little open-source audio editor.

InfraRecorder (x64 version available)

Best free burning app I’ve found for Windows. Does everything I need with an interface similar to Nero.

7zip (x64 version available)

Only file compression/decompression tool I’ve ever needed.

VLC Media Player

Super awesome, super simple media player.

Notepad2

Free Windows Notepad replacement based on the open-source Scintilla editor – for lack of better words, it’s Notepad done right w/ syntax highlighting, line-numbers and a host of other features. Light weight, needs no install and definitely a must-have for any serious Windows power user! If you want to try something similar, but yet a little different, give Notepad++ a spin as well.

PuTTY (x64 Version)

PuTTY is a free SSH and Telnet client – a must-have for me to log into my Linux server!

Last.FM Player

Although I don’t get into the “social networking” side of Last.FM (what is “scrobbling” anyway?, I do use it to feed me some tunes when I’m at my PC.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008

I’m (trying) to learn .NET programming, so I’m using this quite a bit. I got a free copy, but you can also download the Visual Studio Express Editions for free! (Yes, Microsoft does give some stuff away for free!)

SharpDevelop

This is a free, open-source IDE for C# VB.NET and Boo projects. I found it via a Google search one day and I keep it around now just to see if I can apply what I’m learning in VS 2008 to another IDE.

Microsoft SQL 2008 Express Edition (x64)

I download this separately since a default install of VS 2008 installs SQL 2005 Express (if you don’t do a custom install), and I like to be able to specify the x64 version, as well as have the latest SQL version. Also, don’t forget if you need a free (and open-source) SQL server MySQL is available for Windows too!

Windows PowerShell

Finally, Windows has a real shell, and it has a pretty nifty scripting language built in too! Be sure to check it out – it does amazing things!

VMware Workstation 6.5

Desktop Virtualization software is an absolute must-have for me. I use it to create “sandbox” Windows installs, as well as satisfying my Linux Distro crack habit! VMware Workstation (6.5) is simply the best of the best, in my opinion. For me, performance in a properly configured machine is very close to bare metal speed, and it’s singly the best software investment I’ve ever made! If you want something that is “no-cost” there is the free VMware Server 2.0. Although VMware Server is geared for, well, a Server, it can still be installed on a workstation. Previous version (1.0.x) used a great console similar to VMware Workstation’s interface, however the new 2.0 version uses a web-interface which I feel is less than ideal for a workstation install. One main difference with Server (which is now based on the VMware 6.0 code-base as of 2.0) is that you can have Virtual Machines run as services in the background (either on system boot, or on demand) without having the client interface open. If you would like something free, but yet more desktop oriented, be sure to check out Sun’s awesome VirtualBox.

Raxco PerfectDisk 2008 (VMware Edition)

PerfectDisk is a disk defragment program with features similar to what you might find in other products such as Diskeeper and O&O Defrag. Why do I use PerfectDisk? I love the tools provided by the VMware version, I love the fact it’s x64 native, it’s light on resources, and I like the interface. It’s very easy to use, and get a default schedule setup. Although I set up a specific schedule, there are several modes to choose from such as on-demand, and a mode that defrags while your computer is idle. This is another program that although not free, is a great investment (the VMware version is $99), and I would recommend to anyone with advanced needs that needs more than what the built-in Windows Defrag utility can offer. Be sure to disable Windows scheduled defrag if you use PerfectDisk as they may have different ideas as to what is “ideal” and undo each others optimizations when they run…plus there’s no need to “over-defrag” your drives.

Multi-Media tools and codecs:

MediaCoder - be sure to get the version that matches your CPU or get a generic build here. If you are running an x64 version of Windows, get the 64-bit add-on update.

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack
- with 64-bit add-on
- with QuickTime Alternative
Although I’ve always used the K-Lite pack, an alternative to the K-Lite Codec Pack is the Vista Codec Pack which also has 64-bit add-ons as well as quicktime support.

I’m sure there are some things I’m forgetting, and everything that works for me, might not work for you. Also there may be some program that I love that you try and absolutely hate! Also, I’m always on the lookout for great free useful applications so please share if you know of some killer application I haven’t mentioned!

      

Virus writers: four general types

Virus writers belong to one of four broad groups: cyber-vandals, who can be divided into two categories, and more serious programmers, who can again be split into two groups.
Cyber vandalism - stage 1

In the past, most malware was written by young programmers: kids who just had learned to program who wanted to test their skills. Fortunately most of these programs did not spread widely - the majority of such malware died when disks were reformatted or upgraded. Viruses like these were not written with a concrete aim or a definite target, but simply for the writers to assert themselves.

Cyber vandalism - stage 2

The second largest group of contributors to malware coding were young people, usually students. They were still learning programming, but had already made a conscious decision to devote their skills to virus writing. These were people who had chosen to disrupt the computing community by committing acts of cyber hooliganism and cyber vandalism. Viruses authored by members of this group were usually extremely primitive and the code contained a large number of errors.

However, the development of the Internet provided space and new opportunities for these would-be virus writers.Numerous sites, chat rooms and other resources sprang up where anyone could learn about virus writing: by talking to experienced authors and downloading everything from tools for constructing and concealing malware to malicious program source code.

Professional virus writers

And then these ’script kiddies’ grew up. Unfortunately, some of them did not grow out of virus writing. Instead, they looked for commercial applications for their dubious talents. This group remains the most secretive and dangerous section of the computer underground: they have created a network of professional and talented programmers who are very serious about writing and spreading viruses.

Professional virus writers often write innovative code designed to penetrate computers and networks; they research software and hardware vulnerabilities and use social engineering in original ways to ensure that their malicious creations will not only survive, but also spread widely.
Virus researchers: the ‘proof-of-concept’ malware authors

The fourth and smallest group of virus writers is rather unusual. These virus writers call themselves researchers, and they are often talented programmers who devote their skills to developing new methods for penetrating and infecting systems, fooling antivirus programs and so forth. They are usually among the first to penetrate new operating systems and hardware. Nevertheless, these virus writers are not writing viruses for money, but for research purposes. They usually do not spread the source code of their ‘proof of concept viruses’, but do actively discuss their innovations on Internet resources devoted to virus writing.

All of this may sound innocent or even beneficial. However, a virus remains a virus and research into new threats should be conducted by people devoted to curing the disease, not by amateurs who take no responsibility for the results of their research. Many proof of concept viruses can turn into serious threats once the professional virus writers gain access to them, since virus writing is a source of income for this group.

Why write viruses?

Fraud

The computer underground has realised that paid for Internet services, such as Internet access, email and web hosting, provides new opportunities for illegal activity with the additional satisfaction of getting something for nothing. Virus writers have authored a range of Trojans which steal login information and passwords to gain free access to other users’ Internet resources.

The first password stealing Trojans appeared in 1997: the aim was to gain access to AOL. By 1998 similar Trojans appeared for all other major Internet service providers. Trojans stealing log in data for dial-up ISPs, AOL and other Internet services are usually written by people with limited means to support their Internet habit, or by people who do not accept that Internet resources are a commercial service just like any other, and must therefore be paid for.

For a long time, this group of Trojans constituted a significant portion of the daily ‘catch’ for antivirus companies worldwide. Today, the numbers are decreasing in proportion to the decreasing cost of Internet access.

Computer games and software license keys are another target for cyber fraud. Once again, Trojans providing free access to these resources are written by and for people with limited financial resources. Some hacking and cracking utilities are also written by so-called ‘freedom fighters’, who proclaim that all infomration should be shared freely throughout the computing community. However, fraud remains a crime, no matter how noble the aim is made out to be.
Organised cyber crime

The most dangerous virus writers are individuals and groups who have turned professional. These people either extract money directly from end users (either by theft or by fraud) or use zombie machines to earn money in other ways, such as creating and selling a spamming platform, or organizing DoS attacks, with the aim here being blackmail.

Most of today’s serious outbreaks are caused by professional virus writers who organize the blanket installations of Trojans to victim machines. This may be done by using worms, links to infected sites or other Trojans.
Bot networks

Currently, virus writers either work for particular spammers or sell their wares to the highest bidder. Today, one standard procedure is for virus writers to create bot networks, i.e. networks of zombie computer infected with identical malicious code. In the case of networks used as spamming platforms, a Trojan proxy server will penetrate the victim machines. These networks number from a thousand to tens of thousands of infected machines. The virus writers then sell these networks to the highest bidder in the computer underground.

Such networks are generally used as spamming platforms. Hacker utilities can be used to ensure that these networks run efficiently; malicious software is installed without the knowledge or consent of the user, adware programs can be camoflaged to prevent detection and deletion, and antivirus software may be attacked.
Financial gain

Apart from servicing spam and adware, professional virus writers also create Tojan spies which they use to steal money from e-wallets, Pay Pal accounts and/or directly from Internet bank accounts. These Trojans harvest banking and payment information from local machines or even corporate servers and then forward it to the master.
Cyber extortion

The third major form of contemporary cyber crime is extortion or Internet rackets. Usually, virus writers create a network of zombie machines capable of conducting an organized DoS attack. Then they blackmail companies by threatening to conduct a DoS attack against the corporate website. Popular targets include estores, banking and gambling sites, i.e. companies whose revenues are generated directly by their on-line presence.
Other malware

Virus writers and hackers also ensure that adware, dialers, utilities that redirect browsers to pay-to-view sites and other types of unwanted software function efficiently. Such programs can generate profits for the computer underground, so it’s in the interests of virus writers and hackers to make sure that these programs are not detected and are regularly updated.

In spite of the media attention given to young virus writers who manage to cause a global epidemic, approximately 90% of malicious code is written by the professionals. Although all of four groups of virus writers challenge computer security, the group which poses a serious, and growing threat is the community of professional virus writers who sell their services.

Virus writers belong to one of four broad groups: cyber-vandals, who can be divided into two categories, and more serious programmers, who can again be split into two groups.
Cyber vandalism - stage 1

In the past, most malware was written by young programmers: kids who just had learned to program who wanted to test their skills. Fortunately most of these programs did not spread widely - the majority of such malware died when disks were reformatted or upgraded. Viruses like these were not written with a concrete aim or a definite target, but simply for the writers to assert themselves.

Cyber vandalism - stage 2

The second largest group of contributors to malware coding were young people, usually students. They were still learning programming, but had already made a conscious decision to devote their skills to virus writing. These were people who had chosen to disrupt the computing community by committing acts of cyber hooliganism and cyber vandalism. Viruses authored by members of this group were usually extremely primitive and the code contained a large number of errors.

However, the development of the Internet provided space and new opportunities for these would-be virus writers.Numerous sites, chat rooms and other resources sprang up where anyone could learn about virus writing: by talking to experienced authors and downloading everything from tools for constructing and concealing malware to malicious program source code.
Professional virus writers

And then these ’script kiddies’ grew up. Unfortunately, some of them did not grow out of virus writing. Instead, they looked for commercial applications for their dubious talents. This group remains the most secretive and dangerous section of the computer underground: they have created a network of professional and talented programmers who are very serious about writing and spreading viruses.

Professional virus writers often write innovative code designed to penetrate computers and networks; they research software and hardware vulnerabilities and use social engineering in original ways to ensure that their malicious creations will not only survive, but also spread widely.
Virus researchers: the ‘proof-of-concept’ malware authors

The fourth and smallest group of virus writers is rather unusual. These virus writers call themselves researchers, and they are often talented programmers who devote their skills to developing new methods for penetrating and infecting systems, fooling antivirus programs and so forth. They are usually among the first to penetrate new operating systems and hardware. Nevertheless, these virus writers are not writing viruses for money, but for research purposes. They usually do not spread the source code of their ‘proof of concept viruses’, but do actively discuss their innovations on Internet resources devoted to virus writing.

All of this may sound innocent or even beneficial. However, a virus remains a virus and research into new threats should be conducted by people devoted to curing the disease, not by amateurs who take no responsibility for the results of their research. Many proof of concept viruses can turn into serious threats once the professional virus writers gain access to them, since virus writing is a source of income for this group.

Source: Viruslist.com

Posted in Other   Tagged: virus   

Visual Studio 2005’s Typed DataSet is pretty cool. It gives you good control of what the relations should be and it pretty much mimics a table in the database. I love it. But one thing I hate about that is when you serialize your Typed DataSet your XML looks not up to the mark of what you want.

It does serves the purpose but it has all sorts of primary key/foreign key references that are serialized into the XML that at times we don’t want. Rather what we want is a nested XML structure that meaningfully makes sense if you wear that XML glass.

Adding an XSD file to your project won’t help right away as VSNET 2005 doesn’t directly generate dataset (.Designer.cs file) out of it. But, to our rescue, there is a work around to get VSNET 2005 generate typed-dataset from an XSD file. Here is what you should do,

• Select the XSD file you want VSNET 2005 to generate typed-dataset from
• Go into the XSD file’s properties
• Set the "Build Action" to "Content"
• Set the "Custom Tool" to point to "MSDataSetGenerator"

And that’s it. The next time you save the XSD file you should be able to see the dataset file, .Designer.cs (or .vb) file, for your XSD.

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