Rescuing using GNU/Linux

A simple query like Msoft box is infected with virus will involve all the S***ty stuffs together with other requirements. I hate it when users keep complaining about virus and any anti-virus I recommend, on top of that they don't know their own machine. For me its like a minefield ready to explode.

 Notation:-
boxA - infected
boxB - foreign

These are basic stuff every computer user is expected to know so that when something goes wrong it can be put to practice, but it is a big ask for user who likes using OS(msoft) for basic task. The dilemma is at the time of explaining the possible reason why its not working to "such users" - they don't even care to know and its mere waste of my time and energy troubleshooting such machine.

Even though the technological singularity is proposed keeping in mind the arrival of more intelligent machines it need not be the case. It can happen with people who are tech savvy. There occurs a difference in how one perceives knowledge/technology and there will be small pockets of individuals working with or upgrading their knowledge regardless of what happens in the ignorant general public arena.
Enough ranting, diving into how GNU/linux came to rescue. Scenario was, a win boxA when powered on boots and starts scanning for (human interface) virus(HIV), the box was a breeding ground for HIV I had to quarantine myself after visiting the box :). No application would execute. On top of that the CD/DVD drive was not accepting bootable disk (user didn't know about that). Thinking about the worst, thought even the BIOS is being compromised.. bloody miscreant may have flashed it, So took out HDD and installed GNU/linux server (CLI) as well as win on boxB, everything worked not to forget the backing up process which was done on external HDD(usb).

Now installed HDD on boxA and viola even though the config of boxA and boxB were entirely different. GRUB was shown and linux booted without any problem but NIC was not recognised. Even the external HDD was also recognised as "freecom technologies".
Now the moment of booting into win as usual it didn't but now tried to install OS on boxA but CD was not being accepted. All these times it was stupid DVD/CD drive that was faulty, only if the user had known about his/her machine all these would have been avoided.

The external HDD was recognized using  following commands

tail /var/log/messages

Aug 30 07:29:39 ranjit-laptop kernel: [   97.829390] USB Mass Storage support registered.
Aug 30 07:29:44 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  102.828845] scsi 4:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Freecom  Mobile Drive XXS      PQ: 0 ANSI: 2 CCS
Aug 30 07:29:44 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  102.835131] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] 488397168 512-byte logical blocks: (250 GB/232 GiB)
Aug 30 07:29:44 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  102.835456] sd 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
Aug 30 07:29:44 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  102.836049] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
Aug 30 07:29:44 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  102.839634]  sdb: sdb1
Aug 30 07:29:44 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  103.478217] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
Aug 30 07:32:10 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  248.537006] Marking TSC unstable due to TSC halts in idle
Aug 30 07:32:10 ranjit-laptop kernel: [  248.538271] Switching to clocksource hpet
Aug 30 07:33:34 ranjit-laptop rsyslogd: [origin software="rsyslogd" swVersion="4.2.0" x-pid="795" x-info="http://www.rsyslog.com"] rsyslogd was HUPed, type 'lightweight'.
Aug 30 07:33:34 ranjit-laptop rsyslogd: [origin software="rsyslogd" swVersion="4.2.0" x-pid="795" x-info="http://www.rsyslog.com"] rsyslogd was HUPed, type 'lightweight'.

ranjit@ranjit-laptop:~$ lsusb

Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 0a5c:219c Broadcom Corp.
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 07ab:fc88 Freecom Technologies
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0ac8:c33f Z-Star Microelectronics Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
ranjit@ranjit-laptop:~$ 

 ranjit@ranjit-laptop:~$ mount

/dev/sda1 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
none on /dev type devtmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620)
none on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
none on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
none on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
/dev/sda2 on /home type ext4 (rw)
rpc_pipefs on /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs type rpc_pipefs (rw)
/dev/sda6 on /mnt/sda6 type ext4 (rw)
/dev/sda7 on /mnt/sda7 type ext4 (rw)
nfsd on /proc/fs/nfsd type nfsd (rw)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/ranjit/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=ranjit)
/dev/sdb1 on /media/S P PILLAI type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=1000,shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,flush)

Who is down there?

(I)Keep almost more than 2 instances of firefox with min 4 to 5 tabs open all the time and just couldn't find the app doing this stuff thru firefox.. This was happening for almost all the time.

Resolving the Deskjet F4488 Errr

The mere display of "E" caused me quite a discomfort only to realize latter that it was my own fault/careless approach. Just a look at the manual caused the error to vanish.
RTFM is the ultimate guide.
Steps that I carried out (power button light blinks all the way to step 8)
1. Without connecting the USB connect the power .
2. press the power on button
3. Place the paper in the tray.
4. open the cartridge door (the power is on), this brings the cartridge holder in the middle automatically.
5. Place the cartridge
6. Close cartridge door, wait for alignment page to print.
7. Open scanner lid. Place alignment page face down.
8. Close lid. Press scan button. Wait until power on button light stops blinking, this means the alignment has been completed. Completing the alignment ensures better print quality.
**Everytime a new cartridge is inserted it prints the alignment page and it should be allowed to carry out the task 8 so that the alignment is carried out properly**

ref:- HP manual

How secured is the network from outside world?

It is assured without doubt that things don't seem the way they are. My routers web interface was configured in a way I wanted, only to find that it has least changed the priorities. For instance the WAN interface and LAN interface was changed but the nmap output for open port is pretty evident.
PORT     STATE SERVICE
21/tcp   open  ftp
23/tcp   open  telnet
80/tcp   open  http
5431/tcp open  park-agent
This is how I configured the router

Not only that the TR-069(technical report) client config for ACS (auto configuration servers)was enabled all the time in the CPE(customer premises equipment). This enabled the ones who provided the device to carry out the so called upgrades(I sincerely doubt that)  in my device.  

In short the only protection that is there is because of the dynamic IP address that is allotted to the user...

IP Masking or hostname cloak for IRC - Tor way

In order to Hide the ip address in the user column in the irc of xchat in freenode network
eg ~ranjit@117.199.5.190 to ~ranjit@somedomainname.org

visit
http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#gettinghelp
http://freenode.net/irc_servers.shtml#tor

To know about Tor
https://www.torproject.org/docs/faq.html.en#WhatIsTor

**Call it a hysteria.... I think I was subjected to DoS**
I haven't implemented it yet.

Love/Hate relationship with BSNL

The most responsible and irresponsible(at the same time) form of government based service ever. The frequent disconnection of BB is very usual with dataone connection provided by bsnl and some of the line condition that carries the signal is in such a dilapidated condition that its not possible for quality service until it is replaced and the line man will simply rejoin the exposed joins which corrodes subjected to env condition.
I tried to bring to notice of BSNL official thru online grievance method. It was logged on nov 2010 and the rest of response from BSNL is given below.
Looking at the resolution they have provided its pathetic. They have closed it without the problem being solved, reason- it's not a problem for them since its a commonly occurring situation.

* Name and ph no have been changed

Docket No. Date Booked Category Name
KRL/CO/2010/17587 19/11/2010 I XYXYXYXY PILLAI


Grievance Status Details
Docket No. KRL/CO/2010/17587
Date Booked 19/11/2010
Name XYXYXYXY PILLAI
Phone 0000000
Grievance Dataone Broadband frequently disconnects
Current Status CASE IS YET TO BE FINALLY DISPOSED OFF BY CIRCLE HEAD OFFICE . FORWARDED TO CONCERNED UNITS/SECTIONS FOR TAKING NECESSARY ACTION. PENDING AT TRIVANDRUM HEAD OFFICE.

revision:- 14/02/2011 got a call from bsnl, regarding the disconnection issue that was reported on below given date.
Once before in feb I received a call from bsnl regarding the BB and I said "NO haven't got a problem" and I started thinking when I complained and soon it struck me that it was on 19/11/2010 that I filed a grievance and repented saying no to a call that rarely comes. well in 14/02 i got a call and was asked again well then I asked them when was the complaint registered and they said it was some days back. I rectified by saying some months back and described my issue of frequent disconnection and also quoted that the IBF also have users facing the same problem and I thought its a trademark of BSNL to have such a BB connection. He replied that it could be a line problem . I even said that between my home to the telephone post there are 3 exposed joints which itself is pathetic and can I have a single line extended from the post to my home. response can be done. still waiting for the action.
Until now nothing happened and checking out the status of complaint - check out

Docket No. KRL/CO/2010/17587
Date Booked 19/11/2010
Name XYXYXYXY PILLAI
Phone 83743499
Grievance Dataone Broadband frequently disconnects
Current Status CASE FINALLY CLOSED BY CIRCLE HEAD OFFICE ON 14/02/2011 WITH THE REMARKS CLOSED

Online Grievance:- http://www.kerala.bsnl.co.in/Grievance/publicgrievance.asp

librelab.gnumen.org ---> rev 0.01

 
Creating an impression is not a priority here (as is seen)

The UI has been changed from a single and simple GTA02 device to a more muddled/messier front page which is a sketch form of devices (and its byproduct) lying around the desktop(if it falls in that group). The mere intention of such an approach is not to entice others with a color display rather giving a black and white impression of what its all about and what it gets involved with. Though lot of work is yet to be done hopefully will implement what is needed. Felt better to display the whole scenario which makes the mobile device(gta02) important. Its not a standalone rather most work involves the IA32 machine which deserves mentioning and this is how I felt is/was right. The Idea is to change the image of respective device on mouse hover as well as display the config of device in a tooltip. This is mostly done for and on firefox. Don't have time to do the adaptation work for other browsers.

I made use of PS for slicing and saved it in html format. Vala!!! I don't have to create a table it does for you.
The overlapped text in the tooltip was rectified by specifying the line height , setting it equal to the font size for #tooltip

adding
background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;
for table td messes up with the default drupal settings so add it to table#Table_01 td

Tested on firefox: 3.0.11 and everything is working as expected.