Updating PHP in CentOS to latest PHP 5.3 or PHP 5.4 is not an easy task so I am writing this post. I had to do this for a project in which I need to install latest Zend Loader with PHP 5.3 support. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for May, 2012
May 28th, 2012
1 Comment »
May 25th, 2012
2 Comments »
How to mount a partition from a large disk (above 1TB) that has an EFI GPT partition table instead of the conventional MBR (Master Boot Record) partition table. A large disk means a hard drive that is 1 Terabyte or more. EFI stands for Extensible Firmware Interface. GPT is short for Globally Unique Identifier Partition Table.
First Step)
Check the kernel was compiled with EFI support. The standard kernel with Ubuntu/Debian/CentOS 5+ comes with EFI support built-in
cat /boot/config-2.6.26-2-686 | grep EFI
(Change the version number with yours in /boot/config-*)
if the kernel was compiled with EFI support if you get these lines:
CONFIG_EFI=y CONFIG_FB_EFI=y CONFIG_EFI_VARS=m CONFIG_EFI_PARTITION=y
Then type
fdisk -l
(to check the device name in /dev)
fdisk -l /dev/sda
(if the device is at sda, replace with the one you saw when you typed fdisk -l)
parted /dev/sda print
Ok we got the filesystem with the above command, now lets mount it!
mkdir /mnt/test mount -t ext3 /dev/sda2 /mnt/test
(if the file system is ext3, it will be displayed when you type “parted /dev/sda print”, if device is at /dev/sda)
Hope this helps
May 19th, 2012
4 Comments »
Mark Zuckerberg receives a commemorative hoodie from NASDAQ’s CEO, and gives a short inspirational speech to the company.
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May 16th, 2012
2 Comments »
Recently, in Pakistan many companies have started offering email marketing.
These companies collect email data from various sources, and then start sending emails in bulk.
Majority of these email marketing companies are using Google groups to send emails.
Google groups enables them to build an email database and thru these groups then can send bulk emails.
Many people have complained about being added without their consent and receiving several emails on daily basis. Because of a Ban/unban bug in Google Groups, I myself reported Google to fix that bug, but no response yet from their side.
Here is how you can unsubscribe google groups, and make sure that no one can add you again.
Create an account on Google at : http://accounts.google.com
You can use your company email address to create an account.
Google will send you verification email which you should verify.
Once you create the account, you will see the main dashboard page.
Add as many emails as you want in the same account ( usually the ones which are receiving SPAM mails from Google groups)
Once you have added all the accounts.
Go to dashboard –
At the lower part of the screen there is a link for GROUPS
Click on the link.
On the lower right hand side of the screen, you will find the option for “manage subscription”
Or Open : http://groups.google.com (without logging off, off-course)
Click on My Groups
Once you click on that link, you will see how many companies / groups have added your emails address.
Click on the group which subscribed you without your permission or you don’t want to be part of that group.
Click “My Membership” from here you can select the option to unsubscribe from that mailing list.
That’s it !!! and now you are done !!
Also, from the User Preference option (click on settings icon 
):-
You can enable the option to :
- not to allow any other company to add you
- not to send any other Google group emails.
The Google group spam has been there for a while and many people have been asking me about how to avoid the spam.
I hope this will help to unsubscribe and reduce the spam from Google groups.
May 14th, 2012
No Comments »
A letter to Uncle Sam (America) in 1951 by Saadat Hasan Manto (Things are same for genius like Manto)
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May 14th, 2012
No Comments »
You can download a w7 security benchmark from https://benchmarks.cisecurity.org/en-us/?route=downloads.multiform.
In addition to the recommendations there you may want to:
1. Disable Teredo tunneling.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-to-disable-tcpipv6-teredo-tunneling-in-vista/.
2. Unbind Client for Microsoft Network and Printer and File sharing from all network adapters.
3. Disable Remote Desktop service.
4. Disable UPNP device host.
5. Disable ISCSI initiator.
6. Disable Computer Browser service.
7. Disable NetBios helper service.
8. Disable RRAS.
9. Disable remote registry service.
10. Move the firewall log from its default location and enable logging of all connections.
11. Enable process tracking in the local security policy.
12. Enable “User Account Control: Only elevate executable(s) that are signed” local security policy.
These are just a few things off the top of my head.
Best to run x64 version of Windows as the host. The script kiddies are still targeting x86.
Of course, these recommendations are also applicable on Vista/XP OS.
You also may want to keep track of your BIOS, NIC and GPU firmware. 🙂
(If you know how)
