Talk2Melbin
Innovation The Key To Success
How To Install/Create Blog Using WordPress 2.8.5
Nov 3rd
Install/Create Blog Using WordPress
WordPress is a popular open source website publishing and content management system. Nowadays most of the blogging sites are using WordPress. We are able to easily present our articles on our site. The site style and presentation can increase using free or paid templates.
WordPress works with PHP and Mysql back end. Backup and restoration can be achieved through simple steps.
Key Features
* Full standards compliance
* No rebuilding
* WordPress Pages
* WordPress Links
* WordPress Themes
* Cross-blog communication tools
* Comments
* Spam protection
* Full user registration
* Password Protected Posts
* Easy installation and upgrades
* Easy Importing
* XML-RPC interface
* Workflow
* Typographical niceties
* Intelligent text formatting
* Multiple authors
* Bookmarklets
* Ping away
Minimum System Requirement
* PHP 4.3 or greater
* MySQL 4.0 or greater
* The mod_rewrite Apache module
Steps For Installing WordPress 2.8.5
- Download WordPress latest stable release from,
http://wordpress.org/download/
- Extract the download and upload contents to website folder.
# unzip wordpress-2.8.5.zip # scp -r wordpress/* /websitefolder
* Ftp access are used to copy WordPress folder content into the website folder.
- Browse the site url and access WordPress site.
- Copy wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php
# cp wp-config-sample.php wp-config.php
- Create a new MySQL database and user
# mysql Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g. Your MySQL connection id is 8 Server version: 5.0.77 Source distribution Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the buffer. mysql> show databases; +--------------------+ | Database | +--------------------+ | information_schema | | mysql | | test | +--------------------+ 3 rows in set (0.18 sec) mysql> create database wordpress; Query OK, 1 row affected (0.04 sec) mysql> grant all privileges on wordpress.* to wordadmin@'%' identified by 'talk2melbin'; mysql> quit
* Update the password, user name and database name accordingly.
* It is easier to create database and user access using control panel GUI.
- Edit wp-config.php,
# vi wp-config.php
define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress');
/** MySQL database username */
define('DB_USER', 'wordadmin');
/** MySQL database password */
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'talk2melbin');
- Update the Blog title and email address
- Check the “Allow my blog to appear in search engines like Google…”, search engines are notified by your blog updates.
- Note the Admin user login password
- Login into WordPress admin console.
Select your favorite theme and upload into “wp-content/themes” folder. Login into WordPress and go to theme tag. Select the theme preview and save.
Common Errors
- Website folder permission need to be checked and corrected.
- Recheck wp-config.php config file.
Cheers!
Melbin Mathew
www.talk2melbin.com
How To Secure MySQL Database Server From Anonymous Logins
Oct 28th
Secure MySQL Database Server From Anonymous Logins
MySQL is one of the most popular database server in the world. It’s high performance and cost free attract much more people. MySQL database servers are a common location for attackers. So it is important to check the security setting of each MySQL servers.
Blocking anonymous access and securing MySQL databases with authorized users are more important. This help us to increase the security level of MySQL server and reduce the data loss.
In normal condition fresh installation of MySQL allows anonymous access to the MySQL database server. To increase the security of MySQL server we need to set MySQL root password,block anonymous and network access.
Steps for preventing attacks on MySQL Server.
Set up MySQL root access password.
Open terminal and enter the following commands,
mysqladmin -u root password secretpassword
or
Login into MySQL
# mysql
mysql> use mysql;
mysql> UPDATE user SET password = password('secretpassword') WHERE user = 'root';
Disabling Anonymous Users
# mysql -u root -p mysql
Enter Password: secretpassword
mysql> DELETE FROM user WHERE user = '';
mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Disabling Networking in MySQL
Add the following lines into “/etc/my.cnf” file
[mysqld] # Prevent network access to MySQL. skip-networking
Cheers!
Melbin Mathew
www.talk2melbin.com
Difference Between Virus, Trojan, Worms, Spyware, Adware And Malware
Oct 26th
Virus, Trojan, Worms, Spyware, Adware And Malware
All these categories operate without the knowledge of the system owner. Their intention is to destroy and steal the system data. Some times the latest Anitvirus software will not be able to detect and resolve the situation. The whole machine working gets affected. Loss of time and data are much huge in such situations.
Virus (Vital Information Resources Under Siege)
Virus is a program written smartly to replicate on the network and destroy the host computers. If any machine is affected with virus, removal of the virus will be a head ache for us. It would spread through emails, pictures, file sharing etc.
Trojan
Trojan’s are the programs which used to gain access to the host computer. The trojan infected machine open path to the attackers to stole the data. Backdoor of the affected systems are used for attacks like DDOS attacks etc..
Worms
The basic difference between a computer virus and a computer worm is that a virus requires a program(host program) to run and replicate where as a computer worm can spread without a host program. But analysis shows that modern computer worms uses files to hide inside.
In short computer worm is a self replicating program which uses a network to send copies of itself to all the hosts in the network even without user intervention.
Spyware
Spyware is a malware that is secretly installed on the users computer and collects information about the users without their knowledge. A typical example is keylogger installed on the computers to secretly monitor the users.
Other than monitoring the users computing, spyware programs collect various information such as Internet surfing habits, sites visted and may ven interfer with user control of the computer. They may install additional software’s secretly and may redirect the webpages.
Adware
Adware are the programs which bring much ads to our computer. If the infect machine connected to Internet, at sudden so many POP-UP’s will be opening with ads. By closing one ads window another one will be opening. They consume much bandwidth.
Malware
Malwares are the program with malicious intention. They are the general term used for bad-software . Viruses, Trojans, Spams, Adware, Spyware etc. fall under the malware category. Their intention is to create backdoor entry to the attackers, steal data and prepare the host computer for attacking another systems.
Cheers!
Melbin Mathew
www.talk2melbin.com
How To Make Fake Funny Virus With Examples
Oct 26th
How To Make Fake Funny Virus
We are all aware of computer virus’s. They do much harm to our computers. There are also some fake virus that does not make any harm to our systems.
You can play prank on others using fake, funny virus. Here are some examples for creating funny virus.
1. Fake funny virus – Open window virus
- Open a notepad and add the following lines,
START START START START START START START START START
- save the file as funnyvirus.bat. Double click on the file to execute.
Output:
Multiple command prompt windows will open.
2. Fake funny virus – Error generation virus
- Open a notepad and add the following lines,
do
x= msgbox("Pc System Crashed",16, "Warning")
x= msgbox("Shutting Down",16, "Warning")
x= msgbox("Virus Found",16, "Warning")
x= msgbox("Oops System Crashed",16, "Warning")
loop
- save the file as funnyvirus.vbs. Double click on the file to execute.
Output:
Multiple error messages will pop up.
- To stop the application use Task Manager and end the program.
3. Fake funny virus – Open window virus
- Open a notepad and add the following lines,
@echo off copy 100% funnyvirus.bat start funnyvirus.bat
- save the file as funnyvirus.bat
Output:
Apx around 218 multiple command prompt windows will open.
- Close the group to exit.
4. Fake funny virus – Error generation virus
- Open a notepad and add the following lines,
test1= msgbox("Please contact Administrator",16, "Warning")
test2= msgbox("Please contact Administrator",16, "Warning")
test3= msgbox("Please contact Administrator",16, "Warning")
test4= msgbox("Please contact Administrator",16, "Warning")
test5= msgbox("Please contact Administrator",16, "Warning")
test6= msgbox("Please contact Administrator",16, "Warning")
test7= msgbox("Please contact Administrator",16, "Warning")
- save the file as funnyvirus.vbs
Output:
Multiple error messages will pop up.
5. Fake funny virus – Shutdown virus
- Open a notepad and add the following lines,
shutdown -s -t 300 -c "Virus Infection Detected System Going to Shutdown"
- save the file as funnyvirus.bat
Ouput:
System shutdown count down starts
- To exit go to -> run -> type “shutdown -a” to abort the shutdown.
6. Fake funny virus – Talking virus
- Open a notepad and add the following lines,
StrText="Caution Virus Infection Detected, System Going To Crash"
set Objvoice=CreateObject("SAPI.SpVoice")
Objvoice.Speak StrText
- save it as funnyvirus.vbs file and execute.
Output:
We can hear the typed text message “Caution Virus Infection Detected, System Going To Crash” through speaker.
Cheers!
Melbin Mathew
www.talk2melbin.com
Attack History Of Computer Viruses
Oct 25th
Computer Viruses in History
Computer viruses have a relatively short history by the damages caused by some of the most dangerous viruses pushed cyber-experts to open a chapter that includes a huge database on computer viruses and the cost of damages caused along with companies, government and universities highly affected by malware.
Here are some of the most dangerous computer viruses in history:
Jerusalem – 1987
This is one of the first MS-DOS viruses in history that caused enormous destructions, affecting many countries, universities and company worldwide. On Friday 13, 1988 the computer virus managed to infect a number of institutions in Europe, America and the Middle East. The name was given to the virus after one of the first places that got “acquainted” with it – the Jerusalem University.
Along with a number of other computer viruses, including “Cascade”, “Stoned”, “Vienna” the Jerusalem virus managed to infect thousands of computers while still remaining unnoticed. Back then the anti-virus programs were not as advanced as they are today and a lot of users had little belief of the existence of computer viruses.
Morris (a.k.a. Internet Worm) – November 1988
This computer virus infected over 6,000 computer systems in the United States, including the famous NASA research Institute, which for some time remained completely paralyzed. Due to erratic code, the worm managed to send millions of copies of itself to different network computers, being able to entirely paralyze all network resources. The damages caused by the Morris computer virus were estimated at $96 millions.
To be able to spread the computer virus used errors in such operating systems as Unix for VAX and Sun Microsystems. There were a number of other interesting ideas used by the virus – for example it could pick user passwords.
Solar Sunrise – 1998
A decade later the situation didn’t change, it might have gotten even got worse. Using a computer virus, hackers, in 1998, penetrated and took control of over 500 computers systems that belonged to the army, government and private sector of the United States. The whole situation was dubbed Solar Sunrise after the popular vulnerabilities in computers that run on the operating system called Sun Solaris. Initially it was believed that the attacks were planed by the operatives in Iraq. It was later revealed that the incidents represented the work of two American teenagers from California. After the attacks, the Defense Department took drastic actions to prevent future incidents of this kind.
Melissa – 1999
For the first time computers got acknowledged with Melissa computer virus on March 26, 1999, when the virus shut down Internet mail system, which got blocked with e-mails infected by the worm. It is worth mentioning that at first Melissa was not meant to cause any harm, but after it overloaded servers the virus led to unpredictable problems. For the first time it spread in the Usenet discussion group alt.sex. Melissa was hidden within a file called “List.DiC”, which featured passwords that served as keys to unlocking 80 pornographic websites. The original form of the virus was sent through e-mail to different users.
Melissa computer virus was developed by David L. Smith in Aberdeen Township, New Jersey. Its name comes from a lap dancer that the programmer got acknowledged with while in Florida. After being caught, the creator of the virus was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000. The arrest represented a collaboration of FBI, New Jersey State Police and Monmouth Internet.
Melissa had the ability to multiply on Microsoft Word 97 and Word 2000, as well as Microsoft Excel 97, 2000 and 2003. In addition, the virus had the ability to mass-mail itself from Microsoft Outlook 97 or Outlook 98.
I Love You – May 2000
Using a similar method as the Melissa, the computer virus dubbed “I Love You” managed to infect millions of computers around the world in just one night. Just like Melissa this computer virus sent passwords and usernames, which were stored on the attacked computers, back to the developer of the virus. After authorities traced the virus they found that a young Filipino student was behind the attack. The young man was released due to the fact that the Philippines did not have any law that would prevent hacking and spreading malware. This situation served as one of the premises for creating the European Union’s global Cybercrime Treaty.
The Code Red worm – July 2001
This 21st century computer virus managed to penetrate tens of thousands of systems that ran Microsoft Windows NT as well as Windows 2000 server software. The damages caused by the Code Red computer virus were estimated at a total of $2 billion. Core Red was developed to use the power of all computers it infected against the official website of the White House at a predetermined date. In collaboration with different virus hunters and tech firms, the White House managed to decipher the code of the Code Red virus and stop traffic as the malware started its attacks.
Nimda – 2001
Shortly after the September 11 tragedy this computer virus infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide. Nimda was considered to be one of the most complicated viruses, having up to 5 different methods of infecting computers systems and duplicating itself.
Downadup – 2009
The latest and most dangerous virus is the “downadup” worm, which was also called “Conficker”. The computer security company F-Secure stated that the computer virus has infected 3.5 million computers worldwide. This malicious program was able to spread using a patched Windows flaw. Downadup was successful in spreading across the Web due to the fact that it used a flaw that Microsoft patched in October in order to distantly compromise computers that ran unpatched versions of Microsoft’s operating system. But the greatest power of the worm is believed to be the ability of computers, infected with the worm, to download destructive code from a random drop point. F-Secure stated that three of the most affected countries were China, Brazil and Russia.
Note Taken From : http://infoniac.com
Still one among us are planning for another attack….
Cheers!
Melbin Mathew
www.talk2melbin.com