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Monthly Archives: February 2009

Software Recommendation – Network Mapping Tool Add-On for Visio 2007 (Add-on is Free)

microsoft  A great tool allowing you to easily document your network and what is installed on it is LANsurveyor.  It will create a network diagram in Visio format in just a matter of minutes, after going out and scanning the network for connected items (PC’s, Laptops, Routers, Printer, etc).  For a limited time, solarwinds is offering this add-on free (a $499 value as they claim), by just filling out their registration form.   *NOTE: As they themselves claim – Visio 2007 is required*

**From their Website**

LANsurveyor Express for Microsoft® Visio® is a powerful Visio 2007 plug-in that makes it easy to get comprehensive network maps in just minutes! Accessible via the Visio toolbar, LANsurveyor Express automatically discovers your network and produces topology maps in Visio format. Plus, LANsurveyor Express uses Visio SmartShapes® to represent your network devices and populates each node’s custom properties with the node’s IP address, network name, and fully-qualified domain name

http://www.solarwinds.com/register/registrationform.aspx?program=583&c=70150000000E50d (http://www NULL.solarwinds NULL.com/register/registrationform NULL.aspx?program=583&c=70150000000E50d)  (Registration Location you need to register to be able get your FREE License Key which is a $499 value)

http://www.solarwinds.com/register/MoreSoftware.aspx?External=false&Program=583 (http://www NULL.solarwinds NULL.com/register/MoreSoftware NULL.aspx?External=false&Program=583)  (Download Location)

**Disclosure – I have no affiliation, employment, or payments from anyone connected to this product (Even though if they would like to pay me I wouldn’t mind), I’m simply recommending this product as an end user who has benefitted from the product.**

ALERT: Gmail Users Gets Phished

google-logo After the widespread Gmail outage yesterday users were hit by a phishing attack over the Gtalk chat client. "The malicious message spread via the Google Talk instant messaging chat system (http://www NULL.sophos NULL.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/02/25/gmail-users-hit-viddyho), urging users to a video by clicking on a link connected via the TinyURL service.

gtalk-viddyho

The link points to a website called ViddyHo, which invited users to submit their Gmail usernames and passwords."

viddyho

     When users entered their credentials the information would be logged and the email account would be compromised. If you think you may have been subjected to this attack it is advised you change your password immediately. The attack was not immediately picked up by Google either because it did not use conventional means. By using the Gtalk client it bypassed the Gmail filters completely.

(*Story information and pictures from http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/02/25/gmail-users-hit-viddyho (http://www NULL.sophos NULL.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/02/25/gmail-users-hit-viddyho))

Sprint – Phone Replacement Pt3

sprintlogo I finally have a replacement phone (That isn’t reported lost/stolen) and I have been able to get everything set up on the new phone.  I have returned both the original phone and the 1st replacement phone (The “lost/stolen” one), let see if they process them properly or if i get a notice saying I haven’t returned them.  I’m not holding my breath.

WEB: Worlds Most Expensive Football Game

 

 A Sling box and a wireless data plan are like oil and water because many carriers put a cap on data limits for your wireless data access. When overages like this occur it’s generally an uneducated user blowing his cap out of the water.
An AT&T subscriber (http://www NULL.neowin NULL.net/news/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att) uses his data card with a sling box to stream cable broadcasts to his laptop. While sitting in the port of Miami about to set sail for a Caribbean cruise he wanted to watch the Chicago Bears play before he left for a relaxing vacation. After watching about two hours of the game the boat was leaving port and he didn’t want to be charged roaming fee’s so he turned off his laptop.
After returning home he received a bill from AT&T for $28,067.31. The user was perplexed and called AT&T to report the mishap but found out the charge was legitimate. Somehow, while sitting in the port of Miami, he was picking up a rogue signal on his AT&T data card that was charging him international rates while still in the US.
The best part of the entire story was AT&T’s initial defense was that “they sent a text message about the high use and roaming; however, they sent the message to the wireless card phone number, which cannot be called or texted to.”
Many calls to AT&T got his bill down to $6,000, but it wasn’t until he went to the media, the Chicago Sun (http://www NULL.neowin NULL.net/news/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att), that AT&T finally admitted their mistake and took off the roaming charges.

(*Story Info – Via Neowin.Net http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/02/24/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att (http://www NULL.neowin NULL.net/news/main/09/02/24/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att))

ALERT: Fake IRS email Phishing Scam

From MSNBC : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29266355/?GT1=43001 (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/29266355/?GT1=43001)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com), world news (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/3032507), and news about the economy (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/3032072)

Cyber-thieves are clever crooks. They know an e-mail that looks like it’s from the IRS will get your attention. So they send out fake e-mail that says you are about to be audited or are due a big refund. Who could ignore a message like that?

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