Various cool software and more

We all know of different image/cloning software, this one however is free AND can image on-the-fly via VSS (meaning you can run it while you work, well more or less naturally)..

I was suggested this by a friend (R. Tastesen) as just the tool for my forthcomming harddisk upgrade to a hybrid disk..  it seems quite promising..

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

An interesting video comparing SSD, Hybrid, 10.000 rpm and 7.200 rmp harddisks.

I recently bought one of these Seagate Momentus XT drives and I’m looking forward to installing it, it looks like good value for money compared to SSD.
for more check here; http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/laptops/laptop-hdd/

I just had the need to send a mail via a script file, now in VB this could be easily done but from a .cmd file!?  Well I found something called “bmail” which worked for me, sadly it is missing a switch to include attachments but for now I can live with this.  It’s freeware by the way 🙂

Get it here;
http://www.beyondlogic.org/solutions/cmdlinemail/cmdlinemail.htm

BAE Systems unleashes an effective new laser defense system, it is a non lethal system that will allow the holder to blind and confuse the target audience by means of a three foot wide green laser beam, the effect is confusion and temporary blindness for the target, effective range is about one mile.  The company has primarily developed the technology for sea traders as a countermeasure for pirates.

Quite interesting technology I dare say.
http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-features/53451-bae-zaps-pirates-with-new-laser-defense-system

Just stumbled across an interesting utility a partition resize utility, you are right I have mentioned many of these (including free once) however this offers something interesting convert “dynamic disk” to “basic disk” (something that I could have used recently).

Anyhow if you are on the marced for a disk-partitioning-software you should take a look 🙂 there is even a limited free edition.
http://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-magic-free.html

partition magic freeware

MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition is a magic partition software optimized for business environment with advanced features such as Merge Partition, Convert Dynamic disk to Basic disk and Change cluster size. Business users and system administrators can use our magic partition software to Resize and Move partitions, Merge Partition, Change Cluster Size, Copy Partition, Copy Disk, Create, Delete and Format partitions, Convert and Explore partitions, Hide and Unhide partitions, Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk and much more. Our partition magic softwaresupports Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. And MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition could be used in business environment.

So you would like to Multiboot your USB stick, DVD or ISO file!?

Well sure why not, there are lots of interesting boot images out there these days and if you need a usb stick for each and every one of them you’ll end up with quite a collection 🙂

Anyhow, introducing Xboot..

Purpose of this software is to create multiboot USB/ISO from various ISO files.
Support for some ISO files have been added , support for some other ISO files will be added later on the request of users.
http://reboot.pro/13246/

Anohter interesting utility you may want to take a look at is;
RMPrepUSB, it’s a utility to format and partition USB Pens, it is quite advanced offering imaging and other cool stuff, it also claim to be able to format FAT32 up to 2tb.
http://sites.google.com/site/rmprepusb/

I had the need to detect if a system was running 32 or 64 bit, I ended out with a solution much like the one shown below;

Just create two subdirectories called X86/X64 (X86 version in X86 and X64 in X64) and then create a install.cmd in each to install either the x86 or x64 version.

----<batchfile.cmd>---------------
@Echo off
if defined ProgramFiles(x86) goto INS64
goto INS32
:INS32
Echo 32 bit installing
call x86\install.cmd
goto END
:INS64
Echo 64 bit installing
call x64\install.cmd
goto END
:END

As an addition to my previous post about the “Gemini” Android virus, here is a link to a supposedly free Android Antivirus software.

Please note, I have not checked this out personally yet so I can not vouch for it nor its effectiveness however it seems legit and professional (it is released by the folks that published news about the “Gemini” Trojan).

http://apps.talkandroid.com/apps/communication/2098-com+lookout/
https://www.mylookout.com/

UPDATE; I installed the software and ran a few basic tests, it seem to function as advertised, sadly I did not succeed in downloading the eicar test virus file so I could verify the antivirus part of the software 😐  but it does indeed scan new software installed on the phone and the locate phone also works as advertised.

Well it was just a matter of time before this happened 🙂 a trojan for Android, well I am sure that other threats exist out there for Android phones but this sounds like one of the more ‘professional’ ones.

—- from talkandroid.com —-

Today, mobile security company Lookout released some information regarding a new virus found in the wild, and it’s targeting Android phones. The virus comes to us by way of China, and has been dubbed “Gemini”. The app attaches itself to legitimate applications, such as:

  • Monkey Jump 2
  • Sex Positions
  • President vs. Aliens
  • City Defrense
  • Baseball Superstars 2010

According to Lookout:

The specific information it collects includes location coordinates and unique identifiers for the device (IMEI) and SIM card (IMSI). At five-minute intervals, Geinimi attempts to connect to a remote server using one of ten embedded domain names. A subset of the domain names includes www.widifu.com, www.udaore.com, www.frijd.com, www.islpast.com and www.piajesj.com. If it connects, Geinimi transmits collected device information to the remote server.

We will say this, however… this isn’t a giant threat. In order to get infected, you would have to install an sideload app from a 3rd party or Chinese Market, meaning the trojan doesn’t come to your phone by way of the official Android Market. So be careful out there, users, and always make sure your apps are coming from a legal, legit source. Lookout Mobile Security, however, has been updated to protect against the malware, so be sure to get it here if you aren’t already using it.

http://www.talkandroid.com/24949-new-android-trojan-virus-discovered-dubbed-gemini/

Just stumbled across something I thought I’d share, it’s an interesting collection of video-clips from Dan Tentler on People hacking and more – quite interesting although I’m somewhat sceptical of the more fantastic parts of the scope – like people just handing over money, phones etc. on the street because you ask them to.. like some sort of instant hypnosis – but hey I may be off here..

Anyway, take a coupple of minutes and have a look;
All videos here; http://www.atenlabs.com/peoplehacking/

Sample here;