Root Kit Hunter, aka “rkhunter” is a great little utility for *nix based systems that will check for known vulnerabilities and backdoors installed on a Linux box, otherwise know as “root kits”.

Once you install it, simply “su root”, then try running it with the following arguments:

$ rkhunter –checkall –createlogfile

Process only took about 5 minutes on my system, and gave me one warning (I won’t say what so none of you try to hack my machine).

I’ve been getting a lot of people asking me how to get rid of Virii that is installed on their windows boxes, here’s another follow up to my previous post.

If you want to play with Linux, and don’t want to hassle with an install, download the gnoppix or knoppix live cd (one is Gnome desktop, the other is KDE. I personally prefer Gnome, but they are both good). They are both based on the Debian distribution which has a superior package management system than RPM (Redhat Package Manager based systems). If you’re really hardcore, Gentoo is even better.

Basically, you just stick the cd in the drive and reboot (set your cd to read on bootup in the bios - by typing the “del” key when you reboot your PC). No need to get a second drive. Once you get comfortable and want to install linux, you can also do a dual boot with XP so when you boot up you can choose which OS to load.

As for firewalls, I use a hardware router/firewall. Much easier, especially with networking more computers. Hardware will block all incoming requests. If you go this route, it’s a good idea to get one with wifi and port forwarding (if you ever want to host anything on your computer).

And lastly, use FireFox instead of Internet Explorer. IE is one big security hole after another, and the source of most people’s virii problems.

I got this weird email the other day, from a web developer who would like advice on how to “exploit” himself…

—
Sir/Madam

I am working in XML, XSLT for three years with an MNC publishing company.

I want to exploit myself as an XML developer. But there is nothing to exploit more. So please guide me what will be the my next step.

Eagerly waiting for your reply.

Bye

Yours
Bijay
—

So I decided to write up a guide on how to exploit yourself.

Step 1: Ask for the lowest possible salary anybody would consider you for. Do not expect much here, companies can get away with paying you dirt. Infact it’s even better if you qualify for food stamps while working for them.

Step 2: Do not ask for benefits. They are a hinderance to the bottom line, and the fact that you ask for none makes you all that much more attractable to the hiring company.

Step 3: Tell them you are anti-union. Unions only cause rabble-rousing and should be avoided at all costs.

Step 4: Offer your children up as workers the company can also hire for pennies on the dollar.

Step 5: Tell them you will work part-time, so legally they don’t have to provide you anything other than a low hourly rate.

Step 6: Work weekends, and 12 hour days. Tell them you’ll do it for half price or even free if the law allows it.