Breeds of Hackers and Ethical Hacking

Ethical Hacking is regarded as an art of breaking into computer systems or networks with an intent to analyze it, study it and eventually protecting it. I regard it as an art because not everyone can hack. A hacker, generally, is a person with a wide array of expertise in different computer subjects and terminologies which takes lot of time, energy and brains.

He is a uncanny person who is used to thinking things out-of-the-box. In today's digital age we can find three different breeds of hackers namely :
• White Hat Hackers
• Black Hat Hackers
• Grey Hat Hackers
White Hat Hackers

White Hate Hackers are the ones who are termed as ethical hackers. These are the ones who follows morality, ethics, abides by the laws and still hack! It seems weird, but yes, thats how it is! This is how it happens – an ethical hacker is permitted to hack computer systems or networks and he tries his best to hack it. Now the question arises – why? An obvious answer to this is that unless there is an understanding of whats insecure in our system or network, we wont be able to protect it. An ethical hacker provides with vulnerabilities or loop holes in the system or network through extensive use of various hacking techniques. These vulnerabilities and flaws are then generally corrected through corrective and preventive measures.

Black Hat Hackers

Black Hat Hackers who are also called as Crackers are people who break into computer systems and networks without any prior permission. They are the people who break for various reasons such as robbery, revenge, showing-off their skills, causing damage or just any random reason. Black Hat Hackers can be regarded as the new criminals of this digital age. Several federal laws have been enacted to curb Black Hat Hacking. The IT Act 2000 which is followed by a number of countries have listed out several ways to deal and punish Black Hat Hackers. A lot of network security agencies have been formed after several hacking cases being reported. These agencies work for designing security policies and measures to protect organizations and individuals alike from getting hacked.

Grey Hat Hackers

Grey Hat Hackers are hackers who have designed their own reasons to hack computer systems and networks. They are like Robin Hoods of today's age. They can be seen as a mix of White Hat and Black Hat Hackers. Grey Hat Hackers can do good for some people and can even cause damage depending on their approach. For example, Grey Hat Hackers typically hack sites which they feel is socially bad like adult and gambling sites. Some from these breed of hackers hack systems and networks, find out the vulnerabilities and loop holes and report them to the respective organizations or owners. They do this just for getting popularity, showing-off or some of their own reasons and visions

Break BIOS Password for Desktop

If it's a desktop PC, erasing the cmos memory will usually clear it.

Steps:
1.Power off the computer and make sure that it is unplugged.

2.Open up your computer case. You need physical access to the motherboard to complete this                 procedure.

3.Find a circular, (mostly) silver metallic object on the motherboard. This is the CMOS battery.

4.CAREFULLY remove the CMOS battery and leave it out for about 120- 180 seconds. This will          flush the CMOS memory which stores the BIOS password and all other configuration. (See                Warnings)

5.Set the battery back into place and power on the computer.

6.The computer should then warn you that the CMOS configuration could not be found. You can            either reconfigure it yourself or restore defaults. Restoring the default configuration should be fine.

7.You will notice that the BIOS password has been cleared and you can boot without it. You may reset the BIOS password to something else by going into the BIOS configuration and setting a new User Password.

Alternate Methos: (More Dificult)
Remove a jumper: There's a jumper on your motherboard that you'll need to identify and remove. Most motherboards make your job easier by actually labeling the correct jumper as "BIOS config" or something similar. (it looks like a small plastic thingy on 2 pins with 1 pin beside it, within a 1" of the battery). If you're having trouble looking for it, look in the motherboard manual.After you have found it, carefuly pull straight up on it, and place it on the 2-3 pins(it was on the 1-2 pins). With the battery removed and the jumper moved, turn the computer on, and check to see if you can get into the bios. If you are able to, turn the computer off, put the jumper back on pins 1-2, and put the battery back in. Lastly put the case together and you are done.

Note: Don't forget to configure the BIOS (if you know how) after this process. If you you don't know how, just hold the "delete" button when starting your PC and when the blue screen appears, find the load safe defaults settings and press:
• ENTER button
• Y button
• F10 button

Break BIOS Password for Laptop :
Remember that laptops can be trickier, especially if it's a newer model. If it has a security chip on the motherboard forget about it. You either have to physically remove the chip or contact the mfg for the "master" password. If you can boot up off of a cd or floppy try any of these methods:

1.Create a Win98SE bootable media "or anything that lets you boot into MS-DOS" and boot off of         it.
2.When the A:\> prompt appears type debug and press enter.

3.You will then only see a "-".

4.Type o 70 2E "include the spaces" and press Enter.

5.Type o 71 ff "include the spaces" and press Enter.

6.Type q and press Enter.

7.Here are a list of common mfg backdoor passwords

8.AWARD BIOS
AWARD SW, AWARD_SW, Award SW, AWARD PW, _award, awkward, J64, j256, j262, j332, j322, 01322222, 589589, 589721, 595595, 598598, HLT, SER, SKY_FOX, aLLy, aLLY, Condo, CONCAT, TTPTHA, aPAf, HLT, KDD, ZBAAACA, ZAAADA, ZJAAADC,
AMI BIOS
AMI, A.M.I., AMI SW, AMI_SW, BIOS, PASSWORD, HEWITT RAND,

 Order Softwares to Break BIOS Password:

If your system boots but the BIOS password is still in place, there are several programs you can load that are designed to crack the passwords or clear them altogether. The encryption on BIOS passwords is not very complex. Following are links to a few of these free programs:
1. CmosPwd 4.8

3 Things To Do Now To See An Instant Boost In Computer Speed

This helps boost speed of your computer - so even your Internet Explorer or web browser you use will works faster.

This will work for Windows XP users mainly.

Step One

First of all I remove all icons from my desktops, including shortcuts, my computer, recycle bin and all icons. They can be removed safely, you are not deleting them. Shortcuts are waste of space. I can still easily access everything. I show you how in a second.

To remove all items from desktop:

You can simple click on the icon one time, then click delete on your keyboard. I deleted my computer and recycle bin that way. They are simple removed from the desktop.

To easily access them if you need:

Click Start, then Click Run.

Type in: C:/

Hit OK. A window opens. Click the icon (there is a folder and an arrow pointing up) Click that another time and you will see My Computer, Recycle bin etc.

Once you get used to it, you find it easy. Memorize a bit the steps, that is all it takes.

Step Two

Now change your XP settings to classic. (this will also remove desktop wallpaper and change colors of your computer to default, which is blue, but it will boost your speed)

Right click on desktop (where there was my computer icon) select properties. You have a drop down menu. Select Classic Theme then click ok.

Step Three

Now, right click on your start button. Select properties. Then select Classic Start Menu. Then click Customize.

At the bottom, place a tick mark next to:

Display Run

Enable Dragging And Dropping

Remove the tick mark of all the rest.

Hit OK.

Now click on Taskbar at the top.

Place a tick mark next to:

Keep the taskbar on top of other windows.

Group similar task buttons together.

Untick the rest.

At the bottom place a tick next to:

Hide inactive icons.

Finally hit OK.

Step four

Now click on Start, then Programs. What you do not need, therefore you do not use regularly right click on it and select delete.

I have removed everything apart ones that I could not - the Startup Folder. You can still access those things by going to:

Click Start, then Run

Type in c:/program files

There you can see the programs of your computer. Again you just have to get used to using the run command and everything is easy. By now you should have seen a little improvement.

Black Is Better than White for Energy-Efficient Screens.

BLACK HOLE: LCD monitors, which have no phosphors and represent the lion's share of every new monitor purchased in the developed world, use more energy than CRTs to display a black screen.

The green computing movement demands that all computer users shed the energy-wasting practices to which they've grown accustomed—so you decide that you're going to power down your PC at night, invest in an Energy Star–approved laptop, and only visit Web pages that eschew white space in favor of ostensibly more energy-efficient black backgrounds.

Before you tune out and turn off, you should know that black isn't necessarily the new green. Because computer monitors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and not all monitors create black and white the same way, there's no proof that, on the whole, increased usage of black images would save more energy than the continued use of white ones. In fact in newer liquid-crystal display, or LCD, monitors white is actually slightly more energy efficient than black.

The notion that black screens save electricity certainly makes sense when you're talking about cathode-ray tube, or CRT, technology that works by moving an electron beam back and forth across the back of the screen. "The front screen is covered with red, blue and green phosphors," says Bill Schindler, vice president of electrical engineering for Panasonic Plasma Display Laboratory of America. To produce white, the electron beam is directed at the phosphors. However, "when the screen is black, you don't have to fire the beam," he adds.

CRT monitors, which until a few years ago were the predominant models among PC users, consume more power when a computer screen is white. To confirm this, Schindler measured the energy output of an 18-inch (45.7-centimeter) CRT monitor and found it used 102 watts when the screen was white but only 79 watts when the display was black.

This is not the case, however, with LCD monitors, which have no phosphors and represent the lion's share of every new monitored purchased in the developed world, including those used by laptops. Instead, LCD displays rely on an array of thin-tube fluorescent bulbs that provide a constant source of light to create a white screen. To make it black, LCDs rely on a diffuser to block this light. As a result, LCDs use more energy than CRTs to display a black screen. Measuring a 17-inch (43-centimeter) LCD monitor, Schindler found that white required 22.6 watts, while black came in a tad higher at 23.2 watts. With a 20-inch (50.8-centimeter) LCD, black required 6 percent more energy than white.

One of the most visible manifestations of the belief that black screens save energy is Blackle, an online search engine whose Web site is cast almost entirely in black. Created by Heap Media, Blackle exists "to remind people of the need to take small steps every day to save energy," says Blackle founder Toby Heap, who launched the site in January. "I do not expect the energy savings from Blackle to change the world on their own, but the point of Blackle is that every little bit counts."

One of the key arguments in favor of black screens is a 2002 research study produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory entitled "Energy Use and Power Levels in New Monitors and Personal Computers." The report indicates that "a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen." Indeed, that study reports that black screens consistently require less energy than white screens, regardless of whether the monitor is a CRT or LCD.

"It depends on the resting state of the LCD as to whether they require energy to stop light or to allow light to pass through," Heap explains. "This is why screen tests show that some CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) LCD screens save energy and some use a bit more. All of the scientific test data we have come across shows a slight saving on black LCD screens, which suggests that the rest state on many LCD screens does not allow light through." Heap also points out that a large number of Blackle users come from India and South America, where CRTs are still commonly sold.

Even though Google isn't tied to Blackle other than powering its search engine, Google green energy czar Bill Weihl in August posted a blog disputing the notion of black as the new green. "We applaud the spirit of the idea, but our own analysis as well as that of others shows that making the Google homepage black will not reduce energy consumption," he wrote. "To the contrary, on flat-panel monitors (already estimated to be 75 percent of the market), displaying black may actually increase energy usage."

New advances in LCD technologies could eventually validate the belief that black is better. Newer types of LCD include a dynamic dimming capability that changes the strength of the backlight based on the image being displayed. Heap also points out that many of the new monitor technologies such as LCDs backlit with light-emitting diodes (LED), plasma screens and organic LED screens do not have a constant backlight "so we will see larger savings with Blackle as these new monitors replace the CCFL LCDs," he says.

In the meantime, the world is evenly split between CRT and LCD monitors, totaling roughly 405 million and 401 million respectively in 2007, according to iSuppli data. So if you're still toiling away in front of a hefty CRT monitor that takes up three-quarters of your desk, then black screens will save you some energy. For those who've graduated to thinner LCD models, black screens are actually sucking up more energy then their white counterparts.

-By Larry Greenemeier

Browser- Firefox

Firefox

A few years ago, a ‘web browser’ was a term that was known only to the hardcore computer and Internet user. The major reason for this was that the major operating system at the time had an inbuilt web browser that was more than enough for a layman’s usage of the internet on a day to day basis. Come to think of it, a few years ago, we would not even be having this discussion, or this article.

The web browser may be the one of the most ‘turned different’ software in recent times. From basic software that one could access the Internet through, it has become a feature rich, customizable (almost and most of), edutainment software. However, all the fingers on the hand are not the same, and there is of course a vast difference between all the browsers available today.

Web browsers have seen immense enhancements since the time we first saw them. While almost all the web browsers have almost the same features, there is one browser that supports all the features its boasts of. So, depending on the features, the support and the basic usability, here’s my vote for the best web browser.

Mozilla Firefox: There are a million reasons why this browser is my favorite. One of them goes back to that night when I had to spend three hours waiting for my computer to shut after being commanded to do that. The next day I formatted my pc and spoke to my online friend about it, and she took me by the hand to the Mozilla Firefox. Though I have lost contact with her like everyone of my chat friends, the Mozilla Firefox still remains with me, my trusted steed on the interesting super information highway.

Here are some of the features that make the Mozilla Firefox the best web browser to hit the Internet world:

Enhanced Security: The Firefox has been known to have better security than most other web browsers, and as a Firefox user, I can say that it actually does a better job of blocking pop ups and pop unders and other Internet evil.

Updates: Firefox does not believe in resting on its laurels. And it surely believes in making something good better, and better, and better. Firefox releases updates for its software almost every month, and they aren’t any riff-raff. They are actually updates which make a browsing experience much more fruitful than it was before.

Customizable: The Internet is all about personal specifications. Mozilla found it right, and at a time when other browsers charged around $15 for a theme (yes, you read it right, $15 for a stupid, loopy, graphically weak theme), Mozilla Firefox offered the user an endless list of themes that they could use. From Metal Lion to Pimpalicious, they had it all, and more.

Add-Ons: As previously discussed, Firefox believes in making the good better all the time. It has various Add-Ons, from Image Zoom (my personal favorite) to Multimedia Players, which make the Mozilla Firefox a great piece of software to know and learn, every day.

Another major reason for Firefox to be the #1 Internet browser is that it is totally free. So, taking into consideration that it is free, technologically ahead and having a host of cute freebies, the Firefox is the best internet browser around.

What is the best operating system and why?

In: Windows, Apple and Mac, Linux

The best desktop operating system to use depends on what its intended use will be and who will be using it. There is no specific operating system which can be called "the best" overall, and since most current operating systems share most common and advanced features there is much debate on the topic. A few of the most popular operating system, their pros and cons, and some of their best uses are described below.

Microsoft Windows

Pros:

The largest library of programs and applications.

Some commercial games work only with Windows and DirectX.

Almost all hardware has drivers which are compatible with Windows.

Most widely used.

Cons:

Prone to viruses, spyware, and adware if proper steps not taken such as installation of internet security software, which reduces performance speed.

Requires regular maintenance to avoid system errors and reduced performance.

Even with maintenance, issues can slowly accumulate requiring a re-installation of Windows to restore performance and fix software issues.

Expensive.

Windows Vista has high system requirements.

The Windows market share has seen some decrease in recent years and months.

Notes:

Windows Vista, the most recent consumer version of Windows, has relatively high system requirements compared to its Windows XP and other operating systems. There are also other issues, such as some software and hardware incompatibilities or frequent security confirmations, which are causing many individuals and businesses to continue using the older Windows XP.

The two most common versions of Windows are Windows XP and Windows Vista. Vista, although it has some issues, does have some new features such as search-as-you-type search and a 3D-accelerated desktop, features up until now only found in Mac OS X and some versions of Linux.

With the introduction of Virtual-machine software, Windows has become a popular add-on for Mac and Linux in order allow those computers to support Windows-only software or hardware when needed.

Best uses:

Gamers

People who must use Windows-only software for work or school.

People or businesses looking for an inexpensive computer yet do not have the ability to use Linux.

Mac OS X

Pros:

Relatively simple and intuitive interface with many advanced features.

Not virus or malware prone: there are no Mac OS X viruses in the wild, and with its UNIX base, it is fairly resilient. There are a small number of trojans (malicious software) which have been known to take effect through applications running in Mac OS X, though they are almost always found on illegal-content-based websites and are not of significant concern.

Second-largest selection of software, with many high-quality Mac-only programs in existence, such as those found in iLife. Although at one point software for certain tasks were not Mac-compatible, all software is now either Mac-compatible or has an equivalent that is. Most advanced games have also recently became compatible with Mac OS X.

Reliable and high performance.

Cons:

Limited to Apple-manufactured hardware.

Some hardware does not have Mac-compatible drivers, though the number of this hardware has recently become small and negligible.

It can be difficult to do certain cross-platform network hardware sharing for a Mac OS X based computer in a Windows network or visa-versa. For example, a printer's Mac driver may not support cross-platform printing to a Windows-connected printer, and replacement drivers may or may not exist.

Notes:

There are some security holes in Mac OS X just like in other operating systems, and, like in other operating systems, they are fixed with occasional updates upon their discovery. However, Mac OS X includes a built-in firewall, and hacks aimed at Mac are less common than hacks aimed at Windows, so this is not generally a major concern.

Macs are usually more expensive than PCs made by companies such as Dell and HP. However, the following factors can cause the total price of owning a Mac to be less than that of a PC: Mac OS X and Apple iWork are relatively inexpensive compared to copies of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. PCs experience hardware or software failures more frequently than Macs, increasing service and replacement costs.

With a relatively low market share compared to Windows, there are still individual programs which are only Windows compatible. However, virtual machine software with a Windows installation or compatibility layer software can allow those programs to run even on a Mac.

The Mac has seen significant market share increases in recent years and months, something which has also increased the amount of Mac-compatible software.

Best uses:

Students who are not required to use Windows-specific software (though Windows can easily be installed to use Windows software). A recent study indicated that the number of students intending to purchase Macs has neared that of Windows-based PCs.

Home users looking for an easy and reliable computing experience who are willing to pay more than typical PC prices.

Graphic designers and photographers.

Scientists.

Linux and other UNIX-based

Pros:

Low number of viruses and spyware, similar to Mac OS X

Usually free

Large selection of Linux distributions to choose from.

Has a large amount of free and open source software equivalents to commercial Windows and Mac software

More easily customizable

Can run many Windows programs with the use of a compatibility layer such as Wine. (Programs such as Cedega can be used to run many Windows games)

Reliable with good performance and low requirements.

Cons:

Advanced use and installation of some software may require more advanced knowledge than is required for use of Windows and Mac.

Many commercial programs do not support Linux

Small commercial game library

Notes:

There are a few main types of Linux: Debian, Fedora (formally Red Hat), and SUSE. Ubuntu, a type of Debian, is highly popular among home users, as is SUSE, to a lesser extent. Fedora is more popular among businesses.

There are many other (non-Linux) UNIX-based operating systems (with the same UNIX base as Linux), including Mac OS X and SunOS (which are based on Free-BSD). There are also some UNIX-like operating systems.

Through customization and software like Beryl, Linux can be made to have advanced desktop effects similar to Aero on Windows Vista or Aqua on Mac OS X.

"Dependency hell" can make installation of certain programs on Linux difficult even for advanced users.

Best uses:

Experienced computer users looking for a good, free operating system.

Businesses looking for reliable and affordable computing, so long as they do not need Windows-only software and have a competent IT manager.

Bottom line

Though there is no one clear best operating system, each does have its advantages and disadvantages, and different people will be best using different ones. Microsoft Windows is the most common operating system and is a reasonable choice for most people. Mac OS X is second-most popular (and gaining market share) and is an excellent operating system for those who can purchase a Mac. Linux is a very good advanced operating system available for free and is recommended for experienced users.

Mobile Operating Systems

Aside from the main question of which OS to use in your home or work computer, lightweight mobile operating systems are also used (and almost always pre-installed or even hard-wired) in mobile devices such as cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, and Internet Notebooks/Superportables (which are similar to downsized laptops with low specifications). There is not a great deal of choice among these, and features differences are based more on the mobile device itself, and less on the operating system. Windows Mobile is usually used in Pocket PCs and Smartphones; iPhone OS (based on Mac OS X) is used in the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch; Symbian is used in Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, and other cell phones; and Linux-based mobile OSes are common both on cell phones and small Internet Notebooks.  

How to Add a Website Link to the Start Menu

Adding items to the Start menu in Windows is very convenient when it comes to starting applications. The below steps will show you how to add URL links to the Start menu so you can quickly access Web sites without needing to open a browser first.

Steps

Right click on the Start button and select Explore

After Windows Explorer opens, in the right window pane, right click and select New / Shortcut

In the "Type the location of the item" enter the Web Site URL you want to create. An example would be (without quotes) "http://www.watchingthenet.com/"

Click Next

In the "Type a name for this shortcut:" enter a name for the link that you want to display in the Start menu.

Click Finish

Now click on the Start menu and you will see the new link you just created. Click on it and it will open up to the website.

Tips

If you want all users on the Computer to have the link displayed in the Start menu, select "Explore All Users" in the first step after right clicking on the Start menu