For the nerds

AVG 2011 command line perimeters

AVG 2011 Anti-Virus command line scanner
Copyright (c) 1992 - 2010 AVG Technologies
/SCAN           Scan /for example SCAN=path;path/
/COMP           Whole computer scan
/HEUR           Use heuristic analysis
/EXCLUDE        Exclude path or files from scan
/@              Command file /file name/
/EXT            Scan these extensions /for example EXT=EXE,DLL/
/NOEXT          Do not scan these extensions /for example NOEXT=JPG/
/ARC            Scan archives
/CLEAN          Clean automatically
/TRASH          Move infected files to the Virus Vault
/QT             Quick test
/LOG            Generate a scan result file
/MACROW         Report macros
/PWDW           Report password-protected files
/ARCBOMBSW      Report archive bombs (repeatedly compressed archives)
/IGNLOCKED      Ignore locked files
/REPORT         Report to file /file name/
/REPAPPEND      Append to the report file
/REPOK          Report uninfected files as OK
/NOBREAK        Do not allow CTRL-BREAK to abort
/BOOT           Enable MBR/BOOT check
/PROC           Scan active processes
/PUP            Report "Potentially unwanted programs"
/PUPEXT         Report enhanced set of Potentially Unwanted Programs
/REG            Scan registry
/COO            Scan for Tracking Cookies
/?              Display help on this topic
/HELP           Display help on this topic
/PRIORITY       Set scan priority /Low, Middle, High, User Sensitive/
/SHUTDOWN       Shutdown computer upon scan completion
/FORCESHUTDOWN  Force computer shutdown upon scan completion
/ADS            Scan Alternate Data Streams (NTFS only)
/HIDDEN         Report files with hidden extension
/INFECTABLEONLY Scan files with infectable extensions only
/THOROUGHSCAN   Enable thorough scanning

Steve Jobs defends iPad vs new Android tablets

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, made some interesting points at this quarter's earnings calls. Apple achieved their first $20 billion quarter and is looking at their competition with scrutinous eyes.

In comparison, Apple activates an average of 275,000 devices per day while Android lags behind still with an average of 200,000 per day. Apple boasts a app store container 300,000+ apps, over three times that of which Android has in it's app marketplace. Jobs also explained how the company feels about the differences Android and Apple have in approach to their mobile devices saying "[w]e think Android is very, very fragmented, and becoming more fragmented by the day". The fragmenting that Jobs is referring to is the fact that Android's open approach has created over 100 variations of the Operating System making app development more difficult and prone to incompatibility issues and lack of support on the lesser used Android models. Being a Droid user myself, I've felt the burn of being on what seems like an already outdated HTC Eris platform, but this feeling for the most part comes from HTC's reluctance took make updates for their first Android child while they focus on the Droid Incredible.

This year's innovative release of the iPad attracted over 3million consumers in less than 3 months looking to own one for business, art, or even just for gaming. Mobile device manufactures frantically struggle to release competing tablet devices but, according to Steve Jobs, will fail. "[A]lmost all of them use 7-inch screens, as compared to iPad's near 10-inch screens.", Jobs claims, "The screen measurements are diagonal, so that a 7-inch screen is only 45 percent as large as iPad's 10-inch screen". On top of this, Android urges manufactures to hold off from jumping in on the market until next year's release of a Android platform designed specifically for tablet devices.

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Well, ok, there is no official month for this deems by the powers be, but one or two geek groups are observing this year's 7th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Some tips from me to you:

1. Be sure you have anti-virus software on your computer.
2. Be sure that your anti-virus software is actually activated, working, and up-to-date.
3. Links on Facebook are not always actually posted by friends. Be very cautious any time you follow someone's link.
4. YouTube and Facebook is not likely to ask you to update, download, or enable anything if its already been working for you.
   
5. If something seems suspicious, its probably for a good reason. Check the URL to be sure you're really where you think you are.
6. Anytime you are prompted for a password, look at the URL to be sure you're not being Phished.
7. If a anti-virus software comes up that you don't recognize, its likely malware and your Anti-Virus has failed. Shut down your computer and call your Geek.
8. Websites offering free scans of your computer are 99% of the time a BAD idea.
9. If your email or Facebook gets " "hacked" " (more likely Phished), change your password and check your account settings for traces the intruder left.
10. Passwords should be 8 characters or longer, have more than just letters. More importantly to your security is to be sure you follow #6. Phishing is getting too common.

If you don't know who your Geek is, its that computer person in your family, friends, or church you trust. If you've got no Geek in mind, call me.

New Facebook Feature

Facebook will soon be allowing users to text into the normal text number (32665) the letters "opt" and receive a one time use password to log in with. This is great for using at public locations where you should not trust the network. Facebook hopes to have the feature available in the next few weeks to everyone. Note: you will need to have your cell phone associated with Facebook, of course you can make that phone number not visible to the public in your security settings.

Facebook "Places" for iPhone could risk users

A new feature for the iPhone allows users to easily "check-in" their location through Facebook Places. Using the GPS on the mobile device, Facebook logs where you are when you check-in and even allows you to tag friends that are with you. As Facebook learns more locations, checking in while at friend's houses will intelligently connect your location to that friend. Currently only the iPhone will have this feature, but soon enough other smart phones with the Facebook app will catch up.

Seemingly, the decision to share your location is up to you, but considering Facebook's history I'm not sure I should trust that.. than again maybe they've learned. Of course, again in Facebook history the privacy of it's users is being brought into public scrutiny even though other websites such as Twitter already offer location features like this as received much less flak.

There has always been privacy concerns with the internet all the way back to simple bulletin board websites then chat rooms. The simple solution is to limit the information you put online and assume anything you do is available to more people than just who you gave it to. Although internet security has gotten better, more people are flaunting their personal information around the web then ever before giving scammers and identity thiefs a lot of incentive and material to work with.

Facebook has your information, and who else?

A few weeks ago, Facebook added an option to disallow websites from getting your private data. Although the option empowered the users, it stirred some controversy over your private information's security. Apparently people like publishing their information online and not having it public at the same time (Cake anyone?).

If you are one of those people worried about their privacy, here's a dosage of reality. Facebook application developers have ample information about you, the only thing they need is for you to add the app. According to the Facebook Application Programming Interface (API) documentation (http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/api/user), the following possibly sensitive information is shared: first name, last name, gender, email (though not direct), "about" blurb, birthday, work history, education, hometown, location, significant other, political & religious views, your profile picture, and who's on your friends list.
Even if you don't add every app that comes your way, your friends might. Via a friends profile, they can find out your name and possibly more.

The photo albums this user has created. Requires the user_photos or friend_photos permission

This means that unless your friends block photo permissions to apps, it is still available to people out there.

Even more information (even the subject lines of your inbox) is available to the applications if your setting allow for it, but the good part is that you get to modify your privacy settings to keep some of your information private. Some people may be comfortable with sharing their information, but others may want to highly consider changing their privacy settings. http://www.facebook.com/#!/settings/?tab=privacy

iPhone Browsing Security

iPhone jailbreak website, jailbreakme.com, uses a hole in the security to modify the iPhone firmware so that you can install themes and apps that Apple has not approved. Although most consider this security exploit handy for the jailbreak system, the implication is that other clever developers will be able to exploit the iPhone vulnerability to install spyware or other malicious firmware modifications. Jailbreakme.com states on their website that they cannot jailbreak iPhones with firmware versions 4.0.2 and greater. As an iPhone owner, you must choose to update your phone past 4.0.1 and have the security benefits, or leave your phone vulnerable but take advantage of the jailbreak benefits.