From the category archives:

Data Backup and Recovery

Avast! antivirus (free edition) has found a trojan horse in an Outlook .pst file. How do I get rid of it?

by admin on November 6, 2009

I was running a "Thorough" scan on my computer and allowed it to search archive files in the scan.The scan found a trojan horse on my computer. The malware name is "Win32:BredoLab-k [Trj]". The pathname of the file was "C:Documents and SettingsLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookOutlook.pstPersonal FoldersTop of Personal FoldersInboxShipping Confirmation for Order – (random series of numbers)(random series of numbers).zip(random series of numbers).exe". When Avast found the virus, it recommended that I move it to the "Virus Chest". When I selected that option, I got a message that said: "Error occurred during moving file to chest: The operation is not supported for this type of archive." I next tried to repair it. I got a message that said "Error occurred during repair…" blah blah blah. I next tried to delete it. I got the same message. So now, I don’t know how to get rid of it.

I suspect that what Avast is picking up is a virus from a SPAM e-mail (one of those e-mails where they pretend that they’re sending you confirmation that a UPS/FedEx/DHL package has arrived and they tell you to open the attachment to view a receipt or something like that). I’ve never opened one of those attachments and I never open those e-mails. However, sometimes when those e-mails go to my inbox instead of my junk e-mail folder, I have to right-click on them in order to send them to the junk e-mail folder. Unfortunately, when I right-click on the e-mail it still ends up opening the e-mail in the preview pane. I don’t know if doing this can still expose my computer to a virus, but if it does let me know.

Anyway, the reason I suspect (again, SUSPECT but don’t know for sure) that the trojan horse Avast detected is from an e-mail is because the location of the trojan is in a Outlook .pst file. .pst files are usually backup files that Outlook creates for my e-mails. If a SPAM e-mail that was sent to me had a virus attached, even though I did not open the virus, it’s still on my computer because Outlook made a backup of the e-mail that it was sent in. So… if Avast can’t access the trojan and remove it, should I just delete the "Outlook.pst" file?

{ 1 comment }

help with these questions?

by admin on November 1, 2009

16 Which characteristic typifies robustness in a server system?

the ability to support extra video adapters and monitors
the ability to provide multiple remote access connections
the ability to survive the failure of one or more components and continue functioning
the ability to support redundant backup systems

17 Where does the address http://127.0.0.1 point?

to the closest web server
to the local host
to the nearest DNS server
to the local intranet

18 A module needs to be loaded. However, confirmation that the Linux kernel can load the module is important. Which of the following options of the insmod program will accomplish this task?

-s
-p
-f
-k

19 When setting up a hard disk, what are the three possible types of partitions?

primary, secondary, and logical
primary, logical, and extended
C, D, and E
boot, program, and data

20 Which device is used to check for broadcasts, collisions, usage levels, and errors on an Ethernet network?

oscilloscope
LAN meter
TDR
cable tester

21 In Linux, which symbol represents the root directory?

*
/
#

22 What are the default names of the administrative accounts on a Windows and UNIX NOS, respectively?

root, Administrator
Admin, root
Administrator, root
root, Admin

23 What is the most desirable method of documenting Linux system configurations and changes?

an electronic logbook
a handwritten logbook
a tar file of the /etc directory
a tar file of the init config

24 Why is it important to install X Windows on all Linux workstations?

The CLI is unavailable for users on a client workstation.
It is required for network access.
Users are not familiar with the CLI.
Almost every workstation program requires X Window in order to run.

25 Which list specifies the items needed to set up email for Linux?

mail user agent, mailbox, mailbox protocol
transport protocol, mail user agent, mail transfer agent
mailbox protocol, mail user agent, transport protocol
mail transfer agent, mail protocol, mail user agent

26 Which list best describes the main features to consider when selecting a NOS?

manufacturer, NIC, security, scalability, performance
performance, management/monitoring tools, security, scalability, and robustness
scalability, management tools, size, NIC, BUS type
size, performance, security, bus architecture, scalability

27 You have decided to install your new Linux distribution by using the bootable CD that came with it. What must be configured before you can boot from the CD?

CMOS
NVRAM
BIOS
Hard drive

28 What is the main Internet protocol used for creating a connection with a remote computer?

FTP
SNMP
IMAP
Telnet

29 What is the physical topology when all the computers in a network connect to a central point?

point-to-point
star
ring
bus

30 In Windows 2000 Device Manager, what does a question mark in a yellow circle next to a device indicate?

The device does not physically exist.
The device drivers are not installed.
The device is not compatible with Windows 2000.
The device is not supported.

{ 1 comment }

Interesting VoIP problem.?

by admin on October 26, 2009

I’ve unwillingly become the network admin/engineer for a local company.

I did all of the cabling in their new office, built the patch panels, etc.

I built the entire network from scratch.

They are using a remote VoIP service for their PBX. An EdgeWater box is functioning as the gateway for the VoIP network. It is connected to a standard Westell DSL modem with a static IP.

Normal data connections are run through a separate DSL line, on a separate network. No problems currently.

A few of the phones started acting up recently, one worse than the rest. They are randomly dialing large numbers of 8’s, going blank, and seemingly returning to normal. At times, they will not make or receive calls. Right now, the worst offender is stuck "OBTAINING IP" after I reset it to factory.

I found out that just before this started, they were building a few walls in their warehouse. One of the workers apparently severed all power to the switch and server closet while attempting to put in a window.

I have checked out everything in the switch closet. All hardware is functioning correctly. There are no problems with any of the cabling. Everything is now on battery backups with clean power.

The switch that runs the VoIP phones was on a battery backup before the power interruption. No surge there.

I’m about to replace one of the phones with a working phone from my office, just to see if that fixes it.

Ideas on what this could be?
They’re Cisco 7940Gs.

{ 1 comment }

Can you tell me if this piece of advice is legit or will it screw up my PC?

by admin on October 20, 2009

So basically I cannot access my "Folder Options" from the "Tools" tab in a folder because all I get now is:

Map Network Drive
Disconnect Network Drive
Synchronize

So when I tried to ask this I saw a previous question (some guy who had exact same problem) and the answer to that question was:

1. backup your registry
2. goto start | run |regedit
3. goto key HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersionPolicies
Explorer and change value data in NoFolderOptions to 0

4. do the same for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware
MicrosoftWindows
CurrentVersionPolicies
Explorer

Is this the answer or is it someone trying to be malicious?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkqQLMJtktC9X36MDLBsCmUAAAAA;_ylv=3?qid=1006050332032

{ 1 comment }

help, my external hard drive cannot be accessed?

by admin on July 17, 2009

I have an external hard drive that I made myself. Whenever I inserted it in my computer, it would come up as "Backup L" Recently, however, my hard drive has been labeled "local disk L" by the computer, and whenever I tried to access it, it would ask me to format the drive. I have some important data in there and wouldn’t want to lose them from formatting.
I tried plugging it in another computer. It still shows "Local disk E". I don’t know whats happening, it was working properly last friday.

{ 1 comment }

can you help me with these questions?

by admin on June 18, 2009

Take Assessment – Final Exam – IT Essentials II – Network Operating Systems (Version 2.0)

Time Remaining:

1 193.8.8.8 is an example of which class of IP address?

A
B
C
D

2 Which phrase best describes scalability in a system?

ability to sustain its services if components or processes fail
ability to deliver NOS services consistently under heavy load
ability to respond to client requests for access to server databases
ability to grow without degradation in performance

3 The ping command is used to test network connectivity. What is the best IP address to ping for this test?

the DNS address
the loopback address
the local NIC address
the default gateway address

4 Which part of the OS, loaded into memory at boot time, manages hardware devices?

file system
user interface
application software
kernel

5 What should an administrator do before installing a major software upgrade on a production server?

shut down the network
obtain written permission from the manufacturer
reboot the server
test the results on a test server

6 What is one major advantage of a star topology?

It requires very little cabling.
Problems are more easily identified and are typically isolated to one cable segment.
Cabling can extend over great distances without loss of signal strength.
It does not require any special devices such as hubs, switches, or routers.

7 Which list of IP addressing information can the DHCP server supply?

IP address, NetBIOS, subnet mask
subnet mask, web server IP address, DNS IP address
DNS IP address, IP address, subnet mask
IP address, DNS IP address, web server IP address

8 Which unit is used to measure the speed of today's CPUs?

MHz
GHz
byte
MB

9 What is characteristic of a TCP SYN attack?

a large number of half-open connections
large numbers of illegal pings
multiple servers that are sending large amounts of data
numerous port scans looking for open ports on the server

10 Which type of backup will select only those files that have changed since the last backup and clear the file markers indicating they have been backed up?

partial
differential
incremental
full

11 Which of the following would be standard file system types that Linux would use during an installation? (Select two.)

NTFS
FAT16
FAT32
ext2
ext3
VFAT

12 Which of the following are characteristics of UDP? (Select three.)

unreliable
fast
often used in diskless workstations
will retransmit on error

13 What is a beneficial feature of preemptive multitasking?

Applications share the use of the processor by time slicing.
The processor dynamically adjusts the amount of memory needed by the application programs.
Application programs share memory addresses and exchange information.
The operating system controls the allocation of processor time.

14 Which Linux command is used to create partitions on a hard disk?

mkdev
fdisk
mkfs
fsck

15 Which of the following are characteristics of routers? (Select three.)

They contain tables with network addresses.
They determine optimal destination routes to other networks.
They are faster than switches and bridges.
They can be computers with special network software installed.
They can be active or passive.

{ 1 comment }

Is my website/ Meta tags optimized for google?

by admin on June 17, 2009

Hi,

I want to optimize my computer repair service business website for google search engine. Here is what I have for Meta tags. Can anyone please look at this and tell me if something is wrong or need to add something?

I appreciate your help.

Here is what I have currently