Software - AnonymoX Firefox extention and proxy capability

There is an interesting Firefox extention with anonymization capability on the internet. The aim is to restore the users right of anonymity in the web. Most websites monitor the behaviour of their users, giving the websites hosts the ability to analyze the general users behaviour and create detailed user profiles, which are frequently sold to third parties.

anonymoX enables to:


  1. Browse the web anonymously
  2. Change your IP address (to one provided by us)
  3. Visit blocked/censored websites
  4. Appear to originate from another country
  5. Delete cookies, show your public ip, change browser id, ....


Short summary of its functionality
Instead of accessing a website directly, it will be first opened by one of our servers, called a Proxy.
This Proxy hides your true internet identity and makes it look as if not you, but the Proxy is currently visiting the website.

anonymoX is more than just an Add-On. The actual anonymization and country faking is done by an anonymization network. It consists of many servers, in every country of your country list. These servers are provided and managed by us.
If you use anonymoX's anonymization network without paying, that is only possible because you indirectly participate in the server funding by viewing advertisements.

For ad-free and unrestricted usage of the anonymization network and the Add-On, you need anonymoX Premium.

https://addons.mozilla.org/it/firefox/addon/anonymox/?src=search

Vmware - Vcenter 5.X/6.X Antivirus exclusions


VMware vCenter Server 4.x and above is not able to send an email after an alarm has been triggered (2021458)


Considerations for installing anti-virus software on VMware vCenter Server (2062805)



Summarizing here they are exclusions on Windows 200X/2012 Server vCenter server:

C:\ProgramData\Vmware

And process vpxd.exe if it stops to send emails.

Software - Free DVD/CD burning software Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE

The Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE is a very powerful and free cd/dvd burning tool.

Here they are features:


Burn files and folders
Create CD, DVD and Blu-ray data discs
NEW
Update existing discs and add/remove files and folders
NEW
Erase rewritable CD/DVD/Blu-ray discs such as BD-RE and CD-RW discs
NEW
Burn movies
Create video DVD from prepared folder
NEW
Create video Blu-ray from prepared folder
NEW
Create Video CD (VCD)
NEW
Create Super Video CD (VCD)
NEW
Burn music
Create audio CDs
NEW
Create MP3 and WMA CD/DVD/Blu-ray discs
NEW
Extract audio from audio discs
NEW
Disc images
Create and disc images from CD/DVD/Blu-ray discs
NEW
Create disc images from projects
NEW
Backup files and folders
Create file and folder backups
NEW
Compress and encrypt backups
NEW


Download

https://www.ashampoo.com/uk/eur/pin/7110/burning-software/Ashampoo-Burning-Studio-FREE

Bitlocker - Add the BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Utilities

You can read more about Bitlocker deployment reading these old blogs posts:

Programs - Bitlocker how to implement in your organization

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2014/11/programs-bitlocker-how-to-implement-in.html

Server - BitLocker: Planning and Policies

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2014/03/server-bitlocker-planning-and-policies.html

Windows 7 - How to utilize Bitlocker without TPM

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2012/11/windows-7-utilizzare-bitlocker-senza-tpm.html

If you published Bitlocker key on Active Directory, other than procedure itself (schema extension if  your AD is not compatible)

Microsoft - Determine Microsoft Domain controller Schema Version

Server - Commands to verify Domain Controller/Domain Status, schema version, move 5 PDC roles, export DHCP

You must install snap-in to manage tpm key stored in Active directory, here they are procedure

The BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Utilities are added as features via Server Manager (or Windows PowerShell):
  1. On DC01, log on as CONTOSO\Administrator, and, using Server Manager, click Add roles and features.
  2. On the Before you begin page, click Next.
  3. On the Select installation type page, select Role-based or feature-based installation, and click Next.
  4. On the Select destination server page, select DC01.contoso.com and click Next.
  5. On the Select server roles page, click Next.
  6. On the Select features page, expand Remote Server Administration Tools, expand Feature Administration Tools, select the following features, and then click Next:
    1. BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Utilities
    2. BitLocker Drive Encryption Tools
    3. BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer
  7. On the Confirm installation selections page, click Install and then click Close.
Figure 3

Figure 2

[more details https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt297542(v=vs.85).aspx ]

[update 2016.12.31]

You should be aware that TrueCrypt development was no longer maintained/updated  since 2014.


Several security bugs have been not resolved.

You fan review this article about some alternatives that I summarize them in this article too.

Here they are Truecrypt alternatives (from my side I use, normally, 2. and 7. options):
  1. VeraCrypt You can find a full list of improvements and corrections that VeraCrypt made on TrueCrypt here. It is open source and free.
  2. Bitlocker no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
  3. DiskCryptor supports encryption of external devices including hard drives, USB drives, CDs, and DVDs
  4. CipherShed
  5. FileVault 2 Apple’s answer to Bitlocker, no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
  6. LUKS
  7. SafeHouse Explorer – 3.01 Portable

Veeam and Vmware 6.x CBT problems.

VMware 6.0 has a bug with CBT (http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2136854) and VMware has released patch that fixes this bug.

However, installation of this fix is not the only action that should be performed to get consistent backups with Veeam or any other backup software. 


CBT reset is mandatory for the VMs, and you could do it with help of Powershell script provided by this KB article: http://veeam.com/kb1492

If you do not want to install the patch, CBT should be disabled to avoid any possible issues.

For the Veeam upgrade to version 8 update 3 - it is highly advisable not only in terms of compatibility, but also ij terms of number of varuios fixes and improvements, coming with the upgrade.


We had no issue with disabling CBT other then increased time needed for the backups, therefore I confirm that performance is the only one thing affected with CBT disabled.

Windows 2008 - Activation Problem 0xC004C020.

The Error 0xC004C020 means the Activation key has exceeded its limit as described in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article below. As you have activated the server once, it is expected behavior.

KB 942969 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942969/en-us


In this case, you need to call Activation Center to activate the server.

Please perform the following the steps:

1, Run the command "slui 4" from the Elevated Command Prompt
2, Please choose the nearest location where you live, click next
3, Call the Activation Department with the telephone number provided by the last step
4, Provided them with the Installation ID and they generate a corresponding Confirmation ID.
5, Enter the Confirmation ID
You will be able to activate the Windows Server 2008 Successfully.

For more information about the Windows Activation, please refer to:

933177  You may be unable to activate Windows Vista over the Internet by using the Windows Activation Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;933177

[original article https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/7df79f6c-3d89-42ce-bebd-833dce637221/windows-2008-activation-problem]