Thursday, April 15, 2010

OT - Win7 [Start] Menu Locations

So, in Windows 7, Microsoft changed the location of the [Start] Menu as follows.

  • Win7 User [Start] Menu location

  • C:\Users\profile-name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

  • "Win7 All Users" [Start] Menu location

  • C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

  • "Win7 All Users" Desktop

  • C:\Users\Public\Desktop


My question is why for heavens sake? Especially the location of "All Users" [Start] Menu. What was wrong with keeping the convention like C:\Users\All Users\ ? I have no problem with the change of C:\Documents and Settings -> C:\Users, at least this is logical.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

OT - Microsoft Outlook

Due to a recent experience with Microsoft Outlook I've decided to post on this.

Win7 does NOT include Outlook Express, so the Win7 Easy Transfer tool cannot import Express emails. It DOES import Office Outlook emails. (Win7 Easy Transfer works VERY well by the way)

Be aware that the format of Outlook mailbox files (filename.pst) changed after Outlook 2000. Outlook 2003 thru 2007 use MIME. To use Outlook 2000 mailbox files you must import them to newer versions of Outlook mailbox files.

  1. First without opening Outlook, rename your transferred 2000 mailbox files, examples:

    • Outlook.pst -> Outlook2000.pst

    • Archive.pst -> Archive2000.pst


  2. If you use a Transfer Tool (like Win7 Easy Transfer) AND you have not used Outlook yet, you should be offered the option to import mailbox files when you first start Outlook. Simply import the 2 renamed files above (they should be shown as being old format).


  3. Otherwise you can manually import via File menu, Data File Management.


  4. Use Outlook's Help: Search "Convert a non-Unicode data file" and you should see the link at the top of the listing.

    Just follow the step-by-step instructions to import:

    • Outlook2000.pst -> Outlook.pst

    • Archive2000.pst -> Archive.pst

PC SECURITY - Uncle Sam Wants You

"Uncle Sam Wants You (To Fight Hackers)" by Rachael King, Business Exchange

Excerpt

The U.S. government is stepping up recruitment of engineers who can help wage cyberwar

Kyle Osborn does a good job impersonating a technical support rep. On a recent day in Southern California, the 19-year-old is working the phones, trying to persuade people on the other end to download malicious software.

In cybercrime circles, this is called "social engineering," and criminals use the tactics to circumvent companies' Internet security software by tricking employees to download harmful software or cough up passwords. Osborn doesn't look the part of a hacker, with his short blond hair, baby face, and glasses. Yet he's persuasive—after a few calls, he finds an employee who agrees to download malicious software that will open a door into the computer network and let Osborn break in.

In real life, Osborn isn't a cybercriminal; he's a student participating in a cyberdefense competition at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif., that drew about 65 students from Western colleges. The campus is situated on a former ranch east of Los Angeles. Horses and sheep still graze in the pastures.

Sneaky, VERY sneaky.