Off the Cuff

So . . . Yeah . . .

2012-01-01T23:27:00.000-05:00

2012. Whee . . .

I spent the past couple days reflecting on 2011. I could cop out and say there hasn't been much to blog about, but that would be a lie. I was always told you go to h**l for lying the same as you do for stealing. Honestly? 2011 sucked, and I would much rather not remember it, blog or otherwise.

So, let's see. I lost some friends last year. Some by choice, others not. I still check in on Facebook, but the increasingly "MySpace"-like atmosphere is becoming somewhat distasteful.

I also moved out of Middlefield. Living in Westlake has definitely been an adjustment for me. Apart from the initial (expected) culture shock, it's been pretty cool so far.

So, here we are in 2012. I've already been seeing the obligatory "end of days" rhetoric, and it's only January 1st! Jeez, people. We have a whole year to go, enjoy it!

That's not to say there won't be some major changes ahead in the coming year. Microsoft is re-inventing Windows with the upcoming Windows 8 release. Malware has gone from being a "lone hacker/script kiddie" hobby to a well organized, fully funded industry in and of itself. Reflecting the increasing wireless/mobile push in computing, malware will target alternative platforms in 2012. Perhaps we will finally see a true Linux virus by way of the Android operating system.

Oh, yeah. There's also the upcoming Presidential election. I expect more of the same from the last time around.

Personally, I hope to see a lot of settling in 2012. I think it would be nice to have a relatively quiet year after all the changes that have happened to me over the past 3 and a half years. I definitely plan on getting my house in order once 2011's dust settles a bit.

So, here's to 2012.

Broken Open by Adam Lambert

2011-01-15T21:47:00.001-05:00

Broken pieces, break into me
So imperfectly what you should be

I don't want you to go
Don't wanna see you back out in the cold
Air you're breathing out fades you to grey
Don't run away, find me

I know the battles of chasing the shadows of who you wanna be
It doesn't matter, go on and shatter
I'm all you need
Broken pieces, break into me
So imperfectly what you should be
Lay here, it's safe here, I'll let you be broken open
Hide here, confide here so we can be broken open

Let's enlighten the night
We can fall away, slip out of sight
When you drop your guard
Melt into time, so intertwined, quiet

I know the battles of chasing the shadows of who you wanna be
It doesn't matter, go on and shatter
I'm all you need
Broken pieces, break into me
So imperfectly what you should be
Lay here, it's safe here, I'll let you be broken open
Hide here, confide here so we can be broken open

Broken pieces, break into me
So imperfectly what you should be
Lay here, it's safe here, I'll let you be broken open
Hide here, confide here so we can be broken open

Lay here, it's safe here, I'll let you be broken open
Hide here, confide here so we can be broken open

Microsoft Security Essentials

2010-12-24T23:17:00.008-05:00

For some background, click here and here.

Microsoft quietly (VERY quietly) released version 2.0 of its Security Essentials anti-malware application, according to this thread on the Microsoft user forums. Considering the big push the company gave version 1.0 way back when, it seems a little out of character. Although, considering the recent backlash by competing security vendors, that move is understandable.

I gave the original version of Security Essentials a try when it was released. I found it rough around the edges for everyday use on a production system. It just was not robust enough to lure me away from Norton. When my financial situation became bleak, I took a hard look at the free security software offerings. Paying $70 for Norton each year was out of the question.

I tried several different offerings from AVG, Avira, and Avast! with varying degrees of success. The software was tested using virtual machines running Windows XP, Vista, and 7. I set aside 2GB of my system memory and 20GB of hard drive space per machine. XP's firewall is woefully inadequate, in my opinion. I had to add a free firewall solution to the mix. With Vista and 7, the built-in firewall is much more robust. This is not about the firewalls, though.

I came back to test MS Security Essentials with their release of version 1.0.2. With this particular version, Microsoft hit the nail on the head, balancing between system performance and protection. Here was a solution I would be comfortable using and recommending on a production system.

With version 2, Microsoft added a number of improvements. The application itself has been hardened and tightly integrated with the Windows 7 built-in firewall. There are new options to protect against network-based attacks, improved file monitoring, and behavior-based monitoring. There is also an option to remove quarantined files, which was missing before. Now, there is an opt-out button if the user chooses not to report to Microsoft's SpyNet. Along with those, there will be tighter integration with the upcoming Internet Explorer 9 and Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

These new options come with a performance hit, though. If you are on a fairly recent system, the hit is negligible. On a system like my mother's, which is nearly five years old and running XP SP3, the hit is noticeable.

One word of warning. If you currently have version 1, do not use the upgrade option built into the software, or the push through the Microsoft Update service. Download the installer directly from the home page (second link in the first sentence) and save it to your hard disk. Manually uninstall version 1. If you are on an XP box, PLEASE disconnect from the Internet, as your system will be especially vulnerable. Once version 1 is removed, you may need to restart your PC. Run the installer for version 2 and restart. At this point, XP systems can connect to the Internet. The program will update and run a scan.

Bottom line: I cannot recommend Security Essentials 2.0 at this time, mainly due to upgrade issues. On new installations of Windows Vista and 7, have at it. If you can stick with version 1, I would recommend that for at least another 3 months.

New Beginnings . . .

2010-12-19T12:47:00.005-05:00

Hey all. Since I am about to embark on a new chapter, I figured I would resurrect/update the blog a bit. I removed and added some links, deleted the old posts, and updated my profile. I was going to apply a new theme, but I kinda like the current one too much to part with it.

That being said, in the spirit of new beginnings, I have posted my valedictorian speech as the remainder of this first post:

It’s been a long two years, hasn’t it? Getting to this point has been
hard-fought and hard-won. Everyone has a story to tell, and I thank you for
giving me the opportunity to share mine.

I was laid off from Kraft Maid in November 2008, the day before
Thanksgiving. During the next few weeks after, I had a lot of time to spend with
my thoughts. I hated that, and realized I needed some sort of direction. I was
tired of drifting around from job to job, with no opportunities to really go
anywhere. As I began the job search, I noticed many jobs required some sort of
education.

One of my biggest regrets at that point was not finishing my education
after high school. I always kept putting it off, thinking “Oh, next semester,”
or “Next year.” As one of my best friends said, “Life got in the way.” I chose
ITT Technical Institute for two reasons. First, I needed a school that would
keep me focused. ITT helped me to keep my eye on the prize. Second, I wanted to
attend a school that delivered results. By “results” I mean not just a job in my
field of choice, but a solid educational foundation to build on.

When I walked through the doors of ITT in Warrensville Heights, I thought I
knew a lot about computers and Information Technology. I’m happy to say that was
not the case. Before attending ITT, I had very little confidence in myself.
Although I still struggle with that, my self-confidence has improved as I
realize what I am capable of. As I progressed through my academic career, I
faced some personal and professional struggles. A few friends and co-workers
told me I was chasing a fool’s dream. Many told me I would not have a job when I
completed my education. Others told me they would be well along in their careers
before mine was started. I will not lie, it wore on me. I went through a period
of tremendous self-doubt. Still, I persevered. When you focus on the positives,
the negatives don’t seem to matter as much. Or at least they don’t seem so
insurmountable.

In closing, I want to thank my family for standing beside me and supporting
me as I progressed through my academic career, and for putting up with me during
the last few quarters. Also, I would like to thank Mr. Jack Donnenwirth, Mr.
Bill Kessler, and Mrs. Jolene Baldado for pushing me out of my comfort zone,
then allowing me the freedom to explore outside those boundaries.

I also want to thank my fellow classmates: those who are here today, those
who have already graduated, and those who will be graduating soon. We’ve
competed against each other and worked together. We have pushed each other to
new heights, and inspired each other to do better than our best. I consider it
an honor to call you my colleagues and friends.

Thank you.