Running RegEdit as SYSTEM
While facing an interesting research challenge, digging into the inner working of Windows, I realized that I needed to change a registry value. That’s simple enough, I fire up RegEdit, make the change, then politely as RegEdit knows how, it told me that I couldn’t change the value! Being one that hates when my computer tells me I can’t do something, I had to find another option. So after some research, I found my answer: sc.
Read more…FireFox Toys: ErrorZilla
While my favorite browser will always be Opera, I’m a big fan of Firefox; its amazing selection of add-ons (a feature that Opera sadly lacks) adds much to its value for me. With the addition of plug-ins like the excellent Web Developer add-on, Firefox becomes a powerful development and browsing platform. I just learned of a new add-on released by Eric of roachfiend.com called ErrorZilla, this is a great idea. It’s a replacement for the default Firefox error pages, new error pages with additional features.
Read more…Kill CapsLock!
Most people I know have issues with the CapsLock key; with feelings ranging from annoyance to sheer hatred. More often than not, I fall into the sheer hatred side of things. I’ve played with various ideas to solve the problem. Everything from a system tray notification when CapsLock is on, to physically removing the evil key itself. After all these attempts, I have found I like none of them. Enter waNOCAPS (from the Winadmin tools project), a registry modification to quickly and cleanly remap the CapsLock to a third Ctrl key.
Read more…Detailed CSS Changes in IE7
As IE7 approaches release, the IE team has released a detailed list of the 200+ CSS changes that will appear in the final release. If you do any web development, this is a great time to read the list and audit the CSS that your sites use. IE7 breaks many of the old hacks used to work around the bugs in previous versions, so careful attention will be needed to ensure everything keeps working and looking as intended.
Read more…XML Notepad 2006
Microsoft’s Chris Lovett (of System.Xml fame) has released XML Notepad 2006 – a simple, easy to use, and free, XML editor. For those that regularly work with XML, an editor of this type can be an invaluable addition to your toolbox. XML Notepad offers a basic set of features, great for those quick jobs where using an IDE or a more full-featured application would be overkill. While XML Notepad doesn’t offer a great range of features, it does offer some of the most important features needed to get the job done.
Read more…Hosting Woes and Down Time
Over the last couple days my various web sites have seen far more downtime than normal. My hosting provide, Radical Vision has apparently been having issues with the MySQL server that powers not only this blog, but even their support system. Yep, you heard me right, the support system that you have to use to contact them about any issues relies on MySQL, the very same instance that everybody else uses.
Read more…VB.NET 2005 Performance Issues
Seeing slowdowns in large VB 2005 projects? Well, I think I just found the answer. There’s now a QFE released that may help address these issues. One of the applications I maintain is a 25,000 line solution made up of 9 projects, I’m hoping this fix will resolve the issues we’ve seen compiling it (not to mention the frequent compiler crashes). Here’s the list of symptoms addressed: You experience a slow response time when you use single-step debugging.
Read more…WordPress 2.0.4
It’s upgrade time again, WordPress 2.0.4 has been released (changed files list & zip), and after a fairly painless upgrade (instructions, though I didn’t follow the method they suggest), seems quite stable. This release sports over 60 changes, clearing up a fair number of small issues, as well as a few security fixes. If you have a WordPress powered blog, it’s worth the upgrade.
What It Takes To Be A Great Developer
Recently a programmer I know decided that it was time for a career change, leaving the IT field entirely. This gave me cause to think; what does it take to be a great developer. Many people go through school believing they have what it takes, only to receive a rude awaking once they enter the real world. Before I go on, I think it’s important to define what I mean by developer, and the differences between a developer and a programmer.
Read more…Useful Notepad Tip
Here’s a great little feature I just heard about to make the always useful though mostly featureless Notepad utility even more useful. If you create a new file and put “.LOG” (case-sensitive) as the first thing in the file, each time you open the file after that it will append a timestamp to the end of the file. While you could just press the “F5” button to insert the timestamp, this does have the advantage of added simplicity.
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About Me
Security researcher, engineer and software developer with more than 20 years of experience.
Work: I primarily focus on application security, usable security, secure communications, and cryptography. I build and lead strong and dynamic teams, who cover all facets of security and privacy.
Writing: I write about my research, security in general, development and software design, and leadership through my blog, essays, and various publications. I also engage in some creating writing when I can.
Photography: I am a purist fine art photographer, working primarily in black & white, and focused on sharing new perspectives of the world. Limited edition prints of my work are available on my online gallery. I also have a background in photojournalism, and volunteer in this field when I can.