POWER MANAGER - A WINDOWS APPLICATION

Do you find it difficult to change the power plan while plugging in or plugging out your laptop? If yes, then keep reading. I am writing this to introduce my third application. (Other two are nProxy and VMware Disk Utility)

Power Manager is an application which automatically switches your power plan according to your settings. For example, you want Balanced mode when running on battery, and High Performance when plugged in. The application will do it for you automatically. Just fire the application once, save your settings, and it will take care of it.

The application has a feature to check for updates, so you will be notified when a new version is available. You can also report any bug that you encounter. The application is absolutely free with no-ads. I have developed this application out of my passion for Computer Science and I want to share this with the masses.

Download it from below and share it among your friends.

Power Manger

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MACS ARE VULNERABLE TO THUNDERSTRIKE 2 FIRMWARE MALWARE

Macs have long been said to be immune to viruses and malware -- but there is a long list of vulnerabilities that show this to be a false. Apple's claims that its hardware was not vulnerable to the firmware security flaws as PCs is proven wrong.

At the InfoSec event in Las Vegas which focuses on different security topics, Trammell Hudson, Xeno Kovah, and Corey Kallenberg will show that Macs are just as vulnerable to remote attacks as PCs using the Thunderstrike 2 backdoor.

Thunderstrike 2 is impressive in its efficacy. The malware can be remotely installed and can spread between Macs even if they are not connected. Thunderstrike 2 locks itself into firmware which makes it impossible to remove even after reinstalling OS X. Security software are unable to detect it. Xeno Kovah says:

For most users that's really a throw-your-machine-away kind of situation. Most people and organizations don't have the wherewithal to physically open up their machine and electrically reprogram the chip

Apple has previously stated that in order to become infected with firmware malware, direct physical access to a Mac is required. Although there is a wide-spread belief that Macs are more secure than PCs. There are far more PCs in use than Macs, so it make sense to hit as many system as possible with PC-specific attacks.

What do you think about Thunderstrike2 vulnerability? Let me in the comments.

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VMWare Disk Utility v2.0

Today, I am releasing the version 2 of VMware Disk Utility. It contains bugs fixes and other features implementation such as

1. Bug reporting
2. Checking for update

If you are using version 1, you will have to manually download the latest version from here because the earlier version did not include Check for update feature. This has been fixed in this release and future updates will be available from the application. I apologize for the inconvenience. 

What is VMWare Disk Utility?

A few days back, I wanted to merge multiple vmdk disk files into a single one. I look around the internet and did the job. It was all console based so I decided to make a GUI for it.

The program uses the functionality of the vmware-disk-manager which is a part of VMware workstation. It is just like a wrapper-class that provides an interface to use the mentioned software with ease.

When you run the application, what you see is vmware-disk-manager presented to you with a graphical user interface. The hard part stays behind while you easily merge the vmdk disk files with just 3 clicks.

You can download the program from the links below:

Download 

Mirror

Your feedback is appreciated. If you find any bug, report it from the application or comment below

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ANOTHER SERIOUS ANDROID VULNERABILITY DISCOVERY

A famous security company Trend Micro has found another vulnerability in Android which can send your device into totally non-functioning state. This is inconvenient, and can also be proven deadly.

Trend Micro says

"We have discovered a vulnerability in Android that can render a phone apparently dead -- silent, unable to make calls, with a lifeless screen. This vulnerability is present from Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) up to the current version, Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop). Combined, these versions account for more than half of Android devices in use today. No patch has been issued in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code by the Android Engineering Team to fix this vulnerability since we reported it in late May"

The company further explains,

"the vulnerability lies in the mediaserver service, which is used by Android to index media files that are located on the Android device. This service cannot correctly process a malformed video file using the Matroska container (usually with the .mkv extension). When the process opens a malformed MKV file, the service may crash (and with it, the rest of the operating system). The vulnerability is caused by an integer overflow when the mediaserver service parses an MKV file. It reads memory out of buffer or writes data to NULL address when parsing audio data"

The worst part is that this is affecting many versions of the operating system-- Jellybean 4.3, to Lollipop 5.1.1.

Even worst is that Trend Micro reported this to Google in May and the company merely categorized it as a "low priority".

Does this vulnerability make you worry about your Android phone or tablet?

Tell me in the comments.

Source: Betanews

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n-Proxy - A Part Of Project For All Initiative

Proxy Servers are a great way to secure the communication between client and server. It is often used at offices, educational institutes such as college and universities, or even homes. However, changing the proxy settings on computer whenever you move from office to college to home can be troublesome. For this reason, I have made an application that will automatically set the proxy server settings on based on the connected Wi-Fi name (SSID).

n-Proxy

First time when you will run this application, enter all the proxy settings for the respective SSIDs (names of Wi-Fi) and let the application run in the background. It will monitor for changes in connected network and set/reset proxy accordingly.

This application is completely free and does not show ads. Download it and give your feedback.

Features

In the first release, I have implemented the basic necessary features. I have plans to update it according to feedback.

The current features include:

1. Add as many proxy settings as you want

2. Set a specific proxy setting from the list

3. Real-time Monitoring

4. Delete a selected proxy server setting

5. Delete all added proxy server settings

6. Check for update

7. Report a bug

Version 2.1 is available
nProxy v 2.1.0 is available with new features and improvements.The new version will be available to download to older version. Check for updates if you are already using nProxy or download from the link below.

1. New Installer
2. New Icon
3. New Interface Design
4. Add to startup
5. Bug Fixes and Improvement

Version 2.1.1 is available
A new version of n-Proxy was released fixing some minor issues and improving the overall performance of the program.

If you find any bug/issue, please report it from the application. Your feedback will help me make this application better.

I believe this application will be helpful to the users.

Please note that this application currently supports Chrome/Internet Explorer/Opera and other browsers which use Windows proxy server settings. Firefox is not currently supported.

Download Links (For version 2.1.1)

Download Link

Your feedback is appreciated. If you find any bug, report it from the application or comment below.

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6 REASONS TO KEEP YOUR OLD PC INSTEAD OF UPGRADING

New PCs cost hundreds of dollars, and we can all use more money in our pockets. Ask yourself if you really need that new hardware, or just want it. Before you decide to buy a new computer, read this article.

Unless you are a hardcore gamer, or a master in 3D designing and animation, buying a new machine might not be really necessary. Read along to find out what you can do with your old PC instead of buying a new one.

1. Your old PC still works just fine

You don’t need a ton of processing power to perform the daily computing tasks. You can stream 1080p video, sling email, surf internet, and edit Office documents on your old PCs. 

Also consider that processor performance increases have trailed off dramatically over the years. Earlier, CPU performance could leap by more than 30% every year, but since the past decade it’s no more the case. New processors tend to be only 5 to 10% faster than their predecessors, and clock speeds have largely remained stagnant.

Linley Gwennap, the principal analyst at the Linley Group stated

“You can hold onto your PC five, six, seven years with no problem. Yeah, it might be a little slow, but not enough to really show up [in everyday use]" 

 2. Give your old PC a speed boost

PCs don’t slow down over time. It’s the software part that make things slower. It can be Windows installation that’s just become unstable after years of use; or it can be malware residing inside the operating system. When a system gets slower, check for viruses and corruption in the files of the operating system. Google the internet you and will find free ways to make your old PC run faster.

Keep your system up-to-date and install an antivirus. Read this about anti virus programs.

3. Install an SSD

Upgrading to an SSD can make any old PC with a lazy mechanical hard drive feels better than new again. Moving from a hard drive to a SSD fills your PC, from boot times to application launch times to browsing files. Investing in an SSD is hands-down the smartest upgrade any PC user can make.

You can now pick up new SSDs for under $100—depending the amount of storage space.

4. Windows 10 is old PC’s Best Friend

While new hardware used to be necessary for the newest versions of Windows, it is no longer the case. Microsoft’s pushing hard to fit Windows into cheap devices with low specification. Windows 8 performed well on lower end PCs excluding some of old processors and outdated motherboards.

Microsoft really wants everybody to upgrade to Windows 10 rather than sticking to on older operating systems. The Redmond based corporation will offer Windows 10 as a free upgrade to all Windows 7 and 8 users.

5. Linux is lighter Than XP?

If you are still using an operating system that died a year ago, i.e. Windows XP, you should really dump it for security’s sake. That doesn’t mean you need a new PC to do so, however.

Older Windows XP machines might not meet the system requirements to upgrade to a more modern version of Microsoft’s operating system, but Linux demands far less from hardware. There are 3 distributions of Linux that have designed specifically for lower-end machines. Ubuntu, Zorin OS, LXLE are the 3 operating systems that you can run on your XP-machine.

6. The World of Web Apps

Now a days, you might not even need to use desktop software. More and more services are available in the form of web apps, rather than standalone desktop software. Email, presentation creation, banking, video chatting, and more are all possible from your web browser these days. Even Office and Photoshop have online versions now.

If you spend the majority of your time online, buying a new PC won’t really offer much of a performance increase, unless your computer is particularly ancient. You’d be better off spending that money on a faster Internet connection.

Read my post for the PC Gamers: Can We Build A Gaming PC on Console Budget?

Source: PCworld

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VMWARE DISK UTILITY - A SMALL PROJECT

When it comes to virtualization on the desktop, two products stand front and center: VMware Workstation and VirtualBox. VMware is the long-standing original keeper of the flame, from the company that gave us PC-centric virtualization technology as we know it. The latter is an open source project now under the stewardship of Oracle, with its own strongly competitive set of features.

I personally use VMware however, I am not comparing the two software. A few days back, I wanted to merge multiple vmdk disk files into a single one. I look around the internet and did the job. It was all console based so I decided to make a UI for it.

The program uses the functionality of the vmware-disk-manager which is a part of VMware workstation. It is just like a wrapper-class that provides an interface to use the mentioned software with ease.

When you run the application, what you see is vmware-disk-manager presented to you with a graphical user interface. The hard part stays behind the scene while you easily merge the vmdk disk files with just 3 clicks.

Expert users might like the old command-line way to merge the files, this program can be alot of help for the users who wants to get the job done.

You can download the program from the links below:

Download 

Mirror

Please note, I have made sure to make this a perfect release, there still can be a bug in the software. If you found any, let me know in the comments.

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PIRATES CAN UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 10 FOR FREE

We knew Windows 10 will be a free upgrade but now Microsoft has acknowledged that even the users running the pirated versions of Windows will be able to upgrade to Windows 10.

Speaking to Reuters the Windows chief said:

"We are upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and non-genuine, to Windows 10".

Microsoft later expanded on this by saying:

"Anyone with a qualified device can upgrade to Windows 10, including those with pirated copies of Windows".

This sounds like that Microsoft has given up the fight against the piracy. Upon further clarification, Microsoft’s spokesperson said:

"We have always been committed to ensuring that customers have the best Windows experience possible.  With Windows 10, although non-Genuine PCs may be able to upgrade to Windows 10, the upgrade will not change the genuine state of the license. Non-Genuine Windows is not published by Microsoft. It is not properly licensed, or supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. If a device was considered non-genuine or mislicensed prior to the upgrade, that device will continue to be considered non-genuine or mislicensed after the upgrade. According to industry experts, use of pirated software, including Non-Genuine Windows, results in a higher risk of malware, fraud (identity theft, credit card theft, etc), public exposure of your personal information, and a higher risk for poor performance or feature malfunctions".

Microsoft is deviating from its regular sales model for the first time, giving away Windows 10 for free, at least for the first year. With the latest announcement about Windows 10, Microsoft has completely eliminated the need to pirate the software. It's free for everyone, even those with illegal copies, but it seems pirates won’t get the full benefit.

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MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES THE NEW MOST AFFORDABLE LUMIA 430

Microsoft announces Lumia 430 dual-SIM Windows Phone. This super-budget dual SIM phone will hit the markets of India, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus all for just $70 USD in April.

Microsoft has not cut back in the critical areas of smartphones that are important these days. The Lumia 430 has 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB internal storage (micro SD expansion) and both rear and front-facing cameras. The device is also eligible to get Windows 10 later this year.

Specifications

• Colors: Orange or Black 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 1.2 GHz dual-core processor 
• 4-inch WVGA (800 x480) LCD at 235 PPI  
• Networks: GSM/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz 
• 1GB RAM 
• 8 GB internal storage; micro SD up to 128 GB, 30 GB free OneDrive cloud storage 
• 2 MP fixed-focus rear camera; 0.3 MP VGA front-facing camera 
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light Sensor 
• 1500 mAh removable battery 
• BT 4.0, USB 2.0 Micro-USB connector, A-GPS+GLONASS 
• WLAN 802.11 b/g/n 
• Size: 120.5 x 63.19 x 10.63 (volumetric) mm 
• Weight: 127.9 g 
• Standby time: up to 24 days (576 hours); Talk time: up to 7.6 hours (GSM) up to 8.4 hours (3G) 

In a press release, Jo Harlow, Microsoft's corporate vice president for Phones said:

"People around the world have responded enthusiastically to our affordable Lumia range. We continue to invest in this segment to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy signature Microsoft experiences, regardless of budget.The Lumia 430 Dual SIM continues our commitment to combining the right hardware, software, services and apps with the right price to give people a smartphone they can afford and be proud to use."

Lumia 430 looks like a fixed version of Lumia 530 which doesn't have Proximity and Ambient Light sensors, front-facing camera, and only have 512 MB of RAM. 4-inch display will be good for those who don't like to hold a big-screen in their hand.

With it's size and price, it will be good option for anyone who is willing to give Windows Phone a try. We have seen in the past, that budget phone, such as Lumia 520, are a successful hit in the market 

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NEW WINDOWS 10 BUILDS HAVE IMPROVED WI-FI SELECTION

Windows 10 build 10036 has started to show up around the internet and there are a couple of enhancements. In the builds prior to 10036, when you click on the 'Wi-Fi' option in the Action center, it opens up a full Settings app.

If you look at the image below, you can see that this new build has an updated Wi-Fi selection Window with a new design. You can see that a smaller window opens to make selecting a new network faster.

Source: Neowin

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