ZeroPaid.com » windows http://www.zeropaid.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:53:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 iSnooze Uses iTunes to Turn Your PC Into an Alarm Clock http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98801/isnooze-use-itunes-to-turn-your-pc-into-an-alarm-clock/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98801/isnooze-use-itunes-to-turn-your-pc-into-an-alarm-clock/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:01:41 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98801 images

Program lets you schedule times for iTunes to wake you from your slumber, complete with spacebar-activated snooze function.

The worst thing about an alarm aclock, aside from the fact that it heralds the start of each work day with unabashed indifference, is that there's usually no way to customize what music wakes you from your slumber. Some are at the mercy of a computerized terrestrial radio DJ, and the more sadistic (or lazy) opt for the default pings of the ubiquitous buzzer we've all come to know and hate. But there is an app for that - a PC app anyways. ISnooze (direct download link) is a tiny program for Windows that runs quietly in your system tray and allows you to schedule times for iTunes to wake you up, complete with a spacebar-activated snooze feature. Features:
  • Spacebar activated snooze, and configurable snooze time.
  • Gradual volume increasing.
  • Multiple alarm schedules.
  • Playlist selection.
  • Temporary pausing when you reach your computer to give you time to shut it off.
Instead of being held hostage to the playlist of some distant radio conglomerate you can wake up to the soothing (or body-thumping) beats of your favorite playlist, artist, album, or podcast; on the weekends you can wake up to your favorite movie or TV show if you want. When it comes to podcasts you can check out Dark Ambient [iTunes link] and White Noise Lounge [iTunes link] that provide soothing soundscapes for you to download. There's also several to be found HERE. Want to create a truly custom nature soundtrack of whatever length you want? Then go to Naturesoundsfor.me. It allows you to mix four different sounds (birds, waterfalls, creek, ocean, snowstorm, thunder, animals, drums, and more) and export to a .MP3 file. The more daring might opt for the sound of Darth Vader (yes, Darth Vader!). Here's one I made. So the next time you wake up wanting to kill your alarm clock, perhaps iSnooze is just what the doctor ordered. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

>> Download iSnooze 1.3.3 (Direct Link)

]]> images

Program lets you schedule times for iTunes to wake you from your slumber, complete with spacebar-activated snooze function.

The worst thing about an alarm aclock, aside from the fact that it heralds the start of each work day with unabashed indifference, is that there's usually no way to customize what music wakes you from your slumber. Some are at the mercy of a computerized terrestrial radio DJ, and the more sadistic (or lazy) opt for the default pings of the ubiquitous buzzer we've all come to know and hate. But there is an app for that - a PC app anyways. ISnooze (direct download link) is a tiny program for Windows that runs quietly in your system tray and allows you to schedule times for iTunes to wake you up, complete with a spacebar-activated snooze feature. Features:
  • Spacebar activated snooze, and configurable snooze time.
  • Gradual volume increasing.
  • Multiple alarm schedules.
  • Playlist selection.
  • Temporary pausing when you reach your computer to give you time to shut it off.
Instead of being held hostage to the playlist of some distant radio conglomerate you can wake up to the soothing (or body-thumping) beats of your favorite playlist, artist, album, or podcast; on the weekends you can wake up to your favorite movie or TV show if you want. When it comes to podcasts you can check out Dark Ambient [iTunes link] and White Noise Lounge [iTunes link] that provide soothing soundscapes for you to download. There's also several to be found HERE. Want to create a truly custom nature soundtrack of whatever length you want? Then go to Naturesoundsfor.me. It allows you to mix four different sounds (birds, waterfalls, creek, ocean, snowstorm, thunder, animals, drums, and more) and export to a .MP3 file. The more daring might opt for the sound of Darth Vader (yes, Darth Vader!). Here's one I made. So the next time you wake up wanting to kill your alarm clock, perhaps iSnooze is just what the doctor ordered. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

>> Download iSnooze 1.3.3 (Direct Link)

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98801/isnooze-use-itunes-to-turn-your-pc-into-an-alarm-clock/feed/ 0 PSA: The Computer Maintenance Department Scam Calls http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98757/psa-the-computer-maintenance-department-scam-calls/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98757/psa-the-computer-maintenance-department-scam-calls/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:49:55 +0000 Drew Wilson http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98757 Phone Scam_crop

Have you been getting those calls from people working in a call center from what sounds like India? You know, those people who claim to be from either the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team" who then instruct you to go to your computer? Tell the select minority of people who would fall for it that these calls are a scam. We here at ZeroPaid did some digging about these calls in a public service effort.

I consider myself to be reasonably savvy when it comes to telemarketers. Whenever they come calling trying to sell me something, I ask them to put me on a do-not-call list. Asking to be put on a do-not-call list is substantially better than simply hanging up on a telemarketer because merely hanging up is technically an invitation to call back later. Most telemarketers have a system in place because it's the law and it's generally good practice. After asking numerous telemarketers to be put on a do-not-call list myself, it seems I have narrowed down the number of telemarketers down to a very select few. Those were the automated calls that ask you to press a number to claim a prize (never do this unless you want to be charged an unknown amount of money), the occasional survey calls and one particularly annoying computer related call. The computer related one comes at around twice a month. The telemarketer in question tells me that he is calling in regards to my computer. After that, he typically instructs me to go to my computer. This is where I get my chance to stop him in his tracks. It took a few attempts, with different marketers, but I managed to obtain two different names from them. They claim to be either from the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team". This alone should be enough to set internal alarms off that this is not a legitimate call. Every time, these people would also tell me that my computer could be infected with harmful viruses and that they are calling to fix the problem. Usually, by this time, I tell them that I want to be put on a do-not-call list. Every time I've requested this, the telemarketer hangs up only to call back weeks later. To me, if these telemarketers are not even operating a do-not-call list, then that's a big warning sign that this is not legitimate. So, armed with who this is, I proceed to exercise my Google-fu to see what these people are all about. Turns out, this scam has been around for years. A user known as lowlanda on a Whirlpool forum posted in 2010 that a similar call was received asking to run some form of uncomprehendable command. In a British forum, there was a similar discussion also in 2010 about this kind of scam. Apparently, one user reported being asked to download a logmein program and was asked to pay £55 to keep Windows activated after obtaining personal information. Similar stories can be found on whocallsme as well. It turns out, this scam was so bad in the UK, police raided several websites associated with this scam. From the Guardian:
The Metropolitan police e-crime unit acted in April to take such sites down. Among those shut was supportonclick.com, registered to Pecon Software, a firm based in Kolkata. The company has now opened another support website, called onlinepccare.com, which is the subject of numerous online complaints about cold calling, "bullying", and claims that the caller is from Windows PC care.
One person recorded his adventure with this kind of scam and posted it to YouTube: There's plenty more information about this scam on digitaltoast. While the post dates clear back to 2009, the comments section points out that this scam is still going on to this day.

Microsoft's Comment

Interested that these scammers say that they are from Microsoft, we actually contacted Microsoft about this. We asked what to look for when it comes to figuring out whether or not the phone call is indeed from Microsoft or not. A Microsoft spokesperson said, "Our advice is simple; treat callers as you would treat strangers in the street – do not disclose personal or sensitive information to anyone you do not know." "Unfortunately this is not the first scam of its kind," the Microsoft spokesperson told ZeroPaid, "and it’s unlikely to be the last. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is by being aware of the threat. Consumers should also ensure the copy of Windows they are running is genuine and fully up to date, while ensuring they have installed legitimate software will guard against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.”

CRTC's Response and Information on Reporting This Scam

With an official statement from Microsoft saying that this is a scam, ZeroPaid decided to contact the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) to ask what options consumers have in terms of reporting such fraudulent phone calls; specifically, what can people do to issue a complaint about this kind of phone scam given that this scam is not compliant with the do-not-call registry. "First," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "this is a scammer calling you, not a telemarketer. For scams/fraud, I would recommend contacting the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (Phonebusters)." The CRTC forwarded us some links about reporting this scam and how this scam has really taken off in Canada in recent months. One link was to a press release by the RCMP detailing the scam:
OTTAWA - September 29, 2011 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and their partners at the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) are warning that if someone calls you claiming to be able to protect your computer from viruses, your best bet is to just hang up the phone. Don’t give the caller your computer access codes and don’t provide your credit card information. The virus scam has grown to epidemic proportions in Canada, now accounting for between 70 and 80 per cent of frauds reported daily to the CAFC. “We began noticing virus scam calls in March 2010. Since then, they’ve become an increasing proportion of our calls. Now, they’re the scam we deal with most often,” said RCMP Sgt. Paul Proulx of the CAFC. This dramatic increase means the scam is working – more and more Canadians are being targeted by the virus scam. Proulx warns, "If a scammer is able to log on to your computer then he has access to all the personal information you have stored there, including your banking information.” Here’s a typical scenario: a caller, often claiming to work for Microsoft or another reputable software company, will cold-call you and ask if your computer is running slowly or not working as it should. He will then offer to repair your computer via internet access, which can involve either software installation or the caller gaining remote control of your computer after you’ve granted him access. Payment for the software or the repair service is handled via your credit card with charges typically ranging from $35 to $470 per call. Allowing a third party to download software or remotely access your computer carries a number of serious risks. Malicious software can be installed to capture sensitive data such as your online banking user names and passwords, bank account information and your personal identity information. All of this information can be used in subsequent frauds that empty your bank accounts and charge your credit cards. Your computer can also be converted to a bot-net, which means criminals can use it without your knowledge or participation. It can then be used to spam other people, spread viruses to your friends or overload computer networks. Getting your credit card information is the second important part of the virus scam. Once a criminal has that information it can be used to make purchases without your consent. Canadians should be aware that not all virus scams are conducted over the phone. Many CAFC callers report being scammed after responding to internet pop-up ads for anti-virus software. Sgt. Proulx offers this simple advice: “If you’re really worried about viruses on your computer, be pro-active and use anti-virus software that you've acquired from reputable sources and keep it up to date. If someone calls you out of the blue offering to provide this kind of help, it’s probably a scam. Remember, it's not rude to hang up on someone who's trying to steal your money and information.” "When it comes to cyber security, we all have a role to play," said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. "Canada's Cyber Security Strategy is the Government's plan to help secure Canada's vital cyber systems and help Canadians protect themselves, their families and their personal information online." Please visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre’s new website for the latest on emerging fraud trends, advice on protecting yourself and victim’s guides that will help you recover from fraud loss: www.antifraudcentre.ca. For more information on the Government of Canada's Cyber Security Strategy: www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cyber Fraud: Recognize It, Report It, Stop It.
A second link the CRTC sent us was to a page detailing how you can report a scam call:
If you have not lost any money and have not provided personal or financial information (relating to a fraud or scam), and you simply want to inform the appropriate organizations, report it to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 If you received a fraudulent e-mail soliciting personal or financial information (phishing scam), you should also advise the financial institution or other agency whose name was used. If you are a victim of fraud or if you unwittingly provided personal or financial information (identity fraud), follow the steps in our Victim Assistance Guide. If you are a victim of fraud and it is not related to identity fraud, contact the police service of jurisdiction in your area. Always report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at info@antifraudcentre.ca or by dialing 1-888-495-8501 or on-line by visiting the CAFC website.
The third link the CRTC sent us was to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center which contains a lot of information about how you can report scams over the phone and about recent phone scams which includes this particular one. "If, however," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "a legitimate telemarketer calls you and breaks the DNCL rules – you can make a complaint either online or by phone. To file a complaint you need: 1. Your phone number (where the call was received) 2. The name or phone number of the telemarketer 3. The date you received the call To make a complaint online go to: lnnte-dncl.gc.ca" Note that the phone scam discussed is not a legitimate telemarketer, so if you get the computer viruses phone scam, this is best directed at the Canadian Anti-fraud Center and the RCMP. We here at ZeroPaid hope that this is valuable and informative information on this scam and how you can report it. Feel free to also discuss this scam or other phone scams in the comment section below. Note that the above information on reporting this scam is directed at Canadians. If you do not live in Canada or the UK and receive these calls, please feel free to let us know in the comments section below as we are only aware of this scam being active in the UK and in Canada. Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> Phone Scam_crop

Have you been getting those calls from people working in a call center from what sounds like India? You know, those people who claim to be from either the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team" who then instruct you to go to your computer? Tell the select minority of people who would fall for it that these calls are a scam. We here at ZeroPaid did some digging about these calls in a public service effort.

I consider myself to be reasonably savvy when it comes to telemarketers. Whenever they come calling trying to sell me something, I ask them to put me on a do-not-call list. Asking to be put on a do-not-call list is substantially better than simply hanging up on a telemarketer because merely hanging up is technically an invitation to call back later. Most telemarketers have a system in place because it's the law and it's generally good practice. After asking numerous telemarketers to be put on a do-not-call list myself, it seems I have narrowed down the number of telemarketers down to a very select few. Those were the automated calls that ask you to press a number to claim a prize (never do this unless you want to be charged an unknown amount of money), the occasional survey calls and one particularly annoying computer related call. The computer related one comes at around twice a month. The telemarketer in question tells me that he is calling in regards to my computer. After that, he typically instructs me to go to my computer. This is where I get my chance to stop him in his tracks. It took a few attempts, with different marketers, but I managed to obtain two different names from them. They claim to be either from the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team". This alone should be enough to set internal alarms off that this is not a legitimate call. Every time, these people would also tell me that my computer could be infected with harmful viruses and that they are calling to fix the problem. Usually, by this time, I tell them that I want to be put on a do-not-call list. Every time I've requested this, the telemarketer hangs up only to call back weeks later. To me, if these telemarketers are not even operating a do-not-call list, then that's a big warning sign that this is not legitimate. So, armed with who this is, I proceed to exercise my Google-fu to see what these people are all about. Turns out, this scam has been around for years. A user known as lowlanda on a Whirlpool forum posted in 2010 that a similar call was received asking to run some form of uncomprehendable command. In a British forum, there was a similar discussion also in 2010 about this kind of scam. Apparently, one user reported being asked to download a logmein program and was asked to pay £55 to keep Windows activated after obtaining personal information. Similar stories can be found on whocallsme as well. It turns out, this scam was so bad in the UK, police raided several websites associated with this scam. From the Guardian:
The Metropolitan police e-crime unit acted in April to take such sites down. Among those shut was supportonclick.com, registered to Pecon Software, a firm based in Kolkata. The company has now opened another support website, called onlinepccare.com, which is the subject of numerous online complaints about cold calling, "bullying", and claims that the caller is from Windows PC care.
One person recorded his adventure with this kind of scam and posted it to YouTube: There's plenty more information about this scam on digitaltoast. While the post dates clear back to 2009, the comments section points out that this scam is still going on to this day.

Microsoft's Comment

Interested that these scammers say that they are from Microsoft, we actually contacted Microsoft about this. We asked what to look for when it comes to figuring out whether or not the phone call is indeed from Microsoft or not. A Microsoft spokesperson said, "Our advice is simple; treat callers as you would treat strangers in the street – do not disclose personal or sensitive information to anyone you do not know." "Unfortunately this is not the first scam of its kind," the Microsoft spokesperson told ZeroPaid, "and it’s unlikely to be the last. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is by being aware of the threat. Consumers should also ensure the copy of Windows they are running is genuine and fully up to date, while ensuring they have installed legitimate software will guard against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.”

CRTC's Response and Information on Reporting This Scam

With an official statement from Microsoft saying that this is a scam, ZeroPaid decided to contact the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) to ask what options consumers have in terms of reporting such fraudulent phone calls; specifically, what can people do to issue a complaint about this kind of phone scam given that this scam is not compliant with the do-not-call registry. "First," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "this is a scammer calling you, not a telemarketer. For scams/fraud, I would recommend contacting the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (Phonebusters)." The CRTC forwarded us some links about reporting this scam and how this scam has really taken off in Canada in recent months. One link was to a press release by the RCMP detailing the scam:
OTTAWA - September 29, 2011 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and their partners at the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) are warning that if someone calls you claiming to be able to protect your computer from viruses, your best bet is to just hang up the phone. Don’t give the caller your computer access codes and don’t provide your credit card information. The virus scam has grown to epidemic proportions in Canada, now accounting for between 70 and 80 per cent of frauds reported daily to the CAFC. “We began noticing virus scam calls in March 2010. Since then, they’ve become an increasing proportion of our calls. Now, they’re the scam we deal with most often,” said RCMP Sgt. Paul Proulx of the CAFC. This dramatic increase means the scam is working – more and more Canadians are being targeted by the virus scam. Proulx warns, "If a scammer is able to log on to your computer then he has access to all the personal information you have stored there, including your banking information.” Here’s a typical scenario: a caller, often claiming to work for Microsoft or another reputable software company, will cold-call you and ask if your computer is running slowly or not working as it should. He will then offer to repair your computer via internet access, which can involve either software installation or the caller gaining remote control of your computer after you’ve granted him access. Payment for the software or the repair service is handled via your credit card with charges typically ranging from $35 to $470 per call. Allowing a third party to download software or remotely access your computer carries a number of serious risks. Malicious software can be installed to capture sensitive data such as your online banking user names and passwords, bank account information and your personal identity information. All of this information can be used in subsequent frauds that empty your bank accounts and charge your credit cards. Your computer can also be converted to a bot-net, which means criminals can use it without your knowledge or participation. It can then be used to spam other people, spread viruses to your friends or overload computer networks. Getting your credit card information is the second important part of the virus scam. Once a criminal has that information it can be used to make purchases without your consent. Canadians should be aware that not all virus scams are conducted over the phone. Many CAFC callers report being scammed after responding to internet pop-up ads for anti-virus software. Sgt. Proulx offers this simple advice: “If you’re really worried about viruses on your computer, be pro-active and use anti-virus software that you've acquired from reputable sources and keep it up to date. If someone calls you out of the blue offering to provide this kind of help, it’s probably a scam. Remember, it's not rude to hang up on someone who's trying to steal your money and information.” "When it comes to cyber security, we all have a role to play," said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. "Canada's Cyber Security Strategy is the Government's plan to help secure Canada's vital cyber systems and help Canadians protect themselves, their families and their personal information online." Please visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre’s new website for the latest on emerging fraud trends, advice on protecting yourself and victim’s guides that will help you recover from fraud loss: www.antifraudcentre.ca. For more information on the Government of Canada's Cyber Security Strategy: www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cyber Fraud: Recognize It, Report It, Stop It.
A second link the CRTC sent us was to a page detailing how you can report a scam call:
If you have not lost any money and have not provided personal or financial information (relating to a fraud or scam), and you simply want to inform the appropriate organizations, report it to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 If you received a fraudulent e-mail soliciting personal or financial information (phishing scam), you should also advise the financial institution or other agency whose name was used. If you are a victim of fraud or if you unwittingly provided personal or financial information (identity fraud), follow the steps in our Victim Assistance Guide. If you are a victim of fraud and it is not related to identity fraud, contact the police service of jurisdiction in your area. Always report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at info@antifraudcentre.ca or by dialing 1-888-495-8501 or on-line by visiting the CAFC website.
The third link the CRTC sent us was to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center which contains a lot of information about how you can report scams over the phone and about recent phone scams which includes this particular one. "If, however," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "a legitimate telemarketer calls you and breaks the DNCL rules – you can make a complaint either online or by phone. To file a complaint you need: 1. Your phone number (where the call was received) 2. The name or phone number of the telemarketer 3. The date you received the call To make a complaint online go to: lnnte-dncl.gc.ca" Note that the phone scam discussed is not a legitimate telemarketer, so if you get the computer viruses phone scam, this is best directed at the Canadian Anti-fraud Center and the RCMP. We here at ZeroPaid hope that this is valuable and informative information on this scam and how you can report it. Feel free to also discuss this scam or other phone scams in the comment section below. Note that the above information on reporting this scam is directed at Canadians. If you do not live in Canada or the UK and receive these calls, please feel free to let us know in the comments section below as we are only aware of this scam being active in the UK and in Canada. Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98757/psa-the-computer-maintenance-department-scam-calls/feed/ 5 TeraCopy: Alternative Windows File Transfer Program http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98183/teracopy-alternative-windows-file-transfer-program/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98183/teracopy-alternative-windows-file-transfer-program/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:50:07 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98183 images

Alternative to standard Windows copying program, boasting faster file transfer speeds, pause and resume option, and more. As file sizes grow ever larger these days thanks to the advent of things like Blue-Ray and HD content, transferring them from one place to the other can become frustratingly slow and time intensive. TeraCopy is free utility program for Windows that speeds up the copying time and gives you options like pause and resume, and error checking. Features:
  • TeraCopy uses dynamically adjusted buffers to reduce the seek times. Asynchronous copying speeds up the file transfer between two physical hard drives.
  • Pause the copy process at any time in order to free up system resources and continue with a single click.
[gallery link="file"]
The pause and resume option has to be the best, especially for those transferring a media library from one HDD to another. TeraCopy completely integrates into the Windows shell, replacing the Explorer copy with its own functionality and allowing you to transfer files as usual. Download TeraCopy Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya]]> images

Alternative to standard Windows copying program, boasting faster file transfer speeds, pause and resume option, and more. As file sizes grow ever larger these days thanks to the advent of things like Blue-Ray and HD content, transferring them from one place to the other can become frustratingly slow and time intensive. TeraCopy is free utility program for Windows that speeds up the copying time and gives you options like pause and resume, and error checking. Features:
  • TeraCopy uses dynamically adjusted buffers to reduce the seek times. Asynchronous copying speeds up the file transfer between two physical hard drives.
  • Pause the copy process at any time in order to free up system resources and continue with a single click.
[gallery link="file"]
The pause and resume option has to be the best, especially for those transferring a media library from one HDD to another. TeraCopy completely integrates into the Windows shell, replacing the Explorer copy with its own functionality and allowing you to transfer files as usual. Download TeraCopy Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98183/teracopy-alternative-windows-file-transfer-program/feed/ 0 How to Boot and Install Windows from a USB Flash Drive http://www.zeropaid.com/news/97377/how-to-boot-and-install-windows-from-a-usb-flash-drive/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/97377/how-to-boot-and-install-windows-from-a-usb-flash-drive/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:52:15 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=97377 boot-windows-from-usb

Handy guide to booting and installing the Windows OS with nothing more than a USB drive - no blank CDs or DVDs required.

To be honest this guide is the product of a recent inability to install Windows on a wiped HDD. I was given a PC tower as a gift, and it was stripped of the standard optical drives. All it has are several USB ports. Now I could have bought a cheap CD or DVD drive online, but that would've taken all the fun out of it right? The question is "How do I install Windows on a wiped HDD without a CD or DVD?" The answer is simple: Use a USB flash drive. All this requires is a separate computer (with a USB port obviously), a USB flash drive with at least 4GB of memory (depending on Windows 7 or XP), a copy of Windows, and about 20 minutes of your time.  

Rounding Up a Copy of Windows

Some may have their original copy of Windows available, and others may not. For the those that the former applies you'll have a little bit of extra work to do.

Convert Copy of Windows to an .ISO File

You'll need to create an image file of your copy of Windows to install on your formatted USB flash drive. I recommend using ISODisk. It's free and easy to use. Just select "Create ISO Image from CD-ROM" (even if actually DVD-ROM), the letter drive, and lastly where you want to save the .ISO image.   If you don't have a copy of Windows you can always find one on the Internets with this guide here.

Burn .ISO File to USB Flash Drive

For this I recommend using a free program called "ISO to USB." Just select your .ISO file, the letter of the USB Drive, and select "Burn."

Change the Boot Order

Okay, you're almost done. Put the USB flash drive in an empty USB slot and reboot the computer. When it restarts be sure to press whichever F key is required to enter your computer's BIOS and change the system's boot order. Reconfigure it's boot order so that it first boots from USB.

Save and exit from BIOS

Your computer should automatically restart itself and boot from your USB flash drive. It's that easy. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya            ]]> boot-windows-from-usb

Handy guide to booting and installing the Windows OS with nothing more than a USB drive - no blank CDs or DVDs required.

To be honest this guide is the product of a recent inability to install Windows on a wiped HDD. I was given a PC tower as a gift, and it was stripped of the standard optical drives. All it has are several USB ports. Now I could have bought a cheap CD or DVD drive online, but that would've taken all the fun out of it right? The question is "How do I install Windows on a wiped HDD without a CD or DVD?" The answer is simple: Use a USB flash drive. All this requires is a separate computer (with a USB port obviously), a USB flash drive with at least 4GB of memory (depending on Windows 7 or XP), a copy of Windows, and about 20 minutes of your time.  

Rounding Up a Copy of Windows

Some may have their original copy of Windows available, and others may not. For the those that the former applies you'll have a little bit of extra work to do.

Convert Copy of Windows to an .ISO File

You'll need to create an image file of your copy of Windows to install on your formatted USB flash drive. I recommend using ISODisk. It's free and easy to use. Just select "Create ISO Image from CD-ROM" (even if actually DVD-ROM), the letter drive, and lastly where you want to save the .ISO image.   If you don't have a copy of Windows you can always find one on the Internets with this guide here.

Burn .ISO File to USB Flash Drive

For this I recommend using a free program called "ISO to USB." Just select your .ISO file, the letter of the USB Drive, and select "Burn."

Change the Boot Order

Okay, you're almost done. Put the USB flash drive in an empty USB slot and reboot the computer. When it restarts be sure to press whichever F key is required to enter your computer's BIOS and change the system's boot order. Reconfigure it's boot order so that it first boots from USB.

Save and exit from BIOS

Your computer should automatically restart itself and boot from your USB flash drive. It's that easy. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya            ]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/97377/how-to-boot-and-install-windows-from-a-usb-flash-drive/feed/ 6 How to Reset a Forgotten Mac Password http://www.zeropaid.com/news/97344/how-to-reset-a-forgotten-mac-password/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/97344/how-to-reset-a-forgotten-mac-password/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:05:08 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=97344 mac-os-x-105-leopard-keychain-access-password-dialogue-box

Quick guide to regaining access to a Mac for which you’ve lost or forgotten the password to.

Nothing is more frustrating than forgetting or losing the password to your computer. As the number of usernames and passwords we have to remember these days proliferates the task of remembering and keeping track of them all is becoming more and more difficult. No password is as important as that of your home computer, and losing access because you’ve forgotten or lost it can be a nightmarish scenario. With this in mind we’ll go through the steps of recovering a forgotten Mac password. With the help of the Mac OS X Install disc you'll be able to regain access in no time. Don't have the the Install disc? No problem. In a later guide I'll show you how to hack into a Mac without it. Have you forgotten a password for Windows? We already have a guide here to help you out.  

Using Mac OS X Install Disc

1. Insert disc and hold the “C” key to boot from disc. 2. Choose “Reset Password” from the Utilities menu. 3. Select your Mac OS X hard disk drive and the username of the original administrator account. 4. Enter a new password and password hint. 5. Click "Save." 6. Quit the application by clicking the red button in the upper left corner. 7. Choose Quit Mac OS X Installer. 8. Restart. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya]]> mac-os-x-105-leopard-keychain-access-password-dialogue-box

Quick guide to regaining access to a Mac for which you’ve lost or forgotten the password to.

Nothing is more frustrating than forgetting or losing the password to your computer. As the number of usernames and passwords we have to remember these days proliferates the task of remembering and keeping track of them all is becoming more and more difficult. No password is as important as that of your home computer, and losing access because you’ve forgotten or lost it can be a nightmarish scenario. With this in mind we’ll go through the steps of recovering a forgotten Mac password. With the help of the Mac OS X Install disc you'll be able to regain access in no time. Don't have the the Install disc? No problem. In a later guide I'll show you how to hack into a Mac without it. Have you forgotten a password for Windows? We already have a guide here to help you out.  

Using Mac OS X Install Disc

1. Insert disc and hold the “C” key to boot from disc. 2. Choose “Reset Password” from the Utilities menu. 3. Select your Mac OS X hard disk drive and the username of the original administrator account. 4. Enter a new password and password hint. 5. Click "Save." 6. Quit the application by clicking the red button in the upper left corner. 7. Choose Quit Mac OS X Installer. 8. Restart. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/97344/how-to-reset-a-forgotten-mac-password/feed/ 2 Guide: How to Defeat US DNS Censorship (Changing Your DNS Server) http://www.zeropaid.com/news/94931/guide-how-to-defeat-us-dns-censorship-changing-your-dns-server/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/94931/guide-how-to-defeat-us-dns-censorship-changing-your-dns-server/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:50:27 +0000 Drew Wilson http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=94931 US_censorship_crop

We've been running a series for guides for some time on how to defeat DNS censorship as suggested by the PROTECT-IP Act. Today, we'll show you another method that requires no installation or downloading anything. All it requires is what comes with your computer. We'll show you how to do this with Windows 7 and show you a helpful tip if you are using Windows XP instead.

If the United States is planning on simply modifying the DNS system so that alleged copyright infringing websites will no longer appear, then defeating such censorship has proven very trivial. Here's a list of guides detailing methods of defeating such censorship:
  1. Using command prompt
  2. Using DNS Web Tools
  3. Using your HOSTs file
  4. Using MAFIAAFire
  5. Using TOR
  6. Using Foxy Proxy
Many of these methods are actually not that difficult to use. In fact, half of these methods require no installation of software of any kind - just using what you already have on your computer. Today, we will show you another method of defeating DNS censorship that also requires absolutely no installation of any software or downloading content of any kind (minus obtaining a DNS server IP address of course) Since we are talking about trying to use websites that could be blocked through DNS censorship, why not simply use a different DNS server? After all, if ISPs are compelled to modify their DNS servers, why not simply avoid US DNS servers altogether and use a non-censored DNS server? This is not all that hard with Windows 7 and we'll show you how it's done. Step 1: Obtain a DNS Server IP Address Under the advise of Aaron_Walkhouse (a ZeroPaid reader and forum member), we have chosen not to reveal or search for any DNS server IPs given the amount of potential traffic might overwhelm the server. However, simply searching for DNS server IP addresses being used by ISPs in countries outside of the United States might be the best method of attack. Still, that doesn't mean we can't show you what to do once you have obtained a trustworthy DNS server IP address. Step 2: Locate the DNS Server Option This likely varies from Operating System to Operating System. In Windows 7, you can find this option by doing the following: Right click on the network icon (this is located near your clock) and click on "Open Network and Sharing Center": In the new window, click on the Manage networks option. It depends on what kind of connection you have that determines specifically what this says. If you're like me and use a wireless network, it'll say "Manage wireless networks": In the next screen, select whatever router you are using, then click on "Adapter Properties" Click on the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPV4) and click on the "Properties" button: You should find your DNS server option at the bottom of the next window. Step 3: Change the DNS Server If you have a DNS server IP address, then you can do this step. Next to the "Preferred DNS Server", you can type in the IP address of the DNS server you want to use. The "Alternate DNS Server", you can type in an additional DNS server in the even the primary DNS server goes down: After that, just click on OK, then OK in the previous window and test our your new DNS server (just remember what your original DNS Server IP address is in the event something goes wrong (i.e. writing it down or put it in a temporary unsaved notepad file - and not saving it after you are done) Under Windows 7, that is it! Windows XP Users ZeroPaid forum member Aaron_Walkhouse was able to show us the windows for Windows XP users: For full context, you can view his comments on the forums. Changing DNS servers - the power is yours! Final Thoughts It is imperative that you use a DNS server you can trust. The reason for this is that a malicious DNS server could easily cause performance and security problems. If you do find a trustworthy DNS server (typically, a server used by an ISP) outside of the country attempting DNS censorship, this can easily bi-pass any local DNS censorship. Potentially, this is a very effective method of defeating possible DNS censorship in the United States. Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> US_censorship_crop

We've been running a series for guides for some time on how to defeat DNS censorship as suggested by the PROTECT-IP Act. Today, we'll show you another method that requires no installation or downloading anything. All it requires is what comes with your computer. We'll show you how to do this with Windows 7 and show you a helpful tip if you are using Windows XP instead.

If the United States is planning on simply modifying the DNS system so that alleged copyright infringing websites will no longer appear, then defeating such censorship has proven very trivial. Here's a list of guides detailing methods of defeating such censorship:
  1. Using command prompt
  2. Using DNS Web Tools
  3. Using your HOSTs file
  4. Using MAFIAAFire
  5. Using TOR
  6. Using Foxy Proxy
Many of these methods are actually not that difficult to use. In fact, half of these methods require no installation of software of any kind - just using what you already have on your computer. Today, we will show you another method of defeating DNS censorship that also requires absolutely no installation of any software or downloading content of any kind (minus obtaining a DNS server IP address of course) Since we are talking about trying to use websites that could be blocked through DNS censorship, why not simply use a different DNS server? After all, if ISPs are compelled to modify their DNS servers, why not simply avoid US DNS servers altogether and use a non-censored DNS server? This is not all that hard with Windows 7 and we'll show you how it's done. Step 1: Obtain a DNS Server IP Address Under the advise of Aaron_Walkhouse (a ZeroPaid reader and forum member), we have chosen not to reveal or search for any DNS server IPs given the amount of potential traffic might overwhelm the server. However, simply searching for DNS server IP addresses being used by ISPs in countries outside of the United States might be the best method of attack. Still, that doesn't mean we can't show you what to do once you have obtained a trustworthy DNS server IP address. Step 2: Locate the DNS Server Option This likely varies from Operating System to Operating System. In Windows 7, you can find this option by doing the following: Right click on the network icon (this is located near your clock) and click on "Open Network and Sharing Center": In the new window, click on the Manage networks option. It depends on what kind of connection you have that determines specifically what this says. If you're like me and use a wireless network, it'll say "Manage wireless networks": In the next screen, select whatever router you are using, then click on "Adapter Properties" Click on the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPV4) and click on the "Properties" button: You should find your DNS server option at the bottom of the next window. Step 3: Change the DNS Server If you have a DNS server IP address, then you can do this step. Next to the "Preferred DNS Server", you can type in the IP address of the DNS server you want to use. The "Alternate DNS Server", you can type in an additional DNS server in the even the primary DNS server goes down: After that, just click on OK, then OK in the previous window and test our your new DNS server (just remember what your original DNS Server IP address is in the event something goes wrong (i.e. writing it down or put it in a temporary unsaved notepad file - and not saving it after you are done) Under Windows 7, that is it! Windows XP Users ZeroPaid forum member Aaron_Walkhouse was able to show us the windows for Windows XP users: For full context, you can view his comments on the forums. Changing DNS servers - the power is yours! Final Thoughts It is imperative that you use a DNS server you can trust. The reason for this is that a malicious DNS server could easily cause performance and security problems. If you do find a trustworthy DNS server (typically, a server used by an ISP) outside of the country attempting DNS censorship, this can easily bi-pass any local DNS censorship. Potentially, this is a very effective method of defeating possible DNS censorship in the United States. Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/94931/guide-how-to-defeat-us-dns-censorship-changing-your-dns-server/feed/ 1 Guide: How to Defeat US DNS Censorship (Using Your Hosts File) http://www.zeropaid.com/news/94802/guide-how-to-defeat-us-dns-censorship-using-your-hosts-file/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/94802/guide-how-to-defeat-us-dns-censorship-using-your-hosts-file/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 11:08:46 +0000 Drew Wilson http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=94802 US_censorship_crop

We've been finding ways of defeating DNS censorship partly because the United States has been suggesting that they will utilize such censorship in the PROTECT IP Act. Today, we'd like to introduce a very effective and powerful way you can defeat DNS censorship - and that is simply using a more obscure method that, again, uses what you already have on a most computers and even on some mobile devices - the Hosts file. We will be demonstrating this on a Windows 7 computer.

If you stuck around different communities with some kind of focus on computers in general, you may have seen the odd conversation here and there that talks about this mysterious file called the hosts file. A hosts file is a file that is located on most standard Windows operating systems. Why Something Like This Might be Necessary When you access a website through a typical WWW domain through your browser, the browser will refer to, sort of like a general public version of this file. It's a list of domains and IP addresses. So, if you type in www.google.com, this public server list will tell your browser, "Ah, you want www.google.com, so you should be directed at the server with the following IP address: 74.125.127.99." The browser then actually goes to that server IP address (which is something more understandable to a computer on the internet) and then you end up with seeing the website you've been wanting to see. The problem with this system is that if the government (namely the US government) wants to tamper with the list many users depend on every day. Say, the government or a corporation sees a website they don't like, then they might be tempted to simply change the IP address of the website's server in the public list to something else or simply block the domain name altogether. So, if you wanted to type in www.google.com and, for instance, the RIAA decides that they don't want you to see Google, they can, in theory through the PROTECT IP Act, make it so www.google.com doesn't point to any website at all and everyone that wants to see www.google.com will simply get something like, "Server not found" errors even though the website is working properly. What is a Hosts File Then? A hosts file is sort of like a personal version of this public list. Instead of, for instance, a browser referring to the public version of this list, the hosts file will tell the browser, "Oh, I know where that's at! You don't have to worry about that public list!" and point to the proper server IP address (if you are maintaining it properly of course) The important thing is that you have the power to change this on your own. If the computer in question is the main computer for the internet in a network, then all computers on the network can be affected by the hosts file on that one computer even. Essentially, if the RIAA has decided to block Google by changing the public list, it won't matter because your hosts file will be directed to the proper IP address anyway. Getting Started The first thing you need is the proper server IP address of a given website. I have already outlined two great ways to obtain them in previous guides. The two methods I highlighted are through command prompt and through web DNS look-up tools. The second method can find multiple server IP addresses which can be more helpful in making sure you have access to the proper website. The first method is subject to the public domain list, but is, for now, a quick way of obtaining the IP addresses. Remember me mentioning saving those IP addresses in a convenient place in those previous guides? A hosts file is a very convenient place to have them, though in a temporary notepad file works well for the moment if you're following along. Step 1: Locate the Hosts File It sounds like a simple enough thing to do. Unfortunately, that is not an easy answer because it depends on the kind of operating system. Fortunately, Wikipedia has a nice entry on where the hosts file is actually located (if at all) on many different kinds of operating systems and mobile devices. So, since we are using a Windows 7 operating system, we can note that Wikipedia tells us that this is in " %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\". In my case, since I didn't do anything wild to the operating system that would alter the file structure, the hosts file is located in "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc" The "%SystemRoot% simply refers to where the operating system is installed on your computer. In my case, this is the window I wound up looking at when I found the hosts file: Step 2: Open the Hosts File (for viewing) Naturally, the file we are wanting is simply a file called "hosts". There is no file extension to this file, so we need to right click on this file and click on "open" (first option in bold) When the window appears that asks you which program you want to open the file in, select "Notepad" (list should be in alphabetical order) For other operating systems, it's really the simplest, most bare-bones text editor you need for viewing and editing the hosts file properly (not word processors as that adds other bits of text to the file don't want in there) What I wound up with when I opened the file was this: This file contains a lot of self-explanatory information. Just remember that, on a line, if you start that line with a "#" sign, then the operating system will ignore it. This is great for notes for specific websites. If you are using Windows 7 (reportedly, it's the same story for people using Windows Vista), you can't edit this file because if you properly save it, you will most likely get an "Access Denied" error that stops you from saving the file. If you are a lucky person that experiences this error, then read the next step. If not and you are able to edit the hosts file unhindered, skip to step 4. Step 3: Editing the Hosts File This is where things get a little tricky. We need to be able to open this file under administrator using Notepad. This complicates things for when you want to edit this file, but once you are finally viewing the file under administrator, saving is easy. First, you need to have left your hosts file for simple viewing open. Next go in to the start menu. In the search bar, type in "notepad" You should see notepad in the programs list: Next, right click on Notepad and select "run as administrator" At this point, Windows will show a dialogue box asking you if you want to allow Notepad to make changes to your computer. Allow it to do so because you need to edit something here! You should have two notepad windows open now - the original hosts file and an untitled notepad file. Click on the notepad window of your original hosts file anywhere in the actual text. Now, hold down "Ctrl" on your keyboard and hit "A" on your keyboard. This will select all of the text. Now, hold "Ctrl" on your keyboard and hit "C" on your keyboard. This will copy the contents of the file. Now, click on the text area of the "untitled" notepad file. When you see a curser in the text area of the new notepad file, hold down "Ctrl" on your keyboard and press "V". This should paste everything from the hosts file to the new untitled text file. Close the hosts notepad window. Now, in the untitled notepad window, click on "File", then click on "Save as..." In the new window, browse to where you found your hosts file. Now, next to the "Save as type" line, click on the small down arrow and select "All Files *.*" In the area where the files should appear, click on "hosts" and then hit the "Save" button. These are highlighted below: Excellent, you are now able to edit your hosts file! Step 4: Test the Hosts File We want to make sure we can actually make things happen with this file and show ourselves that what we do to this file can make a change in how we access the internet. Think of a domain you (and no one else who uses the computer) wouldn't normally use. For me, this is yahoo.com. So, just for fun, I want to make Yahoo simply direct to Google. So, for this, I simply follow Microsoft's example in the file and type in the IP address of Google. Then, I add a few spaces and type in yahoo.com like so: After you save the changes, open up a new tab and type in the domain you chose to redirect to Google. You should be directed to Google in your browser. Now, since this is a silly change, we should just delete this line in the hosts file and save those changes (repeat steps 2 and 3 if you have to in the event the notepad window closed) When we tested this, it took a minute for FireFox to no longer use the Google IP address when attempting to access it. For me, I ended up closing the affected tab, opening internet explorer and typing in the Yahoo domain and the changes finally took place (not sure why) Congratulations, you now have control of your hosts file! Step 5: Use Your Hosts File So, now that we know for sure our hosts file can affect how we access the internet, we want to make useful changes in an effort to defeat actual DNS censorship. Let's say a corporate organization doesn't want you to view a website known as NewzBin2. Well, after using our DNS lookup web tool guide, we are able to determine three IP addresses NewzBin2 uses right now: 85.112.165.71, 85.112.165.87, and 85.112.165.73. Now, this uses three IP addresses. This is great since if one server is down, we can switch IP addresses in our hosts file. Before we go further, make sure word wrap is disabled (format, word wrap - make sure there is no check mark) So, for ease of use, I type in everything like so, commenting out the second and third IP address: If, later on, one IP address stops working, we can add a line below that entry, insert a '#' symbol and type in "Failed IP addresses: (insert non-working IP addresses)" and paste over the first IP address with an alternative IP address. It doesn't really matter how exactly you approach this maintenance business so long as it's consistent, working and understandable to you. If you want to add in another entry for another site, add two spaces and add in another entry. If a website stops working all of a sudden, first, try a website checker like downforeveryoneorjustme to make sure it's just the website that's down and not you. Wait a little while if it's just you, but if you feel that the IP address is the problem, then change it in your hosts file. That should be it! Hosts file - the power is yours! Final Thoughts This method does modify how your system operates, so use this wisely. Don't go modifying other files in the system unless you know exactly what you are doing or else your system could experience adverse performance issues. This guide was made possible with the assistance of ZeroPaid member Aaron_Walkhouse. You can view our conversation via the forums (feel free to participate there or on the comment section here) Thank you Aaron for your help! Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> US_censorship_crop

We've been finding ways of defeating DNS censorship partly because the United States has been suggesting that they will utilize such censorship in the PROTECT IP Act. Today, we'd like to introduce a very effective and powerful way you can defeat DNS censorship - and that is simply using a more obscure method that, again, uses what you already have on a most computers and even on some mobile devices - the Hosts file. We will be demonstrating this on a Windows 7 computer.

If you stuck around different communities with some kind of focus on computers in general, you may have seen the odd conversation here and there that talks about this mysterious file called the hosts file. A hosts file is a file that is located on most standard Windows operating systems. Why Something Like This Might be Necessary When you access a website through a typical WWW domain through your browser, the browser will refer to, sort of like a general public version of this file. It's a list of domains and IP addresses. So, if you type in www.google.com, this public server list will tell your browser, "Ah, you want www.google.com, so you should be directed at the server with the following IP address: 74.125.127.99." The browser then actually goes to that server IP address (which is something more understandable to a computer on the internet) and then you end up with seeing the website you've been wanting to see. The problem with this system is that if the government (namely the US government) wants to tamper with the list many users depend on every day. Say, the government or a corporation sees a website they don't like, then they might be tempted to simply change the IP address of the website's server in the public list to something else or simply block the domain name altogether. So, if you wanted to type in www.google.com and, for instance, the RIAA decides that they don't want you to see Google, they can, in theory through the PROTECT IP Act, make it so www.google.com doesn't point to any website at all and everyone that wants to see www.google.com will simply get something like, "Server not found" errors even though the website is working properly. What is a Hosts File Then? A hosts file is sort of like a personal version of this public list. Instead of, for instance, a browser referring to the public version of this list, the hosts file will tell the browser, "Oh, I know where that's at! You don't have to worry about that public list!" and point to the proper server IP address (if you are maintaining it properly of course) The important thing is that you have the power to change this on your own. If the computer in question is the main computer for the internet in a network, then all computers on the network can be affected by the hosts file on that one computer even. Essentially, if the RIAA has decided to block Google by changing the public list, it won't matter because your hosts file will be directed to the proper IP address anyway. Getting Started The first thing you need is the proper server IP address of a given website. I have already outlined two great ways to obtain them in previous guides. The two methods I highlighted are through command prompt and through web DNS look-up tools. The second method can find multiple server IP addresses which can be more helpful in making sure you have access to the proper website. The first method is subject to the public domain list, but is, for now, a quick way of obtaining the IP addresses. Remember me mentioning saving those IP addresses in a convenient place in those previous guides? A hosts file is a very convenient place to have them, though in a temporary notepad file works well for the moment if you're following along. Step 1: Locate the Hosts File It sounds like a simple enough thing to do. Unfortunately, that is not an easy answer because it depends on the kind of operating system. Fortunately, Wikipedia has a nice entry on where the hosts file is actually located (if at all) on many different kinds of operating systems and mobile devices. So, since we are using a Windows 7 operating system, we can note that Wikipedia tells us that this is in " %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\". In my case, since I didn't do anything wild to the operating system that would alter the file structure, the hosts file is located in "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc" The "%SystemRoot% simply refers to where the operating system is installed on your computer. In my case, this is the window I wound up looking at when I found the hosts file: Step 2: Open the Hosts File (for viewing) Naturally, the file we are wanting is simply a file called "hosts". There is no file extension to this file, so we need to right click on this file and click on "open" (first option in bold) When the window appears that asks you which program you want to open the file in, select "Notepad" (list should be in alphabetical order) For other operating systems, it's really the simplest, most bare-bones text editor you need for viewing and editing the hosts file properly (not word processors as that adds other bits of text to the file don't want in there) What I wound up with when I opened the file was this: This file contains a lot of self-explanatory information. Just remember that, on a line, if you start that line with a "#" sign, then the operating system will ignore it. This is great for notes for specific websites. If you are using Windows 7 (reportedly, it's the same story for people using Windows Vista), you can't edit this file because if you properly save it, you will most likely get an "Access Denied" error that stops you from saving the file. If you are a lucky person that experiences this error, then read the next step. If not and you are able to edit the hosts file unhindered, skip to step 4. Step 3: Editing the Hosts File This is where things get a little tricky. We need to be able to open this file under administrator using Notepad. This complicates things for when you want to edit this file, but once you are finally viewing the file under administrator, saving is easy. First, you need to have left your hosts file for simple viewing open. Next go in to the start menu. In the search bar, type in "notepad" You should see notepad in the programs list: Next, right click on Notepad and select "run as administrator" At this point, Windows will show a dialogue box asking you if you want to allow Notepad to make changes to your computer. Allow it to do so because you need to edit something here! You should have two notepad windows open now - the original hosts file and an untitled notepad file. Click on the notepad window of your original hosts file anywhere in the actual text. Now, hold down "Ctrl" on your keyboard and hit "A" on your keyboard. This will select all of the text. Now, hold "Ctrl" on your keyboard and hit "C" on your keyboard. This will copy the contents of the file. Now, click on the text area of the "untitled" notepad file. When you see a curser in the text area of the new notepad file, hold down "Ctrl" on your keyboard and press "V". This should paste everything from the hosts file to the new untitled text file. Close the hosts notepad window. Now, in the untitled notepad window, click on "File", then click on "Save as..." In the new window, browse to where you found your hosts file. Now, next to the "Save as type" line, click on the small down arrow and select "All Files *.*" In the area where the files should appear, click on "hosts" and then hit the "Save" button. These are highlighted below: Excellent, you are now able to edit your hosts file! Step 4: Test the Hosts File We want to make sure we can actually make things happen with this file and show ourselves that what we do to this file can make a change in how we access the internet. Think of a domain you (and no one else who uses the computer) wouldn't normally use. For me, this is yahoo.com. So, just for fun, I want to make Yahoo simply direct to Google. So, for this, I simply follow Microsoft's example in the file and type in the IP address of Google. Then, I add a few spaces and type in yahoo.com like so: After you save the changes, open up a new tab and type in the domain you chose to redirect to Google. You should be directed to Google in your browser. Now, since this is a silly change, we should just delete this line in the hosts file and save those changes (repeat steps 2 and 3 if you have to in the event the notepad window closed) When we tested this, it took a minute for FireFox to no longer use the Google IP address when attempting to access it. For me, I ended up closing the affected tab, opening internet explorer and typing in the Yahoo domain and the changes finally took place (not sure why) Congratulations, you now have control of your hosts file! Step 5: Use Your Hosts File So, now that we know for sure our hosts file can affect how we access the internet, we want to make useful changes in an effort to defeat actual DNS censorship. Let's say a corporate organization doesn't want you to view a website known as NewzBin2. Well, after using our DNS lookup web tool guide, we are able to determine three IP addresses NewzBin2 uses right now: 85.112.165.71, 85.112.165.87, and 85.112.165.73. Now, this uses three IP addresses. This is great since if one server is down, we can switch IP addresses in our hosts file. Before we go further, make sure word wrap is disabled (format, word wrap - make sure there is no check mark) So, for ease of use, I type in everything like so, commenting out the second and third IP address: If, later on, one IP address stops working, we can add a line below that entry, insert a '#' symbol and type in "Failed IP addresses: (insert non-working IP addresses)" and paste over the first IP address with an alternative IP address. It doesn't really matter how exactly you approach this maintenance business so long as it's consistent, working and understandable to you. If you want to add in another entry for another site, add two spaces and add in another entry. If a website stops working all of a sudden, first, try a website checker like downforeveryoneorjustme to make sure it's just the website that's down and not you. Wait a little while if it's just you, but if you feel that the IP address is the problem, then change it in your hosts file. That should be it! Hosts file - the power is yours! Final Thoughts This method does modify how your system operates, so use this wisely. Don't go modifying other files in the system unless you know exactly what you are doing or else your system could experience adverse performance issues. This guide was made possible with the assistance of ZeroPaid member Aaron_Walkhouse. You can view our conversation via the forums (feel free to participate there or on the comment section here) Thank you Aaron for your help! Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/94802/guide-how-to-defeat-us-dns-censorship-using-your-hosts-file/feed/ 12 Report – Windows 7 is ‘Practically Made for Pirates’ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/86870/report-windows-7-is-practically-made-for-pirates/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/86870/report-windows-7-is-practically-made-for-pirates/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:39:45 +0000 Drew Wilson http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=86870 We’re not entirely sure who would be more upset, copyright holders who have been desperately trying to install a three strikes regime everywhere in the world or Microsoft after they receive a lawsuit from those same copyright holders. It’s unlikely that, in the face of the MGM vs. Grokster case, that Microsoft will exactly be showing off this aspect of the soon-to-be released OS.

There’s been the odd rumour here and there that Microsoft is colluding with copyright holders from time to time. One rumour suggested that Longhorn, now known as Vista, would not play unlicensed content. Of course, rumours like that eventually fell apart sometime during the release of the OS. This is what makes the notion that Windows 7 is designed for piracy.

The report comes from Wired via CNN where the author put together 7 reasons to use Windows 7. One of the reasons to switch to Windows 7? Piracy will now be a breeze:

Yarr! We know there are plenty of you out there downloading pirated digital booty, especially in Windows land. But it’s never been convenient to be a pirate compared with being a paying customer. For example, if you’re a legitimate buyer purchasing movies off iTunes, you can easily stream your media to your legitimately purchased Apple TV. If you’re a pirate, you’d have to go through roundabout programs and hardware to re-create the experience.

Windows 7 is an OS practically made for pirates. Want to display your movies, photos or music on your TV? Bam! Windows Media Player will do that out of the box if you have a Wi-Fi enabled TV, or an Xbox. No extra programs to install: Windows Media Player seamlessly communicates with your Wi-Fi device to display your illegal content in all its glory on your fancy HD TV.

And sharing media is easy, too. Want to download all of your brother’s music? Bam! HomeGroup, an easy networking feature included in Windows 7, will make that super easy between computers running the OS. Immediately upon plugging in to your network with Ethernet or Wi-Fi, HomeGroup will ask if you wish to join the group on the network, allowing you to set up easy file sharing in minutes.

It’s more than likely that this reason is a little tongue and cheek, though it’s doubtful groups like the RIAA would be laughing. Still, some Windows supporters in the past have suggested that Microsoft continues to dominate in the OS market, in part, thanks to not actually proving the rumours that there would be a form of trusted computing that would quash all forms of unauthorized content.

It’s unclear how Microsoft would actually handle the label of Windows 7 as being a Piracy Operating System, but content being shared between computers isn’t an entirely new thing for Windows given the shared directory has been part of a Microsoft Operating System for quite some time now – not to mention the whole concept of networking computing.

Regardless, it’s hard not to see the humour in the idea that Windows is “made for pirates”. We can already see the sales being higher than expected already.

Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/86870/report-windows-7-is-practically-made-for-pirates/feed/ 26 Microsoft – We Don’t Have a Monopoly in China Because of Piracy http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9730/microsoft__we_dont_have_a_monopoly_in_china_because_of_piracy/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9730/microsoft__we_dont_have_a_monopoly_in_china_because_of_piracy/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:47:37 +0000 Jorge Gonzalez Here’s a relatively unique way to blame piracy – say that it’s the reason you don’t have a monopoly to avoid anti-trust fines.

There are those that hear the same old tired scapegoat. Profits down? Blame piracy. Sales down? Blame piracy. Sales up? It’s in spite of piracy and there could be more sales. Profits up? It’s in spite of piracy and they could be higher. Who knew that a major software giant would use piracy to their legal advantage?

It’s an interesting development. According to ALB Legal News located in Australia, “Microsoft may have a viable legal defence against its first ever anti-monopoly claim in China, given the prevalence of pirated Microsoft products in the country and how “market share” is defined by the Chinese authorities.”

The report further comments:

When lawyer Dong Zhengwei, a partner with Beijing-based Zhongyin law firm grabbed the headlines by alleging that Microsoft was using its dominant market share to manipulate software prices in China and calling for a US$1bn fine to be imposed on the global software giant, Microsoft global VP Zhang Yaqin was quick to reply with an interesting counter argument: “Microsoft did not even have the preconditions of conducting monopoly activities in China,” he said “genuine Microsoft products have a very low market share in China because its products are widely pirated.”

It may be a form of confirmation that major corporations need piracy at some point in their existence to gain an edge in the market. While most examples point to long-term solutions, this may be one of the few instances that it’s actually going to help the corporation in the short term.

The debate over whether or not piracy actually helps the major incumbent industries has been around for years. The timing on this, though, is interesting given that it was only late last month that Russell McOrmond pointed to an article on how software piracy actually aids proprietary software in the war between proprietary software and open source/free software.

While the excuse may be convenient for Microsoft at this point, it’s doubtful the company will be thanking software pirates afterwords if the legal argument works.

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9730/microsoft__we_dont_have_a_monopoly_in_china_because_of_piracy/feed/ 2 Vista betas will kill your data http://www.zeropaid.com/news/8681/vista_betas_will_kill_your_data/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/8681/vista_betas_will_kill_your_data/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:16:22 +0000 Jared Moya MICROSOFT HAS let it be known that the behaviour of Windows Vista beta copies is about to change fairly substantially.

From May 31, anybody using a beta copy of the OS will find that their machine reboots every two hours, and that intermediate access will be limited to base-level file retrieval. That means that you could lose data you’re working on, and that your machine will be good only for reformatting.

This isn’t as bad news as it seems. Users who had taken part in the Vista beta scheme – millions of people, in fact – were all given free copies of Vista Ultimate by the Vole as a ‘thank you’.

We suspect that this is more likely to affect those individuals who were using copies of the Vista beta nicked from mates or from BitTorrent in a bid to avoid having to pay for the full thing. The quick phase out means that this is possibly the shortest post-release beta Windows has seen.

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/8681/vista_betas_will_kill_your_data/feed/ 2