10 security for your PC

Before you spend a dime on security, there are many precautions you can take that will protect you against the most common threats.

1. Check Windows Update and Office Update regularly (_http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates); have your Office CD ready. Windows Me, 2000, and XP users can configure automatic updates. Click on the Automatic Updates tab in the System control panel and choose the appropriate options.

2. Install a personal firewall. Both SyGate (_www.sygate.com) and ZoneAlarm (_www.zonelabs.com) offer free versions.


3. Install a free spyware blocker. Our Editors' Choice ("Spyware," April 22) was SpyBot Search & Destroy (_http://security.kolla.de). SpyBot is also paranoid and ruthless in hunting out tracking cookies.

4. Block pop-up spam messages in Windows NT, 2000, or XP by disabling the Windows Messenger service (this is unrelated to the instant messaging program). Open Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services and you'll see Messenger. Right-click and go to Properties. Set Start-up Type to Disabled and press the Stop button. Bye-bye, spam pop-ups! Any good firewall will also stop them.

5. Use strong passwords and change them periodically. Passwords should have at least seven characters; use letters and numbers and have at least one symbol. A decent example would be f8izKro@l. This will make it much harder for anyone to gain access to your accounts.

6. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, use the current version or one with the Outlook Security Update installed. The update and current versions patch numerous vulnerabilities.

7. Buy antivirus software and keep it up to date. If you're not willing to pay, try Grisoft AVG Free Edition (Grisoft Inc., w*w.grisoft.com). And doublecheck your AV with the free, online-only scanners available at w*w.pandasoftware.com/activescan and _http://housecall.trendmicro.com.

8. If you have a wireless network, turn on the security features: Use MAC filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and even use WEP with the biggest key you can get. For more, check out our wireless section or see the expanded coverage in Your Unwired World in our next issue.

9. Join a respectable e-mail security list, such as the one found at our own Security Supersite at _http://security.ziffdavis.com, so that you learn about emerging threats quickly and can take proper precautions.

10. Be skeptical of things on the Internet. Don't assume that e-mail "From:" a particular person is actually from that person until you have further reason to believe it's that person. Don't assume that an attachment is what it says it is. Don't give out your password to anyone, even if that person claims to be from "support."

HOW TO CRACK ANY TYPE OF SOFTWARE PROTECTION

In this tutorial you will learn how to crack any type of software protection using
W32Dasm and HIEW.

IDENTIFYING THE PROTECTION:

Run the program, game, etc., (SoftwareX) that you want to crack without the CD in the
CD reader. SoftwareX will not run of course, however, when the error window pops up it
will give you all of the vital information that you need to crack the program, so be sure to
write down what it says.

CRACKING THE PROTECTION:

Now, run Win32Dasm. On the file menu open DISASSEMBLER > OPEN FILE TO
DISASSEMBLE. Select SoftwareX’s executable file in the popup window that will
appear (e.g. SoftwareX.exe). W32Dasm may take several minutes to disassemble the file.
When W32Dasm finishes disassembling the file it will display unrecognizable text; this is
what we want. Click on the String Data References button. Scroll through the String Data
Items until you find SoftwareX’s error message. When you locate it, double click the
error message and then close the window to return to the Win32Dasm text. You will
notice that you have been moved somewhere within the SoftwareX’s check routine; this
is where the error message in generated.
Now comes the difficult part, so be careful. To crack SoftwareX’s protection you must
know the @offset of every call and jump command. Write down every call and jump
@offset number that you see (You have to be sure, that the OPBAR change its used color
to green). You need the number behind the @offset without the “h.”
Now open HIEW, locate SoftwareX’s executable, and press the F4 key. At this point a
popup window will appear with 3 options: Text, Hex, and Decode. Click on “Decode” to
see a list of numbers. Now press the F5 key and enter the number that was extracted using
Win32Dasm. After you have entered the number you will be taken to SoftwareX’s check
routine within HIEW.
To continue you must understand this paragraph. If the command that you are taken to is
E92BF9BF74, for example, it means that the command equals 5 bytes. Every 2 digits
equal one byte: E9-2B-F9-BF-74 => 10 digits => 5 bytes. If you understood this then you
can continue.
Press F3 (Edit), this will allow you to edit the 10 digits. Replace the 5 bytes with the
digits 90. In other words, E92BF9BF74 will become 9090909090 (90-90-90-90-90).
After you complete this step press the F10 key to exit.
Congratulations! You just cracked SoftwareX!
Don’t panic if SoftwareX will not run after you finished cracking it. It only means that
something was done incorrectly, or perhaps SoftwareX’s protection technology has been
improved or created after this tutorial. Simply reinstall SoftwareX and start over. If you’re
sure that you completed all steps correctly and the program still will not run, then tough
nuts.
Their protection was developed after the writing of this tutorial.

15 Toughest Interview Questions and Answers

15 Toughest Interview Questions and Answers!!

1. Why do you want to work in this industry?
Bad answer:

“I love to shop. Even as a kid, I spent hours flipping through catalogues.”

Don’t just say you like it. Anyone can do that. Focus instead on your history with that
particular industry, and if you can, tell a success story.

Good answer:

“I’ve always loved shopping, but my interest in retail marketing really started when I worked at a neighborhood
boutique. I knew our clothes were amazing, but that we weren’t marketing them properly. So I worked with
management to come up with a marketing strategy that increased our sales by 25% in a year. It was great to be able
to contribute positively to an industry I feel so passionate about, and to help promote a product I really believed in.”

2. Tell us about yourself.
Bad answer:

“I graduated four years ago from the University of Michigan, with a Bachelor’s in Biology – but I decided that
wasn’t the right path for me. So I switched gears and got my first job, working in sales for a startup. Then I went on
to work in marketing for a law firm. After that, I took a few months off to travel. Finally, I came back and worked in
marketing again. And now, here I am, looking for a more challenging marketing role.”

Instead of giving a chronological work history, focus on your strengths and how they
pertain to the role. If possible, illustrate with examples.

Good answer:

“I’m really energetic, and a great communicator. Working in sales for two years helped me build confidence, and
taught me the importance of customer loyalty. I’ve also got a track record of success. In my last role, I launched a
company newsletter, which helped us build on our existing relationships and create new ones. Because of this, we
ended up seeing a revenue increase of 10% over two years. I’m also really interested in how companies can use web
tools to better market themselves, and would be committed to building on your existing platform.”


3. What do you think of your previous boss?
Bad answer:

“He was completely incompetent, and a nightmare to work with, which is why I’ve moved on”

Remember: if you get the job, the person interviewing you will some day be your previous
boss. The last thing they want is to hire someone who they know is going to badmouth them
some day. Instead of trashing your former employer, stay positive, and focus on what you
learned from him (no matter how awful he really was).

Good answer:

“My last boss taught me the importance of time management – he didn’t pull any punches, and was extremely
deadline-driven. His no-nonsense attitude pushed me to work harder, and to meet deadlines I never even thought
were possible.”

4. Why are you leaving your current role?
Bad answer:

“I can’t stand my boss, or the work I’m doing.”

Again, stay away from badmouthing your job or employer. Focus on the positive.

Good answer:

“I’ve learned a lot from my current role, but now I’m looking for a new challenge, to broaden my horizons and to
gain a new skill-set – all of which, I see the potential for in this job.”


5. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Bad answer:

“Relaxing on a beach in Maui,” or “Doing your job.”

There’s really no right answer to this question, but the interviewer wants to know that
you’re ambitious, career-oriented, and committed to a future with the company. So instead
of sharing your dream for early retirement, or trying to be funny, give them an answer that
illustrates your drive and commitment.

Good answer:

“In five years I’d like to have an even better understanding of this industry. Also, I really love working with people.
Ultimately, I’d like to be in some type of managerial role at this company, where I can use my people skills and
industry knowledge to benefit the people working for me, and the company as a whole."

6. What’s your greatest weakness?
Bad answer:

“I work too hard,” or for the comedian, “Blondes.”

This question is a great opportunity to put a positive spin on something negative, but you
don’t want your answer to be cliché – joking or not. Instead, try to use a real example of a
weakness you have learned to overcome.

Good answer:

“I’ve never been very comfortable with public speaking – which as you know, can be a hindrance in the workplace.
Realizing this was a problem, I asked my previous employer if I could enroll in a speech workshop. He said “yes.” I
took the class, and was able to overcome my lifelong fear. Since then, I’ve given lots of presentations to audiences
of over a 100 high level executives – I still don’t love it, but no one else can tell!”


7. What salary are you looking for?
Bad answer:

“In my last job I earned $35,000 – so, now I’m looking for $40,000”

If you can avoid it, don’t give an exact number. The first person to name a price in a salary
negotiation loses. Instead, re-iterate your commitment to the job itself. If you have to, give
a broad range based on research you’ve conducted on that particular role, in your
particular city.

Good answer:

“I’m more interested in the role itself than the pay. That said, I’d expect to be paid the appropriate range for this
role, based on my five years of experience. I also think a fair salary would bear in mind the high cost of living here
in New York City.”

8. Why should I hire you?
Bad answer:

“I’m the best candidate for the role.”

A good answer will reiterate your qualifications, and will highlight what makes you unique.

Good answer:

“I’ve been an Executive Assistant for the past ten years – my boss has said time and time again that without me, the
organization would fall apart. I’ve also taken the time to educate myself on some of the software I regularly use (but
didn’t really understand the ins and outs of). I’m an Excel wiz now, which means I can work faster, and take over
some of what my boss would traditionally have had to do himself. What’s good enough for most people is never
really good enough for me.”


9. What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn
from it?
Bad answer:

I never finished law school – and everything that’s happened since has taught me that giving up, just because the
going gets tough, is a huge mistake.”

You don’t want to actually highlight a major regret – especially one that exposes an overall
dissatisfaction with your life. Instead, focus on a smaller, but significant, mishap, and how
it has made you a better professional.

Good answer:

“When I was in college, I took an art class to supplement my curriculum. I didn’t take it very seriously, and assumed
that, compared to my Engineering classes, it would be a walk in the park. My failing grades at midterm showed me
otherwise. I’d even jeopardized my scholarship status. I knew I had to get my act together. I spent the rest of the
semester making up for it, ended up getting a decent grade in the class. I learned that no matter what I’m doing, I
should strive to do it to the best of my ability. Otherwise, it’s not worth doing at all.”

10. How do you explain your gap in employment?
Bad answer:

"I was so tired of working, and I needed a break,” or “I just can’t find a job.”

Employment gaps are always tough to explain. You don’t want to come across as lazy or
unhireable. Find a way to make your extended unemployment seem like a choice you made,
based on the right reasons.

Good answer:

“My work is important to me, so I won’t be satisfied with any old job. Instead of rushing to accept the first thing that
comes my way, I’m taking my time and being selective to make sure my next role is the right one."


11. When were you most satisfied in your job?
Bad answer:

"I was most satisfied when I did well, and got praised for my work.”

Don’t give vague answers. Instead, think about something you did well – and enjoyed –that
will be relevant at this new job. This is an opportunity for you to share your interests,
prove that you’re a great fit for the job and showcase your enthusiasm.

Good answer:

“I’m a people person. I was always happiest – and most satisfied – when I was interacting with customers, making
sure I was able to meet their needs and giving them the best possible customer experience. It was my favorite part of
the job, and it showed – I was rated as “Good or Excellent” 95% of the time. Part of the reason I’m interested in this
job is that I know I’d have even more interaction with customers, on an even more critical level."

12. What did you like least about your last job?
Bad answer:

"A lack of stability. I felt like the place could collapse around me at any time.”

Try and stay away from anything that draws on the politics, culture or financial health of
your previous employer. No matter how true it might be, comments like these will be
construed as too negative. Also, you don’t want to focus on a function that might be your
responsibility in the next role. So think of something you disliked in your last job, but that
you know for sure won’t be part of this new role.

Good answer:

“There was nothing about my last job that I hated, but I guess there were some things I liked less than others. My
previous role involved traveling at least twice a month. While I do love to travel, twice a month was a little
exhausting – I didn’t like spending quite so much time out of the office. I’m happy to see that this role involves a lot
less travel.”


13. Describe a time when you did not get along with a coworker.
Bad answer:

"I’m easy to get along with, so I’ve never had any kind of discord with another coworker.”

Interviewers don’t like these types of “easy out” answers. And besides, they know you are
probably not telling the truth. Think of a relatively benign (but significant) instance, and
spin it to be a positive learning experience.

Good answer:

“I used to lock heads with a fellow nurse in the INCU ward. We disagreed over a lot of things – from the care of
patients to who got what shifts to how to speak with a child’s family. Our personalities just didn’t mesh. After three
months of arguing, I pulled her aside and asked her to lunch. At lunch, we talked about our differences and why we
weren’t getting along. It turns out, it was all about communication. We communicated differently and once we knew
that, we began to work well together. I really believe that talking a problem through with someone can help solve
any issue.”

14. What motivates you?
Bad answer:

"Doing a good job and being rewarded for it.”

It’s not that this answer is wrong – it’s just that it wastes an opportunity. This question is
practically begging you to highlight your positive attributes. So don’t give a vague, generic
response – it tells them very little about you. Instead, try and use this question as an
opportunity to give the interviewer some insight into your character, and use examples
where possible.

Good answer:

“I’ve always been motivated by the challenge of meeting a tough deadline – in my last role, I was responsible for a
100% success rate in terms of delivering our products on time and within budget. I know that this job is very fast-
paced, and deadline-driven – I’m more than up for the challenge. In fact, I thrive on it.”


15. How would your friends describe you?
Bad answer:

"I’m a really good listener.”

While being a good listener is a great personality trait, your employer probably doesn’t
care all that much. It’s unlikely that they’re hiring you to be a shoulder to cry on. You’ll
want to keep your answer relevant to the job you’re interviewing for – and as specific as
possible. If you can, insert an example.

Good answer:

“My friends would probably say that I’m extremely persistent – I’ve never been afraid to keep going back until I get
what I want. When I worked as a program developer, recruiting keynote speakers for a major tech conference, I got
one rejection after another – this was just the nature of the job. But I really wanted the big players – so I wouldn’t
take no for an answer. I kept going back to them every time there was a new company on board, or some new value
proposition. Eventually, many of them actually said “yes” – the program turned out to be so great that we doubled
our attendees from the year before. A lot of people might have given up after the first rejection, but it’s just not in
my nature. If I know something is possible, I have to keep trying until I get it.”

Call of Duty War Quotes

The Call of Duty games are some of my favorite; not only because they’re, well, great games, but because they have more heart and brains than your average first person shooter. For me, the quotes that are shown when your character dies add a significant touch (who would have thought spontaneous history lessons could alleviate the feeling of defeat). In anticipation of the release of the next game in the series, I got nostalgic and thought I’d dig up a few:

“Aim towards the Enemy.”
— Instruction printed on US Rocket Launcher

“A leader leads by example, not by force.”
— Sun Tzu

“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.”
— Edmund Burke

“All warfare is based on deception.”
— Sun Tzu

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”
— John F. Kennedy

“Any military commander who is honest will admit he makes mistakes in the application of military power.”
— Robert McNamara

“Anyone, who truly wants to go to war, has truly never been there before!”
— Larry Reeves

“Any soldier worth his salt should be anti-war. And still, there are things worth fighting for.”
— General Norman Schwarzkopf

“A ship without Marines is like a garment without buttons.”
— Admiral David D. Porter, USN

“Cluster bombing from B-52s are very, very, accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground.”
— USAF Ammo Troop

“Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.”
— Ronald Reagan

“Cost of a single AC-130U Gunship: $190 million”

“Cost of a single B-2 Bomber: $2.2 Billion”

“Cost of a single F-117A Nighthawk: $122 Million”

“Cost of a single F-22 Raptor: $135 million”

“Cost of a single Javelin Missile: $80,000″

“Cost of a single Tomahawk cruise Missile: $900,000″

“Diplomats are just as essential in starting a war as soldiers are for finishing it.”
— Will Rogers

“Every tyrant who has lived has believed in freedom – for himself.”
— Elbert Hubbard

“Five second fuses only last three seconds.”
— Infantry Journal

“Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.”
— Ned Dolan

“Friendly fire – isn’t.”
— Unknown

“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just brave five minutes longer.”
— Ronald Reagan

“If a man has done his best, what else is there?”
— General George S. Patton

“If at first you don’t succeed, call an air strike.”
— Unknown

“If the enemy is in range, so are you.”
— Infantry Journal

“If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage, it’s probably a helicopter — and therefore, unsafe.”
— Unknown

“If we can’t persuade nations with comparable values of the merits of our cause, we’d better reexamine our reasoning.”
— Robert McNamara

“If you can’t remember, the claymore is pointed toward you.”
— Unknown

“If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.”
— Sun Tzu

“If your attack is going too well, you’re walking into an ambush.”
— Infantry Journal

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
— Albert Einstein

“Incoming fire has the right of way.”
— Unknown

“In the end, it was luck. We were *this* close to nuclear war, and luck prevented it.”
— Robert McNamara

“In war, truth is the first casualty”
— Aeschylus

“In war, you win or lose, live or die – and the difference is just an eyelash.”
— General Douglas MacArthur

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
— General Norman Schwarzkopf

“I think that technologies are morally neutral until we apply them. It’s only when we use them for good or evil that they become good or evil.”
— William Gibson

“I think the human race needs to think about killing. How much evil must we do to do good?”
— Robert McNamara

“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.”
— General Douglas MacArthur

“It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.”
— U.S. Air Force Marshal

“Keep looking below surface appearances. Don’t shrink from doing so just because you might not like what you find.”
— Colin Powell

“Let your plans be as dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
— Sun Tzu

“Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.”
— John F. Kennedy

“My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.”
— George Washington

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
— Abraham Lincoln

“Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.”
— Unknown

“No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.”
— Colin Powell

“Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.”
— Winston Churchill

“Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.”
— Herbert Hoover

“So long as there are men, there will be wars.”
— Albert Einstein

“Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don’t have that problem.”
— Ronald Reagan

“Teamwork is essential, it gives them other people to shoot at.”
— Unknown

“The bursting radius of a hand-grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range.”
— Unknown

“The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise.”
— Colin Powell

“The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!”
— General John J. Pershing

“The indefinite combination of human infallibility and nuclear weapons will lead to the destruction of nations.”
— Robert McNamara

“The more marines I have around, the better I like it.”
— General Clark, U.S. Army

“The press is our chief ideological weapon.”
— Nikita Khrushchev

“The real and lasting victories are those of peace, and not of war.”
— Ralph Waldo Emmerson

“There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.”
— General William Thornson

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
— Thomas Jefferson

“The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”
— Norman Schwarzkopf

“The tyrant always talks as if he’s preserving the best interests of his people when he actually acts to undermine them.”
— Ramman Kenoun

“The world will not accept dictatorship or domination.”
— Mikhail Gorbachev

“They’ll be no learning period with nuclear weapons. Make one mistake and you’re going to destroy nations.”
— Robert McNamara

“Tracers work both ways.”
— U.S. Army Ordinance

“Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo.”
— Infantry Journal

“Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them.”
— Voltaire

“War does not determine who is right – only who is left”
— Bertrand Russell

“War is delightful to those who have not yet experienced it.”
— Erasmus

“We’re in a world in which the possibility of terrorism, married up with technology, could make us very, very sorry we didn’t act.”
— Condoleeza Rice

“We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us.”
— George Orwell

“When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend.”
— U.S. Army Training Notice

“Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!”
— Nikita Khrushchev

“Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.”
— Vladimir Putin

“Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons.”
— General Douglas MacArthur

“Whoever stands by a just cause cannot possibly be called a terrorist.”
— Yassar Arafat

“You can make a throne of bayonets, but you cant sit on it for long.”
— Boris Yeltsin

“You cant say civilization dont advance – for in every war, they kill you in a new way.”
— Will Rogers