25 Linux Security and Hardening Tips

Everybody says that Linux is secure by default and agreed to some extend (It’s debatable topics). However, Linux has in-built security model in place by default. Need to tune it up and customize as per your need which may help to make more secure system. Linux is harder to manage but offers more flexibility and configuration options.
Securing a system in a production from the hands of hackers and crackers is a challenging task for a System Administrator. This is our first article related to “How to Secure Linux box” or “Hardening a Linux Box“. In this post We’ll explain 25 useful tips & tricks to secure your Linux system. Hope, below tips & tricks will help you some extend to secure your system.

Office Excel 2007 may crash when you try to save Excel workbooks that were created by using previous Excel versions

Microsoft Office Excel 2007 may crash when you try to save Excel workbooks that were created by using previous Excel versions.

To resolve this issue, apply the following update:

2412265 Description of the 2007 Office system hotfix package (mso-x-none.msp): October 26, 2010

printing to a network printer from an MS-DOS-based program

By default, most MS-DOS-based programs print directly to either the LPT1 port or to the LPT2 port. However, the output is not automatically routed across a redirector to a print share unless you use one of the following methods.

Use the net.exe command to establish a persistent connection. To do this, use the following syntax at a command prompt

HP LaserJet Printers - Changing the Auto Private IP (169.254.X.X) to Manual IP on Microsoft Windows TCP/IP

If the customer is trying to assign a manual IP address on a printer which does not have a LCD display using a HUB, router, or switch running on a static network and the printer configuration shows the IP in the range of 169.254.X.X , then the customer would be able to ping the IP address 169.254.X.X . Check the IP address on one of the computers on the same network.

Instructions

1. Right-click on My network places and Properties .
2. Right-click Local Area connections , Properties , select TCP/IP , and click Properties .
3. Make a note of the IP address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway.
4. Change the IP address of the computer, as in the following example:

If the printer has 169.254.12.54 and subnet mask as 255.255.0.0 , change the IP of the computer to 169.254.12.55 and change the subnet mask to 255.255.0.0 and change the gateway to 0.0.0.0 ).

How to run PHP pages on IIS 7.5 or Windows 7

This guide has been updated and rewritten as the easiest way to successfully Configure IIS 7.5 to work with FastCGI and PHP on Windows 7 is to use

Microsoft Web Platform Installer 2.0 from http://www.microsoft.com/web/Downloads/platform.aspx

Why?

The installer does all the hard work

No more downloading PHP then configuring the php.ini file

No more going into your Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager and adding a Handler Mapping FastCGI Module

No more going into your System Properties and setting up your Environmental Variables

No more spending endless hours surfing around looking for solutions that help you get it all working (it rarely happens first time)

Forward mail from rediff mail to other email address - Rediff Bug

If you want to forward all your emails from your Rediffmail account to any other email account, simply follow the steps below:

Go to the classic version of your Rediffmail account. This is important else you will get an error

You have not specified any email address to which you would like your emails forwarded

Disable or Stop Auto CHKDSK During Windows Startup

One of Windows annoying so called “feature” is CHKDSK being automatically being run whenever you don’t shut down your computer properly. You get the blue colored screen that says “Checking file system on C: The type of the file system