TIPS & TRICKS: OS X FileVault Encryption and Allowed Login Users

Learned something new today. Enabling whole-disk encryption via FileVault on OS X each user needs to be given specific permission to get into the machine when initially starting up a machine. This includes both local users, as well as directory-defined or network users. In the case of the network users, the network users must have a mobile account created when logging into the machine for the first time.

TIPS & TRICKS: Trusting A Computer from iOS 7

Apple introduced concept of Trusted Computers in iOS 7. The idea is that if a iOS device (i.e. iPhone) is plugged into a computer for charging purposes only, the data on the iOS device can be kept safe from the computer while still allowing charging of the device.

I found a situation where I allowed the device to trust a computer and then needed to remove that trust relationship. Apple doesn't have an easy way to remove that trust relationship on the phone because it seems that the trust token is stored only on the computer that the device is connected. However, there is a way to remove that relationship, as outlined by Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5335. I've only tried these steps on Windows 7:

• Choose Start, type %ProgramData% in the search bar, and press Return.
• Double-click the Apple folder.
• Double-click the Lockdown folder 
• Find the appropriate token (I based it on date, if there are multiple tokens) and choose Delete. Admin credentials may need to be provided if the currently logged in user is a non-admin. 

TIPS & TRICKS: Disappearing Gridlines On Some Cells in Excel

There's an Excel file that is shared in my office. I know people cut and paste cells/rows of information to move elsewhere. I often find that this type of modification makes some cells look like they have lost their gridlines. There's several reasons why this might occur:

• The gridlines are turned off. (Fix: View > Recheck box for gridlines).

• The gridlines are colored over, usually with white. (Fix: right-click on cell > Format Cells > Fill tab > Select No Color, or select white and then reselect no color)

• The borders are colored white. (Fix: right-click on cell > Format Cells > Border tab > change color to Automatic)

• The gridlines have been colored white. (Fix: click on File > Options > Advanced > Display options for this worksheet > change Gridline color to black)

Found these reasons from this handy page: 

http://mcstech.net/blog/index.cfm/2011/12/29/Disappearing-Excel-Gridlines

My particular fix came from the second reason. I've tried it on Excel 2010 and Excel 2013. 

TIPS & TRICKS: Direct Download Locations of Full Versions of Software

I often come across situations where I need to download a full installer of some piece of software without having to jump through hoops. Skype is a prime example. Often times, I want to download the latest installer without having to sign into any particular Skype account, except that Skype wants me to sign-in to my Skype account before they allow me to download. Usually, I'm trying to reinstall the software without having to provide any credentials, or I'm trying to update an OS image.

Fortunately, I found the link to download Skype for Windows version:

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-windows/

Here's Skype for Mac:

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-mac/

Note: It seems that the links above will base the download on what platform you are downloading from. For example, if you are downloading from a Windows machine, both the Windows link & the Mac link above will download an .exe file.


Another piece of software I frequently need is Adobe Flash. In this case, I generally need a full version rather than the stub you get when you go through the visible links on the main Adobe site. Here's the Adobe Flash download link:

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html


Will add more as I find them.

2014_02_18 Update: Here's the Google Chrome Full Offline Installer that will install Chrome for all users on Windows:

http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?system=true&standalone=1

Didn't see one for Mac.

2014_10_04 Update: Here's the free Mac Sophos Anti-Virus installer:

http://downloads.sophos.com/home-edition/savosx_90_he.zip

TIPS & TRICKS: Windows Logon Types

As a sysadmin, I spend some time looking at logs. To someone who doesn't look at logs, the amount and type of information provided by logs can look like a foreign language. It helps me to have more information, a running legend in my head so to speak, about logs I sift through.

Windows keeps track of who logs into the computer, but I found out that it also keeps track of how a user logs on (or off). There are, at least, 9 different methods to logging into a computer:

• Logon Type 2 - Interactive
• Logon Type 3 - Network
• Logon Type 4 - Batch (or scheduled tasks)
• Logon Type 5 - Service
• Logon Type 7 - Unlock 
• Logon Type 8 - NetworkCleartext
• Logon Type 9 - NewCredentials (or RunAs...)
• Logon Type 10 - RemoteInteractive (RDP, TS)
• Logon Type 11 - CachedInteractive

Given the date of the article (first link below) where this information originated for me, I'm betting that there are more types now for more granular logging.

Looking at logs help to troubleshoot problems, but it also helps to keep an eye out for malicious activity. Hopefully, understanding the different Windows Logon Types will help me keep the environments I manage that much more secure too. 

For additional information on the above Logon Types, see this site: 

http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles-tutorials/misc_network_security/Logon-Types.html

Here's a more recent article on the different logon types:

http://www.eventtracker.com/newsletters/following-a-users-logon-tracks-throughout-the-windows-domain/

Though I think the title of the article is misleading, there's some useful information on different logon/logoff events. 

TIPS & TRICKS: Adobe Flash Full Offline Download Location

When you go to Adobe's main site and search for the latest Flash installer, you're given a stub in the download, which goes out to grab the rest of the installer when it's launched. Sometimes this doesn't work, especially when the user account currently used does not have administrative rights.

Here's the site to download the full offline version of the installers for IE and all other browsers:

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

RANT: Google Chrome Enterprise Installer Desktop Shortcut

Up to this point, I've found Google Chrome to be a great browser. But, I just installed the Enterprise version of Chrome to give the application to all users. To my chagrin, I found that it also forces a shortcut on the desktop and taskbar for all new users. There doesn't seem to be a way to stop those shortcuts from getting created for all new users of the computer. Hey Google, stop trying to be like Microsoft pushing IE down our throats. Not everyone wants to have Google Chrome shortcuts plastered every where. 

Perhaps I can put together a script that deletes these annoying shortcuts...