To disable and enable the access to USB port

To disable the access to USB port, in windows XP and 2000, follow the steps below

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.

3. Locate, and then click the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor

4. In the right pane, double-click Start.

5. In the Value data box, type 4, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.

6. Quit Registry Editor.

To re-enable a disabled port, follow these steps below

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.

3. Locate, and then click the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor

4. In the right pane, double-click Start.

5. In the Value data box, type 3,

click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected),

and then click OK.

6. Quit Registry Editor.

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Google joins battle with Microsoft with Chrome operating system....

Google is to launch a new operating system, in its most direct challenge yet to the dominance of Microsoft.
Google Chrome OS will be a development of its Chrome web browser. The search giant initially aims to install the new system on small, low-cost computers known as netbooks, which are currently outselling more powerful personal computers. Google said that it believed the software would eventually be used on PCs as well.
The move is likely to intensify the rivalry between Google and Microsoft, whose Windows operating system is used on the majority of the world’s personal computers. Operating systems help to run and control the basic functions of a computer.
Google said that the project was a “natural extension” of its Chrome browser and was necessary because older operating systems were designed at a time when the internet did not exist.

“Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS,” said Sundar Pichai, a Google Vice President, and Linus Upson, engineering director, in a blog post. “We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you on to the web in a few seconds.”
Google said that the new software would be released later this year on an open source licence, meaning that computer developers and programmers across the world will have the chance to use, modify and improve it. Netbooks running the finished product will go on sale in the second half of next year.

The company claimed that Chrome OS would change the focus of operating systems from controlling desktop PCs to a system designed to run the internet as fast as possible.
“The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way and most of the user experience takes place on the web,” Mr Pinchai and Mr Upson said.
Google has a big task on its hands. Many companies and products have tried to take on Microsoft’s Windows and failed. Although rival systems such as Linux and Apple's OS X are widely acclaimed, some analysts estimate that Windows and other Microsoft products are used on more than 90 per cent of computers. Microsoft is to release an updated version of its own operating system, Windows 7, in October.

Google has repeatedly trampled on Microsoft’s territory recently. First, it launched Google Chrome, a web browser, in competition with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. It has also recently released Android, an operating system for mobile phones, a direct challenger to Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, which is used on the majority of smartphones.

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The top 100 most dangerous websites for your PC enlisted

The top 100 most dangerous websites for your PC enlisted

Melbourne,Aug 20 (ANI): Internet security company Norton Symantec has come up with a list of Top 100 Dirtiest sites, which could infect your computerwith malware.

Malware is a software that can damage or compromise a computer system without the owner's consent.

Natalie Connor, spokeswoman of the anti-virus company, said that even visiting any of the named websites could expose a computer to infection and put the
personal information into the hands of unwanted people.

"What people don't realise is when you type in a website, you're bringing down information on a page and with it could be malware," News.com.au quoted her as saying.

The list was compiled with the help of global data collected on Norton Safe Web, a site that analysed websites' security risks.

According to Connor, most websites in the list had adult content with unprintable names, suggesting they contained hardcore pornography.
Some others sites include those on ice skating, deer hunting, catering and legal services.

Hackers can apparently obtain personal information using keystroke-logging software from both PCs and Mac computers.he reps said that hackers are aforce to reckon with as cyber crime is increasing rapidly.

Norton released a sample of the dirtiest websites:

17ebook.com

aladel.net

bpwhamburgorchardpark.org

clicnews.com

dfwdiesel.net

divineenterprises.net

fantasticfilms.ru

gardensrestaurantandcatering.com

ginedis.com

gncr.org

hdvideoforums.org

hihanin.com

kingfamilyphotoalbum.com

likaraoke.com

mactep.org

magic4you.nu

marbling.pe.kr

nacjalneg.info

pronline.ru

purplehoodie.com

seksburada.net

sportsmansclub.net

stock888.cn

tathli.com

teamclouds.com

texaswhitetailfever.com

yt118.com

xnescat.info

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Windows XP Professional and Group Policy Editor

If you have Windows XP Professional and access to an administrative user account, you could change the registry editor options in the Group Policy Editor.
Click Start, Run
Type GPEDIT.MSC and Press Enter
Go to the following location
User Configuration
Administrative Templates
System
In the Settings Window, find the option for "Prevent Access to Registry Editing Tools" and double-click on it to change.
Select Disabled or Not Configured and choose OK
Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer
Try opening REGEDIT again
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How to remove Surabaya Virus

How to remove Surabaya Virus

Symptoms -
 Modified autoexec.bat to display a message upon system start: “Surabaya is my birthday”….."Don't kill me, i'm just send message from your computer"…and then some blah - blah in some Thai language I guess.
 Your folder has file size 40K
 All your hard disk partitions become autorun…if you right click on any partition or any drive letter it’ll give the “autorun” option instead “open”.
 All your existing original folders become hidden and are replaced by another dummy folder with same file name but with size of 40KB. If you right click on any file, the menu which opens will show “test”, “configure”….etc options but no “open” option. Removal Steps:

Step 1:
Press Start -> Run -> cmd (or command) -> press Enter
Type in command box- cd\
Type again in command box- c:
Type again in command box- attrib -s -h -r /d /s -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del autorun.inf -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del thumb*.* -> press Enter

Repeat the same with your other hard drive partitions as well…say if you have 3 drive partitions viz. “C”, ”D” & ”E”…for this:

Type again in command box- d:
Type again in command box- attrib -s -h -r /d /s -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del autorun.inf -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del thumb*.* -> press Enter
Type again in command box- e:
Type again in command box- attrib -s -h -r /d /s -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del autorun.inf -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del thumb*.* -> press Enter

If you have any USB hard drive on pen drive connected, do the above procedure with its drive name. For example if your USB drive name is “G”…

Type again in command box- g:
Type again in command box- attrib -s -h -r /d /s -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del autorun.inf -> press Enter
Type again in command box- del thumb*.* -> press Enter
Type again in command box- exit

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