TheSebware

I have something to say about OVH: I am in an Operations position at a German software company. Dealing with OVH Canada's Abuse contact is similar to writing E-Mails into a black hole. What happened: Our Intrusion Prevention System alerted us to several failed logins from multiple IPv4 addresses. The IPS blocked them and sent me an alert for each address. I looked up the abuse contact for those IPv4 addresses. As the abuse contact did not contain a fax number I sent them an email with the IP addresses and timestamps of the IPS actions. A minute later I received a reply coming from a no-reply-address, where they wrote that they could not determine my issue and gave me a few links regarding domain name disputes. I have since sent them another e-mail regarding another system in their network doing the same. Legal may have a field day on Monday. A Canadian branch of a French company, which also runs a German branch (OVH) does nothing apparent to stop their customers attacking a server a German company (my employer) rented from an MSP (managed service provider), the MSP is the German branch of a Swiss company. Or not, if OVH at least bothers to respond with a message that actually makes sense in this context. Also: Do not think the MSP (not OVH, the Swiss) is actually a turn-key provider. They're pretty hands-off, batteries not included and I wouldn't use them again. But they a) read E-Mails, b) respond to E-Mails and c) have a fax number posted.

Depends on the Threat Model: Threat Model 1: Someone who can use forensic software, but can't/won't send the drive any instructions apart from "Read Sectors A-B" or modify the drive physically Defense: One Pass Zeroes is enough. Threat Model 2: Additionally, the opponent can run any Command they want or even custom Firmware Defense: One Pass Zeroes, 3-4 Passes Random Data, optionally another pass Zeroes Threat Model 3: Our Opponent has the capabilities to read the drive platters/NAND chips independently from the controller and the knowledge/tools to make sense of the raw data Defense: As in Model 2, but additionally: Use strong magnetic fields (especially when using magnetic media), large amounts (>700 degC) of heat for at least an hour, drop in a bucket of ice water to accelerate physical destruction and to cool it down quicker, Try shooting a "Will it Blend" with the burned drive. Get rid of powder in as many different places as possible. In all Threat Models: Full Disk Encryption with LUKS or similar will also hinder an opponent from getting the data.

Linus, NO, The MBR/GPT does NOT contain the File Tree Structure. The MBR only holds Data about the Bootloader (if installed there) and the Partition Layout (Part. 0 starts at sect. 1, ends at sect. 1337 has a XFS/HFS/Ext4/ReiserFS/Whatever File System and Flags Alpha, Beta, Delta). GPT works similar. Your actual directory tree is stored in the File system. Second: Anything that can trigger an ATA Secure Erase will do the same as the manufacturer's tool (as long as Secure Erase is supported by the drive). So, a Free tool for SSDs: hdparm on Linux (USE WITH CAUTION!): https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/ATA_Secure_Erase Securely erasing data from a PC running Windows? Sysinternals to the rescue: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sdelete I don't know about other platforms.

I've checked it in the BIOS - no settings related to the trackpoint function

I've just installed Lubuntu 18.04.1 LTS on my Lenovo Thinkpad T400. Under Windows, I've configured the Trackpoint to work as a scrollwheel, think scroll-stick instead of scroll-wheel. Everything I've found so far was enabling the hold-middle to scroll feature. That worked right out of the box. So, how do I configure my system to invert that feature? I basically want this: Middle Trackpoint button not held down => Trackpoint scrolls Middle Trackpoint button held down => Trackpoint moves Cursor And yes, I know there's a scrolling area on the Trackpad, but I prefer the Trackpoint for scrolling. Especially if you got used to zoom on Trackpad-Scroll and pan on trackpoint scroll. TheSebware

Regarding the employee sharing his login credentials with a former employee, we've got there a law for this for ages. DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A ATTORNEY! IF IN DOUBT ASK A REAL ATTORNEY! § 202a StGB1 ("Strafgesetzbuch" - "German Criminal Code") reads Translation into english2: That means, in the case shown here, both could be put in prison for up to three years, as the former employee gains access to protected data he's not supposed to see and the one sharing his account for giving someone access to data no one outside of the company is supposed to see. There are more laws regarding IT-crime (§ 202b StGB and § 202c StGB, maybe more) and (at least) one regarding publishing leaked documents (read: leaking documents to investigative journalists4, § 202d), which have their flaws, as e. g. § 202c prohibits the creation of exploits for any usecase, no differentiation between pentests (should be legal, but isn't clearly defined) and cracking5 (should and is illegal). Sorry for the long post TheSebware Footnotes:

This is a frequency COUNTER, basically a device to measure frequency. They do have a ref. oscillator (mostly 10 MHz) which controls the gate time, which is the time the counter takes to measure. The longer the gate is open, the more precise measurements you can get. TheSebware

Hello, I'm putting a rig together with parts I had laying around. In that computer are two IDE HDDs, but none of them are detected by the BIOS. How can I get the drives to be recognisd? Parts List: What I tried: reseating all IDE connectors double-checking the Master/Slave/Cable Select-Jumper setting (both are on CS) The drives should be intact, copied both of them with a USB3 converter onto a thumbdrive earlier this year, which worked flawlessly. TheSebware EDIT: It's working now: I reseated the connectors another time, the one on the MoBo was probably loose. TheSebware

use a dynamic stage microphone with a super-cardioid pickup pattern (e.g Rode M1-S) and a soundcard with a professional input (IOW: XLR, e. g. Behringer XENYX-USB series of mixers) To get any useable level out of dynamic stage microphones you have to eat them. TheSebware

You've got these possibilities: Use a mixer like the Behringer DX2000 USB. Basically every mixer with an somewhat useable Firewire or USB Interface and at least a similar size fader for USB aswell as Microphones and other sources. Then either just dampen the sound on the headphones or make your own headphone mix with it (if it has a monitor group or subgroups, the Behringer DX2000 does NOT have that). You mix on one bus the stream sound (on most mixers you have to use the master) and on another bus (e. g. Control Room) your headphone mix. Then you push the CR-Out of your mixer to a headphone amplifier (or a stereo with aux in and headphone out that mutes the speakers) Use a monitoring controller like the PreSonus Monitor Station v2 http://www.presonus.com/products/Monitor-Station-V2 This thing is built to switch speakers, drive headphones and set the level. Monitoring controllers do only affect the volume of attached speakers or headphones. Use a stereo. I have my notebook and PC connected to a Siemens RV300 amplifier. If I don't like the volume on my headphones, I can change it with the knob on the RV300. (hint: that's the cheap-ass version of a monitoring controller) You can basically use any input apart from phono. Use headphones with an individual volume knob. Those with a 3.5 mm or 6.3 mm TRS phone connectors are guaranteed to work. Those with an USB plug might, but don't have to work. TheSebware

Generally: The more you amplify, the more noise you get. So, if you're getting a lot of noise, amplification in any form is the wrong way. How to track down noise issues: Is everything plugged in ALL THE WAY? XLR connectors lock into place, you can hear the click. Unfortunately cheaper equipment saves the locking mechanism. Wiggle on the connectors try pushing them a bit farther in, but without destruction of the Equipment Analyse your noise: is it a low hum at 50 Hz? If so, you have a grounding problemShouldn't be the case for you, as you use your mixer only as Microphone In. Are all sources used correctly? Whatever source with volume knobs (e. g. Smartphones) need their knobs turned to maximum, unless you cannot get them to a reasonable level. Your Microphone is a DYNAMIC STAGE microphone. You have to eat it to get ANY reasonable level. I'm assuming that you are somewhere in Germany with 50 Hz mains frequency. If you are in the USA you have 60 Hz mains frequency. The only technical thing that would help you IS NOT a amplifier. It's a better microphone. Behringer isn't the highest end. No one will put that in question. But until you have (as I stated earlier) a matched pair of microphones worth over 10.000 Euro (thats 10 thousand, not ten) EACH you don't have to upgrade your hardware. So save your money on a studio condenser microphone with a large diaphragm. If you are in Europe, visit in "Treppendorf (Germany)" the "Thomann"-store (www.thomann.de) or call them. They ship iirc in the entire EU They have everything related to studio, stage and music and can give you tips for your stuff. I personally worked with a few AKG C 1000 (condenser) and AKG D5 (dynamic) microphones. These are studio condensers that sound really good and have the gain knob on the mixer somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 up -> less noise due to amplification. When you're buying microphones: there are types of microphones, that can be broken if you supply 48V of phantom power. Some mixers have a switch for turning it on/off, your's is hardwired to on. And when you're at it: get a shockmount. It doesn't matter if it's a 3rd party or a stock one, but get a shockmount. If you accidentally touch your microphone stand, you've got rumble in the audio if you're not using a shockmount. Also don't let fool you by a weirdo saying "this cable sounds better than that other cable". Yes, there are differences. But unless you got a really crappy one, that doesn't matter. Linus made a Techquickie on that. But keep in mind: Audio is almost always analog, in your case only the USB link is digital on your setup. You most likely never touch a digital setup with e. g. a Behringer X32-series or PreSonus StudioLive-series mixer, as they are frickin expensive and can do way more than you ever need. The earlier mentioned eating of Microphones wasn't a joke. I tell that every single speaker. It really works better that way. If the speaker is far enough from a dynamic mic away, let's say 10-20 cm, I just mute the channel, as more amplification of that mic just introduces noise (as you discovered yourself) and in my case, as I do PA, which means putting the stuff live mixed on a loudspeaker, introduces feedback loops (nasty high tones), so the channel get's muted until the speaker either yells at me (Response: "Eat that damm microphone and I turn it on" yelled back) or the speaker eats it without any request of doing so. TheSebware

One thing I forgot mentioning: Avoid middleware like Asio4All as much as possible. ASIO is a low-latency "driver" for professional soundcards. But unless you have a ASIO capable soundcard, which has drivers for that in the box, you will loose performance by using that. When you use Asio4All the signal travels this way: Soundcard -> Windows Driver Model/Windows Audio/whatever (high latency) -> ASIO4ALL -> DAW -> ASIO4ALL -> WDM -> Soundcard If the DAW only records or plays back at once, that's not a problem. If you want to sing to a synthetic instrument, latency is a problem. Also if you're playing on a MIDI-Keyboard a PC based synth. Compensating is partially possible, but extremely hard. But you stated earlier that you won't use low-latency Also: Take that Audacity and put it in the Trashcan. Using Audacity for audio works is like using MS Paint for Image/Photo editing. If you need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation, Audio Editing program), I'd recommend Studio One by PreSonus, as IMO it's easier to handle than Adobe's Audition 3, which I only use for a quick hack. TL;DR: Avoid software, if possible. Close everything you don't need. DO NOT INSTALL ASIO4ALL! Do not use Audacity, use Studio One by PreSonus. Note: I'm not sponsored or in any way affiliated with any mentioned company. All statements are either common sense for one in the industry or personal experience.

There are no silly questions. Especially sb. who never did this before has to ask! You turn only one channel up during the trimming phase (also called "soundcheck"), adjusting ONLY the gain knob. Level and Master stay at 0 during the trimming of that channel. When you trimmed the channel, you may not touch the gain knob, but every other knob. And you're right: If you're only using 1 channel, there is no point of turning it off again. Using the line In is (unless you're using studio grade cards) a bad Idea: Behringer puts in their XENYX-Mixers studio grade soundcards. Maybe not as great as an RME Fireface a friend of mine uses for live CD production, but unless you have a matched pair of microphone valued 10.000 € EACH, you don't need that. But those onboard soundcards can be tossed in the trash. They never can give you the performance of a "real" soundcard. Also you don't have (unless you're using studio grade cards) only asymetrical inputs. Avoid them! Mute is minus infinity. 0 is "do nothing", as in make it neither louder nor quieter. And keep your eye on the level meter! Clipping is bad. Your Mixer (it is an analog one, even if it's got a soundcard in it) is analog, so the right level is at around 0 db, on the digital side (your PC) you have to look, that they are at around -8 db, or you live in danger of clipping. Another tip: Use headphones! If you send the microphone signal to speakers, it's fairly easy to get a feedback loop, which sounds like a very high, rising volume tone. Men are even easier hit by this, as you have to boost the high bands to get a nice sound. Also important: Experiment with your equipment. I can tell you what I'd do, but there's one thing where I explain it to you, and you actually trying it. And don't be afraid of messing things up. The gear is so robust, it's pretty hard to brick anything just by playing with the knobs. If you have an Android smartphone or tablet, get a 1/8 in to stereo RCA cable, connect that to the 2nd track and your phone, THEN turn it on. Turn the sounds (apart from media, that turn up) of your device off and run the app "Custom Soundboard". That way you have a bunch of easy reachable buttons for playing out sound effects like a ding, a gong or whatever As you got a dynamic STAGE microphone you need to get really close, to get any useable level out of it. Dynamic Mikes aren't as fragile as condensers, but are a bit harder to get to a decent level. Also it got a cardioid pattern, which means you have to talk directly to the front (opposite side of the XLR on that microphone), or your level will drop pretty fast. Also: Turn everything off that you're not using: that means Gain to the minimum and Level to - infinity. TheSebware

1. The less components between your Mixer and your PC the better, so DITCH THAT DAMM HUB! 2. Now to wiring it all up: Use only SYMMETRIC connections wherever possible! That means: Microphone connection: 3-Way XLR ONLY. Other Sources: 2x TRS. That allows you to get rid of noise. I can explain it, but it's rather technical and doesn't matter. And RCA-Connections ARE FRICKKIN ASSYMETRIC! If your Mixer has an USB-2 Port, plug it into an USB-2 Socket. Yes, you could technically run USB2 on an USB 3 port and vice-versa, but it saves you a bit overhead. If you have Dropouts in the audio, use another USB-Port. 3. What makes me louder. GAIN: DO NEVER TOUCH AFTER THE SOUNDCHECK!. LEVEL: Live adjustments of that channel (e. g. Microphone) Master: changes the Volume of the complete mix. 4. How to set up: PLUG EVERYTHING IN, BEFORE PLUGING IN THE USB! Turn Level and Master of the first trimmable channel (has gain knob) to 0 (may sound confusing, 0 means straight through without modification of the volume) Turn the gain knob to the lowest end, then put sth. on the channel (e. g. speak with a normal volume in your microphone) and ramp up the gain until you see the 0-mark on the meter barely flashing. Turn the level of that channel back to off (fully left) and trimm every channel this way. That's Input trimming. Now you normally never touch that again, until the input changes (e. g. your musical friend wants to record some vocals) By male speakers you need to turn down the bass (low) and push the Highs, by females exactly in reverse. How much depends on the speaker and your taste. That 2nd track to mix-Button is not needed unless you're using 2nd track. If you pushed it in, push it out! (just adds extra noise) If you have any questions left, please ask. I do audio on some hobbyist theaters. TheSebware

I think i'm stupid. It does a successful load of GRUB, as soon as I removed the (from the boot list excluded) floppy in the drive.