Recent Posts

751

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Firewall Control no longer requires activation

« Last post by 4wd on August 04, 2018, 03:09 AM »

More information on v5.4.0.0, it now has telemetry courtesy of Malwarebytes, see here.

Off the record:
The following data is sent once a day to Malwarebytes: program version, os version, os architecture (x64, x86), os language (english, german, etc), filesystem (ntfs, fat32), process run as administrator or not, computer is joined into a domain or not, machine id. No personal data is collected. These are used for statistics data to see how many users of WFC exist. Depending on the number of existing users, WFC will continue to receive new features or not. A reduced number of installations will probably stop the development of WFC, a large number will probably continue the development.

mbcut(32).dlls are used to generate a unique machine id based on os architecture. These are the same in any Malwarebytes products. Newtonsoft.Json.dll is used to create the JSON data which is sent to Malwarebytes servers.

Note: This data is sent if Windows Firewall has outbound filtering disabled (Low Filtering or No Filtering profile is used) or if there is an allow rule for wfc.exe and outbound filtering is enabled (Medium Filtering profile). In case it can't send the data if will fail silently without making nasty stuff. You can check this through Connections Log where all connections (allowed or blocked) are anyway logged. Keep in mind that if everyone will block this, it may lead to the decision of not investing anymore in WFC because there are not enough users to keep supporting it.

For those who want to stick with 5.3.1.0 it is available here, (direct link).

752

General Software Discussion / Re: Extract REGEX matches from multiple text files

« Last post by 4wd on August 03, 2018, 10:11 PM »

$items - an arbitrarily named variable
=        - sign signifying equality
Get-ChildItem

Thus $items now equals an array of files in the current folder that match *.txt
$items[0] = firstfile.txt
$items[1] = secondfile.txt
etc
etc
etc

$items.Count  - total number of matching files found

for(){}   - a for loop, $i is a variable that gets incremented by 1 every loop until the total number of matching files is reached

Thus loop through all the files in the array performing the following on every file:

Select-String -Path $items[$i] -Pattern $regex -AllMatches

Search each file for matching RegEx pattern, get all matches.

| % { $_.Matches } | % { $_.Value } >> $outfile

RegEx matches are piped into a ForEach-Object loop, (shorthand notation). For each regex match, pipe it's value to the output file in append mode.

Don't actually need to escape the " in the RegEx either:

Code: PowerShell [Select]

1. $regex = '<dsf:tsdfgd trsdfge="urn:x-ssdfgs-dfg-com:isdfgc/tg4r3e-i4d" id="OsdfgsdfD">'

Will also work.

Same as the 6 lines above without assigned variables or a for loop:

Code: PowerShell [Select]

1. gci *.txt | % { sls $_.Name -Pattern '<dsf:tsdfgd trsdfge="urn:x-ssdfgs-dfg-com:isdfgc/tg4r3e-i4d" id="OsdfgsdfD">' -a | % { $_.Matches } | % { $_.Value } >> K:\out.txt }

753

General Software Discussion / Re: Extract REGEX matches from multiple text files

« Last post by 4wd on August 03, 2018, 07:26 AM »

Code: PowerShell [Select]

1. $outfile = 'K:\output.txt'
2. $regex = '<dsf:tsdfgd trsdfge=\"urn:x-ssdfgs-dfg-com:isdfgc/tg4r3e-i4d\" id=\"OsdfgsdfD\">'
3. $items = Get-ChildItem -Path *.txt       # *.txt , *.foo , *.whatever
4. for ($i = 0; $i -lt $items.Count; $i++) {
5.   Select-String -Path $items[$i] -Pattern $regex -AllMatches | % { $_.Matches } | % { $_.Value } >> $outfile
6. }

754

General Software Discussion / Re: Extract REGEX matches from multiple text files

« Last post by 4wd on August 03, 2018, 07:14 AM »

(what are the $i = 0; $i -lt $items.Count; $i++

-kalos (August 03, 2018, 07:04 AM)

While i < (number of items)
  blah blah blah
  i = i + 1
Wend

EDIT: It's actually a For ... Next loop but same result.

For i = 0 to (number of items - 1) step 1
  blah blah blah
Next

755

General Software Discussion / Re: Extract REGEX matches from multiple text files

« Last post by 4wd on August 03, 2018, 05:49 AM »

Code: PowerShell [Select]

1. $outfile = 'K:\output.txt'
2. $regex = '^Function.+'
3. $items = Get-ChildItem -Path *.ps1       # *.txt , *.foo , *.whatever
4. for ($i = 0; $i -lt $items.Count; $i++) {
5.   Select-String -Path $items[$i] -Pattern $regex -AllMatches | % { $_.Matches } | % { $_.Value } >> $outfile
6. }

756

General Software Discussion / Re: Malwarebytes 3.0 out

« Last post by 4wd on August 03, 2018, 01:09 AM »

It appears that at some point between November 17, 2017 and now they have managed to fix the problem re. installing with an active RAM drive.

3.5.1.2522 installed without  a problem today.

Now, if I can get it to stop moaning about having Web Protection turned off ...

757

General Software Discussion / Re: Need a WinPE USB or ISO tool to load Ext HDD.

« Last post by 4wd on August 02, 2018, 07:53 PM »

If you couldn't run Win7 on your machine, how is any WinPE after XP going to run?

To handle >2TB in XP x86 you need to either:
1) format the HDD using GPT partitions, (instead of MBR), which XP x86 can't handle anyway, or
2) see if there is some utility on the manufacturers website that will format it so it can be used on XP, (something they used to provide).

There was a driver that allows XP to handle GPT, Paragon GPT Loader but it's discontinued, send them a message maybe they'll give you a copy.

The other alternative if you want to stay with XP is to move to XP x64.

On a next reboot , i didn't give the live Ubuntu USB enough time to reboot itself, i removed the usb half way and now the condition is
i cannot load Live Ubuntu it show some kind of error msg when it is about to load.

-hulkbuster (August 02, 2018, 08:32 AM)

So download and put it on the flash drive again.

Windows and GPT FAQ

758

General Software Discussion / Windows Firewall Control no longer requires activation

« Last post by 4wd on August 01, 2018, 06:50 PM »

Windows Firewall Control

Previously to get Notifications in WFC you had to donate, all the other features were available for free.

With the latest version it is now free with no activation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's new in version 5.4.0.0 (01.08.2018)

- New: The notifications system is now available for free and the program does not
require activation anymore.
- New: The installer and the files are now digitally signed.
- Updated: A new EULA is available when installing the software.
- Reverted: Secure Rules feature was reverted to the old implementation from version
5.0.2.0. The implementation from versions 5.1.x.x-5.3.x.x creates too many problems
than it solves.
- Fixed: Under certain circumstances, Connections Log displays nothing in Windows 10.
- Fixed: 'Use proxy configuration' is checked even if the user presses the Cancel
button in the proxy configuration dialog.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Most likely due to Malwarebytes taking over the development by having Binisoft's developer join their team.

NOTE: You'll need to uninstall a previous version to upgrade to v5.4.0.0, either export/import your current firewall rules or select the option to keep the current rules when you uninstall, (by default it resets the rules to Windows default on uninstall).

That said, I seem to be getting an installer error when I try to install it so don't be too hasty deleting the previous version installer

ADDENDUM: The problem was MBAM's Self Protection Module, it needed to be disabled and then installation worked.

A review of v3 that I did some time ago, much has changed but the core operation it is still similar.

759

Living Room / Re: Procrastination as a phase in a project

« Last post by 4wd on July 26, 2018, 07:42 AM »

Most of us know procrastination. Gets in the way and stops us from doing things.

-tomos (July 26, 2018, 07:03 AM)

I prefer to think of it as failure to overcome inertia.

760

General Software Discussion / Re: How to REALLY stop ******* Windows Update on Win10?

« Last post by 4wd on July 26, 2018, 12:04 AM »

But you have to have Pro to do that, don't you?

-wraith808 (July 25, 2018, 11:28 PM)

If you mean to run the Group Policy Editor then yes, all my computers run Pro, (Home doesn't have RDP Host).

However, all the settings are available in the registry for which MS have made available an Excel spreadsheet for lookup.

Whether Home will honour the settings or not I can't tell you but you can try - best case is it works, worst case is it ignores them.

761

General Software Discussion / Re: How to REALLY stop ******* Windows Update on Win10?

« Last post by 4wd on July 25, 2018, 10:42 PM »

FWIW, my main computer that's turned off overnight and is at v1803, (with pending updates from June):


I only seem to get notifications for updates, (well, I used to, all notifications have been turned off), and every so often I'll go through the list of pending downloads and install them with WUMT.

I have another that's on 24/7 and is still sitting at v1709, No deferrals set and on the Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted), (it's got updates for v1709 and v1803 as pending downloads):

762

General Software Discussion / Re: What Android Apps Do You Use?

« Last post by 4wd on July 25, 2018, 07:45 AM »

Free at the moment if you want something else to try: Navigator PRO - GPS Navigation with Offline Maps - normally $12.99

763

General Software Discussion / Re: What Android Apps Do You Use?

« Last post by 4wd on July 25, 2018, 07:37 AM »

... and has the "offline maps" option which google maps do not.

-iphigenie (July 25, 2018, 06:31 AM)

Google Maps does actually, it has had it since 2015-11-10.

764

Living Room / Re: Looking for smartphone

« Last post by 4wd on July 24, 2018, 05:56 PM »

Battery life of the G6 doesn't seem as good as the G4, though, even though they are both 3000 mAh.

-app103 (July 24, 2018, 05:24 PM)

Apparently not available in the USA but the G6+ should be better with battery life, they use the more efficient Snapdragon 6 series SoC instead of the 4 series used in the G6 and G6 Play.

765

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: at last: Softmaker Office PORTABLE

« Last post by 4wd on July 23, 2018, 05:43 PM »

As @AbteriX said, Softmaker Office has been able to be made portable for years.

I have run or are currently running SO 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2016 in portable mode, it's how I've always had it installed on my laptop.



Last option is "Install SoftMaker Office 2016 on a USB stick" but as mentioned above, it used to be a menu item within the programs.

766

Living Room / Re: Share your photos! Travel shots, photoblogs, etc.

« Last post by 4wd on July 23, 2018, 01:12 AM »

4wding on the weekend, Victorian High Country:

767

DC Gamer Club / Re: STEAM: Dying Light Enhanced Edition ~US$16 includes all DLCs & Season Pass

« Last post by 4wd on July 19, 2018, 05:28 PM »

Now on Green Man Gaming for $15.87 for the next ~16 hours.

Dying Light: The Following - Enhanced Edition

768

Living Room / Re: Windows 7 update stuck on constant "need to restart" - end of my tether

« Last post by 4wd on July 17, 2018, 11:45 PM »

Apart from wiping Windows and reinstalling anyone got any suggestions?

-Carol Haynes (July 17, 2018, 12:14 PM)

Uninstall any AV/AM, do a partition backup, perform an In-Place Upgrade - no need to wipe Windows.  Takes an hour or so and all your files/programs are still installed - anything with some kind of virtual driver will possibly need reinstalling, (eg. DaemonTools).

EDIT: Just noticed x16wda suggested it, even so would have been my first option in the event of no pre-update backup.

769

General Software Discussion / Re: More Ads in Windows 10

« Last post by 4wd on July 17, 2018, 11:33 PM »

I love that I can send all the prior bubbles and notifications to the sidebar and just ignore them...

-wraith808 (July 13, 2018, 03:37 PM)

And just like being unable to specify where your icons appear on the Desktop it's an absolute PITA that you can't move it from the right hand side ... so I've just disabled all notifications.

770

General Software Discussion / Re: What Android Apps Do You Use?

« Last post by 4wd on July 17, 2018, 11:12 PM »

Any tips for SatNav for Android? (in case relevant: for use in Europe)
I'm coming from a Windows phone so dont have a clue where to begin.

See this mention from 2015 -

OSMAnd+ Maps & Navigation

-4wd (December 29, 2015, 10:48 PM)

I have found openstreetmap better than google maps on occasion.

-tomos (July 17, 2018, 08:43 AM)

If you've got a data connection Google Maps is pretty good, (I used it throughout Ukraine), but I also had MapFactor Navigation installed for OSM offline maps - I found OSMAnd very slow when it came to scrolling around.

If you go to MyMaps on your computer you can plot your route in Google which then becomes available under Google Maps on the phone, (Menu->Your Places->Maps), you can set it as the route to follow rather than your usual options of shortest or quickest.

eg. My Ukraine routes depending on what happened when I got there.


Traffic condition monitoring is pretty good in Google Maps too.

I've used Here WeGo (in the US, but it has global maps).

-x16wda (July 17, 2018, 07:59 PM)

It might have changed but from when I had it installed it wouldn't work in China, (including HK), due to the Chinese Government, no map downloads were available, (same with Google Maps).  Obviously irrelevant if you never plan on going there but something to be aware of if you are, rather than find out when you're there.
The same is applicable to some other destinations.

You had to use something OSM based if you wanted Chinese maps.

771

General Software Discussion / Re: How to -connect- Windows Visual Basic Apps with Windows Batch files?

« Last post by 4wd on July 17, 2018, 10:45 PM »

I got this "set -ua ..." off the www as a possible answer to my question.

-OptimalDesigns (July 17, 2018, 03:28 PM)

set -u is used in Linux Bash shells.
set /a is used in Windows CLI to set environment variables using arithmetic expressions. eg. set /a "ABC+=2"

772

General Software Discussion / Re: How to -connect- Windows Visual Basic Apps with Windows Batch files?

« Last post by 4wd on July 16, 2018, 11:03 PM »

As f0dder said, just pass the variable to the command file.

Code: Text [Select]

1. Process.Start("main.bat", "ABC")

The passed argument is referred to as %1 in the command file, eg.

main.bat

Code: Text [Select]

1. @echo off
2. if "%~1"  == "ABC" (echo We got something!) else echo We got nothing!

%~1 removes any leading/trailing quotes, (eg. "ABC" becomes ABC), in case the arg did include spaces, and then you include it in quotes to do the string comparison.

773

General Software Discussion / Re: How can I find approximate matches of numbers?

« Last post by 4wd on July 14, 2018, 08:05 PM »

I still maintain that the problem hasn't been defined properly, so they could be for naught

-wraith808 (July 14, 2018, 11:19 AM)

That is always the case.

774

General Software Discussion / Re: How can I find approximate matches of numbers?

« Last post by 4wd on July 14, 2018, 06:12 AM »

Code: PowerShell [Select]

1. # Remove test files
2. Remove-Item .\TestList?.txt
3. # Generate two files containing unique random numbers for comparison
4. 1..100 | % {Get-Random -Minimum 95 -Maximum 200 } | Sort -Unique | Out-File .\TestList1.txt -Append
5. 1..100 | % {Get-Random -Minimum 95 -Maximum 200 } | Sort -Unique | Out-File .\TestList2.txt -Append
6.  
7. # Read the files into an object (array)
8. $list1 = Get-Content .\TestList1.txt
9. $list2 = Get-Content .\TestList2.txt
10.  
11. # Initialise match count
12. $total = 0
13.  
14. # For each value in list 1 loop through every value in list 2
15. for ($i = 0; $i -lt $list1.Count; $i++) {
16.   for ($j = 0; $j -lt $list2.Count; $j++) {
17.     $tmp = $list2[$j]/1                                                                  # Simple conversion of string to number
18.     if (($tmp -gt ($list1[$i]/1 * 0.95)) -and ($tmp -lt ($list1[$i]/1 * 1.05))) {        # Compare value from list 2 to within 5% of value from list 1
19.       $total++                                                                           # Increment match count if a match
20.       $out = 'Match ' + $total.ToString() + ': ' + $list1[$i] + ' ±5% -> ' + $list2[$j]  # Format output
21.       Write-Host $out                                                                    # Write to console
22.       Out-File  .\TestList3.txt -InputObject $out -Append                                # Write to file
23.     }
24.   }                                                                                      # Round we go again
25. }                                                                                        # ... and again
26.  
27. # The End

775

Living Room / Re: Privacy (collected references)

« Last post by 4wd on July 08, 2018, 10:25 PM »

I'm surprised they didn't mention ProtonVPN.

-Deozaan (July 08, 2018, 05:46 PM)

Regarding their comment in Features:

In addition to strong technical security, ProtonVPN also benefits from strong legal protection. Because we are based in Switzerland, ProtonVPN is protected by some of the world's strongest privacy laws and remains outside of US and EU jurisdiction. This means that unlike VPN providers based in a fourteen eyes country, we cannot be coerced into spying on our users.

A possible view from the other side of the coin: It doesn’t matter how many eyes you have

If you believe Wikipedia^w:

Further intelligence sharing collaborations
As spelled out by Privacy International, there are a number of issue-specific intelligence agreements that include some or all the above nations and numerous others, such as:

• An area specific sharing amongst the 41 nations that formed the allied coalition in Afghanistan;
• A shared effort of the Five Eyes nations in "focused cooperation" on computer network exploitation with Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey;
• Club of Berne^w: 17 members including primarily European States; the US is not a member;
• The Counterterrorist Group: a wider membership than the 17 European States that make up the Club of Berne^w, and includes the US;
• NATO Special Committee: made up of the heads of the security services of NATO's 28 member countries;

If they want you bad enough I doubt whether a VPN provider anywhere is going to stop them.