Hugh's Worthless Blog

Yes, I discovered the easiest way to prevent SSH attacks om Linux/Unix boxes -- you turn simply it off! There are some systems where I am the only person who ever uses SSH to connect to them to a shell prompt so I just kill the daemon and make sure it is not set to automatically start on reboot. So what happens when I want to connect? Well, I have a little CGI script I wrote to turn SSH back on (using a hidden password protected URL), and then I log on, and then the SSHD daemon gets shut down again. (Once you are connected you do not need sshd to be running.) So people cannot break through the SSHD server since it simply is not running, and I just have it run for 5 minutes for me to logon whenever I want. Simple, isn't it? Another similar tactic to drastically reduce attacks is to set crontab to turn on and off sshd for specific times. If nobody ever uses SSH at 2am Monday morning, why does it need to be running then? The only things connecting to the SSHD server then are internati...

Here is a place to find a local lender for a home loan, refinance or HELOC. You simply tell them your state and what product you want and then supply your contact information. They will direct several lenders to you who will contact you. What you should first do is set up a brand new GMail or Yahoo mail account and use it exclusively for your loan search. Otherwise you will get spammed to death at your primary e-mail address. Plus many corporate spam filters will eat many of your correspondences from lenders. And you do not need to give them a valid phone number, or they will call you to no end. I like giving people FAX machine numbers to call! If you need one to enter, use 425-936-7329 (Microsoft's support FAX). If lenders are too lazy to type up an e-mail to you they are not worth your business. Let them just talk to the Microsoft FAX machine instead!

On my ever quest to enter contests I found out that HearItFirst.com has a new contest where they are giving away 300 T-shirts (that is correct -- there are 300 of them!) with Sanctus Real on them. Now personally I love Sanctus Real , but I am curious how many people really want a T-shirt with on them (along with "NEEDTOBREATHE" and "This Beautiful Republic" printed on them). They are an incredibly talented band, but they just aren't as popular as say Switchfoot, Relient K, Jeremy Camp or Chris Tomlin for example. A big-time Christian artist I could understand a giveaway of 50 or 100 T-shirts, but 300 shirts for a tour headlined by Sanctus Real? I think the odds to win one of those beauties must be pretty high! So I am going to enter as often as I can! I personally would be proud to wear one around, even if people ask me "Who in the heck are they?". Then I can simply respond, "Duh, it's Sanctus Real, can't you read?"

Well, not only did Aaron Shust win three GMA Dove Awards but he also just made his new album "Whispered & Shouted" fully available online! Yes, all you have to do is buy the CD online at his website for a whopping $9.95 shipped, and once you order it, they tell you how you can listen to the whole thing online until you receive the actual CD in early June. I know because I am listening to it right now through my Firefox browser while I type this. Cool. I have even pulled the lyrics from his website and fixed them up like he sings them on the album. The album is great so just go buy it. At $9.95 I am thinking about buying another one as a gift. I am wondering if his new album will also be released in a cardboard jewel box like "Anything Worth Saying" was made. I always hated how typical jewel boxes break all the time, and I liked the cardboard/plastic design of his debut. Plus it is easier to mail since it actually protects the CD as opposed to just being some...