Block USB Storage

Found this blog with workable solutions. Just the things I need to keep PCs under control.

http://blog.ashfame.com

You may want to block USB mass storage device to disallow the unauthorized use of pendrives or you may want to unblock USB mass storage device to get access (most of the case in college’s net lab).

Well, this can be done by a simple registry tweak. Before doing so, I recommend taking a backup of the registry because playing with registry can be harmful for your OS. Read (How to backup your windows registry). When you have backup the key :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR proceed further.

To disable access

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR] “Start”=dword:00000004

To enable access

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR] “Start”=dword:00000003

Copy the required code to a text file and save it as *.reg file. Just open that file and information will be added to the registry.

Source : Thinkdigit Forum

How viruses spread from USB/Thumb/Pen drive?

Whenever a USB drive is plugged into a infected computer, virus copies itself to the pen drive and sets it to execute itself when pen drive is accessed by making changes in the autorun.inf. Whenever pen drive is accessed, the autorun.inf calls the executable file of the virus upon which the system gets infected.

How to save your computer from viruses from USB/Thumb/Pen drive?

The most effective method of preventing your system from getting infected is to disable autorun feature of USB devices. DJ tells us about disabling autorun feature on Sizlopedia. He tells us a method in which he uses gpedit.msc and disable autorun feature but the problem is that gpedit.msc is not available under Windows XP Home Edition.

So, I am going to explain how to disable USB autorun feature through registry editing which not only works for WInXP Home but also for any other edition of Windows.

• Browse to the following key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
• Modify the value of NoDriveTypeAutoRun to df (hexadecimal)
  
  
  
  

Psycho Jump

An alcoholic guest of ours, who was mentally sick, was sent to the General Hospital yesterday.

Later today afternoon, a call from GH informed my boss that the guest jumped from the fifth floor and now they have some serious cleaning to do.

This late guest consumed mostly alcohol at our place and ran up a credit card bill of about RM25K, past his credit limit of RM10K. Don't ask why our credit people did not spot this.

Anyway, my boss instructed our people to immediately settle his latest bill by charging his credit card. This will go into our service charge.

Sorry you had to checked out like this, dude.

Get Rid of Windows XP 3-Days Activation

I setup a LICENSED Windows XP Pro on a PC and swapped the HDD on home PC (how often do you find me doing this on own PC?). Of course, both the PCs are of the same MOBO specs, or so I thought.

The PC booted successfully, except it prompt to re-activate Windows in 3-days since it detected significant hardware changes on the PC.

After googling a bit, found tips in Youtube on how to get rid of the activation.

Just open registry> regedit

Go to;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ WPAEvents

Modify the binary data of OOBETimer to FF D5 71 D6 6A 8D 6F D5 33 93 FD

Change the permission of folder WPAEvents of SYSTEM to DENY.

Restart PC and done !!

Mystery Shopper

I enrolled as a mystery shopper for this local company called AQ Services. They carry out surveys for Esso and Exxon Mobil petrol stations mostly. So far I only did to one Esso petrol station.

They paid RM25 per visit back then. Now it's RM30. I did not even bother to check my bank balance though. They did called me once to confirm my bank area ID, or something.

All that was needed to do;

1. Fill petrol to your vehicle (bikes not allowed)

2. Take note of the pump attendant's name

3. Get a receipt

4. Buy something from the store

5. Get receipt

6. Take note of cashier's name and greetings

7. Observe cleaniness of overall station

8. Observe soft-drink/coffee machine

9. Snacks counter

10. Membership application forms are on the cashier table

11. Washroom cleaniness

12. Others

This company also do surveys for Sushi King though it's a rare.

Maybe try a little more commitment for a extra cash. I was hoping to be a mystery guest for fast-food joints like McDonald's or KFC.

Public Mutual Fund

I went for an introductory seminar by Public Mutual Fund months ago, actually on the opening of the Beijing Olympics night on 8/8/08, to find out more on this company, and to become a Consultant.

The speaker is a Muar guy, Mr Tay Kok Tai. He was the top performer years ago who won the Company Individual Top Performer and Top Group Performer (or something like that). It claims his personal sales until August was worth RM60mil.

He only joined 10 years ago after he quit his day job as an account exec, with a last drawn salary of RM1200. Prior to PMF, he joined various direct-selling and MLM companies, which yielded not encouraging incomes. He found GOLD at PMF.

I can only remember he said to activate all the EIGHT waterpipe-taps. Keep the taps opened and water flowing, keep it leaking, if it's faulty, better still !!! He's referring to the multiple commissions generated from individual and group sales incomes. Keep them coming in!!

It made sense to me that investment of EPF money, with its low interest rate but high inflation rate, is logical to pool more money for retirement and children's education. If it can convinced me, others can to. RM250 is needed to open a PBB savings account and to sit for the exam.

But I've yet to sit for the exam nor find potential clients. The sharp drop in global economy has dampened this a little but the prices are cheap now.

Let's see how it goes.

MLM

So many MLM companies offering products such as gold, websites, health products, and even just plain registration with money, among a mountain of others.

About 8 years ago, I went for a seminar which 'sells' gold and trainings on websites (so primitive compare to standards avaibable now). Most of the time I forgot the names of the companies because its not worth remembering or the products are rarely sellable.

For this one, members has to pay a minimum RM1000 or so to be eligible for the scheme to work and profits to be roll in. I forgot the structure on the workings but RM1000?? The seminar was held at the speaker's posh home. An ex-insurance agent who made some money and of cos, convincing speaker.

Still, my instinct says this is horse-shit so screwed it.

Then of cos, the health-conscious products. In those yonder days, companies like Amway were very profitable, I know some members still going for it.

Of cos, NuSkin were the rave some years back. Friends quit their full-time jobs to join NuSkin. So many millionaires were made so everybody wants to jump onto the bandwagon. I was doubtful, thankfully. Friends I met today quit the company since it was hard work and not enough to cover expenses.

Forever Living is another one. A friend who is an active member approached me many times but I declined.

How about a company which sells nothings but just get members to register. This E-pay company, IPC Shopping or em-pay, only collects cash, about RM250 per unit, more units bought will make more downlines. A generous percentage will be credited to the introducer if more members were brought in. Later, this company were blacklisted by the Securities Commission and the website closed.

Elken sells some promising health products which I still consume. The products are not cheap but it's of good quality, mostly. But people I know fnd it difficult to make ends meet just selling alone. Inactive downlines will cause the upline's income to be suffer, as always the case.

AdSense, Advertlerts & Nuffnang

AdSense

This Google module looks legit enough.

Blogs and articles all over the Net describing tips and secrets on how to generate traffic on your blog. Readers who click on the ads will generate earnings for you. Dunno the truth but some sites claimed to generate up to 5-figure amounts in USD.

I'm still trying to unravel The Secret.

Friends I know who run Adsense did received check payments from Google. Besides, almost all websites and blogs have AdSense on them.

So far, I've earned USD24.87. I have yet to received a PIN by snail mail from Google to be entered into my profile to activate payment. Earnings not less than USD100 is only eligible for payment.

This is the real deal. Problem is, traffic must keep coming in.

Advertlets and Nuffnang are local advert sites for blogs. Functions similarly if not less than AdSense and less generous in term of earnings.

So I'm running all three hoping to cash in more.

Agloco

The next most-advertised on Web money-making scheme is this;

What is Agloco? Why everyone is talking about it?

Agloco means AGLObal COmmunity. Once a user signs up for free, they are asked to download the Viewbar™ software (which is currently still in closed testing and will be released in mid April). By running this multi-functions Viewbar™ (with search function, anti-fraud function, contextual ads etc), Agloco will pay each member money & share depending on the Viewbar™ usage (Max 5 hours per month). Agloco's advertisers will pay members for using the Viewbar™.

Agloco also runs a referral system which will further reward member who bring in new members.

How can I get paid?
The income will be paid in cash as well as in stocks. This avoids the mistake of paying out more than they make, which was what AllAdvantage did. During initial stage, payment will be made in US dollar cheque monthly. Other payment options in the future might include bank direct-debit, Paypal, credit to card etc. Remember to sign-up our newsletter so that we can keep you updated.

So much for that. I ran the Viewbar for about a year and I see some cash accumulated on my profile.

Then they posted some news that they are NOT doing any profits and they are not being paid cash for running ads of websites or some bullshit.

Agloco.com is closed. Another SCAM, I suppose.

Pay-per-click websites

This was happening about 4 years ago.

Friends claimed that by displaying webpages as adverts on your PC, by registering yourself on some of these websites, can pay you good. Some claimed to receive checks in their mail.

So I registered myself to numerous websites that do this. These sites will display websites as advertisements. Every display will be counted as points which will converted to cash, payable by check. Frequently these sites will give out bonus points if certain adverts were clicked at the right designated moments.

I was running some 10-15 of these sites simultaneously, which slows down my PC like shit!! So I was picking up a lot of points but the sad part was, I was not able to register myself into PayPal, StormPay or some other web-pay sites. I did not bother then.

However, the websites seemed to die out one by one. After some time, most sites are closed or relocated. I wonder why? But who cares.

It just died a horrible death.

Calculating clients' profits for FOREX company

Found this in the classifieds section as others.

Very vague advert. Something like 'getting paid for simple calculations of customers' data'.

Gave them a call and arranged an 'interview' at their office in PJ, some office block near Hilton.

Went to the office, filled in some crappy-looking application form and wait. The guy who is going to interviewed looks crappy as well, with some shit title who looks busy. Showed me to his desk (not office), which is partially partitioned.

He explains to me their business, which is Forex trading. He gave me some clients' transaction data and showed me how the calculation is done. I did a few on my own and he's sastified.

This is where the actual modus operandi is displayed: actually the calculations showed good profits from his 'clients'. Then he proceed to ask me if I was interested to INVEST? And the amount goes to thousands, starting at about RM1k.

I told him I don't have the money so ok la. I would prefer to be paid by doing the calculations for him. So he gave me a diskette to be taken home and upon completion, send it back to him.

Damn simple calculations using Excel but that's besides the story. It's all looking for investors.

SCAM !!

Envelope Folding and Mailing

This is another good one.

As usual, they request you to send in your address (home or email) and they will send you a brochure of a few pages.

Listing the jobs they sub-contracted from other companies and testimonies from 'rich' members and their successful schemes, it all seems pretty convincing as always.

To know more, of cos have to send them some $ via postal order. If I recall, about RM60. Freeking parasites!!

So when another brochure did arrive, it will detail on how the operation is done.

Easy;

1. Advertise your 'services' on newspapers or posters all over town. (sheesh!)

2. Xerox the first sets of brochures, but change the contacts to yours.

3. Once you receive the registration $$$, proceed to next step.

4. Xerox the second sets of brochures, and send to new 'members'.

Just keep the flow going.

SCAM !!!

Typing At Home

There's this advert with email to HK99@pd.jaring.my which states typing job at home. I sent my details to the address but did not get any reply so I did not bother to follow up.

My guess is one needs to type potential 'members' details and sent out through email and get their registrations. The more you sent out and if one gets 1 out of 10 to register, you can make a hefty sum from it.

SCAM !!!

Worker Dead At Desk For Five Days (!!??)

More

1. Typing at home

2. Envelope folding and mailing

3. Calculating clients' profits for FOREX company

4. Pay-per-click websites.

5. Agloco

6. AdSense, Advertlets & Nuffnang

Toy assembly at home??

4 years ago when I was unemployed due to job resource difficulties, I tried looking at all this part-time home jobs on newspaper classifieds.

In particular, this job that pays hundreds RM per week. I was a sucker for all this since I was desperate for income. With loans and credit cards to pay, I was surviving on a bank's personal loan.

So I SMS my home address to the number given. In a week or so, I received thru mail an envelope containing brochures and testimonies that the company is doing legit business, together with Malaysian Company Registration number and contacts.

OK lah, I was convinced. I parted with RM45 or RM65 to register and so with all the shit. So I wait la.

Still nothing after 2 weeks, I SMS - no reply. I call - didn't pick up phone. Finally SOMEONE did picked up my call and I was told to wait a week since they are waiting for stocks from some shit country, China, I think. Of cos it never came la...!

KNNCCB !!! Man, was I a sucker for all this bullshit or what ??!!

I don't have the brochures with me now else I would scan it and post it here. Like I said, it was years ago.