CompTIA To Drop Adaptive Format
CompTIA will no longer be using the adaptive format for any of its certification exams. Currently, only on its A+ Core and OS exams are offered in adaptive format.
Come Sept. 12,  A+ exams revert to linear format. More Info

Microsoft Introduces New Question Types
New exams slated for release this year to feature many new testing innovations and improved security. Microsoft will be introducing in newer exams, including the Windows Server 2003-based exams slated for release this month. Microsoft has also updating it's exam format to scenario-based questions. These new question types offer intuitive interfaces, user-friendly features, and improved navigation. More Info

Windows 2003 Exams Now Available: Learn about new and upcoming exams.

What you need to know about these pesky worms/viruses that have been "harassing" your systems during this month of August
Blaster and now SoBig have sent hundreds of thousands of home users and many network administrators reeling as systems crash, servers collapse under the weight of a spam-like e-mail onslaught and users worry about what's coming next. It's made everyone re-examine how we protect our systems.
God bless you if you are using a high speed connection without any form of protection - Firewall and/or Antivirus !

>> What You Should Know About the Blaster Worm and Its Variants .
>> Symantec Security Response - W32.Sobig.A@mm
>> Protect Your PC & Data From ANYTHING! Norton AntiVirus 2003, the newest version of the world’s most trusted antivirus solution for home computer users. Norton Utilities 2003 and Norton CleanSweep 2003, providing integrated, comprehensive PC maintenance, problem-solving, system optimization and file removal capabilities. Click Here
>> Note: Windows XP Firewall Defaults to Change in Wake of Blaster Worm - Microsoft will change the default firewall settings for new shipments of Windows XP in response to the wide spread of the Blaster worm, according to published reports. Blaster, also known as MS Blast, Lovsan and Poza, began spreading late last week ago through an error in Microsoft's programming of the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) Remote Procedure Call (RPC) that Microsoft patched in mid-July. The worm exploits the flaw automatically without requiring users to make any mistake beyond leaving a system unpatched. Microsoft will begin shipping Windows XP with its built-in Internet Connection Firewall fully activated. The firewall, which was first introduced to Windows with Windows XP in 2001, is fully enabled by default in Windows Server 2003. If you are running Windows 9x, XP or 2K, Click here to apply patches to your system - Very Important!. Always allow critical system updates. You can run Windows XP's Automatic Update Wizard. Yes, Microsoft releases updates every Wednesday, but it does so for a reason. It's trying to stay ahead of the hackers and virus authors. What's more, Microsoft and others are constantly finding small (and large) system bugs that these patches are designed to fix.
>> It is very important that you check the Security site regularly for the most recent news: http://www.microsoft.com/security/
>> Surf to the following links for further info:

• Windows XP Professional Users - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/networking/icf.asp
• Windows XP Home Edition Users - http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/home/using/howto/homenet/icf.asp
• Windows Server 2003 users -http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/proddocs/standard/hnw_enable_firewall.asp
• Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 users - You need to install a third-party firewall. There are no built in firewalls in your OS. We recommend the following software firewalls:

    Software Firewalls - For Dial Up / High Speed Connections
    > ZoneAlarm - Available in FREE & PRO versions. Runs in all  recent Windows versions - 98, 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP
    > Tiny Personal Firewall - Runs in all  recent Windows versions - 98, 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP
    > Outpost Personal Firewall - Runs in all  recent Windows versions - 98, 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP
    > McAfee Personal Firewall/Online VirusScan -  Runs in all  recent Windows versions - 98, 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP
    > If you are using AOL Version 8 or Lower - Download "AOL 9.0 Optimized" - Shipped with a free fire wall.
    > Kerio Personal Firewall - 30 Day Free Trial. Runs in all  recent Windows versions - 98, 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP
    > Black ICE Defender - Runs in all  recent Windows versions - 98, 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP

  Hardware Firewalls - High Speed Connections
  > Read  PCMAG Review
  > Need a Hardware Firewall - Click Here

• Use these firewalls together with antivirus software. Make sure that your virus signatures are updated regularly...at least twice a week [Manually] OR better still...set your antivirus software to update itself automatically!  Most major antivirus manufacturers have posted alerts and updates to capture and clean the virus. If you do not have antivirus software, get it now. We recommend Symantecs - Norton Antivirus: Click Here
• Other measures you should take include: Avoiding infection is your #1 defense.
  Blaster does not spread via e-mail, but here's a little primer on how to avoid e-mail infection from other nasty bugs: Don't open e-mail from unknown senders. We know those subject lines look enticing, but we guarantee you won't find what they promise when you open them. Turn off your Preview Pane in Outlook. Trojans can launch if the mail is opened in the preview pane. From the menu bar select View and then Preview Pane. Create a whitelist of acceptable e-mail senders and use filters to move spam and potential virus-laden e-mail to the trash folder. Make sure your antivirus solution pre-scans mail.

Get Resource Kits
>> Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit - Click Here

Use [CTRL] For Opening Folders - Windows 2000 Professional
You're probably aware that you can configure Explorer such that when you double-click a folder it either opens using the current window or opens the folder in a new window. Which one you use is mainly a matter of personal preference. The former keeps your desktop uncluttered while the latter lets you keep the current folder open, which is handy for copying or moving documents between folders.

What many users don't realize is that you can modify actions such as opening folders using the [Shift] and [Ctrl] keys. For example, assume you configured the system to reuse the current window. You have a folder open and want to go back to the parent folder without closing the current one. You don't want to start from the root and work your way down again, which would be a waste of time. Instead, just hold down the [Ctrl] key and click the Up button on the folder's toolbar. You can also hold down [Ctrl] while you double-click a folder. This keeps the current window open and opens the selected folder in a new window.

Setting & Configuring User Rights - Windows 2000
Although Windows 2000 is a secure operating system, it doesn't mean your network is safe from attacks. It simply means that the operating system provides several features that can help you secure your important data--it's up to you to configure and use them correctly.

Among the various security settings you set in Windows 2000 are user rights. User rights define specific system-wide actions that users can perform. Examples of user rights include adding workstations to the domain, logging on locally, and shutting down the system. If you want to close all the holes in your system, consider looking at user rights, especially for Windows 2000 servers. For instance, you should control who can log on locally to your domain controllers. Another user right to check is Shut Down System; you normally don't want users to shut down your critical servers.

You can change user rights through Group Policy. If you want to set user rights on a local machine, open the Local Security Policy from the Administrative Tools folder and browse to Local Policies | User Rights Assignment. To change the settings in a domain, you must open a new Group Policy and browse to the Computer Configuration | Windows Settings | Local Policies | User Rights Assignment.

DHCP Server Authorization - Taming Rogue DHCP Servers
The lease process involves a simple exchange of IP packets. There is no authentication or encryption, so there is basically no security.

Now suppose someone sets up another DHCP server with different IP addresses. As you recall, clients will select the server that responds first. If some unauthorized (also called rogue) server is chosen, clients will get incorrect IP addresses and other TCP/IP configuration data and will thus be unable to communicate with other computers on the network.

To prevent such rogue DHCP servers from leasing wrong configuration data on the network, Windows 2000 requires all Windows 2000 DHCP servers to be authorized. When a Windows 2000 DHCP server starts, it queries the Active Directory. If it finds out that it's not authorized, it will not start the DHCP service. If it is authorized, it will start the DHCP service and thus provide TCP/IP configuration to clients.

Unfortunately, this works only for Windows 2000 DHCP servers. You can still use Windows NT 4.0 DHCP servers or other unauthorized servers on the network.

To authorize a Windows 2000 DHCP server you have to be a member of the Enterprise Admins group. Open the DHCP console, right-click on DHCP, and select Manage Authorized Server. Then click on Authorize and type the name or IP address of the DHCP server you want to authorize.

What would happen if you installed an external modem on COM2 with an I/O address of 0F8-0FF?

A. The modem would probably fail since this is a common I/O range for the math co-processor
B. The modem might initialize but an Interrupt conflict with the Timer would cause it to fail when dialing
C. The modem would work as long as the mouse was disabled
D. The modem would work just fine at these settings

Answer: A - I/O  or IRQ conflicts can cause hardware to fail.
References: | PCI Modem Installation & Troubles |

What three options would create a good password policy?

A.  Mix letters and numbers, more than six characters, and force changes yearly
B.  Mix letter and numbers, no less than four characters, and less than nine characters
C.  Use all uppercase letters, force changes quarterly, and write the passwords down
D.  Keep a written list, use easy to remember names, don't force password use
E.  Mix letters and numbers, force changes every three months, and require password lengths of six to eight characters

Answer: E - Passwords should always contain both letters and numbers. Passwords with seven or more characters typically will take over 90 days to crack by brute force, so if you change seven character passwords every three months, you will greatly reduce the risk of a brute force attack of your passwords.

Of the following permissions, which one is not a standard NTFS permission that could be assigned to users or groups for Folder/File access?

A. Full Control
B. Change
C. Read
D. Write
E. Read & Execute

Answer: B
References:  | MCSE Exam 70-215: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Study Test Questions |

What do the labels LPT and COM pertain to?

A. Printers and serial communications ports
B. Disk drives and printer ports
C. Line monitors and communications ports
D. Disk drives and floppy drives

Answer: A - Printers and serial communications ports LPT refers to the line printer, and COM refers to the communications port. The LPT port is a parallel connection and the COM port a serial connection. Most PC systems support two COM ports and two printer ports: COM1 and COM2 and LPT1 and LPT2. Remember that on most modern motherboards the COM ports use a DB9 connector and the printer ports use a DB25 connector.

The keyboard is completely dead, but all computer operations are normal. What is wrong?

A. Keyboard interface IC is bad.
B. Keyboard controller has failed.
C. Keyboard has a stuck key.
D. Keyboard is disconnected from the computer.

Answer: A - Using a multimeter you should read +5 Vdc supply at the keyboard connector. If this is not present, the keyboard interface IC is bad.