How To Password Protect Your Linux Box (OS) With GRUB

GRUB, the Only bootloader for Linux OS, as NTLDR works in windows..

here , the basic idea for Securing the Linux box wiht GRUB is, we implies sum security on GRUB itself..The MOst basic Phase in Loading Of An Operating System.

 

However , Gettin bypassed with GRUb is also not that much difficult, its as easy as Burning a MATCH STICk, bt guys, i wud tell u that somehow later.

So wt the basic idea is, If you don't want someone booting your machine without permission, you can add a password to your GRUB entries. You can add a password only to specific entries if you wish; this will require a user to enter a password before loading only those boot entries you protect. This can be useful when done on your Recovery Mode entries, which bring up a passwordless root login by default.

To get started, let's first encrypt the password we want to use. Open up a terminal and enter the grub command. This brings up a grub shell. In this shell, enter the md5crypt command. When prompted, type in the password you want on your grub entries. (Don't worry, this won't write anything to your files!) After pressing Enter, you will be given an encrypted password string. Copy the string to your clipboard. Enter quit to exit the grub shell and return to bash.

Code:

GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (640K lower / 3072K upper memory)

 [ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported.  For the first word, TAB
   lists possible command completions.  Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
   completions of a device/filename. ]

grub> md5crypt

Password: *************
Encrypted: $1$w7Epf0$vX6rxpozznLAVxZGkcFcs.

grub>

Now that we have an encrypted password, it's time to add it to grub. Using sudo, open up /boot/grub/menu.lst using your favorite text editor.

 

Note : if ur version of linux Box does not Encrypts password as such, Then you may have to Copy The encrypted passwrd frm the Shadow Fiel..(If U r having this case, do ask me, n i wud tell u the whole game IN step wise step manner)
After the "initrd" line for each entry you want to password protect, start a new line beginning with password --md5 and paste in your newly-encrypted password. Using the above example password on the i386 recovery entry, this:

Code:

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.8.1-2-386 (recovery mode)
        root (hd1,2)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8.1-2-386 root=/dev/hdb3 ro single
        initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.8.1-2-386

Becomes this:

Code:

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.8.1-2-386 (recovery mode)
        root (hd1,2)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8.1-2-386 root=/dev/hdb3 ro single
        initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.8.1-2-386
        password --md5 $1$w7Epf0$vX6rxpozznLAVxZGkcFcs.

You must add such a line after every entry you want to password protect. As I mentioned earlier, I password protected my recovery mode entries out of sheer paranoia.

Save the file, and reboot. (The first time you try this, I suggest only doing it to one entry so you can test it to make sure it works, and you can still use another entry to boot your machine in case something went wrong.)

For a bit of added peace of mind, you can prevent everyone except root from reading /boot/grub/menu.lst by doing:

Code:

sudo chmod 600 /boot/grub/menu.lst

______________________________________________________________________________

Thats it u r finished with it.

Hopes u enjoy this., have fun. Enjoy Hacking.. Enjoy

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Block and Enable usage of USB Removable Disks

This tip will allow you to block usage of USB removable disks, but will continue to allow usage of USB mice, keyboards or any other USB-based device that is NOT a portable disk.

Block usage of USB Removable Disks

To block your computer's ability to use USB Removable Disks follow these steps:

1. Open Registry Editor.

2. In Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR

3. Locate the following value (DWORD):Start and give it a value of 4(four).

4. Close Registry Editor.

You do not need to reboot the computer for changes to apply.

Enable usage of USB Removable Disks

To return to the default configuration and enable your computer's ability to use USB Removable Disks follow these steps:

1. Go to the registry path found above.

2. Locate the following value: Start and give it a value of 3(three).

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Improve menushowdelay time of Start Menu

Sometimes Start Menu so much time to appear, but now you can speed up things, by changing the registry entry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop/MenuShowDelay

from the default 400 to something a little snappier. Like 0.

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Automatic Window refresh - Cool Computer Tricks

Whenever you make a change to your windows you have to press F5 or do a manual refresh sometimes its very annoying Now with this trick you can tell windows to increase the rate at which it does the refreshing.

Just follow given steps:

1) Type Regedit in run.

2) In Registry editor window go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update.

3) Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, named UpdateMode and set it to equal 0 for faster updates. Restart Windows for the change to take effect.

Its done.

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Change windows Default Location - Cool Computer Tricks

You can chnage the windows default location where windows look for its installation files. To change windows default drive you have to make some changes in windows registry just follow these steps:

1) Go to RUN.

2) Type regedit and press Enter.

3)Then in Registry Editor window go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Setup\SourcePath

4) Here you can edit as you wish.

Its done.

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Sticky Menus

Normally when you move the mouse over the Start Menu or over some Programs, it will automatically cascade and show the submenus. But if you want menus to open submenus only when you actually click on them, then those menus are known as sticky menus so here are steps to make sticky menus, you need to make some changes in regestiry just follow these steps:

1. Go to run and type Regedit.
2. In registry editor window, browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Deafault \ Control Panel \ Desktop.
3. Check if there is any string named MenuShowDelay, If it not there, create a string called MenuShowDelay.


4. Give it a value of 65534.
Its done.

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Block a website without a software

Do you know that, You can block any site which you don't want to see. For this you dont need any software just follow these steps:

1) Open mycomputer.

2) Browse C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc.

3) Open file with a name HOSTS in notepad.

4) In this notepad file, Find 127.0.0.1 and Add 127.0.0.2

www.xyz.com (websites URL) , Under "127.0.0.1 localhost".

5) Save this notepad file and close it.

Now xyz.com is no longer acessebile.

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Lock DISK DRIVES without any software - Cool Computer Tricks

We don’t usually prefer to lock our drives, but sometimes it becomes nesscary. So here is trick to lock drives without any software, For this you have to do some changes in registry editor.
Please don’t try this tweak with your root drive (usually C:\ is the root drive) since root drives are not intended to be locked because they are mandatory for the system and application programs.

1). Click on Start and Run and then type Regedit to open Registry editor window.

2). In registry editor window Browse

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

3). Create a new DWORD value name it NoViewOnDrive and set its value as 2^(Alpha Number of Drive Letter-1) where Alpha number are simple counting of alphabets from A to Z as 1 – 26

For example: to lock C:\, Alpha number of C is 3 so 2^ (3-1) = 4 (decimal value)

A: 1

C: 4

D: 8

E: 16

F: 32

G: 64

H: 128

4). To lock more drives, calculate the value of each drive and then set sum of those numbers as value

5). To unlock your drive just delete the key from the registry.


6). Press F5 to refresh.
Its done.

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Set Windows Logon Wallpaper

Logon wallpaper is the wallpaper or image that windows shows on screen when windows logs on (before it asks for username & password) . It’s usually set to the image-logo of the brand of our computer (e.g. in compaq laptops). If you are get tired of watching that wallpaper then now this is right trick for you jaust follow these steps and set it to our own image or any other image(any bmp file)

1) Open Startmenu->Run type regedit and press ok to open registry editor.

2) In registry editor window , In hierarchical structure in left, navigate to registry entry

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop

3) In right side pane see a number of values placed in a table format. choose the value named Wallpaper from there and double click it.

4) Now you see a box with value name as Wallpaper and value data as Path to the image file .

5) There give the full path of the image(bmp file) which you want to set as logon wallpaper by deleting previous path and writing path to your bmp file e.g. C:\WINDOWS\me.BMP (to set image me.BMP file as log on wall paper).

Also double click on WallpaperStyle and change it’s value to 2 to get a stretched wallpaper at logon.

Put that bmp file in windows directory for better results.

If that is a jpeg file, convert to bmp file by opening in Windows Image Viewer and save as bmp.

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Disable turn off or ALT + F4

Here is one cool trick by using this you can disable turn off or Alt+F4..

To disable it just follow these steps:

1) Go to Run.

2) Type Regedit and press enter.

3) Then in Registry Editor Window go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer

4) Now in the right pane right click and create a new DWORD item and name it NoClose.

5) Now modify it's valueand set it to 1.

6) Reboot your machine.

Its done.

To enable display of Items , simply delete this DWORD item.

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Move Taskbar to new Spot - Cool Computer Trick

By default, Microsoft's Windows taskbar, which shows buttons for each of your open windows, present at the bottom of your screen. If you do multitasking and open many windows, more than six or seven windows at a time, then taskbar become extremely crowded. To make more space for windows, move your taskbar to the right or left side of the screen, where it will be displayed vertically. Its very convirnt as well as it will give new look to your computer.

 Follow these Steps to move your taskbar:By default, Microsoft's Windows taskbar, which shows buttons for each of your open windows, present at the bottom of your screen. If you do multitasking and open many windows, more than six or seven windows at a time, then taskbar become extremely crowded. To make more space for windows, move your taskbar to the right or left side of the screen, where it will be displayed vertically. Its very convirnt as well as it will give new look to your computer.

Follow these Steps to move your taskbar:

1). Right click on taskbar and if your taskbar is locked (check mark on lock the taskbar), then click on lock the taskbar to unlock it.

2). Move the taskbar by just dragging it on screen, You can move anywhere left, right, top and bottom by just dragging it.

3). You can also change the width of taskbar by clicking on edge of taskbar.

4). Now right click on taskbar and click lock the taskbar.

Its done.

1). Right click on taskbar and if your taskbar is locked (check mark on lock the taskbar), then click on lock the taskbar to unlock it.

2). Move the taskbar by just dragging it on screen, You can move anywhere left, right, top and bottom by just dragging it.

3). You can also change the width of taskbar by clicking on edge of taskbar.

4). Now right click on taskbar and click lock the taskbar.

Its done.

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Activate and Deactivate SCREENSAVER - Cool Computer Tricks

You can activate or deactivate screensaver whenever you want. You have to make some changes in windows registry after then you can activate your screensaver by simply placing the mouse cursor at the top right corner of the screen and if you take the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, the screensaver will deactivate.

Follow these steps:

1) Go to RUN.

2) Type regedit and press Enter.

3) Then in Registry Editor window go toHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

4) Now in the right pane right click and create a new string value and name it Mouse Corners.

5) Now modify its value and set it to -Y-N.

6) Press F5 to Referesh.

Its done.

To Deactivate it, you have to simply delete this string value.

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Disable or Enable Right Click on Taskbar - Cool Computer Tricks

Here is trick to remove right click functionality from taskbar. You just have to do some editing in windows registry editor. It willl disable right click on all components of taskbar. Just follow given steps:

1). Go to Start -> Run -> regedit.

2). In registry editor window go to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

3). Create a DWORD value and set its value name as NoTrayContextMenu.

4). Set its value data 1 or 0

1- For disabling right click functionality from all components of taskbar

0- For enabling right click functionality from all components of taskbar

5). Restart computer.

Its done.

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Turn On/Off numlock on StartUp

Mostly keyboards have small numeric keypad which can also be used for some other functions like page up, page down. It also has 1 key known as numlock key when it is on, keypad used for numbers and when numlock is off, keypad used for other functions.
Windows turn off numlock key by default, so if you want to turn on numlock key by default on start up then now you can do it very easily. You have to do only some changes in registry. Just follow these steps:

1). Open run and Type Regedit and hit Enter.
2). Windows will ask for your permission to continue, click on continue.
3). Now in registry editor browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard\.
4). Now in the keyboard folder, you should have a string value named InitialKeyboardIndicators with a value of 0, 1, or 2.



5). Double-click on this string value InitialKeyboardIndicators and edit the value to what you want.
0: Num Lock is turned OFF on startup
1: Disable Num Lock
2: Num Lock is turned ON on startup
6). Click ok.
Its done.

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Enable or Disable Control Panel

If your friends, childrens or family members use your computer and you do not want them to change any system setting then best way for this is to disable Control Panel. To disable control panel you have to do some changes in Regisstry. Just follow these steps:

1). Go to Run and type regedit.

2). Now window will ask for your permission to continue Click on Continue

3). Now in registry editor window, Browse to given User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]

4). Here create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called NoControlPanel set the value to equal 1 to enable the restriction.

5). Now again browse to following System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

6). Follow step no 4 to create NoControlPanel dword key.

7). Exit registry editor.

Its done.

you may need to restart for the changes to take effect. This setting allows you to restrict user access to the Control Panel options and settings.

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Disable useless repeating error notifications

Your computer may be at risk. Your virus protection status is unknown and many others.These are some notifications which windows gives to maintain computer security.


Security is a system of safeguards designed to protect a computer system and important data from damage or access by unauthorized persons. Different antivirus and firewall programs are used to manage the security of the computer. Some time this is build-in antivirus or firewall program in windows to maintain the computer security. But if your windows is not provided with any antivirus, firewall program and Automatic Updates, your windows security center will alerts you a message Your computer may be at risk. Your virus protection status is unknown with useless repeating reminder.



You can disable this message permanently by doing some changes in registry. Just follow these steps:

1). Go to run.

2). Type Regedit in Run option.

3). Now window will ask for your permission to continue, just click on continue.

4). Here locate the location to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center

5). Now in right side panel, double click on AntiVirusDisableNotify and set its value 1.

6). Close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Its done.

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Turn off all system Beeps - Cool Computer Tricks

wanna turn off all cpmputer beeps?? just follow these steps you need to do some changes in registry but its very simple. Follow these steps:

1). Open Run.

2). Type Regedit and press enter.

3). Now window ll ask for your perimission to continue just click on continue.

4). In registry editor window , browse to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound


5). Here double click on Beep.

6). Now change the value of beep to No.


7). Close the registry editor and reboot your computer.

Its done.
Changes will be reflected after you reboot your computer.

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Disable the Blinking Cursor in Computer Applications

If you are using any computer application, for example MS Word or MS FrontPage and you did not like blinking of cursor. Now you can stop the cursor from blinking in these applications, for this you have to edit your computer registry keys, but be careful to work with computer registry. Its very simple just follow the given steps to stop cursor from blinking:


1). Click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option.


2). Here browse the location to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Control Panel>Desktop.



3). Now here add the string value.

4). Enter its name CursorBlink and value -1.

5). Reboot your computer.

Its done.

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Disable display of Drives in My Computer

You can disable display of local and networked drives when you click My Computer. Try this trick on your friend's computer and see their reactions when they saw their is no drives. To disable dispaly of drives you have to make some changes in windows registry just follow these steps:

1) Go to RUN.

2) Type regedit and press Enter.

3)Then in Registry Editor window go to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.

4) Now in the right pane right click and create a new DWORD item and name it NoDrives.

5) Now modify it's value and set it to 1.

6) Press F5 to Referesh.

Its done. When you click on My Computer, no drives will be shown.

To enable display of drives in My Computer, simply delete this DWORD item.

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Hide all Items from desktop - Cool Computer Tricks

Do you want to fascinate your friends?? Here is one cool trick by using this you can hide all Items from desktop including all files , folders and even system folders..

To hide all items just follow these steps:

1) Go to Run.

2) Type Regedit and press enter.

3) Then in Registry Editor Window go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer

4) Now in the right pane right click and create a new DWORD item and name it NoDesktop.

5) Now modify it's value and set it to 1.

6) Press F5 to referesh.

Its done.

To enable display of Items , simply delete this DWORD item.

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