helping you stay protected in the digital age

There is an update at the end of this post.

gadget3 wrote on the OpenDNS forum:
“Hello,

I’m using opendns for a short time, but i cant solve the problem “using manuel dns”…
if user pc’s all settings are automatic, opendns works perfectly; but if a user change dns settings on his own pc with another dns he passes the open dns security system…
what can i do for this problem
thnx.”

This is an easy problem to fix for users of Untangle Firewall. You can see the rules from the picture. Green is outgoing GOOD DNS traffic, red is outgoing BAD DNS traffic.

1. Create a rule for your outgoing DNS traffic to OpenDNS servers. I created a seperate rule both both OpenDNS IP addresses (I like complicated).

• Traffic Type: Any
• Client Interface: Internal
• Server Interface: Any (probably could be set to external, I haven’t tried it… it works for me)
• Source Address: Any
• Destination Address: (OpenDNS IPs)
• Source Port: Any
• Destination Port: 53

2. Create a rule for outgoing DNS traffic to ANY DNS server.

• Traffic Type: Any
• Client Interface: Internal
• Server Interface: Any (probably could be set to external, I haven’t tried it… it works for me)
• Source Address: Any
• Destination Address: Any
• Source Port: Any
• Destination Port: 53

Save settings and TEST THE RULES. Note: If you route your DNS traffic through the Untangle Firewall for internal DNS servers or routed to DNS servers on your VPN you might need to tweak these rules. I haven’t had a problem with internal LAN routing to my three internal DNS servers.

In order to test your rules (and if you are using Windows): open a command prompt and type “ipconfig /flushdns” then press enter. Then type “ipconfig /registerdns” then press enter. Do a tracert to a website such as Dslreports.com. Type “tracert www.dslreports.com” and press enter. You should see “Tracing route to www.dslreports.com [IP ADDRESS]”

Now, open your network settings and manually set your DNS IP addresses to something other than automatic and/or OpenDNS servers, for example: 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 (Level3 DNS servers).

Do the same steps as above: open a command prompt and type “ipconfig /flushdns” then press enter. Then type “ipconfig /registerdns” then press enter. Do a tracert to a website such as Dslreports.com. Type “tracert www.dslreports.com” and press enter. You should get a message that reads “Unable to resolve target system name www.dslreports.com”.

There ya go, DNS bypassing prevented

Psst: P.S; don’t forget to set your DNS servers back to the original settings when you are done!

Update: These rules should be general in the sense that a Linksys, Netgear, or similar firewall application that allows for firewall rules, not just Untangle Firewall, should work. Just apply the “concept” to your firewall. Let me know how it works out!

What genre of music do you listen to? Do you listen to a certain song when you feel angry, sad, or happy? Or do you find yourself listening to music invoke an emotion?

I was getting ready for work tomorrow and turned on one of my favorite radio shows, Radio Lab, and found their June 3rd podcast; “Wordless Music“. I was a little frustrated with getting my equipment together and turned on Radio Lab to listen to a podcast from season 4 when I found myself staring out the window completely engaged in the music.

I wasn’t thinking about anything and when the music stopped I realized I had been just sitting there staring out the window for the entire 20 plus minutes of the podcast… just swallowed by the music. I felt so relaxed and calm afterwards; and thanks to that podcast I’m now writing this post and updating my blog after close to two weeks.

I started to think to myself about other music that usually gets my complete attention or comes close to it. Like I mentioned above, this podcast had me thinking about where my career in NOPD might take me. It is good to use your imagination regardless of your age.

In regards to other relaxing music, BT’s “Music From and Inspired By The Film Monster” has some music that can provoke some thoughts. When I listen to track 06 from that CD (listen to a clip) I feel that I really want to be on the beach somewhere on vacation with my fiance’.

During the same ride back to New Orleans from Slidell I got to track 10 from the same CD (listen to a clip). A trip was warranted through the 9th ward in New Orleans to drive by my old house while listening to this track.

For me, there is a song or songs for every occasion and situation. Whenever Lauren is being a little stubborn and playing hard to get… or just really is hard to get I’ll think of this song by Ben Harper called Steal My Kisses (listen to a clip).

When I go to exercise and work out I run at least 1 1/2 miles, most of the time 2 miles. Then pushups, situps, and finally sprinting between city blocks (no more than two because I’m so tired by then). Mozart just isn’t going to cut it. Demon Hunter puts me in the “work out” mood with Not Ready To Die (listen to a clip) and then top it off with some Powerman 5000 - Drop The Bombshell. That music really gets me ready to work out.

Nine Inch Nails - Right Where It Belongs (listen to a clip) just draws me in. I can’t turn off the song or turn it down. Maybe it is the piano that holds my attention or the lyrics that pose an interesting thought. Whatever the case may be, I enjoy this song, well a lot of their music actually, but this one song in particular. This song I’ll put on when I sit down to collect my thoughts.

Finally, I am ALWAYS listening to IQY’s music. His music is really, really good and for any occasion. For me, IQY is both on my way to work music and a great wrap up for the end of a long day. This is a short lead up and turning point from a 7 minute intro to IQY’s Vocal Expressions 03 - Journey to Europa (listen to a clip).

Now that you know what music I like to listen to, what music do you like to listen to? Post your comments below and let us know what are some of your favorite songs and why they are. And when you are finished, head back over to WNYC and listen to the Radio Lab podcast on Musical Language; you’ll definitely enjoy that show!

I have lots of components for a Compaq Presario M2000 for sale on ebay.

Check em out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200231784006&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=010

I was tipped off by a friend at, coincidentally, a coffee shop about Microsoft’s new COFEE project.

“COFEE is a USB drive that allows law enforcement to run more than 150 commands on a live computer system and save the results on the portable drive for later analysis. This preserves valuable information that could be lost if the computer had to be shut down and transported to a lab–files that are stored in active memory would otherwise be lost, for example.”

I will do some research this week when I’m finished with work on Friday and try to piece together facts and my thoughts and opinions on this as well as how it could be used with other PC “vulnerabilities” such as freezing RAM chips to bypass encryption.

Lauren and I discovered a really cool piece of New Orleans culture today. At the intersection of Pyrtania and Audubon was a Haiku board. We started to just pass it up as we were leaving Owen’s birthday party but I decided to stop and see what it was because it would be the third or fourth time I’ve just driven by and said “Maybe next time I’ll check it out”.

On a sheet of wood strung between two poles with six different colored magic markers, the community can walk, ride, or drive by and write their own Haiku. Well, the intent is for us New Orleanians to write Haiku but as you can see from some of the pictures some of the writing doesn’t follow the Haiku pattern. I even discovered two written advertisements which I won’t post pictures of (because it is for Haiku not advertising your lawn care business).

We were so interested in it that when I saw the gentleman of the house sitting outside I asked him about the Haiku board and he had his wife, Gail (I hope I spelled your name correctly), come outside as she was the brains behind the idea. She was happy to see us participating.

So, next time you are near Audubon and Pyrtania swing by and visit the Haiku board and add a little bit of yourself to it!