Symantec EndPoint Protection (v11) - The Only Protection you Need!

Symantec is offering one of the strongest security product out there: Endpoint.

This software suite has 3 products under the hood:

• Antivirus and AntiSpyware Protection
• Proactive Threat Protection
• Network Threat Protection

This new concept here is simple: IF YOUR COMPUTER CAN NO LONGER ACCESS OR SHARE NETWORK RESSOURCES, THEN YOU ARE SAFE! That's right, once you install this piece of shitty software you won't be able to access a network share and you will be also protected against anyone trying to access your "so confidential" files and printers shares.

To make it simple, here is a breakdown of what is working out of the box and what is not.

WORKING:

1. Remote Desktop Connection
2. Internet Access
3. Antivirus? (not tested)

NOT WORKING:

1. Accessing Network Shares
2. Sharing files and printers
3. Deployment from the Symantec Console (try it, it's fun to watch a nice progress bar for 1-2 minutes, then get a confirmation that everything when OK and then walking up to the deployed workstation were absolutly nothing has been installed.)

THE BOTTOM LINE:

1. Even if you manage to enable file and printer sharing (once you found the right checkbox in EndPoint) this solution will only work temporarily. I don't know the condition yet (reboot, update) but after a week or so even if the checkbox is still active you'll lose your local file and printer share again... I ended up making my own set of rules in the firewall to allow this traffic and it seems to be permanent now.
2. Not being able to see shared ressources on your network is the most disturbing part ... I ended up reinstalling my Windows Vista 64-Bits were I had much trouble and tought the network issues were caused by Vista.
3. For now, I just disabled the Network Threat Protection to regain access to the shared stuff... but I discovered some annoying lag while browsing the network (I tought my wireless mouse batteries were low at first!). My computer was slow and choppy when accessing a network share so I also disabled Proactive Threat Protection as well.

Nice work Symantec!

P.S. Vista 64-Bits sucks and so does Symantec Endpoint. Install Creative Suite 3 on top of that and you'll begin to understand why people want to switch to MAC or Linux.

Adobe Creative Suite 3 is Pure Crap!

Well, the title says it all... I'm not talking about the software itself but rather the installation process. I tried on 3 differents computers (Vista 64-Bits & 32-Bits) and I always end up in a dead end.

First, when I tried to install to another drive than C:\ (because there was not enough space available) the installer refused to continue on anoter partition... always telling me there was not enough space (you need at least 1.4Gb available on the C:\ drive even when installing elsewere).

Then when I repartitioned my drive to get more free space on the C:\ drive, the installation when thru but I got the following warning at the end:

Hmmm...

And when I try to start any of the CS3 program, I get the following:

"Licensing for this product has stopped working. You cannot use this product at this time. You must repair the problem by uninstalling and then reinstalling this product or contacting your IT administrator or Adobe customer support for help."

After this first experience I tried with a Vista 64-Bits computer and I got the same stupid message and during the installation, I also had to point to AdobePDF.dll (in the AMD64 folder above) to allow Acrobat Professional 8 to continue...

Then I installed on a brand new computer with Vista 64-Bits and the same happened so CS3 installer doesn't like Vista at all.

I've been browsing the net and adobe's website for a solution and I tried many different approach but still no luck:

• Enable or disable UAC
• Launch from command line with administrator previleges (run as...)
• Copy installation files to the hard drive and then launch the installation
• Move or delete the cache.db file (Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe PCD\cache)
• Search installation log for "ERROR" and "DEBUG"
• Tried on 3 differents computers with Vista 64-Bits and 32-Bits

Well, that's about it... here are some really helpfull recommendation regarding CS3 on Vista from Adobe:

TechNote Troubleshoot installation problems (Adobe Creative Suite 3.x on Windows Vista)

1. Make sure that the system meets the minimum requirements for Adobe Creative Suite 3
2. Check the DVD and DVD-ROM drive.
3. Install Adobe Creative Suite 3 in a simplified mode from the desktop.
4. Optimize handling of temporary files by Windows Vista.
5. Repair and defragment hard disks.
6. Scan the system for viruses.
7. Install Adobe Creative Suite 3 on a different computer.
8. Visit the Adobe User to User Forums.

WoW Now that's HELPFULL, Thanks Adobe. Great job.

Update on Monday, October 8, 2007 at 22:34 by Patrick Laforte

I think I found it. I added a application.xml.override file in the installation folder. It is used to perform silent (Unattended) installation.
Even if I wasn't using it, I guess it was taken into account because nothing was working.

It looks like this file was badly formated. When I copied the XML example from the Adobe documentation, the double quotes tag (") wasn't the proper caracter (similar but not valid).

Also, I'd like to point out this XML is crappy if you take a look at the first line and the fact that the <charge> tag remains open.

Way to go Adobe!

<?xml version="place1.0" encoding="utf-place8"?> WTF???
<Configuration>
<Payload>
<Charge> Remains unclosed?
<Data key="Serial" protected="0">SERIALKEY</Data>
<Data key="Registration">Suppress</Data>
<Data key="EULA">Suppress</Data>
</Payload>
</Configuration>

Update on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 19:07 by Patrick Laforte

One last detail, I have been unable to install with this file yet. I have to remove it from the installation source (or rename it) in order to install. Otherwise the file is taken into account and it doesn't work...

The fun part is that it takes at least 1 hour to remove the creative suite and then try to reinstall. :-(

VBScript to communicate with your "lusers"

Remember the old net send command? Well, this feature is now disabled starting with Windows XP SP2 so here is a script which allows you to communicate with the user logged on a computer in your network. The trick is the use of the Win32_ScheduledJob class which is the only way to get an interaction with the user currently logged on.

Requirements (2):

1. Remote scripting enabled thru the firewall of the target computer (for WinXP SP2, Win2003 Server and Vista)
2. Administrative rights on the target computer

Here is the script:

strComputer  = "johnny-pc"   '## Name, FQDN or IP address
strNameSpace = "\root\cimv2"
strUserName = "administrator"   '## OR Domain\User
strPassword = "password"
strDate = "20070604"     '## The date - YYYYMMDD
strHour = "083000"          '## The hour - HHMMSS
strZone = "-240"       '## TimeZone * 60 (- 60 if daylight saving)
When = strDate & strHour & ".000000" & strZone

Set objWbemLocator = CreateObject _
     ("WbemScripting.SWbemLocator")
Set objWMIService = objwbemLocator.ConnectServer _
     (strComputer, strNameSpace, strUserName, strPassword)
Set objNewJob = objWMIService.Get("Win32_ScheduledJob")

errJobCreated = objNewJob.Create _
("\\server\share\something.hta", When, False, , , True, JobId)
If errJobCreated < > 0 Then
Wscript.Echo "Error on task creation"
Else
Wscript.Echo "Task created"
End If

See that \\Server\Share\something.hta? This is where you specify the stuff to execute (in interactive mode) on the remote computer.

For example I created a FullScreen HTA with the following image showing right in the face of my co-workers:

It's in french but it says Warning, your computer is currently monitored for illegal activities... blablablah... legal stuff... Please report yourself to your local police dept.

We are Watching you!

Vista Crap Edition with FAT64 support

Yeah well, I never was impressed with Windows Vista even before it was released.

I've been using Vista for 6 months at home and on my laptop and here is my list. Keep in mind this is not the "newbie's" frustration.

Positive:

1. Real time indexation of content and ease of search
2. Windows defender included
3. Sidebar (gadgets)
4. Installation process (manual only NOT UNATTENDED)

Neutral:

1. Nice interface?
2. Boot up bar/process (green bar on empty black) ?
3. UAC... I was expecting worse

Negative:

1. More than 2 years behind schedule at release
2. Many features removed (WinFS file system for example)
3. Too many versions (16 editions regrouping 32-bits and 64-bits systems)
4. No solid image editor. Gee, everybody now have a digital camera. Try this: resize one of your picture at 400px wide. Impossible. The closest thing I found was faking to send a picture by email so I had a choice of a few predefined resolutions...
5. IE7 Crashes then offers you to restart but cannot remember all the tab you had opened...
6. Options deeply buried... try to get to your physical network adapters for instance.
7. Reboot needed to get networking back when moving notebook to another location while in sleep mode.
8. Where is my run box damn it! Also Telnet is disabled by default...
9. Trying to find the Hidden files and folder options (relocated in the Control Panel now)
10. More segmentation of options (like the display property)
11. Heavy: 512Mb of ram is the bare minimum to run the system (400Mb if you disable AERO)
12. IE7 asking the same question again and again (12 times) when having trouble installing stuff
13. Unattended installation requires 3 years of certifications... XP was easy but this... informations all over the place (WAIK, BDD, WINPE, WIM, Etc.)
14. Imposible to move the ProgramFile directory with unattended setup (like I did with win2k and XP)
15. Same annoying bug that the name of the inserted media (CD,DVD, etc.) is still stuck on the name of the first one you inserted. Gee, can't you correct this after 10 years.
16. Not much innovation afterall

I know this is only a matter of time until Vista goes mainstream... In two years, XP will be regarded as obsolete

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