PC ProSchools – TechTalk

Google.  Just about everyone has used it at one point or another.  A very useful tool for researching just about any conceivable topic known to man.  Just type in a word or phrase and you are presented with a plethora of information about your query. Did you know that you can have quite a bit of fun with Google searches also?  Just imagine.  You as an anonymous user of the World Wide Web can search through thousands upon thousands of networked computers for whatever it is that might catch your fancy!  Just for fun one day try doing a Google search using the following:  inurl:start.htm?scrw=   This little bit of what looks to be jibberish to the common person tells Google to show a list of VPON (Video Picture On Net) video cameras that are used widely in businesses for surveillance.  Want even more cameras?  Try this little search:  inurl:”CgiStart?page=”     Pretty neat!  Unsecured video feeds from around the globe!  Imagine the ability to search for anything connected to the internet including cameras, printers, VOIP devices.  All it takes is a little bit of knowledge.

Now you might be thinking to yourself…”Why would anyone allow this stuff to be accessed remotely and not secure it?”  The answer to that is simple.  Lack of knowledge.  There are uncounted legions of network administrators, office managers, and even home owners that are just not aware that their networks are vulnerable to access from anyone with a web browser and an internet connection.  Can Google be a valuable tool?  Absolutely.  Can it also be used by malicious people to wreak havoc among the unsuspecting?  Without a doubt!  Anyone can do these types of advanced Google searches.  Google itself has help pages specifically for the untrained to start doing advanced searches.  I won’t tell you how in this blog, but there are even Google searches that can be performed to search for confidential documents, password lists, unsecured server and router web interfaces and much much more.  With a little knowledge wondrous things can be accomplished, both helpful and malicious.  Take a bit of time and learn what you can do to help secure yourself and others.  And if you were wondering?  The answer is: Yes, there are jobs out there for people that specialize in network security!

Now that Microsoft said they are taking Windows XP off the market this June, many people are wondering if it is still worth while to go for the MCDST certification. Some people believe since Vista is out they should just forget about the MCDST and go for the MCITP Enterprise Support.  No, that is not the case. Most companies and hiring managers are familiar and comfortable with XP; they know the title MCDST. Because is so new, people are not yet even sure what the certifications are for Vista. Microsoft stated on it’s website that “The MCDST credential will not retire with the release of Windows Vista certification; it will continue to be supported by Microsoft and valued by employers and decision makers who use Microsoft Windows XP.” MCDST will be around for a while, especially in the larger corporations, because it takes a lot of money to switch to a new Operating System.

It should be said that going for your MCITP Enterprise Support right away is not a bad idea.  It all depends on what technology you are currently working on or plan to work on. Some smaller companies, where switching to a new OS does not cost much or a new company just starting out, may decide to go to Vista. However, the larger companies tend to take a little longer to switch operating systems due to the high cost involved. Larger companies also like to wait until all the kinks are out of any new OS before taking the plunge. Just imagine the cost of installing a new OS in a large company. The time and money to train your workers on the new OS, only to find there are a lot of problems with that system, can be more costly than staying with an older OS. Indeed, there are still companies to this day that use older operating systems than Windows XP. This is not saying one certification is better than the other. Again, deciding which certification to pursue depends on what technology you are currently working on or plan to work on.