Card Skimmers

We do have to be careful when using our bank cards and credit cards. yes there are card skimmers out there. so know your banks atm machines, the petrol pump card swipe etc and what they are meant to look like.

found this interesting article on card skimmers.

via Skimming Off the Top. (thanks to Hammerhead Combat Systems)

How to install puppy linux to usb

To install puppy linux to usb follow this post. or use an application such as unetbootin. Your flashdrive should be formatted to fat 32, or ext3, ext3, ext4. (note: windows cannot read linux partitions so you may have to use fat32 if setup in windows) There are many versions of puppy linux available. click here  or click here or click here. Here we are using puppy linux 528.004 this will work for any version you have.

1. Download Puppy Linux 528.004. click here
2. Install puppy linux to usb with unetbootin or follow this post click here for a manual install with more than one os. (If used unetbootin you have finished). (If manually installed use the following to setup and add a different puppy os).
3. On the usb create a folder called puppy528 (this is where the Linux kernel image(s) will go)
4. Extract the 3 files vmlinux. intrid.gz, lupu_528.sfs from the iso image into the puppy528 folder on your usb device
5. Create a file syslinux.cfg and copy this into it.

Here is a copy of my syslinux.cfg file. (syslinux boots fst32 or ntfs file systems. if you have a ext2, ext3, ext4 file system save this as extlinux.cfg)

default puppy
display boot.msg
prompt 1
timeout 50

F1 boot.msg
F2 help.msg

## Menu Entries ##
LABEL puppy528.004
MENU LABEL Puppy528.004 choice
KERNEL /Lupu528.004/vmlinuz
INITRD /Lupu528.004/initrd.gz
APPEND pmedia=usbhd

in the above example here are some things you need to know.

• the line APPEND pmedia=usbhd (usb hard drive) to APPEND pmedia=usbflash (flash drive) or if not sure delete the line.
• above the line ## Menu Entries ## is the default unetbootin menu leave it alone.

if you are wanting to install more than one puppy linux operating see my post on How to Make a Bootable Usb click here

Filesystems

A file system (or filesystem or fs) is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data. It also allows you to manage the available space on the device.

some common types of fs are as follows.

fat 16, fat32, ntfs, hfs, hfs plus, ext2, ext3, ext4. the list goes on.

a file system on a usb flashdrive or hdd will make some difference.

• fat32 fs: This is good for saving files to use between all operating systems as they can use it. fat32 has a limit of maximum file size 4gb.
• ntfs: a windows based fs a good choice as Mac, Linux & Windows can access files.
• hfs fs: This is the common mac fs. for use on mac computers.
• ext fs:ext2, ext3, ext4 are the common Linux fs. They are good if you only need the usb for booting a Linux os or access between Linux computers.
• Other fs: there are many other fs that you can use and it depends on your use if you need them

Some good information of fs can be found click here. For a good comparison of the different types of file systems click here

How to make a bootable usb

There are several ways to make a usb flash drive bootable (this also works for usb hdd and a usb card reader with an sd card). The most easiest way is to use an application such as Unetbootin click here, All you do is install it to your hdd, download an operating system iso and then install to the usb.

Before we begin you need to understand that in most cases this will create a live operating system or live boot the same as copying an iso to a cd click here and click here. Operating systems such as puppy linux or if they have a persistent save file will allow you to install and set up the os and have the apps and things saved for next time you boot.

Also the file system in the usb will make a difference. click here for more information on different filesystems to choose what is right for you.

Unetbootin uses syslinux and sets it up automatically in one go for you.  this is only good if you have one os to put on the usb flash or usb hdd.

You can also install syslinux manually which will give you the ability to setup and install more than one operating system to the usb. This is what i am going to take you through now.

1. Get the latest syslinux .tar.gz file  click here.
2. Extract it to your home folder.
3. Open a command prompt / terminal and cd to the file cd ~/(syslinux folder)/linux   (~/ points to your home folder)
4. Next run the command ./syslinux -i /dev/sdX1 replacing X with the device node of your media. eg /devx/sdb1 (a quick way to find the device details of your usb is to run gparted and select is from the list) eg
5. To make the usb itself bootable we need to create a mbr (master boot record) on the usb. cd to the “syslinux/mbr’” folder and Run the following command, replacing X with the device node of your usb drive:
   • sudo dd conv=notrunc bs=440 count=1 if=mbr.bin of=/dev/sdX && sudo parted /dev/sdX set 1 boot on

This will setup the mbr and create a file fsckme.flg on the usb

6. Next open the file manager and navigate to your syslinux/com32/menu/ folder ad copy the file menu .c32 to the usb. (this file is needed to create a nice looking fancy menu for your syslinux setup see my syslinux.cfg file below)..

now you can copy the bootable operating system files.

1. Copy a Linux kernel image (like vmlinuz) to the root (/dev/sdX1) of your media.
2. Now you can create a syslinux.cfg file and set the boot options for the particular os you are using.

Here is my setup.  after you have completed the first 6  steps to install syslinux

1. Download Puppy Linux 528.004. click here
2. On the usb create a folder called puppy528 (this is where the Linux kernel image(s) will go)
3. Extract the 3 files vmlinux. intrid.gz, lupu_528.sfs from the iso image into the puppy528 folder on your usb device
4. Create a file syslinux.cfg and copy this into it. click here this menu will boot most puppy Linux versions. it will be similar but different for other linux os. Google around and you can find one for your operating system.

Have fun and enjoy your favorite operating system on an external usb  device.

Linux mint Debian Edition (LMDE)

Lately i have been testing Linux mint Debian Edition (LMDE). I find it a great little operating system. If you are used to Linux and Linux Mint itself here are some things to remember.. 

This is a new version of Linux Mint built on Debian testing. It is a rolling release meaning,  you do not have to re-install a new operating system, it will update internally. It brings the ease of use and familiarity of Linux MInt main editions to Debian. I would recommend this version to people who have moderate to experienced Linux knowledge, defiantly not if you are new to Linux

After installing, I installed and sett up all my usual packages, applications etc worked around 85-90% and i had some issues. I have found that some packages Click here e.g wine. is a bit hard to install and setup. when i installed wine and ran it in a terminal it gave some errors. documented click here. and click here

• Download: click here 
• Review: A good review thanks to sneekylinux can be found here. 
• Updating: After you install LMDE and before updating you should read this click here you need to replace the current repositories with the new LMDE ones. 

Overall Linux Mint Debian Edition Is a great operating system for those Linux users wanting to try Debian.. When applications do install it runs them well and is quite stable.