Geek Software of the Week: m0n0wall

m0n0wall Firewallm0n0wall (yes, that is with “zeroes” rather than letter “o’s”) is the BEST totally free software/hardware based firewall there is! Previously, I used Smoothwall, which is also excellent, but m0n0wall has a lot of very cool features that “puts it over” as the best!

m0n0wall Free, Open Source Firewall

“m0n0wall is a project aimed at creating a complete, embedded firewall software package that, when used together with an embedded PC, provides all the important features of commercial firewall boxes (including ease of use) at a fraction of the price (free software). m0n0wall is based on a bare-bones version of FreeBSD, along with a web server, PHP and a few other utilities. The entire system configuration is stored in one single XML text file to keep things transparent. m0n0wall is probably the first UNIX system that has its boot-time configuration done with PHP, rather than the usual shell scripts, and that has the entire system configuration stored in XML format.”

m0n0wall already provides many of the features of expensive commercial firewalls, including:

  • web interface (supports SSL)
  • serial console interface for recovery
  • – set LAN IP address
    – reset password
    – restore factory defaults
    – reboot system

  • wireless support (access point with PRISM-II/2.5/3 cards, BSS/IBSS with other cards including Cisco)
  • captive portal
  • 802.1Q VLAN support
  • stateful packet filtering
  • – block/pass rules
    – logging

  • NAT/PAT (including 1:1)
  • DHCP client, PPPoE, PPTP and Telstra BigPond Cable support on the WAN interface
  • IPsec VPN tunnels (IKE; with support for hardware crypto cards, mobile clients and certificates)
  • PPTP VPN (with RADIUS server support)
  • static routes
  • DHCP server and relay
  • caching DNS forwarder
  • DynDNS client and RFC 2136 DNS updater
  • SNMP agent
  • traffic shaper
  • SVG-based traffic grapher
  • firmware upgrade through the web browser
  • Wake on LAN client
  • configuration backup/restore
  • host/network aliases
  • Just “Think” Your Password?

    What if you could be identified by your brain waves to “unlock” your computer, or a door? Too close to “mind reading?” Maybe!

    Think Your Password?

    “What if you could one day unlock your door or access your bank account by simply ‘thinking’ your password? Too far out? Perhaps not. Researchers at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, are exploring the possibility of a biometric security device that will use a person’s thoughts to authenticate her or his identity. Their idea of utilizing brain-wave signatures as ‘pass-thoughts’ is based on the premise that brain waves are unique to each individual. Even when thinking of the same thing, the brain’s measurable electrical impulses vary slightly from person to person. Some researchers believe the difference might just be enough to create a system that allows you to log in with your thoughts.”

    Are Users REALLY Dumb… Or, Do We Geeks Just Expect Too Much From Them?

    Weeelll, I have MY opinion, and I bet you can guess what it is!

    “Help the Web is Broken!”

    “Sometimes, from the view of the help desk, the end of civilization seems near. Very near, indeed. This is one explanation for interactions such as the following:

    ‘My computer is running real slow. The process ‘System Idle Process’ takes like 90-100 percent of the CPU! And I can’t shut it off! I’ve tried everything!’ (Dr. Bill: the “System Idle Process,” of course, indicates how much IDLE time the CPU has, or, in other words, 98% “System Idle Time” means the system is only running 2% active… duh!)

    ‘Hi, I just scanned my computer and there were 75 instances of spyware found. Should I delete them?’ (Dr. Bill: Oh NO! You really WANT that Spyware, don’t you?!? It just makes you feel all “warm and fuzzy” doesn’t it!)

    ‘But are you sure the Internet is safe to use?’ (Dr. Bill: Not for you!)

    IT workers toil all day, all over the world, to help bridge the formidable gap between human beings and technology in business. So why doesn’t everyone just get along? Is it that clients continually do ‘dumb’ things or is it the way we geeks approach them?

    According to experts, the problems in communication are complex on both sides of the screen. The culprits include ‘TechnoStress,’ the dysfunctional psychology of IT; the sometimes lackluster communication skill sets of technical staff; the generation gap; and the unrealistic expectations of service by clients.”

    Are user’s dumb? Actually, no… but they ARE lazy! I have said from way back that what user’s need to do is put the time in to LEARN how to use their computers! We learn to drive, people learn to play instruments. The analogy that computers should be like “toasters or phones” is dead wrong! Computers are sophisticated technological tools that can greatly enhance your life and lifestyle… in order to use them well, you have to learn HOW!