Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Shellshocked
I have a couple of servers running Ubuntu Linux 12.04 LTS that are not getting the new release of bash that resolves the shellshock bug through the standard update mechanism apt-get.
The solution is to download the package and install it manually.
- Download the package from http://packages.ubuntu.com/precise/amd64/bash/download
- Run the following command to install it:
sudo dpkg -i bash_4.2-2ubuntu2.5_amd64.deb
- You can run the following command to see if you are vulnerable – no output is good!
x='() { :;};echo Vulnerable!' bash -c true
Apache ProxyPass to the rescue for firewalled ports
When trying to make a web-utility I look after with its own TomCat server available to the public web from a server with only http and https ports accessible through our firewall I stumbled on Apache’s ability to proxy pages internally. This lets me give public access to a web server running on a port that is not open to the public by getting Apache to pass the content back through the publicly available port 443.
This is how it works:
ProxyPass /foo https://privateserver.company.com
ProxyPassReverse /foo https://privateserver.company.com
Will mean going to https://publicserver.company.com/foo will show that URL but actually show content from https://privateserver.company.com.
Or in my case:
ProxyPass / https://privateserver.company.com:1443
ProxyPassReverse / https://privateserver.company.com:1443
Will mean going to https://publicserver.company.com/ actually shows content from the web server on the same server running on port 1443. Very handy!
iTunes Store sectioned in Yosemite
The iTunes Store in the version of iTunes (12) that comes with Yosemite is now sectioned into the Music/Movies etc and you can’t seem to get to the normal landing page that incorporates all types of media the store sells.
This can be a pain if you do like me and check in periodically for all the free content – you would have to go to each individual section.
<imgrumbs.png” alt=”iTunes Store breadcrumbs” width=”162″ height=”168″ />The workaround is – scroll to the bottom of a section page in the Store and you’ll see the breadcrumbs navigation – and you can click on the top-level iTunes Store there. As soon as you switch a section in iTunes the relevant section will load again though.
Cryptic tagline for September Apple event
Apple have issued invitations for an event in September that most are speculating is for the iPhone 6 and/or possible wearable computing device (iWatch?). Its cryptic tagline of “Wish we could say more.” may suggest something to do with speaking such as Siri, which would probably go some way to reinforce rumours of Apple announcing some wearable computing hardware.
http://www.loopinsight.com/2014/08/28/apple-announces-special-event-for-sept-9/
Raspberry Pi Digital Signage
- There’s a considerable delay when starting a presentation in LibreOffice whilst it loads.
- The editor window always appears first before the presentation starts, which doesn’t look very good.
- Slide timings mean the presentation advances through slides automatically, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to end the presentation automatically (without clicking the mouse).
Show username/password fields when “Other…” user doesn’t show on login window
Ever tried to log into a Mac and the login window only shows a list of users and not the “Other…” option to switch to the username/password fields? You know the username and password of a user that can log in (via bound directory services or something) but can ‘t get to the field to enter them?
Here’s how:
- Press an arrow key to move the selection rectangle around a user that shows.
- Press Option(Alt)+Return.
- Username/password fields will magically appear.
Apple Remote iOS
Mobile and Remote
Fraser Speirs hits the nail on the head with his suggestion of an Apple Remote iPad application. I only hope Apple is working on this and extends it so it can administer all Mac OS X and iOS devices. Imagine installing an application on all your computers and mobile devices in one swoop!
The only thing I’d add to Fraser’s suggestions would be the ability to share a screen from an iPad to another device. No need to worry about how to show the main interface on an iPad through a projector! Just hook up one Mac (or iPad) to a projector and share the screen from whatever device you’d like to the projector. Apple Remote Desktop can already do this with computers, so it’s certainly a possibility.
via Fraser Speirs – Blog – The iPad Project: Apple Remote iPad.