I'm curious if anyone is running GeoIP blocking on any Linux based systems. I've not ever seen it discussed, and I know that things like fail2ban will address most things.

And firewalld -

Automated scripts using power shell.

• account create/ disable/ delete
  **computer and user.

Yes, the good and evil of technology. Like any tool, it can be used for good and it can be used for evil. This is but a reminder that we, as Professionals and even Hobbyists, need to be good stewards of its use.

A hammer can be used to build a house, or used to smash a hard drive. Technology can be used in a similar manner. If one is of the mind, they can take the same computer a financial advisor uses to help grow a families 401k and use it to take that same 401k way.

And similar to the growth and expansion of technologies reach, the deceitful ways it can be used have as well.

Just a decade ago, using the telephone or SMS technology was not as common as an avenue for attack as it is becoming today.

Now with the ever growing use of VoIP and digital SMS services deceitful individuals have more ways to reach good people and take away their safety and their hard earned monies.

VoIP is great when it use used in the manner of conducting business, and the caller id is programmed as it should. But that same tool to set or mask the caller id can be exploited to allow an individual to masquerade as another business or agency; such as law enforcement.

While we see it happen way to often, we also should take time to re-enforce the education of staff, family and friends; That while technology and all it is able to do is a good thing, it is also a very bad thing. Be mindful - and EVER VIGILANT that it happens daily, and there is a chance it will strike them, or at the very last someone they know.

I write this as I am RAW with experience - not of myself - but of some one i know, is educated, knows technology can be used to exploit others, and that calls can be made to seemingly come from a place of business or of authority. They were made to think that things were about to befall them if action was not taken now. The call came from a ‘published’ number, and used a ‘verifiable’ name from said number.

Sadly, while they checked to make sure the number was legitimate, and that the person did work there, they didn’t go that extra step they could have to confirm the validity of the call, asking to hold on, and let me call you at the number.

Sadly, the exploit worked, and they got a amount that, while isn’t extreme, its enough to make a person angry and with the desire to take some sort of action, and recover the monies.

I am angry, I sit here with the desire to do something about it. But all I can do is calmly move on, educate, and try to prevent the next person for being exploited. Knowing that there isn't anything I can do to trace a call, a call that ‘came from’ a known legitimate number, since it was spoofed, and could have been any phone, phone system, any where in the country.

And even with educating people, it will still happen. There is always going to be some “play” that with be concocted that will grab ahold of the “what if” side of our brain...

“What if”

• that call did come from the hospital about my child.
• that call was about my daughter being in jail, having been caught with (x).
• that call said there was a bench warrant out for the arrest of,..

All we can do is educate,.. and reinforce that education. Deceitful persons have been around since the dawn of time, and they are not ever going to leave us, our families and friends alone.

Reinforce that they should call the number and verify - you have to challenge the person. Generally - it is likely that if they are challenged, they will give up, hang up and not call again - knowing that they lost the mark.

As we come to the end of the year, and important family and holidays - be mindful.

@travisdh1 said in ZOOM alternative:

@travisdh1 said in ZOOM alternative:

@EddieJennings said in ZOOM alternative:

Perhaps https://meet.jit.si

Or our own thread on public Jitsi servers: https://mangolassi.it/topic/21573/sangoma-opened-a-jitsi-meet-server-also/5

https://meet.jit.si
https://meet.vitalpbx.org
https://meet.sangoma.com

@gjacobse said in ZOOM alternative:

Knew it had to have been discussed,

And likely that there wasn’t a free option.

Huh? What do you mean not free? All 3 of those I listed are free. The 2nd two are already ready to go, all you have to do is go to the site, that's it!

I’ll have to go back and look then. Damn phone.

Knew it had to have been discussed,

And likely that there wasn’t a free option. I have my own NC instance, so not an issue for me, but I’m not opening it up...

Since they (the previous web site creator) likes Google so much- suppose they could go that way,...

While not impossible, it is difficult to search for things from the small iPhone.

Our club had a virtual meeting last night using - ZOOM -
Sadly it was ‘cut short’ due to the plan I suppose.

Other than setting up my own server, what other options are there that don’t require registration, and doesn’t require any costs- the club is a non profit.

As may of the folks in the club are retired, it needs to be simple and intuitive.

Well,.. I'm not authority on the matter - but you have to look at the aspect of both Tickets and Projects.

Tickets
Tickets (IMO) refer to things that just broke and need to be fixed, or issues or requests, such as add a printer, map a drive.

Projects
Project infer planning and implementation steps. All which could have additional items inserted making the tasks needed to complete the project longer.

I don't believe the two are even closely related. As for what system you should use, I'm not certain. I have used HESK, osTicket, Zoho, (the state's) home grown system and now Service Now. Of the ticket systems, I'd say you picked a decent one that can be customized well enough that it should well suit your needs, and grow with them as well.

All that just tells me-

Nope- not happening.

Uhm-
Yea- not good.

Has anyone heard of Seekout?
I came across it via a LinkedIn feed today.