Randy Franklin Smith - Articles on Tools and Scripting

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Viewing Logged-on Users and the Programs They’re Using
Find out which tool displays every logon session and a list of programs users are currently using.
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Using Netstat to Get a List of Open Ports. Netstat lists the open ports and the programs using them by protocol and DNS names instead of by port numbers and IP addresses. <more>

Setting Up a Secure Offsite Backup. Here's a simple and inexpensive way to do the job.. <more>

Filter for Security. The third in a series, this article goes farther in depth to show you how to design LogParser queries to find important security information. <more>

Targeting Failed Logons. Use LogParser's Strings field to identify failed logons and potential security threats. <more>

LogParser. Use Microsoft's LogParser tool to find the vital events buried in your Security logs. <more>

The LDIF Directory Exchange Tool. Discover how Win2K's Ldifde and Csvde utilities let you easily import and export directory data for myriad uses. <more>

Use System Scanner to Monitor Your Web Server. You can use System Scanner to detect changes to your Web server's processes, services, shares, files, users, and groups. <more>

Software Update Services, Part 2. In Part 2 of this series, learn how to test, deploy, and monitor SUS. <more>

Software Update Services, Part 1. In Part 1 of this two-part article, learn how SUS works and how to install and configure the various SUS components. <more>

Deploy URLScan to Protect Your IIS Server. Randy Franklin Smith takes you through the process of customizing URLScan for your environment, delving into the ins and outs of the urlscan.ini file configuration options. <more>

Protect Your IIS Server with URLScan. URLScan analyzes and screens every incoming HTTP request and rejects potentially harmful requests before they reach your IIS server. <more>

Audit Your Organization's Password Strength with L0phtCrack. Use L0phtCrack auditing to improve the quality of passwords in your organization. <more>

Top 10 Security Tools in the Win2K Server Resource Kit. Microsoft's most recent resource kit is especially valuable to security administrators. Examine 10 security-related reasons why the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit is worth the money. <more>

NTFS Access Control Security Enhancements. Win2K and SP4's SCM provide access control improvements, such as granularity enhancements and dynamic inheritance. <more>

Windows 2000 Security Gains. Learn about the NT security features that Microsoft extended and the new security features that Microsoft added to make Win2K ready for e-commerce in 2000. <more>

Secure E-Commerce with Smart Cards. Learn what smart cards are, why they're important, and how to start using them in Win2K. <more>

Creating a Security Template. Use the Secedit command's /export and /mergedpolicy functions to build a security template based on your computer's effective settings. <more>

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