Noobero Uno

Do you know anyone that uses a MAC address filter without using a WEP key to protect their router? I did, and to prove how insecure it was… I used my Nintendo DS.

That’s right, using a homebrew DS application called wifi_lib_test, I was able to scan all the access points around me, giving me the channels they were using and their MAC addresses. Using the same application I was then able to view the packets being sent on a certain channel. Since this router was the only one in range on that channel, all I had to do was look for the MAC address that didn’t belong to the router.

Once I obtained the MAC address using my DS, I changed the MAC address on my PC and connected to the router. If you want a quick and easy way to change your MAC address in Windows, use Macshift.

Everything I did on the DS can be done with a laptop using the appropriate software, but using a DS to prove how insecure someones wireless setup is gives me a tingling sensation. At the very least, the DS proved to be a great portable way to find hotspots.

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If you’re a fan of Tron the movie or Tron the arcade game, you are going to love GLTron. It’s a 3D version of the “Light Cycles” game from the Tron arcade game. There are a ton of settings that let you change speed, difficulty, and the theme among other things. It looks great and is very addictive. As of now there is no online or LAN play, but there is four-player local multiplayer.

GLTron is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Click here to download it.

 

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Are you looking for a way to play the original Jumpman without having to use an emulator? Of course you are. Thanks to Jeff Leyda, this port of the original PC version of Jumpman works on PCs of all shapes and sizes with no speed issues. The executable and source code can be downloaded here.

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If your Xbox is not turning on at all, your power supply is most likely the problem. If you have a version 1.0-1.1 Xbox, you have a good chance of repairing it. If you have a version 1.2-1.6 Xbox, all you can do is check the fuse on the power supply. If the fuse is fine, you will have to buy a new power supply. A new power supply ranges from $20-$40 on eBay. If you don’t know what version your Xbox is, click here to find out.

V1.0-1.1 Instructions:

• 1. Open the Xbox
• 2. Unscrew, unplug, and remove the plastic hard drive piece with hard drive attached.
• 3. Unscrew, unplug, and remove the plastic DVD Rom piece with DVD Rom attached.
• 4. Unscrew, unplug, and remove the power supply from the case.
• 5. Look closely at the bottom of the power supply. If it there are cracks in the solder or burn marks where the solder should be (see picture below), you will most likely be able to repair it.
• Resolder the areas that are cracked and burnt and it should work perfectly.

This is a fairly easy repair and anyone can do it.

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While playing my Nintendo Wii a few weeks ago, I started seeing different colored pixels appearing randomly on the screen.

From what I gather, the problem is caused by the Wii getting too hot in standby mode. Apparently the fan does not turn on in standby mode even when the Wifi is connected.

Luckily, it was still under warranty. After backing up my saves and content, I sent it to Nintendo for repair. About a week later I got a replacement Wii that works perfectly. To my surprise, my Virtual Console games, web browser, and saves were still there and working.

Hopefully this will not happen to the majority of Wii’s, we don’t need another Xbox 360 crisis on our hands.

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About six months ago, the HDMI port on my Samsung LCD stopped working. I noticed that it was missing the screws that keep the HDMI port secure when plugging or unplugging a cable.  Since it was out of warranty and the cost to repair it was insane, I ripped it apart hoping I could fix it. I was amazed at what I found: the whole HDMI connector was disconnected from the board!

If you are good with a soldering iron, you can reconnect it, but if there is any doubt you should probably take it to a professional. If you decide to do it yourself, make sure you use low heat and a lot of flux.

After resoldering it and making sure it was screwed in properly, it worked perfectly. Hopefully this will help somebody save some money.

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This is the third time in about three years that someone has tried to steal my car. I installed an alarm after the last time but that did not stop them. I have a stock, 1995 Honda Civic that is in pretty good condition but not worth a whole lot. I live in a nice area about three blocks away from the local police sub-station. This should not be happening so often. Anyway, I will be looking into installing a camera in front of the house.

My door lock is now useless.

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