----8<===== Mainly written for the Newbie population IF you own a computer and are much more into UNIX stuff, then quit reading this..you’ll probably get bored. ELSE IF you don’t have a computer and are having access problems with public one, go on reading. **** This text is written only for educational purpose. It is against the law to break into someone’s computer without permission. Just read it to know about, don’t do it (you’ll probably do it anyway but hey). ENJOY. --*--*--*--*Breaking out of restricted Win95 Environments*--*--*-- Yes, people, it is a sad fact that some of us computer lovers don’t even own one. No matter what the reason is, we are always constantly trying to get to a computer connected to Internet. One of these good places I know to get Internet connection is from Public computers. This has couple of good advantages, for all I know. 1. You could do any kind of activity in a more obscure way (no great worry of trace-back from uninvited sources) 2. The fact that you’ll be getting a free Internet service. It is still hard to get a shell account free and without giving much information about yourself, but this access still helps you keep up with news and stuff with minimized activities. Hey, it is a gateway… J But it is not as unobstructed as it sounds. Most of these public places (Libraries mainly) do use restriction methods to keep people from having a total control of services. The ones I have encountered use a limitation software called KIOSK which basically prevents user from accessing certain features of a menu, for example the General Preferences of Options in Netscape, or the Connect To field of some Win telnet programs. Now this really sux, because there are times when you don’t even have access to basic Programs and Settings menus of the Start Button. Now, how would one run programs, install programs, and read files from these restricted systems if they don’t even let you boot (Boot passwords)? Impossible! Not really… #1 One of the things I have noticed on these public computers is that often forget about a fellow called TaskMan. This is a small program activated by pressing Ctrl+Esc at the Password Screen (yes, I’m still trying to figure out what the purpose is hehe). This program will allow you the Run Application option, and from there you could try your luck with Programs.GRP (which’ll pop up all the groups of Windows that’d have otherwise been hidden through sux like IKIOSK.) And then there’s COMMAND.COM. Mind you, you should always have a system disk with you not to boot from it (Network Computers) but to run some important programs like COMMAND.COM. Then on your own… #2 You know, they could kill TaskMan after finding out what it has been doing (or predicting be4 hand if they are smart). What do we do now?! No worry, there’s still another way. These public computers using Windows95 as they OS always have something on their menu (duh!) Chances are they’ll at least have one program which requires a standard file input form a disk. NotePad, Write but not that vital tool, Windows Explorer. TaskMan is dead, so WindowsExplorer’s probably the only other files utility. Well, one possible way to get to it is to start one of these standard file input files [write, Notepad, Netscape(if it does not have that menu disabled) etc] and when you get to the Open File or Save or Save AS section, just go ahead to one of the yellow folders and click the RIGHT mouse button on it. What do you see?! Well, there’s the list: Open Explore (YES!!!), Cut, Paste, Send To, Delete and some more. The big point is that You now have access to Windows Explorer. From then on…well. #3 But again, our world is not as forgiving as the we hope it’d be. Now, What if they have also removed EXPLORER from the RightClickOnFolderList? Man, that’s it. Die public computers, I give up. Eh? Not so fast. There’s one more known way. One more option, the Open section in the RightClickOnFolder. J You could click on anything and it would open it through the software you want it to (or it could even be a software). Try ProgramManager…you’ll be surprised. *** One idea to play around is to get to a file browser and if you find all executable programs are disabled for direct access, try it indirectly. Click on the files made for that particular program, then you just might be able to run the program you want. If not, hey, it’s another hope to have the "Browse" button as a choice. *** Also try installing some programs (like PIRCH). Even though I don’t know why, if you are able to run them, then they’ll automatically start the Program Manager (no matter what the restrictions were outside). *** Dead end with OneEyed (no buttons, no buttons) with Netscape? Try our famous Easter Egg! Press Ctrl+Alt+F. Then there’s your road, explore! Try the Netscape Home Page. Try their search engins…try downloading useful programs. Well, peoplez, Hoping you’ll get your computer in hand soon, I am out. BioMenace ----------- I believe it'd help out some folks out there..please feel free to improve the Disclaimer version. Peace, Bio ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com