PECB KATE 3.2 : Log on / Log Off / Switch user

PECB offers an application (called KATE, stands for Knowledge management Application for training and education), you can use for online/electronic learning.

From the KATE page, you see there are various versions to use (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS, …)

The access to the course content is user based, and is based on the access to the linked course content on your PECB profile.

On the PECB support site, you can find the manuals for all types and version. For this post I refer to the Windows version: https://pecb.com/help/index.php/manuals/kate-for-windows/

The manual explains how to create an account, how to enroll and access the course.

The footnote manual also explains that you can only consult the content on 1 device, one.

“One course can only be linked with one device. If you want to open the course using a different device, click the Link course button using the secondary device.“

It also explains how you can ‘unlink’ the content, see chapter 11.

11. Unlinking Account

When you decide not to use a device for accessing PECB course materials, please click the About option at the top menu, and then click Yes to unlink KATE from your current device. Once unlinked, you will no longer be able to access any course from this device.

What it does NOT explain is how to “log off” as user or how to switch user account.

THAT option is pretty well hidden in the application.

But as I mentioned, the content is USER based, so you CAN switch accounts.

Let me show you.

For your information, in my case I have 2 accounts, 1 user and 1 trainer account. Which is very handy to show how it works.

To run this scenario, you must have these prerequisites met:

• have active user accounts
• course content linked in your online profiles

This is what I’ve got (*)

My user account (course I’m learning, or have learned)	My Trainer account (courses I teach)

How do you switch between both of them?

First logon (eg after fresh install or log out) with one of both accounts

Of course enter your password (I won’t show mine).

Then you get the view on your course content, choose one of the views from the start, (*)

How to log out and log on again?

Here’s the trick.
Once logged in, click the about menu.

Then you’ll get a special button , asking you to “unlink this account”.
Please read: “Log off”.

When you hit that button you get a message that sounds bizar on first sight: 

“Are you sure you want to unlink your KATE account from this device? If you choose OK, this device will be unlinked from your PECB account and will no longer have access at course materials assigned to it. You can link back this device anytime using your PECB account credentials.”

Well, that’s not really clear …

To put is simple, you can  log on again. Just hit the yes button to log off (log out).

If you hit the yes button, the application shuts down, instead of showing the logon screen again.

If that happens, restart the application and we’re back at the beginning of the procedure. Now you can logon with the other account.

 

 

 

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Published on TNWIKI: .Net Framework 3.5 Troubleshooting: installation errors (Permission issue)

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Published at: .Net Framework 3.5 Troubleshooting: installation errors (Permission issue)

Applies to

• Window Server 2016

Issue

.Net Framework 3.5 installation fails on Windows Server 2016

Troubleshooting

Tried many solutions like below

.NET 3.5 Uninstall detected

See:
MIM 2016 Troubleshooting: The installation just hanging without error, warning, log, Event-log

Windows Feature installation

See:
Windows Server 2012 R2 Troubleshooting: .NET Framework 3.5 installation failure (Offline/Online)

GPO Setting

See:
.Net Framework 3.5 Troubleshooting: installation errors (GPO)

Hotfix issue

See:
SharePoint 2013 Troubleshooting: NET 3.5 framework add feature error (the source files could not be found)

Solution

Grant read permission to the Everyone group on the installation files.

Check:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/server-manager/install-or-uninstall-roles-role-services-or-features

 

Important

When you are installing feature files from a remote source, the source path or file share must
grant Read permissions either to the
Everyone group (not recommended for security reasons), or to the computer (local system) account of the destination server; granting user account
access is not sufficient.

Servers that are in workgroups cannot access external file shares, even if the computer account for the workgroup server has
Read permissions on the external share. Alternate source locations that work for workgroup servers include installation media, Windows Update, and VHD or WIM files that are stored on the local workgroup
server.

See also

• MIM 2016 Troubleshooting: The installation just hanging without error, warning, log,
  Event-log

References

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/server-manager/install-or-uninstall-roles-role-services-or-features
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/install/dotnet-35-windows-10

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Fresh on TNWiki: MIM 2016 Troubleshooting: The installation just hanging without error, warning, log, Event-log

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Published on TNWIKI: MIM 2016 Troubleshooting: The installation just hanging without error, warning, log, Event-log

Credits

This issue was initially reported by
Guy Horn on LinkedIN, republished with permission.

(Guy Horn’s LinkedIn profile)

Issue

When you try to install MIM, it continuously fails.

You can’t  add .NET Framework 3.5.

Symptoms

The installation was just hanging without error, warning, log, Event-log

Root cause

The problem was that some features were removed from the Windows Server Image.

Solution

NetFx3 should be specified and not ‘Net-Framework-Core’.

After re-adding the feature just ‘Add-WindowsFeature Net-Framework-Core’.

Detecting the issue

Run this PowerShell command, to find the removed features

# This command shows removed items from the Windows Azure Server 2016 Datacenter image. Get-WindowsFeature | Where-Object -FilterScript {($_.installstate -like “Removed”)}

Solution

Restore the optional feature

# This command restores the optional feature, MyFeature, to the Online Windows image. If the files are not found in the source image, this command specifies not to check Windows Update for the source files. Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “NetFx3” -Source f:\sources\sxs -LimitAccess -All

Add .NET FW core

# Add the feature Add-WindowsFeature -name net-framework-core

Script

# This command shows removed items from the Windows Azure Server 2016 Datacenter image. Get-WindowsFeature | Where-Object -FilterScript {($_.installstate -like “Removed”)}   # This command restores the optional feature, MyFeature, to the Online Windows image. If the files are not found in the source image, this command specifies not to check Windows Update for the source files. Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “NetFx3” -Source f:\sources\sxs -LimitAccess -All   # Add the feature Add-WindowsFeature -name net-framework-core

 

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RGPD, GDPR, AVG, … et les jeux de mots linguistiques… ou confusions?

Au niveau de RGPD (réf. Art. 5.2), il y a une différence importante pour les francophones et les anglophones.
Téléchargez les versions ici: https://ffwd2.me/gdpr

 

Le GDPR en anglais, fait référence à “accountability”

Le RGPD (FR) parle de « responsabilité » (personnel) seulement.

 

En fait, “accountability” (EN) = rendre compte (FR)

Mais “responsability” en anglais est aussi traduit en “responsabilité” (général) en français.

Pour la bonne compréhension, il est important de savoir qu’il y a une différence.

 

“accountability” en anglais,

• veut dire “responsabilité personnel/individuelle”, rendre compte
• s’applique typiquement
  • sur 1 personne,
  • Après les faits
• Réf. au tribunal/juge

“responsability” en anglais,

• Veut dire “responsabilité générale”
• S’applique
  • Sur un group, plusieurs personnes
  • Qui planifie et prend soin des tâches, en avance/pendant

 

En plus, au niveau de GDPR, il y a une 2^ème différence important expliqué dans GDPR considérant (4)

• Privacy (EN) / vie privée (FR), versus/par contre
• Personal data (EN) / données à caractère personnel= “données personnelles” (FR)

 

Si on parle de “vie privée”, on fait référence au droits fondamentaux, et “le respect de la vie privée et familiale, du domicile et des communications …”

Si on parle des données personnelles, on fait référence à l’info et les attributs qui identifient ou peuvent identifier quelqu’un.

Donc, dans la protection des données, on devrait parler de “données personnelles”.

Et l’histoire est identique pour le néerlandophones… (NL <> FR) 😉

GDPR word games, differences in EN/FR language versions and interpretation

Did you ever compare the different language versions of the GDPR?
Have a check at : https://ffwd2.me/gdpr

On the level of GDPR (ref. Art. 5.2), there is an important difference between French (FR) and English (EN). Same thing for Dutch, by the way

The GDPR (EN)  references “accountability”(EN). In FR (RGPD), they ONLY reference “responsabilité”.

In fact, “accountability” (EN) means “rendre compte” in French.

But “responsibility” (EN)  is translated to “responsabilité” in French TOO!

So, for clear understanding, it’s important to know that there IS a difference.

“accountability” (EN) means,

• personal or individual responsibility
  • “The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them “
• Typically it applies to
  • 1 person,
  • after the facts
• Eg, before tribunal, court, judge…. (who will pay the fines… )

“responsability” (EN),

• is rather “general” responsibility
• applies to
  • a group of, or multiple, persons
  • who plan or execute tasks, in advance or during activities

Furthermore, on the level of GDPR, there is a 2nd important difference, explained in GDPR recital (4)

• Privacy (EN) / vie privée (FR), versus
• Personal data (EN), données à caractère personnel= “données personnelles” (FR)

If we talk about privacy / vie privée (FR) in GDPR, it’s about “fundamental rights” and «respect for private and family life, home and communications … »

If you talk about personal data, you refer to the information and attributes who identify (“identified”)or can identify an individual (“identifiable”).

So, in data protection (EN),  “protection des données” (FR) for GDPR, we should refer to personal data (EN), “données personnelles” (FR).

Using SPF to block mail account spoofing

Introduction

Did you ever got a mail from yourself, but you’re sure you did not send it?

This week I got that mail from a mail alias I’m using, so it’s actually not a native mailbox, but a mail forwarder address, which makes the claim that “the mailbox is hacked” pretty silly…

But if you got this message from a native mailbox, it does sound scary, isn’t it?

I already had some similar symptoms on other mail addresses in the same domain.

Symptoms

You get a mail from your own mail address… which is called mail spoofing.
And it looks like:

Spoofed mail message content

Hi!

As you may have noticed, I sent you an email from your account.
This means that I have full access to your account.

I’ve been watching you for a few months now.
The fact is that you were infected with malware through an adult site that you visited.

If you are not familiar with this, I will explain.
Trojan Virus gives me full access and control over a computer or other device.
This means that I can see everything on your screen, turn on the camera and microphone, but you do not know about it.

I also have access to all your contacts and all your correspondence.

Why your antivirus did not detect malware?
Answer: My malware uses the driver, I update its signatures every 4 hours so that your antivirus is silent.

I made a video showing how you satisfy yourself in the left half of the screen, and in the right half you see the video that you watched.
With one click of the mouse, I can send this video to all your emails and contacts on social networks.
I can also post access to all your e-mail correspondence and messengers that you use.

If you want to prevent this,
transfer the amount of $778 to my bitcoin address (if you do not know how to do this, write to Google: “Buy Bitcoin”).

My bitcoin address (BTC Wallet) is: 1GoWy5yMzh3XXBiYxLU9tKCBMgibpznGio

After receiving the payment, I will delete the video and you will never hear me again.
I give you 48 hours to pay.
I have a notice reading this letter, and the timer will work when you see this letter.

Filing a complaint somewhere does not make sense because this email cannot be tracked like my bitcoin address.
I do not make any mistakes.

If I find that you have shared this message with someone else, the video will be immediately distributed.

Best regards!

Root cause

The DNS setting of your domain is missing SPF records, that counter mail spoofing (an unauthorized mail server, user or hacker sending mail as “you”)…

Troubleshooting

When looking at the mail properties it’s pretty difficult (if not impossible) to find out who actually has sent the mail….

Solution

Basic domain settings

Add an SPF record to your domain DNS settings.

To get started, look up your mail provider or hosting provider’s name + SFP.

FYI, I’m hosting my domains at one.com, they’ve got some straight forward advise to configure the DNS. For any other domain, at any other provider it’s similar.

• Add an SPF record
• How do I set up my domain with Office 365?

Office 365

When you buy a domain, but host your mail on O365, there are some additional settings to configure. But Office 365 will explain.

The easy part, logon to your O365 tenant, and check your domain health (see video below)

For more info, check these documents:

• Set up SPF in Office 365 to help prevent spoofing | Microsoft Docs

• How Office 365 uses Sender Policy Framework (SPF) to prevent spoofing
• office 365: Enabling DKIM for Custom Domains
• Setting up SPF record for on premise and hybrid domain setup
• Office 365: Using SPF, DKIM and DMARC for Secure Messaging

References

SPF tooling

• http://www.openspf.org/
• http://www.openspf.org/SPF_Record_Syntax
• Sender Policy Framework: How to Protect from Mail Spam

Other security options

• DKIM: http://www.dkim.org/
• SenderID: http://www.microsoft.com/senderid 

See also

Hotmail/Outlook.com Solving Mass Mailing Delivery Issues

Short URL: Http://aka.ms/outlook.com/help

• Sender ID Framework SPF Record Wizard: https://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/content/technologies/senderid/wizard
• Sender ID: “Implementation Tips for the Sender ID Framework—Creating Your SPF Record”: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5546

While SPF is the first step, you should also consider DMARC and DKIM.

 

Risk treatment options parody

The orginal meme on risk analysis is around for a while on the internet.

(sorry, can’t find the original credits, feel free to claim and prove the credit, happy to comply)

But risk management is only complete with risk treatment.

(original quality below)