Michael Mullins, Author at TechRepublic

Michael Mullins

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Networking
How to wipe data from Cisco routers and switches before discarding them

PCs aren't the only hardware you need to worry about erasing corporate data from before donating—you should apply this best practice to any network device you're discarding, including Cisco routers and switches. Mike Mullins walks you through the process of clearing the configurations of both routers and switches.

Michael Mullins
Published: November 8, 2022, 2:00 AM PST Modified: November 23, 2022, 8:13 AM PST Read More See more Networking articles
Security
Follow this six-step malware response plan

Sometimes all the preventive care in the world won't protect your systems from the inevitable malware infection. What's the best way to handle it? According to Mike Mullins, an effective malware response plan includes these six steps.

Michael Mullins
Published: March 8, 2007, 1:52 PM PST Modified: June 8, 2007, 10:10 AM PDT Read More See more Security articles
Microsoft
Windows 101: Know the basics about NTFS permissions

NTFS permissions offer a great deal of control when it comes to resources on your systems. When it comes to the old NTFS (from Windows NT) and the current NTFS (from Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP), there are a lot of similarities and a few differences. In this edition of Security Solutions, Mike Mullins takes a closer look.

Michael Mullins
Published: June 15, 2006, 2:45 PM PDT Modified: June 8, 2007, 10:04 AM PDT Read More See more Microsoft articles
Microsoft
Secure the DSRM password

One of the most overlooked and most important passwords in a Windows network is the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password on a domain controller. This is a powerful password that's the key to the entire Active Directory structure. In this edition of Security Solutions, Mike Mullins tells you how to update this password to make it more secure.

Michael Mullins
Published: May 11, 2006, 2:37 PM PDT Modified: June 8, 2007, 10:04 AM PDT Read More See more Microsoft articles
Microsoft
Learn the pros and cons of Windows Firewall

Is Windows Firewall up to the task of securing your network? Mike Mullins has his doubts. In this edition of Security Solutions, he delves into the details of Windows Firewall and weighs its pros and cons.

Michael Mullins
Published: April 20, 2006, 1:25 PM PDT Modified: June 8, 2007, 10:03 AM PDT Read More See more Microsoft articles
Software
Prevent open relays on Exchange Server

Open relays on corporate networks are a contributing factor to the volume of unsolicited e-mail currently flying around the Internet—and the presence of such relays is often unbeknownst to the owners of those networks. Are your e-mail servers vulnerable to mail relaying? In this edition of Security Solutions, Mike Mullins tells you how to determine if they are.

Michael Mullins
Published: April 6, 2006, 12:45 PM PDT Modified: June 8, 2007, 10:03 AM PDT Read More See more Software articles
Networking
Synchronize time throughout your entire Windows network

Properly synchronizing your network with a consistent and accurate time source is very important. However, it's not enough to simply synchronize the time on your network devices—this effort should extend all the way to the desktop. In this edition of Security Solutions, Mike Mullins discusses how to synchronize time throughout an entire Windows network.

Michael Mullins
Published: February 16, 2006, 8:25 AM PST Modified: June 8, 2007, 10:02 AM PDT Read More See more Networking articles
Networking
Replace Telnet with SSH to shore up secure connections

If you're using Telnet to control network devices, you should consider switching to something more secure. Mike Mullins tells you how to replace Telnet with Secure Shell (SSH).

Michael Mullins
Published: October 13, 2005, 12:34 PM PDT Modified: June 8, 2007, 9:54 AM PDT Read More See more Networking articles
Networking
Prevent hacker probing: Block bad ICMP messages

The ICMP protocol facilitates the use of important administrator utilities such as ping and traceroute, but it can also be manipulated by hackers to get a snapshot of your network. Learn what ICMP traffic to filter and what to allow.

Michael Mullins
Published: October 21, 2003, 12:00 AM PDT Modified: June 8, 2007, 9:47 AM PDT Read More See more Networking articles
Microsoft
Understand Windows authentication to improve security

A thorough understanding of Windows' authentication methods will enable you to troubleshoot problems and improve network security. Here's a look at what you need to know.

Michael Mullins
Published: July 9, 2003, 12:00 AM PDT Modified: June 8, 2007, 9:44 AM PDT Read More See more Microsoft articles