Category: Security

Reflecting and Projecting: A New Year’s Tech Toast 🚀

Posted on by James

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, it’s time to pause and reflect. We’ve embraced “read-only Fridays,” creating space for uninterrupted weekends. We’ve recognized that the battle with printers is ongoing – not every desk demands a color laser guardian.

Our vigilance against digital malevolence has only sharpened; we’ve learned to question the legitimacy of every unsolicited email. We’ve sought to perfect our scripts, dreaming of a future where automation is not just a promise, but a reality.

And yes, we look towards the horizon with a universal hope – for more. More efficiency, more security, more growth, and indeed, more financial reward.

Here’s to a new year brimming with potential. To prosperity, to innovation, to resilience. May we all find success in our endeavors. Happy New Year!

 

AI and Phishing Emails

Posted on by James

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used to create more sophisticated phishing emails. In the future, AI is likely to play an even greater role in phishing attacks, making them more difficult to detect and defend against.

One way that AI is being used in phishing attacks is to create more realistic and convincing emails. AI-generated emails can be tailored to specific individuals or organizations, making them more likely to be opened and clicked on. In addition, AI can be used to create emails that appear to come from legitimate senders, such as banks or government agencies.

Another way that AI is being used in phishing attacks is to automate the process of sending phishing emails. This allows cybercriminals to send out large volumes of phishing emails, increasing the chances that someone will fall victim to the attack. AI can also be used to target specific individuals or organizations with phishing emails, based on their online activity or other data.

AI is also being used to develop new types of phishing attacks. For example, AI can be used to create phishing emails that contain malicious attachments or links. These attachments or links can then be used to install malware on victims’ computers or steal their personal information.

In the future, AI is likely to play an even greater role in phishing attacks. As AI technology continues to develop, cybercriminals will be able to create even more sophisticated and effective phishing attacks. This is why it is important to be aware of the risks of phishing and to take steps to protect yourself from these attacks.

Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from phishing attacks:

  • Be suspicious of any email that asks for personal information, such as your password or credit card number.
  • Do not click on links or open attachments from emails that you do not recognize.
  • Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
  • Keep your software up to date with the latest security patches.
  • Use a firewall and antivirus software.
  • Be aware of the latest phishing scams and how to identify them.

If you think you may have been the victim of a phishing attack, it is important to take action immediately. Change your passwords, contact your bank or credit card company, and report the incident to the authorities.

Phishing attacks are a serious threat, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. By being aware of the risks and taking steps to protect your information, you can help to keep yourself safe from these attacks.

 

Script to Convert Blueiris video to MP4

Posted on by James

Driveway Cam

bash script to convert bvr files

to Mp4

I was looking for a method to convert .bvr files to mp4 without using up my Blue Iris camera servers processor. Currently I’m running an 4th gen i5 processor.  So it is not a workhorse compared to some other machines on my network. 

Note: This is a work in progress. 

If there is a better way, shoot me an email: james @ strickstuff [dot] com

 

 

#!/bin/bash
#
# Script to convert .bvr files to mp4 using ffmpeg
# NOTE: this is still a work in progress
# I am still working on the ffmpeg switches
# to make this work better. But it works fine
# as is.
#
#
# First pass & remove files as you convert them. 
##!/bin/bash
for vid in *.bvr; 
do ffmpeg -probesize 42M -framerate 30 -i $vid -vcodec copy -an -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb "${vid%.*}.h264" && rm $vid;
done
#
# Second pass, 
#
for h264 in *.h264;
do ffmpeg -i $h264 "${h264%.*}.mp4" && rm $h264;
done
#
# This just merges all mp4s in the directory into a single file
# remove (or comment out) if not needed.
#
[ -e list.txt ] && rm list.txt
for f in *.mp4
do
echo "file $f" >> list.txt
done
ffmpeg -f concat -i list.txt -c copy joined-out.mp4 && rm list.txt