This Webchicklet is all about continuing education, and my learning project for this spring was:  becoming a Wireshark Certified Network Analyst.  As usual, I learn by reading, and there are plenty of good choices in books on Wireshark tutorials and Wireshark network analysis in general.  But what I needed was the best Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Guide to get me up to speed quickly and efficiently.

Of course, some readers may be scratching their head and asking themselves “what the heck is Wireshark Network Analysis?  Well, in that case, before I tell you what I found to be the best Wireshark study guides, I’ll give you the quick and dirty on what Wireshark is.

What is Wireshark?

Well, in a nutshell, Wireshark is an open source (yep, that means free!) packet analyzer used for analyzing and troubleshooting networks.  It’s a handy dandy multi platform package that runs on various operating systems including Unix, Linux, Mac OS X, and even Microsoft Windows.  Simply put, Wireshark allows users to see ALL traffic being passed over a network, even wifi networks.  It’s won many industry awards including InfoWorld and PC Magazine.

So, now that we got that out of the way….To earn the coveted (by me) Wireshark Certified Network Analyst, all you have to do is pass the WCNA-100x exam.  Easy right?  Yes, if you are armed with the correct knowledge needed for the exam.  So without further ado:

The Top 2 Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Guides

1. Wireshark Network Analysis: The Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide

This book was one of the top rated Network Security books (#2) by sectools.org, and also had good positive feedback and a solid rating on Amazon (where I bought it).   So it seemed like an easy choice for my number one (and only) Wireshark guide.  It’s very well written, organized and easy to read that is chock full of solid content, and a lot of content there is..whew.

While it naturally does a great job of explaining howto use Wireshark to its full potential, the real value of this book is in the amazingly detailed explanations of network traffic analysis.  Along with this, the book has plenty of screenshots, and very handy review questions (with answers!) after each section.  This official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide was a life saver, and in my own opinion, the best guide on the market.

2. Official Exam Prep Guide: Wireshark Certified Network Analyst [Kindle or Book Edition]

This one, while not completely necessary, helped give me the confidence to write the exam.  It is a bit thin on the number of sample questions (100 questions and answers).  I would have liked to seen more questions, but at the same time, the questions were the ones I need to review, so this one served its purpose.   By no means would I use just this exam prep guide only.  It really is a good backup to the Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide above.

So, if you’re considering taking the Wireshark CertifiedNetwork Analyst exam, then I would highly recommend these two books.  They helped me pass the test the first time!

©2012 WebChicklet | Just a Geek Girl. All Rights Reserved.

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When you get a pop-up or a website telling you to download some type of software, or that a particular piece of software crashed and you need to update it, think twice about following the suggestions. The reason that you should think twice is that this software they want you to download could be malicious.

According to a report by Microsoft, approximately 1 out of fourteen programs, which are downloaded to your computer, turns out to be a Trojan or malicious. In Internet Explorer Microsoft has installed a feature that tries to keep users from downloading software that Microsoft does not recognize and could possibly be untrustworthy. In spite of these warning, a small group of users do not heed the warning. They will just download the malicious programs anyway. Some users have other programs that they use to get on the internet instead of Internet Explorer so they do not have the benefit of the warnings.

These users just have their antivirus software to warn them of dangerous downloads, and if the antivirus software is not up to date, then that will not even help.
It use to be easy for internet criminals to put their code into computers but now, five years later, the security of the internet has gotten better. The browsers are more secure plus software makers, when they see a problem, can quickly put out patches to fix the problems.

©2012 WebChicklet | Just a Geek Girl. All Rights Reserved.

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The Information Technology Infrastructure Library, Version 3, or ITIL V3, for the acronym lovers out there, is a widely used and accepted international standards on IT service management that was founded in the UK, but is now used widely around the world in private and public sectors.  The ITIL V3 certification process can be daunting without the help of a good ITIL v3 study guide or exam guide.

The ITIL v3 library has five major volumes, including IT Service Strategy, IT Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation, and Service Improvement.  It’s a lot of reading for anyone going for the certification, and not always a light read if you know what I mean.  Insert coffee here.

As with most certification processes, it can be very beneficial to utilize a good ITIL V3 Exam Study guide and/or practice exams book.  Based on my research into the ITIL certification process, these two books are the most helpful in getting you to your goal of certification, and are also the most popular books in terms of total units sold:

1. ITIL V3 Foundation Complete Certification Kit – Third Edition: Study Guide Book and Online Course, by Tim Malone (Author), Ivanka Menken (Author), Gerard Blokdijk (Author)

This ITIL v3 exam guide is a study guide and online course in one. It is very well written, meaning it it is presented in an easy to understand manner, well researched and accurate, and not too tedious. Many others that have utilized this exam guide have said they think it is actually more beneficial than taking a live in classroom type of training course. I tend to agree, as my study time frames and learning methods usually differ from others in a classroom setting.

While this is a great book and course guide, it only comes with one ITIL v3 practice exam, so you’ll definitely want to get more practice exams. As you well know, practice makes perfect!

ITIL V3 Exam Prep Questions, Answers, & Explanations: 620+ ITIL Foundation Questions with Detailed Solutions, by Mr Christopher Scordo

Most people tend to go with this ITIL V3 practice exam, and why not, it has over 620 ITIL Foundation question, with detailed answers! Don’t let the fact that the book has some serious editing shortcomings deter you from this book as it is so very helpful and accurate. I’m sure that the author will correct the mistyping/editing issues in the next issue. In the meantime, these ITIL V3 practice exam questions will ensure you pass your certification exam the first time.

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The Cisco Certified Design Associate, or CCDA, certification is a great certification to tack on to your resume.  It ensures a network professional has the knowledge needed to design a Cisco converged network, including designing networks and services  including LAN, WAN and broadband access for corporations.  One of my colleagues spoke to me about his certification and the best CCDA study guides that he used in his quest to successfully pass the CCDA certification exam.

As is usually the case, there were plenty of CCDA study guides on the market, so which one to choose.  It was  a matter of finding the right guide for his learning style, and also a little help from Amazon reviews to see which ones would be the most beneficial in passing the CCDA exam on his first attempt.  Here’s his two best CCDA study guides that he felt helped him the most:

1. CCDA Official Exam Certification Guide (Exam 640-863) (3rd Edition) , by Anthony Bruno and Steve Jordan

He thought this book was a great book to advance from his basic current knowledge, and gave him a quick grasp of the best practices of network design.  There are handy pre tests in each chapter to test your current knowledge to see if you can speed on to the next chapter.  It was very easy to read and absorb the information, while not being a super boring technical book.  It made for a great CCDA exam prep book.  He says he wouldn’t have passed with out this book.

2.Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN) (Authorized CCDA Self-Study Guide) (Exam 640-863) (2nd Edition)

The author has geared this CCDA study guide to people wanting to gain a career in the network design field, as it is geared toward towards those with the CCNA certification.  Many people had admitted that while the book is a little wordy (ie. tedious) at times, that it was a great CCDA study guide none the less.  My friend found the cases were very helpful to confirm his learnings from reading each of the chapters.

As I said before, these are what worked for my friend, but everyone learns in different ways, and there are certainly plenty of CCDA study guides to choose from, that will match your learning style.  The important thing is to find the right one for you and pass the CCDA certification exam on your first try.  Good luck!

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I recently had the pleasure of studying for my CISSP certification and was in need of some help, via the many CISSP exam study guides.  The CISSP certification process can be a daunting undertaking, and finding the perfect CISSP exam study guide to help me in the process  was just as daunting.  I asked around on various CISSP study forums and received numerous recommendations.   Once I got several repeat recommendations, I checked Amazon.com for reviews on each, and checked their best selling list feature to see which one was the most popular.  As usual, I looked at which ones had sold the most copies, and knew right away that one of the top 3 CISSP exam study guides was mostly likely the most beneficial ones for me as well.

All you have to do is go to Amazon.com and see which book everyone is buying, then you just look at the reviews and sample pages of the top 3 decide which one best fits your style of studying! Easy, right? I find it works very well for any topic, and the CISSP exam study guides are no different.

So, if you are looking for the best CISSP Exam study guide book, have a look at these top 3 bestsellers on Amazon:

1. CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Fifth Edition by Shon Harris (Jan 15, 2010)

This book by Shon Harris is an excellent guide, and one of the two that I used in my studies.  The authors writing style was perfect for me (though some have a hard time with the humor and analogies used in the book) and  helped me through the more complex topics, and really matched my learning style.  Your mileage may vary.

I used this book along with the CISSP practice exams(all in one), also by Shon Harris, and felt superbly confident in my mastery of the material, and my ability to pass the exam.  ( I did pass!)

2. Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Second Edition, by ISC(2) Press

This book differs from the very popular Shon Harris book in it’s approach, which many people apparently like.  It is reported to be more professional and serious in it’s delivery, compared to the (bad) humor and analogies presented by Harris.  Of course that can make the material a little heavy at times, which made me go with the Shon Harris book in the end.

It’s a big book too, which can be overwhelming, given the complexity of the topics.  But that hasn’t stopped it from being the 2nd most popular CISSP study guide,  and if it fits your style, then this is the book for you.

3.  CISSP For Dummies by Lawrence C. Miller and Peter H. Gregory

No matter what the topic, you either love the Dummies books, or you hate them.  Me, I’m indifferent. I recognize and appreciate the fact that Dummies give you a quick high level understanding of the topics they write about, and the CISSP For Dummies does this too.

However,  for an indepth and complex topic like CISSP, you need to know all the details.  A quick read giving you high level knowledge isn’t good enough when it comes to the CISSP exam!  But that’s just my opinion, as the reviews on CISSP for Dummies are for the most part, very positive, and it is a best seller so clearly there is some good information to be learned in this book.

If you are a Dummies series fan, this may just be the book you need.

No matter what CISSP exam study guide or practice exams book you decide on, just remember this:  CISSP is more about principles and concepts and less about specific technology, so using more than one book will not be overkill in prepping for the CISSP certification exam.  Good luck to all in their professional advancement endeavors!

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Not sure about the name, but having just bought my first Android phone, this webchicklet is certainly intrigued by Cisco’s entry into the iPad killing arena.  Cisco just announced this afternoon, the unveiling of an Android based tablet, the first of its kind, according to the company.

While I am skeptical of the name, I always welcome competition to stop Apple from taking over the world.   The market may not like it much, given that CSCO stock was down 3.7% today, but given the large drop in the markets today, I’m sure it’s not related to the launch of this sexy Android tablet.

Cisco’s unveiling was big on fanfare, but lacking on substance.  Very little in the way of specs were released on the Cisco Cius, such as the type of processor, and the processor speed.  They did say it would weigh in at a lightweight 1.15 pounds, but did not release any size dimensions.  There was also no mention of Wifi and 3G (or 4G) versions like the Apple iPad.   All Cisco said was that “Cisco Cius will offer HD video streaming and real-time video, multi-party conferencing, email, messaging, browsing, and the ability to produce, edit and share content stored locally or centrally in the cloud.  So one would have to assume wifi and 3G will be available.


An interesting new Android based tablet is exciting news, but the lack of details has me a little deflated and wanting more.   Now we can begin to rumor whether it will be the Verizon or AT&T network this new Cisco Cius runs on.  Please Cisco, give us more info.

**Oops I should have dug a little deeper, as it seems Cisco has the full specs on the Cius on their website.  Rather than list them all here, you may as well get the full details from Ciscos site:  Cisco Cius specs.

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If you’re as confused by the new Microsoft Windows 7 operating system as I am, and want to learn how to get the most out of Windows 7, then this list is for you.  These are the current best selling Windows 7 reference guides according to Amazon.com sales.  I find that when I need a book on a particular topic, the most useful and easy to understand book is one of the top 5 best selling books on that topic.  And this list of the best Microsoft Windows 7 guides is no exception.

So if you are perplexed with Windows 7 operating system, or have a friend or family member struggling with their new Windows 7 computer, tell them to go to the Apple Store and buy a Macbook…..oops, I mean, check the excellent books on the list below and get up to speed with the fantastic Windows 7 operating system.

Save yourself some time and print this list of great Windows 7 Guides, Manuals and Quick References, it’ll make your shopping so much easier and quicker.

Without further ado, here’s the top 4 Microsoft Windows 7 Guides and Manuals on Amazon:

1.Windows 7 For Dummies Book + DVD bundle by Andy Rathbone

As usual, the Dummies series provides great information at a great price, and includes a useful dvd video demonstration of the most important Windows 7 tasks.  There are 2 hours of informative and easy to understand  video training sessions.   This set will show you how to use movie, music, and photo management features, and how to upgrade your system.  It will also show you how to fix the most common problems you face with Windows 7.

2.  Windows 7: The Missing Manual by David Pogue

The Missing Manual is super reader friendly, well written and light hearted wit mixed in as well.  David Pogue gets you up to speed quickly on how to navigate the Windows 7 desktop, take advantage of the apps and gadgets, and the internet, email and video conferencing programs.  David Pogue is a well respected how to author with over 3 million books sold, so you know he can help you out with Windows 7.

3.  Windows 7 Inside Out by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, Craig Stinson

This book is perfect for those users that have advanced beyond the basics of Windows 7.  A well organized reference guide, this book will give you tons of timsaving solutions and trouble shooting tips.  It’ll have you mastering your new Windows 7 in no time.

This books comes with an awesome CD that has a fully searchable ebook, making it easy to find a specific topic, and includes some useful gadgets and tools for customizing your shiny new Windows 7 computer.

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Tired of messing around with the cursor in Firefox, or just tired of that pesty carpal tunnel syndrome from using your mouse all day?  Here’s Webchicklet’s Top 10 Firefox Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac.  Now you can break free from the chains of your mouse, and speed up your web surfing at the same time.  This is just my personal opinions on the Firefox keyboard shortcuts that save me the most time, based on frequency of use.  The Mac keyboard shortcut is listed in brackets if different( Ctrl in windows = Cmd in Mac).

1. Backspace (Delete) – If you need to quickly move back to the previously viewed page(s), just hit the Backspace key until you get to where you want to be!
2. F6 Button – Need to quickly type a new web address in the address bar?  Instead of reaching for your mouse and moving the curser to the address bar, why not just hit the F6 button and start typing.
3. Ctrl – F – To search for a word in the page you are viewing, just hit Ctrl -F and the find bar pops up at the bottom of the window.
4. Ctrl – A – Want to copy the entire contents of a page?  Highlight the entire contents of a page quickly with Ctrl A, and then Ctrl Insert or C to copy the data.
5. Ctrl – W: Tired of looking at that page?  Close a tab or a window super fast with Ctrl – W
6. Ctrl – T, Ctrl – N: Didn’t mean to close that tab or Window?  Open a new tab or window quickly with this shortcut
7. Ctrl – Tab: If you have a bunch of Firefox tabs open, you can scroll quickly through them with Ctrl-Tab.  If you over shoot the one you wanted you can reverse the scroll with Ctrl-Shift-Tab.
8. Ctrl-Shift-H: This one is handy when you want to find that site you visited earlier today but can’t remember what it was.  Hitting these keys brings up the history of your web surfing so you can scroll through the list, or use the search box at the top to find it quick!
9. End: This is obvious, and useful.  Just hit the End button to get to the bottom of the page in a flash.
10. Home:  Equally obvious and just as useful.  Get back to the top of the page quickly with the Home button.

And there you have it, the top 10 time saving Firefox Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac.  These may seem obvious to some, but I find when I’m working with other colleagues or friends, they are always amazed at how much quicker I can do what I have to do while surfing.   So give your mouse  and your wrist a break and try some of these shortcuts today!

BTW, Firefox has many more shortcuts than I would ever want to list here.  So if you want even more ways to save time while surfing, check out the official Firefox Keyboard Shortcut List

Is your favourite Firefox shortcut not listed here?  I’m always looking for new ways to save time, so leave me a comment and let everyone know what your number one keyboard shortcut is!

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I am very impressed with how long the Apple MacBook battery holds a charge. But as a gadget geek, I am always trying to tweak things, and extending the battery life of my MacBook, or PC laptop for that matter, is something I do often. Here are a few simple tricks that will really extend the life of your MacBook battery.

A word of warning for the advanced MacBook user, this might seem logical and basic to you, but you’d be surprised to discover the number of people who don’t think about this.

So, the easiest, quickest, and most overlooked way to extend your MacBook battery life is to adjust the brightness of your MacBook display.   This is very easy to accomplish with the F1 and F2 keys on your keyboard. I find the MacBook display to be so bright, that I can really adjust the brightness lower with little to no impact on my viewing comfort.  Obviously if you are in direct sunlight this won’t work, but I don’t like to work on my computer in the sun anyways.  This simple step can increase your MacBook battery life substantially, allowing me to drink several Starbucks grande coffees on one battery charge!

The next quickest, and easiest way to extend your MacBook battery is to bring up your system preferences screen, and click on Energy Saver:

Then, click the Better Battery Life button at the top . From there, you can play around with the computer sleep minutes and the Display Sleep minutes to maximize your battery life.   I find that for my needs, setting the computer sleep to 15 minutes and the display sleep somewhere roughly in the middle of 1 and 15 minutes.   I then click the first three buttons below the slides as shown in the picture below. These settings seem to give me the best battery life performance for my MacBook.

So, there ya have it.  A simple, logical way to extend your MacBook battery life, allowing you to get out of the house/office for a few hours each day.  Hmmm, now that all you newbies can extend your Macbook battery life, I’ll probably have trouble finding a table at my favorite local Starbucks.

©2012 WebChicklet | Just a Geek Girl. All Rights Reserved.

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I decided to export all the contacts I have in Evolution today and import them into Gmail. I wondered if it would be hard to do (or even possible) and luckily I discovered it was a piece of cake. I’ll call it a 3-step process.

Step 1: Export Evolution Contacts

This step is super-simple. Open terminal and paste the following command:

evolution-addressbook-export --format=csv > evolution.contacts.csv

You now have a .csv file (spreadsheet) with all your contacts in it, located in your home folder.

Step 2: Clean Up Contact List

Open the evolution.contacts.csv file in OpenOffice or whatever spreadsheet program you use. I deleted any rows that I didn’t want to keep, and any columns that weren’t being used. I ended up with just a First Name, Last Name, and Email_1, Email_2 and Email_3 column, but you may choose to keep mailing addresses and phone numbers if you have data in those columns. I also renamed the first name and last name columns from given_name and family_name to First Name and Last Name. Gmail is very flexible about column names so the defaults might work, but I was certain that First Name and Last Name would be recognized by Gmail, so I just went with those. Once you’ve cleaned up the file, save it.

Step 3: Import Into Gmail

In the left sidebar of Gmail, click on Contacts. Once the Contacts page opens, click on Import in the upper right corner. Click the Browse button, choose the file you just saved from your home folder, and click on Import. Gmail will tell you if it deletes any duplicates or merges any together, and will let you know that how many it successfully imported.

That’s it! All done.

©2012 WebChicklet | Just a Geek Girl. All Rights Reserved.

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