Install FTP Server in Ubuntu for Cloud Computing

Use an old PC as an FTP server for Cloud

Do you have a desktop that is left on all 24/7? Do you have an old computer lying around with an outdated processor you think is useless? Are you looking for some way to repurpose your old outdated desktop or laptop? All you need is a desktop computer with available hard drive space and you can set up your own, personal and secure cloud server. There are a few IP protocols that can be used for this. In this post you will learn how to set up an FTP based cloud server using your old and outdated desktop or laptop. The reasons to use an outdated PC are numerous however, the main reason being that serving data to only a few users does not require nearly as many system resources as running applications as a single user with a GUI front-end.

--> File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a TCP protocol for uploading and downloading files between computers. FTP works on a client/server model. The server component is called an FTP daemon. It continuously listens for FTP requests from remote clients. When a request is received, it manages the login and sets up the connection. For the duration of the session it executes any of commands sent by the FTP client.

FTP Server Installation - VSFTPD

vsftpd is an FTP daemon available in Ubuntu. It is easy to install, set up, and maintain. To install vsftpd you can run the following command:

sudo apt-get install vsftpd

Anonymous FTP Configuration

By default vsftpd is configured to only allow anonymous download. During installation a ftp user is created with a home directory of /home/ftp. This is the default FTP directory. If you wish to change this location, to /srv/ftp for example, simply create a directory in another location and change the ftp user's home directory:

sudo mkdir /srv/ftp
sudo usermod -d /srv/ftp ftp

After making the change restart vsftpd:

sudo /etc/init.d/vsftpd restart

Finally, copy any files and directories you would like to make available through anonymous FTP to /srv/ftp.

Configure FTP Server

• FTP Server configuration is done by editing the /etc/vsftpd.conf file.
• To edit this file type the following command in Terminal:

gksu gedit /etc/vsftpd.conf

Disable Anonymous FTP

Change the line:

anonymous_enable=YES

to:

anonymous_enable=NO

Allow Local Users to Connect

Add:

local_enable=YES

Allow Users to Upload files

Add:

write_enable=YES

Open port on Router

Now all you need to do is open up port 21 in your router so that your ftp server will be available to users outside your local network. It can be accessed using the IP address assigned to you by your ISP.

iOS 7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2 Security and Bug Fixes | iPhone 5c 5s improvements |

With the release of iOS 7 last month we have seen the best that Apple has to offer thus far. For some though, the many improvements to the popular iOS may be overshadowed by continuing bugs and security flaws, across the entire range of Apple's iOS compatible products. The iPhone 5S is having its newest feature, a fingerprint scanner, extremely criticized as being easily hackable. Apple does not completely agree with these claims but does agree that it is possible. The Touch ID scanner is reportedly able to be hacked with the installation of an exploiting application.

In only a few weeks after the release of iOS 7.0 two more versions have followed -- iOS 7.0.1 and 7.0.2. The 7.0.1 update was strictly meant for the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, which contained various bug fixes and improvements as usual. iOS 7.0.2, released September 26th, contained major security fixes for the iPhone 4 and later devices. On these devices it was possible for a person with physical access to the device to be able to make calls to any number.

Description: A NULL dereference existed in the lock screen which would cause it to restart if the emergency call button was tapped repeatedly. While the lock screen was restarting, the call dialer could not get the lock screen state and assumed the device was unlocked, and so allowed non-emergency numbers to be dialed. This issue was addressed by avoiding the NULL dereference. -- Apple

Additionally someone with physical access to a device may also be able to see recently used applications, as well as see, edit, and share a users photos.

Description: The list of apps you opened could be accessed during some transitions while the device was locked, and the Camera app could be opened while the device was locked. -- Apple

These seem to be some rather serious flaws for a flagship operating system release although not uncommon for any OS release of this magnitude.  Apple reportedly sold over nine million new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C models in three days following the launch on September 20th. Additionally more than 200 million iOS devices are now running iOS 7, making it the fastest upgrade in history.

Leaked photos show iPad Mini 2 with fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint Scanner for iPad Mini 2 | Will iPad Mini have fingerprint scanner ? |

On September 27th 2013 DoNews, a Chinese News agency released leaked photos of Apple's iPad Mini 2. These photos show the new iPad model to have the same gold style backing as the new iPhone 5S. The "Home" button also appears to be very similar to that of the iPhone 5S. The same metallic ring around the button can be seen, indicating the iPad Mini 2 may come fully equipped with a fingerprint scanner.

It will be very interesting to see if Apple does choose to include a fingerprint scanner with Touch ID to enable users to now unlock their Apple iPad Mini 2, after much criticism about the tech giant openly sharing information with the United States National Security Agency (NSA).

The new security feature, Touch ID, for the iPhone is also receiving some criticism about being easily hackable. Some YouTube videos can show this security measure being hacked in under 30 hours. This would seem to contradict Apple's high thoughts of the security feature, claiming that there are only 1 in 50,000 odds that another print could be recognized instead of the real one. Also that this 1 in 50,000 is far better than the 1 in 10,000 odds of guessing a typical 4-digit passcode.

iPhone 5S Insecure Fingerprint Scanner | Hacking iPhone5S touchID | touchID as UserName not Password

Last month Apple unveiled and released yet another iPhone, complete with a fingerprint scanner for password access and a new classy clean look and feel. Some are suggesting that using a fingerprint as the password is a terrible idea, if anything a fingerprint may be used as a username or ID. Skeptics claim that we put our fingerprints everywhere, including all over the fingerprint protected iPhone 5S.

Also last month the Chaos Computer Club demonstrated in the video below just how insecure the Apple TouchID is.

If the absolute insecurity of biometric locks on your iPhone is not enough to discourage or prevent you from using this type of technology, you should be concerned about PRIVACY. Tim Richardson of Apple's North American Marketing team admitted that Apple will be sharing this data collected from their users with the NSA and possibly other security agencies.

 “Frankly, if a person is foolish enough to allow something as specific and criminally implicit as their fingerprints to be cataloged by faceless corporations and Government officials… Well, you can’t exactly blame us for capitalizing upon it, can you? Personally, I believe this effort will support a greater good. Some of the folks they’re hoping to apprehend are quite dangerous. Besides, it’s not like this is covered in the Constitution.”                     - Mr. Richardson

 The horrible truth of the entire thing is that users, Apple users, are readily volunteering this information under specific terms which grant  Apple permission to share personal data like fingerprints with government security agencies. These government agencies claim this type of technology could greatly help in apprehending criminals who have alluded the government for some time, by the creation of a special database, able to be merged with Apple's biometric database.