We are all so much used to seeing ads on websites. Online ad companies and search engines make money with ads. But literally, ads were yesterday to make money. Have you realized that a website you visit can use your CPU cycles to make money? Some websites embed a code that makes your browser to run certain algorithms such as Cryptonite (a CPU-friendly algo) and mine coins that support it. The scarier thing is that these websites don’t even make you aware of it.

What you are loosing

The obvious answer is that you are losing your money. When the rouge website mines with your CPU without knowledge, its cycles are unnecessarily wasted, and it can even kill your laptop, if you are using one.

How to block coin mining websites

I use Firefox and I use the No Coin add-on which blocks most websites from executing a specific and most popular mining script. Google Chrome also has this add-on. There maybe more options such as antivirus, firewall, and so on and you are welcome to post your findings in the commenting section.

Some boring Stuff

I mined my first bitcoin sometime in 2011 using my lovely and venerable MSI 5770 Hawk which I had used to write my post on password cracking with a GPU. It’s long dead. Now, I have 2x 1060GTX and 3x RX480 cards, and I am mining different altcoins. Now that I have five cards with about about 30 times the hashing power. I’m planning to write about NTLM and MD5 hash cracking in a few weeks. So stay tuned.

Disclaimer: The method I’m going to explain here to bypass the waiting time and captcha on file sharing sites are just for you to know that this is possible though bypassing captcha is against the TOS. Buy a premium account from your favorite file sharing site if you want to support them.

You hate waiting, and everyone hates waiting. File sharing sites incur a lot of cost for bandwidth and so they actually discourage people from using their services for free. So free users have to wait for a certain period of time before downloading the next file. While there are certain tools, scripts, and methods to bypass the wait time, they don’t always work. Even if you manage to do that, you still have to enter captcha. Again, there are some tools to automatically solve captcha but they seldom work.

I’m going to explain a fully automated method with which you can fully automate the download process, without waiting for the next download slot and bypassing captcha. Well, you are not actually bypassing captcha but others do it for you. The best part is that you don’t have to spend anything and it works with almost all file sharing sites. But there is a catch. An easy one actually. All you have to do is to solve some captchas for others in your free time. Trust me, it won’t take much time. This is based on credit system. You can’t buy credits but you have to solve captchas for others. This is the main reason why this system actually works.

The tool we are going to use to automatically download files from file sharing sites is called JDownloader. It is an open source application, and it’s clean.We are also going to use a plugin for JDownloader to bypass captcha, which is aptly called CaptchaBrotherhood.

Prerequisites:

These are the prerequisites to bypass download wait time and captcha:

1. Dynamic IP assigned by your ISP
2. Free time to solve captcha

Tools Needed:

1. JDownloader
2. Captcha Brotherhood (for bypassing captcha)

How To Bypass Captcha and Wait-time and Download from Filesharing Sites for Free

1. Install JDownloader.

Go to Settings>Plugins & Addons>Host. Check the check box under Accepted to accept the terms and conditions of all the listed file sharing sites. It’s a daunting task to accept all sites but you can also accept to the sites that you are going to use.

2. Install Captcha Brotherhood and create a new account. Click Start button under the Captcha tab to solve some captchas. Remember that you will lose credits if you solve incorrectly, so pay attention.

Get a New IP from your ISP Automatically

Now that you have setup JDownloader to download files from file sharing sites automatically, but after the first download, you will still have to wait till the wait time expires. Follow these steps to get a new IP from your ISP so that you can immediately start downloading the next file.

1. There are a few ways in which you can automatically get a new IP from your ISP.

a. On JDownloader, click Settings>Reconnection>Batch

i. Copy and paste the following text in the empty field.

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /renew

This method mostly works if you are connected to the internet using a modem (but it may vary).

ii. Click the Change IP button to ensure that the script works.

b. If the above method doesn’t work for you, do this:

((This method works if you are using a modem cum router.) I am assuming you are the administrator of your modem or ADSL/WiFi router and you know how to login to the router and make changes, especially how to restart from the web page.)

i. On JDownloader, click Settings>Reconnection>LiveHeader/Curl>Create Reconnection Script

ii. Enter the IP address of the modem/router. Typically, the IP address of the router is 192.168.1.1, 10.0.0.1, or any other private IP address (mine is 192.168.2.1).

iii. Click the Start button.

iv. When you get the following message, click Yes and JDownloader should add the reconnection script.

v. Click the Change IP button to ensure that the script works.

That’s all. If you want to download something, just add the URL to the JDownloader queue and you are all set. If you have tens of URLs from the same file sharing site, you can just add the links to the JDownloader queue. It will automatically solve captcha, download your file and download the next file immediately by resetting the IP. Cool right?

Note:

If any file sharing site listed in JDownloader does not work, that means the website has changed the way it worked previously and you will only have to wait for the developers to update the JDownloader program. Thankfully, they are fast!

How to Install Custom ROM on your Sony Xperia Phone

If you root your Android phone, you can do virtually anything, right from enabling career-blocked tethering to installing a custom ROM. The android community is so active that chances are that you can get tens of custom ROMs for your phone model. If you have a Sony Xperia Mini Pro, you can have hundreds of custom ROMs from the XDA forums. These custom ROMs provide you with more performance, flexibility, and more.

In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to flash custom ROM on your Xperia Mini Pro. You can use the same method for any Xperia phone. Before installing a custom ROM, you need to unlock the bootloader of your phone, though there are a few custom ROMs that can be installed on a locked bootloader. But unlocking the bootloader is well worth it, meaning you can install custom Kernel that provide you with more benefits such as more battery life or overclocking.

Unlocking the bootloader

You have two options while unlocking the bootloader. The official method which includes using your IMEI to unlock from official Sony website. Though this is the official method, you lose your warranty, and DRM too.

The other method is called the ‘test point’ method which uses a tool called S1 tool and requires you to use a test point. Though this method seems a little complicated, it’s easy and reversible. By unlocking with this method, you won’t lose DRM and whenever you want, you can relock the bootloader. But even this method has a disadvantage. Not a disadvantage but a risk-you may make your phone into an expensive paper weight, if you do it wrong. But don’t worry, it’s safe if you do it carefully. I have unlocked the bootloader of my XMP with this method and it worked like charm. Follow the instructions from here or here to unlock the bootloader with the test point method.

***Ensure that your phone is charged at least 50% before proceeding***

What You Need:

1. Sony PC Companion

2. Flashtool

3. Preferably a phone with unlocked bootloader

4. Your custom Kernel and ROM

5. Stock ROM in FTF format. Search the XDA forums for your model number. You can also create one.

How to install:

Installing the custom Kernel and ROM is very easy. Follow these steps.

1. Make a backup of your phone data such as SMS, contacts, call logs, calendar, and so on using your favorite app.

2. Install PC Companion and Flashtool so that ADB and Fastboot drivers are installed. On your phone, go to Applications>Development>check the USB bebugging check box. Connect your phone to PC and let it install the ADB driver. This is important because, should something go wrong, you can always flash your phone stock ROM (FTF file) using Flash tool. So before proceeding, ensure the adb (and fastboot) drivers are installed. For more details, check out my previous post Root Your Xperia Phone Without Voiding Warranty.

3. Place the downloaded ROM in zip format on the micro SD card. You can do it through phone or using  a card reader.

4. Turn off your phone and connect it to your PC while pressing the specific button on phone to enter the fastboot mode. For my Xperia Mini Pro, it’s the Vol + to enter fastboot mode. Wait till the driver is correctly installed.

5. Open Flashtool and click the Flash (thunder symbol)>Fastboot Mode>OK.

6. On the Fastboot Toolbox window, click Select kernel to Flash button.

7. Navigate to the folder where you have extracted the Kernel file (.img). Select it and click Open.

8. After flashing is complete, remove the cable and reboot your phone. While the phone is booting, press Vol – or Vol + button repeatedly until the phone boots into recovery. (This recovery is installed along with kernel)

9. Do these: wipe data.cache partition, advanced>Wipe Dalvik Cache, and wipe cache partition.

10. Select install zip from sdcard>choose zip from sdcard>select the ROM file (zip) and press Yes.

That’s all. Reboot your phone to enjoy the new ROM.

What to do if something goes wrong and my phone doesn’t boot up?

While installing custom ROMs can be fun, it may also render your phone unbootable. If you install a custom ROM and and it doesn’t work, you can always flash the stock ROM using Flashtool and start all over again. Look for the FTF file of your stock ROM on the XDA forums. You will certainly find one. You can also make an FTF file of your stock ROM. Check out my post How to Create an FTF file of Your Xperia ICS Firmware.

How to Add My Computer Shortcut on Desktop in Windows 8

To add the My Computer on the desktop in Windows follow these steps:

1. Right click on the desktop and click Personalize.
   
2. Click Change desktop icons on the left pane.
3. From the popup window, select Computer under Desktop icons.
4. Click Apply and OK.

Voila, the (My) Computer icon is added to your desktop.

How to Stream Video from PC to Your Android Phone

In this tutorial, as usual, I’m going to explain how to use a free tool to stream video from your PC/laptop and watch it on your Android powered phone.

What you Need:

• An Android phone
• Emit Android app
• Emit Windows app
• A WiFi router
• A PC or Laptop connected through WiFi

Follow these installation steps:

1. Install Emit Windows application on your PC or laptop.
2. Install Emit Android app on your phone.
3. On your PC, click the Emit icon from the System Tray. The Emit window opens.
4. Click Folders tab and click Add Dir button and select the directory where you have all your videos.

That’s all you have to do. Now, tap open the Emit app on your phone and see if the app has automatically discovered the emit server running on your PC. Tap the server and you can go to the directory where you have your movies.

Note: Add Emit to your firewall’s exception list if you have issues connecting.

The Emit windows application is multi-threaded meaning, if you have a multi core CPU, you can be rest assured that the streamed video is lag free, even if the video is 1080p.

How to Root Your Xperia Phone’s ICS Firmware Without Voiding Warranty

If you are not on ICS and wanting root after upgrading, don’t upgrade to ICS. To root your Xperia ICS firmware, you need to first downgrade it to a rootable Ginger Bread firmware like 4.0.2.A.0.58 if you have already upgraded. Anything above 4.0.2.A.0.58 cannot be rooted easily. You can find the firmware from the links given below. So backup all your apps and data like SMS, call logs etc. before proceeding. Once you downgrade, you need to root it (preferably using the Do0omlord’s method). Then you have to edit the /data/local.prop file. Don’t worry, I’ll show you an automated process. Once done you need, to upgrade the firmware to ICS using PC Companion, or SUS or Flashtool (if you have your ICS FTF file) without clearing user data. Then you need to execute a file to root your Xperia Firmware. It may sound too daunting but it’s pretty easy. This tutorial is based on this XDA thread.

What You Need to Root Xperia ICS

• An Xperia phone of course and the data cable
• PC Companion
• Doomlord’s Easy Rooting Toolkit
• ICS rooting files
• Flashtool
• Your Gingerbread Firmware (This is not a full list). Another list of Firmware, see under Downloads.

If you can’t find your firmware:

• Wotan client (register for a free account) and its driver (if you are willing to pay)

Downgrading and Rooting

Follow the steps in my article how to downgrade and root Xperia phone. After you have downgraded the firmware and rooted, go to the next step.

Rooting ICS

Download the ICS rooting files and extract all files to somewhere.

Connect your phone to PC with USB debugging enabled and run the file 01-local-prop.cmd from the folder where you extracted the file. This will automatically edit the /data/local.prop file. Don’t do anything else and go to the next step.

Now upgrade the firmware using PC Companion, SUS, or Flashtool. Don’t wipe data.

Go to the same folder and run 02-push-root-files.cmd. Re remember to close PCC, SUS or Flashtool before doing this.

That’s all. Your phone is now rooted.

So what is an FTF file? Without delving deep into it, let me say it stands for Flash Tool File. Using Flashtool, and the correct firmware file, you can easily and conveniently flash your phone anytime you want. With Flashtool, you can install your stock (unmodified) ftf firmware file if you have not unlocked the bootloader. If you unlocked it already, you can flash modified firmware too. Where do you get the .ftf file? You can certainly get your ftf file from XDA Developers forums. But you can also create your own ftf file. Here I’m going to explain how to create an ftf file of your Xperia ICS firmware. Same procedure is applicable for Ginger Bread too.

How to Create an FTF file of Your Xperia ICS Firmware

What you Need to Create an ftf File:

• Sony PC Companion or SEUS
• Flashtool and its updates if any.
• Internet connection.
• An Xperia phone of course.

Warning and Disclaimer: Take a backup of all important data like contacts, call logs, SMSs, apps, APN and other settings before proceeding further. You may have to perform a clean install of your OS. While for all practical purposes, using Flashtool is safe but there is a very very remote chance of damaging your phone and don’t blame me should it happen.

1. Install Sony PC Companion and/or SEUS. This will copy the necessary drivers to your PC. Connect your phone with USB Debugging enabled and allow your PC to install the necessary drivers.

2. Connect your phone and update or repair your phone with the latest firmware version (right now 4.1.B.0.431). If you update/upgrade, your data will be preserved. If you repair, all data may be lost. So backup everything. Now, your phone is updated with the latest firmware. Keep it aside. We don’t need your phone anymore to create the ftf file.

3. Go toC:\ProgramData\Sony Ericsson\Update Engine\db\13740270\blob_fs folder and look for the biggest three files. The folder “blob_fs” may be located in a different place depending on whether you used PC Companion or SEUS. Perform a search for that folder if you can’t find it. Once you are inside the folder, sort by size and see the 3 largest files were just created (when you updated/repaired your phone). Copy them to somewhere else like D:\firmware.

4. Install Flashtool and open it.

5. Click Advanced > Decrypt Files.

6. Select all the three files and click the right arrow to send them to the right side and click OK. In a moment, you will see a Flashtool pop up window that shows all the decrypted files. Select all and click the right arrow button.

7. Type in the device name next to Device, firmware version number next to Version, and branding next to Branding and click OK.

8. In the Device Selection window that appears, select your phone model and click OK.

In a moment, your ftf file will be there in the default Flashtool folder C:\Flashtool\Firmwares.

You can use this .ftf file to flash your phone using Flashtool.

Why you should create the ftf file?

If you are someone who can’t resist reinstalling/reflashing for whatever reason, creating an ftf file can be a life saver for your phone. If you root and especially unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs, having the firmware file always with you is a good idea. Should something go wrong, you can simply reflash the phone (remember unbricking?).

How to Sync Files from Android Phone to PC over WiFi

If you have an Android based phone, it almost certainly has WiFi. If you have a wireless router, you can access internet from anywhere at home. If your PC or laptop and your phone are on the same network, that is, same WiFi router, you can automatically sync files from your Android phone to your PC and vice versa.

What You Need to Perform Android Sync to PC:

• An Android Phone.
• MyPhoneExplorer Windows Application.
• MyPhoneExplorer Client for Android Phone.
• WiFi connecti0n.

To automate syncing between PC and an Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Install MyPhoneExplorer Android app on your phone.
2. Install MyPhoneExplorer Windows application.
3. Open MyPhoneExplorer on PC and select File > Settings > Connection > Phone with Google Android-OS.

4. Click OK.

5. Under Connect via… select WiFi or Autodetect.

6. Now, your PC will be connected to your phone and MyPhoneExplorer on your phone will say your phone is connected.

If your PC doesn’t connect to phone, enable it in your firewall.

Now that you have connected your phone to your PC over WiFi. You need to select folders on your android phone to Sync with your PC. Follow these steps to sync folders on your Android phone to PC:

1. Expand Files on the left pane of MyPhoneExplorer and click Memory Stick.

2. On the next window, click the arrow mark on Sync Folders icon and click Customize.

3. In the Edit File-Sync Jobs window, Enter a relevant name for the folder you want sync next to Title.

4. Select Phone -> PC. Selecting this will sync a folder in your phone to PC. (You can also do the other way be selecting PC -< Phone.)

5. Select your source (phone) folder and target (PC) folder.

6. Select Save folder radio button.

7. Click OK.

8. Repeat these steps for each folder you want in your mobile to sync to your PC.

9. To sync files, click Sync files button.

If you want to automatically sync files, go to File > Settings > Multi-sync and check Sync Files > Select Jobs. Check the jobs (folders) you want to sync and click OK.

That’s all. You can now sync all these files to PC over WiFi whenever you are at home. MyPhoneExplorer also has more options to sync your calendar, phonebook etc. Just play around with settings to enable more options. I use Llama to automate some of the phone tasks. Whenever I reach home, it triggers MyPhoneExplorer in my phone. When I switch on the PC, it syncs all selected files.

Upgrade an Android Phone’s Memory card or MicroSD Card

To upgrade the memory card on your Android phone, follow these steps:

• Connect your phone to PC using the data cord.
• Go to My Computer and open your phone’s memory card.
• Go to Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
• Press Control + A (select all) and Control + C (copy).
• Paste it somewhere.
• Remove the old MicroSD card and insert the new one to your phone.
• Go to connectivity settings on your phone and tap Media transfer mode (MTP) and tap OK.

• Go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD Card and tap OK.

• Go to Settings > Storage > Erase SD Card and tap OK (not necessary but recommended).
• After erasing, tap Mount SD card.
• Copy your old files to the new card.

That’s all. Now, you should have all your old files, data and installed apps (if any) on your new memory card.

**Update**

If you have already updated to ICS, read my other article on rooting Xperia ICS. Keep in mind that you still have to downgrade to GB first before rooting ICS.

** Update **

Wotan is no more free for flashing Xperia phones. I have updated this tutorial with Flashtool, which is a free tool to flash xperia phones. You need not unlock the bootloader in order to use Flashtool. So your Warranty is still there. But you need to find your firmware.

Disclaimer: By following this method, you are NOT permanently modifying your phone and Sony Ericsson won’t have a “clue” that you are rooting your phone. You can perform a repair using SEUS to claim warranty at any time. I’m posting this for informational purposes only. Secondly, I won’t be responsible if you brick your phone, which is almost impossible.

If you have an Android device, or any smart phone for that matter, you can do almost anything that you can with a PC. As Android is an open source mobile operating system, it can be tinkered with in different ways. While Android, by default, doesn’t allow that, you can get root access to the OS and enjoy the full potential of your phone. In most of the Android phones, you need to unlock the bootloader in order to root it. But Sony Ericsson Xperia phones can also be rooted without unlocking the bootloader, thus preserving the manufacturer warranty.

This tutorial is based on this thread on XDA Forums. The tool we are going to use here is called DooMLoRD’s Easy Rooting Toolkit. The tool works very well until the firmware number 4.0.2.A.0.58. Sony Ericsson has patched the later ROM versions and hence this method doesn’t work if you have already installed the latest update. You need to unlock the bootloader for rooting if the you have that 62 firmware. Though other methods do exist to root the 62 firmware, they are not for those who are new to rooting as the methods are risky. DooMLoRD’s Easy Rooting Toolkit can also root devices from other manufacturers. Have a look at here for supported devices. If you want to claim warranty, you can always flash your phone using the official tool with the latest firmware.

I’m going to explain how you can root your Xperia phone even if you are already on the latest firmware (4.0.2.A.0.61 or 62 and up). You are going to downgrade your firmware in order to root your phone.

What you need to root your Xperia mobile:

• An Xperia phone of course and the data cable
• PC Companion
• Doomlord’s Easy Rooting Toolkit
• Flashtool
• Your Firmware (This is not a full list). Another list of Firmware, see under Downloads.

If you can’t find your firmware:

• Wotan client (register for a free account) and its driver (if you are willing to pay)

Downgrading your Firmware:

Flashtool requires that you download your firmware separately. Use the link I have given. If you can’t find the exact firmware in ftf format, use Global firmware. (I found Application Installer missing in the firmware I installed. I rooted my phone and installed it using Flashtool.)

Let’s get started.

Before downgrading the firmware, you need to install the ADB driver for your phone. On your phone, go to Settings>Applications>Development and enable USB debugging. Connect your phone to PC and wait for the ADB driver to install. Go to Device Manager on your PC and look for something like Sony Ericsson ##### ADB Interface Driver. If it’s not properly installed right-click the improperly installed device and install through Windows Update. The ADB driver should be installed now.

1. Download and install Flashtool.

2. Install the necessary drivers for your device. The drivers can be found under C:\Flashtool\drivers. Skip this step if you already have the ADB drivers installed.

3.  Place the firmware you downloaded in C:\Flashtool\firmwares.

4. Connect phone to PC and open Flashtool. Allow it to detect your phone.

5. Select the flash symbol and select Flashmode then click OK.

6. In the next window, select the firmware if you have more than one and click OK.

7. In a few seconds, Flashtool prompts you to switch off the phone, press and hold the service button (which differs from phone to phone. For Mini Pro, it  is Volume down) while connecting your phone to PC. Flashtool will automatically start flashing.

Now that you have downgraded your firmware.

Rooting your Xperia phone:

Extract DooMLoRD’s Easy Rooting Toolkit zip file to somewhere. ( The folder contains a folder and runme.bat.)

1. Click runme.bat. Ensure that you do what the window asks you to do.

2. Press any key on your keyboard.

In a moment, your phone will be rooted and rebooted. This method will automatically install Super User.

You can check for root status by installing Root Check Basic from the market.

Congratulations! Now you have a rooted Xperia phone. Enjoy the full potential of your Android phone.

Note: While Wotan client provides the firmware flashing service for free, it looks like it is a limited period offer. So use it until the offer lasts which I think should be for the entire year (2012).  It is also possible to flash an Xperia phone with the .ftf file using Flashtool (that shouldn’t void warranty for all practical purposes.). I don’t currently have a proper source the ftf files for the different models. If you can find (or make) a credible source of ftf files for all Xperia phones (with country specific customizations), please post the links in comments. That would help thousands of people. Thanks.

**Update 2**

If you are feeling lazy to follow all these steps, simply install the ftf file from this thread using Flashtool. While this is probably a different ROM than you already have, you need NOT unlock the bootloader to flash it. The ROM is pre-rooted. If you install this this, you will lose all data in phone (SD can not affected). Take a backup of all important data. I use APN Backup & Restore, Call Log Backup & Restore, SMS Backup & Restore for backing up data.

Old Method

** This option is no more free **

Since Wotan no longer provides free flashing service, I have updated this article with flashing with using Flashtool. If you are not able to use Flashtool for any reason, you can buy credits from Wotan. It’s actually cheap.

1. Download Wotan client to somewhere on your PC.

2. Install USBFlashDriver.exe

3. Open WotanClient.exe and wait for it to finish updating its database.

4. Follow exactly what appears in the next window. There are 8 pointers for you to follow. For many of the Xperia phones, the service button is Volume Down.

5. In the next window, check Enable advanced settings.

6. Your model will be automatically selected. Select 4.0.2.A.0.58 firmware or lower.

7. In the CDA drop-down box select your region.

8. Enter your user ID and password and click Update. You will get one credit.

9. Click Next.

Wotan client will download the necessary files and flash your phone. On successful flash, Wotan client will ask you to disconnect the phone from PC and reboot. Now you have downgraded your firmware and you can root your phone without unlocking the bootloader.