DigitFreak

Tag: using

  • How to Monitor Internet Speed in Ubuntu

    How to Monitor Internet Speed in Ubuntu

    I often use it to monitor the speed while downloading or using internet and stumbled upon a website which takes time to respond — looking at the internet speed indicator tells me whether my internet is working properly or website is not using the bandwidth to load the page, in that case I simply reload the page to make it render properly.

    I will be first to admit it that it is quiet easy to do it on windows Operating system, however you’ll be surprised to know that this can be done as easily on Ubuntu as well. In some cases you’ll feel that it’s better and quicker way to implement on Linux distros than on Windows – which involves downloading a software and installing them on your computer.

    App and repository based Ubuntu distro makes it fun and easier to use. There sure is a learning curve for new users but, it is worth the effort.

    I used Ubuntu 15.04 for this tutorial, but it can be implemented on any version of Ubuntu.

    How to Install

    Webupd8 designed a package which includes various useful applications in a single package such as radio, hotspot, themes and most importantly our Net speed indicator. We will be using this repository to install our net speed indicator to monitor internet speed.

    Step 1.

    Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and paste the following sudo command.
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
     

    Step 2

    Update your repository.
    Sudo apt-get update
     

    Step 3

    Install netspeed indicator using this command.
    sudo apt-get install indicator-netspeed
    Tips: You can also check the internet usage by all ports using a simple command “ifconfig”.

    terminal ifconfig

  • [How To] find out which program is using your webcam to spy on you

    If you are worried that someone might be spying on you using your webcam, then MakeUseOf has a list of steps you can follow to find out which program you have on your system that carries a spyware or malware, capable of triggering your webcam to spy on you.

    This is a little “Do it yourself” method, but it ensures the spot on result. You’ll have to find the compromised software on your own. To do this, you’ll need Process Explorer, the awesome Windows Sysinternals tool developed by Microsoft for IT work. You can download the installer here if you like, or you can just run the application from their server.

    With Process Explorer running, follow these steps:

    • Figure out what your camera’s object name is by finding it in Device Manager. For Windows 7: search “Device Manager” in the start menu. For Windows 8.1: search the same thing in the Charms bar.
    • Once you locate it in the Device Manager, double-click and go to the “Details” tab. Open the property drop-down and select “Physical device object name”, then right-click to copy the name.
    • Return to the Process Explorer, or get it started if you haven’t yet. Then hit Ctrl+F and paste the camera’s object name into the search field and click “Search.” You should see whatever processes are currently using your webcam.

    If you recognize the program which are using your webcam, like skype, hangout, webcam snap tool etc. then there’s no need to worry! If you don’t recognize the program, right-click it in Process Explorer and select “Kill Process“, then uninstall it from your machine. After the program has been removed, run a full-system virus scan to ensure your machine is safe to use again.