Disable iCloud and siri prompt when new user login

 After setting up clean install of macOS Sierra in a multi-user environment (computer lab) it is useful to disable iCloud and siri prompt at the first login.

Here is the original link with instructions and a script to disable iCloud promt:

https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/disabling-the-icloud-sign-in-pop-up-message-on-lion-and-later/

the script is:

#!/bin/sh

# Determine OS version
osvers=$(sw_vers -productVersion | awk -F. '{print $2}')
sw_vers=$(sw_vers -productVersion)

# Checks first to see if the Mac is running 10.7.0 or higher. 
# If so, the script checks the system default user template
# for the presence of the Library/Preferences directory.
#
# If the directory is not found, it is created and then the
# iCloud pop-up settings are set to be disabled.

if [[ ${osvers} -ge 7 ]]; then

 for USER_TEMPLATE in "/System/Library/User Template"/*
  do
    defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant DidSeeCloudSetup -bool TRUE
    defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant GestureMovieSeen none
    defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant LastSeenCloudProductVersion "${sw_vers}"
  done

 # Checks first to see if the Mac is running 10.7.0 or higher.
 # If so, the script checks the existing user folders in /Users
 # for the presence of the Library/Preferences directory.
 #
 # If the directory is not found, it is created and then the
 # iCloud pop-up settings are set to be disabled.

 for USER_HOME in /Users/*
  do
    USER_UID=`basename "${USER_HOME}"`
    if [ ! "${USER_UID}" = "Shared" ] 
    then 
      if [ ! -d "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences ]
      then
        mkdir -p "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences
        chown "${USER_UID}" "${USER_HOME}"/Library
        chown "${USER_UID}" "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences
      fi
      if [ -d "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences ]
      then
        defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant DidSeeCloudSetup -bool TRUE
        defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant GestureMovieSeen none
        defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant LastSeenCloudProductVersion "${sw_vers}"
        chown "${USER_UID}" "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant.plist
      fi
    fi
  done
fi

 

 

And here is the original link with information on how to disable siri:

https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2016/09/20/supressing-siri-pop-up-windows-on-macos-sierra/

and here is the script

#!/bin/bash

# Determine OS version
osvers=$(sw_vers -productVersion | awk -F. '{print $2}')
sw_vers=$(sw_vers -productVersion)

# Determine OS build number

sw_build=$(sw_vers -buildVersion)

# Checks first to see if the Mac is running 10.7.0 or higher. 
# If so, the script checks the system default user template
# for the presence of the Library/Preferences directory. Once
# found, the iCloud, Diagnostic and Siri pop-up settings are set 
# to be disabled.

if [[ ${osvers} -ge 7 ]]; then

 for USER_TEMPLATE in "/System/Library/User Template"/*
  do
    /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant DidSeeCloudSetup -bool TRUE
    /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant GestureMovieSeen none
    /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant LastSeenCloudProductVersion "${sw_vers}"
    /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant LastSeenBuddyBuildVersion "${sw_build}"
    /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_TEMPLATE}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant DidSeeSiriSetup -bool TRUE      
  done
  
 # Checks first to see if the Mac is running 10.7.0 or higher.
 # If so, the script checks the existing user folders in /Users
 # for the presence of the Library/Preferences directory.
 #
 # If the directory is not found, it is created and then the
 # iCloud, Diagnostic and Siri pop-up settings are set to be disabled.

 for USER_HOME in /Users/*
  do
    USER_UID=`basename "${USER_HOME}"`
    if [ ! "${USER_UID}" = "Shared" ]; then
      if [ ! -d "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences ]; then
        /bin/mkdir -p "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences
        /usr/sbin/chown "${USER_UID}" "${USER_HOME}"/Library
        /usr/sbin/chown "${USER_UID}" "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences
      fi
      if [ -d "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences ]; then
        /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant DidSeeCloudSetup -bool TRUE
        /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant GestureMovieSeen none
        /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant LastSeenCloudProductVersion "${sw_vers}"
        /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant LastSeenBuddyBuildVersion "${sw_build}"
        /usr/bin/defaults write "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant DidSeeSiriSetup -bool TRUE
        /usr/sbin/chown "${USER_UID}" "${USER_HOME}"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant.plist
      fi
    fi
  done
fi

exit 0

simple HTML page redirection

 Create page index.html (or which ever is your server default page to be loaded when you access a folder)

type:

<meta http-equiv=”refresh” content=”0;URL=’http://domain.com/page-to-be-redirected-to'” />

this way when someone opens domain.com/old-location will be redirected to domain.com/page-to-be-redirected-to

Grant printer admin rights on a mac to domain users

 allow administration of printers by domain users:

/usr/sbin/dseditgroup -o edit -n /Local/Default -a ‘Domain Users’ -t group _lpadmin

 

If not part of domain you can grant printer admin rights to everyone:

/usr/sbin/dseditgroup -o edit -n /Local/Default -a everyone -t group _lpadmin

Disable spellcheck word 2016

 Here is a solution on how to disable spellcheck in word 2016 using group policy:

 

 

reference: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows/181129-disable-spellcheck-word-2016-a.html

Additionally we create special domain user which is blocked at the firewall level from internet content.

Free backup software for windows “Veeam Endpoint Backup FREE”

 

Veeam Endpoint Backup FREE

There are many options for desktop backup solution if you have windows 10 computer.

You can use build in file history features or classic windows 7 style backup.

It is important to have a backup and the Microsoft included solutions will work fine as long as they are setup.

If you are looking for something with more features and easy setup look at free backup solution from VEEAM.

Here is the link: https://www.veeam.com/endpoint-backup-free.html

Short list of some of the important features:

1. You can create recovery boot disk or USB flash drive
2. Choose bare-metal, volume or file level backup.
3. Schedule recurring backup (Initial backup is full and then incremental)
4. New feature to eject USB backup hard drive after successful backup to protect from ransomware CryptoLocker.
5. Set it and forget it 🙂

There are many reasons to have a backup so please go and do it! 🙂

Phishing attack threat reminder!

 Here is a good article about phishing attacks.

They are always a great threat and it is best to trust no one and carefully examine links in your emails.

http://fortune.com/2017/05/03/google-docs-scam/

Control Windows 10 power savings command line

 windows 10

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc748940(v=ws.10).aspx

using command line:

default power schemes (powercfg /l):

Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e  (Balanced)
Power Scheme GUID: 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c  (High performance) *
Power Scheme GUID: a1841308-3541-4fab-bc81-f71556f20b4a  (Power saver)

example to use High Performance:
powercfg /s 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c

WiFi doesn’t work but it did yesterday on my MacBook air

 Many times I get this question. (The user didn’t change the WiFi configuration at home)

Usually the problem is caused by resent OS update.

Many times to fix it is to reset the NVRAM (here is more info about NVRAM: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063)

1. Shutdown your computer
2. press the power button and hold these four keys until your computer makes the chaim sound twice.

3. let the computer finish booting and test the WiFi connection

Windows 10 Auto login in domain

 

Deploy using registry:
REG ADD “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v AutoAdminLogon /t REG_SZ /d 1 /f
REG ADD “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v DefaultDomainName /t REG_SZ /d *your domain* /f
—-if local domain is needed use “.” (without the “)
REG ADD “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v DefaultUserName /t REG_SZ /d *User* /f
REG ADD “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v DefaultPassword /t REG_SZ /d *password* /f
—If using special character use ^ before it

To remove:
REG delete “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v AutoAdminLogon /f
REG delete “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v DefaultDomainName /f
REG delete “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v DefaultUserName /f
REG delete “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v DefaultPassword /f

Mastodon social network

Interesting idea.

With all the advertising on Facebook and Twitter this could be a breath of fresh air.

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/mastodon-social-network-what-how-create-account

FreeNAS as a Time Machine backup

 Nice tutorial to configure FreeNAS 9.3 as a Time Machine backup:

How to: Configure FreeNAS 9.3 for Time Machine with disk quotas