Active Directory: retrieve the base DN (distinguishedName) attribute of an object

In this tutorial, I will explain how to retrieve the base DN also called distinguishedName in an Active Directory. This attribute is often used to configure LDAP/Active Directory bindings for applications. All Active Directory objects (Users, Computers, Organizational Unit, etc.) have the attribute: distinguishedName and this is unique. I say that the base DN attribute …

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Exchange 2016: Enable Extended Protection

In this tutorial, I will explain to you how to activate extended protection (Exchange Extended Protection) on Exchange 2016 (and 2019 if you do not have CU14 which automatically activates it) which will allow you to protect yourself from CVE-2024 -21410. Exchange Extended Protection is in fact an enhanced security configuration for Exchange 2016 / …

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Active Directory: create an organizational unit (OU) in PowerShell

In this “How to” tutorial, we will see how to create an Organizational Unit in an Active Directory with the New-ADOrganizationalUnit cmdlet. Create an OU in PowerShell Open a PowerShell command prompt From a domain controller open a PowerShell window Use the New-ADOrganizationalUnit Cmdlet to Create the OU Enter the following command by adapting the …

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PowerShell: sign scripts

In this tutorial, I will explain how to sign your scripts. Before going into the subject, we will see why signing the scripts, the main reason is security. If your environment (computers + servers) is configured to run only signed scripts and a PowerShell script is launched in a malicious file, it will be neutralized …

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PowerShell: download a file in HTTP, HTTPS

In this tutorial, I will explain how to download a file using PowerShell that is on a server accessible in HTTP or HTTPS. This can be particularly useful when administering a server without an interface, where the only browser installed is Internet Explorer or in a script. There are several solutions to download one using …

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Install nano on Windows

In this tutorial, I will explain how to easily install nano on Windows (Desktop and Server). If you regularly use Linux, you are certainly familiar with it, for those who do not know nano, it is a command line text editor and it must be said that sometimes it is missing on Windows, particularly when …

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PowerShell: show the contents of a text file

In this tutorial, I will show you how to display the contents of a text file (txt, yaml, php, vbs…) in a PowerShell window. In fact, it’s very simple, just use the Cmdlet Get-Content and specify the file name. Which give : If you are familiar with the cat command in Linux, you can also …

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Windows Server: disable a cipher suite

In this tutorial, I will walk you through how to disable a cipher suite also call cipher. If you arrive on this tutorial by a search engine, there is a good chance that it is due to a vulnerability test and that you have an alert that goes up because vulnerable cryptographic suites (cipher) are …

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WSUS manually import an update from the Microsoft Update Catalog

In this tutorial, I will explain how to manually import a site updatehttps://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/ in WSUS with PowerShell. By default, this operation is possible automatically by passing the console and provided that you use Internet Explorer 11. In 2022, who still uses this browser? Download the update and retrieve its GUID Go to the site https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/ …

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