Introduction

For any YouTuber or ICT student, seeing the “Verify it’s you” popup every minute is annoying. While we established that this is often caused by a simple dead CMOS Battery (CR2032) messing up your computer’s time, it forces us to ask a bigger question:

How does Google actually protect our accounts? And how do hackers try to break in?

In this post, we will break down the two main methods hackers use (Password vs. Session Hijacking) and provide a Disaster Recovery Plan for when you lose your phone.

Part 1: The Two Ways Hacking Happens (ICT Theory)

As an ICT student, you need to understand that not all “hacks” are the same. There are two distinct methods criminals use to enter a channel.

1. Password Theft (The Traditional Method)

This happens when you accidentally enter your Email and Password into a fake website (Phishing).

• The Hacker’s Power: Total Control.
• The Result: They log in, immediately change your Recovery Email, Phone Number, and Password.
• Recovery: Very difficult because they lock you out instantly.

2. Session Hijacking / Cookie Stealing (The Modern Threat)

This is the most common method today, especially for YouTubers who download “Cracked Software” or “Game Patches.”

• How it works: You don’t give them your password. Instead, a virus on your PC steals your “Browser Cookies” (the temporary digital ID card that keeps you logged in).
• The Hacker’s Power: Limited but dangerous. They import your “Cookie” into their browser. Google thinks they are you. They don’t need a password to upload videos.
• The Connection to the “Verify Loop”: The reason you are getting the “Verify it’s you” loop right now is that Google’s security AI is trying to prevent Session Hijacking. Because your computer time is wrong, Google suspects your “Cookie” is fake or expired, so it kicks you out to protect you.

Part 2: Disaster Recovery – “I Lost My Phone!”

Your mobile phone is your key to 2-Step Verification (2FA). If you lose it, you might feel locked out of your brand. Here is the ICT Student’s Guide to getting back in.

Method 1: The “Golden Ticket” (Backup Codes)

If you previously downloaded your 10 Backup Codes, you don’t need your phone.

• Click “Try another way” on the login screen.
• Enter one of the 8-digit codes.
• Tip: Always print these codes and keep them in your wallet, not on your computer.

Method 2: SIM Replacement (The Sri Lankan Fix)

Even if you lose your phone, you haven’t lost your Number.

1. Take your National ID (NIC) to your service provider (Dialog, Mobitel, Hutch, etc.) immediately.
2. Request a SIM Replacement with the same number. The old SIM in the stolen phone will stop working instantly.
3. Put the new SIM into any phone.
4. Log into Google and select “Get code via SMS.”

Method 3: The “Trusted Device” Backdoor

If you are still logged into your Laptop or PC:

1. Go to Google Account > Security.
2. Since the PC is a “Trusted Device,” Google might let you turn off 2-Step Verification temporarily without asking for the phone.
3. Remove the lost phone from the account immediately.

Part 3: Immediate Action Plan (If Phone is Stolen)

If your phone is stolen, do these three things within the first hour:

1. Remote Wipe: Go to android.com/find from a computer. Log in and click “Erase Device.” This deletes all your photos and logged-in accounts so the thief gets nothing.
2. Sign Out via Google: Go to Security > Manage all devices. Find the lost phone and click “Sign Out.” This cuts off the thief’s access to your YouTube Studio.
3. Revoke Authenticator: Generate a new set of Backup Codes or set up a new Authenticator app on a family member’s phone temporarily.

Part 4: What Hackers Do With Stolen Channels

If a hacker bypasses your security (via Cookies or Password), they usually follow a specific pattern to monetize your audience:

1. The Crypto Scam: They rebrand your channel to “Tesla” or “SpaceX,” delete your videos, and livestream a fake Elon Musk video asking for Bitcoin.
2. The Black Market Sale: They sell the channel on the Dark Web to buyers who want a pre-built audience of 50,000+ subscribers.
3. Malware Spreading: They upload videos containing viruses to infect your subscribers.

Conclusion

The “Verify it’s you” loop is annoying, but it’s actually a sign that Google’s security systems are working to prevent Session Hijacking.

• To fix the loop: Replace your motherboard’s CMOS Battery.
• To protect your future: Print your Backup Codes today.
• To recover from loss: Remember that a SIM Replacement is your fastest route back into your account in Sri Lanka.

Do you have a web-based project—like a School Bell System—created with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript? Running it in a web browser can be annoying because of the address bar, the risk of accidental closing, and the computer going to “sleep” mode.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to convert your web project into a standalone Windows Software (.exe) and a Linux Application using Electron. We will use my “School Bell System” as a practical example.

Why Use Electron?

Electron allows you to wrap your web code into a real desktop application.

• No Address Bar: Looks like professional software.
• Prevent Sleep Mode: Keeps the school bell running all day.
• Offline Ready: No internet required after installation.
• Easy Updates: Edit the schedule without rebuilding the software.
• Cross-Platform: Create versions for Windows 10/11 and Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.) from the same code.

Prerequisites

Before we start, you need to install Node.js on your computer (the one you are building the software on).

1. Go to nodejs.org.
2. Download the LTS Version (Windows Installer).
3. Install it (click Next, Next, Finish).
4. Restart your computer.

Step 1: Prepare Your Project Folder

Create a new folder on your desktop (e.g., MyBellApp) and organize your files exactly like this:

• index.html (Rename your main HTML file to this)
• schedule.js (Your bell schedule logic)
• Sound_Files/ (Folder containing all your .mp3 files)

Tip: Do not use spaces in your folder name. Use MyBellApp instead of My Bell App.

Step 2: Initialize the Project

Open your folder, click the address bar at the top, type cmd, and press Enter. A black command window will open.

Run this command to create the configuration file:

Next, install the Electron tools (this requires internet):

Step 3: Create the Engine (main.js)

We need a script to tell the app how to launch and stay awake. Create a new file named main.js in your folder and paste this code:

Step 4: Configure for Windows & Linux

Open the package.json file (created in Step 2) with Notepad. We need to tell it to use main.js and add build commands for both operating systems.

Replace the file content with this:

Step 5: Build Your Software

For Windows 10/11

Run this command in your terminal:

• Result: A folder named SchoolBellSystem-win32-x64.
• How to Run: Open the folder and double-click SchoolBellSystem.exe.

For Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.)

Run this command in your terminal:

Common Questions & Troubleshooting (Q&A)

Q: I get an error “EBUSY: resource busy or locked” when building. A: This happens if your app is already running in the background. Open Task Manager, end the “SchoolBellSystem” or “Electron” task, close any open folders, and try again.

Q: Can I put the Windows .exe and Linux file in the same folder? A: No. They require different system files (DLLs for Windows, .so files for Linux). Keep them in separate folders, or create a master folder with sub-folders like /Windows and /Linux.

Q: The app opens and immediately closes. A: Check your package.json file. Ensure the line says "main": "main.js". If it says "main": "schedule.js", the app will crash because schedule.js cannot create a window.

Q: Can I delete index.html after creating the EXE? A: No. The EXE is basically a web browser. It still needs index.html to display your interface. Do not delete any files inside the resources folder.

Q: Can I rename the .exe file? A: Yes, you can rename SchoolBellSystem.exe to MyBell.exe. However, never move it out of the folder. To put an icon on your desktop, Right-click the EXE > Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).

Q: Can build the Linux version on a Windows 10 computer without any problems

You can build the Linux version on a Windows 10 computer without any problems. The electron-packager tool is smart enough to create the correct Linux files even while running on Windows.

However, there is one important thing you must do when you copy that folder to the Linux computer:

⚠️ The “Permission” Issue

Because Windows file systems do not use Linux permissions, the main start file (usually named SchoolBellSystem-Linux) often loses its “permission to run” during the copy process.

When you copy the folder to the Linux computer, you likely cannot double-click it immediately.

✅ How to Fix It (On the Linux Computer)

Once you copy the folder to the Linux machine:

1. Open the folder.
2. Right-click the file named SchoolBellSystem-Linux (it will have no extension like .exe).
3. Select Properties.
4. Go to the Permissions tab.
5. Check the box that says “Allow executing file as program” (or “Is Executable”).
6. Close the window.

Now you can double-click it, and it will run perfectly!

Q: How to Remove Login Password (Auto-Login)

This makes the computer go straight to the desktop when you turn it on.

For Ubuntu / Linux Mint:

1. Open your Settings (System Settings).
2. Find the Users settings.
3. Click the Unlock button at the top right (you will need to type your password once).
4. Look for the switch that says “Automatic Login”.
5. Turn it ON.

Now, when you restart the computer, it will not ask for a password.

Q: How to Create a Desktop Shortcut

To put a clickable icon on your Desktop that opens your new Bell System:

1. Right-click on your Desktop and choose Create New Document > Empty Document.
2. Name it: SchoolBell.desktop (Make sure it ends with .desktop).
3. Open this file with a text editor.
4. Paste the code below

Activate the Shortcut:

• Right-click the new SchoolBell.desktop file on your desktop.
• Select Properties > Permissions.
• Check the box “Allow executing file as program”.
• (On Ubuntu, you might also need to right-click the file and select “Allow Launching”).

Q: How to Add to Startup (Auto-Start)

If you want the Bell System to open automatically when the computer turns on:

1. Open your Home Folder.
2. Press Ctrl + H on your keyboard (this reveals hidden folders).
3. Open the folder named .config.
4. Open the folder named autostart. (If it doesn’t exist, create a folder named autostart).
5. Copy the SchoolBell.desktop file you created in Part 2.
6. Paste it inside this autostart folder.

Now, when the computer turns on:

1. It will skip the password (Auto-Login).
2. It will automatically open your School Bell App.

Conclusion

Converting a web app to a desktop EXE is a powerful skill for any ICT student. Now you have a professional School Bell System that is stable, sleep-resistant, and runs on both Windows and Linux computers.

Happy Coding!

Don't Throw Away That Old Pentium 4!

How to turn a 15-year-old computer into a powerful Automated School Bell System.

Do you have an old computer gathering dust in your school lab? Maybe it’s a Pentium 4 with only 1GB of RAM that struggles to run Windows 7. Before you send it to the scrap heap, I have good news: That computer is perfect for running the School ICT Automated Bell System.

The problem isn't the computer; it’s the operating system. Windows 7 uses about 800MB of RAM just to stay awake, leaving no room for your applications. By switching to a lightweight Linux distribution, we can free up that memory and run the Bell System smoothly 24/7.

In this guide, I will show you exactly how to install Q4OS Linux, fix common sound issues, and set up the automated bell system on hardware from 2005.

Step 1: Download the Right Linux Version

Since most old school computers are 32-bit (x86), you cannot use standard modern operating systems. We need a specific "Distro" designed for older hardware.

My Recommendation: Q4OS (Trinity Desktop) Q4OS is excellent because it looks almost exactly like Windows XP/7, so other teachers won't feel lost using it.

1. Go to the Q4OS Downloads Page.
2. Look for "Q4OS Aquarius, Trinity, install-cd - 32bit / i386".
3. Click Download (The file is about 600MB-800MB).
   • Note: Do not download the "64bit / x64" version unless you are sure your PC supports it.

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB (The Right Way)

Old computers are picky. If you don't burn the USB correctly, it won't boot.

1. Download Rufus on a working Windows PC.
2. Insert your USB drive (4GB or larger).
3. Crucial Settings:
   • Device: Select your USB.
   • Boot Selection: Select the Q4OS ISO file you downloaded.
   • Partition Scheme: Change this to MBR (Not GPT).
   • Target System: "BIOS (or UEFI-CSM)".
4. Click START.

Tip: If the old computer refuses to boot from USB, use software like ImgBurn to burn the ISO file to a blank DVD. Optical drives are often more reliable on Pentium 4 machines.

Step 3: Installation

1. Plug the USB/DVD into the old PC.
2. Turn it on and tap the Boot Menu Key (usually F12, F9, or Del) immediately.
3. Select your USB device from the list.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions. Select "Erase Disk and Install Q4OS" to give the system maximum speed.

Step 4: The "No Sound" Fix (IMPORTANT)

After installing Linux on old hardware, you might find the sound doesn't work. This is the most common issue, but it is easy to fix.

Fix A: Configure the Driver (TDE Control)

1. Go to Start Menu > Control Panel > Sound & Multimedia.
2. Open Sound System (or "TDE Control Module").
3. Go to the Hardware tab.
4. Under "Select the audio device", change it from "Open Sound System" (which is obsolete) to "Advanced Linux Sound Architecture" (ALSA).
5. Click Apply.

Fix B: Unmute the Hardware Switch Linux often installs with the sound card "Muted" for safety.

1. Open the Terminal (Black screen icon).
2. Type alsamixer and press Enter.
3. Look at the "Master" bar.
   • If you see MM at the bottom, it is Muted.
   • Press M on your keyboard to switch it to 00 (On).
4. Use the Up Arrow key to raise the volume to the green zone.
5. Press Esc to exit.

Fix C: Test It In the terminal, type: speaker-test -t wav -c 2 If you hear a voice saying "Front Left... Front Right", your audio is fixed!

Step 5: Setting Up the Bell System

Now that your robust Linux machine is ready, let's run the School Bell System.

1. Download the System: Get the latest Bell System files (HTML + JS + MP3s) from SchoolICT.net.
2. Copy to Desktop: Move the folder to your Linux desktop.
3. Browser Settings (Crucial): Modern browsers block "Auto-play" audio by default. We must allow it so the bells ring automatically.
   • Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Autoplay. Change "Default for all websites" to "Allow Audio and Video".
   • Chromium: Click the Lock icon near the address bar > Site Settings > Sound > Allow.
4. Run It: Open the .html file in the browser. Leave it running, and your bells will ring automatically on schedule!

Summary

By spending 30 minutes installing Linux, you have saved your school the cost of a new computer. This setup is virus-free, stable, and perfect for the 24/7 nature of a bell system.

Need the Bell System Code? [Download the School Bell System 2026 Here]