Rare Tricks

Ethical Hackers League Scholarship

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 07:55:00 +0000

Ethical Hackers League on its 6 year anniversary, is offering 6 certification programs with 100% scholarships to deserving candidates. EHL has identified that there is a huge skill gap between the industry demand for security requirements and available skilled professionals. With the rise in cyber crime being so imminent, it poses a serious threat to the internet world and we need more cyber security professionals to protect the world we log into. To further this cause, EHL is offering 6 certification programs to 365 candidates in each program in order to increase the pool of available cyber security professionals.

EHL has been in the cyber security domain since 2011, and have trained numerous candidates and this is the first time a crowd training program is being offered for FREE ever. Interested students/professionals need to apply to see if they qualify for the scholarship and will be informed within 2 weeks of the date of application. 

This will also further the motive of Shri. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India - to create "a Digital India where cyber security becomes an integral part of our National Security."

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https://ethicalhackersleague.org

Python language in a single image

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 19:06:00 +0000

Permissions Time Machine allows you to quickly change Windows system permissions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:06:00 +0000

Depending on whether you are logged on as a system administrator or regular user, you may have come into Windows' permissions system, or not.
Permissions determine what individual users, or user groups, are allowed to do on a system. This includes permissions to edit or delete files among other things.
Sometimes, permissions get changed without your doing. Maybe by a virus or other malicious code that is running on a system, or by a legitimate program.
If that is the case, you may encounter situations where you get access denied messages when you try to perform operations on your system.
While it is usually possible to sign in as an administrator and use the built-in system tools to restore permissions for specific users or groups, the workflow itself is not that straightforward.

Permissions Time Machine review

Permissions Time Machine has been designed to improve that process. It enables you to change permissions from an easy to use interface.
When you first start the application -- administrative privileges are required -- you see a list of tabs that lead to permission settings for those data types. Available here are for example Registry keys, processes, services, printers, or files.
Usually, you are required to either type path information into a form -- or use a file browser to do so -- or pick one of the available options from a pull down menu instead.
Example

Lets say you want to reset the permissions of a folder on the system. You select File System in the program interface, and click on the browse folders icon afterwards. Select the folder using the browser, or alternatively, type or paste the path directly in the path field on the page.
It is now necessary to select a user account or group that you want to reset the permissions for. Click on the refresh icon next to "select User or Group" and there on the discovery menu item.
A new window pops up displaying all users and groups of the system. Select one or multiple users or groups from the list and click continue.
If you want to restore the default permission set, click on default in the interface to do so. You can alternatively select a permission that you want that user or group to have, and click on reset afterwards to apply it.
Working with the app
The terminology is somewhat confusing at times, and while it is possible to select multiple users or groups at once that you want to change permissions for, it is not possible to select multiple permissions at once.
Not a problem if you want to give "all permissions" to the selected accounts and groups, but if you want to give specific permissions only, you need to run operations multiple times to do so.
Permissions Time Machine is easy to use on the other hand, especially when you want to change permissions to their default levels.
This can be very helpful if you want to recover from changes made to the system by malicious software or other unwanted software that ran on it, or if you are running into permissions issues after migration.

Tips to Secure Your Router from Hackers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 04:31:00 +0000

Introduction

Hackers aren’t just targeting major corporations. They’re also exploiting routers in small businesses and even households. They can, for instance, hack into routers to remotely open up network access via the Internet or perform local attacks in order to obtain access via the Wi-Fi.
Here I’ll discuss a couple of security vulnerabilities in consumer and small business-class routers and show how to prevent them from threatening your network, which usually just takes a simple setting change. I’ll discuss some newly discovered vulnerabilities in addition to some weaknesses that have been around for many years.

Disable UPnP

Many routers and other network-connected devices support the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) protocol. This standard enables networked devices to automatically discover each other and establish connections for easily accessing the devices, sharing or streaming media, and other services.
There have been known vulnerabilities with UPnP within the local network, but it was publically discovered in early 2013 that some vulnerabilities can be exploited via remote attacks over the Internet on certain devices. This allows hackers to perform remote code execution to modify firewall and other network settings that can open your network up to further hacking. They could also perform denial of service (DoS) attacks to disturb your operations.
Though not all routers are susceptible to this vulnerability and some vendors may release updates to fix those that are at risk, its best to disable UPnP. Additionally, you should consider blocking UPnP traffic on the firewall of your router or Internet gateway.
If you want to know if yours is susceptible to some specific UPnP attacks you can use the ScanNow for UPnP utility from Rapid7.

Disable WPS

Most Wi-Fi routers from 2007 and on include the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) feature. It was created by the Wi-Fi Alliance to help simplify the process of connecting Wi-Fi clients using the Personal (PSK) mode of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA or WPA2) security. Depending upon the WPS support by your router and end-user device, you can either push a button on the router and or enter the router’s PIN on the device you want connected.
There’s a vulnerability publically discovered in late 2011, however, that makes cracking WPS fairly easy with tools like Reaver and wpscrack. The vulnerability lies in the design of the PIN method of WPS. It makes it possible for a local attacker to crack the PIN combination via brute force attempts and also perform denial of service DoS attacks. Once they have the PIN they can connect to the secured network without cracking the actual encryption. You can learn more about the WPS vulnerability from a past article.
Though vendors can implement functionality in their routers to help reduce the threat of this vulnerability, it's best to disable WPS if possible. Additionally, you can use the Enterprise (802.1X) mode of WPA or WPA2 security, which isn’t susceptible to this vulnerability. You can learn more about deploying enterprise Wi-Fi security in small businesses from a past article.

Disable Web-based Remote Management

There are a few exploits hackers can use to take control of your router via the Internet when you have web-based remote management enabled. Thus disable it so your router’s web-based interface isn’t exposed to the web.
Instead of using the router’s remote management feature, consider connecting to the network via VPN when remote access is needed. If that isn’t possible, see if the router supports remote SSH access, which is more secure than web-based access. And as a last resort, if you want to use the web-based remote management see if you can at least specify allowed IP addresses to limit where access can be made.

Enable HTTPS Web-based Management

There are also vulnerabilities of the web-based management on your local network. A rogue user or hacker with internal access could eavesdrop on the network traffic and possibly capture or crack your logins to the router’s web-based interface. Once they have access they could change the router settings and create a security hole in the network. To prevent capturing or cracking of your router’s password, enable HTTPS access if it’s offered.

Verify the Firewall is Enabled

Though it’s usually enabled by default, ensure the router’s firewall is enabled. Also use any optional security features like turning off ping responses and using any features that help prevent DoS attacks.

Change the Admin Password

Though you take steps to prevent hackers from having access to the web-based management, you should still change the default admin password. This will also help protect your router incase users on network try to access it.

Enable Logging and Review Logs

Most routers have a logging feature that logs informational and security alerts. Ensure logging is enabled and check them periodically for signs of attacks. You might find signs of hacking attempts and other issues.

Safely Store Your Router Backup File

If you save your router’s configuration, ensure the backup file is stored in a secured location. There are utilities that can perform off-line cracking of the admin password using the backup file.

Upgrade Your Firmware

As mentioned, vendors can—but aren’t required—to release updates to their networking gear to patch known security holes, improve the device, and even add new features. So keep an eye out for firmware updates for your models. Visit the vendor’s website to view the firmware downloads and then check your device’s firmware version to see if there’s a newer version you can update to.

Windows 8 Tweaks and Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 04:27:00 +0000

As you probably know by now, Microsoft has made many major changes in Windows 8. The Start Screen replacing the Start Menu is just one of the major changes you’ll notice. These new and improved features can be quite useful and frustrating at the same time. So here I’ll share some tweaks and tricks you might be interested in as a Windows 8 admin and user.

Bringing Back the Start Menu

Though you’ll find similar shortcuts in the metro-style interfaces and gestures that were offered previously via the Start Menu, adding a Start Menu in Windows 8 can be useful. It can reduce the number of times you have to access the Start Screen, like when opening programs, powering down, and accessing system settings. Though Microsoft doesn’t offer a setting to bring the Start Menu back, you can download and use third-party utilities like ViStart, Start8, or Windows 8 Tweaker.

Boot Directly to the Desktop

If you aren’t a fan of the new Start Screen consider booting directly to the Desktop. One method is to use Task Scheduler to run Explorer at boot; here’s how:

Go to the Start screen.
Type “schedule” and it will start searching and then select the Settings option on the right, under the search field.
Open the Schedule Task shortcut in the results.
Select Task Scheduler Library on the left, open the Action menu from the toolbar, and select Create Task.
For the Name, type something like “Show Desktop at Logon”
Choose the Tiggers tab, select New, on the top select At log on, and hit OK.
Choose the Actions tab, select New, for the Program/Script value enter “explorer”, and hit OK.
If you're on a laptop, choose the Conditions tab and under the Power options, uncheck Start the task only if the computer is on AC power.
Hit OK to save the new task.

Next time you logon you should be taken to the familiar desktop where you'll also find a Windows Explorer window opened to your Libraries.

Open Media Files in Desktop Applications

By default, media files you open in Windows 8 will be shown or played in the metro-style apps, which is annoying if you work mostly in the Desktop interface. However, you can choose which desktop application or Windows 8 app to open files with by right-clicking on a file. Or you can change the default programs for files:

Open the Start screen, type “default”, and open the Default Programs shortcut in the search results.
Select Set your default programs.
Select the program with the desired associated file types, like Windows Media Player for audio and videos or Windows Photo Viewer for images and then select Set this program as default.

Launch Windows 8 Apps from the Desktop

The new Start Screen offers shortcuts to both Windows 8 apps and traditional Desktop programs. But from the Desktop, you can’t by default launch Windows 8 apps. So if you primarily use the Desktop interface, consider creating a folder menu of all your applications:

Right-click (or touch and hold) on the desktop, select New, and choose Shortcut.
Copy and paste the following into the location field: %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1} and click Next.
Type in a name, like “All Apps”, and select Finish.

Now when you open the folder you’ll see a listing of your applications, including the Windows 8 apps.

Customize the Windows 8 Win+X Menu

The Win+X menu offers shortcuts to system settings and programs, accessible by pressing Win + X on the keyboard or by right-clicking the bottom-left corner of the desktop. This is a useful menu for admins and power users, but can be even more convenient by adding your own custom shortcuts. To do this simply download the freeware Win+X Menu Editor. It lets you modify the existing groups and shortcuts and add new ones.

Prevent Uninstallation of Windows 8 Apps

By default, Standard users can remove the new Windows 8 apps by right-clicking tiles on the Start Screen and selecting Uninstall. This makes uninstalling them quick and easy, but can be an issue if you don’t want users to remove them. However, you can prevent this by using Group Policy: navigate to User Configuration/ Administrative Templates/ Start Menu and Taskbarand enable Prevent users from uninstalling applications.

Disable the Windows Store

The Windows Store is where you can download free and paid Windows 8 apps. Although it’s convenient that you can make quick purchases from Windows Store using billing information on-file, it can be an issue if you share your computer with others that aren’t fully trusted—they can make purchases without your consent. However, you can use Group Policy to disable Windows Store: navigate to User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store and enable the Turn Off the Store application policy.

Enable Windows Store in Windows 8 To Go

When using Windows 8 from a Windows To Go flash drive, the Windows Store isn’t available. But if you’d like users to be able to update or install Windows 8 apps, you can enable the Windows Store using Group Policy: navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store and enable Allow Store to Install apps on Windows To Go workspaces.

Windows 8 Apps for IT Professionals

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 04:18:00 +0000

There has been much controversy over Windows 8 with the replacement of the Start Menu--especially in regards for use by business or productivity users. But you might as well get the most out of the new metro-style Start Screen if you’ve upgraded.
Here we’ll discover some apps you might find useful as an IT or networking professional that you can run on your Windows 8 PC, laptop, or even your tablet running Windows 8 RT.
What’s IP
This app display your local and Internet (WAN) IP address on the live title. Plus you can open the app to view further network information: host name, profile name, connection type, authentication, encryption, subnet mask, IPv6 address, and connectivity status (local and/or Internet access).
IP Subnet Calculator
Lets you calculate network addresses and subnets. Input the IP address, adjust the Subnet Mask via a slider control and it displays Subnet Bits, Host Bits, Max Subnets, and Max Hosts. It also shows the Subnet (Network) and Broadcast addresses and the host range.
Rackspace Cloud
If you use the Rackspace Cloud, this app lets you control and manage your Cloud Servers and Cloud Files. You can perform the basic functions for your Cloud Servers: reboot, rename, resize, rebuild, create, or delete Cloud Servers, and manage backup schedules. You can also ping IP addresses to your Cloud Servers from multiple locations around the world. For Cloud Files, you can control CDN settings and create, delete, modify containers. You can also create, download, or open the files to your device. You can also manage your Load Balancers: view, create, update, and delete Cloud Load Balancers and add or remove nodes to Cloud Load Balancers.
The app also supports a passcode lock to protect the app and your cloud services and even wipes the app's data after ten failed login attempts.
PC Monitor
Lets you remotely monitor and manage computers and servers that you’ve installed their agent software onto. You can monitor computer resources like network performance, IIS, Exchange, Active Directory, and Hyper-V. You can also run tasks, execute commands in a terminal, manage running processes and services, check and apply updates, restart, shut down and wake your computers. It supports notifications and customized alerts.
Their free service supports up to 5 computers with no subscription payment required and no time limitation.
Simple Network Tools
This app doesn’t provide any live title display, but when you open it you’ll find some useful tools: What’s My IP to view your Internet (WAN) IP address, Lookup to get basic ownership details of an IP or domain, DNS Records to retrieve the DNS server addresses and records of an IP or domain, Ping to check an IP or domain’s status, and Trace to check the server path and latency of an IP or domain.
Remote Desktop
This Microsoft app provides a simple RDP client while still supporting RemoteApp connections and Remote Desktop Gateways. Although they still include the original client desktop program, this provides remote desktop connections in the metro-style interface.
TeamViewer Touch
If you use TeamViewer for remote desktoping, this app lets you access remote machines with their Partner ID or you can log into your account to view your list of computers. Though this app doesn’t support incoming or VPN connections (you still must install the desktop application for those), it does support encrypted remote desktop connections to Windows, Mac, or Linux machines, with reboot and multi-monitor support.
Ping
Let’s you test the connection quality between your computer/device and servers on the local network or the Internet. Instead of sending ICMP packets that are typically blocked by firewalls, it establishes a TCP/IP connection and works on both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. It can help you measure packet loss percentages and round-trip times. It supports simultaneous pinging of multiple hosts and displays data in nice visual manner
Router CoCPit
This app lets you control and monitor a UPnP capable router, displaying details like up- and download speed, connection statistics and status, IP-addresses, and device details. It also offers quick access to the router's configuration interface. Plus the app can help with configuring your router or troubleshooting your internet connection.
PcWakeUp
This app allows you to wake-up remote PCs that are compatible with Wake-On-Lan or Wake-On-Wan. You can save remote PC details (MAC address and IP or hostname) and quickly send the “magic” packet in the future.
mFTP
Provides a full FTP client with the usual functionality: download, upload, create, rename, and moving files. Plus you can also modify their access permissions.
Hyper-V Manager
This apps lets you manage your Hyper-V server's virtual machines, provided you have their service component installed on your Hyper-V server machine (Windows 8 or Windows Server). You can view server status and amount of memory free. You can view screenshots of virtual machines and start, pause, and save them. The app supports multiple servers and Active Directory domains.
MyData Viewer
Lets you view MySQL 5.x databases, displaying a list of tables with a Modern UI style. It uses Secure Password Authentication over TCP/IP protocol to connect to MySQL databases via the Intranet or Internet. A future release will add new features for MySQL query data.

Top 5 Tips for Windows 8 Networking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 04:15:00 +0000

I took the plunge and upgraded my Windows 7 laptop to Windows 8. I had little prior knowledge and, for the most part, I’ve been pleased. Certainly, there have been minor annoyances like the Start Button Fiasco that most every new Win 8 / Win 2012 user has struggled with. Getting used to the “tile” interface and the “charms” is taking a while but, there are also pluses. For example, the boot up time is amazing, it seems very stable (no blue screen or app crashes yet), and I can see where, given the right hardware, the Win 8 “metro” interface could be very powerful. Windows 8 and 2012 offer a huge range of features but, for the purposes of this article, I’d like to specifically hone in on networking in Windows 8. For this post, I put together my 5 top tips for Windows 8 networking. These are things that I have learned, new features that you may not know about, or tools that will make your life (as a Windows 8 user) easier. Here they are:

Tip #1 – Know Your Connection Status

The network is your friend. Without the network, you won’t be able to do much of anything. No web browsing, no email checking, no file sharing, etc. Whether you’re using Ethernet or Wireless, you’ll see the same network connection indicator in the system tray (bottom right). However, it’s with wireless where you’ll see differences

Figure 1: Windows 8 Wireless Network Connection Status
Windows 8 wireless connection status is new but is still pretty self-explanatory. It shows your wireless network connections that are available, which you are connected to, and whether airplane mode is on or off. What isn’t as obvious is If you right-click on the network names, you’ll be able to either connect to the wireless network or disconnect.

Tip #2 – Use New Windows 8 Networking Features

Something that isn’t as obvious in this same window is if you right-click on the wireless networks, you’ll get some wireless network configuration options, including a couple of new ones.

Figure 2: Right-Click on Networks To Configure
The settings that have been around for some time are to “Forget this network”, “turn sharing on or off” and “view connection properties”. What’s new is to “set as a metered connection” and “show estimated data usage”. The option to turn sharing on or off is one that I use when I travel or visit the local coffee shop. You don’t want to be sharing your files in public places as this creates a security risk.

Figure 3: Turning Windows 8 sharing on or off
The connection properties will take you to the traditional wireless network connection properties screen.
What is a nice is the new Windows 8 wireless networking feature to configure metered connections. Metered access is used to monitor and reduce utilization of wireless network connections that limit your bandwidth. For example, I have a Verizon Mifi device for connecting to the Internet via cellular. The rub is that the monthly bandwidth on that device is limited to 5GB. After 5GB I am charged per MB. Obviously I want to do what I can to avoid the overage charges. However, in the past that was difficult to do as there wasn’t anything I could do.
New in Windows 8 is the metered connection feature where you can specify certain wireless connections as being metered and view their data usage, from the perspective of Windows 8. For example, I clicked on “view estimated data usage”.

Figure 4: Viewing estimated data usage
As you can see, the connection that I am viewing is way over my 5GB limit but thankfully this is my local wifi connection that isn’t metered (or else I would be way over my quota). With metered networking turned on, any app that relies on an Internet connection to update or display info might be limited in the amount of data it can download or display. You might notice these and other effects:

Windows Update will only download priority updates.
Apps downloading from the Windows Store might be paused.
Start screen tiles might stop updating.
Offline files might not sync automatically.

When I am travelling and using my mifi cellular Internet, I’m thankful that Microsoft included this new metered networking connection feature in Windows 8.
Note that you can also access your wireless network configuration by going to the settings charm (move the mouse to the top right corner) and then clicking on settings.

Figure 5: Win 8 Charms
From there, you’ll see your network connection.

Figure 6: Win 8 Wireless Network Access in Settings

Tip #3 – For Small Networks, Use HomeGroup

Introduced with Windows 7, HomeGroup is a great way to share files and printers between small groups of users – at small offices or at home. It hasn’t undergone major revisions in how it works with Windows 8 but the interface that you use to configure it looks quite different and how you arrive there has changed.
To configure HomeGroup in Windows 8, go to the Settings Charm (as shown in Figure 5) and click Change PC Settings (as shows in Figure 6). From here, scroll down and click on HomeGroup to configure.

Figure 7: Configuring HomeGroup in Windows 8
From here, you can Create a HomeGroup. You’ll select what you want to be shared and you’ll configure a HomeGroup password that other devices will use to join the HomeGroup.

Tip #4 – New Network Performance Statistics

New in Windows 8, inside Task Manager, you’ll find per process network statistics.

Figure 8: Per Application / Process Network Statistics in Windows 8 Task Manager
Additionally, in Task Manager, you’ll find great new graphs on the Networking tab, as you see below.

Figure 9: New Network Statistics in Windows 8 Task Manager
These are two great new places to go in Windows 8 to keep track of what’s going on in the network.

Tip #5 - Have a Good Understanding of Networking, In General

I’ve offered a number of tips here but if you don’t have a good understanding of networking in general, you’re going to struggle to put these tips to good use. For example, what’s the difference between a static IP and a dynamic IP? Which should you be using for servers vs workstations? What’s the importance of a subnet mask? Is a default gateway always required? These things don’t change just because you change from Windows 7 to Windows 8. No matter your OS, it’s critical to have a good understanding of networking to work on a Windows Server infrastructure.

Figure 10: Windows 8 Wifi and Networking Status
For example, in the graphic above I can tell that this computer is connected to the wireless network, it’s using DHCP to obtain its IP address address, 3 DNS servers are configured, the default gateway and DNS servers are the same, and we are on a Class C subnet with the mask of 255.255.255.0.
All too often basic network configurations are forgotten and forgotten at initial configuration time or when troubleshooting. Do you know how to get to your traditional network troubleshooting tools in Windows 8 and Windows 12?

New Data Recovery Options in Windows 8

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 01:50:00 +0000

Introduction

Microsoft introduces three new data backup and recovery features in Windows 8: File History, Refresh, and Reset. File History allows users to restore deleted files or previous versions of files. Refresh lets you restore the Windows system files—much like System Restore—and Reset is essentially a factory restore option. Here you’ll discover exactly what each of these recovery features does and how to use them.

File History Replaces the Previous Files Feature

The File History feature is basically an enhanced version of the Previous Versions feature introduced back in Windows 7. Both create incremental backup copies of files that you can restore in case you accidentally delete or modify them, or if they become corrupt. You can go in and restore a file or folder to a previously saved state.
In Windows 7, file backups for Previous Versions were made when Windows created a new system restore point (usually daily) or when a Windows Backup was initiated. Once you enable File History in Windows 8, however, it’s set by default to take snapshots of new or changed files every hour. Additionally, File History must backup to an external drive or network location, whereas Previous Versions in Windows 7 backed up to your main Windows drive. If using an external drive you can still use the drive for other storage purposes, but keep in mind you want it plugged into the computer as much as you can.
To access the File History settings in Windows 8, open the Control Panel: put your cursor in the bottom left corner of Windows, right-click, and select Control Panel, and then open File History.

Figure 1: File History settings in the Control Panel.
If you have an external drive plugged in you can simply click Turn On, otherwise you can choose a network location for the backups.
From the File History Control Panel applet you can click “Restore personal files” to open a File History browser to navigate through the saved versions of files and initiate a backup.

Figure 2: Browsing through the saved versions of files created from File History.
Alternatively, when you're browsing through files in Windows Explorer, you can always hit the History button to view its saved copies of File History.

Figure 3: This is the button you can hit when browsing files to access it's previously saved copies.
In the Advanced Settings of File History, you can customize how often to save copies of files, maximum percentage of disk space to use, and how long to keep the saved copies. For workgroup environments you might also want to recommend the File History drive to others in the Homegroup.

Figure 4: Here you can change the advanced settings of File History.

Refresh offers a New Repair Install Option

Refresh is like an improved version of the Repair Install option offered back in Windows XP. When you do a Refresh it backs up all the personal files and metro-style apps before reinstalling Windows. It doesn’t, however, retain the traditional desktop applications but it puts a list of them in an HTML file on the desktop. However, if a backup image of the PC was created ahead of time, Refresh will restore your PC to that image, which would include the desktop applications that were installed.
The best part of Refresh: Microsoft claims that the process can take less than 10 minutes regardless of how much personal data is backed up.
You can initiate a Refresh via the metro-style Settings app:

Bring up the right charms bar and select Settings.
Choose Change PC settings.
Select the General settings tab.
On the right under the “Refresh your PC without affecting your files” section, select the Get started button.

Figure 5: Here's where you'd initiate a Refresh.

Performing a Reset

Reset is like the Microsoft approach to a complete factory restore, typically offered by PC vendors. It's useful when you want to recycle or sell your computer. After you transfer your personal files over to a new computer you can do a Reset on the old one to completely wipe it, so no traces of personal data are left.
Performing a Reset would remove all data and then reinstall Windows, putting it in the same condition as when it was started the first time. This process take anywhere from less than 10 minutes to up to 25 minutes, according to Microsoft.
The Regular Reset option formats the drive before reinstalling Windows, while the Thorough option writes random patterns to every sector of the drive, to reduce the chances of data being recoverable.
You can initiate a Reset via the metro-style Settings app:

Bring up the right charms bar and select Settings.
Choose Change PC settings.
Select the General settings tab.
On the right under the “Remove everything and reinstall Windows” section, select the Get started button.

Figure 6: Here's where you'd initiate a Reset.

How to disable Metro toast notifications on the Desktop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:17:00 +0000

With Windows 8, Microsoft has introduced a new notification system: instead of balloon tooltips in the tray, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 use toast notifications, which appear on the right side of the screen and fade away after some time.
Such kind of notifications perfectly fit the Modern UI of Windows 8, which has a flat and touch friendly design. However, the classic Desktop is another story. These new toast notifications look out of place on the Desktop. In this article, we will look at how we can disable Metro toast notifications on the Desktop.

There is a setting called 'Show app notifications' inside the PC Settings app which allows you to disable toast notifications. In Windows 8, it is located at PC Settings -> Notifications. In Windows 8.1, Microsoft has redesigned the PC Settings app, so you need to go to PC Settings Search and Apps -> Notifications.
Here are step-by-step simple instructions to disable them using the PC Settings app:

Press the Win+C shortcut on the keyboard. The Charms Bar will appear on the screen.
Click the 'Settings' gear icon and click the PC Settings item at the bottom of the screen.
Go to PC Settings -> Notifications section, if you are in Windows 8 RTM, or PC Settings Search and Apps -> Notifications in case of Windows 8.1
Turn off the 'Show app notifications' option:

Alternatively, you can apply the following registry tweak to your OS:

Open Registry Editor .

Go to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PushNotifications

In the right pane, modify the ToastEnabled value and set it to 0. If this value does not exist, you should create a new DWORD value and name it ToastEnabled. This DWORD value is responsible for the state of the toast notifications feature. Set it to 0 to disable toast notifications. To enable them again, set it to 1.

How to manage wireless networks in Windows 8.1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:09:00 +0000

Windows 8 has extreme UI changes for management of wireless networks. The good old user interface of Windows 7 was removed, and now, Windows 8 provides you a touch friendly network pane to connect to a wireless network, and does not provide any GUI to remove the stored network profiles.

Well, in the opened command prompt, type netsh and press Enter. The following prompt will appear on the screen:

In the netsh console environment, we can perform several tasks.
To view stored wireless network profiles, type the following command and press enter:

wlan show profiles

This command will list stored wireless network profiles:

To view the stored wireless network key, type the following command:

wlan show profile name="Profile Name" key=clear

Replace the "Profile Name" part with the actual profile name from your PC which you can see in the Metro-style Network pane. The result will be as follows:

To delete a stored wireless network profile, you should execute the following command:

wlan delete profile name="Profile Name"

Replace the "Profile Name" part with the actual profile name from your PC which you can see in the Metro-style Network pane.
To change the wireless network priority, use the following command,

wlan set profileorder name="Profile Name" interface="Wireless Network Connection" priority=1

Replace the "Profile Name" part with the actual profile name from your PC. In this command, 'Wireless Network Connection' is the connection name of the W-Fi adapter, which you can see in Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections:

So, in my case, the commands could be as follows:

Just for note:
Windows usually connects to networks in this order:

Ethernet
Wi-Fi
Mobile broadband

When you connect to a new Wi-Fi network, it’s added to the list, and Windows will connect to that network while it’s in range. If you connect to another Wi‑Fi network while in range of the first network, Windows will prefer the second network over the first one.
Mobile broadband networks are treated differently. If you manually connect to a mobile broadband network when there is a Wi-Fi network in range, the mobile broadband network is preferred just for that session. The next time you’re in range of both networks, the Wi‑Fi network is preferred. This is because mobile broadband networks typically are metered.
If you want to force your PC to prefer a mobile broadband network over Wi‑Fi, tap or click the Wi-Fi network in the Metro-style list of networks, and then click Disconnect. Windows won’t automatically connect to that Wi-Fi network.
Also, you can prevent Windows from connecting automatically to any Wi-Fi network. Use the following netsh command:

netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Profile Name" connectionmode=manual

Replace the "Profile Name" part with the actual profile name from your PC.

RamExpert reveals information about your PC’s RAM capabilities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:11:00 +0000

While it is possible to look up how much RAM your PC has easily, for instance by paying attention to the boot process or opening the System control panel applet, it is not as easy to look up details about it using default tools and information.
If you want to know how much RAM your PC -- or motherboard to be precise -- supports, and which types, and how much per individual slot, then your best bet of finding that out is to use third-party software for that.

RAMExpert

RamExpert has been designed to display all there is to know about your PC's RAM and its capabilities. You can download a portable adware-free version from the developer website, or a setup version instead.
When you start the program, it scans the system briefly to display all relevant information on the screen.
The top lists general information about the RAM. This includes the number of available slots -- also indicated below that individually -- the current memory installed and the maximum memory supported by the motherboard.
In addition to that, it displays real-time information about the memory that is currently in use.
It displays each RAM slot individually below that. For each slot, its name, current capacity and type are displayed. Depending on its type, you may also find information about the model, serial number and manufacturer here.
RamExpert may also indicate upgrade options if available, as empty slots are displayed by it as well.
You can click on the slot to be taken to the author's website and from there to Amazon.com to purchase additional RAM, and while that may seem like a good idea, it is usually better to find out more about the installed RAM and the motherboard's capabilities.
That's an area where RAMExpert unfortunately lacks in. While it displays general information about the RAM type, it does not display information about timings or speed, and also does not suggest to either use the same type of RAM for the remaining slots, or get new ones for all slots instead.

Verdict

While RAMEXpert displays information about the installed RAM and the PC's capabilities, it fails to include information that may be relevant to users.

Create Bootable USB From Windows Installation DVD Using WinToFlash

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 07:03:00 +0000

WinToFlash is a powerful utility to copy Windows installation files from DVD disc to flash drive, SD Card, or external HDD, so you can install Windows faster on your system without a DVD disc. It not just copies Windows installation DVD content to any location but makes the external storage medium bootable as well. While supporting a wide range of OS, including, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 2008, and Windows 7, it allows you to transfer live CD/DVD, such as BartPE, to flash cards with a single click.
Unlike other Windows installation cloning software, it comes with extremely simple usage. The wizard includes just 2 steps to select the source and target location to copy Windows installation files and to make the USB drive bootable. Along with easy wizard mode, it has an Advanced Mode for power users to customize the cloning process with a slew of options. The Advanced Mode allows you to change different options for transferring Windows XP, 2003, Vista, and 7 to USB drive and create Windows XP/2003 emergency bootloader, MS-DOS USB drive, and Windows XP/2003 recovery console.

The main screen encourages user to start off with Wizard. If you need to simply copy the Windows installation content from optical drive to USB drive and make it bootable, hit ‘green tick’ button to follow the wizard steps.

Read the instruction on first step window and click Next to specify source and target path. Once done, click Next to begin the process. Once the process is finished, safely remove the external storage medium to avoid any data loss issues.

To customize any installation file transferring options, switch to Advanced mode from main screen, choose the task from pull-down menu, and click Run.

For each task, there are 3 sets of options which you can configure – Basic Parameters, Format, and FAT. Before executing the specified task, do check all the provided options and configure them prior to acquiring complete understanding.

The application is free but comes with one catch – It displays advertisements while performing the task.
Download WinToFlash

Ghost keyboard Typing-Make Notepad type Automatically

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Hey guys , Today I am going to share with you a Short but Cool notepad trick. You can show it to your friends and surprise them. Basically it is a prank that you can do with anyone just for fun.

This Process is Also known as “ Ghost Keyboard Typing ”

Just follow the simple steps to Learn Ghost Keyboard Typing

Step 1: Right click on your desktop and select create new text document or simply Open Notepad.

Step 2: Exactly Copy the code given below and Paste it in notepad document that you have just created.

set wshshell = wscript.CreateObject(“wScript.Shell”)
wshshell.run “Notepad”
wscript.sleep 400
wshshell.sendkeys “S”
wscript.sleep 100
wshshell.sendkeys “M”
wscript.sleep 120
wshshell.sendkeys “A”
wscript.sleep 200
wshshell.sendkeys “R”
wscript.sleep 100
wshshell.sendkeys “T”
wscript.sleep 140
wshshell.sendkeys “T”
wscript.sleep 100
wshshell.sendkeys “R”
wscript.sleep 50
wshshell.sendkeys “I”
wscript.sleep 120
wshshell.sendkeys “C”
wscript.sleep 170
wshshell.sendkeys “K”
wscript.sleep 100
wshshell.sendkeys “S”
wscript.sleep 50
wshshell.sendkeys “.”
wscript.sleep 120
wshshell.sendkeys “N”
wscript.sleep 160
wshshell.sendkeys “E”
wscript.sleep 200
wshshell.sendkeys “T”
wscript.sleep 100

Step 3: Save the above code in Notepad file As ” smarttricks.vbs ” (Without Quotes ) but make sure While saving this file select Save as type ”All files” and extension must be

Step 4: Now double click on The saved File, You will see “SMARTTRICKS.NET ” will be typed Automatically. Moreover you can edit the Words In the above given Code with any desired words you want Notepad to type for you. e.g. : MY FRIEND READING THIS IS FOOL..vb

How to make Internet Explorer 10 run in compatibility mode

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:57:00 +0000

I know it might come as a surprise to many of you, but Internet Explorer 10 is AWESOME. It is the fastest and the most standards compliant version of the most hated browser in the world.
I always think if Microsoft had done this about 3 years ago it would have been the most popular browser in the world.

Now getting to the point, if you are a web developer or designer like me and are using Windows 8 and find that your latest work is being rendered properly in your version of Internet Explorer but not on your client’s ridiculously old IE7, and are sitting helpless , thinking of rolling back to Windows XP just for this reason, then worry not, this tutorial is for you !
1. Open up Internet Explorer 10 (The non metro version. I still haven’t tested with the metro version).
2. Press ‘Alt’ key on your keyboard to bring up the top menu. And then go to Tools > Developer Tools. Alternatively you can just press the ‘F12’ key on your keyboard.

3. This will bring up the IE developer tools which looks just like the one in Google Chrome at the bottom.

Web Developer Tools in Internet Explorer 10

You can then click ‘Browser Mode’ and then click on the Internet Explorer version you want to simulate. You can also set the document mode to quirks mode or standards mod from the next drop down .
That’s it. A really short and easy tutorial for a problem that could have been a pain the ass.

Run commands

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 13:42:00 +0000

List of run commands for windows
Run commands can be used to boost your working speed. Typing just few words will do your work. Like if you wanna open calculator than you have to go to start->programs->accessories->calc. But if you go by run command then you have to open run->type calc and press enter. This way is more easier then the previous one.So for using run method you need to know all the commands.Run commands can be used to boost your working speed. Typing just few words will do your work. Like if you wanna open calculator than you have to go to start->programs->accessories->calc. But if you go by run command then you have to open run->type calc and press enter. This way is more easier then the previous one.So for using run method you need to know all the commands.
Here is the list of all run commands:

A

Accessibility Controls – access.cpl
Accessibility Wizard – accwiz
Add Hardware Wizard – hdwwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs – appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools – control admintools
Adobe Acrobat (if installed)- acrobat
Adobe Designer (if installed)- acrodist
Adobe Distiller (if installed)- acrodist
Adobe ImageReady (if installed)- imageready
Adobe Photoshop (if installed) – photoshop
Automatic Updates – wuaucpl.cpl

B

Bluetooth Transfer Wizard – fsquirt

C

Calculator – calc
Certificate Manager – certmgr.msc
Character Map – charmap
Check Disk Utility – chkdsk
Clipboard Viewer – clipbrd
Command Prompt – cmd
Component Services – dcomcnfg
Computer Management – compmgmt.msc
Control Panel – control

D

Date and Time Properties – timedate.cpl
DDE Shares – ddeshare
Device Manager – devmgmt.msc
Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)* – directx.cpl
Direct X Troubleshooter – dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility – cleanmgr
Disk Defragment – dfrg.msc
Disk Management – diskmgmt.msc
Disk Partition Manager – diskpart
Display Properties – control desktop
Display Properties – desk.cpl
Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected) – control color
Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility – drwtsn32
Driver Verifier Utility – verifier

E

Event Viewer – eventvwr.msc

F

Files and Settings Transfer Tool – migwiz
File Signature Verification Tool – sigverif
Findfast – findfast.cpl
Firefox (if installed) – firefox
Folders Properties – control folders
Fonts – control fonts
Fonts Folder – fonts
Free Cell Card Game – freecell

G

Game Controllers – joy.cpl
Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) – gpedit.msc

H

Hearts Card Game – mshearts
Help and Support – helpctr
HyperTerminal – hypertrm

I

Iexpress Wizard – iexpress
Indexing Service – ciadv.msc
Internet Connection Wizard – icwconn1
Internet Explorer – iexplore
Internet Properties – inetcpl.cpl
Internet Setup Wizard – inetwiz
IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration)- ipconfig /all
IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) – ipconfig /displaydns
IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) – ipconfig /flushdns
IP Configuration (Release All Connections) – ipconfig /release
IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) – ipconfig /renew
IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) – ipconfig /registerdns
IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) – ipconfig /showclassid
IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID)- ipconfig /setclassid

J

Java Control Panel (If Installed) – jpicpl32.cpl
Java Control Panel (If Installed) – javaws

K

Keyboard Properties – control keyboard

L

Local Security Settings – secpol.msc
Local Users and Groups – lusrmgr.msc
Logs You Out Of Windows – logoff

M

Malicious Software Removal Tool – mrt
Microsoft Access (if installed) – access.cpl
Microsoft Chat – winchat
Microsoft Excel (if installed) – excel
Microsoft Frontpage (if installed) – frontpg
Microsoft Movie Maker – moviemk
Microsoft Paint – mspaint
Microsoft Powerpoint (if installed) – powerpnt
Microsoft Word (if installed) – winword
Microsoft Syncronization Tool – mobsync
Minesweeper Game – winmine
Mouse Properties – control mouse
Mouse Properties – main.cpl

N

Nero (if installed) – nero
Netmeeting – conf
Network Connections – control netconnections
Network Connections- ncpa.cpl
Network Setup Wizard – netsetup.cpl
Notepad – notepad
Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) – nvtuicpl.cpl

O

Object Packager – packager
ODBC Data Source Administrator – odbccp32.cpl
On Screen Keyboard – osk
Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed)- ac3filter.cpl
Outlook Express – msimn

P

Paint – pbrush
Password Properties – password.cpl
Performance Monitor – perfmon.msc
Performance Monitor – perfmon
Phone and Modem Options – telephon.cpl
Phone Dialer – dialer
Pinball Game – pinball
Power Configuration – powercfg.cpl
Printers and Faxes – control printers
Printers Folder – printers
Private Character Editor – eudcedit

Q

Quicktime (If Installed) – QuickTime.cpl
Quicktime Player (if installed) – quicktimeplayer

R

Real Player (if installed) – realplay
Regional Settings – intl.cpl
Registry Editor – regedit
Registry Editor – regedit32
Remote Access Phonebook – rasphone
Remote Desktop – mstsc
Removable Storage – ntmsmgr.msc
Removable Storage Operator Requests – ntmsoprq.msc
Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) – rsop.msc

S

Scanners and Cameras – sticpl.cpl
Scheduled Tasks – control schedtasks
Security Center – wscui.cpl
Services – services.msc
Shared Folders – fsmgmt.msc
Shuts Down Windows – shutdown
Sounds and Audio – mmsys.cpl
Spider Solitare Card Game – spider
SQL Client Configuration – cliconfg
System Configuration Editor – sysedit
System Configuration Utility – msconfig
System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) – sfc /scannow
System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot)- sfc /scanonce
System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot)- sfc /scanboot
System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting) – sfc /revert
System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) – sfc /purgecache
System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x) – sfc /cachesize=x
System Information – msinfo32
System Properties – sysdm.cpl

T

Task Manager – taskmgr
TCP Tester – tcptest
Telnet Client – telnet
Tweak UI (if installed) – tweakui

U

User Account Management – nusrmgr.cpl
Utility Manager – utilman

W

Windows Address Book – wab

Windows Address Book Import Utility – wabmig
Windows Backup Utility (if installed) – ntbackup
Windows Explorer – explorer
Windows Firewall – firewall.cpl
Windows Address Book – wab
Windows Address Book Import Utility – wabmig
Windows Backup Utility (if installed) – ntbackup
Windows Explorer – explorer
Windows Firewall – firewall.cpl
Windows Magnifier – magnify
Windows Management Infrastructure – wmimgmt.msc
Windows Media Player – wmplayer
Windows Messenger – msmsgs
Windows Picture Import Wizard (need camera connected) – wiaacmgr
Windows System Security Tool – syskey
Windows Update Launches – wupdmgr
Windows Version (to show which version of windows) – winver
Windows XP Tour Wizard – tourstart

Shortcuts for windows 8

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 13:24:00 +0000

As now many of us are using windows 8, today i will provide you collection of windows 8 shortcut keys, which will make windows 8 more easy and user friendly to you.

Windows key : Access the Start screen
Windows+D : Access the Desktop.
Windows+C : Show the Charms.
Windows+Q (or just start typing when you are on the Start menu) : Search
Windows+H : Share
Windows+K : Start Windows Devices
Windows+I : Settings
Windows+Z : Show the App Bar while in any app.
Windows+Tab or Alt+Tab : Cycle through open apps.
Zoom in and out : Ctrl+- to zoom out and Ctrl++ to zoom in
Windows+period : Snap an app to one side of the screen : .
Start Screen : Windows Key
Right Shift key : If you press it for eight seconds, it turns on Filter Keys. If you press it five times in a row, it turns on Sticky Keys.
Ctrl+mouse wheel : When used on the desktop, it changes the size of your desktop icons. When used on the Start screen, it zooms in and out.
Ctrl+A : Select all.
Win+C : Open the charms.
Ctrl+C : Copy.
Win+D : Show the desktop.
Alt +D : Select the address bar in Internet Explorer.
Ctrl+Alt +D : Enable the Docked mode in the Magnifier tool.
Win+E : Open File Explorer.
Ctrl+E : Select the search box in File Explorer.
Win+F : Show Files in the Search charm.
Win+Ctrl+F : Open the Find Computers window, which can find computers on a network (used mostly in business networks).
Win+G : Cycle through desktop gadgets.
Win+H : Open the Share charm.
Win+I : Open the Settings charm.
Ctrl+Alt +I : Invert colors in the Magnifier tool.
Win+J : Switch the focus between snapped apps and larger apps.
Win+K : Open the Devices charm.
Win+L : Lock the computer and display the Lock screen.
Ctrl+Alt +L : Enable Lens mode in the Magnifier tool.
Win+M : Minimize all the windows on the desktop.
Ctrl+N : Open a new File Explorer window.
Ctrl+Shift +N : Create a new folder in File Explorer.
Win+O : Change the Lock screen orientation.
Win+P : Open the project options for a second screen.
Win+Q : Open the Search charm.
Win+R : Open the Run window.
Ctrl+R : Refresh.
Win+T : Set the focus on the taskbar and cycle through the running desktop apps.
Win+U : Launch the Ease of Access Center.
Win+V : Cycle through notifications.
Win+Shift +V : Cycle through notifications in backward order.
Ctrl+V : Paste.
Win+W : Open Settings in the search charm.
Ctrl+W : Close the current window. It works only in desktop apps.
Win+X : Open the hidden system menu.
Ctrl+X : Cut.
Ctrl+Y : Redo.
Win+Z : Opens the app bar. It works only in Windows 8 apps.
Ctrl+Z : Undo.
Win+keys from 1 to 9 : Display the app at the given position on the taskbar.
Win++ (plus sign) : Zoom in while using the Magnifier tool.
Win+- (minus sign) : Zoom out while using the Magnifier tool.
Win +, (comma) : Peek at the desktop.
Win+. (period) : Snap a Windows 8 app to the right.
Win+Shift +. (period) : Snap a Windows 8 app to the left.
Win+Enter : Launch Narrator.
Win+Alt +Enter : Launch Windows Media Center if installed.
Alt + Enter : Open the Properties window for the item selected in File Explorer.
Space : Select or clear an active check box.
Win+Space : Switch the input language and keyboard layout.
Alt +Space : Open a shortcut menu in desktop applications.
Tab : Move forward through options.
Win+Tab : Cycle through Windows 8 app history.
Win+Ctrl+Tab+Arrow keys : Cycle through Windows 8 app history in the direction you specify by using the arrow keys.
Ctrl+Tab : Cycle through Windows 8 app history (identical to Win+Tab).
Alt +Tab : Switch between opened apps (including desktop apps).
Shift +Tab : Move backward through options.
Ctrl+Alt +Tab+Arrow keys : Switch between opened apps (including desktop apps) in the direction you specify by using the arrow keys.
Esc : Cancel.
Win+Esc : Exit the Magnifier tool.
Ctrl+Esc : Show the Start screen.
Ctrl+Shift +Esc : Launch Task Manager.
PrtScn : Copy an image of your screen to the Clipboard.
Left Alt +Left Shift +PrtScn : Turn on High Contrast.
NumLock : Press for five seconds to turn on Toggle Keys.
Ctrl+Insert : Copy (alternative to Ctrl+C).
Shift +Insert : Paste (alternative to Ctrl+V).
Win+Home : Minimize inactive desktop windows.
Win+PageUp : Move the Start screen to the left monitor.
Win+PageDown : Move the Start screen to the right monitor.
Win+Break : Open the System Properties window.
Left arrow : Open the previous menu or close the current submenu.
Win+Left arrow : Snap the active desktop window to the left.
Win+Shift +Left arrow : Snap the active desktop window to the left monitor.
Ctrl+Left arrow : Show the previous word or element.
Alt +Left arrow : Show the previous folder in File Explorer.
Ctrl+Shift +Left arrow : Select a block of text from the current cursor position to the left.
Right arrow : Open the next menu or submenu.
Win+Right arrow : Snap the active desktop window to the right.
Win+Shift +Right arrow : Snap the active desktop window to the right monitor.
Ctrl+Right arrow : Show the next word or element.
Ctrl+Shift +Right arrow : Select a block of text from the current cursor position to the right.
Win+Up arrow : Maximize the active desktop window.
Win+Shift +Up arrow : Maximize the active desktop window and keep the current width.
Ctrl+Up arrow : Show the previous paragraph.
Alt +Up arrow : Advance up one level in File Explorer.
Ctrl+Shift +Up arrow : Select a block of text.
Win+Down arrow : Minimize the active desktop window.
Win+Shift +Down arrow : Minimize the active desktop window and keep the current width.
Ctrl+Down arrow : Advance to the next paragraph.
Ctrl+Shift +Down arrow : Select a block of text.
F1 : Display Help if available.
Win+F1 : Launch Windows Help and Support.
F2 : Rename the selected item.
F3 : Search for a file or folder.
F4 : Display items in the active list (works only for desktop apps).
Ctrl+F4 : Close the active document.
Alt +F4 : Close the active item or app.
F5 : Refresh.

How to disable SkyDrive in Windows 8.1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 12:11:00 +0000

The Windows 8.1 operating system is a step in the right direction for Microsoft for the most part. While it does not get rid of all the annoyances that shipped with Windows 8, it takes care of some and improves the system's usability in many ways.

Not everything has improved though, and one of the areas where you may notice this is Microsoft's file synchronization service SkyDrive.
Unlike before, SkyDrive is now part of the operating system and if you are using a Microsoft account, you are having access to storage automatically.
While that sounds great in theory, the integration does not replicate all the features that the desktop version of SkyDrive offers. One missing feature is the remote fetch option, which you can use to retrieve files from a remote computer provided that it is connected to the Internet.
Another SkyDrive's Smart Files feature which displays virtual representations of files on Windows 8.1 instead of the files themselves. While that includes metadata that will be used in searches that you perform on the system, you will have to download the files when you want to access them. It is possible to make all files available offline, but that requires manual work on your part.
If you do not use SkyDrive on the system, you may want to consider disabling its functionality completely to free up space in File Explorer and hide it from dialogs in the operating system. Windows 8.1 ships with options to disable SkyDrive completely on the system, so that it cannot be used anymore as storage.
Note: Even if you disable SkyDrive in Windows 8.1, you won't be able to install the SkyDrive desktop application on the system. The installer will run and exit shortly after that without installing the desktop app on the system.

Disable SkyDrive in Windows 8.1

You have two options to disable SkyDrive in Windows 8.1. The first requires access to the Group Policy Editor, which is not available in all versions of Windows 8.1, while the second uses the Registry to make the change.
Group Policy Editor

If you have access to the Group Policy Editor, do the following to launch it and turn off SkyDrive:

Tap on the Windows-key to go to the start screen interface if you are not already there.
Type gpedit.msc and select the first result from the list.
This opens the Local Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to the following folder: Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > SkyDrive
Locate "Prevent the usage of SkyDrive for file storage" and double-click on the entry.
Switch its state from "not configured" to "enabled" and click ok.

To turn it back on, repeat the process but switch the state from "enabled" to "disabled" or "not configured" instead.

This policy setting lets you prevent apps and features from working with files on SkyDrive.
If you enable this policy setting:
Users can't access SkyDrive from the SkyDrive app and file picker.
Windows Store apps can't access SkyDrive using the WinRT API.
SkyDrive does not appear in the navigation pane in File Explorer.
SkyDrive files aren't kept in sync with the cloud.
Users can't automatically upload photos and videos from the camera roll folder.
If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, apps and features can work with SkyDrive file storage.

The Registry

If you do not have access to the Group Policy Editor, you can make the same change in the Windows Registry instead.

Tap on the Windows-key to go to the start screen if you are not there already.
Type regedit and select the regedit.exe result.
Confirm the User Account Control prompt that is displayed.
Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Skydrive
You may need to create the Skydrive folder here. If you do, right-click on Windows and select New > Key and name it Skydrive.
Right-click on SkyDrive and select New > Dword (32-bit value) and name it DisableFileSync.
Double-click the new parameter and change its value to 1.
Sign out and back in again.

How SQRL may improve the website login and authentication process

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:57:00 +0000

If you want to sign in on a website on today's Internet, you have to supply a username and password to do so. It does not really matter if you type the login details in manually, or if you are using a password manager to do that for you.

One of the problems associated with the authentication process is that the data is not linked to a specific person. If someone else gets hold of your username and password, they will be able to log in on most Internet sites without problems.
The solution that most companies seem to favor right now is to add a second layer of authentication to the process. This is called two-factor authentication, and involves the realtime generation of a code that you need to enter as a second login step before access is granted.

Introducing SQRL

SQRL (pronounced squirrel) is a new website login and authentication technology by Gibson Research Corporation. Websites that support SQRL displays a QR code on the login page that contains the website url and a long random number.
The user scans the code using the SQRL app, program or extension. The site url is displayed to the user before any other actions are taken. Without confirmation, everything stops right here.
The application produces a unique site-specific public key pair using the information and signs the URL of the site using the site-specific private key.
It then uses a secure HTTPS Post query to the site the user wants to sign in on providing it with the generated site-specific public key and the cryptographic signature.
The site uses the cryptographic signature and the site-specific public key to verify that the signature is valid for the url. This verifies that the user used the private key of the key pair to sign the url of the web service.

You may have noticed that there is no entering of usernames and passwords, or account creations involved. While it is certainly possible that websites may provide new users with opportunities to create a profile, it is by no means required to sign in using SQRL.
Other benefits of the new technology are that SQRL IDs are site-specific, which means that it is no longer possible to link a users account or login to multiple web properties. A login will only work on one site, and no other site.
Visitors are identified by their public key, a 256-bit number that is presented to a website every time it is visited. What is interesting here is that websites can identify users without knowing anything about them.
A basic example where this may come in handy is posting comments on sites. Instead of having to register an account first on many sites, users could simply use SQRL for identification to post comments on those sites.
The web server the website is hosted on only stores the public key of users using SQRL. If a server gets hacked, that is all hackers get (plus other information that users may be required to add after the first authentication). Hackers cannot use the public key for anything, as they need access to the private key as well, which the website does not have access to either.
And since there is no keyboard input during the whole process, it takes care of all keyloggers and other recording applications that may be running on a computer system.
Last but not least, it is also a decentralized authentication option. The application you use is the key, and it runs only on your smartphone or your computer. There is no third party involvement whatsoever, and the algorithm used is NSA & NIST-free.
The official SQRL website offers additional details (lots of them) about the technology. If you are interested in digging deeper, this is a good place to start.

Share files securely without using cloud storage with BitTorrent Sync

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 15:01:00 +0000

There are many different ways to share and transfer files between multiple computers. You can always use the integrated sharing features with Windows, or you can use a superior third party tool. There’s always cloud storage support, but that involves uploading files and content to the cloud. While most cloud services are secure, many are not comfortable storing personal content anywhere on the internet. BitTorrent Sync is a unique application that allows you to share files between computers over a LAN or internet connection using torrents.

What is it and what does it do

Main Functionality
BitTorrent Sync works just like any other torrent application except you’re sharing personal files between computers. The big difference with the app is that no files or content are stored on a server or in the cloud. When pulling content with the app it uses a direct connection between various computers, and no third party services are involved in any way. Obviously, the huge requirement here is that the computer storing the files needs to remain connected to the internet at all times.
Pros

Share files between devices securely and privately
Folders are protected by 20 bit “secrets” or encryption keys
You can share an unlimited number of files and directories of any size, even large files work
Connecting devices is quick, easy and extremely efficient
The application only uses about 11MB of RAM, so it’s relatively lightweight
Content is not stored on a server or in the cloud, it remains solely on the host and client computers and is transferred via a direct connection
Mobile devices can be connected through a QR code

Cons

In order to access the shared files the host computer must remain connected to the LAN or internet at all times
File transfer speeds can be a bit slow as it depends on your internet connection or network

Discussion
I’m constantly looking for new software to share files between my various computers. One of the main reasons is because I’m constantly fixing computers for family and friends, and it requires downloading and installing various applications. I’m interested in keeping all of my software and files on a single computer, that can transfer said content to various machines when necessary. Better yet, I’d like to be able to connect to my host computer from anywhere and pull those files.
BitTorrent Sync uses a direct connection between computers to transfer files. The content is protected and secure thanks to the use of private encryption keys. Even better, the platform has been designed specifically to serve and share very large files. That’s one of the biggest issues with most cloud storage and sharing services, is that you have a file size limit. You can synchronize an unlimited number of folders or directories, of varying sizes ranging from large to small.
That being said, there are three different types of “secrets” or keys. A master secret offers full access, and a read only secret does as you’d expect. There are also one-time secrets for full access or read only access which restricts access to a single download. When first installing the application you have the option to enter a secret, so it’s a streamlined setup if you already have one available.
Essentially, it works just like this. You install the BitTorrent Sync on all of the computers you’d like to share files to and from. Then you add a folder or directory to share, and create a “secret” for it, which serves as an encryption key or password. The code is produced at random, and is different every time you create a new one (obviously). Then, on the receiving device(s) you choose the folder that you added, and enter the “secret”. The application will automatically synchronize content stored in that folder across all machines. Of course, in order to work properly the affected computers need to remain connected to the internet.
Perhaps the most interesting feature is that BitTorrent Sync supports cross platform file transfers between even mobile devices and Mac OS X.
The UI is very easy to navigate and understand, even the most casual users would have no issues setting up folders to synch. Any folders added to the application from the host computer will synch automatically with connected machines. That means any and all files included in the affected directory are shared. If you don’t want a particular file shared, you just leave it out of the shared directory- simple as that.
The only people that can access your files and content are the ones that have the “secret”. That means you don’t have to worry about any external intruders or third parties accessing your data. It’s pretty secure too considering each “secret” is 20 bytes long and randomly generated.
BitTorrent Sync uses about 11MB of RAM while running so it’s relatively light on system resources. From my experience, I did not notice a change in the memory usage even when files were being transferred.
Conclusion and download link
BitTorrent Sync is a file transfer tool, that allows you to synchronize specified directories between multiple computers and mobile devices. It uses a 20 bit “secret” or key for each folder shared, which must be entered on alternate machines in order to connect. Content is not stored in the cloud, instead client devices connect directly to the host computer. Because of that, the host machine must remain connected to the internet or LAN network at all times. On the client computers, files are automatically synchronized when they are edited provided the user has been given exclusive access. You can also dole out one time use keys which offer full or read only access depending on what kind of permissions you would like to give others. It uses only 11MB of RAM while running even when transferring files, so it’s pretty lightweight too. If you’re looking for a secure file transfer tool without server side content storage, BitTorrent Sync is definitely a must try.
Price: Free
Version reviewed: 1.1.7.0
Supported OS: Windows 8/7/Vista/XP
Download size: 1.41MB
VirusTotal malware scan results: 0/46
Is it portable? No
BitTorrent Sync Homepage

Giphy brings animated GIFs to Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 14:57:00 +0000

Despite the emergence of GIFs as one of the internet's favorite art forms, Facebook still doesn't allow the image format to live up to its full potential: they just can't animate anywhere on the social network. But the GIF search engine Giphy has found a workaround. Starting today, all animated GIFs shared from Giphy to Facebook now employ a workaround that allows a GIF to endlessly animate once another person clicks on it, seemingly by converting the GIFs into flash. In our test, it didn't always work perfectly — some images would glitch in and out of existence — but it's overall a much better situation for GIF lovers than the status quo: images devoid of life.

BBM for Android & iPhone Landing Pages & FAQ Spotted – Not Functional Yet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 14:10:00 +0000

It seems like this launch of BBM for Android and iPhone is coming very soon. Josef let us know that Andyrew510 on CrackBerryforums spotted the landing pages for the BBM for Android and iOS applications. They are not functional yet but they do get the point across with the message. Let us know when you see them update!

They also have this FAQ:

What is a PIN?
A PIN is your 8-character personal identification number on BBM. The PIN is comprised of a unique combination of numbers and letters assigned to each BBM user. PINs are used as a way to identify each individual member of BBM, and can be used to add a contact on BBM.
What is a BlackBerry ID?
A BlackBerry® ID gives you access to BBM and any saved BBM data, among other things. After creating a BlackBerry ID for the first time, follow the instructions in the BlackBerry ID email to access all of the BBM features.
To view your current BlackBerry ID information, do the following:
1. Tap > .
After a certain amount of time, if you aren’t actively using BBM, you might be prompted to re-enter your BlackBerry ID password. If you want to sign in with a different BlackBerry ID in BBM, you can reinstall BBM.
Is BBM free?
Yes, BBM is free to download. Like many apps, BBM requires access to the Internet and contributes toward your wireless data usage when you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi network. Some wireless service providers offer ways for you to check your data usage so that you know whether your service plan is appropriate for your usage.
How do I add a BBM contact?
You can add contacts to BBM by scanning their BBM barcodes. You can also add contacts by typing someone’s phone number, email or BBM PIN, or by selecting a contact on your device. Contacts who don’t have BBM can download it from your invitation.
1. Tap > .
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap .
3. Follow the directions on the screen.
To view your pending BBM invitations, tap > .
How do I find my PIN or barcode?
A PIN is a unique identifier used in BBM. People can invite you to become BBM contacts if they know your BBM PIN or if you show them your BBM barcode.
To find your BBM PIN or barcode:
1. Tap your BBM picture or name in the top bar of the BBM screen.
2. Tap the QR code icon in the bottom bar of the screen .
Your BBM PIN will be displayed under the QR code image
How do I restore my contacts?
If you’ve used a BlackBerry ID with BBM before, enter the same BlackBerry ID on the BBM Sign In screen. Your contact list will be restored.
Tip: Your BlackBerry ID is an email address. If you forgot your password, click here to recover it.
If you switched from a BlackBerry device running BBM 6.2 or earlier and you still have access to it, do the following:
1. On your BlackBerry smartphone, update to the latest version of BBM and sign in using your BlackBerry ID.
2. On current smartphone, sign in to BBM using the same BlackBerry ID.
Click here to invite your friends on Facebook and Twitter to download BBM and add your new PIN.
How do I create a BBM group?
Plan events, track to-do lists, share pictures, and chat with up to 30 people in one group at the same time. For example, you can make decisions and confirm your plans in the group chat and then create an appointment that everyone in the group can see. If a group already has 30 members, you won’t be able to join until someone leaves the group or you can start your own group.
Whoever creates the group automatically controls the group membership, profile picture and name, and can disband the group and delete all of the shared information. Additional admins can be added after that.
Tap > .
Do one of the following: To create a group, tap . Complete the fields. To see the groups that you’re currently in, tap .
You can add members to a group that you’re in depending on the options that the group administrator has set. In a group, tap the group profile picture or name at the top of the screen. Tap Members. To invite more people to the group, tap Back > .
How do I personalize my BBM status or profile?
Let your contacts know what you’re doing or share your mood by changing your BBM name, status, or picture. If you have a status that you use often, such as a vacation notice, you can save it to use again later.
Tap your picture or name.
Do any of the following:
To change the name that your contacts see, tap your current name.
To change your BBM picture, tap your current picture. Tap . Select a new picture or animated GIF to use as your BBM picture.
In the What’s on your mind? field, type a status.
What sounds can I set for BBM?
You can change the sound for BBM in your device settings. For example, you can change the volume and tone or select options like Vibrate or Silent.
When you ping someone in BBM, the other person’s device makes a sound (unless it’s set to Silent). If you don’t hear a sound when receiving a ping, check the sound settings on your device.
What emoticons can I use?
BBM includes different emoticons that you can use in your chats and status updates. You can type a 2-digit country code in asterisks to add a flag icon to your message, such as typing *CA* to add a Canadian flag.
BBM can also display certain emojis, which are special emoticons created for Japanese electronic messages and webpages. Your contacts might not be able to see emojis that you copy and paste from a website into BBM.
Why don’t all of my BBM contacts have profile pictures?
If some of your contacts don’t set a profile picture in BBM, you won’t see a picture for them in chats or in your list of BBM contacts.
Why can’t I add a contact?
The person might not have BBM setup yet. If you invite a contact who has BBM but your invite is still pending, the person might not have responded to your invitation or the person might have ignored your invitation.
To view your pending invitations, complete the following:
1. Tap > .
2. Tap Sent. If an invitation remains in your Sent list for a long time, you can delete it. Just touch and hold the invitation and tap .
How do I unblock a contact?
To remove a contact from your Blocked list so that you can become contacts in BBM, do the following:
1. Tap > .
2. Beside the Blocked Contacts field, tap Edit.
How do I restore BBM?
After associating your BlackBerry ID with BBM, your BBM contacts, profile, and group memberships are automatically backed up over the wireless network.
If you switch devices or lose your device, you can restore your BBM data by using the same BlackBerry ID that you associated with BBM. If your BBM contacts appear but you’re still missing some of your groups, you can ask someone from the group to add you again.

Use These Facebook Privacy Settings to Eradicate Over-Sharing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 14:04:00 +0000

Lock down your Facebook privacy settings so you don’t share more than you intend to. Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED

Facebook wants you to share as much information about yourself as possible. It wants your friends to do the same. After all, the more personal details you feed into the network, the less likely you are to pack your data suitcase and leave. Advertisers tend to like all that data too. All this means your default privacy settings probably don’t jibe with how you want to actually share your information.
Luckily, you’re not defenseless. With a few small setting adjustments, you can take back control and make sure you share only what you want with the world.
One key thing to remember before we proceed though: The Internet is forever. Once you have posted something online, it does not belong to you anymore. If you’ve shared a photo or status update with anyone, it’s possible that they could screenshot it and share it with the world. So when in doubt, don’t post it.
Lists
One of the most useful ways you can optimize your Facebook sharing is to share updates with a select group of people (close friends, family, coworkers) through the creation of lists. Even more than privacy, lists are useful for only sharing information with those who are likely to be most interested.
To create a list or manage ones you’ve already got, go to the Friends section in the left-hand navigation panel, then click “More,” which is to the right of the Friends header. There, you can see all of the lists you’ve created and edit their members. You can also create a list by clicking “+ Create List,” naming it, and adding the friends you’d like include.
Privacy
Now on to broader control of your privacy settings. Click on the privacy control icon in the upper right of your Facebook home screen, then click “See More Settings.” We’ll start with the “Who can see my stuff” section. In the drop-down menu, click “Custom.” If you want to keep it simple, you can opt to share only with Friends. This allows your posts to be shared with friends of those you tag in your photos. If you want tighter control, uncheck the box for sharing with “Friends of those tagged,” and specify who (your mom, your boss, or specific lists) you don’t want future posts shared with.
Next, limit the audience for old posts on your Timeline. Do you remember what you posted five years ago? Yes? Well then you probably want to hide it. No? You definitely want to hide it.
To adjust what shows up on your Timeline, the simplest — albeit still tedious — way is to go through your Activity Log. There you can see what items you’ve commented on are public, specific to a group or list, or Friends only. Facebook keeps track of every action you take. If you liked a post that could be deemed unsavory in the future, here you can unlike it so it doesn’t show up on your Timeline or through Facebook Graph Search.
In the “Who can contact me” section, if you often meet new people outside your usual social circles, you may want to leave “Who can send you friend requests” open to everyone. Otherwise, you can limit the friend requesting to Friends of Friends. The default of Basic filtering should be fine when it comes to what messages you want filtered to your inbox.
Next, a big one: How searchable do you want to be? That is, who do you want to be able to look you up with your email address and phone number. To stay on the safe side, I recommend Friends only. If you meet someone you definitely want to Facebook friend and they can’t find you, simply adjust this setting temporarily (or search for them, if their privacy settings are looser). Keeping this setting locked down reduces the amount of spammy and unwanted friend requests you get.
Similarly, you’ll want to limit “Who can look up your timeline by name?” to just your friends. If a friend of a friend wants to check out what you’ve been up to all year, you can friend them first. Most of us don’t want strangers peering through our Facebook history. So for the next setting, unless you’re 100 percent confident your Facebook profile is squeaky clean, switch “Do you want other search engines to link to your timeline?” to Off.
Timeline and Tagging
Keeping control of who can view what on your Timeline, as well as your tagging settings, comes down to personal preference. But if you want to veer towards the secure side of things, the screenshot below shows the settings you should switch to.

What we suggest your Timeline and Tagging settings should look like on Facebook.

It’s always a good idea to review the photos you’ve been tagged in before they get widely broadcast to your friends. Maybe you didn’t want to share that you were raging at a kegger till 3 a.m. last night, for example.
For “Who can see posts you’ve been tagged in on your Timeline,” you can set it to Friends only as a default, or (as I’ve done) Friends, with the exception of some of your lists.
Security
Towards the top of the left-hand navigation panel is a header titled “Security.” You’ll want to enable both Secure Browsing and Login Notifications (which lets you know if your account gets logged into from a new browser or device) for both email and text/push notifications. As another security precaution, we suggest enabling approvals for logging in from an unknown browser and enabling Code Generator, which adds a layer of security when linking an app to Facebook.
Blocking
Got one person that keeps annoying you with constant event invites? Tired of receiving app invitation requests for the latest Facebook gaming fad? Under the “Blocking” section, you can block specific users, app invites from specific users, event invites from specific users, or invites from specific apps.
Apps
And if you haven’t already, here’s how to control which apps your friends can see that you use, as well as what information your friends can access about you through their apps.

Best Lock Screen Widgets for Android Phones

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 06:39:00 +0000

One of the many bonuses of owning an Android smart phone is that you are able to add widgets to your home screen. While some widgets may not be useful for every user, but there are some specific widgets for Android devices that everyone should definitely give a try. Also, very few people will be aware of the fact that widgets can also be used on your lock screens.
Android Jelly Bean 4.2 introduced these special lock screen widgets in the market. It allows you to interact with your smart phone without the need to unlock it. In situations where you are guarding your smart phone with a lock screen, it can be annoying to unlock your device each time you want to check the weather or change your wireless settings.
In situations like this, disabling the lock screen is not the only viable option. Try these lock screen widgets to get rid of this problem forever.

Dash Clock

As is clear from the name itself, Dash Clock is a dashboard clock for Android devices that is meant to replace the default Android lock screen clocks. Dash Clock is no doubt one of the most incredible widgets for your smart phone. This clock is definitely prettier than the traditional lock screen clock. This makes a huge difference as the lock screen is what you see the most on your smart phone.

But what makes this widget more appealing is its extensibility. You can now add more details to your clock using various extensions. By default, many extensions are present in this widget, such as upcoming alarms, calendar appointments, unread texts, missed calls, unread emails and a lot more. Apart from this, the Shuttle Player extension just makes this Dash Board widget more winnable.
Download link

Simple Dialer Widget

For people who use their Android smart phone for its usual intended purposes i.e. calling contacts, this is definitely a God sent widget. This widget literally adds a dialler on your device’s lock screen. Basically all the contacts and phone keypad is added on to your lock screen and you no longer have to unlock your phone in order to make calls. This dialler comes with three tabs: the contact list, the call log as well as the keypad. This widget makes your Android smart phone comparable to your old and traditional brick phones, when it is all about making quick calls.

One crucial thing to keep in mind is that you will be allowing access to people for attending your calls as well as making calls from your smart phone. This may not be acceptable but the widget is definitely worth giving a try.
Download link

Simple RSS Widget

With the recent demise of the Google Reader, people may have switched to its alternatives but this surely has left a void in their lives. This is where the Simple RSS widget comes into play. Using this widget, you can have instant and convenient access to RSS updates on your Android smart phone and all this without the basic need of unlocking your device. This widget shows a real time list of all your important RSS feeds that are being tracked with this widget’s options. For people who have tons of widgets to be tracked, subscriptions can also be imported. This widget can handle multiple feeds, is scrollable, customizable as well as resizable.
Download link

1Weather

Out of all the Android weather apps, this one has been making strides in the recent times. This widget puts current weather data on the tips of your fingers, of course without the need to unlock your lock screen. It has a modern and sleek design and is frequently updated to provide accurate weather reports.

Not only is 1Weather a widget, rather it is a fully functional app for your Android smart phone. It comes with real time weather updates, its own home screen widgets, notifications, hourly weather forecasts as well as it can be integrated with the Dash clock. However, depending on your changing locations, the precision of the weather report may or may not vary.
Download link

Extended controls

This is the first and only lock screen widget in this list that is not free of cost. You need to pay $0.99 USD in order to own this widget. But the usefulness of this widget makes each penny worth spending for. Considering all of the Google Play, this is the best setting app till date. It is extremely easy to use and you can toggle through all the settings with just a single tap. You can say that the Extended Controls widget is a must- have for all the Power users out there.

Apart from the long list of settings, this widget can also be customised in various ways, such as background customization, various icons, widget transparency, widget sizes, personalised labels, colours and a lot more.
Download link

Six ways to transfer files between Android and PC (or Android and Android) wirelessly

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 03:52:00 +0000

Synchronize or access folders using torrent technology, without uploading to a server
Access your PC via WiFi with SMB Server
Connect two devices directly without a WIFI network
Connect through the browser via shared WIFI
Use free cloud storage services to transfer your files (such as Dropbox or Skydrive)
Set up a shared folder on Windows that you can access from your Android

Apps mentioned in this article

Here’s a list of apps mentioned in this article. We liked some of the apps so much that we would like to grant several our highest ‘Freewaregenius Pick’ accolade (left column below).

These apps deserve our highest 'FreewareGenius Pick' accolade. They are must haves, free and ad free!	BitTorrent Sync \| Go FileMaster \| 3CX DroidDesktop \| ES File Explorer
These following apps are also mentioned (and are excellent). Most are ad supported:	Fast File Transfer \| AirDroid \| SuperBeam WIFI direct share \| Astro Cloud and File Manager \| AndSMB \| Send! File Transfer

1. Connect or synchronize folders and PC folders using Torrent technology (without uploading to a server)

Recommended App: BitTorrent Sync

This is a beautiful app that can synchronize any folder on your Android with a folder on your PC. It can be set to automatically sync (or not). By default it only syncs when your Android is connected to WIFI, but you can allow data connection syncing as well. It requires the BitTorrent Sync client running on your PC (or Mac/Linux) as well as the BitTorrent Sync app on Android. It does not require that your devices be connected to the same WIFI network, though.
Unlike cloud services like Dropbox, your files are not uploaded to any third party server, making it ideal for those of us who like simplicity (and those who are security conscious).

Requires a WIFI connection: Yes

Requires that both Android and PC be connected to THE SAME WIFI ? No.The two devices can be in completely different places.

Desktop client required on your PC: The BitTorrent Sync client has to be running on your PC (or Mac/Linux/NAS).

Will upload your files on a third party server: No. It uses Torrent infrastructure to sync peer-to-peer, without uploading to a server.

Transfer To/From: Android to PC, PC to Android, One and Two way folder sync supported. Android to Android also possible for individual files if both Android devices are running the app.

Can access files on an external SD card: Yes

Other app options: None that use Torrent technology.

2. Access your PC via WiFi with SMB server

Recommended App: Go FileMaster

With SMB server you can access any PC that is connected to WIFI, assuming you have a username and password. But what I like about it is that it will also allow connection to some Linux servers, such as the NAS home server I have at home, without having to set up anything in advance.
Most Android apps which connect to SMB servers, in my experience, either require a rooted device or were somewhat complicated to setup, or both. Not so with Go FileMaster, which delivers one of the easiest ways to connect to a SMB server (and probably the easiest way to connect your Android to a PC on the fly without having to install or set up anything). All you have to do is select ‘Computers (SMB)’ from the left sidebar (upper left screenshot), click ‘Scan’ (middle screenshot), and select the computer(s) on the network that you want to access (screenshot on the right). All you need is a valid username and password, and you will be able to access that user profile.

Requires a WIFI connection: Yes

Requires that both Android and PC be connected to THE SAME WIFI ? Yes

Desktop client required on your PC: None. All you need is a username and password.

Will upload your files on a third party server: No

Transfer To/From: Android to PC, PC to Android

Can access files on an external SD card: Yes

Other app options: I have not found anything that is as easy to setup as Go FileMaster; however, AndSMB is great and does not require rooting, and you can find tutorials on the internet on how to set up SMB server with ES File Explorer and other file managers.

3. Connect two devices directly, without a WIFI network

Recommended App: Fast File Transfer

Most suited for instances where there is no WIFI network to log on to, and many many times faster than Bluetooth file transfer, Fast File Transfer will create a WIFI Hotspot on one device that the other can connect to, and then use it to transfer files between them.
This app works great; however, you will need to have the ‘Fast File Transfer’ app installed on both Android device, so Android to PC transfers are not possible, and you will need to use a browser on Android.

Requires a WIFI connection: No

Requires that both Android and PC be connected to THE SAME WIFI ? No. It will connect directly.

Desktop client required on your PC: No.

Will upload your files on a third party server: No

Transfer To/From: Android to Android

Can access files on an external SD card: Yes

Other app options: SuperBeam WIFI direct share is a great app that connects via WIFI direct. Send! File Transfer also can transfer using WIFI direct but the free version is limited to transferring media files (pics/audio/videos).

4. Connect through the browser via shared WIFI

Recommended App: 3CX DroidDesktop

You may have inferred that this requires that both your Android and your PC have to be connected to the same WIFI network.
There are many free apps that do this, but we wanted to feature one that was fairly feature rich yet simple, and most importantly one that is not handicapped in the free version.
Our first choice would have been AirDroid, which is an excellent program that looks good, but it now requires registration with a valid email to work (which really is only needed for its cloud files functionality). Instead, we chose 3CX DroidDesktop, which works great, is free and not handicapped in any way, supports a number of different ways to connect (including FTP), offers a beautiful web interface with a wide range of functions, will let you transfer files back and forth from your Android and PC, and can access the external SD card on the device (which to my surprise not all of like-programs do).

Requires a WIFI connection: Yes

Requires that both Android and PC be connected to THE SAME WIFI ? Yes

Desktop client required on your PC: you can connect from any browser.

Will upload your files on a third party server: No

Transfer To/From: Android to PC | PC to Android.

Can access files on an external SD card: Yes

Other app options: Quite a few. AirDroid, Go FileMaster, and many others. Many alternatives do not support files on external SD cards though (all the programs mentioned here do)

5. Use free cloud storage services to transfer your files (such as Dropbox or Skydrive)

Recommended App: ES File Explorer

Most any cloud storage service you may be using will probably have an Android app that can be used to download (and upload) files from them over WIFI. What we wanted to highlight in this article, however, is that it is possible to use file manager ES File Explorer (a must-have file manager for Android that is feature rich, ad-free, and very powerful) to connect with Dropbox, SugarSync, Box, Skydrive, Gdrive, Amazon S3, Yandex and Ubuntu – all from the same place.
Want folder syncing with Dropbox? You can do it using free app Cloudpipes. Check our our guide for setting up Android syncing with Dropbox which details the process.

Requires a WIFI connection: Yes

Requires that both Android and PC be connected to THE SAME WIFI ? No. Your PC does not need to be online.

Desktop client required on your PC: No

Will upload your files on a third party server: Yes

Transfer To/From: PC to Android | Android to PC

Can access files on an external SD card: Yes

Other app options: Go FileMaster an excellent program that supports Dropbox, Box, SkyDrive, and Google Drive at the time of this writing, and Astro Cloud and File Manager (ad supported; connects with Dropbox, Box, SkyDrive, Google Drive, and Facebook)

6. Connect your Android with a shared folder on Windows

Recommended App: ES File Explorer

Once again, we recommend ‘ES File Explorer’ to do this. All that is required is that both your Android and PC be connected to the same WIFI network. You can set up any folder on your PC as a shared folder and transfer files to and from it WIRELESSLY.
Setting up a shared folder in Windows and connecting it with ES File Explorer is a fairly simple process, which I am not going to describe here as it has been written about endlessly (here’s a Google search if you need it). Overall, a great way to send files back and forth from your PC wirelessly.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 14:56:00 +0000

Windows 8 Operating system with a fully different UI and features From the Old versions of Windows.As the Windows 8 was Launched peoples reaction wasn't good for it because people aren't aware of its cool apps offered in its Appstore.So here we discuss about 10 must have Windows apps Which changes your Full view against the Windows 8.

1.Free Books:

This is App is same as its name allows you download Free Books. Free Books App Provide you access to 23,469 Classic Books which you can download anytime and can read it on any device from Laptop to Kindle readers.This App Provides you easy and efficient search option to find you books without any waiting.This app has many options including Editor's Choice and Featured Books.This is app is a must who loves to read a lot like me.

2.HowStuffWorks

I think almost majority of peoples would know about How Stuff Works website. But for the Peoples who don't know i am telling once again.These a quality website which provide excellent article and videos about How Stuff Works and they provide this articles and videos about all most everything. So this was about the Website, now we look what this app.This app has pretty much simple work but very useful.This App Provides all the articles and videos of the web site as a package on the app through which you can access the videos and articles from the app itself.Or in Simple Terms you can say that this app converts the website information into a Bundled app.

3.Toolbox for Windows 8

This App Provides you some good tools for your Desktop which are really impressive.The Tools which are provided by Toolbox app are small but very efficient and useful.And the most important feature of this App is that You can run 6 tools on one screen only.Which Provides you to Surf Web through Toolbox Browser at the same time Doing Some Mathematical Calculation through the same toolbox tool.Like this youcan run 6 different Simultaneous at one screen.Currently there are 12 tools provide by this Toolbox app Including Facebook, Voice Notes,Doodles and many more.

4.WordPress

One of the Best and Famous Blogging Platforms has showed his Presence on Windows store.By Launching it Small but useful App for Windows 8 users.This App has a pretty simple Design.This App read and share the Contents off their blogs.They allow you read the blogs you follow and share the contents easily all you of do is just sign in through your WordPress account on this app.This is a must have App for Bloggers.

5.Facebook Messenger

Facebook the World famous Social Networking site in the world is also here in the windows app store by launching its Famous Facebook messenger in Windows store.This is app is similar to mobile Facebook messenger which allows you to chat with your friends on Facebook when you aren't logged in you account also.This is app doesn't need much introduction.

6.Google Search

I will be a fool if i explain about the Google Search.Google Search App Provides you a faster way to search about your Queries on Google.Google search app is Loaded with many features like Voice search which allows you to search from your voice, Image Search allows you to search images,Google Instant which helps you a lot in instant search in which you don't need to hit enter key also just type Google will find your result and loaded with many other features.

7.Pinball FX 2

This a Gaming app Based on the Windows game Pinball but with much cool interface.This app has been upgraded with much more impressive Graphics and loaded with more pinball tables which makes the game very interesting.

8. Skype Voice Changer

This is a pretty much fun app like its name only this app helps you to change your voice on Skype Calls.This is app provides list of various voices to change it with your voice on skype calls.From this app you can play funny pranks with your Friends.This app is Must for all Skype users.

9.Multimedia 8

This app is for all the windows users who love Windows media Center which is missing in Windows 8.But not to worry Multimedia 8 app allow you to browse and access to music and video files.This is app has many other features like 3D video support, Video Converting, Video and audio capture and many more awesome features.

10.Metro Commander

Metro Commander app is File Manager which helps you to manage your Files with a Pretty awesome Windows UI interface.It have all the features which a File Manager should have other than that additionallyyou can manage file on the web with your Skydrive account.