I'm a big fan of computer podcasts, especially Steve Gibson's Security Now. I recently created a Google Custom Search to search just the Security Now archives. Enjoy!
http://www.tiny.cc/searchsn
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Wallpaper For Multiple Monitors
I recently came across an excellent site for free high resolution desktop backgrounds. I was specifically searching for wallpaper that would span my triple monitors at work. I have seen examples where the wallpaper seems to transparently flow from screen to screen, tying them all together. This site has wallpaper in the right width to get that done.Here is the site, enjoy
Interfacelift.com
Multiple Monitors
I'm a fan of multiple monitors. I use three at work. Here are a couple of tools I've had good luck with while working with multiple monitors.
1) Display Fusion
This software is free and good enough if all you really want to do is have background images span all your attached monitors. This is the solution I'm currently using.
2) Ultramon
This is a more robust shareware solution. I've used it and it is good if you use all its features.
1) Display Fusion
This software is free and good enough if all you really want to do is have background images span all your attached monitors. This is the solution I'm currently using.
2) Ultramon
This is a more robust shareware solution. I've used it and it is good if you use all its features.
Beautify Vista's User Account Control Dialog
Here's a tip for you adventurous Windows Vista users out there. This tip helps you tame Vista's User Account Control (UAC). UAC is Microsoft's new malware (malicious software, e.g. virus, worm, Trojan) safeguard. It literally interrupts certain computer activity to ask you to confirm whether to proceed with certain actions such as running a program -- sometimes even when you personally started the program. Many people find UAC annoying but I recommend you leave it on because it does improve security. One thing you can do to get the benefits without it being quite so annoying, is to turn off the visual noise that accompanies a UAC dialog box.
In Vista's default mode, when UAC notices certain activities it: interrupts the activities start-up, flashes your screen, shadows your screen, and presents a yes/no dialog box. All the extra screen activity is very annoying, in my opinion. All I need is the yes/no box.
If you are comfortable working in the registry, including making backups, proceed. Just do so cautiously. Here's how to turn off all the "fireworks"
1. Click the Vista [start] Button
2. Type 'Regedit.exe' in the Start Seach box
3. Press Enter to launch the Registry Editor
4. Click Continue when you get the UAC warning
5. Change HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ System
DWORD: PromptOnSecureDesktop Value to 0
The default value is 1. Here's what 0 and 1 mean respectively:
0 = give me UAC check but not the flash, shadowing, etc.
1 = give me UAC check along with all the graphical noise because I need to be "hit on the head" visually or I won't feel the appropriate amount of pain Microsoft intended with UAC -- and I like pain!
In Vista's default mode, when UAC notices certain activities it: interrupts the activities start-up, flashes your screen, shadows your screen, and presents a yes/no dialog box. All the extra screen activity is very annoying, in my opinion. All I need is the yes/no box.
If you are comfortable working in the registry, including making backups, proceed. Just do so cautiously. Here's how to turn off all the "fireworks"
1. Click the Vista [start] Button
2. Type 'Regedit.exe' in the Start Seach box
3. Press Enter to launch the Registry Editor
4. Click Continue when you get the UAC warning
5. Change HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ System
DWORD: PromptOnSecureDesktop Value to 0
The default value is 1. Here's what 0 and 1 mean respectively:
0 = give me UAC check but not the flash, shadowing, etc.
1 = give me UAC check along with all the graphical noise because I need to be "hit on the head" visually or I won't feel the appropriate amount of pain Microsoft intended with UAC -- and I like pain!
Nuke That Old Hard Drive for Security
Don't ever throw out or give away an old computer that once contained private information on it without taking precautions (if you want to keep the information private). One of the best ways to protect your privacy is using a program that writes random characters over every spot on the hard drive repeatedly, e.g. A, then B, then X, then Y, then 7, then N. The point is to erase all the existing data including the persistent magnetic field so nobody can ever recover the old information.
The U.S. Department of Defense criteria is for seven such passes. I've long used a piece of software a consultant at work gave me for this purpose. A computer security podcast I listen regularly, Security Now, suggested a piece of free, open source, software that serves this purpose. So now you have no excuse for not policing your PC properly before disposal.
Here's the link: Darik's Boot and Nuke
The U.S. Department of Defense criteria is for seven such passes. I've long used a piece of software a consultant at work gave me for this purpose. A computer security podcast I listen regularly, Security Now, suggested a piece of free, open source, software that serves this purpose. So now you have no excuse for not policing your PC properly before disposal.
Here's the link: Darik's Boot and Nuke
Tame Vista's System Beep
I resolved another Windows Vista annoyance today. I don't know if you have noticed or not but during many activities Vista will beep an extremely annoying beep. It doesn't even matter if you have the volume muted -- it beeps anyway when certain system events occur. That is, it beeps until you apply this tip.
The broad steps are:
1) Open the Device Manager;
2) Click View\Show Hidden Devices;
3) Locate "Non Plug and Play Drivers";
4) Locate "Beep";
5) "Stop" the Device;
6) Change Startup Type to "Disabled".
Here it is step-by-step, including pictures:
Shut up the beep
The broad steps are:
1) Open the Device Manager;
2) Click View\Show Hidden Devices;
3) Locate "Non Plug and Play Drivers";
4) Locate "Beep";
5) "Stop" the Device;
6) Change Startup Type to "Disabled".
Here it is step-by-step, including pictures:
Shut up the beep
Want HD, Get Directv
You've seen the advertisements. We have the most HD! No, we have the most HD! No, we have the most HD! So, who does? Well, the answer for now is Directv, at least according to engadget.
I can't personally vouch for anyone but Directv because I'm a long-time Directv subscriber. That said, I have found their selection to be very good and their quality is high. Their price is reasonable (and doesn't seem to go up as often as cable). The biggest trick all the cable and satellite broadcasters employ is to compress the signal. This lowers the quality, sometimes noticeably. Online reports generally say that cable providers are most likely to go too far with compression. As for Directv, the quality of their HD is very high overall so they don't seem to be over-compressing.
I can't personally vouch for anyone but Directv because I'm a long-time Directv subscriber. That said, I have found their selection to be very good and their quality is high. Their price is reasonable (and doesn't seem to go up as often as cable). The biggest trick all the cable and satellite broadcasters employ is to compress the signal. This lowers the quality, sometimes noticeably. Online reports generally say that cable providers are most likely to go too far with compression. As for Directv, the quality of their HD is very high overall so they don't seem to be over-compressing.
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