SysInternals offers a great utility for investigating the behavior of your machine. If you've ever tried tracking down spyware/adware or other malicious processes, you've probably used the msconfig tool to look at the startup processes. MSConfig allows you to reach a middle ground between Safe Mode and Normal mode where you can test the environment slowly and meticulously to … [Read more...]
Disable Firefox 3’s New “Awesome” Bar
If you find Firefox 3's new Awesomebar (what they're dubbing the URL bar) more annoying than awesome, you can disable the new feature where it searches your history and bookmarks to try and match what you're typing. To disable this, just type about:config in the url bar. You'll get a warning if this is your first time going into the about:config. You'll want to be careful, … [Read more...]
Password Security Basics
A good blend between stating the obvious and saying what needs to be said regarding password security and common sense, these articles make for a good read in understanding authentication issues with software development: The Basics of Password Security - Security Series #4 A Simple Password Strength Function - Security Series #4.1 Password Security with Hashing Functions - … [Read more...]
A Basic, Non-technical Understanding of Computer Security Issues
If you're looking to get a grasp on the basics of computer security concerns and a heads-up on what you should keep your eyes open for, the US government has provided some documents for just that reason. Written for the non-technical user, the terms are kept simple and presented in a non-intimidating manner. Read up on cyber security tips at the United States Computer … [Read more...]
Free Office 2007 Ribbon Customizer
There are two big changes with Office 2007 that are fairly visible. One of those changes is the new file types: .xlsx, .docx, etc. The other change is to the interface. Office 2007 introduces the "Ribbon." Overall, it serves the purpose of unifying the interface through the Office suite. This should make it easier to use one application and then switch to another and not have … [Read more...]