Thursday, July 29, 2010

How to prevent Themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7

Windows 7 allows the users to choose from a variety of themes by using the Themes feature. As we change a theme, the icons and mouse cursors modify accordingly. Some of us don’t like the icons and mouse cursors to modify as we change the theme. We want the icons and cursors of our choice to remain the same even in the new theme. It is possible to prevent themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7. There is an easy way to prevent themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7. Follow these simple steps in order to prevent themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7:

Right-click anywhere on the desktop.



Select Personalize.
Click on “Change desktop icons” on the left-hand side of the window screen.










The Desktop Icon Settings dialog box will appear. Uncheck the box for “Allow themes to change desktop icons”.





















Click on Apply.

Click on the Ok button to close this dialog box.

Many people don’t mind if the new theme changes the icons but they prefer the mouse cursors to remain the same. You can follow the same procedure with a few changes to prevent themes from changing the mouse pointers.

Follow steps 1 and 2.

Simply click on the “Change mouse pointers” link from the Personalize window.










The Mouse Pointers dialog box will appear. Uncheck “Allow themes to change mouse pointers”.





















Click on the Apply button.

Click on the OK button to close this dialog box.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Top 10 keyboard shortcuts everyone should know





Using keyboard shortcuts can often cut the time it takes to do something on a computer in half. Below are our top 10 keyboard shortcuts we recommend everyone memorize and use.

Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert

Copy the highlighted text or selected item.

Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert

Paste the text or object that's in the clipboard.

Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y

Undo any change. For example, if you cut text, pressing this will undo it. This can also often be pressed multiple times to undo multiple changes. Pressing Ctrl + Y would re-do the undo.

Ctrl + F

Open the Find in any program. This includes your Internet browser to find text on the current page.

Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc

Quickly switch between open programs.

F1

Open help for the program you're in.

Ctrl + P

Print what's currently being viewed in programs such as Microsoft Word or your Internet browser.

Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow

Move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. If you wanted to highlight one word at a time you can hold down Ctrl + Alt and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction while highlighting each word.

Ctrl + Home / End

Move the cursor to the beginning or end of a document.

Page Up / Space bar and Page Down

Pressing either the page up or page down key will move that page one page at a time in that direction. When browsing the Internet pressing the space bar will also move the page down one page at a time.

How to Secure a Wireless Network from Hackers



The reason we secure a wireless network is to stop people from using the services of our network who don't have permission to utilize them. It is harder to secure a wireless network from hackers as compared to a classic wired network. This is due to the fact that a wireless network can be accessed anywhere inside the range of its antenna.

In order to secure a wireless network from hackers, we should take proper steps to save ourselves against security issues. If you don't secure a wireless network from hackers, you might end up without its service. The consequence might also include the utilization of our network to attack further networks. To secure a wireless network from hackers, you should follow these simple wireless networking tips:

1. Strategic antenna placement:

The first thing you have to do is to position the access point's antenna in a place which restricts the range of its signal to go further than the required area. You should not put the antenna close to a window because glass can't obstruct its signals. Place it in a central location of the building.

2. Use WEP:

WEP stands for Wireless encryption protocol. It's a customary technique for encrypting traffic on a wireless network. You should never skip it as that will allow hackers to get instant access to the traffic over a wireless network.

3. Change the SSID, disable the broadcast of SSID:

SSID stands for service set identifier. It is the recognition thread utilized by the wireless access point due to which the customers are capable of starting connections. For every wireless access point arranged, select an exclusive as well as unique SSID. Also, if it's attainable, hold back the broadcast of the SSID out over the antenna. It won\t appear in the listing of offered networks, while being able to provide services as usual.

4. Disable DHCP:

By doing this, the hackers will have to decode the TCP/IP parameters, subnet mask as well as the IP address in order to hack your wireless network.

5. Disable or modify SNMP settings:

Change the private as well as public community settings of SNMP. You can also just disable it. Otherwise the hackers will be able to utilize SNMP to get significant info regarding your wireless network.

6. Utilize access lists:

For additional security of your wireless network, and if your access point support this feature, employ an access list. An access list lets us determine precisely which machinery is permitted to attach to an access point. The access points which include the access list can employ trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) now and then in order to download modernized lists to steer clear of hackers