7 Links Challenge, And More Reco’s

Yesterday I received a “challenge” from a fellow tech writer…which is a bit out of the ordinary, to say the least.

Sadly, I do not have time today to respond to that challenge – but I will just ASAP. In the meantime, for a good read (and to find out what the *heck* I’m talking about) please see: The “My 7 Links Challenge” at What’s On MY PC.

Other items: (aka “quick reading reco’s”)

• It’s time for Microsoft to come clean over the Metro UI

“Microsoft has kept us in suspense for long enough and it’s now time for the Redmond behemoth to come clean as to what users can expect from the next-generation Windows.” Read more..

• How to keep your face out of LinkedIn ads

“After all this talk about Google’s new privacy policy and Facebook’s Timeline, people are now waking up to the fact that LinkedIn too may be making use of your information in ways you don’t want.” Read more..

• Facebook sues Adscend Media for malware and spam

“Facebook and the state of Washington have filed separate lawsuits against Adscend Media, alleging the company was responsible for spreading malware and for stealing personal information from Facebook users.” Read more..

• Macworld 2012: The Island of Misfit Toys

“Macworld 2012 had a sexy nightlife alter ego but the daytime persona of an event still struggling for identity.” Read more..

• Most cyber security experts believe cyber arms race is on

“More than half of of global security experts believe that an arms race is already taking place in cyber space, according to McAfee.” Read more..

A chance to win a CPU or graphics card: Share your opinions for a chance to win some cool AMD hardware

“Great AMD hardware to give away!” Read more..

Okay. Out of time. Have a great day everybody!

Today’s quote: “Common sense is instinct. Enough of it is genius.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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A List of Vista & Windows 7 Run Commands

Today I thought I would post a “cheat sheet” list for you guys.

“Run” is a “keyboard shortcut” way of quickly launching programs and utilities, and also accessing “Settings” menus and tools that otherwise are hidden.
To get to “Run“, press the Windows logo key + “R”, together.

This list is not a complete listing, but looking at it, and exploring a bit, may help you on the road to becoming a “power user”. Some of these I use a lot. Others, I never have.
(Though this is a Vista/Win7 list.. most of these work on the older XP as well.)

Open Run and type the (bold text) command, then press Enter. It fast, and simple (as keyboard shortcuts are meant to be).. Uber Geeks have many of these memorized.. but you may prefer to print it out, or bookmark this page.

• Action Center= wscui.cpl
• Administrative Tools = control admintools
• Backup and Restore = sdclt
• Cleartype Text Tuner = cttune
• Computer Management = compmgmt.msc or CompMgmtLauncher
• Control Panel = control
• Create a System Repair disc = recdisc
• Device Manager = devmgmt.msc
• Devices and Printers = control printers
• Direct X Troubleshooter = dxdiag
• Disk Management = diskmgmt.msc
• Event Viewer = eventvwr.msc
• File Signature Verification Tool = sigverif
• Folders Options = control folders
• Keyboard = control keyboard
• Microsoft Management Console = mmc
• Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool = msdt
• Mouse = control mouse or main.cpl
• Performance Monitor = perfmon.msc
• Personalization = control desktop
• Power Configuration = powercfg.cpl
• Print management = printmanagement.msc
• Printer User Interface = printui
• Problems Steps Recorder = psr
• Programs and Features = appwiz.cpl or control appwiz.cpl
• Recovery = control.exe /name Microsoft.Recovery
• Registry Editor = regedit or regedt32
• Resource Monitor = resmon
• Services = services.msc
• System Configuration Utility = msconfig
• System Information = msinfo32
• System Properties = sysdm.cpl or Windows logo key + Pause/Break
• System Restore = rstrui
• Task Manager = taskmgr
• Task Scheduler = control schedtasks
• Taskbar and Start Menu = control.exe /name Microsoft.TaskbarandStartMenu
• User Accounts Windows = netplwiz or control userpasswords2
• Volume Mixer = sndvol
• Windows Activation Phone Numbers = slui 4
• Windows Easy Transfer = migwiz
• Windows Memory Diagnostic = MdSched
• Windows Standalone Update Manager = wusa
• Windows System Security Tool = syskey
• Windows Version = winver

Accessories

• Calculator = calc
• Character Map = charmap
• Command Prompt = cmd
• Connect to a Network Projector = NetProj
• Connect to a Projector = displayswitch or Windows logo key + P
• Defragment User Interface = dfrgui
• Disk Cleanup Utility = cleanmgr
• Magnifier = magnify
• Microsoft Paint = mspaint.exe
• Narrator = Narrator
• Notepad = notepad
• On Screen Keyboard = osk
• Presentation Settings = PresentationSettings
• Remote Desktop Connection = mstsc
• Snipping Tool = snippingtool
• Sound Recorder = soundrecorder
• Sticky Note = StikyNot
• Sync Center = mobsync
• Windows Explorer = explorer or Windows logo key + E
• Windows Mobility Center (Only on Laptops) = Windows logo key + X
• Wordpad = write

Internet Explorer = iexplore
Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) = iexplore -extoff
Internet Explorer (No Home) = iexplore about:blank

• Windows Fax and Scan = wfs
• Windows Fax and Scan Cover Page Editor = fxscover
• Windows Media Player = wmplayer
• Windows Media Player DVD Player = dvdplay

Logs out of Windows = logoff
Shuts Down Windows = shutdown

Related articles:

• What Is The “Windows key” Good For?
• Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts – Manage Your Windows with Alt
• Using Your Keyboard Instead Of Your Mouse*

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Sunday Beauty 75

Today’s image is a bit different..

Click on image to see larger

“Ustjurt-plateau” by Daniel Hug, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

.. and, like last week’s image, doesn’t really qualify as “beauty” (at least by the common definition), but I find it.. caused an odd change in my current perspective.

Let’s stay safe out there, and have a great Sunday everybody!

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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A Quick Reco For Parents (and a bonus)

If you are a parent, or teacher, you may want to know about a “video tutorial” resource. This is not something you ask your kids to watch – it’s for you.

CyberSafe with Steve Dotto

“The new videos focus on social media and provide teachers and parents with a better understanding of what to look for and how to protect children in the digital age.

They are short and concise and help adults quickly understand the dangers and how to avoid them.”

I highly recommend you take a look at the intro video, and then explore..! Check it out, here.

Also (aka “the ‘bonus’): Launch of Google’s Emergency Public Alert Service

“Today’s post is an important one that ultimately and literally could be a lifesaver. Google, in conjunction with their mapping technology, has launched a platform service called Google Public Alerts that is designed to help you find critical emergency information during a crisis.” Read more..

Today’s quote: “History shows that there is nothing so easy to enslave and nothing so hard to emancipate as ignorance, hence it becomes the double enemy of civilization. By its servility it is the prey of tyranny, and by its credulity it is the foe of enlightenment.” ~ Lemuel K. Washburn

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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The Week’s Tidbits (and some Friday Fun)

Regular readers of this series have come to learn over time that I prefer Fridays over Mondays …

A few brief items of interest for you today (help get you through to Quittin’ Time).

• Apple: made in China, untaxed profits kept offshore

“About two-thirds of Apple’s $97.6 billion cash pile is off shore. That’s a lot of money for an American company to keep outside of America.” Read more..

• Major Symantec breach highlights risks of running old software

“Symantec says it has fewer than 50,000 users of pcAnywhere, a remote-access program that has been around for decades. It now says, for safety’s sake, those users should pull the plug. Immediately.” Read more..

• The Internet and piracy are here to stay

“Will killing media piracy destroy the Internet? Is it even possible to stop piracy?” Read more..

{Finally! The right questions.}

• Microsoft Says Ex-Antivirus Maker Ran Botnet

“The Russian software engineer has been added to a federal complaint that claims the the defendant operated the Kelihos botnet taken down last September.” Read more..

• Study: BlackHole appears, Conficker remains

“Eighty-five percent of all malware is web-based, and some 30,000 websites are newly infected with malicious code each day, according to Sophos’ “Security Threat Report 2012.” Read more..

Alright. Enough of that depressing stuff. I need a grin…
Recently, rather inadvertently, I think, squirrels have been mentioned on this site.

No. Not some new tech gadget.
Squirrels. Like.. in the tree, squirrel?

A reader sent me this video of a different kind of ‘tech’, and a frustrated little guy..

“Squirrel baffle”.

Love that term.

What are the chances this strategy will pay off?

Um.. er.. 0.000001%?
(Yet, obviously, some *people* think it’s a good plan, and keep spamming me. CAN-SPAM Act or no..)

Today’s quote: “A little learning is a dangerous thing, but a lot of ignorance is just as bad.” ~ Bob Edwards

Yawl have a great weekend, ya’ hear?

*     *     *

Zoosk.com???? Who thought up that name?

Wow.
That’s almost as silly a word as “google”..

Microsoft Support Outage? Anyone else notice a problem with support.microsoft.com?

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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An Email From Google…..

A little while ago, I saw an email from Google in my Gmail Inbox. If you have a “G”-Identity (have a Gmail account, registered at YouTube, etc.) you probably received one too.

Seems they wanted to let me know they are changing the rules of the game.. as the Subject reads: Changes to Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. For those who didn’t get a copy..

One policy, one Google experience

We’re getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that’s a lot shorter and easier to read. Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.

This stuff matters, so please take a few minutes to read our updated Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service now. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.

Easy to work across Google

Our new policy reflects our desire to create a simple product experience that does what you need, when you want it to. Whether reading an email that reminds you to schedule a family get-together or finding a favorite video that you want to share, we want to ensure you can move across Gmail, Calendar, Search, YouTube, or whatever your life calls for with ease.

Tailored for you

If you’re signed into Google, we can do things like suggest search queries – or tailor your search results – based on the interests you’ve expressed in Google+, Gmail, and YouTube. We’ll better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you’re searching for and get you those results faster.

Easy to share and collaborate

When you post or create a document online, you often want others to see and contribute. By remembering the contact information of the people you want to share with, we make it easy for you to share in any Google product or service with minimal clicks and errors.

Protecting your privacy hasn’t changed

Our goal is to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible, through products like Google Dashboard and Ads Preferences Manager alongside other tools. Our privacy principles remain unchanged. And we’ll never sell your personal information or share it without your permission (other than rare circumstances like valid legal requests).

Understand how Google uses your data

If you want to learn more about your data on Google and across the web, including tips and advice for staying safe online, check out Good to Know.

Got questions? We got answers

Visit our FAQ to read more about the changes. (We figured our users might have a question or twenty-two.)

Notice of change

March 1, 2012 is when the new Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service will come into effect. If you choose to keep using Google once the change occurs, you will be doing so under the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Not too long after that.. ZDNet posted, Google’s new privacy policy: The good, bad, scary

“I’m all for breaking down data silos, but when Google knows more about me than my wife I get a bit worried.” Read more..

See also: Confessions of a Google junkie (or, Privacy? What privacy?)

–     –     –

… please read our complete Terms..
Yeah.
Who does that?

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Do You Use A Debit or Credit Card? Watch This.

The other day I received a call. The person had read about a skimmer being found at a Lucky store they shop at, and they wanted to know how they could “spot” a skimmer. (See Lucky Supermarket Chain Reveals Scope Of Card Reader Scam)

Well.. um.. I wish I had an easy answer.

What I do have is 3 videos. The first is in German, but what I want you look at is the “skimmer” devices, used on ATM machines.. could you “spot” one of those?

It doesn’t just happen in Europe.. here’s a RL story..

And, it’s worse than that. Here’s a Bob Sullivan report on “pocket skimmers”.. like the ones your waiter/waitress might have..

So.. I haven’t even touched upon (wireless) RFID skimmers, or even begun to paint the picture as black as it is. Yippee.
What can you do to protect yourself? Do you need to scratch at keypads, and try to pop off faceplates before you use an ATM..? Wrap your wallet in tinfoil, too?

Well.. I don’t know. I guess that’s up to you. But, if your bank allows you to set “activity notifications”, I would activate it, and set it to 1¢. It won’t stop the ID Thief, but you may be able to act fast, and notify the bank before your account is completely emptied…………
Perhaps hire a “credit monitoring service”, or otherwise routinely, frequently, check your credit report as well? (Hint)

I have an idea. Why don’t we do away with currency altogether. Just (only) use chips or cards! It’s so convenient, and think of the money the government will save if it doesn’t have to print bills.

… arrrgh.

Today’s quote: “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” ~ Unknown

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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