How to Add Gadgets Back to Windows 8.1?

Do you miss the gadgets from Windows 7 now that you’re using Windows 8.1? There’s no official way to re-install them, but there is a way to get them back using a third-party, free utility called 8Gadgetpack.

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How to check if your Microsoft account has been hacked!

With all the security breaches we're having these days; it doesn't hurt to be vigilant for any suspicious activity. Your Microsoft account--linking SkyDrive, 

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Know how much time you spend in front of a computer every day, every month.

Were you always looking for a way to find out how many hours you spend in front of the computer a day, week or month? 

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[TinyWall] Advanced Settings To The Windows Firewall.

Do you like using the Windows Firewall, but wish it came with better controls? TinyWall, a free program for Windows 7 and Windows 8,

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Ubuntu And Android Dual Boot Developer Preview Released

Today in Open Source: Dual boot Android and Ubuntu. Plus: Is Debian suitable for new Linux users? And a screenshot tour of Ubuntu GNOME 14.04 Alpha 1.

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How to protect yourself and tighten your security?

Why do I need to know how to protect myself and tighten my security?

Why did I get infected in the first place?

You usually get infected because your security settings are too low or you blindly click yes to Everything. This article will show you How to protect yourself and tighten security.

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Know the 4 best softwares for the animation industry "2D" and "3D"

Animation is an art form that has captured the imagination of people for a long time. Has given humans freedom of movement to represent new possibilities and new worlds in a creative way and more attractive.'s Not a surprise to find animation in all aspects of our modern life, from simple web pages to interactive games, videos and movies

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Access Your PC Remotely! Through Chrome Remote Desktop

You can’t always be sitting in front of your computer, but you can control it remotely through Chrome Remote Desktop method which you might not be aware of. Let’s talk about this easy and accessible method to control your Windows desktop remotely which is slightly…esoteric.

The method introduced here is different than the usual mainstream tools, such asLogMeIn, or remote desktop clients, or even client/server applications like VNC. Those are all well and good, but today, let’s look at something more unique!

Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD) is another Google offering that is streamlined and simple in its usage. Simply install the CRD extension on your home computer, and you can access it from any computer in the world that has the Chrome web browser and CRD extension on it.The connection gives you a high quality view of your remote desktop. Even in the screenshot below, you can see that it offers a nice, crisp view.

CRD offers only the most needed basic functions:  You can send two special key combinations: Ctrl-Alt-Del and PrtScrn. PrtScrn is the key for the Print Screen function, so you can grab a screenshot of your remote desktop. You can also resize your desktop to fit your browser, shrink it to fit your browser or enter full screen mode.

For most remote control of a computer, these functions are sufficient. The only odd thing worth mentioning is that CRD doesn’t work on Chromebooks – ironic.

If you’re looking for a free, no-frills remote desktop application that works, and allows you to give other people temporary access to your computer – this is a good option. Erez Zukerman also did a solid write-up of CRD titled, “Control Other Computers Remotely For Free With Chrome Remote Desktop“, when it was still in beta. Check it out for more details.

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Remove Spyware From Your System Using Malwarebytes! Tool

By now, the threat of spyware has become as prevalent as that of viruses. Consequently, there are a ton of spyware removal programs out there. Why should you choose one program to delete spyware over the other? Well there are a few reasons, but generally it comes down to features and greater protection. If a spyware scanner has some unique features, like advanced registry options, then that’s a good reason to use it. Also, some scanners don’t have a lot of options, but have a good library of threats to protect against.

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware is a good example of the latter. It may not be as feature-laden as Spybot Search and Destroy, which has a ridiculous number of tools, but it is a very lightweight alternative with good spyware coverage.

Until recently, my only two programs to delete spyware were Spybot S&D, as I mentioned before, and Spyware Blaster, which is a preventative blacklist. Now I’m considering adding Malwarebytes to my list. The install is very quick because there really aren’t a lot of bells and whistles on the program. While some might see this as a downside, when installing spyware protection on a new machine or on the machine of a less-techy person, Malwarebytes is quick and non-confusing.

After install, check to see that the updates are as recent as possible, this is done on the “Update” tab.  It should automatically update upon install, which is another nicety for a quick start, but I’d double-check. Once you’re all updated, try scanning. A short scan will target common hot-spots and a full scan will cover everything but take a long time. Here’s a scan I ran recently:

The scanner will show what area is being scanned, how many objects have been scanned, and how many have come up as problems.  The time on this scan is relatively short, but you may want to use it during a period of inactivity, as your system will slow dramatically during the scan.  Here are the results of that scan:

After being scanned by Spybot S&D, Malwarebytes found a number of nasty little files lurking.  Most of these were in the registry or in infected program files. This shows the value of having mulitple spyware libraries from which to run scans. Also, if you already have Spybot S&D or something similar, there is no reason to have duplicate tools.

The program does have a few more options open to you. You can restrict what is scanned and you can also add a contextual right-click option to scan individual files.

This second option is handy for anytime you have to download a file that you think is suspect. Most virus-scanners also have this capability, but this will check for malware as well.

Malwarebytes has two extra tools on board.  The first is a set of bug-reporters and false positive flaggers that will help make the network more efficient in hunting out spyware.

Also, there is a program for deleting locked files.  This can be handy when you need to delete a file that is either in use (which is generally unadvisable) or simply corrupted and difficult to delete by normal means.

Good luck managing your spyware and remember that having multiple programs installed is the best way to eliminate the need for frustrating repairs and reformattings.

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NSA Contractor Edward Snowden Says: "Mission Accomplished"

U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden told the media his mission is complete after spending the last year leaking secret NSA documents. 

According to The Washington Post, Snowden said he revealed top NSA secrets so that the American people can have a say in how they're governed. But at this point, he feels like he came, he saw and he conquered. 

“For me, in terms of personal satisfaction, the mission’s already accomplished,” said Snowden. “I already won. As soon as the journalists were able to work, everything that I had been trying to do was validated. Because, remember, I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself.

“All I wanted was for the public to be able to have a say in how they are governed. That is a milestone we left a long time ago. Right now, all we are looking at are stretch goals.”

Snowden also discussed how he came to the decision to call the NSA out on its behavior, saying that he felt the need to say something despite the consequences and reaction of the NSA and American citizens. 

“You recognize that you’re going in blind, that there’s no model,” said Snowden. “But when you weigh that against the alternative, which is not to act, you realize that some analysis is better than no analysis, because even if your analysis proves to be wrong, the marketplace of ideas will bear that out. If you look at it from an engineering perspective, an iterative perspective, it’s clear that you have to try something rather than do nothing.”

Additionally, Snowden addressed allegations about his breaking an oath of secrecy. This oath, called Standard Form 312, is the classified-information nondisclosure agreement. But Snowden said his loyalty lies with the Constitution and the American people, and that top officials at the NSA are the ones who failed to keep their pledge. 

“The oath of allegiance is not an oath of secrecy,” said Snowden. “That is an oath to the Constitution. That is the oath that I kept that Keith Alexander and James Clapper did not.

“I am not trying to bring down the NSA, I am working to improve the NSA. I am still working for the NSA right now. They are the only ones who don’t realize it.”

Snowden also made one thing very clear: he hasn't been working with the Russian government while being granted asylum there. 

“There is no evidence at all for the claim that I have loyalties to Russia or China or any country other than the United States,” said Snowden. "I have no relationship with the Russian government. I have not entered into any agreements with them.”

“If I defected at all. I defected from the government to the public.”

Snowden blew the cover on the NSA's surveillance programs earlier this year, which consisted of bulk data collection from sources like phone records, where the government took on a "collect now, filter later" approach. The agency has said that the bulk data collection was meant to identify terrorist threats, but it's been discovered that the data of Americans has been collected without any clear evidence of terrorist links. 

In August, reports said that the NSA admitted to touching 1.6 percent of total globe Web traffic. Its technique was to filter data after harvesting it, which led to over-collection on a major scale. It was later revealed that Snowden conned between 20 to 25 NSA employees to give him their login credentials and passwords while working at the NSA regional operations center for a month in Hawaii last spring. Snowden reportedly told the NSA employees that he needed their passwords in order to do his job, and after downloading secret NSA documents, he leaked the information to the media. 

Many top tech leaders, like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, have spoken out against the NSA's programs along with civil-liberties advocates, U.S. citizens and even other countries that had the NSA peeping in their window.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the NSA and its UK sister agency GCHQ sent agents into the virtual of the Xbox Live network, World of Warcraft, and Second Life to find acts of terrorism.
A presidential review panel made 46 recommendations regarding greater restraint on the NSA's surveillance programs last week, which will have to be accepted by President Barack Obama and U.S. Congress before being put into practice.

The NSA is debating whether to grant Snowden amnesty if he promises to keep his mouth shut. It is believed that Snowden had access to about 1.7 million files, and only about 1 percent of those files have been published by the media. Recognizing that a lot more could roll down the pipeline, the NSA is likely trying to prevent further catastrophe.

One of the major recommendations involves the elimination of bulk collection of phone call records (known as "metadata"). The NSA said it collected metadata in bulk and filtered through it afterward in an attempt to make connections when searching for terrorist threats.
However, the panel said that this method of data collection hasn't proved to be more effective or beneficial than more targeted forms. It further stated that the program has made "modest" contributions at best, and that there's no proof the outcome would have been any different without the metadata bulk collection.

"The question is not whether granting the government (this) authority makes us incrementally safer, but whether the additional safety is worth the sacrifice in terms of individual privacy, personal liberty and public trust," said the panel.

Source: The Washington Post.

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