EDIT: dErase v2.0 just released with a user interface and combining both executables. The freeware dErase is a tiny app designed for one purpose only, to delete files and/or directories, with optional secure deletion routines. Simply drag n’ drop the file or directory tree you want to delete onto the dErase executable to select that object for deletion. What makes dErase different from standard delete utilities, is that it will ignore file system ownership/permissions entirely while deleting. dErase Homepage
As the title says, Device Manager stalls during Scan for New Hardware. Additionally plugging in a new USB device or anything else that has to do with Plug n’ Play hardware detection will fail to recognize new devices until a reboot (and likely the reboot will need to be a hard reset…) If you’ve had this trouble here’s what solved it for me, and what MAY solve it for you: First, try a BIOS update....
Just a friendly reminder to my tech friends out there, NEVER install Intel PROset for a wireless NIC or any NIC for that matter. Here’s the story: I built a new main rig recently for my home office, which is too far from the router to run a cable, and powerline adapters don’t jive well from here to there… So in my new rig I got a sweet new Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260. I’ll...
Windows 8.x has some nice improvements for those of us running multiple monitors, however there is one serious feature missing, and that is moving the notification tray and clock to a secondary monitor. One nice feature is having your taskbar on multiple monitors… however the mirrored taskbar doesn’t include your system tray and clock 🙁 While I haven’t been a “gamer” in years, I recently started playing PC based games again, and by that I...
Just a quick heads up, today a new vulnerability was discovered with opening RTF files in MS Word. Microsoft has released a patch, which is already included in d7II v1.4.6 on the Tweaks tab under MS Office. http://thehackernews.com/2014/03/microsoft-word-zero-day-vulnerability.html https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2953095
Here’s an interesting email I just received by Chief-01 from deviantart.com: “My friend’s company got hit by Cryptolocker and they bought the key, but their computers got moved around before they paid and not all the files got decrypted because the registry paths to the files were no longer valid. I wrote a python script to take care of the missed files for them. As long as you have the private key this program will...
First on the list is protection from executables running from inside the Recycle Bin – you know that pesky type of malware that likes to hide in nested subfolders in there… Protected. Next on the list is the new optional CryptoPrevent Automatic Updates service for home users! ’nuff said.
There’s a lot of buzz revolving around my last new utility, CryptoPrevent, and there are a lot of sharp folks out there who prefer to examine the file hashes of their downloads (especially with software of this type) to ensure that the download is actually what it is supposed to be, and not a corrupted or infected replacement. For this purpose, I’ve introduced QuickHash, a tiny utility to quickly examine a file’s hashes (MD5, SHA1,...
With all this mess about Cryptolocker going around, a lot of folks are looking to immunize themselves from this nasty bit of malware which will encrypt user files and hold them for ransom. Removal of the malware is easy with d7, but there is no known method to decrypt the files except by paying the ransom, so prevention is crucial. There is a Cryptolocker Prevention Kit here: http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2013/10/15/cryptolocker-prevention-kit.aspx however the kit is for domains and professional...
I started looking into Crashplan for online backup a few months ago, and was very impressed with the backup software and options. Not only has it saved my bacon once (as backups should do,) but after a format/reload on my main PC and not having to setup my backup again, I’m hooked. While the primary focus of Crashplan is the online backup to their cloud, I realize that option isn’t for everyone, but never fear,...
