Friday, March 7, 2008
Protect Your Windows XP Computer with a Blank Password?
3:00PM Adam Pash | Weblog Digital Inspiration offers some counterintuitive advice for users who don’t protect their Windows XP computers with passwords more difficult than simplistic passwords like abc123: Don’t use a password at all. In fact, in this article from Microsoft, the blank password option is described as more secure than a weak password provided 1) you only have one computer or you don’t need to network your computers and 2) you trust everyone who has physical access to the computer. Granted, I can’t imagine many Lifehacker readers hit both of those categories, but if you serve as your friends’ and family’s default IT support and they can’t seem to remember a secure password, the blank password might be the best option (especially when simple passwords are so easy to crack). Sound like an awful idea? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments. Set a Blank Password in Windows XP To Protect the Computer from Internet Attacks [Digital Inspiration] More »
Manage Your Collections with Libra
2:00PM Adam Pash | Windows only: Freeware application Libra, like previously mentioned shareware Delicious Library, is a collection-management software designed to help you keep track of your DVDs, CDs, books, or video games. Just enter in or use your computer’s webcam to scan the barcode of anything in your collection, and Libra automatically retrieves the information for that product, including a nice picture to display on your virtual shelf. You can use Libra to manage your collection, track items you’ve loaned out, or print catalogs of your stuff. Currently in beta (and possibly a touch unstable), Libra is a free download, Windows only. Libra [via Download Squad] More »
SendShield Detects Outlook Attachments with Private Data
1:12PM Gina Trapani | Windows only: Never email another Microsoft Office document from Outlook that includes private hidden data again with the SendShield Outlook plug-in. We’ve all heard the horror stories of revisions, comments and author notes revealing more than the document sender intended, like when a Google employee inadvertently published internal secrets in the notes of a PowerPoint slideshow. The SendShield Outlook plug-in scans office documents you attach to new messages for hidden data and alerts you if there’s potentially sensitive info included, listing each item within Outlook’s interface. You can even delete the hidden data right within SendShield’s list, without modifying the original file, and scan documents attached to incoming messages as well. SendShield is a free download and works with Outlook 2003 and 2007—Windows only, of course. SendShield [via Geeks Are Sexy] More »
The Three ‘D’s of Identity Theft Prevention
12:00PM Adam Pash | Financial blogger J.D. Roth was recently the victim of mail theft, including some tax documents. After reporting the theft to the postal service, Roth received a flyer from the Federal Trade Commission with techniques for fighting identity theft. Instead of giving the thieves the opportunity to cash in on any sensitive information they may have obtained, Roth followed every step of the FTC’s flier, which takes a three-pronged approach to identity theft prevention: Deter, Detect, and Defend. For each step, the FTC provides smart steps you can take to keep yourself secure (deter), methods for staying alert in the event someone does steal your personal information (detect), and tips for dealing with a theft that has already occurred (defend). For more, check out the FTC’s official identity theft site. How to Prevent Identity Theft — Deter, Detect, Defend [Get Rich Slowly] More »Save and Playback YouTube Videos on Your iPhone or iTouch with MXTube
10:00AM Adam Pash | iPhone/iPod touch only: The MXTube application searches and saves YouTube videos directly to your iPhone or iPod touch so you can play them back at any time, whether you’ve got an active internet connection or not. I gave it a try this morning and it works exactly as advertised and looks great. The only drawback is that it doesn’t integrate with your iPod videos, but given time, I suppose anything’s possible. And now that we know you’ll have to wait another three months before you see any official third-party application support from Apple, we’ll just have to keep enjoying killer third-party apps the old-fashioned way—through a jailbroken iPhone via Installer.app. [via TUAW] More »
Coolest Cubicle Contest, Part Two
9:15AM Adam Pash | Last week we kicked off our Coolest Cubicle Contest with a bang, but we had no idea what kind of cubicles would come pouring in after you saw the first batch. This week, we’re looking at everything from wood-paneled cabins to dungeons and castles and beyond. So hit the jump to see how your fellow Lifehackers are making the most of their company-issued cube-shaped corner of the world. More »
Set your desktop on fire with Napalm
9:00AM Sarah Stokely | Here’s a silly but fun download to kill some time on a Friday – by writing in burning letters on your desktop. Napalm (Windows XP or Vista only) is a little program inspired by the Linux-based Compiz window manager. Once you’ve downloaded it, Napalm has a pretty simple user interface which lets you write in big scary, fiery writing, all over your desktop. That’s about all it does – although if you go to the Files tab and hit “Load” you’ll see a few different variations on the fiery theme for you to play with. I reckon it’s fiery wrath of god effect might be good for putting reminders on your desktop too (see left). :)Napalm – Your desktop on Fire [via Download Squad] More » Prep your best tips on resumes and job hunting
9:00AM Sarah Stokely | It’s been a while since we had a giveaway on Lifehacker AU, and our friends at the Google Open Source team have kindly donated some Google swag for prizes so here’s some advance notice so you can work on your best tips over the weekend.Starting on Monday we’ll be asking for your best tips on resumes and job hunting. So keep an eye out for the competition announcement on Monday for the details on how to enter. More » Answered: How to stop programs adding start up entries
9:00AM Sarah Stokely | On Tuesday, Lifehacker reader Edward wrote in with a query:
“I’m looking for an
application that runs on startup, detects any applications that have been added
to the startup menu, then shuts itself down (to preserve
memory). Is such an app
possible?
Or, is there a way
to run such a startup restorer just before shutting down to achieve the same
results?
I know there are
programs that stay resident and monitor changes, but this takes up memory and
processor time.”
I threw the question to the readers, who’ve helpfully come up with a few suggestions. AussieRodney suggested r2 Studio’s Startup Delayer, saying while it wasn’t exactly what Edward had requested, ” it will certainly give you a very good
heads up on what is starting in the background.”
Three readers also voted for Startup Monitor. Citizen D said, “The small memory footprint is more than worth it for the job it’s done for me for the past few years.”
Djurbino also suggested Startup Monitor and also commented “Spybot S&D also has a similar real-time startup protection feature (though I don’t think it’s enabled by default).”
Thanks for the suggestions, guys!
More » 