From The Tips Box: Recent Documents, Passwords, Car Stereos

Readers offer their best tips for opening recent documents in Windows programs, keeping your password manager a secret, and keeping your car stereo from getting stolen.

Every day we receive boatloads of great reader tips in our inbox, but for various reasons — maybe they’re a bit too niche, maybe we couldn’t find a good way to present it, or maybe we just couldn’t fit it in — the tip didn’t make the front page. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favourites for your buffet-style consumption. Got a tip of your own to share? Email it to tips at lifehacker.com.au.

Find Recent Files in Windows 7 by Creating a Jumplist

Isaaclyman shares a clever workaround for programs that don’t haven an “open recent files” menu:

Today I was trying to find a Notepad file that I made on Saturday. I couldn’t find it anywhere, but since I don’t use Notepad often, I knew it would be in my recent files. Surprise! Notepad doesn’t have an “Open Recent” option.

So I clicked my Windows button, searched “Notepad,” and dragged the program to my taskbar (pinned it). Then I right-clicked it, and there were my 10 most recent files. Right up at the top of the list was the file I was looking for.

It seems like there ought to be another way to do this, but regardless, it was pretty quick and easy.

Boost LastPass’ Security by Hiding Its Existence

Robin Hoek keeps LastPass hidden from prying eyes:

I love LastPass for making and storing strong passwords but I found it annoying to log in every time I use my computer. Of course I could leave myself logged in all the time but that leaves all my passwords readily accessible to anyone who happens by my computer. So what I did was set up my account to stay logged on and I set hotkeys to enter passwords, save new passwords, etc. in LastPass’s settings. Next I right clicked on the LastPass button in my browser and checked “Hide Button”.

Now no one can tell I have Lastpass installed unless they check the “Extensions” menu in Chrome and I can log in without having to enter my password every time. Security through obfuscation!

Use Different Screws to Prevent Stereo Theft

Photo by grendelkhan.

Priper secures expensive items with multiple, hard-to-unscrew tools:

I learned this after being a victim myself. When installing a car stereo, use different screws (Torx, allen, phillips) on each side of the mounting bracket of the dash. This adds a small extra level of security, in case someone tries to steal it. You only need to take the original to a hardware store and choose it.