If you do not know what you do in the registry, you can damage your computer pretty good.Today we show you how to prevent users from accessing the registry and make changes to it.

Using Policy Editor Local Group

Note: This method uses Group Policy Editor which is not available in versions of Windows Home.

first type gpedit.msc in the Search box on the Start menu.

When Group Policy Editor opens, navigate to User Configuration \ Administrative Templates and select System. Under Setting in the right pane double-click Prevent access to registry editing tools.

Select the radio button next to Enabled, click OK, then close out of Group Policy Editor.

Now if a user tries to access the Registry…

They will get the following message advising they cannot access it.

Using Registry Enabler & Disabler 3

If you’re using Home or Starter version of Windows 7, you can use a neat utility called Registry Enabler & Disabler (link below). This app works on XP and Vista as well.

There is no installation involved so you can run it from a flash drive, disable the registry, then take the flash drive with you while a the user is on the machine.

Again, if the user tries to access the Registry they will get the following error…

Using one of these options will stop users from gaining access to the Registry or running any registry hacks. Of course if you have a shared computer, you may want to set up other users with a Standard Account, as they won’t be able to make changes to the Registry anyway.

Download Registry Enabler & Disabler 3

Go to Source Article at How to Geek

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Filed under: Features, Windows, How-Tos

The improved taskbar — or Superbar, as it’s really called now — in Windows 7 offers loads of features which make getting at the files and folders you use frequently easier and faster. The four options I’ll cover here don’t require any additional software. They’re all possible using features built right in to your OS, you just might not have realized it yet!

Pin ‘em to your Explorer icon (pictured above)
The most obvious solution, and the one you’re most likely to have tried already. The Explorer icon sits on the Superbar by default, so every fresh Windows 7 desktop should have it. Pinning a folder is as simple as it gets: find a folder you want to add to the Explorer Jump List, click on it and hold your mouse button down, and drag it to the Explorer taskbar icon.

There’s another way to add items, too. Folders you use frequently automatically appear on the Jump List. Right-click the Explorer icon to display it, and then click the thumbtack icon to pin anything you’d like to show up at the list.

The Quick Launch toolbar
This one’s been part of Windows for ages — it’s not new to Windows 7. Now, in fact, it’s kind of tucked away out of plain sight. Putting the quick launch toolbar back is easy enough. Here’s how to do it:

• right click the Superbar and choose toolbar from the top of the context menu
• click new toolbar from the bottom of the slide-out submenu
• paste the following path in the box labeled folder (quotes and all): “%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick launch”

You’ll see the toolbar appear on your Superbar. To easily add shortcuts to other folders, right-click on the Quick launch text and choose open folder. Any shortcuts you create in that Explorer window will automatically appear on the menu you just created.

You can also drag-and-drop shortcuts — just be careful where you let go of your mouse button or your shortcut may wind up somewhere you didn’t want it.

The Desktop toolbar
One very handy default toolbar is Desktop. Add it, and all the icons covering up your snazzy wallpaper appear right on the taskbar in a compact menu. Once you’ve done that, you can right click your desktop, choose view, and click on Show Desktop Icons. *poof!* Your desktop is squeaky clean, and you still have easy access to everything you stashed there.

You can still drag and drop items on your desktop or right-click a file or folder and choose send to -> desktop, too. Instead of appearing there, they’ll show up on the menu!

Adding the desktop toolbar is even easier than the Quick Launch:

• right click the Superbar and choose toolbar from the top of the context menu
• click Desktop
  

Bonus: this also acts as a way to get a functional recycle bin icon on your taskbar!

The Start Menu -> Recorded TV Library button
Sure, technically the Menu isn’t on the taskbar itself, but the Windows button is, so let’s just go with it…Starting with XP, Microsoft added a section of folder buttons to the right-hand side of the Windows Start Menu. They give quick access to things like your Documents, Music, and Photos.

In Windows 7, you can add two more: Downloads and Recorded TV. Fast access to the Downloads folder? Heck yes! The Recorded TV library, however, really isn’t going to be that useful to you if you don’t use your system as a PVR — but you can easily change it to something that you’ll find much more handy. It’s a three step process (with multiple sub-steps).

Step 1: add the Recorded TV library button to your Start Menu

• Right-click the Windows button and choose properties
• Click the customize button when the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window appears
• Scroll down through the list (it’s alphabetical) until you find Recorded TV
• Change the selection to either display as link or display as menu. Display as link means a new Explorer window will open when you click the button. Display as menu will slide out your Library’s contents when you hover over the button with your mouse.

Step 2: change the name to something more meaningful

• Click your Windows button to make the start button appear
• Right-click the Recorded TV folder and choose properties
• Click the General tab
• Replace Recorded TV with whatever you want (Miscellaneous Debris, etc.)

Step 3: add the folders you want to the library

• Click your Windows button to make the start button appear
• Right-click the Recorded TV folder and choose properties
• Click Include a Folder and browse for the folder you want
• Click the Include Folder button to add it
• Repeat until your library is complete
• Click the drop-down under Optimize this library for and set it to the most appropriate type (I use General)

Got another method for fast and easy file and folder access which doesn’t require additional software? Share it in the comments!

Go to Source Article at Download Squad

Are you looking for a quick and simple way to view the contents of the cache in Firefox? Then you will definitely want to see how easy it can be using the CacheViewer extension.

Note: CacheViewer is a front-end app for easily accessing and searching the memory cache.

Before

Viewing the cache in Firefox using “about:cache” provides some information about the contents but may not be the most efficient method available for some people.

CacheViewer in Action

Once you have installed the extension there are three easy ways to access your new cache viewer. The first is using the “CacheViewer Command” available in the “Tools Menu” and the second is using the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + C”.

The third way is by adding a “Toolbar Button” to your browser’s UI. All three work equally well…choose the method that best suits your personal needs.

When you access the “CacheViewer Window” this is what it will look like. You may decide to resize it and move (or hide) some of the columns for the best viewing. You can easily scroll through the cache contents and preview images if desired as shown here.

If you keep the “CacheViewer Window” open you can refresh it as you browse using the “Refresh Button” in the lower right corner. This is a nice, quick, and very simple way to access the cache on demand and save items to your hard-drive if desired.

Note: The “CacheViewer” can also be set to open in a new tab instead (see “Options”).

Options

Choose whether “CacheViewer” opens in a separate window (default) or in a new tab.

Conclusion

If you want a quick and simple way to view the cache in Firefox then the CacheViewer extension is just what you have been looking for.

Link

Download the CacheViewer extension (Mozilla Add-ons)

Go to Source Article at How to Geek

Yes it is true. And it has happened as well. The Webcam spy case in the Lower Merion School District near Philadelphia has raised concern in this matter. The School had issued MacBook to its students and used this method to locate stolen/lost laptops. The school district admitted to activating the webcams 42 times over a 14 month period.
Most of the laptops were found to be misplaced in the class rooms instead. Snippets of the students as well as few teachers using them were recorded and used to identify which person currently had which laptop.

Is it really that simple to remotely activate a webcam? Sad truth is yes. All the new laptops now come with a built in webcam. And with correct software installed on the laptop, along with it connected to the internet, the webcam can be remotely turned on. This is bad news for people who are infected with remote camera Trojan/viruses. I don’t think there is any such Trojan out there yet, but I won’t be too sure. Won’t be long before people realize that they have been recorded while they were busy tapering away with on their laptops.

Here is Mike Perbix who talks about spying with laptop remote admin software If you want to know more.

Very disturbing piece of news indeed. Well I am glad that my webcam has a white bright LED that turns on when the webcam is on. At least I get to know if I am being watched or not.

Regards,
Kaiser2011