Tools to protect your web search privacy

Some search engines log personally identifiable information (PII) such as location, IP addresses, digital identity, and other data to make the search results more relevant to the user, to display contextual advertising, or even to protect against fraud. They also track user activity and attempt to understand users’ behaviour on the web. Tracking by search engines may provide customised search results and help a user find the relevant content faster, it may also cloud the search results with the same information. While the quest for online anonymity and by extension, privacy, have essentially had to be traded off with convenience, there are different levels at which netizens may be able to guard their privacy online. Here is a quick list of some tools or services to ensure your privacy while conducting web searches.

The Onion Router (Tor)

Tor, a free-of-cost client-side software system is arguably the most well-known online anonymity tool. It uses multi-layered (like an onion) encryption to protect users’ identities. Users need to run an onion proxy on their devices. The data generated from activities such as visits to websites or content published online is encrypted many times over as it travels through the network, concealing the user’s identity and making it difficult to unscramble the information that is intercepted during communication. It is distributed under a free software license. However, researchers have documented ways of compromising the Tor network.

Screenshot of a search query at DuckDuckGo.com for DuckDuckGo

Duck Duck Go

Built majorly on Free and Open Source  Software (FOSS), Duck Duck Go does not store IP addresses, cookies, doesn’t use cloud services, and Google APIs. It uses crowdsourced information to enhance search results, instead of tracking users. Search results are compiled from the DuckDuckBot, Wolfram Alpha, Wikipedia, and the Yahoo! Search BOSS (Build Your Own Search Engine) API. It has additional plug-ins such as those for arithmetical calculations or cryptographic tools. Gabriel Weinberg, the founder of the search engine sums up its privacy policy, "By default, DuckDuckGo does not collect or share personal information. That is our privacy policy in a nutshell". Searching a URL on DDG shows links from Google cache and the Wayback Machine.

AskEraser

AskEraser is a privacy feature of the search engine Ask.com. When this feature is enabled, a user’s search history is deleted from servers within a few hours (Search engines are known to retain users’ data for as long as a few months.) The deleted content includes session cookies, IP addresses, search strings themselves, and the associated user ID, which is typically a serial number assigned to the user. However, AskEraser does not delete PII. 

Ixquick

Ixquick is another search engine dedicated to search privacy. According to its privacy policy, it does not collect or share personal information such as the IP addresses, browser and platform information, and the text of the search query.

Google Encrypted Search

Google Encrypted Search enables searching over SSL (secure socket layer). Navigate to https://www.google.com or to https://encrypted.google.com to use this feature.

If you have a Google account, logging out of it before performing a search, or using different browsers for searching and using the account makes it slightly harder to log and track your activity.

GoogleMonkeyR

GoogleMonkeyR is a userscript that enhances Google Search. Using the “trackless” option displayed adjacent to every search result, prevents the visit from being recorded and logged into your Google search history.

How to Scan Files for Viruses Before Using Them..?

To help avoid getting your computer infected by malicious software, it’s a good idea to scan files before executing them. Today we take a look at a couple of options that will let you scan files easily from your desktop.

Scan File with Your Antivirus Software

Most Antivirus software will put an option in the context menu so you can scan individual files. After downloading a file or email attachment, simply right-click the file and select the option to scan with your Antivirus software.

If you want to scan more than one at a time, hold down the Ctrl key while you clicking each file you want to scan. Then right-click and select to scan with your Antivirus software.

Here is our favorite Antivirus app, Microsoft Security Essentials scanning a couple of files.If a virus is found, your Antivirus app will delete it or put it in Quarantine so it cannot infect your system.

Using VirusTotal Uploader

To be very thorough and want a second opinion (actually 41), then you might want to check out the VirusTotal Uploader. This handy app will scan your files with 41 different Antivirus apps online. After installing VirusTotal Uploader, right-click the file, go to Send To, then VirusTotal.

Alternately you can launch VirusTotal Uploader and Get and upload the file.

It will send the file to VirusTotal.com and scan it with 41 different Antivirus apps and show you the results.

 

If you don’t want to install the Uploader, you can go to the VirusTotal site and upload a file from there to scan.

We’ve noticed that occasionally there will be a false positive detected on files we know are clean. Sometimes the definition database of an Anti-malware app isn’t current, or an obscure Antivirus App will find something questionable. If that is the case, use your best judgment when viewing the results.

Conclusion

Most Antivirus apps today have real-time scanning and should be able to detect possible infections before you’re able to execute them. However, if they don’t or when in doubt, following these tips can save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

If you use a lot of different flash drives throughout the day, check out our article on how to scan a thumb drive for viruses from the AutoPlay Dialog.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials

Download VirusTotal Uploader

10 Essential Skills for Windows Users

This is quite understandable, as Windows itself doesn’t come with any kind of user manual, except for the Getting Started digital software guides that Microsoft offers with some of their products. For today’s post, we will cover 10 essential skills that every Windows user should know, based on SEO demand.

1. Run as Administrator

In some cases, you may need to run a program as administrator in order to access it. By opening the app as an administrator, you are simply accessing the program using higher privileges, which some apps require.

To run as administrator, simply right-click the program or app and select Run as administrator from the right-click menu. This will launch the program in administrator mode.

2. Open an Elevated Command Prompt

Following the Run as Administrator step (1.), there may also be some cases where you need to useWindows to open an elevated command prompt. Using what you learned about Run as Administrator, you can also use to open the prompt.

To open an elevated command prompt, launch the start menu and type the term command prompt into the search box. From there, right-click the command prompt listing from the search results and Run it as administrator.

3. How to Print Screen (Screen Capture)

To take a screen capture in Windows, you can simply press the PRINT SCREEN/PRTSC/PRTSCN button on your computer’s keyboard. This will take a full view screenshot of whatever is active and open on the PC.

Alternatively, you can press the ALT + PRINT SCREEN buttons on your keyboard to take a screenshot of only the active window.

From here, you can simply paste the copied image into an application.

4. Change Your Windows Account Password

If you would like to change your Windows account password, the simplest way to do it is to use the Start menu search function. Simply click the Start button and type the term change password into theSearch programs and files box.

Select Change your Windows Password from the search results.

Alternative method: Simultaneously, press the CTRL + ALT + DELETE keys on your computer’s keyboard. Select the Change a password option.

5. Install Fonts

Installing fonts in Windows is quite simple. Once you’ve downloaded a font that you would like to install, simply right-click on the font file and select Install from the context menu.

Also note, if you want to install multiple fonts, you can select them all, right-click and use the above method.

6. Show Hidden Files

By default, Windows doesn’t display every file that is on the system. In some cases, you may need to show hidden files in order to access key files for the Windows operating system.

To show hidden files, navigate the path Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Show Hidden Files and Folders. Click the OK button.

7. How to Set and Adjust Windows startup programs.

By default, many programs or apps that are installed in Windows auto set themselves to launch every time you start your computer. If too many programs are set to run with Windows automatically, it can slow your computer down significantly.

To set Windows startup programs, launch the Start menu and search for the term msconfig. Selectmsconfig from the search results to launch System Configuration.

On the first tab, General, select the Selective startup option. Next, click the Startup tab, where you can toggle on or off startup programs.

8. Restart Windows in Safe Mode

Windows Safe Mode has various purposes, but it is commonly used as a less resourced boot of Windows that only loads essential Windows services. Safe Mode is commonly used to diagnose viruses and malware.

To restart in Safe Mode, click the Start Menu and restart your PC. When your PC shuts off and then begins to boot back up, press the F8 key on your keyboard. This will open the Advanced Boot Optionsmenu, where you can boot into Safe Mode.

9. How to use Windows System Restore

The Windows System Restore option allows you to revert the base operating system back to an earlier time, while leaving photos, documents and other files intact.

To launch Windows System Restore, open the path Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. Alternatively, you can simply use the Windows search function with the termsystem restore to jump directly to the utility.

10. Boot from CD or Disc

Booting Windows from a CD or Disc is a slightly different process, depending on what particular PC you have. To get started, insert the CD/Disc into the optical drive and restart your computer.

When the PC starts back up, you will see a BIOS screen that prompts you to press a key to access the BIOS. Press the specific key that is listed to enter the BIOS.

Locate the boot options in the BIOS and select the option Boot from CD/Boot from Disc/Boot from Drive/ Boot from (Drive Letter), or similar.

From here, Windows will boot from the disc rather than the OS.

That’s basically all there is to it. With the above, essential skills for Windows users mastered, you should have no problem with the majority of Windows tasks.

How to disable/enable USB Port in Windows 7 ?

hello Friends, to prevent form any unauthorized access I am posting this blog, so you can prevent your private information from theft via USB drive. You can disable your USB ports whenever in your absent. 

Step1: In Windows 7  press Windows key+R and type as “regedit

Step 2: 

It will open the Registry Editor of  your Windows 7

Step 3: After opening Registry edit browse the following path in reght side bar of registry editor

The Path to go: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesUSBSTOR”

Step4: Then right click the registry “Start” which is rectangled in red color in the below screenshot of registry editor

Step:5 Right Click “Start” and Click modify

• To enable USB ports: change the value from “4? to “3?
• To disable USB ports: change the Value for “3? to “4?

finaly restart your system..... Simple...!!!!! :) 

How to Securely Delete files from Windows..???

   When you delete a file in Windows, only the reference to the file is removed from the file system table. The file still exists on disk until other data overwrites it, leaving it vulnerable to recovery.

  

   There are many tools available out there that allow you to securely delete files so they cannot be recovered. This blog provides a summary of some of the free tools available out there, many of which are portable, allowing you to securely delete files you may temporarily save to public computers.

Eraser

Eraser makes it very easy to securely delete files, folders, or both. It overwrites the files being deleted with random data. There are several options for the number of times the files being deleted are overwritten with random data, including two versions of the US DoD 5220.22-M standard (3-pass and 7-pass) and the Gutmann method, which overwrites the file with random data 35 times.

You can immediately delete files and folders using the On-Demand interface or schedule files and folders to be securely deleted at a specific time using the Scheduler.

Eraser comes in a version you can install, which also allows you to add an option to the Windows Explorer context menu to securely erase files within Explorer. You can also download a portable version of Eraser you can take with you on a USB flash drive to delete files you save on other computers.

Download the installable version of Eraser from eraser.heidi.ie or the portable version fromPortableApps.com.

Freeraser

Freeraser is a free, portable tool that allows you to securely delete files using drag-and-drop. You can select to delete your files using a Fast method of filling the space with random data with one pass, using a Forced method that utilizes the DoD 5220.22M, 3-pass standard, or using the Ultimate, or Gutmann, method, deleting files by overwriting them with random data 35 times. Right-clicking on the Freeraser trash can displays a menu allowing you to manually select a file for deletion and to change the options for the program.

Download Freeraser from pendriveapps.com.

Blank And Secure

Blank And Secure is another portable drag-and-drop secure file deletion tool. Simply, drag-and-drop files or folders to be deleted onto the middle box on the Blank And Secure window. You can specify how many times the files are to be overwritten by zeros by clicking the Overwrite X times button and selecting an option. The deletion operation can be delayed up to 9 seconds using the Delete Delay X sec. button.

Download Blank And Secure from pendriveapps.com.

DP Shredder

DP Shredder is a portable, small program that allows you to securely delete files or directories and to overwrite the free space on a hard drive so files that were deleted previously without using secure methods cannot be recovered. You can easily select the method for deletion, which includes two US DoD-approved methods and the Gutmann method, and how many times (Rounds) the method will be applied.

Download DP Shredder from portablefreeware.com.

SDelete

SDelete is a command line tool allowing you to overwrite the free space on your hard disk so any previously deleted data becomes unrecoverable. It is portable and can be run from a USB flash drive in a command prompt window. To get help with how to use the command, type “sdelete” (without the quotes) at the command prompt and press Enter.

Download SDelete from technet.microsoft.com.

CCleaner

CCleaner is a program that removes unused, temporary files from your system, cleans up your internet history and cookies, contains a tool for cleaning the registry, and even allows you to clean up files from applications installed on your computer. The latest version offers a tool for wiping the free space on your hard drive. You can wipe the free space on a hard drive or the entire drive, securely deleting all data on the drive. There are four options for specifying how many times the data will be overwritten.

Download the installable version or the portable version of CCleaner from piriform.com.

A program for secure deletion of files is a useful addition to your software toolbox, especially if you use different computers, some of which may be public machines.