TTC Shelbyville – Technical Blog

One of the best programs that is out there for schools, libraries, and even homes is Microsoft’s SteadyState.  SteadyState allowed a computer to remain the same when rebooted, preventing changes to the operating system.  You can download this software until December 2010.  After this time, Microsoft will slowly be retiring this program.  Great program to have in an environment where you need computer protection.  Link

• Windows Disk Protection – Help protect the Windows partition, which contains the Windows operating system and other programs, from being modified.
• User Restrictions and Settings – The user restrictions and settings can help to enhance and simplify the user experience.
• User Account Manager – Create and delete user accounts.
• Computer Restrictions – Control security settings, privacy settings, and more
• Schedule Software Updates – Update your shared computer with the latest software and security updates.

Free Portable Software – Lupo PenSuite   -

A collection of over 200 software titles that are freeware. Browsers, utilities, add-ons, networking and tons of other apps.  This freeware software is an excellent (200 mb of software) you can download for free!  Excellent collection.   A hefty 200mb version is available and a lite version can be downloaded and ran from your portable drive.

Link

Find out What’s on Your Harddrive – Disktective is an excellent piece of freeware that allows you to examine your hard drive and find out the space that is being used.  Link

Ivan Jones, Director looks to Steve Mallard, IT Manager for technology guidance in an ever changing economy. Facing 20% cuts, Mallard has to find innovative ways to implement new technology.

“Our IT department has to find a way to save money without sacrificing quality of service.”

ComputerWorld Article

TTC Picture

Simple Port Forwarding has over 1100 routers in its database.  There will be a time when you need to open a port on your router so that a computer on the ‘outside’ of your network can connect to the inside computer of your choice.

This freeware makes it simple and easy to do.  Simply select your router, select the port, type in the username and password and program the router.    This software is an excellent program for computer personnel, network personnel or home users wanting to forward a port to a particular computer.

Thanks to a provision slipped into a 2004 spending bill, higher education institutions must offer educational programs about the Constitution on Constitution Day (Sept. 17) in order to remain eligible for Title IV funding.

More information about Title IV and Funding of higher education (Constitution Day)

Information on TTC Shelbyville’s website.

We just posted a way to test your browser but you can’t beat Bill Mullins.  One of the best computer bloggers on the web along with Rick over at WhatsOnMyPC (excellent resource for freeware and reviews), Bill gives a thorough review of browser security.  Excellent job.

There are multiple ways to hide files on your computer but they can be discovered.

So why not just encrypt them.  Folder Protector locks your files or folders and encrypts them using some of the highest levels of encryption.  Being a portable application, you can move the files and encrypt or decrypt the files easily.

Here’s the deal –  When you open the file (FileEncrypt) you will not see a decrypt button.   Add the files you want and press Encrypt.  After you encrypt the files, their icons will change into a locked file (encrypted) simply double click and you will be prompted for a password.  This program is small <300 kb.

Folder Protector

Free Sessions for Girl Scout Leaders and Girl Scouts

TTC Shelbyville will host two sessions for Girl Scouts (Ages 11 -17) and Girl Scout Leaders on the following dates:
November 13, 2010 9am – 2 pm  (Main Campus CIT Classroom  – 119)
December 11, 2010 9am – 2 pm   (Main Campus CIT Classroom  – 119)

This class will not be open to the general public, Girl Scout Leaders should contact: Dawn.Babian@ttcshelbyville.edu or call 931-685-5013 for more information.

Number of participants is limited to 20 girl scouts + girl scout leaders. First come first served.

Girl Souts will learn the following topics and discover computers and information technology through the guidance of Dawn Babian, Network Administrator:
Facebook and Internet Safety
BioMetrics (use your fingerprint or face to log on to a computer)
Virtualization (how one computer can become two computers!)
How to build a computer
Meet Women who are working in the information technology industry.
Free certificate for girl scout participants

News on TTC Shelbyville

Norton Power Eraser can be used as an aggressive removal tool when all other traditional methods have been used.   Download it here

This 5.5 mb file can be ran standalone with no installation worries.  All removal tools can cause your system to crash if an infection affects certain system files.  Use all tools with caution.

Always use SuperAntispyware Portable, Malwarebytes and other removal tools to remove malware.

Excellent article… a must read.

IT Careers 2020: Cloudy days ahead.

You can test your browser’s security at becheck.scanit.  Remember it tests your browser.  Your browser can stop responding and your antivirus may alert you.

Fluxee is a program that moves files to their appropriate folders based on a set of rules that you set.   So if you are like me and ‘try’ to download programs and stay organized, sometimes you may need a little help.  Fluxee is less than 200k and can be customized to scan folders or subfolders every few seconds – moving your downloaded files or working files to their appropriate folders.

Several months back we featured runscanner a program that allows you to scan your computer for startup items.  This software allows you to find those hidden items that startup when your computer starts.  Bill Mullins recently reviewed this item and he does an excellent job with his review.
Download Free Runscanner – HijackThis On Steroids! - Bill Mullins

Some screenshots -

Right Click Extender adds functionality to your right clicking.  How?  You can add the ability to go to a command prompt as an administrator, encrypt  files, hide or show folders and dozens of other options.  Link

You can map a network drive using a script or batch file.

Open up Notepad

Type the following in substituting computer with the computer you are connecting to.  You will also substitute the folder with the folder name that is shared (only share with who you want to have access) also you can type in the password and username as necessary.

After typing this information in, Click on File and Save As.   Type map.bat and select the file type as all files.  Save the file where you want it.  You can now add it to your startup or to a schedule you set.

net use P: \\computer\folder password /user:username

__________________

If you want to disconnect the drive after a period of time, follow the above steps substituting -

net use P: /delete

Toucan is a portable app that runs from your flash drive or you can easily add it to your computer’s hard drive by ‘pointing’ to a folder on your computer.

• Five synchronisation modes, Copy, Mirror, Equalise, Move and Clean.
• Backup and restore in zip and password.
• AES-256 encryption.
• Set Rules that allows you to exclude files.
• Dozens of other features Many other features such as support for the new Windows 7 taskbar, full drag and drop support and translations to many languages.
• More…

Today if you lost your cellphone, you would probably lose your mind.  I would be somewhat grateful.  Averaging 80 -100 calls daily, I have to admit I have to have it professionally.  With the best mom in the world who is elderly and not in the best health, I have to have it.

Here’s a device that helps you keep up with your phone… great idea.  How much money do you have invested and how much data could you lose?  At $80 that is a small investment that comes with a charger and several items that will live through several of your expensive cellphones.

ZOMM is a wireless ‘leash’ for your phone.  Alarms if it separated from your phone.  It is basically a blue tooth device that you keep on your keys or in your pocket and when separated alarms to alert you that you left it (your phone) behind.  It can also be used as an alarm or to call 911.  ZOMM

Thanks Mickey for sharing the link..

Note: Although we don’t truly endorse products,  we share the ever changing world of technology.

Want to overclock your video card safely?  Well as safe as you can. EVGA offers a free utility to do just that.  EVGA Precision allows you to adjust the core clock, shader clock, memory clock and fan speed.  You can use your mouse to scroll the graphs up and down to view all information.  Allowing you to test before applying, this application is a great tool for gamers and anyone using video graphics.  USE at your own RISK. EVGA Precision.

(My tiny video card on my laptop is shown below)

Small- to midsized businesses taking the biggest hit, experts say, but consumer banking customers could be next in the bull’s eye

U.S. Businesses Could Lose Up To $1 Billion In Online Banking Fraud This Year – DarkReading.