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Use Dropbox for More Than Just File Syncing. I can't give enough praise to Dropbox. As a web designer working from many different computers on many different website I simply couldn't live without it. I use a combination of Notepad++, Bitvise Tunnelier, FileZilla, and the Gimp portable. All of my profiles for Tunnelier and FileZilla are stored on my profile and can even be password protected if I want extra security. Gimp and Notepad++ work really well as portable apps. I am able to essentially take the local copies of all of the sites I am working on with me to any computer. Secondly, the use of relative shortcuts such as "C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\My Documents\My Dropbox\Paperless\Electrical Bills" allowed me to organize my Dropbox files while still giving me the flexibility of having my most used apps and folders in the Dropbox root directory.

I've also gone 100% paperless with my Fujitsu SnapScan S510 and a Pro 50 Dropbox account. Some suggestions for how the service could be improved: - Better versioning controls. Geek to Live: Choose (and remember) great passwords. How to Use Dropbox as the Ultimate Password Syncer. Geek to Live: Securely track your passwords. Download of the Day: File Hippo Update Checker (Windows) Secure your laptop with Laptop Alarm. Turn Your Webcam into a Motion-Sensing Security Camera with Yawcam. Secure your laptop with the LaptopLock. Protect Yourself from Drive-By Browser Malware Attacks. SExpand We explained that you don't need to pay for Windows security last week, but today we're taking a closer look at how to protect yourself from drive-by malware that can infect your computer by simply visiting the wrong web site.P Naturally, everything in the last article still applies (you should definitely give it a read through if you haven't already).

Most importantly, make sure you always keep your PC updated; it's the biggest key to protecting yourself against drive-by malware. If you're already good on that front, here are some of the finer adjustments you can make to keep yourself safe.P What Is Drive-By Malware? Drive-by malware infects your computer by exploiting a vulnerability in your browser, browser plug-ins, or by opening a file in a hidden frame and exploiting a security hole in an application, like Adobe Reader.

Disable, Kill, or Uninstall Adobe ReaderP Adobe Reader is a security hole waiting to happen. FlashBlock Disables Annoying Animations, Protects YouP. Install and run Ubuntu without disturbing Windows. S Complete Guide to Windows 7. @cjmazur: How short-sighted and prejudice can an Apple fanboi get!? "Looking at Microsoft's history with operating system launches, let's look at the possible outcome. " I mean I know it's not uncommon for you guys to crotch-nurse from 'ol Stevie, but is it possible for you to come up with an original thought of your own without regurgitating the BS that Apple commercials feed you?

Ok, ok assuming you're not just spewing Apple's new propaganda commercial to the threads, do you honestly not realize how prejudice & bigoted you sound? Do you also look at someone's name see it's German and immediately assume that looking at their nationality's history that person will commit genocide against a whole people? Or seeing that they're human assume they'll commit all types of atrocities that humans have committed in the past? And lets consider your other remark: "Apple should just go forward and do a wide release of OSX. " fyi, I don't hate Apple. I just despise fanboi fanatics of ANY sort. Top 10 Strategies for Surviving Airports and Airplanes. Excellent tips, I have a couple others to add to it though. Dress Well: Seriously, this is a huge one.

Want to avoid crap in the security checkpoints? Want to get treated a little better? Ever heard the saying "Dress for Success" well, it's true of airline travel too. Always wear a button down and have a jacket on. Two reasons for that - one, suits aren't cheap, if my luggage gets lost at least I'm not out my most expensive outfit. I have personally done experiments on this and regardless, you always get treated better through the whole process if you dress professional. Get Elite: This isn't as hard as it sounds, actually. What happens with Elite? Oh, and having Elite on your boarding pass helps with security hassles, too. Upgrade or Pay Full Fare: Most companies have a policy stating they prefer full-fare coach due to refund-ability. I always upgrade if it's reasonable, and often if you check in online 24 hours before the flight.. it is. Those are my tips, at least. Create a Minimalist "Undesktop" for Distraction-Free Productivity.

You Don't Need to Regularly Reinstall Windows; Here's Why. The Best Windows Tweaks that Still Work in Windows 7. How to Thief-Proof Your Laptop. Set Up a Foolproof and Fireproof Automatic Backup Plan. @AmphetamineCrown: If ALL your data is "mission critical" then yes, several weeks to recover is useless. (though BackBlaze, prices same as mozy, offers to put your data on disks or drives and ship them to you overnight, not bad, and you keep the HDDs you buy if you need to, and they're reasonably priced). However, how much of your data matters NOW? 2GB, 5GB, 30GB? I seriously doubt your 2TB of movies are mission critical. It might be a pain not having your whole music collection for 4 or 5 days while it re-downloads after your critical files, but it's not that big of a deal. It's a pain, yes. Trust me, local backups often are completely unreliable to begin with. Me, I send everything to BackBlaze (took about 7 weeks to get it all there).

I worked for a DR firm. Set Up Space-Saving, Permanent Gmail and Reader Tabs in Firefox. Five Best Windows Firewalls. Nine Common Myths and Misconceptions About Viruses, Examined and Debunked. Five Best Book Recommendation Services. How to Get Started with Usenet in Three Simple Steps. Learn a language with open source software. Five Best Antivirus Applications. None of the above! [xkcd.com] Seriously, though, I haven't actually used an anti-virus since 1997 or so. I keep one installed in Windows just in case (Norton before, AVG now), but I disable it and only use it when I want to scan a file I already suspect of being infected. It's not an option for an average user, and I wouldn't suggest it for everyone, but a bit of sense combined with regular security updates and a separate firewall (such as on a decent router) is perfectly fine.

AV products are a great way to turn a fast PC into a slow one, especially if they scan everything you do as you do it. It's old, but an article from a few years ago did benchmarks to find what was slowing down Windows the most in various ways, and the top offenders were AV products: [www.thepcspy.com] I doubt this has changed. The Definitive Guide to Finding Free Wi-Fi.

Great article. A few caveats, though, that I've found in my personal experiences (of course, these ARE just my personal experiences, your mileage may vary). I've done a lot of air travel this summer, and I have been in a total of ONE airport that had free wi-fi. Everything else was pay-for-access. And the free one was slow as all hell. I couldn't even browse the internet comfortably. Al, as awesome as the iPhone tethering hack is, know that it breaks visual voicemail (though once you remove the hack, visual voicemail goes back to normal). Also, I've tried apps like WifiTrak on my iPod touch, and to be honest, it's never helped me at all. How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks. Hive Five Winner for Best Mind Mapping Software: FreeMind. Use the Multi-Stash Method to Keep Your Travel Cash Safe. Top 10 Downloads for a Road Warrior Laptop. @silphium: Wait, how was this simpler and faster again? :) @Mr.Sparkle: I said "to connect".

Reading is fundamental ;) Simpler and faster to connect... I connect via SSH+RDP with three clicks. By contrast, Logmein requires opening a browser window, going to a web site, entering login info, clicking past an ad screen, selecting the remote pc, (re)installing a plugin, entering the machine login info, navigate a services menu, yada, yada. SSH+RDP xfer speed is lightning fast compared to Logmein's relatively sluggish web-based solution. Anyone who has (or could) install Tomato or DD-WRT, and who needs to connect remotely more frequently than rarely, will find the greater overall operational efficiency offered by SSH+RDP compelling and well worth the hour or two they spend setting it up. The Geek's Vacation Checklist. Don't forget to unplug everything at home. Honestly do you really enjoy spending your money powering your home phone charger while you are gone?

Your home theater will eat 1 amp an hour while you are gone. etc... unplug the equipment rack in the basement, the Whole house audio, the cable boxes, Home theater, and the video distribution system all can be turned off completely by unplugging it for that week or two you spend in Maui or the Bahamas. NOTE: some low end cable boxes like the ones comcast uses will lose their auth settings and require a call to reactivate them. nothing is more frustrating than logging in at home to look at the cameras and the house status page just to see your electrical draw at home is the same as if you were there. Power everything down by unplugging it ,set the HVAC to Vacation, and enjoy... Finally travelling oustide the USA? Hot Image Your PC's Hard Drive with DriveImage XML. How to Encrypt and Hide Your Entire Operating System from Prying Eyes.

Resolved: Keep Your PC Clean, Safe, and Backed Up in 2010. Top 10 Hulu Hacks and Power User Tips. Pack for Linux: Our List of the Best Linux Downloads. @gearkraft: 1) Power. In 10 minutes, I can create a script to accomplish almost anything on Linux, Solaris, BSD, AIX, HP-UX, and many other *nix flavors. 2) Linux is free unless you want commercial support. Even then, you can pay whoever you like to provide the support, not just a single company or "approved" subjects from the home office. 3) Using Linux doesn't give either Apple or Microsoft any more money (usually). 4) If I don't install the "pro" version of linux, I can still remote into the computers from anywhere in the world. 5) Remote computer access that behaves just like being there. 6) I upgraded operating systems for 25 servers this year and there was $ZERO cost for me and my company. 7) Hundreds of thousands of free programs with source code. 8) The current versions of Linux runs well on 6 yr old hardware. 9) Customization - desktop, server, networking, everything. 10) *nix shells. 11) No centralized dictatorship for what an OS can and cannot do. 12) Virus attacks are minimal.

Five Best Password Managers. Five Best PDF Readers. Open source software bonanza. Windows 7 Lets You Finally Uninstall Internet Explorer (Kinda) Top 10 Windows Applications that Should Be on Macs. Pack 2010: Our List of Essential Windows Downloads. Top 10 Tactics for Productive Travel. 11) Wear a dark shirt if you're going to be working in a sunny place, as it will reflect less of the light and minimize screen glare. 12) Never travel without earplugs and/or sound-blocking earbuds (Etymotic Research ER-6s work well for me) to block ambient noise and raise your productivity level if you're distractable. 13) Keep a list of everything you use on business trips on your Blackberry or other device and directly touch each item before you go.

It's no good to have remembered them if for some reason you unpacked them before heading out the door. If you find yourself caught short without a needed item on the road, add it to the list. 14) Give serious thought to the clothing you bring and its versatility. 15) Pack three ZonePerfect or other stomach-filling bars of your preference in case your connections (or the availability of restaurants) prevents you from eating reasonable food at a reasonable time.