Thursday, 15 May 2014

PC Security Tips : Make Computer Secure

Post By: Hanan Mannan
Contact Number: Pak (+92)-321-59-95-634
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PC Security Tips : Make Computer Secure

Here are some tips which will enable you to make your PC more secure.

Anti-virus

1. Never, ever turn off the resident protection of your antivirus even if it decreases performance. Upgrade if necessary.

2. Keep your virus definitions up-to-date. Use the automatic update feature of your anti-virus and try not to ignore the "Do you want to update now" message however often it might pop up.

3. Even if you update regularly and you have not seen any suspicious activity on your PC, do a deep scan at least once a month.

4. Always create an emergency boot disk and keep it in a safe place.
5. Run a deep scan in safe mode at least once every two months to kill viruses that would otherwise remain hidden.

Firewalls

1. If you are unsure about the alert displayed by your firewall, try searching it on the internet.

2. A firewall is a powerful tool that requires an understanding of how the program works and exactly what it is doing and whether it is secure or not. Reading the help files is extremely important in successful configuration of your firewall.
3. If you are running a third party firewall,be sure to turn off the Windows Firewall.

4. You can temporarily disable a firewall by right clicking the icon in the tray. This is handy when you know a site is one you can trust but your firewall is blocking it. But remember to re-enable it as soon as possible.

5. Read firewall notices carefully when they pop up so that you don't let a bad thing in or prevent good traffic.


Anti-Spyware

1. You should regularly check for updates. Enable the automatic update feature.

2. Remember to do a scan every now and then, or schedule scans if your program allows it. If you don't want to sit that long for scans to complete, use a single folder for all your downloads, then scan only that folder, Windows installation folder and the Registry. Alternately, you can do a quick scan if your program allows it.


Anti-Spam

1. Be patient with anti-spam software, it will get better over time.

2. Even if it looks that your anti-spam software is working great, periodically check the 'Spam' folder for good mail. None of the anti-spam software is perfect right now.

3. Don't give your anti-spam software too much rules, because it will not learn anything then. It is better if it learns on its own.

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How hackers hack Facebook Account & How to stop them?

Post By: Hanan Mannan
Contact Number: Pak (+92)-321-59-95-634
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How hackers hack Facebook Account & How to stop them?

Facebook is, undoubtedly, the most popular social networking website with more than 500 million active users. Due to its popularity, many hackers (or should I say crackers?) are actively involved in hacking Facebook accounts of unsuspecting users. This article outlines the many strategies that such hackers use to gain access to Facebook accounts of hundreds of users each day and how you can stop them from hacking your account.
                                           
Facebook is one of the prime target of hackers!

Email Address Hack

I have always been puzzled by Facebook's leniency in this matter. All a hacker needs to do is know your email address and he will be displayed  a confirmation showing your name even if he enters the wrong password. How easily a hacker can then hack your Facebook account if he 'guesses' your password (if you use a weak password) or answers your security question! This is something I hope Facebook improves on quickly. Until Facebook does so, here are some tricks you can use to protect yourself from this vulnerability.

How to safeguard your Email Address?
Just follow these steps:-

  1. Hide your Email Address from everyone by going to Edit Profile>Contact Information>Clicking on the icon beside your email address> checking 'Only Me'.
  2. Change your primary email address to a one that is only known to you by going to Account Settings>Email> and changing your primary email to the new one (known only to you) and removing your previous email address.
  3. For additional security, when in Account Settings, check 'Secure browsing' and 'Send me an email when a new computer or mobile device logs into this account' and click Save.
                                                                 A hacker at work!

Phishing

Phishing is one of the easiest ways to trick users into giving out their login credentials. All a hacker does is setup a webpage similar in design to that of the Facebook homepage, attach a server sided script to track the username and password entered and store it in a log. Sending people emails stating that someone tagged a photo of them on Facebook in the same format as Facebook and giving a link below to the phishing website further reduces the chances of it being detected as a fake. Sometimes, spam Facebook apps, like those promising to tell who viewed your Facebook profile, automatically post links to phishing websites. A new trend amongst phishers is creating Facebook look-a-like widgets for stealing user's login credentials.

How to prevent yourself from being phished?
At all costs, avoid clicking on suspicious links. Moreover, always check the URL in the address bar before signing in. Avoid logging in through various "Facebook widgets" offered by websites and blogs. Instead, use Facebook's homepage to sign in. Always try to use Safe Search while searching. If you do manage to get phished, report the website so that others may get a warning before visiting it.

Keylogging through Keyloggers

Keylogger is a type of computer virus that tracks key strokes. Keyloggers can be installed remotely on a computer system by a cracker to record all the activity that is going on the victim's computer. Keylogging gets more easy if the hacker has physical access to the victim's computer.
How to stop keyloggers?

Install a good antivirus and update it frequently. Do not click on suspicious links and avoid downloading illegal software. Also, avoid installing free toolbars and other such spam software. Always scan third-person's flash and pen drives before using them on your computer.

Social Engineering

Social engineering involves using any trick to fool the user into making himself vulnerable to exploits. This could involve anything from sending spoof emails, pretending to be from Facebook, telling you to change your password to 12345678 to a hacker maliciously getting out the answer to your Security Question in a friendly chat or discussion.

How to prevent yourself from being socially engineered?
Stay aware during chats and discussions. Use a tough security question, preferably one whose answer you would never disclose to anyone. Moreover, Facebook, or any other company for that matter, will never ask you to change your password to 12345678 or do something as silly as asking you to send out your login details to prove that you are an active user. Always think before taking actions and your e-life on Facebook will be safe from hackers looking to hack Facebook accounts.


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Microsoft Word shortcut keys

Post By; Hanan Mannan
Contact Number: Pak (+92)-321-59-95-634
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Microsoft Word shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Word. See the computer shortcut page if you are looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.
ShortcutDescription
Ctrl + 0Adds or removes 6pts of spacing before a paragraph.
Ctrl + ASelect all contents of the page.
Ctrl + BBold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + CCopy selected text.
Ctrl + DOpen the font preferences window.
Ctrl + EAligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen.
Ctrl + FOpen find box.
Ctrl + IItalic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + JAligns the selected text or line to justify the screen.
Ctrl + KInsert link.
Ctrl + LAligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen.
Ctrl + MIndent the paragraph.
Ctrl + POpen the print window.
Ctrl + RAligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen.
Ctrl + TCreate a hanging indent.
Ctrl + UUnderline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + VPaste.
Ctrl + XCut selected text.
Ctrl + YRedo the last action performed.
Ctrl + ZUndo last action.
Ctrl + Shift + LQuickly create a bullet point.
Ctrl + Shift + FChange the font.
Ctrl + Shift + >Increase selected font +1pts up to 12pt and then increases font +2pts.
Ctrl + ]Increase selected font +1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + <Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if above 12 decreases font by +2pt.
Ctrl + [Decrease selected font -1pts.
Ctrl + / + cInsert a cent sign (¢).
Ctrl + ' + <char>Insert a character with an accent (grave) mark, where <char> is the character you want. For example, if you wanted an accented è you would use Ctrl + ' + e as your shortcut key. To reverse the accent mark use the opposite accent mark, often on the tilde key.
Ctrl + Shift + *View or hide non printing characters.
Ctrl + <left arrow>Moves one word to the left.
Ctrl + <right arrow>Moves one word to the right.
Ctrl + <up arrow>Moves to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Ctrl + <down arrow>Moves to the end of the paragraph.
Ctrl + DelDeletes word to right of cursor.
Ctrl + BackspaceDeletes word to left of cursor.
Ctrl + EndMoves the cursor to the end of the document.
Ctrl + HomeMoves the cursor to the beginning of the document.
Ctrl + SpacebarReset highlighted text to the default font.
Ctrl + 1Single-space lines.
Ctrl + 2Double-space lines.
Ctrl + 51.5-line spacing.
Ctrl + Alt + 1Changes text to heading 1.
Ctrl + Alt + 2Changes text to heading 2.
Ctrl + Alt + 3Changes text to heading 3.
Alt + Ctrl + F2Open new document.
Ctrl + F1Open the Task Pane.
Ctrl + F2Display the print preview.
Ctrl + Shift + >Increases the highlighted text size by one.
Ctrl + Shift + <Decreases the highlighted text size by one.
Ctrl + Shift + F6Opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
Ctrl + Shift + F12Prints the document.
F1Open Help.
F4Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
F5Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
F7Spellcheck and grammar check selected text or document.
F12Save as.
Shift + F3Change the text in Microsoft Word from uppercase to lowercase or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.
Shift + F7Runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
Shift + F12Save.
Shift + EnterCreate a soft break instead of a new paragraph.
Shift + InsertPaste.
Shift + Alt + DInsert the current date.
Shift + Alt + TInsert the current time.
In addition to the above shortcut keys users can also use their mouse as a method of quickly do something commonly performed. Below some are examples of mouse shortcuts.
Mouse shortcutsDescription
Click, hold, and dragSelects text from where you click and hold to the point you drag and let go.
Double-clickIf double-click a word, selects the complete word.
Double-clickDouble-clicking on the left, center, or right of a blank line will make the alignment of the text left, center, or right aligned.
Double-clickDouble-clicking anywhere after text on a line will set a tab stop.
Triple-clickSelects the line or paragraph of the text the mouse triple-clicked.
Ctrl + Mouse wheelZooms in and out of document.

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Microsoft Excel shortcut keys

Post By: Hanan Mannan
Contact Number: Pak (+92)-321-59-95-634
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Microsoft Excel shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Excel. See the computer shortcut page if you are looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.
ShortcutDescription
F2Edit the selected cell.
F3After a name has been created F3 will paste names.
F4Repeat last action. For example, if you changed the color of text in another cell pressing F4 will change the text in cell to the same color.
F5Go to a specific cell. For example, C6.
F7Spell check selected text or document.
F11Create chart from selected data.
Ctrl + Shift + ;Enter the current time.
Ctrl + ;Enter the current date.
Alt + Shift + F1Insert New Worksheet.
Alt + EnterWhile typing text in a cell pressing Alt + Enter will move to the next line allowing for multiple lines of text in one cell.
Shift + F3Open the Excel formula window.
Shift + F5Bring up search box.
Ctrl + 1Open the Format Cells window.
Ctrl + ASelect all contents of the worksheet.
Ctrl + BBold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + IItalic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + KInsert link.
Ctrl + UUnderline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + 1Change the format of selected cells.
Ctrl + 5Strikethrough highlighted selection.
Ctrl + PBring up the print dialog box to begin printing.
Ctrl + ZUndo last action.
Ctrl + F3Open Excel Name Manager.
Ctrl + F9Minimize current window.
Ctrl + F10Maximize currently selected window.
Ctrl + F6Switch between open workbooks or windows.
Ctrl + Page upMove between Excel work sheets in the same Excel document.
Ctrl + Page downMove between Excel work sheets in the same Excel document.
Ctrl + TabMove between Two or more open Excel files.
Alt + =Create a formula to sum all of the above cells
Ctrl + 'Insert the value of the above cell into cell currently selected.
Ctrl + Shift + !Format number in comma format.
Ctrl + Shift + $Format number in currency format.
Ctrl + Shift + #Format number in date format.
Ctrl + Shift + %Format number in percentage format.
Ctrl + Shift + ^Format number in scientific format.
Ctrl + Shift + @Format number in time format.
Ctrl + Arrow keyMove to next section of text.
Ctrl + SpaceSelect entire column.
Shift + SpaceSelect entire row.
Ctrl + -Delete the slected column or row.
Ctrl + Shift + =Insert a new column or row.
Ctrl + HomeMove to cell A1.
Ctrl + ~Switch between showing Excel formulas or their values in cells.

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