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![hide usernames01 Hide Account Usernames in Windows for Extra Security [How To]](http://mintywhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/hide-usernames01.png "hide-usernames01")
If you use online banking, you may have noticed when you get your password wrong that the error in response is pretty generic i.e. “Wrong user name or password.” These error messages are pretty unhelpful; however, this is by design. If someone tries to compromise your account, do you really want them knowing they got the user name right and now just need to tackle the password? Probably not. The harder we make it to get in to our accounts, the less chance we have of opportunists getting to places we don’t want them to be. With that said, this guide will show you how to disable user name display on the Windows logon screen, for additional security.
Archive for the ‘Windows Vista Security’ Category
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TuneUp Shredder is one of the many utilites that comes with TuneUp Utilities 2012 (full review) and is automatically available* after you install TuneUp Utilities 2012 (trial) (aff)
Even after emptying the Recycle Bin, files can be retrieved from your hard disk until they are physically overwritten. If you want your files deleted, permanently, use TuneUp Shredder to completely remove traces of your files. Doing this is both useful and strongly recommended if:
- You sell your PC
- You sell your hard drive
- You are returning a drive for warranty repair, replacement, or refund
- You loan your PC to a friend and you’re not sure what you’ve deleted recently
- Your PC is borrowed (school loaner, corporate laptop etc.)
To shred a file:
If you’ve ever asked a PC help question in a forum, it’s likely someone suggested you check for corrupted or out of version protected system files. To do this:
- Open a Command Prompt (Click Start, type cmd, and click cmd.exe.)
- Type sfc /scannow and press Enter
![8 19 2011 12 20 17 PM Fix Corrupted Windows Files with sfc /scannow (Do This) [Quick Tip]](http://mintywhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/8-19-2011-12-20-17-PM.png "8-19-2011 12-20-17 PM")
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Ever watch a commercial and think “I would NEVER buy that product” or “what kind of people watch this show? Why would I want to use/buy xyz?”
To focus online ads, many advertising companies track your activity as you browse from website to website (where their ads are displayed) and will build a profile of you to present more useful ads according to your interests and assumed demographics. These companies don’t collect personal information like your name and address; thus, you may find this information gathering helpful as you find yourself being offered more customized advertisements.
Or, you may see it as a violation of your privacy.
Simply disabling cookies will not alter the fact that your public IP address is available to these companies and, if you’re the only person/family using that address, you’ll still be profiled. If you’d like to opt out of these types of ads, you can do so very easily.
![mse scan file01 Scan an Individual File for Viruses with Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) [How To]](http://mintywhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mse-scan-file01.png "mse-scan-file01")
If you’ve downloaded a file and are not sure you can trust it before opening it, did you know you can use Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) to scan it for viruses without running a full virus scan? MSE lets you do this and it can help give you peace of mind before opening an unknown file.
This feature can be particularly useful if you’re opening a file from removable media (CD, DVD, external HDD etc.) and MSE’s real-time virus checker has not had a chance to do a preliminary scan at the file yet. If you’ve turned off real-time virus scanning, this will also help you avoid virus infection.
Caution: Even if a virus checker doesn’t detect a virus, never open a file from an untrusted source.
Windows Forums member Uvais, who is always on the lookout for other users’ safety on their PCs shares a tool recently released by Microsoft: Microsoft Safety Scanner, which is designed to work with your current anti-virus software to detect threats and infections on your PC. From the download page:
The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free downloadable security tool that provides on-demand scanning and helps remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It works with your existing antivirus software.
The software is designed to be downloaded for one-time use and expires after 10 days–requiring you to go back to the site and download the latest version with current virus-checking definitions.
