I like to be security-conscious, it's part of my job. When you read about security leaks and computer virus infections every day, it becomes an automatism. Yet, I dislike paranoia and I still believe the best security advisor to be sitting between each user's ears. That's why I haven't taped over my webcam yet. It seemed overcautious - and then HE appeared. HE got me thinking.
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Those affected may find it quite spooky, either parts of or their entire system is no longer accessible. Instead, they are presented with notifications that can give you goosebumps: A police department is supposed to have found illegal material on their machines. Their copy of Windows is illegal and they need to purchase a license or they have violated copyright laws. Other messages may be more "honest" and will tell mortified users their PCs have been taken over and that their files have been encrypted. They are now required to pay a ransom because they fell victim to ransomware.
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Whenever we surf the web, we leave traces that not only help Google but also every site we visit learn a lot about us. Whether it's cookies, IP address analysis, the referrer URL (the site we visited before) or the powerful Google Analytics, we're constantly being watched. Anyone who disagrees is forced to resort to measures that may require lots of technical expertise. The Tor network is the easy solution. Read on to learn about its advantages and risks.
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A program to remotely control PCs would be the exact definition but, in practice, "a savior in times of need" may be the better description. TeamViewer connects two (or more) PCs. This means you are able to remotely control another computer from afar to provide assistance. Are you having issues with your PC and know someone who might help but doesn't live around the block? That would be a typical use case for this program. Key advantage: The helper can view exactly what you see on your monitor and even take control of your machine. Video conferencing or file transfers are also possible between connected PCs.
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Whenever you observe IT professionals at work you'll notice a common pattern - the mouse gets rarely used. Keyboard shortcuts, also called hotkeys, can save you a lot of selecting and clicking. You either hit keys simultaneously (as with capitalization) or sequentially and save a lot of time and frustration. There are far more shortcuts available than I could ever remember. Read on to find out which shortcuts have saved the day for me so far.
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