Category Archives: Desktop Tips and Tricks

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New ThiefQuest ransomware discovered targeting macOS users

Security researchers have discovered this week a new ransomware strain targeting macOS users.  Named OSX.ThiefQuest (or EvilQuest), this ransomware is different from previous macOS ransomware threats because besides encrypting the victim’s files, ThiefQuest also installs a keylogger, a reverse shell, and steals cryptocurrency wallet-related files from infected hosts. “Armed with these capabilities, the attacker can main full control over an infected host,” …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Microsoft Teams: Free version can now create video meetings

Users of the free version of Teams, the Microsoft 365 online collaboration platform, can now create video meetings.  The change, spotted by OnMSFT, means Teams free users can create a Teams meeting from their account, rather than only being able to join a meeting created by paying customers. … Microsoft Teams, which launched in 2017, has grown from 44 million daily active users in March, 2020 to 75 million in April, 2020. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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The PC is suddenly in fashion again, but there are tough times ahead

Remote working may have caused many people to value their laptop and desktops a lot more, but the PC industry is likely to struggle as companies and consumers cut back on spending. PCs may have been viewed as yesterday’s news thanks to the rise of smaller form factors like smartphones, tablets and wearables, but trusty laptops and desktops (and variations on them like Chromebooks and even Raspberry Pis) have proven their worth during lockdown for workers and kids doing home schooling.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Microsoft Teams: Now free version lets you create video meetings

Users of the free version of Teams, the Microsoft 365 online collaboration platform, can now create video meetings.  … The move is likely to be another effort from Microsoft to go to battle with Zoom, the biggest winner in video calling and conferencing since the global coronavirus pandemic shoved the world toward teleworking. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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​Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) for business: Everything you need to know

In this guide, we cover the multitude of Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise editions… The exact mix of apps and services available with a Microsoft 365 subscription depends on which edition you’ve chosen. The following five services are common to all business and enterprise plans.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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The complete Zoom guide: From basic help to advanced tricks

Zoom’s key strength is its simplicity, but this does not mean that the platform is without a variety of advanced features that remote workers will find useful for improving their productivity. Below, we’ll show you how to get started, and also offer some tips and tricks that experienced users may be missing out on. Let’s get started…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Ultimate webcam tips: How to look and sound great online

As Zoom, Skype and WebEx meetings explode, you need to master these webcam techniques.  We’re all on more web conferences and video meetings via Skype, Zoom, Google Meet and WebEx lately, so you may as well make a professional impression and get your point across memorably. Here are the six easiest ways to look (and sound) sharp when you meet online.

CNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Microsoft Teams: How to master remote work beyond the basics

Want to make yourself more productive with Microsoft Teams? Use these eight tips to master command-line and keyboard shortcuts, connect to external apps, and make useful content easier to find. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Ensure Success Using the Top Ten Remote-worker’s Checklist

Now that millions are working from home, the challenges will become clear. Here are 10 to watch out for. …  to help you keep the company ship afloat – while also preserving your sanity.  It is  important to secure enough bandwidth…  it is important that security concerns stay top-of-mind throughout the entire process. A global crisis is a playground for cyber criminals…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Video conferencing from home: Ten golden rules

People I’ve talked to are still concerned with just how to get through a conference without messing up, while others have asked me how to up their game now that they’re conferencing regularly… So let’s get started. #1. RELAX…IT’S JUST PEOPLE…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Zoom vs Skype: Can Microsoft offer ‘hassle-free’ video calls?

Skype has now used Twitter to promote a recently added feature that offers users “a simple, hassle-free way to connect with the important people in your life on #Skype, no sign-ups or downloads required”.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Working from home? Stay connected using Microsoft Teams, for free

Microsoft Teams is a collection of online services that you can access through a web browser (at https://teams.microsoft.com) or through the Teams app, which is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. … That combo of apps and services gives you the ability to invite people to join your organization and create teams for different groups; everyone in your organization can chat, with Slack-like channels within each team for group conversations; and private chat capabilities allow 1:1 and group conversations, with the option to add audio and video and share screens.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Zoom 101: A starter guide with important tips and tricks

Offices are closing. Travel is restricted. Employers are scrambling to knock together hasty virtual setups and access to corporate networks for workers now required to work from home. … One of Zoom’s key strengths is its simplicity, but this does not mean that the platform is without a variety of advanced features that remote workers will find useful for improving their productivity. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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These home appliances slow down your internet speed

Halogen lamps, electrical dimmer switches, stereo or computer speakers, fairy lights, TVs and monitors and AC power cords have all been known to affect routers. Keep your router as far away as possible from other electrical devices …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Hackers attacking Citrix and Zoho users during lockdown

The global operation by hacking group APT 41 – widely believed to linked to the Chinese government – targeted businesses in telecoms, manufacturing, healthcare, defence, higher education, pharmaceuticals, banking, media, oil and gas, chemicals, plus government.  Campaigns by APT 41 are often deployed in an effort to steal intellectual property…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Work from home: Essential gadgets and gear for productivity

One thing that I’ve learned to do is to make technology work for me, and with that in mind, here’s a list of what I believe to be essential gadgets and gear if you find yourself working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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The Dos and Don’ts of Online Video Meetings

In the age of coronavirus, many of us have transformed overnight from office workers into telecommuters. And we are increasingly relying on videoconferencing apps like Zoom and FaceTime to correspond with our peers.  But inevitably, with our homes and workplaces merging into one, the boundaries between our personal and professional lives are beginning to erode — and awkward situations have ensued. …

NewYorkTimes .com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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New Study Finds: Working from Home Makes Workers More Productive

People no longer want to deal with the frustrations of driving to and from work: In fact, new research shows that one in four employees has quit a job because of a long commute. Many job seekers now rely on the flexibility of remote work to avoid these inconveniences. The real question: How do virtual and in-office workspaces differ? …

Inc.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Half of firms have spotted a cyberattack – and here is the most common one you will face

Almost half of businesses have experienced a cyberattack or data breach in the past year – and almost all of the organisations that know they’ve been on the receiving end of attacks have reported being targeted by phishing and other fraudulent emails …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Macs saw almost double the number of malware threats than Windows PCs last year

Macs don’t get viruses,” or so the long-time saying goes. But according to Malwarebytes’ annual State of Malware report, that’s far from true. In fact, there was almost double the number of threats targeting Macs compared to Windows PCs in 2019.  The report states that Macs saw an average of 11 threats per endpoint in 2019, whereas Windows systems had an average of 5.8 threats—the first time Macs outpaced PCs when it comes to malware threats. …

TechSpot.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Popular internet scams to watch out for in 2020

The internet is filled with scammers looking to steal your private information. … You should also be able to spot threats on your own. To help, here are a few scams that are currently trending online.

BigThink.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Is Microsoft OneDrive confusing? Start with this cheat sheet

For Windows 10 and Office 365 users, the default cloud storage service is Microsoft OneDrive. Use this guide quickly get up to speed on Microsoft’s cloud storage app. …

TechRepublic.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Here’s how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade

Microsoft’s much-hyped free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended in 2016, right? Not exactly. The GWX tool may be gone, but all the other upgrade tools still work. The end result is an apparently valid digital license, and there’s no evidence that the free upgrades will end any time soon. …

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Brave browser reaches v1.0, its first stable version

Brave, a privacy-first browser, rolls out its first stable release, complete with innovative features such as its own private ad platform and a users and websites rewards initiative. …  Developed from the ground up to be a privacy-first alternative to modern-day browsers, Brave 1.0 comes with many features not present in any other competitor’s software. This includes: Brave blocks all ads by default, and instead uses its own private ad platform, designed to work right inside the browser, and with a focus on preserving users’ privacy. …

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Firefox New Privacy Protections Lets You Track the Trackers

Firefox is taking the guesswork out of how to give yourself more privacy online providing always-on features like blocking third-party tracking cookies and cryptominers also known as Enhanced Tracking Protection.

Mozilla.org click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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This free Windows 10 upgrade offer still works. Here’s why — and how to get it

The vast majority of Windows PCs sold in the past four years included Windows 10 licenses, and businesses who have stuck with Windows 7 have typically done so by exercising downgrade rights. They’re free to install Windows 10 anytime, without having to jump through any hoops. On PC’s that were originally sold with older versions of Windows, Microsoft’s calculus is pretty straightforward: It’s in the company’s best interests to see those old Windows versions retired. …

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Here’s how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade

Microsoft’s much-hyped free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended in 2016, right? Not exactly. … In this post, I’ll cover the basics of a Windows 10 upgrade. I’ll also talk about the licensing issues involved, which are (as always) confusing. …

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Microsoft adds OneDrive Personal Vault to secure your critical files

Microsoft’s OneDrive Personal Vault locks down a portion of your OneDrive cloud storage with time-limited two-factor authentication.  Personal Vault is designed for files you really hold dear: tax information, scanned passports, that sort of thing.  … Microsoft says that Personal Vault applies an extra layer of protection, essentially by reducing the timeout period. …

PCWorld.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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How to Avoid Windows 7’s End-of-Support Nags

Windows 7 has begun nagging you to upgrade to Windows 10—again. Specifically, you’ll see a message informing you that Microsoft will officially stop supporting Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. Here’s how to avoid it.  You can just click “Do not remind me again” and close the window to stop the nags. But you should think seriously about upgrading your computer… now!

Howtogeek.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Windows 10 is finally getting the ever popular “PowerToys”

Microsoft is rebooting and open sourcing PowerToys, the Windows 95 utilities that brought power users the popular Tweak UI, which allowed users to manipulate the Windows user interface, and over a dozen other tools. Microsoft is planning to publish previews of PowerToys utilities via GitHub this summer…

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