DNS is the phonebook of the internet. Without it, everyone would be typing in numbers to access websites. DNS does a lookup from a name to an IP address – like http://18.62.1.6/ is the same as http://eecs.mit.edu/ – which is easier to remember? Thank you DNS!
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers you use of their DNS servers, but is often not the best DNS servers available – both in speed, reliability and security. I’ve told you in the past about OpenDNS, and while Google DNS service does not come with the content filtering that OpenDNS has, it is extremely fast, secure, and very reliable – MUCH more than your ISP’s (especially if you have Charter Communications).
Google’s DNS servers IP address are:
For instructions how to configure your computer to use Google’s DNS servers, visit Google’s Help website: http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/using.html. They provide excellent instructions for Windows, Mac, Linux, and even your router and mobile device.
To sum up, I like the idea of Google having public DNS servers. Providing you are not using the content filtering aspect of OpenDNS, or not using OpenDNS at all, Google’s DNS is a no-brainer. Start using it today, and you will probably see a difference in your browsing speed!
Today, Microsoft released Security Essentials, a 100% free anti virus, anti spyware, and anti malware software. There are no subscriptions, no trials, just 100% free! Finally, people can protect their computers without forking over any money!
Download, and install the small software package, only takes a few minutes. Once installed, you don’t have to do anything else! Security Essentials is “set it and forget it” protection! It runs in the system tray, and will alert you if there are any security issues.
[ Download Microsoft Security Essentials ]
Windows 7 disables the AutoPlay feature which has been abused by malware (like Conficker). Now, Microsoft provides this same functionality for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008.
Download Disable AutoPlay for Windows
Have you ever lost a password to a Windows computer and just wish you had a way to get into the computer? There is a simple solution with KonBoot
KonBoot modifies the Windows Kernel in real time, thus allowing you to get past the login prompt when you start Windows. You can download KonBoot to either a floppy or burn it on to a CD-Rom. You insert either media into the computer and restart. When the computer restarts, KonBoot starts and launches Windows. When you are back to the login prompt again you can press enter to by pass the prompt. KonBoot will not allow you to change the password of the user, but you could create another account that has the ability to later change that password.
Remember, that this should only be used on computers in which you have permission to use the tool on or that you own. If you were to try this with any other computer, it is illegal and you could be put into jail. So use it at work on that computer of the employee who was just fired, or on one of the computers that your company is required to keep due to legal issues and nobody knows the password for. Try it out on your own computer just to see how it works, that way if you run into an time you need to use it at work you know how the program works. Even use it to help your friend who keeps forgetting his password and has to call you to recover it. Don’t use it at your work if you don’t have permission to use it, or at school/college where you can get into a lot of trouble. Remember the saying from Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility.”. With this is a powerful tool, which you have to use with responsibility.
KonBoot
