Windows only: Lock down your PC and prevent unauthorized executable files from running with freeware application Trust-No-Exe. As the computer’s administrator, you can set up a whitelist of clean executable files that you will allow to run and selectively block others. Once installed, Trust-No-Exe adds an entry to your Control Panel, from which you can tweak your whitelist and blacklist. If you’re heading home to fix your mom and dad’s computer for the seventh consecutive year, you might want to add this to your Thanksgiving rescue kit. It’s not foolproof, but it could be a worthwhile deterrent. Trust-No-Exe is freeware, Windows only.
Category: Windows
Everything About Windows
Disable and Enable the Screensaver in One Click
Windows only: Sick of your Windows screensaver coming on in the middle of watching a video or referring to what’s on-screen? Tech site the How-To Geek set up a shortcut to temporarily disable the screensaver (without having to click your way to its settings by hand) using a small utility called FlipSS. Mac users, you can get this same functionality with Caffeine.
Remote Control a PC with CrossLoop
Tech site the How-To Geek runs down how to remote control a PC using previously posted CrossLoop, free Windows software that makes VNC dead easy. Like Leopard Screen Sharing, CrossLoop puts a friendly front-end on VNC—as well as an encrypted connection between PC’s—for easy remote computing. With CrossLoop there has to be someone on the other end to accept the connection, so it’s best for tech support (versus controlling a headless PC, for example.) For more on getting your hands dirty with VNC, see how to remote control your home Mac or PC with VNC.
Add Double-Click Actions to Your Right Mouse Button with ClickZap
Windows only: For anyone who’s ever wondered why double-clicking the left mouse button gets special status but the right button can only single-click, freeware application ClickZap adds double right-click actions to your mouse. ClickZap does everything from locking your computer to muting your system volume, but the minimize active window action seems like a real champ (even though I prefer minimizing windows from my keyboard with the Capslock key). ClickZap is freeware, Windows only; you’ll have to hunt for it a little on the download page.
Turn Your Webcam into a Motion-Sensing Security Camera with Yawcam
Windows only: Got a webcam bundled with your last computer but don’t know what to do with it? Turn it into a motion-sensing security camera with freeware application Yawcam. All you need is a webcam to get started, but after spending a little time in the Yawcam settings you can set automatic FTP uploading, emailing, or just saving captured images to your hard drive. You can even set a schedule for when Yawcam is enabled to capture images so your security camera isn’t constantly snapping pics while you’re sitting in front of your computer. We’ve seen similar motion detecting software, but Yawcam looks like an excellent and simple alternative. I don’t have a webcam on my Windows PC, so if you give it a try, let’s hear how it worked for you in the comments. Yawcam is freeware, Windows only.
