SECURE YOUR SAVED PASSWORDS IN FIREFOX

One of Firefox's most convenient features is its ability to save the passwords you use to log on to web sites - like your webmail and online banking - so you don't have to type them in every time. Those saved passwords appear as asterisks in the password field, but did you know how easy it is to see what they are? In Firefox, from the Tools menu, choose Options, and in the Passwords tab hit the "View Saved Passwords" button. Then hit "Show Passwords." Yup, there they are, all your high security passwords in plain text and full sight. I kid you not.

Try it. Right now. I'll wait.

Now consider how easy it would be for your Firefox-lovin' housemate to log onto your Gmail, or the computer-sharing temp at the office to get into your checking account or your other half to discover all your pr0n site logins. (Ok, we're just kidding about the porn. Maybe.) Not such a great feature anymore, eh? Today we'll go over a lesser-known feature in Firefox which secures your saved passwords without requiring you to give up the convenience of those autofilled login details.

Back in that password dialog (Tools menu, Options, Passwords) there's a "Change Master Password" button. This master password is a SINGLE password that will unlock the rest of your saved passwords from prying eyes. It's a password you'll have to enter once a session - so each time you restart Firefox. (Click to enlarge.)

When setting the master password, the fox has a neat "Password quality meter" which displays how difficult your password is to crack. Try different combinations of words and numbers and symbols to get this secure-o-meter as high as possible. For example the passwordlifehacker scored very low on the quality meter, but *l1f3h4ck3r* was about 90% hard to crack. (Click to enlarge image.)

Now, the trick here is to pick something you will NEVER FORGET. In the words of the venerable Firefox, "If you forget your Master Password, you will be unable to access any of the information protected by it." 'Nuff said.

Once your Master Password is set, close Firefox. When you reopen and go to a page where you've saved a password - like Gmail - you'll get a security prompt like so:

This prompt is a bit of an inconvenience, but it buys you the peace of mind that no one else is logging onto your sites without explicit authorization. Plus you only have to enter it once a session, a great alternative to "type every password in every time" for paranoids who never save passwords in the browser (like, um, me.)

Article: Credit to lifehacker

7 REASONS TO USE GOOGLE CHROME

Google Chrome, the web browser by Google, has been gaining market share steadily since the day it was introduced. It's by far the best browser I've used (and I have used a number of them). I think my productivity has increased significantly since I switched to Google Chrome as my primary browser.

In this entry, I give 7 reasons to persuade you to switch to Chrome if you haven't yet. Now, nothing is perfect and there are some caveats here too, but, the pros definitely overshadow the cons and hence I recommend using Chrome.

It's Very Fast

Yes, it is. You realize how fast it is when you click on the chrome icon to open the browser. It comes up in a flash, much faster than other browser. As you start using it, you will find that the webpage also take less time to load.

Chrome is based on Webkit. The Chrome team recently talked about the factors that make it so fast.

Most Secure Browser

Not that security vulnerability aren't discovered in Google Chrome, but, it is considered to be more secure than its counterparts like IE and Firefox. In fact, it was the only browser that survived the Pwn2Own competition where security experts tried to exploit all the browsers in search for bugs.

Simple Searching

The address bar in Chrome also acts as the Google search bar. Hence you could just type your search query there and hit enter. It will quickly pull up the relevant Google results. You don't need to first go to Google in order to search. This saves time.

More Screen Real Estate

One of the best things about Chrome is that it's minimalistic. The browser options are tucked away on the extreme right and that enables it to get you more screen real estate by providing a bigger browsing space. This feature is quite useful when you are on long webpage and need to scroll down frequently. It also helps blogger like me to take better screenshots.

Quick Incognito Mode

The incognito mode in Chrome is a nifty feature. Although private browsing mode was later introduced in Firefox and some other browsers too, Chrome's incognito wins hands down. You could go incognito by pressing Ctrl+Shift+n. Apart from the obvious use of private browsing, there are several other uses of Chrome's incognito mode. Like, you could log into two Gmail accounts at once using this feature.

Default Bookmark Sync Option

There's a "Synchronize my bookmarks" feature in Chrome which you can access by clicking on the wrench icon on the top right. You could use this feature to synchronize your Google account. That way you can access your bookmarks if you are using Chrome on a different computer.

No Restart Required When Installing Add-ons

Yes, unlike Firefox where you need to restart your browser whenever you install a new extension or uninstall an old one, Chrome doesn't require that. And as someone who plays with a lot of add-ons, This feature saves a lot of time and frustration.

Article: Credit to Dumb Little Man

6 THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 7

While upgrading might sound intimidating to someone who's not computer savvy, it isn't that difficult if one knows beforehand what he needs and how he should proceed. This post aims to address that.
 

Here's the list. Check it out.

Which edition to go for?
So you've decided to get Windows 7. Should you go for the Windows 7 premium or the Ultimate version? Do all of them have the XP mode, a feature that'd allow you to run Windows XP in virtual mode? How do you choose which is the best version for you?

To answer the above questions, Microsoft has prepared a comparison chart that compares all the Windows 7 versions. It'll help you decide the right version for you.

Use Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
Is your computer ready for an upgrade? Are all the parts compatible with Windows 7? What about the software and tools? Do all of them run on the new OS?

To find out if your computer can run Windows 7, you can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor provided by Microsoft and scan your PC with the tool.

32 bit or 64 bit?
You've heard these terms called 32 bit and 64 bit, been intrigued by them and want to know what are they all about and if you should get a brand new 64 bit Windows 7 PC. This article on 32 bit and 64 bit Windows explains the details and tells you how to choose between them.

Clean install or upgrade install?
So how should you go about the upgrading process? Should you do an upgrade install, which means upgrading on top of the present operating system, or do a clean install from scratch? Check out this article that talks about the various aspects related to installing and reinstalling Windows 7.

Check compatibility of individual applications
Want to know if a particular software or application would work on Windows 7? Run a check for that online in the Windows 7 compatibility center and find out if it is compatible with Windows 7.

Test Windows 7 Online
Finally, if you want to get a hands on experience of Windows 7 and its various features then check this article that shows you a way to test drive Windows 7 online. savvy, it isn't that difficult if one knows beforehand what he needs and how he should proceed. This post aims to address that.

Article: Credit to Dumb Little Man

GREAT MIND MAPPING TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE BRAINSTORMING

A mind map is considered a great way to brainstorm and generate more ideas. It helps you create a number of small ideas from one big idea, see how different ideas could be connected together and create a plan of action.

This article talks about eight mind mapping tools to help you brainstorm effectively. Almost all of them have free versions available. Some of them also help you collaborate with other people while working on the tool. Check them out.

1. Xmind

Xmind, available in both free and pro versions, is a brilliant and feature-rich mind mapping tool. The interface is easy to use and you could create a variety of mind maps without getting stuck in complex options. The mind maps could be shared, embedded on your site and exported as PDF, Word or PowerPoint.

The tool also offers a special "Brainstorming Mode" to help you capture ideas effortlessly. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux (separate installers) and the code is open-source.

2. FreeMind

FreeMind is a unique mind mapping tool. Unique because it's Java based and hence works on almost all the major platforms in exactly the same way. And being completely free to use, I'd say the features offered are quite good, the best thing being a wide range of keyboard shortcuts which could help you create a mind map in no time.

3. MindMeister

MindMeister is a pretty popular mind mapping tool that's web based and doesn't require any download. It has a great user interface and also offers a set of tools to enhance its functionality. There's a real-time brainstorming mode to collaborate with colleagues in the mind map creation process.

The basic version of the tool is free but it doesn't include all the features. There are premium and business versions available.

4. Mind42

If your mind mapping needs are fairly simple and you are looking for a no-frills, online tool then you should go for Mind42. It's free, has a clutter-free interface, helps you get started easily and offers most of the features that a good brainstorming and mind mapping tool should provide.

5. MindJet MindManager

Mindjet MindManager is a mind mapping tool for business professionals (and hence costly). It incorporates things like tasks and projects, information maps, interactive dashboards and much more into a mind map. It is in fact a complete idea visualization package that's available for Windows and Mac computers.

6. Mindomo

Mindomo can work as a web based tool as well as a desktop tool on Windows, Mac and Linux. It has a nice project planning and tracking feature to help teams work together on mind maps and track the progress. Both free and premium versions are available.

7. Freeplane

If  Freeplane sounds similar to FreeMind mentioned above, it is because it is a redesigned version of the same tool. It is created by one of the developers who created FreeMind and many prefer it over the previous one. You could try both Freeplane and FreeMind and then decide, depending on the design, which one you find comfortable working with.

Do you use mind mapping tools? Which ones have you tried?

Article: Credit to Dumb Little Man