Disabling Autoplay on Windows computers
The Autoplay feature may pose a security risk on computers running Windows operating systems. The feature enables computers to automatically open and run different types of media when they are inserted into the computer. Malware leverage such capabilities by using an autorun.inf to try and install itself on every computer the infected media is attached to. To disable the Autoplay feature on Windows computers follow these steps:
Categories: Security Tags: Autoplay, control panel, malware
Always open All Control Panel Items when opening Control Panel
The default behaviour of the Control Panel view is to load the view selected in your last Control Panel session. If you need to change this default behaviour and force Control Panel to display all items upon loading then you can either tweak the registry or use Group Policy to set a default view irrespective of your last session modifications.
Categories: GUI, Tweaks Tags: control panel, ForceClassicControlPanel, gpedit, Group Policy, regedit, registry, view
Disabling Windows Control Panel
Say, you don’t want other users to fiddle around with your system settings and would like to completely disable access to Control Panel for all users then you can achieve this by simply adding a new registry entry.
Categories: Admin, Tweaks Tags: control panel, NoControlPanel, regedit, registry, registry editor, settings
Disabling the automated Maintenance Process
By default, Windows 7 automatically runs a system maintenance troubleshooter on regular basis to help prevent computer problems. It’s a proactive approach to clean up unused files and shortcuts, and perform other maintenance tasks. However, when users create shortcuts on their desktops that link to network shares, removable drives and other files and folders may end up deleted by this automated process.
Categories: Management Tags: automated, computer maintenance, control panel, maintenance, routine maintenance, unused
Configuring Windows Firewall Rules
The basic Windows Firewall allows you to create rules based on programs and features only while to create firewall rules based on port addresses or services you need to use the WFAS (Windows Firewall with Advanced Security). In this article we will see how to configure exceptions based on programs using the basic Windows Firewall.
Categories: Security Tags: allow program, control panel, feature, features, Firewall, rules, WFAS, windows firewall
Windows 7 “GodMode”
Every software application hides its own secrets. It is a common practice among systems developers to create hidden code that would help them diagnose and take shortcuts when developing software packages. Some even hide a game or joke within their application which is known as Easter egg among the dev community. Windows 7 is no exception, some bloggers managed to discover one undocumented feature which earned the moniker of “GodMode”. It is a quick shortcut to all computer settings that are normally found in the Control Panel. “GodMode” existed also in Windows Vista.
Categories: Admin, Tweaks Tags: control panel, GodMode, hidden code, text string, tweaks
