NDM Tech World

Use Google search like a Pro

in Google Search - on 11:37 AM - No comments

If you have ever used the internet (I'm guessing you have) every chance that you know about Google search engine. Because Google is the most-used search engine on the World Wide Web . From years of experience using the Internet, I can assure you that you can find almost anything using Google if the content you are searching for exists. However, the time it takes for you to find what you want from over 60 trillion web pages, depends on what you enter on the search box.

Below are some tips for using Google search engine

You don't have to worry much about spelling. Google's spell checker will take care of it
Capitalization is not required. Searching for "News" and searching for "news" is exactly the same
Use quotation marks if you are searching for an exact phrase (eg: "android device manager")
If you are searching for pages without a particular word, use a dash before that word (eg: fastest cars -racing)
To find something on a specific web site use site:website.com after your search query (eg: latest laptop models site:hp.com)
To find specific types of files, use filetype:suffix after your search query (eg: color codes filetype:pdf)
To find news coming from a specific location, use location:location name after your search query (eg: budget location:colombo)
Use asterisk as a wild card to find missing words on a phrase (eg: cost an * and a leg)
To find a definition of a word, enter define:word

Apart from above tips, you can also use Google search tools to filter your search easily.

Google Search Tools

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How to make full use of Windows 8 Recovery features

in Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows recovery options - on 10:11 AM - No comments

You might know that Microsoft Windows 8 and above versions has impressive recovery features which you can use to get your operating system back on track if something goes wrong. These features include the familiar face of System Restore and the all new Refresh and Reset options. Additionally, if your PC has come with a recovery partition, you can save space by creating a recovery drive in the form of a USB flash drive and deleting the recovery partition.

To find these features

Go to Charms bar (Win+C)
Click Settings
Click Change PC settings
Click Update and Recovery
Click Recovery and you will find Refresh and Reset options as below screen

Update and Recovery

If you want to delete everything and re-install windows you can do so from by using the Reset option

But, if you only need to repair your Windows installation and keep all your data, Refresh should be your choice. You will have to keep in mind that the Refresh option will remove all your Desktop applications and will leave you a list of applications removed during the Refresh process.

However, their's a neat trick that you can use to Refresh your OS while keeping all your software applications.

Steps

1. Go to Start screen, type cmd, right click on Command Prompt and click "Run as administrator"

2. Type the below command and press Enter
recimg -CreateImage drive:\folder (don't forget to replace "drive:\folder" with an actual location on your hard drive

Doing this not only create a recovery image (CustomRefresh.wim) on the given location, it also registers that image as the default and will be used when you Refresh your OS.

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Handing over your passwords headache to Lastpass

in Internet Security, LastPass, Password Managers - on 5:59 PM - No comments

With the advancement of the Internet, emergence of numerous social networks and email services, the number of passwords that we have to remember have reached the impossible state. If one can set complex passwords for all his accounts and remember them all, the guy should be a genius.

For other normal people like me, there is the help of password management utilities like LastPass, Dashlane, RoboForm Everywhere, Intuitive Password, Keeper, Norton Identity Safe, Password Box, and Sticky Password.Among them, my favorite one has always been LastPass. And in this article, I'm going to show you how to make the best use of LastPass.

Steps

1. Go to https://lastpass.com and click on Download Free to get started

2. Select the installer for your browser or you can download Universal Windows Installer

3. Click Install LastPass

4. Click Create a New Account

5. Enter you email address, a strong Master password, Master Password reminder, tick the I agree box and click Create Account

6. Click Enable to activate the LastPass add-on for Internet Explorer (this might vary depending on your browser)

It is almost done and you will be presented with the LassPass Vault

7. Now go to one of your online accounts and login as you normaly do

8. You will see a prompt asking you if you want to save the site or not. Click Save Site

9. You can give a name for the entry and select a folder in your vault. Once you select them, click Save Site

Now you have saved that credentials to your LastPass vault, next time you visit that site, you will see that LastPass have entered your credentials for you. How cool is that :)

Tips

1. Don't forget your Master Password for LastPass.

2. Unless you are absolutely certain that no one else will misuse your PC, don't tick the box "Remember Password".

3. LastPass supports multi-factor authentication. It is highly advisable that you enable that feature (Don't worry.. will cover that in a different post)

4. LastPass is more than just a password manager. There are plenty of other features as well. Will bring those to you in the future.

5. Lastpass has built in password generator. Now that you don't have to remember your passwords, try this feature to generate secure passwords for your accounts.

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Multi-factor Authentication

in Multi-factor Authentication, Security - on 11:45 AM - No comments

How many online accounts do you have? Google, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Outlook, Linkedin and many more. How much of personal information do they hold? Imagine if someone else stole or guessed your password and gained access to those information. Sounds scary right?

That's why we believe everyone should configure and make use of multi-factor authentication wherever applicable.

What is multi-factor authentication?

Multi-factor authentication is a method of authentication which requre the user to have 2 or more of the following authentication factors.

1. Something you know (password, pass-phrase, PIN, pattern)
2. Something you have (smart card, mobile phone, USB drive)
3. Something you are (fingerprints)

You may or may not be aware that you are probably already using multifactor authentication albeit not on the internet. When you walk to an ATM machine, it requires you to use an ATM card (something you have) and a PIN number (something you know).

What sites offer multi-factor authentication capability?

Most of the reputed websites including Google, Facebook, Yahoo, eBay, Twitter and many more supports multi-factor authentication. If you are using online banking to check your bank balance and do transaction, you should definitely check with your bank whether they support this feature or not.

Because it could be disastrous if your online banking password gets compromised.

You have to keep in mind that configuring methods and features may vary depending on the website. But, whatever it is, multi-factor authentication is way better than having just a password.

Below is a list of frequently used websites that offer multi-factor authentication support.

Apple
Dropbox
eBay
Evernote
Facebook
Google
Grooveshark
LastPass
Linkedin
LogMeIn
Microsoft (Hotmail, Outlook)
Paypal
Steam
Yahoo
TeamViewer
Tumblr
Twitter
Wordpress.com

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Useful keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8

in Keyboard Shortcuts, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Technical Preview - on 11:44 AM - No comments

Keyboard shortcuts not only makes your life easier, it makes you an instant expert in other peoples eyes. Therefore, knowing your way around the keyboard is never a waste of time. I have put together some extremely useful keyboard shortcuts that you can use on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 (don't forget Windows 10 Technical Preview).

Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + X = Cut
Ctrl + V = Paste
Ctrl + Z = Undo
Ctrl + A = Select all
Win = Start screen
Win + R = Run
Win + D = Desktop
Win + X = Advanced context meny
Win + L = Lock the session
Win + F = Search
Win + I = Settings charm
Win + U = Ease of Access
Win + C = Display Charm
Win + E = Windows Explorer
Win + Arrow keys = Snap
Win + O = Auto rotation on/off
Win + M = Minimize selected Window
Win + K = Display connect charm
Win + H = Share charm
Alt + Tab = Cycle through open apps
Alt + F4 = Closes the selected app/ Shut down
Ctrl + Shift + Esc = Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + Del = Task Window

Note that some of these keyboard shortcuts can be used in other versions of Windows as well

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Configuring Google 2-step Verification

in Google 2-step Verification, Multi-factor Authentication, Security - on 10:52 AM - No comments

Google 2-Step Verification

As we discussed in a previous article, multi-factor authentication is a method of applying an extra layer of security to our service log-ins.

Google's multi-factor authentication system is called Google 2-step Verification. And in this article, we will show you how to enable and configure Google 2-step Verification. (Don't worry, we will bring you step-by-step guides of how to configure multi-factor authentication on other major websites later)

Google enables you to receive a verification code via SMS, voice call or Google Authenticator mobile app)

Steps

1. Login to the Google account that you are intending to enable Google 2-step verification

2. Open the following link https://accounts.google.com/SmsAuthConfig and click Start Setup

4. Enter your phone number if you already haven't, select the method you wish to receive verification codes and click Send code

You will receive 6 digit verification code from Google

5. Enter the code and click Verify

6. Tick Trust this computer if don't want Google to verify you every time you log in from this machine and click Next

7. Click Confirm to turn on 2-step verification

Congratulations.. now you have successfully enabled multi-factor authentication for your Google account

We strongly recommend that you setup a backup phone number and download backup codes in case you need them later. If you are using an Android, iPhone or a BlackBerry device, You may install Google Authenticator app and use that as your code generator instead of SMS or voice call.

I'm using Google Authenticator on my Android device and the great thing is that I can use it as the code generator for other accounts such as Microsoft, Facebook and LastPass.

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How to install Windows Technical Preview (Windows 10)

in Windows 10, Windows Technical Preview - on 7:51 AM - No comments

Did you hear that Microsoft is already working on the next version of Windows? The great news is that they have released

a technical preview of that operating system which will be called Windows 10 (interestingly).

Lets find out how to acquire a copy of that technical preview and install it.

Download link
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-iso

select the one with the desired language and platform (x86 or x64) and click download.

Installation steps

Installing the Windows Technical Preview is simple and not very different to installing Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
If you are installing on a physical machine, you will have to burn the ISO in to a DVD or mount the ISO if installing on a virtual machine.

1. Boot your machine from the Windows Technical Preview media

2. Select the desired language, date/time, keyboard settings and click Next