Gain ultimate control over Win7 & WinVista

Here’s a neat (and useful) Windows 7-and-Vista trick. It enables GodMode, which provides a single place to access all Windows settings without needing to browse options and folders in the Control Panel.

To use it:

1. Create a new folder.
2. Rename the folder to
   

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

(note that you can change the “GodMode” text, but the following period and code number are essential).
The folder icon will change — double click it to show the GodMode window.

Alternate method (the first method sometimes crashes WinVista 64-bit):

Create a shortcut with the following path and set desired name and icon.

explorer.exe shell:::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Two free Windows malware tools updated

As I have pointed out on more than one occasion, Microsoft Windows is under continuous and concerted attack, often successful--over half of all PCs running Windows are infected with malware. We need tools that help keep us safe as we use Windows; it's even better when these tools are both excellent and free. Two good tools have been updated to be even better (and the Windows Secrets Newsletter is an excellent resource):
Two great security tools get free updates

While I don't use Microsoft Security Essentials myself, it IS a very functional anti-malware package (better than most commercial packages), and useful--but I make sure to install Secunia PSI on every Windows PC I touch; the new version has useful added functions.

I also have a Links page with more security-related software listed.