By Ken Adelglass
Adelglass Computer Training and Consulting
This month I thought I would discuss two useful computer programs known as utilities that will make your computing life easier for you. They both serve different purposes but they both handle something we all must deal with in the world of computers - PASSWORDS!!
I Can't Remember My Password!!
Our first utility is a free program called Gator. It addresses the problem most of us have with remembering all of our internet passwords. If you are like most internet users you probably make regular visits to at least a few web sites that require you to have a name and a password to access your personalized account. Many avid web surfers soon find out that their list of names and passwords can quickly grow out of control.
Gator takes the burden of having to remember your passwords away by automatically prompting you each time you have to select a name and password on a particular web site and will store the information for you. The next time you go to the same web site, Gator will automatically pop up and it will fill in your name and password with a click of your mouse button. It can even help you fill out forms on the web by storing your basic name and address information - an incredible timesaver. You can download Gator by visiting
http://www.gator.com and clicking through its easy to follow download directions.
You may be wondering why such a useful utility is free. The answer is that there is a catch - one I consider small in comparison to the overall benefits of Gator. You will get targeted advertising popup ads and price comparison information that both offer suggestions while you shop online paid for by Gator's advertisers. Although this can get annoying at times especially if you are just browsing and not looking to buy, it can sometimes be quite useful when you are looking for values online. So if you are tired of trying to remember your internet passwords and don't mind minor advertising intrusions, then Gator may be just what you need.
My Windows Password Doesn't Protect My Computer!
If you use Windows 95, 98, or ME you may have it set up to ask for a password when you start your computer. This password is more of a customization feature than it is a security feature. Unwanted users can bypass the password prompt by simply clicking the Cancel button. This means that if you need to protect your computer from your kids, snooping houseguests or thieves, you do not have any protection using the standard Windows logon.
So what can we do about security for these situations? This brings us to our second useful utility called Security 2001. This is another free download that you can easily configure to require a password when Windows loads. There is no way to bypass the Security 2001 password as you can with the Windows logon and your computer data will be protected. I provided a link to the Security 2001 download page at
http://adelglass.com/downloads/
That's all for now. If you have questions about these two programs, I use Gator regularly and have set up Security 2001 on numerous Windows computers. I would be happy to answer any further questions regarding them. You can email your questions to
questions@adelglass.com. Next month we will take a look at some hot high-tech products just in time for the holidays. See you next month!
