Easeus Todo Backup 1.1

Good backup utilities that combine maximum user friendliness with excellent functionality and some helpful extras take the chore out of an essential duty. When all that comes for free, the excuse to not do backups wears thin. Easeus Todo Backup is just such a free backup and restore utility. Like any good backup tool, it will back up your entire system's current state, data, settings and all, or just what you want it to, including partitions or full disks, and restore your computer in the event of a hard-disk crash or other calamity. Its Disk Cloning feature will help you migrate your operating system and data to a new hard disk when it's time to replace the old one. You can also use it to create bootable CD-ROMs using either Linux or the powerful Windows Pre-installation Environment (PE).

Two things set Todo Backup apart from many other backup utilities [three things, if you count that it's free]: its easy-to-use interface and its wizard-based operation.

Easeus Todo can be picked up at http://download.cnet.com/Easeus-Todo-Backup/3000-2242_4-10964460.html

Personas 1.5 for Firefox

There probably isn't an easier way to change the look of Firefox than with this little freeware add-on. Personas installs just as easily and quickly as any other Firefox extension. When it starts for the first time, a Web page opens giving instructions in three steps. That's all you'll need to understand how this program works.

Instead of access through a File menu or right-click, you'll find a tiny fox icon in the lower left of the browser window. Just click to find four options: New, Most Popular, Recent, or All. Navigate to any of these to find options aplenty to skin Firefox. You won't even need to restart the browser for the new look to take effect.

Change your Firefox theme as often as you like with this simple, effective freeware. Personas is recommended for any Firefox aficionado.
Reviewed by: CNET Staff

Tips and hints from Intel and industry experts

As technology races ahead at a speed that most consumers can't keep up with, Intel® is providing a cheat sheet outlining what consumers need to look for in their new laptop. Each component of the PC is explained and a take-away tip under the 'remember' section provided so consumers can be confident of what they need for their computing requirements.

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How to disable MS Word 2007's Mini Toolbar.

When you highlight text, MS Word 2007 displays the Mini Toolbar. It’s a toolbar that puts a number of formatting options at your fingertips [versus searching through the Ribbon options]. Not everyone likes the Mini Toolbar. Some people report that they find it downright annoying. So if are one of these people, then you can disable it, as below:

1. Click the Office button.
2. Click Word Options [bottom right].
3. Popular is selected by default in the left pane. Uncheck the first option, Show Mini Toolbar On Selection.
4. Click OK.

If you decide that you really do need it, just repeat the sequence and check Show Mini Toolbar On Section in step 3.

Stop your Homepage from being Changed.

I've noticed several different programs that will stop your homepage from being changed, this however seems like a lot of fuss for a simple thing.

to keep your homepage the same all you need to do is change the target of your internet browser shortcut.
right click on the shortcut on your desktop or in the start menu and click properties, there will be a box labelled "target" which will have the value:
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

by simply adding the web address of your homepage to the end of this it will override your homepage preferences in the internet options tab.
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" www.google.com


this is sometimes a bit tricky for the shortcut pinned to the start menu but if you play around with it for a few minutes then its not a problem.

Conficker (Downadup) - New Developments

A recent development regarding the Conficker virus has been detected, where it is now directing infected machines to download new, harmful files, thus activating the botnet. Here’s how this new behavior works:

Conficker sends out email spam without the PC owner’s knowledge. In addition, Conficker uses pop-ups to warn of PC infection and offers fake antivirus software, called 'SpywareProtect2009' at a price of $49.95. If purchased, credit card information is stolen and the virus downloads even more malicious software.

If you encounter a pop-up like this, do not click on the pop-up at all - not even to close the box. To remove the pop-up without infection, open your Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Delete), and end the task from your Browser (Explorer, Firefox, etc.). You should take additional precautions to ensure you are not already infected and have adequate protection: Info thanks to ZoneAlarm.