Bypass a Security Torx Screw with a Flathead Screwdriver

You are halfway into trying to repair something when it happens--you discover that there are two Security Torx screws that prevent you from going any further. Rather than having to stop and hunt store-to-store for the proper screwdriver, check your toolbox. You probably already have the tool you need.

A Security Torx screw (also known as a Tamper-Resistant Torx screw) has a post in the center of the head that prevents a standard Torx bit from being inserted. These screws are common to in many electronics to prevent tampering. Luckily, you probably already have the screwdriver you need to remove these screws.

Removing the screw is simple if you have the correct size flathead screwdriver. Insert the screwdriver into the head of the Security Torx screw as illustrated to the right. The screwdriver should be butted into one of the corners of the screw with the other side of the screwdriver against the post. The screw will come out as if you used the proper screwdriver.

Did you have success with this tip? Or have similar tips for tinkerers? Tell us about them in the comments below.

Enable the Hidden Administrator Account on Windows 7, 8 & 8.1

Windows automatically creates an Administrator account with elevated privileges during the installation process. We mostly need to access it to perform tasks limited only to system Administrators. These are tasks performing which result in the UAC asking for confirmation even if you are using an account with administrative privileges. The elevated Administrator account is disabled by default in

How to Secure a Wireless Wi-Fi Network

With the world going wireless in every sphere of technology, the question of security has often been raised. The same is true for wireless internet networks or Wi-Fi networks with hackers and Wi-Fi intruders always looking for ways to gain access to unsecured networks. There are several reasons why you might want to protect your Wi-Fi network. Prominent among them include better privacy, reduced

Folder Protector: How the program works

Some time ago, I released a folder locking application on this blog. It has been downloaded by a lot of users till now. Many of them are curious about how the program works and regularly send me emails inquiring about this. This article will explain exactly what the program does and how it locks folders.

The application is fairly basic because of the limitations of the programming language. Also

Browse the Web Anonymously on Android With Orbot

From time to time you may want to look something up anonymously. That's okay, we won't tell anyone. Luckily, this isn't as hard as it seems with the help of an android app called Orbot. Orbot is a mobile version of Tor (The Onion Router), which encrypts traffic and then tunnels it through a series of computers around the world instead of using a direct connection.

Orbot

Platform: Android

Price: Free

Download Page

Features

Orbot has many features. Some of which include:

• Private Web Surfing when used in conjunction with  Orweb
• Private Messaging when used in conjunction with ChatSecure
• Privacy on Twitter with the official Twitter App

Bottom Line

Without root Orbot will work over WiFi networks, however, with root one can use Orbot with mobile data as well. Obviously running data through Orbot will decrease speeds, so it's probably not worth keeping on all the time. Even so, just the occasional search or so using Orbot is no big deal.

How to Handle Sensitive Data

Chances are that if you’re reading this, you may have social security numbers stuffed in the sock drawer or bank numbers in a plain text file in your Documents folder. Bad idea. Not only does this make the information difficult to organize, but it also leaves you highly vulnerable to anyone who wants this data. Here are some suggested practices for protecting your data from malicious people.

Evaluate and Eliminate

First off, most of this data you have lying around probably doesn't need to be kept, or you have duplicates of it. Sort through it all and figure out what you really need. Have passwords to old online accounts you no longer use? Go through to the different accounts and close them to eliminate some of this data.

Encrypt

Now that you have consolidated your sensitive data, you need to encrypt it. There are countless programs used to encrypt data so we suggest you find one that you like.

Storing Data

Cool, you have all your encrypted files, but now what? Picking the proper storage media to suit your needs is key. You don’t want these files all over the place so here’s what we suggest:

• Your Brain—No matter how safe you are, the best place to store data is in your head where nobody can get to it.
• Desktop—Because desktops are not as portable as other storage alternatives the security goes up given that:
• You follow safe computing practices and keep everything up to date.
• You both physically and remotely restrict access to your computer.
• Removable Media—Flash drives, SD cards, CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks are not the best places to store sensitive information just because they can easily be lost or stolen. However, they can also be great—tape a micro SD card inside the top of a locked safe and chances are that it’s fairly secure
• Laptops—We’re not even going to beat around the bush, just don’t do it! These things are just too portable and popular among thieves that it’s just not a good idea.
• Networked Location—Again, it’s probably not the best idea. Sure, the server itself may be secure, but the network connection probably isn't. Better to just stay away from this option unless you really know what you’re doing, even then it’s probably not worth it.

How do you store your sensitive data? Let me know in the comments below.

Enable Command Prompt Disabled by Administrator or Virus

Command Prompt is the tool in Windows which allows users to interact with their computer from a character user interface(CUI). It allows users to bypass most restrictions that are enforced on the Windows explorer based GUI. Hence, it can also be used to remove viruses and malware and also undo their effects. To avoid this, most viruses disable command prompt. Some administrators also purposefully

How to Start Windows in Safe Mode Easily

Safe Mode is a special diagnostic mode in which Windows runs with the minimum amount of features. As the features are limited, Windows does not load unnecessary startup items and runs only those files and drivers that are necessary for the basic functioning of the operating system. This allows users to remove recently installed programs that might be preventing Windows from starting correctly. As

How to Detect a Phishing Email: An Example

Some of my important emails end up in the Spam folder due to incorrect filtering. So, I occasionally check the Spam folder to see if an email that was not spam ended up there. Today, while checking the Spam folder, I came across an email that was a classic example of a phishing message. Hence, I decided to share it here to point out some common tactics used in such messages.

Here is the email:-

Tips to Shop Safely Online

Shopping online is becoming increasingly popular with consumers of all ages. With fast shipping and websites selling virtually everything, online shopping is an attractive alternative to the hassle of visiting multiple stores.

However, eCommerce safety is a huge issue, and many shoppers are unaware of how to ensure that their online transactions are safe, secure and private. Fortunately, there

Make Facebook Photos & Posts Private

Do you have private pictures of yourself or your family on Facebook which you don't want the entire world to see? This guide will help you change your Facebook privacy settings to only allow your friends or people you know to see your Facebook photos (and everything else you do). You can even customize the privacy settings of individual albums to share them with a small group of people like your

How To Delete Yourself From the Internet: It Can Be Done!

If someone has written an unfavorable comment about you and if the content pops up first when people Google search you, you will want to erase it. You may also wish to remove a post that you yourself posted on a website. As is the case with most websites, their terms and conditions deny you the right to edit your content once you post it! Such content can often come up in Google when people

Tips to Protect Important Data against Online Attacks

Whether you talk about private individual users or online business owners, both need to pay more attention to the safety and security of their data. The fact of the matter is that in the last few years, more than 350 million users have reported theft of their precious data. In such a scenario, entrepreneurs and corporate managers have to take meticulous precautions to make sure that unauthorized

How to Really Destroy Your Confidential Data

Every business has some documents that need to be kept confidential. They can be anything from financial records to sensitive personal information to confidential trade or national data. Destroying some data could also be a legal requirement in some industries. Sometimes, some data needs to be destroyed because there is simply no physical or digital space to maintain it, and it cannot just be

The Most Common Authentication Methods Used Today

As the news of network security breaches reaches more eyes and ears, thanks to high profile cases like the recent LinkedIn incident where millions of passwords were compromised, both consumers and regulatory agencies are putting increasing pressure on those in charge of enterprise security to step up their defenses.


The issue for network admins is that they are playing a continuous state of "

Facebook Scams and How to Tackle Them

Online scams are ever increasing. Almost in every phase of the online world, you will come across scams. Social networks are no exception for such malicious activity. Recently, millions of accounts from LinkedIn and eHarmony were compromised. Facebook seeing danger has updated its security and is advising its users regarding various scams and how to fight them back.


‘Please send money scam’
An

Safety and Security Risks When Using Facebook

There is no doubt that the biggest social networking site taking over the whole globe is Facebook. Since it’s the biggest thing the online world has ever seen for the last several years, it’s critical that you understand the guidelines and policies listed on the site. They’re very useful in keeping you informed with various aspects of the site and how it runs.

You should know by now that for

Recover Windows Password With Free Password Recovery Tools

There are times when you forget your Windows password or someone changes it without your knowledge. In such situations, you will be locked out of Windows. To regain access, you can use some password recovery software to recover your Windows password. This article contains a list of some such password recovery software.

Note: Most of these software are available as Live CD's. (For non technical

How to Unblock Websites at School, Work, Home or Anywhere

Internet Censorship has grown drastically over the past few years with countries like China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran taking the lead over other governments in extending internet censorship to almost all sources of free unbiased information. Some schools and offices also prevent users from accessing certain websites which they believe are of no use in the respective areas. Governments

Know if your PC is infected with Viruses, Trojans or other Malware

The reason why most computer malware are so deadly is because many users fail to recognize whether they have been infected or not. Had they detected the infection at an earlier stage, the damage caused could have been greatly reduced. As each virus is programmed differently, it becomes difficult to identify a virus outbreak. However, there are some general symptoms that make it easy to detect an