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If you’re the administrator of a shared computer on which you have multiple users, you very well could be someone who wants that computer used for a specific purpose, wanting to limit access to a select few applications. This is especially true of businesses where lapses in productivity could be a concern. You could be a manager looking to have your network administrator to craft a means of increasing the productivity of employees, or you might be a parent who’s mindful of the impact your children’s computer use is having on their studies.

For whatever the reason, Windows 7 allows you to decide just which applications users of that shared system can open.

This feature is not available for users of Windows 7 Home versions.

First, you want to click on the Start button and enter “gpedit.msc” in the search box. Press Enter.

Then, you’ll want to go to User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ System. Once there, look under “Setting,” where you will then double-click on “Run only specified Windows applications.”

You” have to set that to “Enabled.” Then, in the Options section, click on the “Show” button.

Doing so will pull up a “Show Contents” window in which you can enter only those applications you want users to have access to. Once you’ve completed the list, click “OK.” Close out of the Local Group Policy editor.

With that done, you have now set restrictions on which applications users of your computer can avail themselves of. Should someone try to use one that isn’t included on your list of allowed applications, they will see the following message:

If you’re someone who monitors which applications are being used on your computer, this a great feature that will assist you in that regard.

Though many us will be traveling over the holidays, we’re still bound by our responsibilities at work, with wireless access keeping us connected to the office wherever we find ourselves. Even if you’re not obligated to work during your vacation, you might still be one of millions who’re hopelessly addicted to the internet, needing access on the fly.

If you’re looking for free WiFi access while traveling, PC World has compiled a wonderfully informative list of nationwide businesses offering WiFi access, distinguishing those that charge from the establishments offering such access for free.

As someone who requires internet access at all times, for both personal and business matters, it’s nice to have this resource as the holiday season approaches.

If you’re similarly dependent on immediate WiFi access, you can find their WiFi Guide for Travelers here.

Announced a couple of weeks ago, Google has recently rolled out with Google Public DNS, which is a said to increase the speed at which you browse the internet. Completely free, Google’s service replaces your Internet Service Provider’s DNS with theirs.

If you’re someone that feels uneasy when messing with the settings associated with your router and internet connection, you might be interested in an extremely easy-to-use application that gives you an opportunity to test Google’s Public DNS and determine whether its benefit outweighs whatever hassles you might fear from switching over to it.

It’s called the Google DNS Helper, and its purpose is to allow users a chance to test out multiple public DNS servers to determine which ones introduce a noticeable improvement over the speed of your current DNS server.

Using it is simple, with just two options for users to worry about, saving them the stress of having to wrangle with their network settings. With just one click, this application switches you over to Google Public DNS, saving your current DNS settings before doing so. You’re now able to browse the web with your new DNS settings, having only to click the other button if you ever want to return to your original configuration.

If you’re interested in trying out Google’s DNS solution, this is a convenient – and, more important, safe – way of doing so if you’re someone who’s wary of tinkering with your router and network.

Grab it here.

If you’re looking to see your web browsing pick up its pace a few notches, Google is rolling out with a new service that aims to introduce faster browsing speeds – and, like all of their innovative rollouts, it’s completely free.

It’s called Google Public DNS, and the company has offered a brief explanation of just what DNS does:

“Most of us aren’t familiar with DNS because it’s often handled automatically by our Internet Service Provider (ISP), but it provides an essential function for the web. You could think of it as the switchboard of the Internet, converting easy-to-remember domain names – e.g., www.google.com – into the unique Internet Protocol (IP) numbers – e.g., 74.125.45.100 – that computers use to communicate with one another”

As you see, it’s a means of organizing the numerous locations you visit when venturing into the Worldwide Web. What Google Public DNS means for you – assuming, of course, that you use it – is a faster and more stable alternative to the one offered by your Internet Service Provider.

Some of you may be ambivalent about the use of this, given Google’s questionable history of data collection, but you probably don’t have much to worry about. It’s in Google’s best interests to ensure that you’re comfortable using their services, and this is just another addition to their growing stable of unique web-based tools that improve your life on the net.

If you’re interested in using Google Public DNS and would like instructions on doing so, you can find them here.

Microsoft has unveiled Direct Access for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, remotely connecting users to their office as if they were right there. Establishing bi-directional connectivity with the user’s enterprise network, this solution keeps them connected to their office, forging a link each time the user’s computer – provided it’s enabled by DirectAccess – is connected to the internet.

As the workforce transforms, with the information age evolving at a rapid pace, the needs of an organization adapt accordingly. Increasingly, employees are working from remote locations, the advances in internet technology affording them the ability to work from an off-site location – home, business meeting abroad, etc.

The mobility of our workforce has contributed to the success of those companies driving our economy, with new technologies facilitating the uninterrupted productivity of employees whose presence in the office is no longer a necessary component in the operations of an efficient and profitable enterprise. By 2011, the number of mobile employees is expected to have increased by 30.4 percent (IDC, “Worldwide Mobile Worker Population 2007-2011 Forecast,” Doc #209813, Dec 2007).

While technology has contributed to an outgrowth of wireless communication, with the internet providing the backbone for those gains, corporate security – namely, firewalls – obstruct the accessibility of those resources which are native to an office. This poses a number of problems, not the least of which being access to the network from those IT professionals tasked with managing the corporation’s network.

In the past, VPN (Virtual Private Network) has been the solution employed for that purpose. However, as any IT professional will tell you, the use of a VPN can prove challenging. VPN requires users to wait for authentication, a process that can see the end user waiting for what has commonly amounted to several minutes. If internet connectivity is lost, the VPN connection will be severed, requiring the user to repeat the authentication process. With alternatives providing even less functionality and additional hurdles to overcome, VPN has become the de facto solution, its problems notwithstanding.

Surmounting the challenges inherent to VPN, DirectAccess immediately establishes a bi-directional connection between the user’s computer and office’s network. Using Windows 7, the DirectAccess client detects its connection to a network. The DirectAccess client will then connect to an intranet website designated during the initial configuration of DirectAccess. The process is seamless and automatic. Unlike VPN, which requires authentication with each use, DirectAccess authenticates the computer before the user even attempts to access the network.

Easier to use than VPN, the efficiency of DirectAccess is a boon to the productivity of an enterprise’s workforce. With a transparent connection to their corporate network, employees will no longer find themselves enduring the cumbersome process that has soured many  on the use of VPN. Using DirectAccess, the information on a company’s network – intranet, applications, file-shares – is accessible wherever the employee finds an internet connection for their portable computer.

Geek Choice, a leader in on-site technical assistance, prides itself on educating the public about those advances that are relevant to the industry within which we continue to grow. If you have any questions about DirectAccess, never hesitate to call us.  Our technicians are here to assist you.