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I like to run second opinion scanners from time to time on computer systems to make sure that no malware or other unwanted software has slipped by the primary defenses running on those PCs.

While that is the case, I don't have have a preference for a tool that I run in this case but use different programs.

There are programs that I value a lot, like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or Hitman Pro, but it never hurts to run other programs as well on the system.

Trend Micro Anti-Threat Toolkit is a free portable program for recent versions of the Windows operating system.

Most developers have preferences when it comes to Developer Tools. Some swear on the ones built-in Chrome, others prefer Firefox's or add-ons such as Firebug.

The problem here is that these tools are limited to a single browser. If you have to switch to another, for instance to test how services and sites look in that browser natively, then you switch to that browser and use the tools provided by that browser or in that environment for the time being.

Most smartphones can pinpoint the current location using GPS or other means. On Android, this feature can be turned on or off depending on the default preference to either allow or block it.

Some applications require location services for some or all of its features. This is for instance the case for Foursquare or Google Maps.

While handy at times, it is disliked by some users because of its drain on the battery and privacy implications.

The BBC reports that users of the popular video streaming website Twitch.tv are attacked on the site which can lead to the buying, selling or trading of virtual user items on the gaming platform Steam.

Attacks are carried out via links that get posted in chat on the site according to F-Secure which reported about it first. The messages invites users to participate in weekly raffles for a chance to win virtual items for the game Counter-Strike Global Offensive, the most recent version of the popular Steam game.

While it is difficult to come by statistics to find out how many Internet users are affected by software that is manipulating browser settings or installing add-ons and other potentially unwanted tools in browsers, it is clear that this poses a threat to many users.

These modifications can be divided into two different types. First modifications that modify browser settings such as the homepage or search provider, and second modifications that add toolbars or other unwanted features to the browser such as popup ads or other browser extensions.

Screenshots of Microsoft's upcoming operating system Windows 9 leaked yesterday on the German website ComputerBase.

Microsoft calls this build Windows Technical Preview and the build number is 9834 (Windows 8.1 is 9600).

It is interesting to note that the 9 is missing in the name. While that does not have to mean anything, it could mean that the operating system will be launched under a different name after all (simply Windows for instance).

Some extensions that you have installed in Google Chrome may not need to run all the time. Think of an extension that works only on a single website or one that you only use for specific tasks such as development or research.

While some extensions use memory optimization techniques to use little or no memory while idle, others use the same amount all the time.

Sigcheck is one of those awesome Sysinternals programs that you can use to check signatures and other information of all files of a folder.

The original program is only available as a command line version which at least sometimes is not as comfortable to work with.

This is especially true for repeat checks but also because it takes some time to get accustomed to all the parameters you can run the program with.

Fixing remote network issues can be quite the time consuming tasks. While it is sometimes a matter of making a quick change to the configuration of one system, it can at other times lead to hours of painful troubleshooting.

The Windows operating system ships with tools to aid users in the process. Windows Network Diagnostics is a built-in tool for example which has been designed to detect and repair a set of network related issues.

While those may work well on home systems, they fall short usually when it comes to larger networks.

You know probably that Google Chrome is supporting extensions just like Firefox or the Opera browser. Extensions add functionality to the browser or modify the default behavior which can be quite useful at times. From ad blocking to scanning web pages or sharing information you come across.

When you check the Chrome Task Manager, you will notice that many of the extensions that you have installed run all the time. You can open the Task Manager with a tap on Shift-Esc or by clicking n the Hamburger menu icon, selecting More Tools > Task Manager.