TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT
Encrypt your USB stick with VeraCrypt
You’re right to encourage readers to use VeraCrypt (www.snipca.com/47319) as a free encryption tool (Issue 665, page 19). I agree that it’s “less friendly” than other tools like Wise Folder Hider (www.snipca.com/47315), but it doesn’t cost a penny.
I use it more often to encrypt my USB sticks than folders on my computer. I need to travel between homes and offices carrying sensitive information, so VeraCrypt brings peace of mind. Once you’ve inserted your stick, open VeraCrypt then click Tools at the top, followed by Traveler Disk Setup. Next, click Browse ( 1 in our screenshot) and locate your USB stick on your computer 2 . Select your stick, click Create 3 , and VeraCrypt will be installed on your stick.
You now need to create a ‘volume’ on your stick. You do this by clicking Create Volume, then ‘Create an encrypted file container’. Now follow the instructions and when you’re asked for your volume location click ‘Select File’, then choose and name your stick.
Finally, you need to pick how much of your stick you want encrypted. In my experience, this process lasts about 15 minutes on 16GB sticks, and twice that on 32GB.
Nigel Gall
Nigel wins a copy of our 2022 Back Issue CD Buy it from us at www.snipca.com/44660
SEARCH
Bring up the Google spinner
Following your recommendation to use the dice and coin flip built into Google Search (Issue 665, page 49), there’s another way to generate random decisions: use a spinner. Just type Google spinner and you’ll see a spinning wheel divided into six numbered segments (see screenshot below left). Click ‘Spin’ to get it started. I showed this to my grandchildren, and they were delighted to see the option to turn it into a fidget spinner.
Ken Pitman
SOFTWARE
Make Wintoys launch in your preferred section
Thanks to recent tips from readers and Issue 663’s Workshop (page 38), I’m now using Wintoys (www.snipca. com/46778) to monitor my PC’s health. There’s a small setting that’s worth activating because it launches the program in the section you want.
You’ll find this by clicking Settings at the bottom left of Wintoys ( 1 in our screenshot above), then looking for the ‘Landing page’ dropdown menu. Click this and select the section you want to see at launch. I chose the Apps section 2 , which shows every program I’ve got installed. I like to check this every day to make sure nothing suspicious has sneaked on to my system.
Craig Forster
Why I stopped using…
My iPad
A few years ago I spent £349 on an Apple iPad, and it’s been a decent device. But I only use it for looking at photos and watching videos, and ignore most of the ap
