Silver Back Muzik

Boss key software goes way back in time. Even the earliest computer games had a boss key sequence that you could quickly press and it would appear as though you were diligently using a spreadsheet rather than goofing off playing a game. But games aren't the only time you might need to quickly hide what you're doing on screen.

Leaving aside any habit you might have for browsing adult entertainment sites - in which case you've probably already learned how to minimize your browser or switch tabs at a millisecond notice - there are plenty of occasions when you need to be able to instantly switch what you're doing.

Not just at work but at home if you're shopping for a present and don't want the person concerned to know what you're looking for.

So using a small piece of software that allows you to hit a precise combination of keys to do something on your computer. It's still regularly referred to as boss key software, even if it doesn't mean that you're hiding something from other people.

Windows even allows you the option to minimize everything and show a clear desktop, so it's actually quite a common thing to use. You may even have done that and wondered if you've broken your computer but that's another story.

In the same way that games have progressed, modern boss key software has extended way beyond just stopping some frantic game of killing aliens.

The best software is actually very configurable. So you can use different key sequences to perform different tasks.

The first thing to look for is the option for the software to start up whenever you start Windows. That is an essential requirement, otherwise you'd have to know in advance when you were likely to need the software and that would defeat most of the object of using it.

Then it's a matter of deciding what other things would be useful to stop in an instant.

If you work from home, you may use the CD in your computer to play some background music to keep you on track. Or maybe you switch between that and YouTube. Either way, it helps to be able to mute the sound on your computer when your phone rings or a Skype chat starts without having to slide the speaker volume down or figure out which program is making all the noise.

Another common use for boss key software is that it is actually likely to be used by your boss.

Some documents are confidential. So if you walk into the room when your boss is updating the pay spreadsheet or making notes for your next performance review, they don't necessarily have time to clear all the relevant program windows. Setting a boss key combination to minimize all word processor documents, spreadsheets and PDFs is a quick way to clear potentially private information in the blink of an eye.

All of which means that boss key software has evolved a lot from its origins on early computer games. And that it has lots of legitimate uses as well as covert ones.