Top 10 Tech Pranks: Harmless and Fun IT Jokes



Pranks can be outstanding. They are one of those few matters in lifestyles that most people can unequivocally agree on being extraordinary. Pranks are in the identical league with cat videos, candy, and free stuff – all and sundry loves 'em – except for that one man you recognize, but he's nonetheless sore out of your closing prank. Lighten up, Joe!

You've probably already pranked a few fortunate participants of your lifestyles at one time or any other. Maybe you deployed the humble whoopee cushion or used the vacuum on a person sleeping. Fun times. But are you absolutely dwelling up on your prankster potential?

You're a tech-savvy person, and it is time that your pranks showed that. We've got some thoughts...

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1. Flip the laptop show display upside down

This little prank makes the use of your trackpad experience like staying off Twitter at the same time as you are purported to be operating or climbing Everest (or something else similarly tough.)

• For Windows: Right click on on the Desktop > Display Settings > Change the display screen orientation to Landscape (flipped). Alternatively, use the following keyboard shortcut: Ctrl Alt Down arrow.

• For Mac: Hold the Option key and go to System Preferences. While nonetheless holding the Option key, go to Displays. An option referred to as Rotation need to seem, and you can flip the show and save it or undo.

2. Drive human beings loopy by using changing the mouse pointer to look continuously busy

This simple prank will make your sufferer think their laptop is striking all of the time whilst it is absolutely now not. Whenever I see the busy cursor I experience irritable. Can't assist it. The mere idea of this prank going on to me makes me want to punch something. But, if you promise to never use this on me right here are the directions:

• For Windows: Go to Settings > Mouse > Pointers and alternate the Normal pointer to the "operating" one.
• For Mac: This prank alternative is not without problems available but you may still mess with the cursor. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display and drag the cursor size all of the manner to the right to make the mouse pointer colossal.

While you're at it, you might as properly play around with the opposite show settings like inverting shades and turning the contrast all of the way up.

3. Master sinister autocorrect additions

This easy but overly irritating prank may be played in numerous approaches and relying to your victim you can mess along with his pc or phone. The simple premise right here is to feature a custom entry into the AutoCorrect keyboard function to update a not unusual phrase (or the spacebar) with something else entirely.

You can be subtle and just update a correctly typed word with a typo. That's worrying, proper.

Or you could go for shock value and add some thing that makes you chuckle uncontrollably - consisting of converting "Hi" to "I love watching Jersey Shore reruns." Just be prepared to cope with anything fallout may additionally arise.

• For Microsoft Word: Choose File from the principle menu > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. If you want this to be gadget-wide, you may use AutoHotkey rather.

• Word on Mac: Word > Preferences > Autocorrect.
• For Mac: System Preferences > Keyboard > Text > Click the Plus signal at the bottom left.
• For Google Docs: Tools > Preferences > Substitutions. Make sure the box next to "Automatic substitution" is checked.

• For Android: Go to Settings > Language & Input > Google Keyboard (or other default keyboard) > Text Correction > Personal Dictionary.
• For iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard (ensure autocorrect is on) > Text Replacement > Add your "corrections."

4. Switch the keyboard format to DVORAK

A quicker alternative, this one is a fun way to clutter with any individual while not having to do much. All you need to do is enable the Dvorak trade keyboard format that most customers are not acquainted with.

• Go to Settings > Region and Language > Keyboards > Change keyboards, then click the Add button and pick the Dvorak format (or any other random layout you want). Once you've executed that, set it as the brand new default.

In Windows you may possibly want to turn over to the Language Bar tab and set that to hidden as well, so the hints cannot be discovered too effortlessly.

five. Block the mouse sensor with a Post-It note

6. Give your sufferer a coronary heart assault with a cracked screen wallpaper (or screensaver)

Simple pranks will have just as a lot effect as complex ones. Quickly converting someone's wallpaper is straightforward to set up and can deliver some surprise value, but for great consequences you could need to take a screenshot of the home display screen and add the cracked glass impact on top of it. There are a few apps that may do it for you as nicely on Android and iPhone.

Another variation of this will be placing the screensaver to the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or use this prank website interior a browser and set it to complete display screen (F11).

7. Set up assignment scheduler jobs to release random apps (or a internet site)

Imagine that a brand new tab to a positive page opens every little while. Annoying.

Now believe trying to troubleshoot it quickly and no longer having any success (whilst the new tab keeps popping open.)

Bury the task within the scheduler and that's exactly what's going to take place. Go in and create a new undertaking, run thru the wizard and select the browser executable, plug the web page name into the arguments box, and then set the time table to repeat the mission each 5 minutes (or every minute – relying on how maniacal you are.)

eight. Replace machine sounds

As with some of the pranks listed here, it is all within the technique. The trustworthy technique is ideal for pranksters who're quick on time: Download an collection of '.Wav' files and update the prankee's not unusual machine sounds through the Control Panel. Example: once they get hold of a new e-mail in Outlook or different e-mail patron.

If subtlety is your factor and you've extra time to put money into this prank, use a sound editor (such as Audacity) and add lots of silence between the default sound (for receiving email or a few different) and the sound files you're the usage of. That provides a massive hole among what reasons the sound – logging onto Windows, a safety set off acting, or something else you make a decision – and your preferred sound effect. Terrifying screams is a commonplace thought, however why not try some thing new like a child's voice whispering some thing?

9. Move laptop icons, take a screenshot, set as the wallpaper

Take a screenshot of the sufferer's cutting-edge desktop, set it as the desktop wallpaper, after which hide the icons and taskbar. At first, the whole thing will appearance ordinary, however nothing will reply to any mouse clicks. Another method is to take a screenshot of their desktop, set it as their wallpaper, pass a few icons round, and take any other screenshot.

Repeat till you've got a completely cluttered computing device, with only a few icons that really paintings and the victim is left to search to locate what's usable.

10. Plug a wi-fi mouse or keyboard and manage your victim's PC from afar

Back inside the day, there was once trojan-like (however benign) VNC packages you could run to play around with humans however those no longer paintings. Alternatively, putting in something like TeamViewer is an intricate option for a prank, however one to be able to take most making plans than maximum.

However, if you are in an office putting with laptop PCs, just plug a wi-fi mouse and keyboard receiver inside the back of the prankee's computer, and manage it out of your table.

The receiving character might be misplaced whilst the mouse starts offevolved moving by using itself, beginning programs, and typing bizarre messages at the display. Combine this with one of the pranks above and you are in for an excellent chortle.

Now, what are you expecting?

Figure out your goal, manage your maniacal laughter, and get to paintings. Because precise pranks are the great type of work.

Note: This characteristic turned into originally posted on March 2016. We have updated it and bumped it because an excellent lighthearted prank can build higher teams and assist colleagues develop nearer, smash boundaries, and dramatically enhance morale.

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