How Two-Factor Authentication Works and Why You Need It Right Now

It keeps hackers out.

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Your password alone might not be enough to keep hackers out. Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of protection that stops intruders even when they know your password. I'll explain how it works, why you need it, and how to set it up without making your daily log-in a hassle.
A desktop computer asking "Enter two-factor code:" and a Corgi holding a smartphone displaying a two-factor code app.
(Image: Gemini)

We rely on passwords to protect our online security. At the same time, hackers seem to be getting better at figuring them out!

In response, security folks created something called “two-factor” or “multi-factor” authentication, which uses two different types of information. Together, they prove you are who you say you are and give you access to the account.

Two-factor authentication keeps your account secure even if your password is compromised. It’s something I strongly suggest you use.

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My Computer Has Started to Shut Down Randomly. Could It Be the Fan?

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Your computer keeps shutting down and is telling you "Over Temperature." The culprit might be hiding in plain sight: dust and pet hair. I'll show you how those innocent-looking dust bunnies can kill a computer, and what to do about it.
An open desktop computer overflowing with dust, and a Corgi nearby covering his nose in disgust.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: For some reason, my computer randomly shuts down a lot. It’s been happening more and more. It started around the start of summer. It usually shut down for no reason. Yesterday, it said Over Temperature. This shutting down thing is annoying. When I’m trying to do work, I lose it all and the computer shuts down. I asked my cousin, and he said that it could be my fan. I haven’t checked yet, I’m going to ask you first, is it my fan? Or is it another problem?

Maybe.

The “Over Temperature” message is a clue, and the fan is a definite possibility.

But first, we should talk about dust bunnies.

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How Can I Pin “Restart” to My Taskbar?

It can be a single click away.

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I'll show you how to put a one-click restart button right on your taskbar. The skills you'll pick up along the way are useful far beyond restarting.
A desktop computer with a large external pushbutton connected labelled "RESTART". A Corgi sits next to the button with his paw over it as if ready to push it.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: For a variety of reasons, I restart my computer fairly regularly. Is there a way to get an icon on the taskbar I can just click?

Sure. I’ll show you how.

I question your need to restart so frequently, but I’ll trust your motives.

Besides, the technique I’ll show you applies to more than just restarting.

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How I Use AI at Ask Leo!

It’s my fast (but unreliable) intern.

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Wonder whether an AI has written the articles you read online -- like this one? The answer at Ask Leo! is no, but AI does play a role. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how AI helps me, where it falls short, and what a real human -- me -- still does.
The Helpful Intern — A bright, cheerful illustration of a friendly robot sitting at a small desk next to a human writer, handing over a sticky note with ideas on it, while the oldermale human works at a larger desk. The human's computer screen displays "Ask Leo!". There is a Corgi curled up sleeping in a dog bed against the back wall.
(Image: Gemini)

You may have noticed a small update at the top of every page at Ask Leo!. Right above the search box on the right-hand side, it now says “Written by a real human.” That real human, of course, would be me. I suspect this will set me apart from future waves of AI-generated content.

But that doesn’t mean I avoid AI completely. I want to share how AI helps me and how it sometimes misses the mark.

And since AI is changing so quickly, I’m updating this article a little sooner than most. Much has changed in two years.

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Is It Safe to Let Your Browser Remember Passwords?

The risk that’s often overlooked.

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Letting your browser remember passwords is convenient. With that convenience comes significant risk. Most folks are much better served by using a password vault.
A desktop computer covered in sticky notes each with a password on it. On the screen is a web browser offering to save a password. On the floor is a Corgi with a sticky note on its nose which also has a password on it. The Corgi is looking cross-eyed at the note.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: If I consider my computer to be physically secure, am I reasonably safe letting Firefox remember my passwords (without using a master password), or am I being incredibly stupid to do that? What if I do use a master password?

I wouldn’t say incredibly stupid, but it’s definitely an additional risk that you need to understand.

You’re correct in considering physical security first. People often assume they have more physical security than they do.

And master passwords in browsers are important, but they have limitations.

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Should I Set Up Two Partitions on My Hard Disk?

Maybe.

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Does splitting your hard drive into two partitions make your computer faster and backups easier? I'll share my opinion on what partitioning really does and doesn't do, and what works better.
A corgi with a puzzled look holding a hard disk platter that has lines and writing on it that indicate 1/3rd is "C:" and the rest is "D:".
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I have just reformatted my hard drive into C: and D: partitions, and have gained a huge amount of speed from doing so. I would like to be able to load some applications into the D: drive (which has room available), but even when I specify D:, it seems to want to overload C:.  Can you please explain to me how I can better manage my resources? I’m winding up with C: full. I was originally trying to get the operating system on C: and other programs on D:, so that I could reformat C: by reloading the OS and not all the other programs.

Many experts think that splitting a single hard drive into two partitions improves speed, makes backups easier, and is generally the best thing since sliced bread.

I don’t think it adds a lot of benefit.

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How Do I Clear Cookies for Just One Site?

Taming misbehaving sites.

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A website you use keeps misbehaving. Clearing cookies might fix it, but you don't want to lose your sign-ins everywhere else. Good news: your browser lets you clear cookies for just one site. I'll show you how.
A computer screen displaying "Webpage Errror! Cookies Corrupt!" and Corgi running off with a couple of cookies in his mouth.
Not those kind of cookies! (Image: Gemini)

Cookies are small amounts of data placed on your computer by the websites you visit that allow them to do things like remember you’ve already signed in (and much more). They’re part of the grease that makes your website experience run smoothly.

Most of the time.

If a website is having problems, clearing cookies may clear up the problems. The problem, of course, is that clearing all cookies (which you do through your browser settings) means you’ll have to sign in again to every site you’d signed into before.

Fortunately, most browsers have made it easier, if not obvious, to clear the cookies associated with a single site.

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Why Can’t I Paste a Password Into This Site’s Password Field?

A case of misguided security.

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You've got a password manager and you've done everything right. Then you encounter some website that won't let you paste your password. It's maddening. And here's the kicker: whoever designed it that way actually made the site *less* secure.
A computer on a desk showing a login form and the error message "paste denied". An individual is about to smash the computer with a sledgehammer. A corgi sits on the floor nearby with a shocked look on its face.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I’m trying to sign into a site. I copy my password from my password vault and try to paste it into the password field, and nothing happens. Nothing at all. I have to TYPE the password in. WHY?

I encounter this from time to time, and it’s frustrating.

It’s a design decision made by that website in the name of improving security. The problem? It makes security worse.

If I were a more grumpy person, I’d say someone should be fired over it, because they really don’t understand security and shouldn’t be in charge of it.

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If Shutting Down Windows Cleanly Is So Important, What Happens When the Power Just Goes Out?

Usually nothing bad, but sometimes…

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Power outages are a different problem than just flipping a switch, and your computer could pay the price.
a desktop computer on a table and in the background a Corgi is about to pull a large on/off lever to remove power
Sometimes it’s the dog’s fault. (Image: Gemini)
Question: I am aware that not going through the proper Windows shutdown can have negative effects on a computer. But my question is: if a computer loses power due to a household power outage, not anything wrong with the power supply, are these negative effects strictly software-related (meaning a format and reinstall would fix them), or might it cause hardware problems as well?

Shutting down Windows properly before turning off the power to your computer is important.

Not doing so can result in data loss and corruption as files are left only partially written to disk, but turning off the switch is unlikely to harm your hardware.

Surprisingly, a household or other area-wide power outage presents a different, riskier issue.

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Should I Cover My Webcam When I’m Not Using It?

It does no harm, but is it really necessary?

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Before you pull a "Zuck" and slap a sticky note over your camera, it's worth asking whether the threat is actually real.
a corgi carefully placing a sticky note to cover the webcam on a laptop on a desk
(Image: Gemini)

This is one of those rules of thumb that, in my opinion, are overblown.

Sadly, webcam manufacturers are feeding the paranoia by providing easy-to-use lens covers with their products. There’s nothing wrong with that, other than increasing the perceived need for them (and perhaps the price).

Cover the webcam if you like, but you can probably guess what I’m about to say.

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How to Back Up Photos and Never Lose Them Again: the Steps You Need to Take

Your photos are irreplaceable.

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Your photos capture moments you can never get back, but one lost phone or crashed hard drive could wipe them out forever. Protecting them is easier than you think. Here's a simple plan to make sure your memories are never just one accident away from gone.
an individual in a park taking a photo of their Corgi with their mobile phone
(Image: Gemini)

Do you back up photos and videos?

Everyone with a smartphone has a camera, and they use ’em right and left to snap photos and shoot videos. Add in digital cameras, and there is a lot of digital media being created every day.

Much of it isn’t getting backed up. The goal? Multiple copies of your photos and videos in multiple places.

If it’s in only one place, it’s not backed up.

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How Can I Send a Document to Someone Securely?

Encrypt it.

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Sending private documents by email feels risky because it is. What's the safest way to get sensitive information to the right person without it falling into the wrong hands?
one corgi handing a sealed envelope containing obviously secret information to another corgi
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I recently had to send some very private identification papers over email. Now normally I wouldn’t do this, and I would use snail mail instead, but this was very urgent, and I thought I would take a chance. As far as I know, no ill has come of it, but I was wondering: what ways are there to send emails securely across all platforms and also be sure that the right person on the other end gets it?

I’m occasionally faced with this dilemma. Either for expediency or convenience, I want to email something I wouldn’t want to fall into anyone else’s hands.

While there are many approaches, there’s only one practical approach.

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What Can a Technician With Remote Access Do?

Anything.

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You thought it was tech support, but it was a scam. You gave a stranger full access to your computer. How worried should you be?
a Corgi sitting at a desktop computer which has a human hand reaching out of its screen reaching for the keyboard.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I called a number that I thought was the support center and was immediately connected with a technician who skillfully asked my permission to allow him access to my computer so that he could diagnose the problem, and I agreed. After he informed me that I had over a thousand errors that needed to be erased and that he could do this for me for only $250, I realized that this was some kind of scam, and I promptly ended the call. What kind of risk have I exposed myself to?

First, good on you for terminating that call. I hear about many people falling for scams like this.

You let a stranger with possibly malicious intent use your machine remotely. How worried should you be?

Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer.

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How Do You Remove Bloatware?

My controversial position: don’t waste your time.

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Your new computer came loaded with software you never asked for. Before you reach for a debloating tool, here's my controversial take on what you should and shouldn't do about bloatware.
f two computers on a desk. One computer is a PC tower bulging as if "overweight", and the other is a normal tower, sprouting muscular human arms flexing biceps.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I just got a new machine. How do I get rid of all the cr*p that’s on it that I don’t need or want?

There’s no argument that Windows comes with a bucketload of pre-installed software, much of which we never use, typically referred to as bloatware. Because it’s never used, many people look for a quick way to get rid of it all — debloating — leaving only a presumably leaner, meaner operating system behind.

There are several approaches, ranging from bloatware-cleaning tools to manual individual uninstalls.

Then there’s my approach: for the most part, I do nothing.

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How to Protect Your Credit Card Information

An ongoing challenge, to be sure.

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Your credit card info can be stolen in stores or online. From tap-to-pay to virtual card numbers, I'll walk you through the best ways to keep your credit card safe.
A hand tapping a contactless credit card on a modern payment terminal, with a glowing green checkmark appearing on the screen, set against a bright, clean retail background.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: As a recent victim of identity theft, I am struggling to install preventive and defensive measures. Assuming my credit card info was stolen somewhere, either at a point of sale or an online sale, what should I be doing to lock down my credit card numbers in the future?

While I’ve fortunately (knock on wood) never been a victim of actual identity theft, I’ve definitely had a credit card compromised a time or two over the years. It’s frustrating, a little scary, and once it was extra inconvenient, as I was travelling when it happened!

Some aspects of transaction technology have changed in recent years, making credit card use safer than ever… if you take advantage of them.

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What’s the Difference Between Outlook, Outlook, and Outlook.com?

So many Outlooks. So much confusion.

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Microsoft continues to confuse us with repetitive product names. I'll clarify the difference between Outlook, Outlook, and Outlook.com, and help you decide which you want.
Outlook Icon
(Screenshot: askleo.com)
Question: I use Outlook.com. Does that mean I don’t need Outlook? Are they just two names for the same thing? If not, how do they relate to each other?

Note: I periodically update this article because Microsoft just can’t leave things alone. My caveat is that things may change in the future, and this article may or may not still apply.

The short answer is: Outlook, Outlook (classic), and Outlook.com are three different things, none of which really relate to each other.

They have three things in common: they’re all related to email, they all have the word “Outlook” in their names, and their icons are easily confused.

Let’s wade into the mess.

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I Lost My Two-Factor Authentication Device. How Do I Recover?

How to prove you’re you without your second factor.

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Losing your phone can lock you out of your accounts if it’s your second factor for authentication. Here’s how I recovered while traveling, the backup options that saved me, and the steps you can take now so you’re never stuck without access.
A Dead Phone
A dead phone. (Image: canva.com)

I went to take a photo of my dogs, and apparently, it was cuteness overload for my phone, because it just shut down the moment I tapped the button.

I forced a reboot and took another photo, which worked. A few seconds later, while viewing the photo, the screen went crazy and the phone started squealing. I forced it off again. It came back one more time, worked for a bit, and then shut down one last time. All further attempts to revive it were unsuccessful.

I was now the proud owner of a brick.

The biggest problem? The phone was my second factor for all my multi-factor-enabled accounts — and I was traveling. Could I sign in to my important accounts without it?

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What If My Passkey Doesn’t Work or I Lose the Device It’s On?

You do something else.

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Passkeys are supposed to make signing in easier and safer, but what happens when it stops working or your device is gone? I'll show you what to do if your passkey fails or is lost and a technique that makes passkeys work everywhere.
A laptop, tablet, and smartphone arranged in a sunny, colorful flat-lay, each displaying a small golden key icon, showing passkeys working across multiple devices.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: So if I get a passkey and it doesn’t work, what happens then?? How can I change it… or can I change it?

A common variation of this question is, “What if I lose the device on which my passkey is stored?”

Passkeys are easy to use and complicated to explain.

Fortunately, this question has a fairly straightforward answer: just start over.

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