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Two-Factor Authentication: It’s Not as Complicated as You Think

There are some persistent myths about two-factor authentication that stop people from adopting it. I'll clear them up so you can use this simple yet powerful security feature with confidence.
2025-07-02 - #181875

How to Get Data Off a Hard Drive in a Dead Computer

Extracting data from a hard drive in a dead computer shouldn't be too difficult (unless it's the drive itself that caused the problem). I'll walk you through some of the options and steps you can take.
2025-06-30 - #4684

Core vs. Logical Processors: What Really Powers Your CPU?

Your computer's CPU is a complex piece of circuitry trying to maximize how much it can do and how quickly it can do it. I'll outline one of the techniques that makes a single CPU core look like two.
2025-06-28 - #181771

What Happens If You Click a Bad Link?

Accidentally clicking a malicious link might be benign if you catch it soon enough. I'll review what makes the difference, and what steps you need to take next.
2025-06-27 - #132182

How to Extract Text with Text Extractor

Copying text from error messages or images can be difficult. OCR tools like Text Extractor make it easy. I'll show you how.
2025-06-26 - #181690

Where Are My OneDrive Files?

What OneDrive does with your files can be both frustrating and confusing. I'll walk through two important issues: what's really on your computer (or not) and the impact of using OneDrive's horrid backup "feature".
2025-06-25 - #181727

I Run Security Software. Why Do I Still Sometimes Get Infected?

Any security software can miss something, no matter how good. It's important to understand why this is and what you can need to about it.
2025-06-23 - #2175

What Is the Clipboard? Where Is the Clipboard?

The Windows clipboard is a fundamental and exceptionally useful feature that many take for granted. I'll review what it is and what it's good for.
2025-06-21 - #5030

All the “Ishings” Trying to Scam You

The concept of phishing has spawned a variety of "ishing" terms. They represent different ways scammers try to achieve a common goal: to scam you. I'll review what they all mean.
2025-06-20 - #181492

Why Do You Have Two Different Backup Program Recommendations?

I want to explain why I have more than one recommendation for a backup program. Talking about one doesn't mean I've stopped recommending the other(s).
2025-06-19 - #181467

My OneDrive-free Experiment

I wanted to see if I could live without OneDrive and avoid the risk that OneDrive would make changes I didn't request. Turns out, it's not that hard. I'll walk you through what I did and how I did it.
2025-06-18 - #181477

How Do I Remove a BIOS or UEFI Password?

A BIOS password provides a surprising amount of security on a computer -- so much that if the password is lost, chances for recovery are slim.
2025-06-14 - #4777

Fix Printer Problems with an Uninstall and Reinstall

Printer problems can be frustrating. I'll show you a quick, safe, easy technique to try first.
2025-06-13 - #126249

How Big a Backup Disk Do I Need?

I share my rule of thumb for choosing the size of an external backup drive.
2025-06-12 - #181334

Why I Don’t Expect a Windows 10 Apocalypse

There's a lot of FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) about the supposed risk of using Windows 10 past its end of support. Here's what I think.
2025-06-11 - #181353

Size Matters! (When It Comes to Passwords)

The results are in for last year's most common passwords. The implications are depressing.
2025-06-09 - #68646

How to Copy Text From Images

Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes you just want the words! I'll show you how to use Windows built-in Snipping Tool to extract the text from an image using its built-in OCR.
2025-06-07 - #181247

Windows 12?

Windows 12 isn't even a glimmer in anyone's eye yet. Anyone that says different is misguided and/or misleading. I'll review what we do and don't know, and who you should and shouldn't pay attention to.
2025-06-06 - #181111

Passkeys and Hardware Keys

Passkeys and hardware authentication keys are completely different but partially related. You can use some, but not all, hardware keys as passkeys. I'll clear up the confusion, and tell you what to look for.
2025-06-06 - #181120

What Is a Passkey?

Passkeys are a new form of signing in that promise to be easier and more secure. I'll walk you through some of the high level concepts and how they work, and how they keep you safer than passwords.
2025-06-04 - #157308

How Can I Securely Delete Everything Except the Operating System?

Before giving away a machine or returning a loaner, it's important to remove your personal information from it. That may be both harder and easier than you think. I'll show you where traditional suggestions fail, and what you need to do instead.
2025-06-02 - #4716

Is Internet Provided by My Landlord Safe?

Connectivity is becoming an added perk in some housing situations. Make sure you know the risks and alternatives when someone else provides your internet connection.
2025-05-31 - #3326

How to Hover Over a Link to Check It’s Not a Scam

When it comes to links on webpages and HTML email, what you see is not always where you go. Hovering over a link is an important technique to look before you leap.
2025-05-30 - #3241

The Big One Is Coming. Are You Tech-Ready?

Disaster planning includes thinking about your technology and online access.
2025-05-29 - #180966

How End-to-End Encryption Protects Your Messages and Where It Fails

You would think that for such an important concept as end-to-end encryption there's be some agreement on exactly what it means. Sadly, not so. There's the correct definition, and then there's the marketing definition. One protects you, the other not so much.
2025-05-28 - #180943

CHKDSK: What Is It and How Do I Run It?

CHKDSK, short for Check Disk, is a utility that checks the integrity of the files and file structure of your hard disk. I'll walk you through it.
2025-05-26 - #4823

Many Ways Your Account Can Be Hacked and What to Do About It

There are many ways accounts can be compromised. There are also many simple ways you can protect yourself.
2025-05-24 - #180742

The Curious History of A:, B:, and Why C: Rules the PC

Floppies come and floppies go, but C: is apparently forever.
2025-05-23 - #180707

Can You Really Know Your PC Is Clean and Malware-Free?

It's common to want confirmation your machine hasn't been compromised in some way. We can get close, but we can't prove it.
2025-05-22 - #180648

Should You Leave Your Backup Drive Plugged In? The Real Risk

Some people are afraid to leave their external backup drive connected. They're trading a small risk for a much, much larger one.
2025-05-21 - #180733

The Event Viewer, Explained

Many Windows components log messages and use Event Viewer to display them. Sadly, the messages are often cryptic and inconsistent, and the result is a mess that scammers take advantage of.
2025-05-19 - #24006

My (Not So) Favorite Question

My favorite question? You'll never guess. Hint: it makes my job super easy, and you don't want that.
2025-05-17 - #18891

Can AI Block Spam?

Can we apply AI to the problem of spam? We're already there.
2025-05-16 - #180517

Passkeys Are Never the Only Way In

Losing a device with a passkey to one of your accounts will not lock you out.
2025-05-15 - #180474

Start11: Another Start Menu Replacement

Want your old Start menu? We can do that. Want to tweak the taskbar in useful ways, including its position? Start11 can do that too.
2025-05-14 - #180483

Extend Your Wi-Fi: Simple Fixes for Better Home Coverage

It can be difficult to get wireless network coverage throughout your home.
2025-05-12 - #4336

Should I Update to Windows 11? (May 2025 update)

The end-of-support date for Windows 10 is getting closer. Do you need to upgrade to Windows 11?
2025-05-10 - #135037

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: What’s the Difference, and Is It Worth It?

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: which should it be, and why?
2025-05-09 - #180324

How Important Is a Clean Uninstall?

These days, you don't need to worry about leftovers unless you're tracking down a specific problem.
2025-05-08 - #180292

Avoiding Scams: Why Hackers Can’t Recover Your Gmail for You

You'll often find testimonials and offers of amazing account recovery success. It's a trap.
2025-05-07 - #180309

What Backup Program Should I Use?

Backing up your computer's data is critical. The best program is whatever you'll actually use.
2025-05-05 - #1894

How Do I Remove Myself From the Search Engines?

The internet has a very long memory. Removal from search engines is pragmatically impossible, and I don't think it's what you really want anyway.
2025-05-03 - #2450

The Enduring Myth of Annual Subscriptions to Windows

I just don't see it happening.
2025-05-02 - #180253

An Abundance of Cloud Storage

It seems like every online service provider includes some kind of cloud storage as a perk. It's easy to feel overwhelmed.
2025-05-01 - #16760

Yet Another Way to Install Windows 11 With a Local Account

The latest workaround allowing you to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.
2025-04-30 - #180135

Where Do You Get Your Answers?

There are many ways to find information on the internet. Here are a few tricks of mine that can work for you.
2025-04-28 - #2192

Let’s Chat About: Risk (and Windows 10)

With the end of Windows 10 support in sight, it's important to understand that every available choice comes with risk. I'll cover those options.
2025-04-27 - #180432

How Do I View Hidden Files and Folders?

We'll look at how to display hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer.
2025-04-26 - #5088

How Does Security Software Protect Me After Windows 10 End of Support?

Security updates and security software have different jobs, and that difference matters.
2025-04-25 - #179899

How Do I Know If My Hard Disk Is BitLocker-Encrypted?

Your hard disk could be BitLocker encrypted without your knowledge.
2025-04-24 - #179885