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How to Run a Full Scan Using Windows SecurityHere's my step-by-step guide on how to run a complete malware scan using Windows 10 and 11's built-in Windows Security.2025-07-05 - #124848 |
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Don’t Rely on the Padlock: What the Lock Icon in Your Browser Really MeansHttps is important, but now that it's ubiquitous it's not really protecting you as much as you might think. I'll explain what I mean and why that is.2025-07-04 - #181818 |
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Does Getting Bounces to Email I Didn’t Send Mean I’ve Been Hacked?Email bounces from messages you didn't send can be disconcerting. I'll explain what's happening, why you probably don't need to worry, and what steps you might take anyway.2025-07-03 - #181786 |
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Two-Factor Authentication: It’s Not as Complicated as You ThinkThere 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 |
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How to Get Data Off a Hard Drive in a Dead ComputerExtracting 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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How to Extract Text with Text ExtractorCopying 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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All the “Ishings” Trying to Scam YouThe 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 |
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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 |
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My OneDrive-free ExperimentI 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 |
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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 |
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Fix Printer Problems with an Uninstall and ReinstallPrinter problems can be frustrating. I'll show you a quick, safe, easy technique to try first.2025-06-13 - #126249 |
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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 |
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Why I Don’t Expect a Windows 10 ApocalypseThere'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 |
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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 |
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How to Copy Text From ImagesSometimes, 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 |
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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 |
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Passkeys and Hardware KeysPasskeys 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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How to Hover Over a Link to Check It’s Not a ScamWhen 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 |
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The Big One Is Coming. Are You Tech-Ready?Disaster planning includes thinking about your technology and online access.2025-05-29 - #180966 |
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How End-to-End Encryption Protects Your Messages and Where It FailsYou 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 |
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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 |
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Many Ways Your Account Can Be Hacked and What to Do About ItThere are many ways accounts can be compromised. There are also many simple ways you can protect yourself.2025-05-24 - #180742 |
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The Curious History of A:, B:, and Why C: Rules the PCFloppies come and floppies go, but C: is apparently forever.2025-05-23 - #180707 |
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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 |
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Should You Leave Your Backup Drive Plugged In? The Real RiskSome 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 |
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The Event Viewer, ExplainedMany 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 |
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My (Not So) Favorite QuestionMy favorite question? You'll never guess. Hint: it makes my job super easy, and you don't want that.2025-05-17 - #18891 |
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Can AI Block Spam?Can we apply AI to the problem of spam? We're already there.2025-05-16 - #180517 |
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Passkeys Are Never the Only Way InLosing a device with a passkey to one of your accounts will not lock you out.2025-05-15 - #180474 |
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Start11: Another Start Menu ReplacementWant 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 |
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Extend Your Wi-Fi: Simple Fixes for Better Home CoverageIt can be difficult to get wireless network coverage throughout your home.2025-05-12 - #4336 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Avoiding Scams: Why Hackers Can’t Recover Your Gmail for YouYou'll often find testimonials and offers of amazing account recovery success. It's a trap.2025-05-07 - #180309 |
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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 |
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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 |
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The Enduring Myth of Annual Subscriptions to WindowsI just don't see it happening.2025-05-02 - #180253 |
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An Abundance of Cloud StorageIt 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 |
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Yet Another Way to Install Windows 11 With a Local AccountThe latest workaround allowing you to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.2025-04-30 - #180135 |
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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 |
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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 |
