Most Recent Entries

Be sure to also check out the Best Articles page!

Your Password May Not Be Used to Encrypt Your Data, and That’s Okay

There's a surprising and counterintuitive technique related to how some encryption tools work: your password is not what locks your data. I'll describe what keeps your data secure and why changing your password doesn't always mean re-encrypting all your data.
2026-06-04 - #75685

End-to-End Encryption Was Removed From Instagram. Should You Care?

Instagram just killed its encrypted DMs. But here's the real story: most people never had it turned on to begin with. If you care about keeping your conversations private, I'll share which apps I recommend.
2026-06-03 - #192475

How Do I Update Drivers on My Computer?

Device drivers are behind-the-scenes software that make your hardware work. I'll discuss the right way to update drivers and explain why to avoid driver update services.
2026-06-01 - #3084

Yes, You Can Use the Cloud Safely — Here’s How

Cloud storage is one of the most useful tools around, but it brings two real risks along for the ride.
2026-05-30 - #128296

How Do I Secure a Hard Drive Before Sending It in for Repair?

When your computer goes to the shop, can you trust a stranger with your personal files? I'll share how to keep your data safe before handing your machine over, and what your options are when it's too late.
2026-05-29 - #17773

How Do I Change My Router’s Password?

Your router's default password might as well be no password at all. Changing it is an important step you can take to secure your home network. I'll show you how to find your router's settings and lock it down with a strong password.
2026-05-28 - #130435

Mythos About Mythos

A new AI just found thousands of security vulnerabilities in nearly every major operating system, and its maker decided the world wasn't ready for it. What does that mean for you?
2026-05-27 - #192235

Are You Ready for Your Computer to Be Stolen?

Losing a computer to theft or loss isn't just an inconvenience. Your personal data could end up in the wrong hands. I'll describe what steps to take now so that if your device disappears, your data stays safe and your recovery is quick.
2026-05-25 - #12635

How to Reduce Your Frustration with Technology

Technology never stops changing, and your attitude affects how well technology works for you. I'll discus why accepting and even welcoming change might be the most useful tech skill you can develop.
2026-05-23 - #85022

Can Malware Reach My External Drive?

Can hackers really get to everything, including your external hard drive? I'll cover what malware can do and what you need to do before it happens to you.
2026-05-22 - #192221

Does Deleting Browser History and Cache Really Delete Traces of My Webmail?

Hitting "delete" on your browser history or emails doesn't mean they're gone for good. I'll cover what actually happens when you delete things, and what it really takes to make them disappear.
2026-05-21 - #13011

Has BitLocker Been Broken? What YellowKey Means to You

A security researcher just showed that bypassing BitLocker on Windows 11 takes little more than a USB stick and a reboot. I'll discuss what we know, who needs to worry, what the risks are for most people, and what you can do about it right now.
2026-05-20 - #192620

What Good Is an Image If I Can’t Restore an Old Backup to a New Computer?

You're backing up regularly. Yay! But when you try to restore an image backup to a brand new PC, it doesn't go as planned. Image backups are good for many things, but not that.
2026-05-18 - #3963

What’s the Best Password Manager in 2026?

Overwhelmed by too many password manager choices? I’ll walk you through the best current options, what makes them different, and how to pick the one that fits you best.
2026-05-16 - #148053

How Do I Report Spam to the Originating ISP?

Want to report spam to the ISP it came from? These days, spam comes from massive networks of hacked computers, not a single traceable server. I'll explain why reporting spam to what you think is the source of that spam is mostly a waste of time.
2026-05-15 - #191990

Which Cloud Backup Should I Use?

Cloud backup sounds good until you realize that most options only cover part of your data, and some aren't real backups at all. What works is a layered strategy that combines local image backups with cloud sync to keep your files safe no matter what happens.
2026-05-14 - #191968

How to Share Two-factor Authentication to a Single Account With Multiple Users

Your team shares one account, but two-factor authentication keeps locking everyone out. There are real solutions to this problem, and they don't sacrifice security. I'll show you how to set up shared two-factor authentication so everyone can get in.
2026-05-13 - #191949

Have You Tried Turning It Off and On Again?

Tech support always says the same thing: "Have you tried rebooting?" It sounds lazy (and perhaps crazy), but there's a reason it works so often.
2026-05-11 - #2434

The Most Important Skill

Think the most important skill in tech is coding? Nope. Whether you're asking for help online, applying for a job, or using AI, writing and speaking English well matters more than you'd expect. I'll explain why it might be the most valuable skill of all.
2026-05-09 - #6166

AutoHotkey: Mouse and Keyboard Remapping, Macros, and Hotkeys

Typing the same email address dozens of times a day gets old fast. AutoHotkey is a free program that lets short key combos do your typing for you. I'll show you how I use it every day to make a few keystrokes replace long blocks of text.
2026-05-08 - #3668

How Do I Get Into My UEFI Settings?

Need to change your boot order or check a startup setting? You'll need to get in to UEFI first. There are three ways to do it, and at least one of them works no matter what situation your computer is in. I'll show you how each one works.
2026-05-07 - #191715

How Do I Know You’re Not AI?

Can you tell if this article was written by AI? You can't... but that might not be the right question. What really matters is whether you can trust the information.
2026-05-06 - #191783

The Laws of Computing

What was once lost, has been found. In my backups, of course.
2026-05-04 - #192178

Why Don’t You Back Up Your Computer?

If you don't back up, it's probably not because you're lazy. A disaster will get your attention fast, though. I'll dig into why backing up is so easy to ignore, why it shouldn't be, and what it would take to fix the problem.
2026-05-04 - #3388

Recognizing and Avoiding Dark Patterns

Dark patterns are sneaky design tricks built to work against you. I'll break down some of the most common and show you what to watch for before you click.
2026-05-02 - #191601

What’s My IP Address?

You might be sharing more than you think when you visit a website. Your IP address, your browser details, and even what you searched for to get there is all visible. I'll explain what websites see when you show up and why it matters.
2026-05-01 - #10740

Should I Download Windows 10 Updates?

Windows 10 is past its end-of-support date, so why does Windows Update keep delivering updates? And should you keep taking them? My answer is a definite yes, and the reasons are more important than you might think.
2026-04-30 - #191543

What Is “Mailer-Daemon” and Why Is It Sending Me Email?

Get an email "from" mailer-daemon? There's a good reason this mysterious sender keeps showing up.
2026-04-29 - #191556

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

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.
2026-04-27 - #16401

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

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.
2026-04-25 - #42183

How Can I Pin “Restart” to My Taskbar?

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.
2026-04-24 - #191287

How I Use AI at Ask Leo!

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.
2026-04-22 - #168449

Is It Safe to Let Your Browser Remember Passwords?

Letting your browser remember passwords is convenient. With that convenience comes significant risk. Most folks are much better served by using a password vault.
2026-04-20 - #16718

What Does Windows 10 End of Support Really Mean?

I was honored to have the opportunity to speak to the members of the Sun City Center Computer Club about Windows 10, as well as a smattering of additional topics.
2026-04-19 - #191629

Should I Set Up Two Partitions on My Hard Disk?

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.
2026-04-18 - #5378

How Do I Clear Cookies for Just One Site?

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.
2026-04-17 - #191114

Why Can’t I Change My Email Address at Some Online Providers?

Your email address changed, but the website where you have an account won't let you update it. Now what?
2026-04-16 - #191102

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

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.
2026-04-15 - #191049

How Do I Hack Someone’s Account? How Do I Hack My Own?

Someone's cheating on you, or maybe you just lost access to your own account. Either way, you want to hack in. Before you go looking for help in all the wrong places, let me share the truth about hacking accounts.
2026-04-13 - #2590

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

Power outages are a different problem than just flipping a switch, and your computer could pay the price.
2026-04-11 - #3148

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

Before you pull a "Zuck" and slap a sticky note over your camera, it's worth asking whether the threat is actually real.
2026-04-10 - #48444

How Do I Run a Program “As Administrator”?

It's not trying to annoy you, it's an important part of keeping you safe. With an extra step or click, you can easily be the administrator when needed.
2026-04-09 - #4757

Set Up Windows 11 With Only a Local Account – Still Working in 2026

Setting up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account is still possible.
2026-04-08 - #167438

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

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.
2026-04-06 - #16005