The Best of Ask Leo!
Articles selected (and updated) and sent to The Best of Ask Leo! email subscription available at http://bestofaskleo.com.
Online Shopping: Just How Safe Is It?
Online shopping is ubiquitous, and yet some avoid it completely. Why are some people afraid to shop online when it’s arguably safer than offline?
How to Remove PUPs and Other Unexpected Things From Your Computer
Casually installing one download may result in several other things being installed. I’ll review the steps to remove these pesky, problematic, painful, Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs.
What Can I Disable in Task Manager’s Startup List?
Task Manager shows many of the items that run automatically when you start your machine. What you need and what you don’t depends on many factors.
Do I Need All These Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables?
Assorted redistributables and shared libraries are installed on your PC by programs that need them. Removing them, while tempting, is fairly risky.
How to Avoid Ransomware
Avoid ransomware the same way you avoid any malware. A full backup will save you not only from ransomware, but from a host of other problems as well.
Why Do I Get Spam Not Addressed to Me? How Spammers Do It, and What Steps You Can Take
Spammers use many techniques to slide their garbage into your inbox. BCCing you on messages is a common way.
What Can People Tell from My IP Address?
People can tell very little from your IP address. For example, they cannot tell who or where you are. How much they can tell varies a great deal.
Why Am I Not Getting the Email Newsletter I Signed Up For? Three Steps to Improve the Situation
Over-aggressive spam filtering can cause email newsletters and other messages to fail to appear in your inbox. I’ll look at why that is, and three steps you can take to improve the situation.
How Do You Delete Things from the Internet?
Realistically, it’s impossible to delete things from the internet. Yet in an apparent contradiction in terms, if you happen to delete something in your control, you also can’t get it back.
Are You Ready for Your Computer to be Stolen?
You might lose your hardware and any un-backed-up data on it, and possibly give a thief access to it all! I’ll cover a few of the basics. A stolen computer or lost computer can open the doors to all sorts of havoc if you’re not prepared.
Using Disk Cleanup in Windows 10
Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 is a handy tool for freeing up space on your hard drive. I’ll show you how it’s done and what to clean up. It’s one of the first places I recommend people turn when they’re running low on disk space.
Where Do I Get Driver Updates?
Device-driver updates can come from several places. I’ll review the best sources for driver updates and where else you might need to look.
What’s the Best Registry Cleaner? What to Use and Not
The best registry cleaner is none at all. There may be cases where you want to use one, though, and I’ll review which I’d use and how to use them safely.
How Do I Gain Administrative Access to a Second-hand Computer?
It’s important to understand the risk of buying a used computer.
What are the Internet’s Rules about Free Speech?
Often, when people find their posts or comments removed or altered from websites they visit, they’re quick to claim their right to free speech has been violated. That’s rarely the case.
The Most Important Skill
The most important life skill, for everything from getting your computer fixed to becoming a highly-paid professional, may not be what you think it is.
Are HTTPS Connections Really Safe?
HTTPS is an important part of keeping your data safe, but it’s only a part. It’s important to understand what it does and doesn’t mean.
I Deleted a File by Mistake. Can I Get It Back?
Sometimes, it is possible to recover a file deleted by accident. Stop using the disk, check your Recycle Bin, and perhaps pull out an undelete utility.
“From” Spoofing: How Spammers Send Email that Looks Like It Came from You
“From” spoofing is how spammers send email that looks like it comes from you that you had nothing at all to do with. I’ll look at how it’s done.
How Do I Choose a Good Password?
With occasional security breaches at service providers and rampant email account theft, password security has never been more important. Make sure you choose and use secure passwords.
Creating a Backup Image Using Windows’ Built-in Backup
I don’t think much of the Windows backup utility–but any backup is better than no backup. Let’s take a look at how to use it.
How Do I Find Who Hacked My Email Account?
It’s natural to want to find out who hacked your email and why. Begin by recovering and securing your account. I’ll review what steps you can take after that, and their chances of success.
Is There a Real Alternative to Windows?
Only Windows is Windows. There are alternatives, but whether they’re right for you depends on you.
Are PCs Doomed?
While the ratio of PCs to mobile devices may change over time, I believe PCs will not be going away any time soon. They’re just too darned useful.
Why Is My Machine Slowing Down?
Is your once-speedy computer crawling? From hidden malware to too many background apps, there are plenty of reasons your PC might feel sluggish. I’ll walk you through the most common causes and what you can do to get things running smoothly again.
How Should I Set Up My Home Network?
A home network allows you to share a single internet connection, as well as data and devices, between multiple devices. I’ll review the basics components of a home network and some steps to take as your network grows.
Can I Tell If Email I Sent Has Been Read by the Recipient?
People want to know if someone’s opened their email. I’ll explain why features and tools claiming to do that can’t work most of the time. I’ll share the only way to know for certain your message was read.
Is It Time to Start Using an Adblocker?
Advertising on the internet is broken. It might be time to think about using adblockers and supporting your favorite websites in other ways.
Why Am I Being Labeled a Spammer?
Possibly being labeled a spammer is another reason not to forward political and other emails. Do it enough and your normal email may not get delivered.
