Simple Tech Tips for Home Computer Users
Windows, Mac, and mobile tech support – networking – Internet safety – consumer technology
In this week’s member-exclusive How-To Tuesday on Simple Tech Tips, we’re talking about how to find local electronics recyclers. Electronic waste is an increasing problem. If you can’t re-use or donate your old electronics, it’s best to recycle them. But it’s not always easy to find somewhere local to recycle your electronics. These tips will … Continue reading How to Find Local Electronics Recyclers
In this week’s member-exclusive How-To Tuesday on Simple Tech Tips, we’re talking about how to recognize phishing email scams. Phishing scams are designed to lure you into clicking links that lead to malicious web sites, and they’re not always easy to spot. Learn the hallmarks of phishing scams and the best ways to avoid them … Continue reading How to Recognize Phishing Scams
In this week’s member-exclusive How-To Tuesday on Simple Tech Tips, we’re talking about how to fix crashing apps on your computer. Trying to figure out why an app keeps crashing can be frustrating. Some apps are kind enough to give you an error message, while others simply stop working with no notice. In this guide, … Continue reading How to Fix Crashing Apps on Your Computer
If your MacBook’s keys don’t work the way they should, you might have the infamous butterfly keyboard. Here’s how to find out if you’ve gotten stuck with Apple’s lemon of a keyboard design, and where to find repair options. What Is the Mac Butterfly Keyboard?What on earth is a Mac butterfly keyboard? Sadly, it’s not … Continue reading What to Do If You’re Stuck With the Infamous Mac Butterfly Keyboard
Ever type the wrong Web address by mistake? Did you know that cybercriminals snatch up typoed domains in order to create tempting lookalikes? Typosquatting is the practice of registering a domain that is a typo of a common site, like goole instead of google or microsft instead of microsoft. Most people don't notice typos, especially … Continue reading Typosquatting: How Mistyped Web Sites Lead To Malware and Scams
If you’re an Apple user, you may have noticed your photos suddenly end in HEIC. What on earth is HEIC format, and why are all of your photos spontaneously using it? HEIC is Apple’s new proprietary image format. It’s the default on iPhones as of iOS 11, and Macs as of macOS High Sierra. So … Continue reading Confused By HEIC Photos on Your iPhone? You’re Not Alone
Many network problems are preventable with a little routine care. Here are five quick and easy things you can do to keep your network running smoothly. Know Your Network LayoutGet to know your network by taking a picture of your router and its connections. Even better, label those cables so you know what’s supposed to … Continue reading Five Easy Ways to Keep Your Network Up and Running
Fake apps proliferate online, and it’s hard to tell the good apps from the bad. Scammers are getting sneakier by hiding their malicious apps behind the smokescreen of reputable ones. Your garden-variety fake app is typically malware disguised as a fun game or useful utility. Behind the shiny exterior lies code that can steal your … Continue reading When Good Apps Go Bad: How to Avoid Malicious Software
Accidents happen, and eventually you’ll find yourself faced with a spill. Whether you’ve knocked coffee onto your laptop or dumped soda on your phone, here’s what to do. Will a spilled beverage destroy an electronic device? That depends on the beverage and the device. Water on a desktop computer keyboard? No big deal. Can of … Continue reading What to Do If You Spill Liquid on Your Computer or Phone
Your computer’s built-in antivirus software is no match against today’s Internet threats. Here’s why you should replace it with something stronger. Windows and Mac computers both have default antivirus programs, Windows Defender and Apple’s XProtect. (If you haven’t noticed XProtect running on your Mac, that’s because it runs silently in the background as part of … Continue reading You Need Better Antivirus Than Your Computer’s Built-In Software
Simple Tech Tips for Home Computer Users 