Simple Tech Tips for Home Computer Users
Windows, Mac, and mobile tech support – networking – Internet safety – consumer technology
Fake apps are a real problem on the official app stores. Tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are all struggling to keep them at bay. Learn how to recognize and remove fake apps in my latest article for The Northwest Herald/Shaw Media: Tech Companies Struggle to Remove Fake Apps.
In this week’s member-exclusive How-To Tuesday on Simple Tech Tips, we’re talking about how to avoid spear phishing scams. Most people are familiar with phishing messages, spam that tries to trick you into clicking on links and infecting your computer with malware. Spear phishing takes this to a whole new level by using highly personalized … Continue reading How to Avoid Spear Phishing Scams
In this week’s member-exclusive How-To Tuesday on Simple Tech Tips, we’re talking about how to manage your phone’s storage. Between photos, videos, and messages, your phone’s storage capacity can fill up fast. Running out of room is one of the big reasons people upgrade their phones, but you can make your existing phone last longer … Continue reading How to Manage Your Phone’s Storage
In this week’s member-exclusive How-To Tuesday on Simple Tech Tips, we’re talking about how to spot fake apps on the App Store. Fake apps are running rampant on official app stores like Apple and Google, and security experts warn consumers to be cautious. But how can you recognize a fake app from the real deal? … Continue reading How to Spot Fake Apps on the App Store
Your phone’s location services are used by many apps — but they don’t always need it and could be revealing your location to strangers. Location information is valuable to hackers and is even bought and sold on the Internet. Find out if the apps on your phone are revealing your location and what to do … Continue reading Is Your Phone Revealing Your Location?
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
There’s a new online scam called fleeceware making the rounds. Here’s how to avoid getting fleeced by it. Fleeceware differs from fake apps in one crucial way. Fake apps are typically malware in disguise, trading on the good names of reputable software to lure consumers into installing. Fleeceware apps, on the other hand, usually work … Continue reading Fleeceware Scams: The App Might Not Get You, but the Subscription Fees Will
We’re all guilty of ignoring app updates, myself included. But keeping your apps updated not only prevents computer problems, it also helps to protect your data. Updating your apps is an easy way to prevent computer problems before they start. If your app is crashing or causing errors, an update can fix the problem. Features … Continue reading Avoid Computer Problems By Updating Your Apps
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is an easy way to add extra security to your accounts. Here’s what home users need to know about setting up and using 2FA. How Two-Factor Authentication WorksTwo-factor authentication works in tandem with your password. When logging in, you’ll enter your password plus a one-time token, such as a code sent … Continue reading The Beginner’s Guide to Two-Factor Authentication
Web browser extensions let you add functionality to your web browser. For example, you might use an ad blocker or antivirus extension to protect your computer from malicious sites. Password managers also use extensions to improve security when filling in online forms. Other extensions integrate with sites like Evernote, Gmail, and more. While there are … Continue reading How to Customize Your Web Browser With Extensions
Simple Tech Tips for Home Computer Users 