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 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
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
When was the last time you backed up your computer? If you have automatic backups, do you check them on a regular basis? Have you ever tested your backups by trying to restore some of your files? It’s not enough to set your backups and forget them. You would not believe the number of times … Continue reading This Computer Backup Guide Will Really Save Your Assets
If there's one thing you do for your own computer safety, please, use strong, unique passwords! Doing so decreases your chances of suffering virus infection, account hijacking, identity theft, and even financial fraud. People continually re-use passwords, or create weak passwords, or don't change the default passwords on important devices like routers and smart home gadgets. … Continue reading The Essential Guide to Strong Passwords (2021 Edition)
One of the most common questions I hear from parents is, “How can I set up parental control software?” But parental controls aren’t a panacea for keeping your kids safe online. Let’s talk about when to use parental controls… and when not to use them. Most computers have basic built-in parental controls, like the ability … Continue reading The Pros and Cons of Parental Control Software
Tech support scams are a continuing threat to consumers, especially with so many people working from home. Here’s how to avoid them, and how to find real tech support. A tech support scam usually starts with a fake phone call, phishing email, or pop-up ad. Phone calls are an especially popular choice for reaching consumers … Continue reading What You Need to Know About Tech Support Scams
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
Simple Tech Tips for Home Computer Users 