Tech Companies Struggle to Remove Fake Apps

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.

How to Protect Your Computer from Ransomware

In this week’s member-exclusive How-To Tuesday on Simple Tech Tips, we’re talking about how to protect your computer from ransomware. Ransomware is a scourge that attacks consumers and businesses alike. According to a recent survey ransomware attacks nearly doubled in 2021, and experts expect those numbers to continue rising. Here’s what you need to know … Continue reading How to Protect Your Computer from Ransomware

Typosquatting: How Mistyped Web Sites Lead To Malware and Scams

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

When Good Apps Go Bad: How to Avoid Malicious Software

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

You Need Better Antivirus Than Your Computer’s Built-In Software

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

Fleeceware Scams: The App Might Not Get You, but the Subscription Fees Will

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