Simple Tech Tips for Home Computer Users
Windows, Mac, and mobile tech support – networking – Internet safety – consumer technology
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
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
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
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)
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
Virtual private networks are easy to use despite the complicated name. Let’s cut through the tech jargon and talk about how you can use a VPN to protect your home computer. To understand VPNs, we need to know a little about how the Internet works. Every online service, from Facebook to Amazon to your local … Continue reading How to Use a VPN to Protect Your Home Computer
How do you know if a web site is safe? Do you look for the lock icon? Would it surprise you to learn that isn’t enough? Consumers have long been taught to look for the lock icon or “https” in the address bar to determine whether or not a site is secure. Years ago, when … Continue reading “Secure” Web Sites Aren’t Always Secure
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
Ransomware is a particularly nasty form of computer virus that encrypts your data, then demands payment for the encryption key. Why is ransomware so hazardous, and how can you remove it? Ransomware is vicious because it doesn’t just render your computer unusable. It encrypts all of your files, including those on networked computers, removable drives, … Continue reading Ransomware: A Dangerous Threat to Your Computer
