Rick's Daily Tips

Rick’s Daily Pick: Qinlianf 5 Outlet Extender & Surge Protector w/ 4 USB Charging Ports

Posted on April 28, 2026

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

My “Pick” for today is this super-handy Qinlianf 5 Outlet Extender & Surge Protector w/ 4 USB Charging Ports.

This little gem instantly converts one regular 120VAC wall outlet into 5 surge-protected outlets, plus four USB charging ports. Simply plug it into an existing outlet and you’re all set!

Click here to check out the Qinlianf 5 Outlet Extender & Surge Protector w/ 4 USB Charging Ports at Amazon.

Did you miss (or want to revisit) one of my earlier picks? You might find it right here.

Picture of the Day: “Small mountain waterfall in southwest Virginia”

Posted on April 28, 2026

Today’s POTD features yet another of the many small waterfalls that grace the rugged mountain landscapes in my neck of the woods. You’ll find this one on Whitetop Laurel Creek, just a short distance from Konnarock, Virginia as you’re driving down the mountain towards Damascus on U.S. Highway 58. I hope you like it.

Have lots of treasured photos of your own that you’d love to display in your home but you have limited wall space? A digital picture frame (#ad) is an excellent solution. Check them out!

Enjoy these Pictures of the Day? Sign up for my free Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter and you’ll never miss one (or any of my tech tips either)!

Monthly Tech Giveaway – April 2026

Posted on March 31, 2026

Note: The links on this page are affiliate links.

April’s winner will receive a fantastic APC UPS Back-UPS Pro 1500VA UPS.

Whether you’re a gamer looking to up your gaming experience or a regular user who is just looking for a great monitor to replace the one you have now, this is a fantastic option.

All subscribers to the Standard edition of my Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter have an equal chance to win.

Premium subscribers have two chances to win (their email addresses are added to the “pot” twice).

Not a subscriber? Just enter your email address in the sign-up form on this page.

Once subscribed you’ll be eligible to win each month’s drawing – starting with this month. Better yet, opt for a Premium subscription for double the chance to win!

The drawing for this month’s prize will be held on April 30 and the winner will be notified by email. The winner will be selected at random.

Good luck!

Scam alert: Beware the insidious ‘Unsubscribe Confirmation’ email scam!

Posted on April 28, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Email scams have been making the rounds ever since email first burst onto the scene back in the early days of the Internet.

There are countless ways for scammers to use fraudulent emails to separate honest people from their money, and unfortunately I’ve probably seen every one of them at one time or another.

Well, right now there’s a relatively new kind of scam email making the rounds. [Read more…]

Q&A: Can a PC with an antivirus app still catch a virus?

Posted on April 27, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Question from Arlen: I bought a new laptop in August 2022 and paid the people at Best Buy to install Webroot antivirus on it.

This machine has always worked great but a few weeks ago it locked up on me with a message saying it had been taken over by a hacker.

I was finally able to shut it down by holding the power button in but when I turned it back on it went right back to that same screen.

I took it to Best Buy and the technician said it had a virus and they were going to charge me $150 to remove it. [Read more…]

How to quickly clear your Inbox of junk emails

Posted on April 26, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Does it seem like your email inbox receives more junk and SPAM messages each and every day?

If so, it probably takes quite a while for you to wade through all those emails and read the important messages while deleting the junk.

Well, I have a simple tip that can help you clear the junk out of your email inbox in a hurry.

[Read more…]