Rick's Daily Tips

Has that used phone you’re buying been reported lost or stolen?

Posted on January 8, 2025

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It’s no secret that some modern smartphones cost as much as a decent computer system. That’s why used phones are in such high demand these days.

Buying a used smartphone sight-unseen is a risky endeavor because there’s no way to know how much abuse the device has received or what kind of shape it’s actually in.

Even worse, if the phone you’re thinking about purchasing was lost or stolen it could well be locked in order to prevent it from being activated by a new owner – which could be you if you end up buying it. [Read more…]

Ensuring fair gender equality in cybersecurity recruitment strategies

Posted on January 8, 2025

Considering the continuous increase in cybersecurity-related threats around the world, the need for talented cybersecurity professionals has never been greater. And unfortunately, there has been a persistent talent shortage in various cybersecurity fields for quite some time now.

Part of combatting this wide-scale issue is by addressing a shortcoming that’s been evident in the industry for a large number of years – gender disparity. Currently, females only represent 25% of the global cybersecurity workforce. While the statistic historically had been due to an imbalance of women in STEM fields generally, the low participation of women in cybersecurity careers has persisted. [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I transfer photos from a dead laptop to a new one?

Posted on January 5, 2025

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Question from Barbara: Rick, my two year old laptop wouldn’t come on the other day so I took it to the Geek Squad to have it checked out.

Long story short, they said the motherboard was bad and that it wasn’t worth fixing, so I bought a new laptop.

The problem is I have literally thousands of photos on the dead laptop’s hard drive that I desperately want to get off of it and onto my new Laptop. [Read more…]

How to prepare your digital life for your (eventual) passing

Posted on January 3, 2025

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If you’re like most folks you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what will happen after you pass away.

After all, that isn’t the most pleasant of topics.

But taking a few minutes to prepare now can make things a lot easier on your loved ones when that sad day finally arrives.

And arrive it will since no one lives forever.

Chances are you’ve already made a few preparations such a writing a will and purchasing life insurance, but it’s also important to prepare your “digital life” for that fateful day. [Read more…]