Rick's Daily Tips

Scam alert: Protect yourself against fraudulent or misleading crowdfunding campaigns

Posted on April 4, 2025

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Crowdfunding campaigns have been around for a while now, and truth be told, they have really helped a lot of people out of some really unfortunate jams and done lots of good for the world overall.

Sites like Kickstarter, IndieGogo, GoFundMe and others have helped bring numerous innovative new products to market and allowed families in need to raise much needed cash for critical surgeries, emergency housing after devastating fires and countless other legitimate needs.

But unfortunately the emergence of crowdfunding has also made it much easier for scammers to take advantage of kind-hearted and generous people on a massive scale. [Read more…]

How to quickly create a Desktop shortcut to any app on your PC

Posted on April 3, 2025

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It’s very easy to remove a shortcut (icon) from the Desktop on a Windows PC. In fact there are several ways to do it, including:

1 – Right-Click on the icon and then click Delete.

2 – Left-click on the icon to select it, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

But have you noticed that there is no obvious way to create a Desktop shortcut to an app? [Read more…]

Scam alert: Beware the dangerous ‘Expiring Apple ID’ phishing scam

Posted on April 3, 2025

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Well, another very insidious phishing scam is making the rounds again.

This one won’t show up in your Facebook Newsfeed or in an email.

Instead, you’ll receive it in an SMS text message, and if you fall for the bait it could end up costing you dearly.

The scam works like this…

[Read more…]

Preparing for a management role in the Tech industry

Posted on April 3, 2025

Stepping into a management role in the tech industry is a big milestone. Whether you’re a software developer, data analyst, or systems engineer, moving from a technical position to a leadership role requires more than just knowing your craft. It involves learning how to manage people, projects, and business goals all at once.

Tech companies are growing rapidly, and with that growth comes a greater demand for skilled managers who understand both technology and team leadership. But here’s the thing: great individual contributors don’t automatically make great managers. It’s a different skill set, and the transition can be challenging if you’re not prepared.

The good news is that management is a skill you can learn. If you’re thinking about moving into a leadership role, there are clear steps you can take to get ready. From building the right mindset to developing core leadership skills, this article walks through what you need to know before taking that next step in your tech career. [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I hide the Desktop icons on my computer screen?

Posted on April 1, 2025

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Andie: I have a gorgeous photo of a sunrise over Lake Michigan as my desktop background.

The problem I’m having is all the icons scattered around the screen make it hard to enjoy the photo.

Is there an easy way to hide those icons when I don’t need them and then make them reappear when I do? [Read more…]