Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Are today’s encryption methods so strong they’ll never be broken?

Posted on August 1, 2026

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Question from Carl: I was listening to talk radio the other day and I heard a guy say that the strongest encryption methods in use today are so strong that they will never, ever be broken.

The host didn’t challenge him on that. In fact, he seemed to agree with him. I have my doubts though.

What do you think? Is current encryption technology so good that no one will ever be able to break it? [Read more…]

How to automatically save 5% on everything you buy on Amazon

Posted on July 31, 2026

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

It’s no secret that Amazon provides one of the best shopping experiences you’ll ever find if you shop online.

Well, there are plenty of little-known tricks that can make your shopping experience at Amazon even better, and I’m going to tell you about one of them right now.

Did you know there’s an easy way to get 5% cash back on everything you buy on Amazon? And this is in addition to the already low prices you’ll pay for your items in the first place!

Well, it’s true, and it couldn’t be easier. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, all you have to do is pay for your Amazon purchases with the free Amazon Prime Visa Card.

But the savings don’t stop with the 5% cash back you’ll earn while shopping at Amazon! [Read more…]

Monthly Tech Giveaway – August 2026

Posted on July 31, 2026

Note: The links on this page are affiliate links.

August’s winner will receive a fantastic Ambient Weather WS-2000 Smart Weather Station with Wi-Fi Remote Monitoring and Alerts.

If you’re a weather buff like I am you’ll love this personal weather station. It’ll keep you up-to-date on what’s happening outside your own home in real time.

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 August 31 and the winner will be notified by email. The winner will be selected at random.

Good luck!

Q&A: How do I remove the PIN from my Android phone?

Posted on July 30, 2026

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Question from Angie: I started dating a guy a few months ago. I really liked him but he had an annoying habit of picking up my phone and looking at my called logs.

I think he was checking up on me to see if I was calling other guys. I didn’t like him spying on me that way and I told him so, but he kept on doing it.

I finally had my son put a sign-in PIN on my phone so the guy I was dating wouldn’t be able to get into it.

We recently broke up so I no longer need the PIN. It’s a real hassle having to put it in every time I need to use the phone. [Read more…]

Financial stability is part of trust

Posted on July 30, 2026

Trust is usually discussed as a matter of honesty, loyalty, and good communication. Those qualities matter, but trust also has a practical side. People feel safer when promises are supported by stable habits, clear information, and enough financial capacity to handle ordinary problems.

This is especially true when debt affects a household. Using a pay down debt calculator can help turn several balances into a visible repayment plan, but the deeper benefit is predictability. When people know what is owed, what is being paid, and how the plan affects other priorities, uncertainty begins to shrink. [Read more…]