Rick's Daily Tips

Saying no to a family loan

Posted on November 13, 2025

Few situations create as much inner conflict as a family member asking for money. On one hand, you want to support someone you love. On the other, you worry about your own financial security, and whether mixing money and family might lead to misunderstandings or strain.

It’s not easy to say no, but sometimes it’s the healthiest choice for both sides. Just as people may turn to solutions like debt settlement when debt grows too heavy, establishing clear boundaries with family loans helps protect long-term financial well-being and preserves relationships. [Read more…]

Try this when your WiFi devices can’t connect to the Internet

Posted on November 12, 2025

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If you’ve been using the Internet for a while, chances are you’ve had trouble getting your computer or a mobile device to make or keep a working Internet connection at some point in the past.

While they can be quite irritating, many Internet connection problems can be fixed with a simple reboot procedure.

It might take you a few minutes to reboot all of your Internet-related devices, but it’s a simple procedure that will fix most any transient glitch that happens to afflict your local network. Here’s how to do it the right way: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I force Google to always show American search results?

Posted on November 12, 2025

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Question from Brett: I need your help with something if you don’t mind, Rick.

I just started a new job for which I’ll be traveling quite frequently, mostly to western Europe but occasionally to South and Central America as well.

I’m in the UK right now and every time I click on my bookmark to load Google it takes me to the British Google site.

I really need for my browser to load the Google search results for the United States at all times because only those results are relevant to the research I do for my job.

Do you know of a way to force Google to always show the American search results no matter which country I’m in at the time? [Read more…]

Why you really need to stop using Passwords (and make the switch to Passkeys)

Posted on November 11, 2025

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As you probably know, people have been using passwords to secure their online accounts for decades. But unfortunately there are four very serious problems with passwords:

1 – Strong passwords that are actually effective at protecting your accounts tend to be very difficult to remember. [Read more…]

How to bypass iPhone Locked to Owner (full guide)

Posted on November 11, 2025

The “iPhone Locked to Owner” message, officially known as iCloud Activation Lock, is a potent security feature that automatically activates when the “Find My” feature is enabled on any Apple device.

Its primary purpose is to act as a deterrent against theft: if your iPhone is lost or stolen, it is rendered useless to anyone who doesn’t possess the original Apple ID and password, even after a factory reset. [Read more…]