Rick's Daily Tips

Review: AmazonBasics Backpack for Laptops

Posted on September 6, 2025

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Laptops and notebook computers are getting thinner and lighter all the time.

And as you probably know, that makes it more important than ever to protect them from being damaged while you’re carrying them from place to place.

Laptop bags have been around as long as laptops themselves, but most people these days seem to prefer carrying their machines in laptop backpacks.

If you’ve been looking for a great laptop backpack at an affordable price, let me tell you about one that I really love.

[Read more…]

How to quickly find the warranty status for any Apple device

Posted on September 6, 2025

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I frequently receive messages from readers asking how they can find out if their Mac, iPhone or other Apple device is still under warranty before they contact Apple Support to request a needed repair.

These warranty-related questions are usually spread out over time, but sometimes they come in spurts.

This past week was a one of those “spurt weeks”, which prompted me to write up this short post explaining how to quickly find the warranty status of any Apple device. [Read more…]

How to make sure a downloaded file is safe before opening it (updated)

Posted on September 5, 2025

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Have you ever downloaded a file from the Internet and worried that it might be infected with malware?

That’s a real concern these days with all the malware that’s floating around the web.

It’s getting harder by the day to know exactly which sites to trust since malicious files are even making their way onto legitimate download sites.

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to determine whether any file on your computer is malware-free or not by running a couple of simple scans. [Read more…]

Q&A: Is it really dangerous to optimize the Windows Registry?

Posted on September 5, 2025

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Question from Ellen: A couple of years ago I started using a Windows PC for the first time because my Mac died and I couldn’t afford a new one.

When I bought my new laptop the salesman told me that Windows does a horrible job at keeping the system optimized and running smoothly.

He said I needed to buy a program called System Mechanic and use it to clean Windows up every few months. [Read more…]

How SPF Flattening protects your domain reputation and prevents spoofing cyber threats

Posted on September 5, 2025

The Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is essential for email verification, as it determines which mail servers have permission to send emails for your domain.

However, when companies utilize various third-party services such as customer relationship management systems, marketing applications, or cloud solutions, their SPF records can grow excessively long and surpass DNS lookup limitations. This can result in authentication failures that not only hinder email delivery but also expose your domain to potential misuse by cybercriminals aiming to execute spoofing attacks. [Read more…]