Rick's Daily Tips

Streaming unlocked: How VPNs allow access to geo-restricted content

Posted on March 9, 2025

Streaming services offer loads of TV shows, movies, and live sports events. However, most of us will face annoying geo-blocks that prevent us from accessing the content we want.

Apart from that, some platforms are only available in certain countries. Luckily, there is a way to bypass these invisible barriers and enjoy streaming services to the max.

In this post we’ll discuss how geo-blocks work and how streaming services use them to restrict content. Moreover, you’ll discover the best tool against curbs – a VPN. Not to mention, I’ll explain how to choose the best one and how to use it to punch through geo-blocks. [Read more…]

Q&A: Is it safe to use a USB flash drive as a backup drive?

Posted on March 9, 2025

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Alan: Hi, Rick. I have a question for you.

I have a desktop PC that I use only for writing blog posts in Microsoft Word before uploading them to my WordPress blogs..

I plan to turn my blog posts into a series of books some day so I want to keep the posts stored on my hard drive in MS Word format.

Right now the 7 folders containing the posts and their associated images add up to a grand total of a little over 22 Gigabytes.

My question is do you see anything wrong with using a 64 GB USB thumb drive to hold backup copies of these 7 folders? [Read more…]

Why you should ignore messages warning that your PC has outdated drivers

Posted on March 8, 2025

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Several people have messaged me recently asking about “driver update notices” that are popping up on their computers.

These messages are usually presented in pop-up windows or messages in the notifications area at the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Regardless of how these messages show up, many of them are outright scams, and the ones that are legitimate are recommending a piece of software that you don’t need.

[Read more…]

Q&A: Can I use two network adapters to double my Internet speed?

Posted on March 8, 2025

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Question from Bill: I have DSL Internet through our local landline telephone company and it seems to be getting slower every day.

I just bought a new desktop computer that has both a wired Ethernet port and a wireless WiFi card in it. That got me to thinking.

Is there any way to use both of those network adapters at once to double my effective Internet speed? [Read more…]