Rick's Daily Tips

The downsides to an income-driven repayment plan

Posted on June 5, 2025

When student loan payments start to feel overwhelming, income-driven repayment (IDR) plans can seem like a lifesaver. These plans adjust your monthly payments based on your income, often lowering what you pay each month. Plus, they offer the promise of forgiveness after 20 or 25 years.

But while IDR plans come with benefits, there are some important downsides that don’t always get as much attention. If you’re considering IDR or already enrolled, knowing these can help you make smarter choices and avoid surprises. [Read more…]

Q&A: Does Malwarebytes still offer a free version?

Posted on June 2, 2025

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Question from Martha: Hi, Rick. I need your help with the Malwarebytes download.

I tried downloading ‘Malwarebytes Free’ by clicking the Free Antivirus Download button on this page but it installs a 14 day trial version instead.

Am I clicking the wrong thing to download the free Malwarebytes? Or maybe I’m doing something wrong?

[Read more…]

Q&A: How can I stop websites from asking to track my location with Firefox?

Posted on June 2, 2025

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Question from Debra: How can I prevent websites from asking for my location when using Firefox?

I hate having to answer that stupid question a dozen times a day, especially when it’s for the very same sites over and over again. [Read more…]

Did you know you can remotely erase a lost or stolen smartphone?

Posted on June 1, 2025

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Have you ever stopped to consider just how much of your digital life is stored on your smartphone?

First, there are the names and phone numbers of all your contacts (and possibly their email addresses and other sensitive info as well).

Then there are apps for accessing your bank account, your social media accounts and the accounts for all the other online services you use (and possibly the usernames and passwords to those accounts as well). [Read more…]

How to call someone directly from your Android phone’s Home screen

Posted on May 31, 2025

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To make a call on your Android phone, you probably open the Phone app, tap Contacts, select the person you wish to call from a long list of contacts, and initiate the call by tapping the Call button.

Well here’s a little tip that can make the process of calling someone you call often a lot faster… [Read more…]