Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Like my tips? Click here to sign up for my free Daily Tech Tips Newsletter and you’ll never miss one!
Question from Mary L.: I’ve been reading your blog for a while and several of your posts recommend using something called Two-Factor Authentication.
How exactly does that work? I’m confused.
And is it really something I need to use? [Read more…]
Question from Carrie: I went to Costco this morning and when I got home my phone wasn’t in my purse.
I checked both my car and my apartment from one end to other and it just isn’t here.
Then I called Costco to see if anyone had found it and turned it in at the Service Desk, but they hadn’t.
I didn’t go anywhere else, just to Costco so that has to be where I lost it.
I’m not too concerned about the phone itself. It’s an older Straight Talk phone that I was planning to replace soon anyway.
The thing that worries me is my Gmail was open (I keep it that way, stupid me). I have a lot of sensitive info and photos in my emails that I really don’t want anyone else to see.
Is there a way to use my computer to remotely sign out of Gmail on the lost phone?
Question from John: Rick, I’ve seen multiple articles regarding the dangers of using password managers or storing passwords in browsers.
Ok, I get it, but the flip side is also very daunting.
For me, I have over a dozen Internet accounts, and keeping track of all those passwords without some kind of automated manager is almost impossible.
Believe it or not, each and every password is extremely complex and UNIQUE.
Here’s an example of one password: A422A#5zkhN32B
This does not bode well for memorization.
I refuse to use any password manager that stores this information anywhere other than my local computer. Roboform used to, but now stores in the cloud.
I would be very interested in your recommendations for this situation. Thanks.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Question from Freddie: I know you’re always recommending that we enable Two-Factor Authentication on all our accounts.
Can you tell me how to enable it on my eBay account?
Thanks for your help.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Question from Luisa: I’m hoping you can clear something up for me.
I’ve heard some people say we need to stop using Windows 7 now that Microsoft has stopped updating it because it’s no longer safe.
Others are saying it’s perfectly fine to keep using it as long as the computer has an antivirus on it.
This is really confusing to me.
My HP laptop is old but it still works fine even though it has Windows 7 on it. I really hate the thought of having to replace it, but I will if it’s really unsafe to use.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]