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It’s no secret that being connected to the Internet makes our computers and mobile devices vulnerable to hackers.
Passwords have long been used to protect our online accounts from those threats, but those once-trusted passwords are becoming less effective by the day as hacking methods become increasingly sophisticated.
In short, a simple password that’s just a few characters long offers very little real protection against the sophisticated hacking methods that are being used today. [Read more…]
Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter
Question from Carl: I was listening to talk radio the other day and I heard a guy say that the strongest encryption methods in use today are so strong that they will never, ever be broken.
The host didn’t challenge him on that. In fact, he seemed to agree with him. I have my doubts though.
What do you think? Is current encryption technology so good that no one will ever be able to break it?
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
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Question from Joyce: I recently bought a new computer with Windows 10 on it to replace my old Windows 7 laptop now that it’s no longer safe to use.
Thanks for the info you provided on that by the way.
My niece helped me set the new machine up while she was in for the holidays but now she’s gone back and she isn’t here to help me.
What I’m wanting to do is remove the login password that she put on it because I live alone and no one else has access to the computer.
Can you tell me how to remove that password? It’s a hassle having to enter it every time I turn the machine on.
Rick’s answer: [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 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…]