Practical Help Library – Page 15 – Practical Help for Your Digital Life®

Practical Help Library

Malwarebytes Hates Chrome

November 27, 2017

Malwarebytes Hates Chrome: a reader asks… I have a Windows 10 computer (Dell) with Malwarebytes Premium (version 3.3.1) installed and running to protect me. I also use Google Chrome and am using the current version (62.0.3202.94). For about the last 2 weeks or so, Malwarebytes has been scanning my system and finding Google Chrome’s “Secure Preferences” as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The first time it came up I quarantined as suggested, and restarted my PC. It keeps coming back […]
No Cheap Cables

November 24, 2017

No Cheap Cables: a reader asks… Hi Chris, I’ve got an external USB 3.0 storage drive that I use to backup my Macbook. I plug it in about once a week and run Time Machine to backup, then unplug it and put it away. It’s been working fine for over a year, but over the last week it’s started acting funny. Sometimes when I plug it in, my Mac doesn’t see it, and sometimes it does for awhile, but if […]
Laptop Battery Sippy Cup

November 23, 2017

Laptop Battery Sippy Cup: a reader asks… Hello Coach, can you give me some tips on how to make my laptop’s new battery last longer? I have a 2-year old Dell laptop running Windows 10, and the original battery never gave me much time before needing a recharge. And here only 3 years later the actual time I got on battery was so short that I just gave up using it without being plugged in. Not great for a supposedly […]
Too Much Tech

November 22, 2017

Too Much Tech: a reader asks… Hi Chris, this whole digital life thing is overloading me! And I have little free time to spend on getting better organized. Have any quick tech tips you can give me? Absolutely! My first tip is to have you read these two articles: Drowning in Paper? and Use your smartphone’s camera as a memory aid! which will get you started. You’ll read about Evernote, a great program for organizing all the stuff in your life. So here’s my […]
Email Hacked

November 21, 2017

Email hacked: a reader asks… Hi Chris, I’m worried about my email account. Some folks have told me that they received weird emails from me. What should I do and how can I stop this? The first thing you should do is change your email password. I have some instructions on doing that in this article. Do this right away! Click the link (or picture) which will open the article in a new window, follow the instructions, and then come […]
Credit Card Cost

November 20, 2017

Credit Card Cost: a reader asks… This might not be a true tech question but I’ll ask it anyway. My credit card was stolen recently and my bank cancelled the stolen card and sent me a new one right away. I didn’t have to pay for whatever the card was used for, nor for my new credit card. So who’s stuck paying for those costs? Collectively, us consumers. The way this works is that your bank (or any credit card […]
Quick Keyboard Fix

November 17, 2017

Quick Keyboard Fix: a reader asks… I have a Lenovo all-in-one computer with Windows 10. It came with a wireless keyboard and mouse, and has a little stub (labeled Lenovo) that fits into a USB port on the backside. I am having a problem in that my mouse and keyboard suddenly stopped working and I can’t get them working again, even after restarting the computer several times. What should I do next? If you haven’t already, check out my article […]
Avoid and Prevent Infection

November 16, 2017

Avoid and Prevent Infection: a reader asks… I have an almost-new Windows 10 laptop computer. Everything I’ve read about computer viruses and such say that it’s better to not get infected than to have to clean up an infection. Is this true and why? Yes, it’s true. Let me use an analogy: If your body contracts a virus, you get sick. The virus can attack healthy cells or organs in your body and cause irreparable damage. Some viruses can kill […]
Stolen iPhone

November 15, 2017

Stolen iPhone: a member asks: My daughter’s iPhone was stolen (she’s vacationing in London). I got her a replacement from insurance and sent it to her. The phone is set up for calls and is active again through AT&T. How does she get her email, music and apps back on the new iPhone? She would like to have her music for the flight back! Thanks so much. It’s unfortunate that iPhones have become a prime target for thieves, who find creative […]
Remote not working

November 14, 2017

Remote not working: a reader asks… I have a remote control that came with my cable TV service (Verizon FIOS). It’s been working fine for years, but recently stopped working. What should I do? The first thing you should do is put fresh batteries in it, if you haven’t already. I know this sounds obvious to some, but remote controls work for a very long time on just a pair of AA or AAA batteries, so many folks forget about […]
Upgrade Malwarebytes

November 13, 2017

Upgrade Malwarebytes: a reader asks… I saw your note last week (News of the Week and on Facebook and LinkedIn) about a new version of Malwarebytes being available. My installation hasn’t prompted me to get the new version. Should I wait for the prompt or what? I have the Premium subscription. Don’t wait for a prompt from your installed version. Go to https://www.malwarebytes.com and click the Free Download link. This will update both Premium and free versions to the current […]
Sneakernet

November 10, 2017

Sneakernet: a reader asks… I have a problem in that I work in an office that doesn’t have a server or anything to share files between us users. We are all on the same network, but there’s no security on it so I’m afraid to turn on file sharing on my Windows PC. What should I do? If you can’t convince your employer that network security is important, then you’re left with doing your best to protect your own computer, […]
Android Facetime?

November 9, 2017

Android Facetime? a reader asks… I just got a brand new Google Pixel 2, switching over from the iPhone. On the iPhone I used Facetime, but I get that it’s not available on an Android-powered smartphone. Can you tell me what I can do instead to get the same capability? There are a tons of video-calling apps (aka Video Chat). Only one (Facetime) is limited to one platform (Apple’s Mac, iPad and iPhone). The rest can be used on either […]
Clean, Quick Charge

November 8, 2017

Clean, Quick Charge: a reader asks… I have a small problem and need your advice. I have a number of battery-powered devices that I have to plug in to recharge every night. My iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, my wife’s Samsung Galaxy, a Verizon MiFi, and an older iPhone I use as an alarm clock (so it’s always plugged in). Each of these uses their own charger, so I have them all lined up on a power strip with cables […]
Apple Ecosphere

November 7, 2017

Apple Ecosphere: a reader asks… Bit by bit I’ve been sucked into the Apple world. It started with the iPhone 6, then I got into Apple Music (subscription as well as my huge library), then a pair of Airpods, then an Apple Watch, an iPad Pro and finally a 12″ Macbook. Gotta say I’m pretty happy, they all work pretty well together once I bumped up the iCloud storage space. Yep, I’m paying Apple monthly both for Apple Music and […]
LastPass Oops

November 6, 2017

LastPass Oops: a reader asks… I was following your advice to set up LastPass as a PW manager. But the free app never downloaded and I set up an account and now cannot get in – it does not recognize my PW and won’t let me reset because it states it cannot locate LastPass on the browser. So I went to delete my account but got the message below. What data will this permanently delete? It has me very concerned […]
Time Capsule Woes

November 3, 2017

Time Capsule Woes: a reader asks… I have a Time Capsule on my home network, and two Macbook Pro’s. I run Time Machine on both to back them up. Recently I upgraded both Macs to MacOS High Sierra and now my Time Machine app won’t backup to the Time Capsule. What should I do? Most likely it’s a case of your Time Capsule has older firmware which needs to be updated as well in order to work with the updated […]
Teeny Outlook

November 2, 2017

Teeny Outlook: a reader asks… I use Microsoft Outlook (2010) and somehow all the fonts on my window have shrunk down to teeny-tiny sizes. I can’t read it! How can I fix this? If you use Outlook, you may have accidentally encountered a situation where all the text in messages changes to larger or smaller size. This happens when you accidentally activate a “keyboard shortcut” but didn’t mean to (or even know you were doing so). Outlook in particular, and […]
Quick Password Tip

November 1, 2017

Quick Password Tip: a reader asks… In light of all the hacking, and our 21st century busy lifestyle, can you give me the short and sweet version of good password management? Short and sweet it is: Use only long and unique passwords. Too short? Let’s unpack that just a bit. How long is long? These days, any password 13 characters or less are going to be at risk of being cracked using brute force methods. Hackers have built specialized computers […]
iPhone X?

October 31, 2017

iPhone X? a reader asks… I’m struggling with the decision on my iPhone upgrade – should I get the 8 or the X? What do you think? I have an iPhone 6s and am not interested in the plus size phones. I usually upgrade every 2 years so it’s about time. I think you should do a small bit of navel-gazing. Are you an “early adopter”? Do you like having the latest and greatest tech? Are you willing to live […]
Simple Fix

October 30, 2017

Simple Fix: a reader asks… What can I do when my computer stops working right? It seems like that happens all too often. I’m tired of having to call someone to fix it. It’s a fairly new Windows 10 PC by the way. The simple and first fix anyone should try before calling for help is to restart your computer. I have solved many thousands of computer problems and that is all it takes for about 80% of the time. […]
Gmail Tags?

October 27, 2017

Gmail Tags? a reader asks… Another followup on the gmail issue, what’s the difference between tags and folders? You mention both, and I’m fuzzy on which is which in Gmail. It can be confusing, but working with them is easy. First off, I use the term “Tags” which is a generic term for what Gmail calls “Labels”. Gmail doesn’t use folders to store emails, rather all email is in one huge folder called “All Mail”. In normal email programs like […]
Gmail Auto-file

October 26, 2017

Gmail Auto-file: Just a quick question (following up on yesterday’s stealth gmail), how do I automatically file incoming emails? I would like all emails sent to my business email account to go to the business folder, bypassing my Gmail inbox. You can set this up using the Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses menu, or just do it on the fly, which is easier and faster. Here’s how: When looking at the inbox, select any email sent to your work […]
Stealth Gmail

October 25, 2017

Stealth Gmail: a reader asked… I have a Gmail account that I’d like to use not only for my personal email, but also for business. I have a domain name and have already set up email forwarding so my business email is sent to my Gmail inbox, but I’d like to be able to reply using my business email address. Instructions please? This is a pretty common thing for folks to do, to keep from having to check multiple different […]
PC like MacMini

October 24, 2017

PC like MacMini: a reader asks… I’m looking for new/replacement computers for my company. We are tight on space so I’d like something about the size of a Mac Mini, that runs Windows 10. They just need to do regular office work with Microsoft Office, no fancy stuff. Do you have any suggestions? When space is at a premium, there are two main ways to go. If you need to also replace old monitors, then you might want to consider […]
Set Edge to forget passwords

October 23, 2017

Set Edge to forget passwords: a reader asks… On my Windows 10 computer, I use Microsoft Edge to surf the web. I also use it to check my AOL mail. Unfortunately, I checked the “Remember me” checkbox when logging into AOL mail, and now when I go to https://mail.aol.com it automatically logs me in. I don’t want this. I don’t want Edge to remember any passwords, that helps force me to remember them. What should I do to make sure […]
Router Wi-Fi Scare

October 20, 2017

Router Wi-Fi Scare: a reader asks… I just read about Wi-fi being compromised. Something called Krack. Now what do I do? I have a home router from Verizon FIOS, a Dell laptop and an iPhone. First, be aware that this scare is way overblown by the news services. Security researchers found a way to get past the security encryption protocol WPA2 – in the lab. My guess is by the time hackers are able to weaponize this flaw, device manufacturers […]
Wrong Apple ID

October 19, 2017

Wrong Apple ID: a reader asks… My wife and I each have our own Apple IDs on our iPhones and for years have shared apps using each other’s IDs. I think that since we set it up Apple has made “family sharing” easier, but we’ve never changed. I just discovered (after the latest update, maybe, but not sure) that the Health app had her name on it when I went to set up emergency contact. I could change the name, […]
WordPress White Screen

October 18, 2017

WordPress White Screen: a reader asks… I am a small business owner and have a WordPress-powered website. Everything was working fine until this morning, when I can no longer access the control panel. All I get is a white screen! What should I do? My website displays fine, I just can’t edit it. While Microsoft Windows 7 and before had the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death”, aka BSOD, Apple Macs could get the “Spinning Wheel of Death” aka SWOD, WordPress […]
Quick Win10 Protection

October 17, 2017

Quick Win10 Protection: a reader asks… I have a new Windows 10 computer. Can you give it to me short and sweet? What do I have to do for basic protection against computer viruses and malware? I’m not concerned about anything else at this point. Hmm, you should be, but I’ll answer the question as asked. Your Windows 10 computer comes with Windows Defender built-in, which provides some basic protection against viruses and malware. So you don’t have to do […]

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Hi! I'm Chris Gardner, Your Tech Coach giving you Practical Help for Your Digital Life® since 1996. My job is to translate geek-speak into clear and concise advice and give you easy-to-understand how-to's and instructions about your consumer technology products and services.

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