Kaspersky? A reader asks… I recently bought a computer from MicroCenter and the sales guy recommended that I get Kaspersky Total Security. I did and installed it. This week I read about how the US Government is banning Kaspersky products from being used in federal agencies. Do I need to switch to another product? I have a Windows 10 computer, and don’t do a lot of online surfing. I do online banking, shopping and social media, as well as email. […]
Switch to iPhone: a reader asks… I read your article on switching from iPhone to Android at https://positek.net/switch-to-android/ but what about the other side of the equation? I have an older Moto smartphone and want to switch to iPhone. Anything I need to watch out for? First off, Apple has an app for that (of course!) the Move to iOS app on the Google Play Store. After you have purchased your iPhone and got it up and running, install the app […]
Locked Up Macbook: a reader asks… Hi Chris, my Macbook Pro (early 2011 with Yosemite) is running very slow and locking up on me all the time. Is there some way to fix it or should I just get a new laptop? Before I answer your question, let me first tell you that you should back up the files on your Macbook Pro as soon as possible. You can simply copy the files onto a thumb drive, or better yet […]
Switch to Android? A reader asks… I’ve been using an iPhone for a few years now, and am about done. I am ready to switch to Android and am looking for tips on how to make an easy transition. Can you help? While the iPhone is an excellent smartphone, we recognize that not everyone is happy and is perhaps thinking about or making the switch to an Android smartphone. Apple has a great guide for the reverse (going from Android […]
Your Company’s Website: a reader asks… I have a website for my small company that’s been hosted by one service provider (Bluehost) for awhile. They also provide me with email for my domain. I’m switching to another company, and they gave me an IP address to change my DNS settings so the website they’ve designed will show up under my domain name. But when I tried to switch the DNS (I’m using Network Solutions), the change won’t accept an IP […]
Simple Protection Primer for Win10: a reader asks… I have a home with a husband, 2 school-age kids, a dog and one computer. It’s a fairly new Windows 10 laptop PC. Everybody uses it, but we really can’t afford to have more than one computer. Can you give me a quick primer on how to best configure and use the computer to keep it (and us) healthy and sane? You’re asking for a prescription that just about every consumer is […]
NordVPN for iPhone: a reader asks… Ok, I read your article https://positek.net/vpn-for-iphone/ and am still convinced that I need to protect myself from snooping with a VPN on my iPhone, iPad and computer. I’ve looked at the options and settled on NordVPN. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee, and seem to be one of the better ones out there. What should I do next? I agree that NordVPN is probably a good choice for you, partly because they are generous with […]
FIOS Router Label: a reader asks… I have my internet service from Verizon FIOS and have their router (picture attached). I recently got a new laptop but have mislaid the paperwork that came with the router, meaning the password to connect to wifi. Can I find that info online or do I have to call Verizon? Neither. On the router, look for a label that will show you the Wi-Fi SSID (that’s the name of your Wi-Fi network) and the […]
Leave your PC on: a reader asks… I got a new Windows 10 desktop PC. Should I turn it off every night? Nope. As an update to my previous article Leave Windows Running, Windows (since the Windows 7 days) has been designed to be left running for extended periods. In fact, Microsoft schedules the automatic updates to happen in the middle of the night. Turning your PC off at night will keep this from happening, and for almost every Windows […]
Start using Facebook 2-Factor: a reader asks… My facebook account got hacked and it took me awhile to get things restored and back to normal. A friend told me that I need to turn on 2-factor authentication to protect my account. What is it and how do I do that? I suggest you read my article 3 Things to Know about 2-Factor Authentication (and some advice) to get an idea of what two-factor authentication is. It basically adds another (2nd) step […]
VPN for iPhone? a reader asks… I read an article on using VPN on an iPhone (at https://www.payetteforward.com/vpn-on-an-iphone-what-is-best-vpn-for-iphone-apps-services/) – what do you think about this? I last wrote about the VPN subject in April, check out https://positek.net/vpn-not-vpn/. But I’m going to take a fresh look at the subject, particularly in the arena of iPhones. The article you referenced is a decent, basic primer on VPN, but I’d be real hesitant about making decisions just based on it. I wouldn’t trust any […]
Add Google Sheet to Web Page: a reader asks… I have a wordpress website and I want to add a a table to a page. The table is currently a google spreadsheet. I’d like to be able to edit the spreadsheet (changing existing content) from time to time, and not have to update the website page for every change. Is there an easy way to do this? If your table is reasonably small, then the easy solution is to use […]
New All-in-One PC: a reader asks… I’ve been using an HP laptop for many years now, but I think it’s time to get a new computer. So what should I get? I use Outlook and Word, go on the internet, do very little online shopping, and print pictures transferred from my iPhone to my computer. My laptop sits on a table in my bedroom and has never moved, so I really don’t need a laptop. I’m getting older, so a […]
Avoiding the Echo Chamber: a reader asks… Hi Chris, I have a facebook account and use your recommended news aggregator, Flipboard to get my daily feed of current events and such. I also get the Washington Post and the New York Times in print, plus I have apps on my iPhone and read news stories there (more often than waiting for the print edition to hit my doorstep). One thing I’ve noticed is that as time has gone on, my […]
Upgrade Malwarebytes: a reader asks… I have Malwarebytes Premium installed on my Windows 10 PC. I read your note about keeping it up-to-date, but the program doesn’t give me any warning about updating or upgrading. Is there something I should do? Yes. One of my few disappointments with Malwarebytes is that they are really bad about telling their uses when a new version is released. Their software doesn’t get around to telling you until weeks or months have passed, they […]
The Perils of Old Software: a reader asks… I don’t get it. Why can’t I buy software and keep using it, why have to keep buying upgrades and installing updates? Can’t they make software that isn’t buggy? I use Office 2003 on my Windows XP computer and everything is working. Your question is like asking why, after all we spend on police forces is there still crime. The answer is that the police are fighting against crime, but can’t prevent […]
MacOS Won’t Start: a reader asks… I neglected to clean out my files on my Macbook Air and now it won’t start. The error says Hard Drive Full. What can I do? The first thing to do is try to start in safe mode. Start or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key. The white Apple logo appears on your display. Release the shift key when you see the login window. If your Mac starts up, then the […]
Refurbished Mac: a reader asks… I’m looking to buy a new Macbook Pro, but am on a budget (I’m a student). Can you give me some advice? I’m looking at the 13″ Macbook Pro, and I can spend up to $1,400. That’s going to be tough to find a new Macbook Pro model that’s within your budget. You might want to consider a refurbished Mac, which could save you several hundred dollars. Also, you could get away with buying less […]
Internet Weather: a reader asks… Even though I have a high-speed FIOS internet connection (75/75), I notice that sometimes things are slow to download, pages take a long time to show up, email doesn’t come quickly (or at all), and other indications that my internet speed isn’t as fast as it should be. I’ve run the speed tests that show my FIOS speed is reasonable, and there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with my connection nor my computer. So […]
Keep Android Safe: a reader asks… I have a Sony smartphone that’s running Android on my AT&T cell phone service. I get that Google won’t issue updates to my phone, so what else can I do to keep it from getting infected? First off, it isn’t Google that won’t update your phone, it’s a combination of the manufacturer (Sony) and your service provider (AT&T). The problem is that while Google makes the Android operating system for smartphones, there are literally […]
Safe Android Apps: A member asks… How can I tell if an Android App is safe to install on my Android smartphone? Your first move should be to avoid installing any app on your Android smartphone that doesn’t come from the Google Play Store. Google has gotten a lot better at vetting apps before they allow them on the app store, and making sure the apps are legit and have no malware. If you get your apps from any other […]
AOL blocking email: a reader asks… I switched from verizon to AOL Mail,now my friend (who sent me an e-mail (from [something] @comcast.net) and AOL blocked it. How can I get e-mails sent to me to go thru? He gets e-mails from me but I can’t get his back. What do I need to do? AOL’s anti-spam features are pretty harsh, meaning that if your friend sent you an email and AOL decided they don’t like the sending server (in this […]
MacOS on a Stick: a reader asks… I use a couple of Macs and sometimes wish I didn’t have to manage them separately. Is there a way that I can run my MacOS on an external thumbdrive and boot each Mac to that (not at the same time)? It’s certainly possible to do that, just install your MacOS onto a thumbdrive. But I’ll warn you that it will be very slow compared to running the OS from the internal hard […]
Rebuild Mac Photos Library: a reader asks… I seem to have damaged my Macbook’s Photos library as there are tons of photos in the library but they don’t show the images. What can I do? The MacOS Photos app is really great about helping you manage your photos, but there are a few things to be aware of. First off, when you import photos into the app, the originals are stored in a hidden folder, and don’t appear in the […]
Gmail Tabs: a reader asks… Is it possible to include the Gmail tabs social, promotions, updates and forums under one tab such as primary? Google has continued to design and re-design their gmail webmail app in attempts to make it more useful for users. A few years back they introduced tabs to automatically segregate email in your inbox. For most old-school email users, this is one of the first new ‘features’ that gets turned off (the second being ‘conversation view’). […]
Physical Health Tech Help: a reader asks… What are some things can I do to take advantage of technology in improving my physical health? There is an excellent article online at Positive HealthWellness that I suggest you read. It’s not a quick read, but has a boat-load of good info on ways you can use technology to improve your physical health. The article lists eight ways that technology is improving your health, including: using technology to encourage you to be […]
iPhone bugs me: a reader asks… I have an iPhone and it seems like all the time when I’m using it, these things pop up at the top of the screen and cover what I’m looking at. Sometimes I get 3 or 4 in a row, all saying the same thing. Can I get these to stop? What you are seeing are notifications from installed apps. When you install an app on your iPhone, it usually sets itself up to […]
HDMI and DRM: a reader asks… I have a home theater system with components plugged into the HDMI ports in my AV receiver, and HDMI connected to my flat-screen TV. Every once in a while, instead of seeing the video from a component, I get a blue or blank screen. The only way to fix it is to turn everything off and then back on again. Is my equipment malfunctioning? Most likely, nothing is malfunctioning from a hardware perspective. What […]
Website Ads, Oh Google! a reader asks… I use Google Chrome (and Gmail). I’ve been noticing that websites (including yours) are starting to show me advertising that’s laser-like in its focus. The ads are for stuff I was just looking at sometimes, and certainly things I’ve been looking at online. It’s a little creepy that these websites know so much about my web-surfing habits. Should I be worried? I’m going to say ‘not really’ – the websites you visit (including […]
M.2 drive: a reader asks… I’m building a Windows PC for gaming and general use. The motherboard I’ve selected has an M.2 port on it, and I understand I can use that with a solid-state hard drive. Is this a better option than the usual SATA SSDs that are available? You should check the specs on any M.2 drive to make sure they a) physically fit with your system, and b) have an increased input/output capability. The first issue deals […]
"I'm all about helping you deal with our 21st century high-tech digital world so you can enjoy a healthy and secure digital life!"
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.
Browse my library with over 1,000 of the types of questions and answers we all have about our consumer technology. Better yet, use the search bar above or pick a subject or keyword below to see a list of related posts you can read. And please sign up for my free weekly digest and occasional email alerts!
If you don't find the answer to your question in my library, ask me a question - anything about consumer technology. I answer questions large and small, from how to use Siri on an iPhone to how to protect your computer, tablet or smartphone. I take arcane language from manuals and translate that into easy-to-follow instructions. This gives you better ways to use your consumer technology - helping you get more out of the gadgets and services you already own and use.
I provide all the above, supported by my readers who find my answers valuable (patronage model). Please consider supporting me by sending any amount via 
(send to @PosiTek), or via 
(send to Support@PosiTek.net), or via 
using any credit card (no Paypal account required), or by mailing a check or cash to PosiTek.net LLC 1934 Old Gallows Road, Suite 350, Tysons Corner VA 22182.
I am not a non-profit, but your support helps me to continue delivering advice and consumer technology support to the public.
If you need more immediate or direct support, please see my 1-on-1 Tech Support page. I don't profess to know everything about everything, but I'm great at finding and giving you exactly the right answer in the way you need to hear it. Give me a try and let Your Tech Coach help you get your technology working for you, not the other way around!
Need more help using this website? Click here!
The information presented on this website and referred to in various social networking channels are the considered opinions of the authors. We accept no advertising, kickbacks or any sort of remuneration for any commercial products or services that we recommend or suggest. Furthermore, posts or links to external websites or other content do not imply endorsement, unless explicitly stated.
Any elements on this website that may be linked to or displayed, including trademarks and product/service images, are for educational purposes only under fair use copyright law. PosiTek.net LLC purchases licensing for commercial imagery used on this website via Shutterstock.com and any other imagery is licensed for our use via:
