Screenshots of my PC: a reader asks.. I have a Windows 10 PC and would like to take screenshots from time to time. Is there a good utility to do that? My favorite utility for screen captures is SnagIt from Techsmith. I’ve found it to be exceedingly smart and intuitive, and offers a lot of flexibility in image editing. I can add graphics, text, or layer images. While it’s no Photoshop, it does offer all the basic tools needed to […]
Use Good Passwords! a reader asks… I have a bunch of websites that I log into on my computer, and I also log into online accounts using apps on my smartphone. I know that everybody recommends using unique passwords for each login, but I’m kind of lazy and just use the same password all over, sometimes with slight variations. That way I don’t have to try to remember dozens of passwords. Is there an easier way? Absolutely there’s an easier […]
More Screens! a reader asks… I know that I can connect multiple devices to my TV (handycam, DVD, etc.), but can I connect multiple screens to my computer? I have a Windows PC and would love to have more screen real estate. The short answer is yes, but there are factors that you’ll need to consider before you go out and buy monitors and cables. If your computer has multiple video OUT ports, you may only need compatible cables and […]
SMB: What’s a Dedicated IP? A reader asks… I’m a small business owner and have a website with email services. My hosting provider sent me a discount offer for a “dedicated IP”. What is that, and would I want that? An IP is an numerical internet protocol address, which is used to identify specific computers, servers and other devices on the internet, as well as on private networks. You are probably most familiar with the older IPv4 protocol – this […]
If you want to make your business more secure, here is how to protect your small business from hackers.
iOS 16 or 15.7?: a reader asks… I have an iPhone 12 Pro and see that there’s an update available for iOS – either 15.7 or 16. Which should I take? I have automatic updates selected, so if I do nothing, does it install 15.7 or 16? Last question first, automatic updates will only install the latest “minor” update, e.g., taking you from 15.6.1 to 15.7. Major updates always require you to initiate the update. If you do not upgrade […]
Windows 10/11 Power Options: a reader asks… I just bought myself a new Windows computer and have finished the initial setup. Should I mess with the power plan or power options? Microsoft still wants to save you those few cents a year in electricity, and sets the power plan to conserve electricity way more than most people want. My recommendations are still (in advanced power options): turn off sleep mode and avoid using it at all. be sure that your […]
Zoom Invite not Working: A reader asks… Sometimes when I’m trying to connect to a Zoom invitation, I am denied entry. The invitation looks normal with a URL to click which is supposed to get me directly in from my AOL/Verizon email, but I can’t click the link. When I get invitations to my Gmail account the links are usually clickable, but sometimes when I click on them I get an access denied entry. I do have a Zoom account […]
Spot a Fake Email: a reader asks… Is this email legit? I received an email from Amazon describing an order I supposedly made. I didn’t make that order! Should I call them or is this a fake email? If fake, what should I do? It is most certainly a fake. Do not call the number, simply delete the email or mark it as Junk Mail/Spam. The proliferation of fake emails and scam attempts is so high, it’s overwhelming everyone, including […]
Losing Mail on iOS: a reader asks… I have an iPhone 12 pro-max. I have had iPhones since they were first introduced, however, within the past year, the saved emails in folder/labels in my Gmail account, have disappeared. when I open the folder, the saved email will disappear. Please advise. I’m assuming that you’re using the Apple Mail app, along with Apple apps for Contacts and Calendar. The problem you’re describing isn’t uncommon, and the fix is quite easy. Here’s […]
A Cautionary Tale about Scams: a reader relates: My question is what can I do about this to help: My daughter is a college-educated professional woman living in NYC. She’s savvy about using technology and uses an iPhone. Unfortunately, she fell victim to a scam while at an airport waiting to board a plane. She received a phone call from “Bank of America” saying that someone was trying to access her account and steal money. They advised her to transfer […]
Phishing – what do I do? A reader asks… I got an email from “ekaterina @ positek . ai”, asking me to fill my personal info on some Google form to participate in some ‘bitcoin giveaway’. As I found it a little fishy, I googled “positek” and found your site, which seems legit to me. This is the second time that I have received such an email in the last few days so i couldn’t hold myself but ask it […]
CleanMyMac – not an advert: a reader asks… We have Malwarebytes on our computers. Do I need Clean my Mac? if you’re using the paid version of Malwarebytes, you have an active scanner to prevent malware from getting on your Mac. That’s its primary purpose. By contrast, CleanMyMac (current version X) is more a general-purpose optimization tool for the Mac that includes malware-prevention tools (in the paid version). Both of these are subscription-fee apps, the paid versions provide full-time service. The […]
How to Download iPhone Photos to PC: a reader asks… I use an iPhone and a PC. In the past, I’ve connected my iPhone to the PC to transfer photos, backup my iPhone and such. I’ve been told that this is passé and that I should be using iCloud to do this. I have expanded my iCloud storage per your previous recommendations and have turned on iCloud Photos and Backup my iPhone. My question is, how do I get my […]
Stop Clicking Indiscriminately: a reader asks… I keep getting emails and popups from various senders. Every time I click on them to either unsubscribe or try to log in, I end up not getting where I think I need to go. Please stop clicking indiscriminately! Currently about 80% of all email flying around the internet is either junk email, fake email, or hacking attempts. You need to be extremely suspicious of any email you receive. And even more so for […]
Transcribe Speech to Text: a reader asks… I have a number of audio files (interviews, speeches, etc.) that I need transcribed into text. Are there services that do this, or software products? I’m concerned about the accuracy of transcription. Transcribing audio speech (either live dictation or an audio file) is a lot harder work than one might casually think. There are so many factors at play here: the quality of the audio, the clarity and diction of the speaker, accents […]
Another Firestick Issue: a reader asks… Hello I am unable to listen to audio from my Firestick through my stereo receiver. EQUIPMENT: Onkyo TX-8140 2 Channel Network Stereo Receiver (purchased 2018) with Klipsch speakers (the Onkyo has no HDMI ports); Samsung QN4360RAFXZA 43” QLED 4K Q Series Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR (2019 model); Amazon Firestick 4K (2022). DISH Hopper. CONNECTIONS: Dish -> Samsung TV via HDMI 1; Samsung TV -> Onkyo for audio via optical cable (Optical port […]
Ethernet Wiring: a reader asked: I am getting an electrician to come and install ethernet wiring at my house. We’ve tried several different wifi solutions and none seem to give me a fast enough connection for video conferencing. Three questions: Should I install Cat7 cable or is Cat6 good enough? Also, should I buy the cable and wall plates/Keystone jacks myself? Is there anything else I’ll need? Cat7 costs 50% more than Cat6e, so for residential use it’s probably not […]
Unwanted Letterbox in Youtube: a reader asks… I use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit my videos and post them on Youtube. I upload videos either as 1080p or 720p. Usually this works fine, but sometimes I see letterboxing on the left and right side, even though my videos are 1920×1080 or 1280×720. Is there a quick and easy fix for this? Adobe Premiere Pro is a very powerful video editing tool, certainly overpowered for most casual videographers. But it is […]
Macbook Trick Unlock with Watch: a reader asks… I have a Macbook Pro with macOS Monterery. A guy I work with showed me a slick trick, but didn’t explain how it works. He unlocks his Mac just by opening the lid, yet his user account is password protected, just like mine (company policy). How did he do that? I’m betting he was wearing an Apple Watch, wasn’t he? Apple has been busy tightly integrating its line of products, so that […]
This is a guest article posted by Lisa Smith. There is no denying that iPhones are popular. According to Statista, in the United States alone, there should be more than 110 million iPhone users. Unfortunately, not everyone is keen enough to put effort into ensuring the device stays in good condition. Perhaps because they are okay with buying a new iPhone model as soon as one becomes available? Regardless, if you are concerned about the well-being of your iPhone, you […]
Stop Spam Texts: a reader asks… I’ve started getting a lot of spam text messages. I know that I can block text messages, but I’m getting a ton of these all from different sources. So I either have to do a dozen blocks a day, and still put up with all these text messages cluttering up my messages app (I use an iPhone by the way). Is there a better way I can stop these? There is but it’s drastic. […]
USB Ports at Airbnb: a reader asks… I’m going on vacation and will be staying at an Airbnb. The owner says that there are USB ports built into some of the electrical outlets. Is it safe to use these? Hmm, I’m going to defer to safety in my recommendation and suggest you bring your own USB chargers that plug into standard electrical plugs. You didn’t say where you are vacationing, so electrical voltage and plug type may be different – […]
QR Code for WiFi: a reader asks… Hi Chris, I’m a small business owner who provides a public WiFi network to my customers, separate from my private business WiFi. My staff gives out the password to customers on request, but this takes time. Is it ok to post a sign with the WiFi password or is this a security risk? Following your advice, my public WiFi password is long and not easily guessable, and I use WPA2. Congrats on keeping […]
Gmail Security Lockout: a reader asks… I received an email from Google the other day declaring: “On May 30, you may lose access to apps that are using less secure sign-in technology. Google will no longer support the use of third-party apps or devices…” I have been accessing both my AOL and Gmail accounts on my 2015 MacBook Pro and iPhone 6 using the Apple Mail apps (in a combined inbox). I also have a dormant Google Chrome app that […]
PC Clipboard: a reader asks… I use a Windows 10 PC. I know that I can copy and paste things from one window to another by using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. That seems to work fine for most things, but it’s limited in that I can only paste the last item I copied. Is there a way to be able to copy more than one thing? You’re using the ‘invisible’ clipboard that works on all computers. You copy something to this […]
New Windows 11 Laptop: a reader asks… I have a small business and am looking at upgrading our laptop PCs. It’s been awhile, but I’m partial to either Lenovo or Dell brands (as I see you’ve recommended elsewhere). While I’m comparing various models, what are the basic specifications that I should be looking for at this point in time? Specifically, processor, RAM, & storage space? We don’t do any ‘heavy lifting’ with our laptops, mostly just using Outlook and other […]
Emojis on Computer: a reader asks… I really like how I can use emojis on my phone in just about anything, including email. But using them on my computer is not so easy! The only one I’ve found that works reliably is the smiley face using a colon : and a close parentheses ) together 🙂 – on my PC that turns into the smiley face which I use in emails. Is there an easy way to use other emojis […]
Update your Computer! a reader asks… Is it important to update my computer? Even with automatic updates turned on, I keep getting bugged to install updates to my computer and my smartphone, not just the operating system but also apps that I’ve installed. They come constantly, and I’m inclined to just ignore them when they pop up. Please, please don’t ignore update notifications. Your computer can quickly become unsafe if you are using outdated software. It doesn’t matter if you […]
Scams Galore: a reader asks… I’ve noticed lately that I’m getting a lot more scam emails, phone calls and even text messages. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize them as scams. For example, this fake Paypal email. Is there a way to stop all this nonsense? The only way to stop this is to stop doing anything online (and/or in person). There’s just too much potential money to be made for scammers to stop dreaming up new ways to scam you […]
"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.
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