Archive for the ‘Tips and Tricks’ Category
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
For years now, I’ve preached to people about the importance of using strong passwords. My posts have included tips like: make it complex, make sure it is lengthy and change out common letters for numbers. I’ve considered these to be golden rules for creating a password, and I stick by the fact that they can help protect you from the “bad guys,” but a recent article on Gizmodo.com has me rethinking a few things.
As the author of Why That Fancy Password Isn’t Nearly as Safe as You Thought puts it, that password you created is super complicated (which is good) but “You know who else loves it? Computers!” A strong password is necessary, but are the rules we have lived by really helping us to create a VERY strong password? Also, how difficult have we made it on ourselves to remember that password. Personally, I have to hit the forgot password link on at least one website a week now, simply because I tricked myself, and I am getting really tired of it.
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Tags: forget password, forgot password, Gizmodo.com, Online, Password, safety, Security, Strong Password, super password
Posted in Security, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
It’s a new year and you need to make some changes.
You’ve started back at the gym, started eating like a rabbit and quit ________________ (fill in the blank as you see fit), but you haven’t made any changes to your computer habits. The folks at Defence Intelligence have put together a simple set of resolutions that you can begin using today.
There isn’t really much need for explanation here – just read, rinse and repeat!
Click for Larger Version
Tags: anti-virus, click, defence intelligence, Malware, Mobile, online security, Passwords, Security, share
Posted in Security, Tips and Tricks | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
Over recent months, hackers have been busy exposing security flaws in some very well known organizations. In most cases, the information stolen from these high profile breaches was then immediately shared on the web. With log-in and personal information taken from sites like Sony, Fox, Nintendo, PBS, AOL and even the CIA (just to name a few) it is entirely possible that one or more of your passwords is now available to millions of people on the internet.
Scared? Hopefully a little bit. In addition to accessing the sites that you have created accounts on, criminals can use that personal information to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driver’s licenses in your name. There are some steps you can take to check on your information and limit any potential issues, but you must act quickly, like now!
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Tags: change, hack, Hackers, identity theft, log-in, nintendo, Password, personal information, protect, Security, shouldichangemypassword, shouldichangemypassword.com, sony, Strong Password, user name, username
Posted in Security, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Saturday, January 15th, 2011
It’s one of the most common statements we hear. “My computer is running slow.” The problem is, most local PC repair shops, or even the friendly Geek Squad at your local Best Buy, can seem a little overwhelming. You’ve probably heard stories of friends and family taking their slow-running or troubled computer into a place like this and feeling ripped off when they get home. Well worry no more, we have the how-to information and clean up utilities you need to speed up that old computer and it is 100% FREE.
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Tags: Clean up Utilities, Fix It, How-To, my computer, My Computer is Running Slow, Running Slow, Windows 7, Windows Update, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Posted in Free Programs, PC Support, Technical Issues, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
Christmas is here and in just a few days millions of people will begin opening their presents from one another. Many of us will unwrap gadgets and/or electronics, but very few of us will be prepared for the inevitable. Those flashy new gizmos and whatnots will eventually meet with mechanical malfunction, a fatal fall, a catastrophic crack or even theft. Stuff Breaks and People Steal!
iPads. iPods. Smart phones. Laptops. Desktops. You name it. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of expensive gadgets on the lists of “must have” Christmas gifts this year. If you, or a loved one, receive one of these gifts there are steps that you MUST take to protect your new gift from the inevitable. We’ve got you covered.
Tags: Case, Christmas, ebay, gift, Holidays, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Lock, passcode, Protection, Screen Protectors, skinit.com, smart-phones, SquareTrade.com, Warranty, warrantyelephant.com
Posted in Free Programs, Security, Tips and Tricks | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
Maybe it’s just me, but I find myself saying “I love Google” at least once a week. With an already impressive set of tools and features that I can use for FREE, and a steady stream of updates, upgrades and new products rolling out almost daily it is almost impossible to keep up with all the changes that come our way. Today, I was caught off-guard once again.
Like any other day, I needed to search something and I went straight to Google.com. I typed in my keywords and started skimming through the list of search results when I accidentally clicked on the screen. Suddenly, there were images of web pages appearing next to the results. What had I done? As it turns out, that one click activated the newly released Google Instant Previews.
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Tags: Feature, Google, Instant Preivews, Preview, Results, Search, Tool
Posted in Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
It’s back-to-school time here in the U.S. and that can mean only one thing… shopping. Yes, the age-old tradition of back-to-school shopping is in full swing and, for many parents out there, the final window of opportunity will be closing this weekend. The state of Texas has stepped in to offer a “Sales Tax Holiday” this weekend (August 20-22), a program also offered in many other states throughout the country, but is it enough to lure and your family away from the A/C and out into the heat of summer?
With the highest sales tax in the U.S. hovering at about 10.75% (California), you have to ask yourself if the savings are worth the effort. Crowded stores, long-lines, uncooperative kids and driving all over town might save you that 10%, but what if you could save more from the comfort of your own home or office? I think it is possible to save on your back-to-school shopping and, if you start today, you can still have your student(s) stocked up and ready to head off to their first day.
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Tags: Amazon.com, Android, back-to-school, barcode, Blackberry, high school, iPhone, online coupons, retailmenot.com, sales tax, sales tax holiday, school. elementary, shop savvy, supplies, tax free weekend
Posted in Online Shopping, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Thursday, August 5th, 2010
Years ago (not that many), there were only 1 or 2 places that you might find yourself searching the web, home or work. Now, thanks to laptops, iPhones, iPads, portable game systems and a myriad of high-speed internet connections (Wi-Fi, WiMax, 3G, 4G, etc.) you can surf the web from just about anywhere you can imagine.
The freedom to surf on-the-go is still fairly new and so are the challenges associated with doing so. One problem that crops up occasionally is finding a site that you have already visited. Maybe you were out gymnastics practice with the kids, surfing the web with your CLEAR USB modem, or sitting in a movie theater playing on your iPhone (before the show started of course), when you went to Google and searched for something that caught your eye. Three days later, you realize that you want to revisit that site, but you can’t remember the URL or enough information to locate it again via a Google search. You also find yourself lost in the “where was I and which device was I using when I looked at….” struggle.
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Tags: Clear, desktop, Google, History, internet, iPad, iPhone, Laptop, Link, Mac, Mobile, PC, Search, smartphone, surf, URL, web, Wi-Fi, WiMAX
Posted in Tips and Tricks | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Do you feel trapped by your place of work? Is the computer you use every day locked down tighter than the doors on a submarine? Are Facebook and Twitter considered “colorful metaphors” to the IT staff? Well, there may be some relief and a way to get back to the social networking world you desire. Firefox Add-Ons!
I recently went back to work, this time for a very large company with an IT staff dedicated to keeping things on total lock-down so we (the employees) can’t waste time or share corporate secrets via the internet or installed programs. What this meant for me was a return to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as my one and only browser choice. My first thought was “how bad could it be?”
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Tags: add-ons, AIM, AMO, computer, Facebook, Firefox, Google Talk, internet access, Internet Explorer, LinkedIn, lock-down, mozamo, Mozilla, Thunderbird, Twitter, work, Yoono, YouTube
Posted in Firefox, Free Programs, Social Networking, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Regular PC maintenance is as important as routinely changing the fluids in your car. Without this regular upkeep, your computer can become a slow, draggy, unusable box that has you thinking about a trip to your local electronics retailer.
In today’s article, we’ve posted links to the tools you need and a simple “5-Point Maintenance Plan” that you can follow to keep your PC running like new (or better). The average user can perform these tasks in 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size (hard drive) and speed (RAM and processor) of the computer.
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Tags: computer, defrag, defragmentation, links, Maintenance, Malware, microsoft update, PC, registry cleaning, Spyware, Temporary Files
Posted in Free Programs, PC Support, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
