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Where Does Your Digital Footprint Lead?

2026-06-01T13:24:35Z

You lock your doors at night. You avoid sketchy phone calls. You’re careful about what you post on social media. But what about the information about you that’s already out there, without your permission? Did you know... your digital footprint can lead right to your front door? Read on to learn how to cover those tracks...

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Is Your Computer Slow? Find Out Why

2026-05-29T19:12:09Z

How fast is your computer's CPU (the “brain” or central processing unit) compared to others? That's one question that CPU benchmarking can help you answer. Another good question is whether or not your particular CPU is performing up to manufacturer's specs; CPU benchmarking can answer that one too. Here's how to test your own CPU, with free software. Read on...

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Hard Drive Partitions: Old-School or Useful Tool?

2026-05-21T16:11:55Z

One reader asked about partitioning hard drives: “I just got a new computer with a big 2-terabyte hard drive and I'm wondering about hard drive partitioning strategies. A friend told me to create a very small C: partition for a swap file, put Windows on the D: drive, and create several other partitions for different types of data. That sounds complicated, so is this really a good idea?” Read on for my advice on hard drive partitioning...

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How Many of These Power Search Tricks Do You Know?

2026-05-14T19:49:43Z

The Web is full of wonder and knowledge, but as the amount of online information keeps growing, it's getting harder to find exactly what you need. A simple search for a keyword or phrase can turn up millions of results, and they're not always ranked by relevance. At the same time, search engines can sometimes reveal surprising answers to questions you would not expect them to solve. Here are a few tips to help you get more from search engines, or less, if that's what you need. Read on...

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TurboCharge Your Internet (here's how...)

2026-04-29T19:08:09Z

Here's a common reader question: “How can I speed up my Internet connection?” Unless you enjoy watching paint dry, a slow internet connection can be very frustrating, especially when you're trying to stream a movie, play an online game, or download a file. Sometimes the slowdown is beyond your control; the Internet is subject to traffic jams and congestion, just like any other highway. However, there are several steps you can take to speed up your internet connection. Here's a trove of tips and tools that can turbocharge your telecommunication tranmissions. Or maybe just increase the speed of your Internet connection...

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How to Trace (and Report) a Spammy Email

2026-04-23T16:48:13Z

Did you hear that sound?... another unwanted email with a fake “From” address just went "THUD" in your inbox. I'll bet you wish you could find out where it actually came from. And what about that email you got several days after it was sent? Read on to learn about some free tools that can help with both situations...

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Read This Before You Call The Geek Squad

2026-04-08T15:53:22Z

A worried AskBob reader looking for tech help asks: “My computer is very sluggish, and I think it might have a virus. There's also a ticking sound inside the computer. I'm not very technical, so I'm thinking about calling the Geek Squad. Do you think that's a good idea?” Here's my advice...

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Send it Later! The Power of Scheduled Messages

2026-03-24T12:28:51Z

Did you ever wish you could jot down a text message now, but have it land in someone's inbox at the perfect moment, like later today, or first thing tomorrow? Scheduling your outbound messages lets you do just that, without staying up late or forgetting to send it later. In this article, you'll find practical reasons to schedule messages, self-reminder tricks, and step-by-step guides for Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp, plus a bonus on how to do the same with your email. Read on!

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Selling on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace? Watch Out for These Scams

2026-03-23T19:01:18Z

Craigslist is a free online classified ads site that's been around over 30 years, offering a way to buy and sell goods or services locally. In recent years, alternatives such as Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, OfferUp and Poshmark have also become popular. Lots of people use these sites every day for legitimate transactions, but if you're not careful, you could end up getting scammed by a Schmeckpeper. What's a Schmeckpeper? Read on for the answer, online marketplace traps to avoid, and my personal scam stories...

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Sluggish, Cluttered Computer? Here's Your Cleanup Cheat Sheet

2026-03-09T17:17:21Z

Computers and cars have one thing in common: both tend to accumulate junk in hard-to-reach places. Cleaning out your car can be a messy, sweaty job with plenty of opportunities for back injuries. Cleaning out a PC is a more civilized affair. Cluttered drives can make your computer feel sluggish, cause backups to take longer, and can even prevent updates from installing. Here are some free tools to clean up your hard drive, improve system performance, and make sure your backups run smoothly. Ready to jettison the detritus? Read on...

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15 Identity Theft Mistakes to Avoid in 2026 (how many have you made?)

2026-03-03T18:53:55Z

According to a report produced by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity theft affected over 18 million U.S. consumers in 2024, with losses over $27 billion. Spikes have been noted in 'new account fraud' and 'account takeover fraud' -- two of the most damaging types of ID theft. I haven’t found stats for 2025 yet, but we can assume they’re equally dismal. Read on for my tips on avoiding fraud and identity theft, and see if you've made any mistakes that can make it easier for scammers to victimize you...

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Change These Settings to Boost Speed, Security, Privacy

2026-02-24T20:06:02Z

Today’s topic sounds geeky, but I promise I'll explain it all in plain English and show you how to make your Internet usage faster, safer, and more private. In the past, I have recommended using alternative DNS as a means to a faster and more reliable Web browsing experience. But faster surfing isn't the only benefit of switching your DNS servers. Read on...

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Big Brother is Tracking You (and how you can fight back)

2026-02-19T16:08:04Z

You’re driving to work, your phone in the cup holder, your EZ-Pass humming quietly on the windshield. Maybe you’ve got OnStar in the background, logging every turn, every speed bump, every time you hit the brakes. At home, your Wi-Fi router blinks, feeding your Netflix habit. But underneath all of that, there’s a quiet, invisible web of surveillance that can map where you live, where you shop, and who you hang out with, often without you even knowing. Here's what you need to know, and do...

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It’s Been Verified - Your Free Search Just Hit a Paywall

2026-02-18T16:53:47Z

Have you ever searched for someone’s phone number or address and found yourself watching a dramatic “searching databases” animation, only to be told that you must pay before you can see any real results? Behind the promise of instant access to public records lies a user journey built on endless progress screens, and a paywall that pops up only after you’ve invested time and attention. If you've experienced that moment when a supposedly simple lookup turns into a bait-and-switch rabbit hole, read on! I have both a warning and a promise of something that really works and is really free...

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12 Things That Cause Computer Crashes

2026-02-03T19:03:06Z

Have you ever experienced the dreaded Blue Screen of Death? Does your PC or Mac computer lock up, freeze, crash, or display cryptic error messages? Thess sorts of problem can be very difficult to diagnose, because many things can cause a desktop computer or laptop to crash (and even burn!). Before you blame those mischievous gremlins, here are some common causes of computer crashes and some tips on how to deal with them...

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