Category Archives: Desktop Tips and Tricks

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The downsides of buying a new Mac

The hefty price tag is only the beginning of the pain that comes as a result of buying a new Mac.  … The first problem is the hardware selection on offer.  When planning to buy a Windows-based PC, there’s almost no end of options from a wide array of OEMs. Want a certain kind of laptop with a specific screen size and battery life? Chances are good that, with a bit of internet sleuthing, you’ll find one that matches your needs.

When buying from Apple, that’s all different.

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

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Windows 10 Intel warning: Patch 19 severe driver flaws now!

Intel is warning Windows 10 users that old graphics drivers are riddled with security flaws that need to be updated with new updates that the company has released over the past year.

Update Intel Windows graphics drivers, and stop using Intel Matrix Storage Manager and USB 3.0 Creator Utility.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Do you install quickly these patches when warnings are released?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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The 9 Best Email Clients for Macs in 2019

While reviewing dozens of dedicated email clients, we focused on “full-fat” email experiences. This means leaving out the smaller assistants, menu bar apps, browser plugins, and generally cut-down software. Our chosen apps each contain a full range of email features, including the ability to read, compose, search, and organize your mail.

Zapier.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Which email client would work best for you?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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The 8 Best Email Clients for Windows in 2019

Email clients are no longer designed with just the basics we’ve come to expect, but the best now include exceptional features, things like snoozing messages, scheduling emails, and offering templates—touches that help them stand out against the growing crowd.

Zapier.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Are any of these interesting to you?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Trojan malware: The hidden cyber threat to your PC

A recent report from security company Malwarebytes reveals how trojans and backdoor attacks have rocketed in the past year. … “We’re seeing a new generation of stealers make an impact recently,” says Jérôme Segura, head of threat intelligence at Malwarebytes. … Gaining persistent remote access — be it to a single user’s computer, or a whole network — is key to many cyber attacks: if they’re stealthy enough, hackers can remain undetected for a long time, as they work towards their long-term goals.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Do you ignore these threats?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

 

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I like Windows 7: Why should I pay to move to Windows 10?

Actually, you don’t have to pay.  Read the article to find out why. But you really should move to Windows 10!

There’s one key feature that makes Windows 10 a must-do upgrade: Security. Windows 10 has far better intrinsic security features than Windows 7. This makes sense, because when Microsoft introduced Windows 10, it had six years more experience fighting off cyberattacks than it had when Windows 7 was introduced.

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

If you haven’t migrated to Windows 10 yet, why not?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Should I Upgrade My Device?

We live in an era of upgrades. Every year, companies come out with new versions of their products rolling out improved features with each release attempting to provide something irresistible better than the last.

Medium.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Are the annual upgrades worth it?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Facebook Messenger users: You now have 10 minutes to unsend a message

With the new Facebook Messenger app, users have “up to 10 minutes” to remove a message for everyone on a chat.

After the 10 minutes is up, users will only be able to remove a message from their own chat, which leaves it visible to everyone else.

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you ever wished you had this before?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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How to use Google’s Password Alert tool to thwart phishing attacks

Google’s built a new tool in the fight against phishing. The free Password Alert Chrome extension keeps track of where you enter your Google account password and alerts you when you’ve entered it someplace other than accounts.google.com. This does two things: it prevents you from re-using your Google password on other sites, and it protects you if you’ve entered your password on a site that’s pretending to be Google to collect your private information, a practice also known as phishing.

Cnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you been scammed into giving up your gmail password?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Free Online Whiteboard for Small Teams

Collaborate as a Dream Team — All of you — managers, designers, developers, coaches, marketers and other talented professionals — work together to build great things. Team members are all different and speak many “languages” — data, pictures, spreadsheets, tasks, charts and more. RealtimeBoard combines all these pieces in one place to let your team or whole organization collaborate beyond formats, tools, locations and timezones.

TheRealTimeBoard.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Could your team use a good Real Time Whiteboard?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Hacks to clean and de-clutter your computer inside and out

How does one tackle this two-fold cleaning mission to get their computer in pristine shape inside and out? We consulted cleaning and tech experts to learn.

PHASE ONE: DE-CLUTTERING HACKS  Just as physical clutter can impact our performance, digital clutter can impact a computer’s. Here’s how to get your laptop to work its best and free up digital space, which should in turn boost your productivity. …

NBCNews.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

If you tried the hacks, which helped you the most?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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PC security warning: That out-of-date software is putting you at risk

Over half of applications installed on Windows PCs are out-of-date, potentially putting the security of users at risk through flaws in software that have already been patched by vendors. … running out-of-date software can provide an open door for hackers to take advantage of holes left in programs that haven’t had critical security updates applied….

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

How do you make sure your computer software is up to date?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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New Trojan attack adds a backdoor to your Windows PC to steal data

A well-resourced and prolific hacking group is distributing a new strain of malware that gives the hackers remote desktop access as part of an information-stealing campaign targeting banks, retailers and businesses. … The remote access trojan capabilities of FlawedGrace mean it allows attackers to gain almost full control over an infected device. Given how the campaign targets banks and retailers, it’s likely that acquiring money is the ultimate goal of the attacks…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

How are you protecting yourself from these attacks?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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WINDOWS 10+ Windows Programs You Should Uninstall

Many people keep unnecessary software installed on their systems. Some programs are just outdated, others are downright malicious. … Let’s take a look at commonly installed software you don’t need to have on your PC.

MakeUseOf.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Do any of these surprise you?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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What’s really the fastest Windows 10 web browser today?

Every company is claiming their latest web browser is the fastest one yet. So, which one really is the fastest? I took them to the test bench — and here’s what I found.

ZDnet.com  click the link to read the rest of the story.

Which browser do you use?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Got ransomware? These tools may help

There may be a way to get those files back without paying a ransom. But first a couple of basic questions…

infoworld.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you been hit with ransomware?  How did you recover?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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How to spot fake, scam or fraudulent websites

This guide will teach you how to recognize secure websites you can trust and how to spot fake ones run by fraudsters looking to scam you.

comparitech.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

What was the most valuable lesson here for you ?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Identity Theft 101 – What is Identity Theft?

What is identity theft? It is simply when someone uses your identity as their own. But there’s nothing simple at all about the damage left in their wake. There are close to 10 different types of identity theft, which we’ll detail below. …

I will dig into the identity theft basics, including how it happens, some of the most common types of identity theft, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Libertyid.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Has your identity been stolen?  What happened as a result?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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How to Spot and Avoid Fake Virus & Malware Warnings

As you use your computer and browse the Web, you may occasionally run into infection warnings that appear to be legitimate but aren’t. These anti-malware warning messages — appropriately called “scareware” — are designed to scare you into installing fake anti-malware programs that are actually malware in disguise.

So how can you tell between real and fake warning messages? It can be tough, but as long as you stay calm and take your time, there are a few signs you can look for that will help you distinguish between the two.

makeuseof.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you been scammed?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Best tech gadgets of 2018

Time to take a tour of what I consider to be the best tech gadgets of 2018. There are some that you’ll no doubt expect to find in this list, and others that will probably come as a surprise. All have been personally tested for quality, performance, and durability.

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Are you buying tech gifts this Christmas?

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The Best Private Search Engines — Alternatives to Google

There are now many smaller players in the search game that are growing rapidly. Google’s market share has declined from 78.7 percent in February 2017 to slightly below 70 percent in February 2018.

A few of these search engines, including DuckDuckGo and StartPage began as normal search engines with no privacy enhancements. However, after they realized the massive risk associated with storing so much data, they decided to take a different approach.

HackerMoon.com  click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you tried one of these search engines?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Microsoft’s activation alert is scaring Windows 10 users

Microsoft is reportedly working on a fix for a bug in its activation server that has caused Windows 10 Pro machines to report that their license has not been activated.  …

Microsoft has reportedly confirmed there is an issue affecting its activation server and is working on a fix that will happen in “one or two business days”.

That should mean affected Windows 10 Pro licenses are still valid, despite what Microsoft is reporting.

zdnet.com  click the link to read the rest of the story.

We were hit with this, were you?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Did Windows 10 October update delete your files? This tool might recover them

The Windows 10 October 2018 version 1809 upgrade hasn’t gone well for a bunch of users who lost documents and photos after updating. …

For some unknown reason, moving up to Windows 10 version 1809 may delete all the files in user folders. The folders remain, but the files within them are gone, leaving users in potentially a worse pickle than ransomware victims experience.  However, there is a chance that early Windows 10 upgraders who encountered this problem might be able to recover lost files by using the free version of Avast-owned Recuva recovery software.

ZDnet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you had a problem with the October update?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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The 10 Best Note Taking Apps in 2018

Note taking apps can store your notes in the cloud and sync them across multiple devices. As long as you have the internet, you have your notes. Second, note taking apps have search functionality. In a matter of seconds, you can find whatever notes you need, even if they are years old. Third, the best note taking apps let you snap pictures and save them as notes, upload files, record audio, and clip pages from the web. I’ve never seen a paper notebook that lets you dictate notes using your voice, either.

Zapier.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Do you use one of these apps?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Chrome vs Edge vs Firefox: Is Microsoft’s browser really faster?

To what extent should you believe Microsoft’s claims that its Edge browser is both “safer” and “faster” than the competition?  TechRepublic put recent versions of Chrome, Edge and Firefox browsers to the test.

TechRepublic.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Which browser do you use?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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8 Ways to Keep Spam and Promotional Emails from Filling Your Inbox

Most of us can’t last more than six minutes without a quick glance at our email or IMs. And unfortunately, these constant interruptions have a serious, negative impact on both our productivity and mental acuity. The simplest solution is to close your email app so you don’t get distracted by incoming mail notifications. But most of us just aren’t willing—or able—to do that.

There is another solution: Get fewer emails. Fewer emails means fewer notifications, and fewer notifications means fewer distractions throughout the day. And while you might not be able to ask your boss to stop emailing you, you can use the following eight tips to prevent spam, promotional emails, and other messages you don’t need from distracting you while you work.

Zapier.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

How do you deal with spam?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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Is It Really Possible to Use the Internet Privately?

According to USA Today, 75% of the world’s most popular websites have tracking code on their pages. I am not alone in my concern about maintaining some sort of privacy online.

Hackernoon.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Are you concerned with about internet privacy?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!

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The Complete Guide to Avoiding (and Removing) Windows Crapware

In simple terms, crapware is software you don’t want, but—for one reason or another—gets installed on your system against your will. This can range from legitimate programs that come pre-installed (like Netflix or a trial of McAfee Antivirus) to browser toolbars, auto-starting apps, or something that changes your default search engine.

Lifehacker.com click the link to read the rest of the story.

Have you removed crapware off of your computer?Join the conversation on our Facebook Page!