Computers past their prime are often retired for a variety of reasons. Even though all computers can be fixed, sometimes perfectly good, functional computers are declared obsolete by their makers. For example, Microsoft waves its wand and announces your computer is...

Most folks who use a "real" computer to access the Internet (as opposed to using a phone) do it with a single piece of software: the mighty "browser." Strangely, though, most people don't even know that's what they are doing. Even though browsers are the computer...

When you turn on a computer, hundreds of things all start running in the background, immediately vying for your computer’s attention and processing power, all trying to accomplish their various tasks. Maybe all you see on the screen is a pretty background picture,...

"Spectre" and "Meltdown" may become household words in the months to come as news stories covering the latest computer security bugs start making the rounds. Wednesday, January 3, researchers revealed two huge flaws in the microprocessors that have powered nearly all...

If someone called you on the phone, said they were from the "Windows Technical Department" and claimed they needed to remotely repair your computer because it had been hacked, would you believe them? I hope not, because it's a scam. Someone contacts me at least once a...

With all the high-sounding talk they throw around, you would think Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were ruthless politicians on the campaign trail. One fellow I know, complaining that websites seemed slow to load, didn't think much of my suggestion that he was...

“You may be eligible to receive some of the education stimulus bill!” “Did you suffer a Gallbladder injury while using Birth Control?” “We want to buy your home for Christmas! Sell Your Home Today!” “Make $10000 for Christmas!” “Bounci36D sent you a Holiday picture!”...

With the holiday season bearing down on us, Internet scammers and spammers are ramping up their efforts to more effectively trick us out of our money. Some of my customers are already reporting an increase in deceptive emails that seem to be targeted directly at them....

The more I study the subjects of computer networks, the Internet, and the collection and dissemination of sensitive personal information by governments and businesses, the more I am convinced I am not being overly-dramatic by using the word "apocalypse" to describe...

Every year about this time I have to reassess the Internet Christmas shopping situation. Billions of dollars in electronic form are flying down wires, bouncing to and from orbiting satellites, through the air and across the Internet, more this time of year than any...

With the holiday season bearing down on us, Internet scammers and spammers are ramping up their efforts to more effectively trick us out of our money. Some of my customers are already reporting an increase in deceptive emails that seem to be targeted directly at them....

Smart phones, iPhones, Windows phones, Blackberry phones, cell phones, Android phones, it seems that everyone has some sort of a mobile phone. No longer just a "phone," though, your cell phone is actually a computer; most likely, a more powerful computer than some...

In my free, one-night-only class called "Fight the Internet Bad Guys & Win," I will show you how to play with the fire that is the Internet and not get burned. We also discuss how to completely erase files from a computer so they can never be seen again. Come to...

In my free, one-night-only class called "Fight the Internet Bad Guys & Win," we will discuss many threats Internet users are faced with, including "ransomware," a scheme where your personal files are scrambled by encryption, and then held hostage until you pay a...

What are computer viruses, and where do they come from? Is online banking safe? What makes a good password, and why should you care? How do you tell a safe website from one that's dangerous? Why do you have to keep "updating" things? How do you keep your email account...

As you no doubt recall, information regarding last month's Great Equifax Hack has uncovered negligence by data megabroker Equifax which led to the preventable theft of 145 million credit bureau accounts. Equifax then waited six weeks before telling anyone about the...

Although not an official part of the holiday season, having October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month is a good thing. If people can take an awareness of cyber security and turn it into positive actions, maybe the good guys can win the war for the Internet....

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has effectively banned all government agencies from using products made by Russian antivirus company Kaspersky Lab. DHS Secretary Elaine Duke has issued a Binding Operational Directive (BOD) directing Federal Executive Branch...

The war against malware (short for "malicious software") like viruses, spyware and rootkits is a constant cat-and-mouse game between malware writers and distributors (the "bad guys") and those who write, update and use antivirus and antispyware protection tools (the...

If there's one word I'm tired of hearing, it's the word "breach." If masked thugs with machine guns hold up a bank, does the news media call it a "breach?" If a burglar breaks into your house and robs you blind, do you call 9-1-1 and cry, "I've suffered a breach!" If...