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5 ways to keep hackers out of your Facebook account

5 ways to keep hackers out of your Facebook account

by ben patterson | Aug 3, 2017 | how-tos, security

Wanda writes: I am getting emails each day telling me someone is trying to get into my Facebook account. How do I stop this! Hi Wanda! If you’re receiving alerts from Facebook about login attempts on your account, and it wasn’t you, that’s a problem....
Google tip: Here’s a super-easy way to sign into your Google account

Google tip: Here’s a super-easy way to sign into your Google account

by ben patterson | Jan 18, 2017 | how-tos, phones, security, tablets

How many times have you had to look all over for your password to sign in to your Google account? Too many times, I’m guessing. Particularly if you’ve got lots of Google apps on your iPhone or Android device. Luckily, there’s a much easier way to...
iOS tip: 5 reasons to put your stolen iPhone in “lost mode” immediately

iOS tip: 5 reasons to put your stolen iPhone in “lost mode” immediately

by ben patterson | Sep 29, 2016 | how-tos, phones, security, tablets

It’s a scary thought: your precious iPhone or iPad, complete with all your contacts, messages, apps and even credit card numbers, goes missing, potentially in the hands of a perfect stranger.  Now, you probably already know that if the worst happens, you can...
iOS tip: 8 easy ways to lock down your iPhone or iPad

iOS tip: 8 easy ways to lock down your iPhone or iPad

by ben patterson | Feb 10, 2016 | how-tos, phones, security, tablets

Sure, it’s pretty convenient that you can swipe down on your locked iPhone’s screen to check out your notifications or swipe up to toggle Bluetooth on and off, but what if a perfect stranger managed to get their hands on your precious handset? If you’re at all worried...
Mac tip: How to securely erase files in the Trash bin

Mac tip: How to securely erase files in the Trash bin

by ben patterson | Aug 11, 2014 | desktops, how-tos, laptops, security

Just because you tossed a bunch of sensitive files into your Mac’s trash bin doesn’t mean they’re gone forever. Even after emptying the trash, your deleted files are still sitting on your hard drive, waiting to be recovered by anyone with enough...
Google tip: 4 ways to lock down your Google account

Google tip: 4 ways to lock down your Google account

by ben patterson | Apr 23, 2014 | how-tos, online services, security

Maybe I shouldn’t be saying this, but I’ve entrusted a big chunk of my digital life to Google—so much so, in fact, that I’d be in serious trouble if anyone ever hacked my account. If a hacker did manage to hijack my Google account, they’d have...
Security tip: 5 ways to keep your passwords (mostly) safe from hackers

Security tip: 5 ways to keep your passwords (mostly) safe from hackers

by ben patterson | Apr 15, 2014 | how-tos, online services, security

If the scary Internet security bug Heartbleed has taught us anything, it’s that none of our passwords are ever truly safe. Discovered only a few weeks ago, Heartbleed is the code name for a gaping hole in a commonly used security protocol that’s supposed...
Android tip: Do you need an antivirus app for your Android phone?

Android tip: Do you need an antivirus app for your Android phone?

by ben patterson | Mar 13, 2014 | apps, how-tos, phones, security, tablets

Roger writes: My dad just got an Android phone, and is wondering whether he should install antivirus software. Is this something you’d recommend? Hi Roger! So, there’s little doubt that more and more security threats—particularly innocuous-looking apps...
Android app: Android Device Manager goes mobile, pinpoints lost Android devices

Android app: Android Device Manager goes mobile, pinpoints lost Android devices

by ben patterson | Dec 16, 2013 | apps, reviews, security

Just a few weeks ago, I told you about a new, web-based Google feature that lets you track a lost Android phone, à la “Find my iPhone” for iOS. Android Device Manager does a great job of zeroing in on a missing Android phone or tablet, but until recently,...
Google tip: Download a giant archive of all your Google data

Google tip: Download a giant archive of all your Google data

by ben patterson | Dec 12, 2013 | how-tos, online services, security, the cloud

So, how long have you been using Google? A few years? Ten? A dozen? (In my case, more than a dozen—yikes!) And in all that time, how many Gmail messages, contacts, calendar events, YouTube videos, and more have you saved, sent, uploaded and otherwise stored on its...
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