Update for 2024: This doesn’t surprise me. With the US ban on Kaspersky Antivirus, the Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool has also been removed and made unavailable. You could use a VPN to chase down this tool, but it’s easier to just use a different program. Here’s another freebie that can do a one-time virus scan … Read more
The internet is a hotbed for crime, Facebook especially so. It’s simply too big to police. But since we can’t give up using the internet or Facebook, our other options are to prepare, learn and adapt. I encourage you to maintain a rampant skepticism as you use the web. Come with me and consider the … Read more
Microsoft offers a batch of extra tools and utilities for anyone to add to their Windows computers. These “Power Toys” come bundled together as a single free download, and you can get them here or from the Microsoft Store. Some of these tools are basic while others are for advanced users, so breeze through the … Read more
If you see something inappropriate, illegal, or just plain wrong on Facebook, please report it. This includes spam and scam posts, comments that are beyond the pale, and any content that has you concerned of threat or harm to someone. Reporting Posts and Comments Most of the time, you can report Facebook content using the … Read more
Here’s a scam that you should know about, but not because it’s particularly dangerous. It’s just weird. But once you know the details about brushing scams, they won’t creep you out, and you can quickly move on from them. Surprise‽ When an unexpected item arrives at your doorstep, it may be part of a brushing … Read more
Computer monitors, laptop screens and mobile devices all use lots of pixels together to display their images. And sometimes, one of those picture elements gets stuck. This is a one-in-a-million event that can drive you crazy. Note: there are stuck pixels (white or a single color) and dead pixels (black). It is highly unlikely that … Read more
A couple of years ago, I blogged about Fake Flash Drives, and now I have to write a refresh article: You also need to watch out for Fake Hard Drives and Fake Solid State Drives. Please make sure you don’t buy these things! Good & Bad Examples First, some examples of legitimate, reliable storage drives: … Read more
When donating to a charity, you must be careful in choosing a legitimate organization. For every honest charitable organization in the world, there may be a shady outfit, ready to abscond with your money. Here are some tools and tips for checking out charities, before you donate: Charity Research Websites Use any of these websites … Read more
Stinger is a quick scan tool for your PC that can detect and remove a specific set of viruses and trojans. If you have reason to think you’re infected, you can download Stinger for free and use it anytime. It won’t conflict with your full-time antivirus, and it won’t try to sell you anything. There … Read more
A small number of people are encountering this message on their Windows 11 computers right now, following some overnight Windows Updates: And for those who discover this, it’s about as fun as having a dead battery in your car or no dial tone when you pick up the phone. The computer is stuck like Chuck … Read more