If a deal looks too good… it probably is. You know this rule, but it’s the holidays and we are all in a rush. Scammers take advantage of the fact that everyone is hunting for bargains right now. They create fake websites with huge “60% OFF TODAY ONLY!” banners to lure shoppers in. Real businesses do run big sales, but not unbelievably big sales. So here are some tips for staying out of the traps: 🔎 Always check the website address (the URL). Scam stores often use tiny miss

With the holiday shopping season upon us, here’s a quick tip that might surprise you:  your smartphone is actually one of the safest ways to shop online . If you’re placing orders this week or next, here’s why it can be your best friend:    📱 Phones have stronger built-in security. iPhones and modern Androids automatically lock down apps, use encrypted storage, and verify websites behind the scenes. That means they’re generally less exposed to the kinds of malware or pop-ups

Ever notice that your Wi-Fi works great in the living room… but completely disappears in the bedroom or kitchen? You’re not imagining things. Wi-Fi signals are just tiny radio waves, and certain rooms (or their contents) can block them more than others. A few common culprits: Thick or old walls (especially plaster with metal lath): These can absorb or reflect the signal. Appliances and pipes: Kitchens and bathrooms have a lot of metal that weakens Wi-Fi. Distance from the rou

Ever notice your web browser starting to feel… slower than usual? It might just need a little memory refresh. Every browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc.) keeps a  cache:  a storage area where it saves bits of websites to load them faster next time. Over time, that cache can fill up with old data. The result? Pages that don’t load correctly, missing pictures, or that “spinning beachball” we all love so much. Clearing your cache is like tidying your desk, it helps everything run

Halloween’s here, and so are the ghosts. Not the sheet-covered kind, but the ones haunting our phones: the mysterious ghost calls and butt dials that leave voicemails full of static or silence. Most of the time, these aren’t real spirits, just a phone in a pocket or purse deciding to make social plans on its own. But sometimes, Bluetooth gremlins are the culprits. For example, if your phone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker for music, then rings, it may route the call’s au

If your Wi-Fi feels slower than it used to, it’s not your imagination, but it’s also not always your internet provider’s fault. A few...

This week’s tip is both a follow-up to last week’s and a quick but important warning: if your Mac offers to “upgrade” to the brand-new...

Every fall, Apple releases new versions of all its operating systems — iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even Apple Watch. This year, things look...

Scam texts are continuing to get sneakier, and more compelling. Two common ones right now: “ Pay this toll ” - Claims you missed a...

It should be great having every movie and television show ever made, right at our fingertips . . . but so many frustrations seem to get...

You’ve probably heard the old advice: “ Just unplug it and plug it back in .” It sounds like a joke, but there’s real science behind it!...

Staying safe online isn’t always about spotting scams in the moment, sometimes you can protect yourself before trouble shows up. Here...