The holidays are a busy time for online shoppers. According to a recent study, over 60% of consumers said they would do some or all of their holiday shopping online this year. That’s a lot of people clicking away on their keyboards and smartphones, looking for the best deals on gifts. With all of this online activity, it’s important to remember to stay safe. Here are 10 tips to help you do just that: … [Read more...]
November 24, 2022 By Computer Techs
November 21, 2022 By Computer Techs
New FCC map lets you check the broadband internet speed availability at any address
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a new broadband map where broadband Internet availability can be searched by address. Information for the map is reported by the service providers, and challenged if incorrect. The FCC considers broadband as speeds at a minimum of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload. Some providers listed on the map fail to meet the minimum speeds defined. The map not only displays traditional fixed/wired … [Read more...]
November 11, 2022 By Computer Techs
How to Setup & Get the Most Out of a Smart Speaker
Smart assistants are all the rage these days, with everyone from Amazon to Apple to Google getting in on the action. But what are they, really? In a nutshell, smart speakers are voice-controlled assistants that can perform tasks, answer questions, play music, and control smart devices in your home. But, before you can start issuing commands to your new device, you need to set it up. This can seem like a daunting task, but we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll walk you through the … [Read more...]
October 12, 2022 By Computer Techs
How Does a Virtual Doctor Visit Work?
Have you ever wondered how a virtual doctor visit works? With more and more people working remotely and/or juggling a million different commitments, it’s no wonder that virtual doctor visits are becoming increasingly popular. In this article, we’ll take a look at what a virtual doctor visit is, how they work, and some of the pros and cons. What is a virtual doctor visit? A virtual doctor visit is a consultation between a patient and a doctor that takes place over video chat (or other … [Read more...]
October 12, 2022 By Computer Techs
Should I Install a Phone or Computer Update Now, Or Wait?
Read the details of the update to determine if it's a security or feature update - or both.Install security updates right away.It's best to wait to install feature updates for at least a few weeks after release. We’ve all been there before. You’re in the middle of working on something important when a notification pops up letting you know there’s an update available for your phone or computer. Should you stop what you’re doing and install it right away? Or can it wait? It can be … [Read more...]
September 30, 2022 By Computer Techs
4 Things You Can Learn from Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October
Cybersecurity isn’t just about companies preventing their networks from being breached. It’s something that everyone that uses technology needs to be mindful of. On a personal level, you can think of it as information and device security. Stopping hackers from getting to your personal data and keeping dangerous viruses out of your computer requires a personal level of cybersecurity. Being safe online is one part of the equation. The consequences of being lax about things like passwords … [Read more...]
September 16, 2022 By Computer Techs
Taskbar Icons: What Do They Mean?
We've all seen them before: those little icons that show up in our taskbars next to the clock. They come in all sorts of shapes and colors. *But, what do they mean?* The specific icons may vary depending on your operating system of your computer, but they will usually have similar functionality. While some of them are fairly self-explanatory, others can be a bit more confusing. Let's take a look at what some of the most common taskbar icons mean. … [Read more...]
August 26, 2022 By Computer Techs
6 Tips For Organizing Your Gmail to Avoid a Bottomless Inbox
How often have you missed out on an appointment, paying a bill, or responding to an important message because the e-mail notice got lost in your cluttered inbox? Every day, we receive lots of e-mails, both important and unimportant, which can be overwhelming. Due to the numerous amount of e-mails, it can cause unnecessary stress, including taking up time to clear them out and differentiate between the important and unimportant. One thing that quickly fills up e-mail inboxes is newsletters, … [Read more...]
July 22, 2022 By Computer Techs
You May Not be Using All the Great Features of Your Browser
Web browsers are your gateway to the internet or World Wide Web. Browsers contain a lot of features that make your online experience more efficient. This includes things like tabs that allow you to open different web pages at the same time, and “bookmarks” or “favorites” that let you save website addresses so that you don't have to type-in or search for frequently visited websites. Some of the most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, and … [Read more...]
July 8, 2022 By Computer Techs
Use This Clever Acronym (SLAM) To Identify Dangerous Emails in Your Inbox
Cybercriminals are continuously targeting naïve individuals. They do not discriminate when it comes to defrauding people. They'll obtain money from anyone - young, old, poor, and rich. The American Journal of Public health notes that about 5% of adults get scammed yearly. In the United States, older adults lose about $40 billion per year due to cyberattacks. Cybercriminals can easily exploit the information of an older adult, which can be obtained through smartphones or computer systems. … [Read more...]