This week’s articles & videos
This is about more than politics, honest. It’s about pretty much all the information we consume online.
It’s just that politics happens to be a particularly timely and, quite sadly, extreme example.
Sharing stupid things makes you look stupid. Sharing incorrect and misleading information, lies even, makes you look even worse. Apparently that’s not enough of a disincentive: people keep sharing and spreading what I can only call “poop”.
This week’s featured article is my plea that you not be one of those people. Especially now.
Also this week: finding someone’s email address (it’s more difficult than you think), why ransomware will be around for a long time (and what you should do about it), and yet another in my series of reasons your computer might slow down (malware, but not for the reason you think).
On YouTube, in addition to videos for the items above: whether or not you need a firewall at home (yes, but), and the ongoing debate about whether or not you should disconnect your backup drive because of the risk of ransomware (no, but).
TEH Podcast
Gary went off trekking last week, and I’m hopefully camping at a beach as you read this, so no TEH podcast this week or next.
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Stay safe & healthy. Wear a mask. Above all, be kind.
Featured
Stop Spreading Manure
Believing and spreading manure — lies, falsehoods, and misleading implications — makes you look bad, and makes the internet a dumber place.
Disclosures: 1) that’s an affiliate link, which helps Ask Leo! survive, and 2) I use Snagit literally every day.
This Week on Ask Leo!
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How Do I Find Someone’s Email Address?It can be extremely difficult to find the email address of someone you want to contact. To begin with, they must want to be found. |
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Five Reasons Ransomware Will Be Around for a Long TimeThere are several reasons ransomware will be a scourge for some time to come. Most boil down to, well, us. |
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Another Reason Your Computer Might Be Slow: Prevention, Presence, or Removal of MalwareMalware can impact your computers performance before it arrives, once infected, and even after removal. |
This Week on YouTube
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Do I Need a Firewall for My Home Network?A firewall for your home network is a critical component of keeping your machine safe on the internet. There are two basic types, but which is right for you?https://youtu.be/oGMbnk_vMUE |
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Will a Virus Slow Down My Computer? Three Ways it Might, Even Before it Arrives & After It’s GoneWill a virus slow down my computer? Quite possibly: malware can impact your computer’s performance before it arrives, once infected, and even after removal.https://youtu.be/9NHL7qhzGRo |
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Should I Disconnect My Backup Drive When I’m Not Backing Up?Some people disconnect their backup drive when not backing up because they fear ransomware. I explain why that’s a Really Bad Idea.https://youtu.be/aJHkeDWF6YM |
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Five Reasons Ransomware Will Be Around for a Long TimeThere are several reasons ransomware will be a scourge for some time to come. Most boil down to, well, us.https://youtu.be/Ho8kg0wCEW8 |
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How Long Should a Password Be? LongerHow long should a password be? For years, answer assumed that eight-character passwords made up of sufficiently random characters was enough. Not any more. Not even close.https://youtu.be/FuR0hgEFChI |
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