#1132 - Do Data Removal Services Work?
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The poop of 100 Corgis.
In just over a week and a half that's what I'll be dealing with, among other things. Every year for the past 22 years we've hosted the Pacific Northwest Corgi picnic. It's a blast, but man is it a bit of work to orchestrate. If you're curious, here's a fun video that one of the attendees shared of last year's festivities: 2025 Corgi Picnic.
So if I'm a little discombobulated for the next couple of weeks, you'll know why. 
This Week on Ask Leo!
Do Data Removal Services Work?
Yes and no, but mostly no.
Data removal services promise to erase your personal information from the internet. Can they? I'll break down how these services work, where they succeed, where they fall short, and what that means for protecting yourself once your data is out there. (Spoiler: it's already out there.)
How Long Should a Password Be?
Longer.
The old advice was eight characters, including uppercase, lowercase, digits, and symbols. Modern computers can crack those passwords in hours. I'll describe why length matters more than anything and how long your passwords really need to be.
How Do I Find Good Local Computer Help?
It's not easy.
Do you need someone to physically look at your computer but don't know who to trust? I'll walk you through smart ways to find local help you can count on, from asking around to reading reviews. Also, why the big chain stores are a gamble.
How Do I Run a Full Scan Using Windows Defender?
It's a common suggestion. Do you know how to do it?
If you're worried your computer might have malware, running a full scan with Windows Security is one of the best ways to check. I'll walk you through updating, launching, and completing a full scan, plus explain why it's not a guaranteed fix on its own.
Don't Trust Your Ears
What you hear may not be what (or who) you think it is.
From just a few minutes of audio, AI can clone a voice well enough to fool people who know that voice well. I'll share real examples, explain how easy it is to do, and share tips for staying alert as this technology keeps improving.
Read: Don't Trust Your Ears
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- Tip of the Day: Hackers Gonna Hack
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Don't Trust Your Ears
From just a few minutes of audio, AI can clone a voice well enough to fool people who know that voice well. I'll share real examples, explain how easy it is to do, and share tips for staying alert as this technology keeps improving.
Watch: Don't Trust Your Ears
How Do I Find Good Local Computer Help?
Do you need someone to physically look at your computer but don't know who to trust? I'll walk you through smart ways to find local help you can count on, from asking around to reading reviews. Also, why the big chain stores are a gamble.
How Do I Run a Full Scan Using Windows Defender?
If you're worried your computer might have malware, running a full scan with Windows Security is one of the best ways to check. I'll walk you through updating, launching, and completing a full scan, plus explain why it's not a guaranteed fix on its own.
Do Data Removal Services Work?
Data removal services promise to erase your personal information from the internet. Can they? I'll break down how these services work, where they succeed, where they fall short, and what that means for protecting yourself once your data is out there. (Spoiler: it's already out there.)
How Long Should a Password Be?
The old advice was eight characters, including upper and lower case, digits, and symbols. That's no longer safe. Modern computers can crack those passwords in hours. Fortunately, fixing it is easy. I'll describe why length matters more than anything, and how long your passwords really need to be.
