It's not something we like to think about, but it's important. I frequently hear from family and loved ones desperately seeking an answer. Frequently the answer is "you can't".

The problem? A recently departed or incapacitated family member did security so right that no one can get in. Not a one. And there's critical information that's certainly secure, but completely inaccessible to anyone -- even those who now have a legitimate need.

There's really only one solution.

Also this week:

With all the talk about Windows 7's support ending soon, what about Windows 10?

Poking around your browsing history it's not at all uncommon to ask where'd that come from?

Disks are getting bigger and bigger, but there's more to it than capacity. Just what are the limits?

As always, thanks for being here! Hope you find this helpful...

Featured

What Happens When I Die?

Making technology convenient and secure is a problem we deal with daily. We make trade-offs and use techniques to hopefully strike an appropriate balance.

A more difficult dilemma that we rarely think about, however, is death. If something were to happen to you, would the people you leave behind be able to access the information they need? What happens to your encrypted data, online accounts, social media, online finances, pictures, and digital-whatever-else if you're not around or able to access it?

I hear regularly from people frantically trying to access important, sentimental, or critical data that a recently deceased or incapacitated friend or family member has locked up tightly.

It's not particularly pleasant to think about, but with all the security measures we put into place to keep bad people out, it's worth having a plan for letting good people in.

Continue Reading: What Happens When I Die?
https://askleo.com/19633

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This Week's Articles

When Does Windows 10 Support End?

With the impending end of support for Windows 7, and the relatively low uptake of Windows 8.1, the next natural question to ask is, of course: how long will Windows 10 be supported?

It's complicated.

Unlike prior versions of Windows with specific end-of-support dates, Windows 10 doesn't really have one.

Or, if you look at it differently, its support ends every six months.

Continue Reading: When Does Windows 10 Support End?
https://askleo.com/102209

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Why Are There Websites in My Browser History I've Never Been To?

I periodically clean my browser history, but after a while website entries begin to appear in it that I've never actually been to. Some of these sites look quite disturbing, and are not sites that I would ever go to. Why would these entries appear? Do I have spyware or a virus?

It's usually nothing to worry about.

Certainly, malware is a possibility. I'll also call out “foistware” or Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) — software that appears on your system unexpectedly after installing something else.

However, there are many more benign scenarios. It's possible your browser may simply be doing a good job protecting you.

Continue Reading: Why Are There Websites in My Browser History I've Never Been To?
https://askleo.com/2624

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Is There a Limit to What a Single Folder or Directory Can Hold?

Could you tell me if there is a size limit on a single folder? For example, a folder with movies or music in it could end up with quite a few gigabytes! Is there a limit?

There are limits, of course.

The limit most people run into first is the size of their hard disk, but assuming you have a big enough disk, other limits can come into play.

I will say this right away, though: the size of the files in a single folder turns out not to be one of them.

Continue Reading: Is There a Limit to What a Single Folder or Directory Can Hold?
https://askleo.com/3024

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