The Ask Leo! Newsletter
*** Featured
Why do so many people forget their password? (And how do I avoid becoming one of them?)
In the nine years that I've been answering questions here at Ask Leo!, the single most common topic that I encounter is that of lost or forgotten passwords.
It's been the number one topic since day one.
In the early years, questions relating to lost Hotmail passwords were so overwhelmingly frequent that it became an inside joke among my friends – I was the guy to see about Hotmail passwords.
In the years since, the spectrum has broadened to include whatever system is popular; most recently, it's been Facebook .
Why are so many passwords forgotten? And what lessons can we take away to improve our own security, both online and off?
Continue reading:
Why do so many people forget their password? (And how do I avoid becoming one
of them?)
http://ask-leo.com/C5645
* * *
*** Answercast
Answercast #40 - Keeping backups, following spam links, downgrading, finding history, cloned drives and more...
Do you get a lot of spam from friends? Ever wonder why there are so many refurbished machines, or if there are really any computer experts? That and more in this Answercast from Ask Leo!
Continue reading:
Answercast #40 - Keeping backups, following spam links, downgrading, finding
history, cloned drives and more...
http://ask-leo.com/C5643
How do I downgrade from Windows 7 Enterprise edition to the Home
edition?
Downgrading is not as simple as upgrading. You will need to reformat and
reinstall from your original disc.
Continue reading:
How do I downgrade from Windows 7 Enterprise edition to the Home
edition?
http://ask-leo.com/C5644
Why does Facebook tell me that cookies are blocked?
When a website can't set cookies to your machine, the first thing to try is
clearing the cache. That, along with a few other ideas, should get you up and
running.
Continue reading: Why
does Facebook tell me that cookies are blocked?
http://ask-leo.com/C5646
Why does my cloned drive report as failing genuine
validation?
Windows activation may be detecting subtle differences in the cloned drive.
That will require a few extra steps to get up and running.
Continue reading:
Why does my cloned drive report as failing genuine validation?
http://ask-leo.com/C5647
How do I get rid of 'Adware Games PUP'?
It sounds like malware. I recommend doing a deep scan with an additional set of
tools to see if those will clean the computer.
Continue reading: How do I get rid
of 'Adware Games PUP'?
http://ask-leo.com/C5648
How many full backups should I keep?
The number of backups to keep is a personal decision, I give both my
recommendation and my own strategy for backup storage.
Continue reading: How many full
backups should I keep?
http://ask-leo.com/C5649
Why are there so many of this particular model of machine on the
refurbished market?
Refurbished machines can be a good deal, but you are increasing your risk and
should take a couple of steps to protect yourself.
Continue reading:
Why are there so many of this particular model of machine on the refurbished
market?
http://ask-leo.com/C5650
Are there really any computer experts?
There absolutely are computer experts - but realize that not everybody on the
internet is one!
Continue reading: Are there
really any computer experts?
http://ask-leo.com/C5651
Is there a safe way to follow a link in spam?
It's best not to click on spam links. But if you must, there are a few steps
above and beyond a sandbox that can add some more protection.
Continue reading: Is there
a safe way to follow a link in spam?
http://ask-leo.com/C5652
Could I be getting more spam after my friend's email account was
compromised?
When a friend's email account is hacked, it is likely that the spammers have
stolen and kept the contact list. This will increase the amount of spam you
get.
Continue reading:
Could I be getting more spam after my friend's email account was
compromised?
http://ask-leo.com/C5653
Is it possible to recover web pages accessed by a computer on a
specific date?
Recovering browser history from a machine that is being used can be tricky as
the necessary files could be deleted and the space they occupied
overwritten.
Continue reading:
Is it possible to recover web pages accessed by a computer on a specific
date?
http://ask-leo.com/C5654
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*** Last Issue's Articles
- Ask Leo! #376 - Think email's secure? How about trusting the internet? That and more...
- My machine will often crash on or after booting, how do I resolve this?
- Is using a flash drive directly for heavy read/write operations safe?
- How much can I trust information on the internet?
- Why is my Windows Installer not running?
- Why do I have problems accessing files and folders on my network?
- Just how secure is email, anyway?
- Why do I get 'Not Responding' from Outlook so often?
- Why does Windows Live Mail lose messages it knows about?
- Is there a way of enlarging print size of email?
- How do I copy the contents of my Hotmail or Gmail to a CD or DVD for reference?
- How do I set up a home network without internet?
- Answercast #39 - Enlarging print, losing folders, saving email, trusting the internet and more...
*** Comments
Why does CCleaner clean up Internet Explorer items when I don't use Internet Explorer?
texaretoosureofthemselves! writes:
Yeah but, no but, I have UNINSTALLED IE totally! So why is ccleaner showing files from ie constantly? Are you telling me that it is still used though i have uninstalled it? Is there no end to microsofts invasive m.o. !?
IE cannot be completely uninstalled because - yes - pieces of IE continue to be used by the system. It's not invasive, unless you consider intelligent re-use of software invasive. Many programs need to be able to display HTML - IE displays HTML - so programs that display HTML are allowed to re-use the portions of IE that display HTML.
-Leo
*
BaliRob writes:
With regard to SUPERAntiSpyware - I have used this product for over four years now as a result of its ability to remove a problem that so-called 'big names' could not solve. Since then, I have found SAS to efficiently update and inform regularly and efficiently - all for free. Also, for the non-techs, it is extremely easy to understand and to operate.
*
Should I upgrade to Windows 8?
Jim G writes:
My personal preference is to wait until the first service pack is released to upgrade. My experience with all versions of windows is the early adopters have problems that are generally sorted out by the time the first service pack is released.
*
How should I set up my home network?
Ron Hirsch writes:
I set up my home network quite a number of years ago, using a wireless router. Since my home has rather large distances between the router, and other computers, I suffered from marginal connection speeds for many years, even though I had a booster amp on my main router.
I tried antennas with more gain, due to narrowing the directivity, but I finally decided that I would try the "black boxes" which use the household electrical wiring, and after researching what was available, I chose the WD Live Wire system. I liked the fact that they offered 4 Ethernet jacks on each module, and the reviews I read were very good.
Just plug one of the units into a household AC outlet, and then connect a network cable from the router to the unit. Then wherever you have another computer, plug in another module to an AC outlet, and using an Ethernet cable, connect another computer to it.
You must make sure that you do not connect the AC for the WD Live Wire unit to a surge protected AC outlet, as that will block the high frequency network signals from accessing the house wiring. And try to avoid any outlet which may have surge protectors connected to other outlets on the same powerline branch.
After I got all of this squared away, all my computers were now running at the peak speed of my main computer, connected directly to the router. I was very pleasantly surprised at the fantastic performance of the WD unit.
The units come in sets of 2, and cost from $80-100 per set. If you're unhappy with your wireless results at homer, this is an excellent path to take.
*** Leo Recommends
RoboForm Password Manager and more
I think that I have about 80 - 100 passwords that I use on a regular or somewhat regular basis. I always remember my network and computer logon passwords, but beyond that I often have to check my a) Outlook notes on my PC at work, or b) when at home on my Mac, my little black notebook stuffed in the bottom of drawer.
Is storing my passwords on Outlook notes safe for my bank and tax filing accounts? Are online password managers or 'safes' secure? Do you have any suggestions for how best to manage the proliferation of passwords for online accounts?
I don't really have a good cross-platform solution for you, though I do have a couple of odd ideas.
However, I have developed a very strong recommendation over the past couple of months for a product called RoboForm - which happily includes a free version!
Let me touch on your first two questions first...
Continue reading: RoboForm Password
Manager and more
http://ask-leo.com/C2827
Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that I've found valuable and that I think you may as well. What does my recommendation mean?
Share!:
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Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software, LLC.
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