Stay on Top of Vulnerabilities

Most operating systems are secure with common sense on the part of the user. But most, if not all, can become vulnerable. Apple’s rock-solid MacOS recently had a bug uncovered that allows anyone privileged access with no password, Apple has patched it, but don’t wait. Go straight to the Mac app store and update NOW. […]

Home Media Server, or Cloud?

Let’s face it, Netflix is simple, fast, cheap, and available. But it all comes down to how good is your internet? If your connection to the web comes and goes, then a local media server will be a better choice. Of course, that means loading it with content. Handbrake is a good DVD/Blu-Ray ripper that […]

Keep Your Desktop Clean

A clean desktop is a happy desktop. If your desktop on your computer is littered with programs whose names you don’t recognize (and thus never run), files called document1, document2, etc., and further obscure shortcuts, create a folder called “archived” and drag them all in there. If you end up missing something later, just open […]

Help Is Always Available

Those of us who have been working with computers for a while can remember how lonely it was when something didn’t work. I spent an entire day trying to install a 14,400 modem into my computer in 1994. I had to manually try combinations of DMA interrupts and IRQ channels until I finally fell upon […]

Get Ready for USB C

Ever heard of USB C? You will. We’ve been happily using Micro USB for our Android phones for a long time. But a new standard is on its way, and it’ll mean new cables. On a positive note, USB C is a lot faster, about twice as fast. Also, there’s no “up” or “down,” it […]

Chromebooks Get Great

Perhaps one of this year’s hottest gifts will be a touch-capable Chromebook that can run Android apps. The Samsung Chromebook Plus can either be a tablet or a laptop, depending on which is better at the moment. Plus, it’s screaming fast, unlike similarly priced computers struggling with the overhead of Windows. And Google’s wonderful policy […]

Stay Green-Locked

Remember to look for the green lock in the address bar of your web browser. It’s universal on all browsers that I know of, mobile or desktop. It means your connection is securely encrypted. This is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for transferring credit card info. It’s important for simply filling out online forms, as well. If the […]

Make Windows Run Faster

The best hidden switch in Windows: adjust your computer for best performance. It’s buried in the control panel on both Windows 7 and 10. The easiest way to get there is to hit Start on either system and type “performance” without the quotes. You can also get there in 7 by right-clicking on My Computer/Advanced […]

Thank You, Pioneers

We take the web and its applications for granted, but here’s to the pioneers who developed HTML and TCP/IP. These standards mean that you can visit, say, baldguyweb.com from an iPad, a smart phone, a Chromebook, a desktop computer, or even a smart watch, and the forms and utilities will all work. If it was […]

Should I Defrag?

Fragmented hard drives have long been performance hogs. If you’re running Windows, that is. But what about nowadays? The fact is that fragmentation isn’t the problem it once was. For one thing, solid-state drives have become popular, and they just don’t need it. In fact, you can mess them up by trying to defrag them. […]