Setting up a new computer is something to get excited about. It’s tempting to open the box, plug it in, start it up, and just begin exploring. But a new PC requires some initial fine-tuning in order to optimize performance and avoid problems later on. Here is my list of things you should do to a new desktop or laptop PC as soon as it comes out of the box...

An anxious AskBob reader says: “Some of my email friends are complaining that I’m sending them spammy emails. I’ve looked in my Sent folder and nothing odd shows up there. How can this be happening? Am I spamming in my sleep? Is it possible that someone has hacked into my email account, or is there another explanation?” Read on for the most likely answers to this mystery...

A frustrated AskBob reader asks: “Why does my computer shut down without warning at random times?” There are several possible causes, (including miniature cows and angry bees) but overheating is the most likely, and easiest to solve. Read on to learn why heat is your computer's Enemy Number One, and how to keep your computer from being damaged by overheating...

An AskBob reader says: “I have security protection on my PC, but I still got a nasty computer virus. Is it a good idea to run more than one anti-virus program, and how can I tell which one I have? Also, which anti-virus has the best protection against viruses, spyware, and other online threats?” Read on for my tips and recommendation...

Buying a smartphone today can feel like a minefield. With dozens of outlets, ranging from mobile carrier stores to big box retailers, to online marketplaces, and trade-in options, the choice can directly affect how much you pay, the warranty you get, and the headaches you may face later. The question is: What are the BEST and WORST places to buy a smartphone? To find out, let’s compare the main buying channels. Read on...

Scammers, spammers and other cyber-criminals are endlessly adaptable, switching to new attack vectors as rapidly as users catch on to old ones. Most users have raised their guards against email phishing scams, but “smishing” - a mashup of SMS and phishing - is a growing threat due to the ubiquity of mobile phones. Read on for the scoop on how to outsmart these attacks, with practical tips, fresh statistics, and examples of real-world smishing scams...

Have you ever wished you had a second line on your cell phone? Do you have one mobile phone for personal calls, and another for business or some other purpose? It's a nuisance to carry two phones, and expensive too. Isn't there some way to add a second line to a smartphone? Well, yes, and there are some other very good reasons for doing so, even if you're not running a business. Read on for several options...

Some tech pundits will glibly tell frustrated Windows users “Just switch to Linux!” Yes, but what about your Windows programs, files and games? And will you need to learn an entirely new way of using your computer? Just a few years ago, those would have been significant hurdles. But the latest Linux systems are super friendly to Windows users, totally free, and even have a very similar look and feel. If you've had it with Microsoft, or you're dreading the move to Windows 11, read on for my tips on jumping ship and settling into your new Linux home...

An AskBob reader says: 'Our home computer is about five years old, and one friend says it's already obsolete. He says it will soon be unsupported, and advises us to buy a new computer with a faster CPU, more memory, bigger hard drive, larger monitor, and a new operating system. Do I really need to do all that? Can you give me some of the pros and cons of upgrading versus buying a new computer?' Sure, check out my list of reasons why your PC might be obsolete, or in need of some upgrades. Read on for my advice...

An exasperated AskBob reader says: 'Every morning I get a fresh, steaming load of unwanted spammy emails dumped on my inbox. They advertise dubious nutritional supplements, fake watches, and political pitches. Some are worse, phishing attempts to steal my online banking passwords or trick me into downloading malware. I have tried filtering them out, but they keep on coming. I REALLY want to report these crooks, but I don't know how or where. Can you help?' Yes, read on for my tips on dealing with spammers...

Back in the 80s, when I was a young computer programmer at IBM, we had an “all hands” meeting with the General Manager. I don't remember much about that meeting, except that he said “I just found out what a paradigm is, and now I need a new one!” Switching to an AI browser is a paradigm shift -- a new way of interacting with a world of information. Read on to find if you need an AI browser...

AI seems to be everywhere. Is it a dutiful servant of humanity, or an existential threat to human survival? Recent stories have shown that it sometimes will hallucinate, mislead, or outright lie. Sometimes that happens in an attempt to befriend or flatter a user; in other cases it has been found to employ deliberately deceptive tactics when it feels threatened. Let's look at some recent examples of AI gone rogue...

When people think about cybercrime, they often picture shadowy hackers armed with complex code, supercomputers, and Hollywood-level gadgets. But the truth is far less glamorous—and far more alarming. The tool most cybercriminals rely on isn’t some sophisticated piece of technology at all. In fact, it’s something so common and deceptively simple that you probably encounter it every single day.

What could be worse than a fresh, steaming load of spam dumped on your email inbox? Spammers constantly find new ways to get their hands on your email address, leading to an overflowing inbox filled with unwanted messages. But it gets a lot worse when YOUR address is being spoofed as the sender, and friends start asking why YOU are sending them unwanted sales pitches for dubious products. By understanding how spammers collect email addresses and keeping up with recent developments, you can better protect yourself and your contacts from spam, phishing, and identity theft. Read on...

Does your computer often seem slow or sluggish? The problem may be too little RAM memory. But “add more RAM” is not the solution to every case of poor performance, and buying more RAM memory than you need or can use is just a waste of money. Read on to learn the ins and outs of adding RAM memory and how much memory is the “sweet spot” for Windows and Apple computers. I've also got a funny story about ROM memory, read on!