Have you experienced ASCII art? Long before the graphical World Wide Web was invented in the early 1990s, people were creating computer images that required no special hardware or software to view. ASCII art is composed only of plain text characters, and can be sent by e-mail without attachments. Take a stroll into Internet history, enjoy some ASCII art, and learn how to make your own…

Your mouse hovers over a link... your trembling finger is poised to click... but then you stop to think. Is there danger lurking behind that link? Do you know how to tell right away if a website (or link) is going to lead you into a world of hurt? A single click can trigger an unwanted download, a malware infection, stolen login credentials, ransomware, or identity theft. Here are some practical tips and tools you can use to click smarter...

Hey... did you know? At midnight on March 31st, the Internet will be temporarily shut down for the annual Spring Cyber Cleaning? Read on to get the scoop on this, Abraham Lincoln's opinion on fake news, and other dubious “facts” about computers and the Internet...

Is December the best month of the year to shop for a new or used car? Are chip shortages still affecting auto prices and inventory? Today I have some some tips for car buying that will help you save money and get the car you want. You may not even have to set foot in a dealer showroom. Read on...

Recently I wrote about the Windows 10 "end of life" situation, and gave some tips on how to move forward. One of those ideas was to move on to Windows 11, but many PCs don't meet the strict hardware requirements that Microsoft has imposed. Now they say you CAN install Windows 11 on your older PC, with a few caveats, of course. Let's look at that, and another idea that might work even better for you. Read on!

Less than two percent of U.S. homes have only a landline without cellphone service. Millions of consumers are 'cutting the cord' of landline phone service and switching to cellular or VoIP (Internet calling) services. If you’re one of the holdouts, you may be forced to give up your beloved copper-based phone line. Here’s an update on why landlines are doomed, and a look at some alternatives you should be considering…

Today's Geekly Update has some great gift ideas that you can give or enjoy for yourself. There's something for everyone in these tech gift items that I've selected for AskBob readers. Grab one or more of these early Black Friday deals, and let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations to share!

Perhaps you've heard rumblings that Windows 10 will soon reach “end of life” and will no longer be a supported operating system. Does that mean you'll need to buy a new computer, be forced to upgrade to Windows 11, or BOTH? There's a lot of confusion about this topic -- read on for the straight scoop on the fate of Windows 10, and your PC's future...

With billions of calls made each year in the United States, robocalls continue to be one of the most widespread annoyances in the telecom industry. You've probably been annoyed by 'Rachel in Card Services' or 'Jennifer from the Warranty Department' recently. Even with improvements in technology and regulations, the fight against robocalls is far from ended. Here's a closer look at our current situation in 2024 and the resources at our disposal to address this problem. Read on...

A good man is hard to find, or so the saying goes. I first offered tips for “Finding People Online” way back in 2006, and updated that article with “Free People Search Tools” in 2020. Now in 2024, I have to say it’s getting harder to find free information about people and places. If you’re looking for a name, address or phone number, I have some tips on websites you should avoid, and some that actually do what they say, for free. Here's the scoop...

Can you fall in love with an AI chatbot? Is your TV harvesting your private information and selling it to data brokers? Are AI-powered cameras watching your bathroom activities? And will a flying car help you avoid traffic jams? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!

At-home DNA test kits sold online are popular holiday gifts, promising to reveal facts about your family history and susceptibility to various diseases. But could sending in your saliva sample in a DNA test kit have a negative impact on the privacy of yourself, your family, and your close relatives? Here's what you need to know, especially if you've submitted a DNA sample to Ancestry or 23andMe...

Was the last tattered vestige of your privacy just swallowed up by data brokers, or did you willingly hand it over? Will dorky augmented reality glasses soon replace your smartphone? Is using AI-generated content in your term paper cheating? And is there a way to circumvent Windows 11's strict hardware requirements? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!

The question of whether you can legally or ethically share your password for Netflix and other streaming services is a hot topic. With access to enormous collections of films, TV shows, documentaries, and more, streaming services have emerged as a crucial component of contemporary entertainment. However, the manner in which users share these services raises concerns about what is acceptable and what the potential repercussions might be. Read on for a look at the details of this question...

You might prefer to blame hackers, cyber-criminals, and shoddy software, but the unpleasant truth is that most computer problems are caused by users. Here's the good news: there are a few basic steps you can take to avoid malware infections, data loss, and performance issues. Too often, people try to save time or money by cutting corners, and they end up paying the price. Check out my list of common computing mistakes, and how to fix (or even better, avoid) them. Read on...