Piriform, developer of the popular CCleaner software, issued a security bulletin on September 18, 2017. Somehow, malware sneaked into recent versions of CCleaner and CCleaner Cloud. Here is what you need to know...

Among all the “other” search engines, my favorite is Wolfram Alpha. It’s not really a search engine in the traditional sense; it’s an “answer calculator.” Rarely in the news, Wolfram Alpha nonetheless exerts influence through licensing deals that make its technology available through Google Search, Bing, Siri, and other well-known brands. Here’s a look at what Wolfram Alpha has become since I last wrote about it in 2015...

Apple launched the iPhone 8 on September 12, 2017. Simultaneously, the company announced that the iPhone X will be available for pre-orders on October 27. Nobody knows what happened to the iPhone 9 (or iX, if you prefer). Read on to see how the iPhone 8 and X compare, and why Apple is following this unorthodox model release schedule…

Were your parents disappointed when you didn’t become a doctor or a lawyer? Well, you can make it up to them by buying degrees in these or any other professional field, without doing a lick of course work. Read on to see how bad the problem of fake degrees and online diploma mills really is...

The Problem Steps Recorder (PSR) is one of the more obscure features of Windows, but it can be a very useful one. If you've ever tried to solve a computer problem over the phone, you understand how frustrating and time-consuming that can be. If you're a user who needs to show a problem scenario to a tech support rep, or someone who wants to visually document a how-to process for a friend or relative, you should know about the Problem Steps Recorder, and other desktop screen recording tools...

If a monkey uses your camera to take a selfie, who owns the rights to the picture? Are dogs blowing the whistle on ultrasonic attacks against your voice-enabled appliances? And what is the simplest way to file a small claims suit against Equifax? 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!

Over the past two decades, password rules have become more complicated and burdensome upon users. Users have coped with arbitrary, byzantine password rules by creating the most easily remembered passwords that comply with the rules, changing them when required in minor, predictable ways, and reusing compliant passwords on multiple online accounts. The results include lots of frustration and LESS security. Here's how to do it right...

On September 7, credit reporting agency Equifax reported one the worst data breaches in history, compromising an estimated 143 million Americans, 44 British citizens, and an uncertain number of Canadians. Read on to learn if your personal information leaked to hackers, and how Equifax is actually making things WORSE with their response to the breach...

A smartphone app that nobody had heard of a week ago is being touted as the best way to communicate in the event that a hurricane wipes out cell phone and Internet services. Zello supposedly works like a walkie-talkie and lets you communicate with neighbors and emergency services. Turns out that's a mixture of fact and fiction. Read on for the truth about Zello...

I made a change to the AskBob website last week which was supposed to add a layer of security. But it didn't turn out the way I expected. Read on for that story, and this week's batch of Geekly Updates. As usual, it's jam-packed with the latest tech news, and guaranteed to make you 146% smarter. Read, think, and, comment!

Your Android smartphone is under attack from many directions, from pickpockets to malware to human error and suspicious spouses. Multiple security defenses are required to keep your phone as safe as it can be, which unfortunately isn’t “perfectly safe.” But here are SIX ways to secure your Android phone as best you can...

Is your Internet connection sometimes mysteriously slow? It's possible that you're unwittingly sharing your wifi with a stranger. But how can you know for sure if a neighbor (or a malicious hacker) has tapped into your wifi? Read on to learn how you can detect bandwidth bandits, and give them the boot...

A spammer’s database of 711 milliion email addresses and passwords, including email server admin credentials, has been discovered on a wide-open Web server in the Netherlands. It’s the biggest trove of stolen identities yet found. But what’s really interesting - and frightening - is how it’s being used to circumvent spam filters and infect victims with malware. Here's what you need to know, and do...

How afraid should we be of artificially intelligent robot warriors? What makes it so easy for hackers to steal your mobile phone number? And are you ready for even MORE limits on your “unlimited” mobile data plan? 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 smartphone seems to have replaced dedicated cameras among all but professionals and photography hobbyists. And the Android operating system powers 88% of all smartphones. So here are some tips for taking great photos with an Android smartphone. (Actually most of them apply to iPhones and old-school DSLR cameras as well.) Read on...