Technology, Devices & Online Safety
Spot fake news, boost cell reception, and avoid video interview mistakes. Use tech wisely, stay secure online, and get the most from your devices.
Here's How You Can Determine if the Article You're About to Read or Share Isn't Fake News
Fake news isn't new. It's been around for centuries. It wasn't until technological advances, such as viral emails and social media, that fake news became a real problem. Fake news can spread very quickly and influence people in ways that weren't possible before. Whether it's completely fake or only using misleading headlines, know what to look for to be able to spot fake news before you share it.
You Can Boost Your Cell Phone's Weak Signal For Better Reception And More Reliable Calling
There are many reasons that signal strength on your cell phone may be poor. It could be a problem with your phone's carrier, the materials used to construct the walls in your home that block the signal, or something as simple as a malfunctioning battery that isn't able to power the antenna. Regardless of the cause, there are ways to boost your cell phone's signal to get more reliable connections.
Make Sure You Do Everything Right to Prevent Disasters During Your Next Video Job Interview
Many employers are finding that video interviews are a valuable tool to conduct interviews with prospective employees. Job seekers like it, too, because they don't have to travel across town, across the country, or even across the world. But you want to make sure you do it right or you can find yourself without the job. If you want the best chances of getting the job, consider these helpful tips.
If Your iPhone Gets Slow During the Day, You Can Clear Its Memory Without Having to Reboot
Is your iPhone slowing down, lagging, crashing, or freezing randomly throughout your day? Its Random Access Memory (RAM) might be corrupt or full and not resetting. The iPhone's RAM clears automatically each time you restart it, but restarting isn't always practical. Here's how you can clear your iPhone's RAM without having to reboot if the memory management feature isn't working the way it should.
Your Smart TV is Reporting Data on What You Watch, but You Can Turn Some or All of It Off
Everything is getting smart, which means it's all connected. This means that smart TV manufacturers are able to collect data on how you use your TV. Hopefully your data isn't being reported without knowledge or consent, but it's happened before. For now, here's how you can opt out of having at least some of your personal information collected and reported for some of the major smart TVs out there.
Having Trouble Connecting to the Internet? Figure Out and Fix the Problem
The messages may be different, but they all amount to the same thing: your device is having trouble connecting to the Internet, and it may—frustratingly—be up to you to figure out the problem and fix it.
A Dirty Computer Can Overheat and Slow Down, Sometimes Causing Damage and Error Messages
Many of us know the importance of keeping our computer's software updated in order to keep it running at its best. But not many people know about the importance of keeping the inside of our computers properly maintained in order to get the longest life and best performance. A computer that can't 'breath' properly is prone to overheating, which can cause slowdowns, shutdowns, and heat damage.
Here's How You Can Reset a Dell Laptop Battery That Isn't Being Detected and Isn't Charging
If you pull out your Dell laptop at your local coffee shop and press the power button, you expect the screen to light up and to see a login screen. But what if nothing happens because of a dead battery? Thankfully, you may have a cord with you. But when you plug in the cord, the battery either isn't being detected or is simply plugged in but not charging. Is there an alternative to a new battery?
Tips to Help if Your Windows Device Seems to Be Dropping Your Wireless Internet Connection
Ever want to get online but receive an error message that the connection is unavailable? The inability to get online is often related to the need to reboot or reset your hardware, but we've investigated and have a step-by-step series of procedures for you to consider in order to get you reconnected to the world. While these steps might not fix your problem, they may point you in the right direction.
An Unstable Internet Connection May Be From Low Ram or a Slow CPU in Your Modem or Router
Your instinct might be to call your Internet Service Provider (ISP) when you start to notice an unstable Internet connection, but the problem might be on your end. As the world gets more connected, we're getting more smart devices that want to connect to the Internet. If you have a router or modem that can't keep pace with your needs, you might find your connection going down without explanation.
Avoid These Smartphone Battery Charging and Battery Protection Myths That Just Waste Time
It's a scientific certainty. As a smartphone battery gets older, its ability to hold a charge decreases. When this happens, we're looking for the best ways to extend battery life and hold a charge longer without spending money to replace the battery. But there are a bunch of myths going around about saving power with smartphone batteries that do little more than waste your time. Do you know them?
What to Know About Wireless Routers and Things That Affect the Quality of Your Connection
Your router is a very important piece of home networking equipment. It can be the difference between having a smooth connection or banging your head against the table. So if you aren't getting the expected speed, range or reliability for your WiFi devices, check out some of the things that can affect them, as well as some of the new things on the market to make WiFi even faster and more reliable.
Having Strong Online Passwords is the First Defense for Your Sensitive Personal Information
The biggest mistake people make with an online password is making it far too simple just to be able to remember it. While this used to be acceptable at one time, modern hackers can quickly decode simple passwords for virtually any account. Your life can be turned upside down from only one person gaining access to your personal information, so make it difficult for them by using stronger passwords.
National Do Not Call Registry: Information About Registration and Several Common Questions
Since 2003, the National Do Not Call Registry has helped millions of people reduce the number of unwanted phone calls they receive. We helped create this valuable protection and the North Carolina law that supplements it. Unfortunately, scammers don't follow any rules and don't respect your registration. But you can register and stop the many legitimate telemarketing companies from contacting you.
Be Prepared: Tips for Displaying Critical Emergency Contact Information to First Responders
We don't often think about it, but how will emergency personnel get in touch with our loved ones if we are unable to speak? What if we have critical allergies or health conditions that have to be communicated to medical staff before beginning treatment? What if we have pets home alone and no one knows to check on them?
Don't Race to Replace Your Electronic Devices Now That Faster Bluetooth 6 is Finally Here
A lot electronic devices today, from phones to medical devices, have Bluetooth technology. With the vast proliferation of Bluetooth, having fasting and longer-range signals is very important. The new Bluetooth 6 specification is making things a lot faster and giving much better range, but you shouldn't start replacing your devices and peripherals just yet solely to take advantage of the changes.