Recent Comments


Comment by hojo on Geekly Update - 27 March 2024 (March 28, 2024 02:27 AM)
read customer reviews on the topscan car scanner, wont work on many new car/trucks,thebig i got you, is a $20/mo charge to use their software,with I p...
Comment by Charley on Geekly Update - 27 March 2024 (March 27, 2024 10:48 PM)
There are lots of Bluetooth ODB scanners. I bought a Kitbest for $12 on Amazon that seems to work fine. I found plenty of free apps for it for my Andr...
Comment by Joe Wall on Should You X-Ray Your Computer? (March 25, 2024 05:20 PM)
Hello Bob, I’ve been receiving your newsletters for many years, and with my recent issue, I thought that I would send you a question. It has to do...
Comment by Margo S. on Software Piracy: A Victimless Crime? (March 24, 2024 07:45 PM)
Piracy is in the eye of the beholder. Ask yourself this: if freeware is available, why would anyone buy it from microsquish, etc? I view piracy as a...
Comment by bb on Software Piracy: A Victimless Crime? (March 23, 2024 04:04 PM)
I wonder, is using a ad-blocker "Piracy?" Are you are reading content without paying the price of seeing all the advertising that paid for that page ...
Comment by baw30s on Software Piracy: A Victimless Crime? (March 23, 2024 11:11 AM)
It's certainly illegal, and it's probably immoral. However, surely there is only a victim if the "pirate" would otherwise have paid for the software....
Comment by Wolf on Software Piracy: A Victimless Crime? (March 23, 2024 05:12 AM)
This is another great article. There is a lot of hucksterism, fakery, and malware out there! When I need some software, I will always go to legitimate...
Comment by Ernest N. Wilcox Jr. (Oldster) on Software Piracy: A Victimless Crime? (March 22, 2024 11:01 PM)
I learned my lesson about pirated software in my MS-DOS days, back in the early 1990s, when I downloaded a "free" copy of a program I wanted to try ou...
Comment by izzy goodman on Software Piracy: A Victimless Crime? (March 22, 2024 06:47 PM)
There is a site called productkeys which sells downloadable copies of office 21 for 16.90. Each downloadable copy comes with unique product key which...
Comment by Bill on [REVEALED] The Most Dangerous Person on the Web (March 21, 2024 10:53 PM)
Before I opened the article, my guess was in descending order, us the readers, Donald Trump, Price Harry, Kate Middleton. Before you beat me up, I'm j...

Geekly Update - 27 March 2024

Will you be able to see the upcoming solar eclipse from your back yard? Can a brain implant turn blind people into Nintendo Wizards? And should your next romantic relationship be with an AI soulmate? 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!

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 27, 2024 | Category: Tech-News


Software Piracy: A Victimless Crime?

An AskBob reader says: “Some of my friends are using commercial software without paying for it. They say it's no big deal to get pirated (cracked) versions of games from 'warez' sites, and that I'm a fool to pay for Windows, Microsoft Office, and video games when I can download them for free. Software piracy seems like one of those 'victimless crimes', so why is it illegal?” Read on for my analysis...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 22, 2024 | Category: Software


[REVEALED] The Most Dangerous Person on the Web

Every year security software provider McAfee publishes a list of the 'most dangerous celebrities' on the Internet. The 'Hacker Celebrity Hot List' has nothing to do with their tech skills, how many times they've been in rehab, or how 'bad' their screen persona may be. It's their popularity that induces cyber-criminals to create malicious websites by exploiting their names. Here's what you need to know before you head off to your favorite search tool...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 21, 2024 | Category: Security


Can I Get Free Satellite TV?

A thrifty AskBob reader says: “Can I really get satellite TV for free? I've heard about free satellite TV channels one can receive with a free-to-air satellite receiver and dish. Is this true? If so, what satellite channels can I get, what equipment do I need, and is it legal?” The short answer is 'YES, NO, and MAYBE,' depending on your expectations. Read on to learn about free satellite TV options...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 18, 2024 | Category: Television


[HOWTO] UN-erase a File or Folder

An AskBob reader says: “I accidentally deleted two folders that contained some very important files. I tried some of those free undelete programs, but they didn't find my files. Can you recommend a more powerful data recovery tool? I'm willing to spend a few bucks if it really works.” Yes, I do have a recommendation. Read on to learn about this data recovery power tool...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 13, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


Geekly Update - 07 March 2024

Are hallucinating chatbots legally responsible for their own actions? Can large doses of Saturday Night Fever cure dementia? And is there a flying car in your future? 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!

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 07, 2024 | Category: Tech-News


Free Phone Service With Ooma Telo?

Have you seen those commercials for a gadget called Ooma Telo that promises to replace your landline, virtually eliminate your phone bill, and give you crystal clear voice call quality? Read on to see if this home phone device lives up to the hype...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 06, 2024 | Category: Telephony


[SPEED] Is Satellite Internet Getting Faster?

If you live in a rural area, your Internet access options are limited. DSL, cable and fiber internet service are not available in many thinly-populated areas. Forget about 5G and even 4G cellular access. For many rural residents, Internet access boils down to a choice between miserably slow dial-up and slightly better satellite Internet access. The latter option is showing greater promise, though. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of satellite internet service...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 05, 2024 | Category: Wireless


What Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Die?

Benjamin Franklin famously said that nothing is certain except death and taxes. Sooner or later, we'll all kick the bucket, cash in our chips, or shed the mortal coil. Sure, you may have a will, but what happens to your digital assets – your data and online accounts? That's where digital estate planning comes into play. Think of it as having a backup plan to give those left behind, so they can access your data. Here’s what you need to know, and one VERY important thing you should add to your will. Read on...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 04, 2024 | Category: Reference


10 Free Windows Troubleshooting Tools

A computer operating system is a complex beast. If things go wrong with Windows, it can be difficult to track down the source of the glitch. But you can put away the screwdriver, sledgehammer (and chainsaw!) because there are plenty of free troubleshooters you can use to fix most problems. Read on for my recommended list of free Windows problem solvers...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 01, 2024 | Category: Windows


Computer Problem? Test and Fix it Yourself

Has your computer been acting strangely? If you've already ruled out viruses and gremlins, a more likely reason is an error caused by a hardware component that's flaky, damaged, or overheated. Here are some tips and tools to help you diagnose and fix those annoying or intermittent computer problems that just seem to pop up for no apparent reason...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 27, 2024 | Category: Hardware


Your Hard Drive Will Crash in 3, 2, 1...

A concerned AskBob reader says: 'Sometimes I hear a click-click sound from my hard drive, but it's only occasionally. Does this mean my hard drive is going to crash soon? Are there any tests I can run to check the health of my hard drive?' Read on to learn the tell-tale signs of impending hard drive doom, some things you can do NOW to protect your data, and what to do if it's too late.

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 26, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


Saving Your Digital Bacon

Have you ever accidentally deleted a file? Do you sometimes wish you could go back in time (a week, a month or a year) to see an older version of a document or spreadsheet? Wouldn't it be great if your computer automatically created backups to help in both of these scenarios? Your wish could be granted, if you turn on this little-known feature of your operating system. Read on...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 22, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


How (AND WHY) to Clean Computer Clutter

Computers and cars have one thing in common: both tend to accumulate junk in hard-to-reach places. Cleaning out your car can be a messy, sweaty job with plenty of opportunities for back injuries. Cleaning out a PC is a more civilized affair. Here are some free tools to clean up your hard drive, improve system performance, and make sure your backups run smoothly. Ready to jettison the detritus? Read on...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 16, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


10 Things That Cause Computer Crashes

Have you ever experienced the dreaded Blue Screen of Death? Does your computer lock up, freeze, crash, or display cryptic error messages?. This sort of problem can be very difficult to diagnose, because many things can cause a computer to crash (and even burn!). Before you blame those mischievous gremlins, here are ten common causes of computer crashes and some tips on how to deal with them...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 15, 2024 | Category: Hardware



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