The update gets its name from a variety updates that are intended to allow Windows users to create things on their computer. The Creators Update is also said to give Windows users more control over Windows updates, and solve some other issues.

As a matter of fact, Windows 10 is an amazingly powerful operating system that already offers plenty of hidden features most people don’t know about. To help you get the most out of your computer, here are five tips and tricks for Windows 10.

1. Personalize Windows 10

While the Windows 10 interface is a big improvement over previous versions of the operating system, it’s always nice to be able to personalize how it looks.

To personalize Windows 10, click on the start button in the bottom-left corner of the desktop. Next, click on the “settings” gear and select “personalization”.

You can change the desktop background here, and also apply different colored accents, based on your personal taste.

2. Customize File Explorer

What used to be called “Windows Explorer” is called “File Explorer” in Windows 10. File Explorer features something called “Quick Access” that displays frequently used folders and recently used files.

It’s easy to personalize which folders show up in File Explorer. It’s also easy to pin and unpin folders and rearrange them by dragging and dropping. Unpin them with a right-click and Unpin from Quick Access.

To add folders to the Quick Access list, simply drag them over to the left. Remove them with a right click and Unpin from Quick Access.

3. Lockdown Privacy

Privacy is a complicated when it comes to Windows 10. Many experts are worried about how much data Microsoft automatically collects from each and every user. On the other hand, Windows 10 has a ton of privacy controls. If you open in “privacy” in settings, there are more than one hundred settings to choose from. There are privacy setting for everything from your location to your contacts and call history. Microsoft collects data from all of this.

So, the question is, which privacy settings are most important?

For example, Windows 10 collects information about your browsing habits using advertising ID. The ID doesn’t just gather information about you when you browse the Web, but also when you use Windows 10 “apps” or software programs.

To turn off Windows advertising ID, launch the Windows 10 Settings app by clicking on the Start button at the lower left corner of your screen.

Next, type in “privacy” in the search box.

Click on “Privacy Settings” and select “General.” There you’ll see a list of choices under the title “Change privacy options.”

The first option on the list controls your advertising ID.

Move the slider from On to Off. You’ll still get ads delivered to you when you use the Internet Explorer or Windows Edge browsers, but the ads will be generic rather than targeted, and your interests won’t be tracked and sent back to Microsoft.

Ed Bott, writing for ZDNet, has more  recommendations for Windows 10 privacy.

4. Reduce Advertising

While it may seem hard to believe, Windows 10 features advertising, and lots of it. There are ads on the lock screen, ads in the Start menu, and little ads pleading with you to try a free trial of Office 365 or switch to the new Microsoft Edge browser.

5. What to Do When Windows 10 Upgrade Process Fails

While purchasers of a computer that comes installed with Windows 10 will never have to worry about this, sometime there is an error during the actual process of upgrading to Windows 10 and everything grinds to a halt.  

Happily, PC TuneUp Maestro does have a tool for addressing a number of Windows Update errors and should be the first thing to try if you have the program installed. Learn how to recover from this problem here.

More Tips?

Click here to read another 5 Windows 10 tips.

If you have Windows 10 tips you would like to share with us, leave us a comment below. In the meantime, stay tuned for more Windows 10 tips and tricks!

The post Five Useful Tips and Tricks for Windows 10 appeared first on CompuClever.

While ISPs claim they will use your Internet history to help sell you more relevant ads, the decision by Congress has made many people deeply uncomfortable.

WiFi Hotspots Are Also A Risk?

It’s not just ISPs who are after your browsing data and personal information. For example, whenever you login to a WiFi hotspot in a coffee shop or at the airport you are potentially putting yourself at risk. WiFi hotspots may not protect your data as it is transmitted to and from your device. Even worse, some WiFi hotspots may want to steal your data, such as browsing history or even passwords and credit card information.

Luckily, something called a virtual private network (VPN) may help protect you from ISPs and anyone else who wants to snoop on your Internet habits.

What Is a VPN?

A VPN is essentially an online service that allows you to create a secure Internet connection. All of your browsing is encrypted, meaning that no one, including your ISP or even the government can determine what you are doing on the Internet.

How Does It Work?

When you connect to a VPN, you usually launch a VPN client on your computer (or click a link on a special website), log in with your credentials, and your computer exchanges trusted keys with a far away server. Once both computers have verified each other as authentic, all of your internet communication is encrypted and secured from eavesdropping.

There are two main advantages to using a VPN:

Advantage #1: Browse Privately and Safely

As mentioned, all of your browsing information is encrypted. This means that your ISP cannot sell your data to a third-party for advertising. VPNs also ensure that your passwords and banking information are kept safe, too.

For example, many journalists and businesspeople traveling abroad use VPNs to protect their privacy.

Advantage #2: Browse Everywhere

Businesspeople and journalists may also use VPNs just to be able to communicate. For example, the Great Firewall of China prevents Internet users from accessing many useful websites from outside of China. Many people rely on VPNs to access indispensable online services for their jobs.

On the other hand, VPNs are also useful because they allow you to browse as though you were in any country. Many online content providers such as Netflix, Hulu and the BBC restrict access to content based on your country. You can use a VPN to get around these rules.

What to Look For In a VPN

Not all VPNs are created equally, so it’s important to look for the right one before making a choice.

Look for:

Speed

If you want to use a VPN in order to watch online content such as Netflix, make sure it has enough bandwidth to do so. Generally speaking, this bandwidth is a result of investments in server capacity and other technology. Some VPNs have more than others.

Your Data Must Be Kept Safe

Almost anyone with a little technical know-how can setup a VPN service and then sell it to consumers. The problem for you is: how do you know they’re going to protect your data?

Look for a VPN with a professional website and an active and responsive social media presence. And, if you’re really concerned with privacy, look for a VPN that has its servers in a country with strong data privacy laws. In countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, government now has broad powers to access your data.

Countries such as Canada, Germany and Switzerland have much stronger rules prohibiting government collection of personal data, so look for a VPN headquartered in one of those countries first.

When Can a VPN Not Protect Your Privacy?

Even if a VPN does not share your personal information, there are others who can. For example, Google and Facebook both use your profile data, which includes browsing history, to sell advertising. A VPN is not designed to prevent this from happening–protecting yourself from Facebook and Google’s efforts to collect data is best done using browser-based ad blocking tools.

Also, keep in mind that you typically choose to use Google and Facebook because you agree to trade some privacy for the convenience of their services.

However, since you pay ISPs directly, you should expect that your privacy be respected. But since ISPs and others are not respecting your privacy, it may be a good time to use a VPN.

What We Recommend: SecureVPN

SecureVPN allows you to surf the web anonymously, unlock websites, unlock VoIP services, secure any wifi hotspot, and protect your data & privacy.

SecureVPN operates a self-managed VPN network with at least 750 servers in 141 countries, with plans to add more.

Since there are so many local servers, this means SecureVPN promises the fastest speed possible. SecureVPN also owns its own network–there are no third-parties that gather data, and SecureVPN keeps no logs of your activities.

Why choosing SecureVPN?

SecureVPN offers a variety of features, including:

• No 3rd Parties for Your Data: SecureVPN has a self-managed network. Your data is handled by SecureVPN only, without the intervention or interference of any third-parties.
• Military-grade Encryption: SecureVPN employs top-of-the-line military-grade up to 256-bit encryption to protect and safeguard user’s data from falling into the wrong hands.
• 750+ Servers in 141 Countries: SecureVPN has servers in 141 Countries. So, no matter where you are or where you travel to, SecureVPN will connect you to your favorite content.
• 99.99% Uptime: SecureVPN has its own network of servers and a team of highly professional experts who manage and host the network to guarantee 99.9% uptime.
• Powerful Software and Apps: SecureVPN wrote its own code for its proprietary software and apps for every major platform including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux.
• Unlimited Data Transfer: Download, browse, stream or share, SecureVPN users are free to do whatever they want, how much they want since there is no bandwidth or data limit.

The post What Is a VPN, and Why Do You Need One? appeared first on CompuClever.

1. Establish Restore Points

You can think of a “restore point” as a snapshot of the operating system settings at a given point in time.  Windows has the ability to automatically create a restore point before major changes are made to your computer. For example, when you get the latest automatic Windows update your system settings can change.

Be aware, there are situations that arise where modifications, such as PC updates, can cause problems. You can feel safe in knowing that you have the option to rollback your system settings to any restore point. Windows 7 created restore points for your system by default – Windows 10 in some cases is not active. In fact, System Protection may or may not be turned on depending on how you installed Windows 10.

We suggest you follow this easy tip to enable System Protection and have restore points created automatically.

1. Right-click the Start icon and select “Search”.  From the Cortana search box, type “restore point” and select the “Create a restore point” option as seen here.
   
2. In the System Properties dialog that appears, click the “Configure” button and make sure “Turn on system protection” is selected.  Click the “OK” buttons to exit the dialogs and you are done.

2. Schedule Restarts

We find one of the most annoying things about previous versions of Windows was that updates could be downloaded and installed at almost any time – with no warning. For those of us who need our PC running and don’t want to be interrupted with a restart, this was a problem.

Now, with this tip, you can forgo any install updates during a specific window of time each day using the “Active hours” feature. Updates will be downloaded and installed when you’re NOT using your computer.

Here’s how you can make the change:

1. Click the Windows Start menu, select “Settings”, and then select the “Update & security” option.
2. In the left panel, click the “Windows Update” option.
3. As seen above, click the “Change active hours” option.
   
4. You can adjust the Start time and End time by selecting the hour of your choice and clicking the check mark.  When you are done, click “Save”.
   

Here are some helpful tips:

• The start-to-end time window must be between 1 and 12 hours.
• The same Active hours are applied for every day of the week.

The Windows 10 Active hours dialog states: “We’ll check to see if you are using this device before attempting to restart.”  Keep in mind that in the Settings window you can choose “Restart options” to temporarily override the Active hours and customize a finish time for installing updates.

3. Control Startup Processes

Many Tech experts agree that one of the biggest causes of a slow computer is having too many processes at startup. More specifically, it takes longer for your computer to be ready for use if it has an excessive number of programs to load. However, as with earlier versions of Windows, you can control which programs you want to launch at startup.

In the past, you might have used the MSConfig command. Luckily, Windows 10 provides a more direct path to the Task Manager and make changes to the startup apps.

Manage Startup Processes From Windows 10 Task Manager:

You can begin by launching the Task Manager.  To do this, right-click on the Start button and choose Task Manager from the menu. You can also type in “Task Manager” in the search box.

Once the Task Manager launches, click the “Startup” tab.

This displays a list of everything that can launch when you turn on your machine. We advise to pay special attention to the “Status” column as not everything on the list is actually enabled. If an item it marked as “Disabled” you can ignore it as it will not be part of the startup sequence.

If you see any apps that you don’t want to launch at startup simply right-click on the item and select “Disable”.

NOTE: CompuClever makes it EASY to make alterations to startup programs with the “StartUp Management” tool available in PC TuneUp Maestro!

4. How to Get Started Using Cortana

Many new users find Cortana to be one of the more interesting and advanced features included in Windows 10. Cortana is a voice-activated personal assistant similar to iPhone’s Siri provided by Apple.

You can use Cortana to check the weather, set reminders, send emails, find files, search the Internet, and more. Cortana is an example of the great technological advances that have been done in voice recognition software.  This might be the first time you use voice commands to do many of your regular PC tasks and you may find it easier and more efficient – especially if you want to muslti-task.  You’ll also be getting a more “personal” PC experience.

Cortana requires both a working microphone and speakers as well as an Internet connection. As mentioned, it can be voice-activated, but this means you need to allow Windows 10 to use your computer’s microphone to listen-in on your day-to-day activities.  If this is more than you would like – you might want to look into how to turn Cortana on and off or avoid using it altogether.

If you want to get the most out of Cortana, we recommend you check out: 15 things you can do with Cortana as provided by How-To Geek.  You’ll be able to take advantage of Cortana’s ability to quickly come up with answers to calculations and conversions.  You can have Cortana track flights or packages. Or you can just chat or even get Cortina to sing, tell you a story, or a joke!

5. Collapse the Office 2016 Tool Ribbon

Through the years Microsoft Office has become very comprehensive and powerful. There seems to be a toolbar for almost anything you could ever want to do with a document, spreadsheet or presentation. The problem however, is that on smaller monitors and devices the toolbar ribbons can take over precious screen real estate as can be seen in the image below.

Luckily there is an easy way you can hide the Office ribbon and display it when you need it. To do so, you can simply double-click on the upper tab names, such as “Home”, as seen here:

When you do this the ribbon is hidden. You can display the ribbon once again and pin it in place.  You have to double-click on the name tab once again.

That concludes our list of 5 new tips for Windows 10.

More Tips?

Click here to read another 5 Windows 10 tips.

If you have Windows 10 tips you would like to share with us, we would love to hear from you.  Please send an email to us at: newsletter@compuclever.com.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more Windows 10 tips and tricks!

The post Five More Useful Tips and Tricks for Windows 10 appeared first on CompuClever.

If you have a flaky computer, a Recovery Disc can help by repairing Windows to make things run smoothly again. If you ever encounter a corrupted system file, a Recovery Disc will help you find it and fix it as well. If Windows crashes and you can’t get it to restart, you can also use a Recovery Disc to restore your computer’s operating system.

The best thing is by using a Recovery Disc you’ll be able to save all the data on your computer. This includes Word documents and spreadsheets, your photo collection and your valuable photos and movies.

In short, the Recovery Disc is a lifesaver that provides peace of mind. But, surprisingly, few people have access to one.

Recovery Discs Are Hard to Find

In the past, when you purchased a Windows PC, you likely received a “recovery disc”– an actual compact disc – that you would use to troubleshoot problems and restore Windows on your computer. Over the years these recovery discs can be easy to misplace. If you ever need one in an emergency, they are nowhere to be found.

Microsoft and most PC manufacturers stopped shipping Windows installation disc a few years ago – which is probably better for the environment.

Windows 10 doesn’t come with a Recovery Disc by default – this can be a real problem if you run into trouble with your computer.

Produce a Recovery Disc On Your Own

However there is a step-by-step process you can follow to download and create a Windows Recovery Disc for both Windows 8 and Windows 10, but if you want to protect your Windows 7 computer, you’re basically out of luck. Windows 7 has basically been “retired” by Microsoft, so a Recovery Disc with the full reinstall option is very hard to find online.

But no matter what, the process of producing a Recovery Disc takes some dedicated effort, and can be a real hassle. That’s because, to do it right, you need:

• A blank USB key that’s at least 4GB in capacity
• An actual working PC to produce a recovery disc (but what do you do if your PC won’t start?)

On top of that, the actual process of downloading and setting up a full Recovery Disc with the option of reinstalling the Windows OS could take as long as a few hours!

Imagine when you actually need a Recovery Disc, this could be a massive pain… but we have a simple solution.

Choose Your Windows Recovery Disc

Our CompuCleverGEAR store offers Windows Recovery Disc for Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 for both 32- and 64-bit versions. Please select the right version for your PC.

Having a Windows Recovery Disc ready by your PC provides you a peace of mind with an emergency plan for both your PC and your important files and data.

Always be prepared and don’t be caught in the rain without an umbrella.

The post Windows Recovery Disc – Be Prepared Ahead of Time appeared first on CompuClever.

Some USB chargers will charge your devices more quickly than others. However, your charger is not the only determining factor. The wrong USB cable can also slow down charging speeds.

The Lower the Gauge, the Faster the Charge

It all has to do with the gauge of the internal wires that make up your USB cable. “Gauge” refers to the thickness of the wires; the higher the gauge, the thinner the wire. Cheaper USB cables will often have thinner wires.

Thinner, higher-gauge wires are obviously made with less material and therefore cannot deliver as much current – charging will take longer. This is because a thicker wire reduces electrical resistance and allows for a better flow of electrons.

The length of your USB cable also affects how fast you can charge your device. For example, cheap, short cables may charge your device fairly quickly, while cheap, long cables could take longer.

What to Look for When Purchasing a USB Cable

There are two common types or gauges of USB cables: 28AWG and 24AWG. Once again, the gauge refers to the thickness of the wire inside the USB cable. And, somewhat counter-intuitively, the lower the gauge, the thicker the wire–24AWG is thicker than 28AWG.

So, a USB cable that uses 24AWG wire should charge your phone or iPad faster.

28/28 versus 28/24?

Another fact to consider is most USB charging cables include both a data wire and a charging wire. Cheaper USB cables will be identified as “28/28”–this means the cable uses 28AWG wire for both data and charging. “AWG” is an abbreviation of “American Wire Gauge”, and is a standardized wire gauge used by electronics manufacturers.

A 28/28 gauge will charge more slowly, while a 28/24 gauge cable, thanks to the presence of 24AWG, can handle up to 2amps. The maximum the 28/28 will provide is 500mAh which can be considered slow charging.

And, as we mentioned previously, the higher the amps, the higher the flow of electricity to your device. And the higher the flow, the quicker it can charge your phone or tablet.

So, if at all possible, always look for a 28/24 gauge USB cable. The 24AWG will charge faster, and this is usually the kind of USB cable that is included when you buy a tablet or smartphone.

Top Quality USB Cable – Free Giveaway

CompuCleverGEAR.com is currently giving away a limited number of Nylon Braided USB Cable With Metal Plug for iPhone/Android (1M-1.5M), while quantities last. This USB cables is probably the strongest USB cable you can find on the market and it features:

• 28 AWG / 24 AWG gauge and USB 3.0 support for faster charging and file transmission
• Braided-nylon fiber jacket and anodized aluminum shell for strong protection and durability
• 1 meter or 1.5 meter length with metal end cap

Regularly priced at over $20.00, this high-end USB cable is currently free – you just have to pay shipping + handling.

The post How to Choose a Good USB Data and Charging Cable appeared first on CompuClever.

Online fraud, especially phone scams, is a big business these days. Someone official-sounding phones you up, and the next thing you know they have somehow persuaded you to hand over your banking information.

Law enforcement agencies are powerless to hunt down the culprits — there are so many scams that police are overworked.

Compounding the problem is that there are a stunning variety of successful scams that you must avoid, and police must somehow track.

For example, technical support fraudsters will trick you into downloading harmful software that holds your computer for ransom unless you pay. In another fraud, “IRS scammers” phone you up and bully you into paying for back taxes.

Fraud can be dangerous for even the most savvy individuals among us. However, with a little advance knowledge, and some handy online tools, anyone can defeat online fraud.

Let’s take a look at two common scams.

Technical Support Fraud

Have you ever received a phone call from someone claiming to be from “Microsoft technical support?” If you haven’t, you will soon. Welcome to the world of “telephone support fraud.”

With this scam, the fraudster phones you up at home and says Microsoft or some other large company has detected a problem on your PC. The scammers then trick you into installing malware (a harmful software program) that wreaks havoc with your computer.

What’s in it for the telephone support fraudster? They tell you you have to pay them in order to remove the malware from your computer. Unfortunately, what they’re really hoping to get from you is your credit card number.

The malware remains on your computer, making it unusable, while sending sensitive information over the to the scammers. And someone, somewhere in the world, is using your credit card to make purchases in your name.

Tax Collection Fraud

Tax collection fraud is also another dangerous variety of fraud that is out of control. In this scam, fraudsters phone you up to tell you there is a problem with your taxes. They then pressure you to fix the problem by paying up, fast, right over the telephone (once again, with your credit card, of course).

In fact, while some “government” callers and emails may demand money, others will say you have a tax refund. The scam caller will then try to trick you into sharing your private banking information. Or you may be sent to a fake website where you input banking information.

Once they have your account details, they may be able withdraw money from your bank, and can never be caught.

It’s a lucrative “business.” Just one recently discovered IRS scam was collecting $90,000 to $150,000 a day for over a year.

How Scammers Trick You

No matter how you encounter them, scammers rely on a variety of tactics to trick you, including:

• They may know a lot about you (your name, telephone number and address are all available online).
• They “spoof” email addresses to make themselves look official.
• They can alter your caller ID to make it look like the government tax office or Microsoft is calling.
• The callers use fake names, important-sounding titles, and bogus identification numbers.
• They may send you to fake websites that collect your information.

Needless to say, if you get one of these calls or emails, don’t phone or phone back. And don’t visit any websites mentioned in such an email, either.

How to Identify and Prevent Online Fraud

Identifying technical support fraud, where tech support from Microsoft calls you up about a problem with your computer, is pretty simple.

For one thing, the Microsoft Corporation has absolutely no way to tell if there is something wrong with your computer.

Microsoft never phones individual computer owners anyway.

So, if someone calls you up from Microsoft or some other big technology company, you can be pretty sure they’re up to no good.

5 Ways to Identify Tax Collection Fraud

Identifying fake tax collectors is a little more tricky. Most of us hate to think we are in trouble with the tax man. We’ll do anything to make things right, which means we may make some bad decisions over the phone.

To keep yourself safe, just remember no government agency, including the tax collector will:

1. Call to demand immediate payment, nor will they call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
2. Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
3. Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

Conduct Your Own Online Background Checks

This is not something that an antivirus product can help you unless the caller’s identity can be identified as pushing virus/malware. However, an online background check or even a simple reverse phone lookup could sometimes help you to make the right decision.

The two services that we recommend are:

Reverse Phone Check

Reverse Phone Check allows you to search more than two billion records from any device, including your desktop computer, your tablet or your smartphone. All you have to do is type in the number on your call display, and confirm the identity of who is calling you. The website recognizes all types of phone numbers: mobile, landlines, prepaid, business, unlisted and even Voice Over IP.

eVerify

eVerify  also scans more than two billion telephone listings. What’s more, eVerify provides an even more comprehensive background check by searching:

• Name
• Telephone number
• Street address
• Email address

By using this information, you can check up on the background of anyone you don’t know who has contacted you by letter mail, email or by telephone. eVerify also provides extensive background check information that covers:

• Criminal records
• Police Records
• Marriage and divorce records
• Property records
• Asset search

You may be able to determine everything from current and previous addresses, to related phone numbers, email addresses and social profiles associated with the caller.

With either of these services, you can check to see the background details on anyone who’s calling you, or even people you consider dealing with either online or in person. This helps keep you safe and secure.

Protect Yourself Against Online Scams and Frauds

Scams are becoming more common each month, and there’s little law enforcement can do to stop them. However, there are ways to identify fraudsters make sure you are protected.

First of all, be aware there are scams out there. Next, remember to always find out who is contacting you, and confirm they are who they say they are. Finally, remember there are great tools such as Reverse Phone Check and eVerify that let you examine telephone numbers, street addresses and even email addresses to find out almost anyone’s identity.

It’s all about keeping safe and protecting yourself against fraud.

The post How to Identify and Avoid Fraud appeared first on CompuClever.

You may have heard of Chromebooks over the past few months. Cheap and lightweight, and basically a successor to the netbook of the late 2000’s, Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes and rely on the Chrome operating system (aka “Chrome OS”) instead of Microsoft Windows.

We’d like to take a look at Chromebooks, and help you decide if they are the right fit for your computer needs.

Chromebooks: Embraced By Schools

First introduced in 2011, Chromebooks have been popular in the cash-strapped education system. Unlike with Windows computers, schools don’t need to purchase a software license for Chromebooks.

Instead, Chrome OS comes pre-installed, for free. This presents a big cash savings for school administrators.

In some cases Google will subsidize the cost of providing school districts with Chromebooks–another way for educators to save money. Finally, Google itself manages patches and updates, so school districts can save big on IT costs.

What is a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are lightweight laptops released by many of the big computer makers, such as Dell, Acer, Samsung and Asus. They are typically powered by a low-power CPU and run off of a solid-state drive, or SSD–most laptops and Windows computers rely on a hard-disk drive.

Having an SSD means Chromebooks typically take just a second or two to start up. It also means that Chromebooks are completely quiet. There is no sound of a spinning disk like you’ll find in most laptops.

And, since Chromebook processors don’t need a lot of power, they don’t get hot; there is no fan noise with a Chromebook.

However, while being powered by a weaker CPU may prolong battery life, Chromebooks may also sometimes struggle with playing a YouTube video.

Total Reliance on Google and Cloud Storage

Chrome OS itself is completely integrated with Google–everything is done using a Chrome browser. The interface resembles a typical Windows desktop, is very easy to understand, and can be used by almost anyone.

You login to your Chromebook using a Google account, and all of your software is provided by Google. For email, there is Gmail. For basic productivity, such as word processing and making spreadsheets, there is Google Docs.

While it’s possible to use Google Docs offline, 99% of the time you’ll need an Internet connection to use a Chromebook. Everything, including your photos and your documents are stored online, in the cloud.

If you want to watch a movie or listen to music using your Chromebook, you can connect with YouTube or Google Play, Google’s version of iTunes.

Everything is online.

How to Choose a Chromebook: Look for RAM

Since everything is stored online, Chromebook SSDs are just big enough to host the operating system–a typical Chromebook SSD is about 16GB, the same size as a USB thumbnail drive.

Look for RAM

So, there’s little point searching for a Chromebook with a bigger SSD. Instead, RAM is what distinguishes Chromebooks. Chromebooks typically come with 2GB of RAM, and this is just enough to run a couple of browser windows.

If you want to play an HD YouTube video, your Chromebook’s performance may slow to a crawl.

Instead, seek out Chromebooks with at least 4GB of RAM; this is more than enough RAM to provide an enjoyable computing experience on Chrome OS.

Look for Longer Battery Life

Cheaper Chromebooks typically have poorer battery performance, so it’s worth it to seek out a machine with a longer battery life. Most mid-range Chromebooks will last about 8 hours on a single charge, but a measly 6 hours is also not uncommon.

Review sites will generally provide information about battery life. You can also check out how many cells the onboard lithium battery has (the more battery cells, the better).

Is a Chromebook Touchscreen Worth It?

Some Chromebooks such as the well-regarded Asus Flip come equipped with a touchscreen. While a touchscreen may seem like a cool feature that converts a Chromebook into a tablet, it adds yet one more expense to what is supposed to be a cheap machine. And touchscreens may impact the Chromebook’s already modest performance.

What Chromebooks Can’t Do

Chromebooks, while inexpensive and useful have three big drawbacks:

1) No Privacy

Since everything is stored in the cloud, you have little to no online privacy. Google can basically examine everything you do, and everything you save.

2) No Local Storage

Unless you make backups on USB drives, there is also no way to store photos, movies or documents. You will always have to trust that Google will continue to provide access to everything.

3) No Truly Powerful Software Programs

While the free software offered by Google through Chrome OS is pretty good, there are no truly powerful programs. Chrome OS cannot handle more sophisticated photo and video editing, for example.

While Google Sheets is a good way to organize spreadsheets, it is nowhere near as powerful as Microsoft Excel.

So, What Are Chromebooks Good For?

Unless you’re a student in a public school, Chromebooks make a good “backup computer” to take with you on trips. They are small and light, and don’t use much power.

For example, if you go on vacation once or twice a year and want to use webmail and access the Internet for news, a Chromebook is a good choice to slip into your carry-on.

If you’re looking for a primary computer where you have more control over your important documents and images, you may want to stick with Windows instead.

While new Chromebooks are released every few months, at the moment TechRadar has a good guide to the best 7 Chromebooks on the market.

The post How to Choose a Chromebook appeared first on CompuClever.

On Friday, October 21st, a lot of people were having a hard time accessing the Internet. First, Twitter went down. Then PayPal no longer worked. Later on cloud storage sites such as Dropbox went offline. For most of the day tens of millions of people could not access some of the most important and most useful websites on the Internet. Reddit, CNN and Netflix were all affected.

Was it a Russian hack? Could it be the Chinese? Nobody could say for sure. The only thing that was certain was that massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack had occurred. The target of the attack was DNS service provider Dyn.

What is a DNS provider?

As as DNS provider and as a company, Dyn’s job is to convert human-readable website names such as www.facebook.com into computer-readable numerical IP addresses (for example, 192.168.0.1)—humans prefer to use easy-to-remember-addresses such as www.facebook.com rather than the long, insanely complicated numerical strings favored by our machine servants.

Websites like Twitter and Dropbox rely on Dyn to help resolve and translate the various kinds of links each company uses as part of their product. For example, you post a link to your Twitter account, Dyn will make sure that whoever clicks on it will get sent to the right website. Dyn does this by having a massive database of domain names it can “point” web browsers to. If Dyn goes offline, Twitter, Dropbox and other web services can no longer “point” people about where to go.

The October 21 hack forced Dyn’s domain name servers to go offline so nobody could use them. This pushed Twitter, Dropbox and other websites offline. It was alarming for any company who relies on Dropbox to store and access important files. The outage was also alarming to journalists, who rely on Twitter to share information and generally gossip with their colleagues.

The fact that Twitter went offline, then, ensured the DDoS attack would receive immediate and comprehensive coverage.

Were the Russians behind the October 21st hack?

But nobody knew exactly what happened. Thanks to the supposed role Russia has played in providing Wikileaks with hacked Hillary Clinton emails, there were rumors that Vladmir Putin was behind the massive hack.

But the real story was much weirder.

For one thing, the hack was the largest one in history.

It turned out the October 21st hack was not the work of Russia. Instead, it was largely orchestrated by amateurs. They used a weapon called the Mirai botnet as the ‘primary source of malicious attack.’

Unlike other botnets, which are typically made up of computers, the Mirai botnet is largely made up of so-called “internet of things” (IoT) devices such as digital cameras and DVR players. Dyn estimated that the attack had involved “100,000 malicious endpoints.”

Internet-connected devices made the hack inevitable

Basically, any device with an internet connection could initiate an attack against Dyn. All the attacker had to do was instruct an unsecured, internet-connected device to make a request to Dyn. The sheer volume of requests, made by millions of devices located around the world, from web cams to DVR players to, theoretically, at least, toasters, overwhelmed Dyn’s DNS servers, shutting them down.

There’s a theory that the massive attack on Octover 21st was targeted at the PlayStation Network and that Dyn was hit because it provides DNS services to PSN.

It could have been a few kids who brought down the Internet for a day in October.

Why every computer user should care about this attack

What lesson does this even have for the average computer user?

There are more ways to get hacked than ever before

In the case of the October 21st hack, the attackers may have been searching for “open” Internet-connected devices they could use to perform an attack. It could be your internet-connected toaster, or it could more likely be your computer.

2) You have bigger things than Internet-connected devices to worry about

Most of us do not own an Internet-connected toaster or even a “connected home” you can monitor remotely over the Internet.

But we all have computers, and people are getting infected by malware every day. Your computer is fundamentally insecure unless you do something about it.

Luckily an antivirus program can provide powerful protection against this.

How antivirus keeps you safe

Antivirus software has long been recognized as a way to prevent your computer from being infected by viruses, malware, trojans and other harmful programs. But, by “locking down” specific ports and other access gateways, antivirus programs can prevent computer from being hijacked by a hacker.

The intuitive technology also guards online privacy and digital identity, including banking and credit card details, as well as email passwords and social media information.

 Learn more about CompuClever Antivirus PLUS.

The post How Antivirus Protects Your Computer From Hackers appeared first on CompuClever.

Bluetooth is the next big thing in consumer technology. At least, that’s what companies like Apple are betting on.

In September Apple unveiled the iPhone 7. While some are saying the new iPhone features revolutionary technology under the hood, Apple got the most press for deciding to kill the headphone jack.

Instead, if you want to listen to anything on an iPhone 7 you’ll have to use wired (and very expensive) earphones that plug into the iPhone 7’s Lightning power port. You can also purchase Apple’s sophisticated Bluetooth earphones—aka “AirPods“, and a supercomputer in their own right.

Thanks to Apple’s iPhone 7 launch, then, Bluetooth has come back into style. But what is Bluetooth? And it is any good for listening to music?

Bluetooth—Simple to Set Up

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that transmits and exchanges data over very short distances. For example, while your WiFi router reaches to pretty much every part of your home, Bluetooth transmits up to twenty feet or so.

Bluetooth’s main advantage over WiFi technology is that is extremely simple to set up—typically all it takes is the press of a button in an app. WiFi, on the other hand, can be tricky and time-consuming to configure.

Bluetooth also requires far less power to operate than WiFi. This makes Bluetooth a great technology for devices such as Apple’s new ultra-expensive wireless headphones.

How Is Bluetooth Used?

Popular “sound bar” speakers use Bluetooth technology. Pair a sound bar with your smartphone and listen to music on the patio, out at the beach, or just around the house.

As well, many higher-end cars come equipped with a Bluetooth transmitter that pairs your phone with the car’s audio system. This allows hands-free driving.

However, Bluetooth is most typically used with wireless headphones, as well as wireless headsets paired with smartphones.

Easy to pair with your smartphone, these wireless gadgets have no wires that can get tangled, or that fray and wear out.

Bluetooth headphones also don’t use much power, so, all in all, they’re pretty convenient.

Doesn’t Bluetooth Cause Cancer?

Ever since World War II, people have been worried about the health effects of wireless technologies, and Bluetooth is no different. However the power output of a Bluetooth device is much lower than even a cellphone.

The IEEE—the organization representing engineers and other scientific experts around the world—says the biggest danger from Bluetooth comes from being distracted while you perform day-to-day tasks. The biggest risk of Bluetooth, according to the IEEE, is walking into a pole, or perhaps crashing your car if you aren’t paying attention.

Bluetooth devices don’t emit a lot of power, says the IEEE, so there are no health risks, including cancer, when using the technology.

What to Look For In Bluetooth Wireless Headphones and Earphones

While the iPhone 7’s wireless AirPods are going to cost a ton of money, there are more affordable, high-quality Bluetooth earphones on the market already.

Good acoustic reproduction

Bluetooth earphones and headsets, even if they’re not made by Apple, can be pretty expensive. It’s tempting to look for cheaper headphones. The problem with this strategy? Poor audio quality. So, the first consideration (after your budget) is good audio quality.

Long battery life

While Bluetooth doesn’t use a lot of technology, not every headphone set gets good battery life. It’s a question of engineering. So look for Bluetooth earphones that have at least 5 hours of battery life. This should get you through the day.

Multi-functional and light

There are some Bluetooth rigs that are just gigantic, so be on the lookout for more up-to-date designs that fit lightly into your ear.

Make sure that your headphones are multifunctional as well. All headphones should include a mic, so you can make telephone calls, and a simple switch that allows you to pause audio.

Noise isolation

It’s possible to get headphones with “noise isolation” without having to pay the hefty price of noise-cancellation. While noise cancellation uses expensive technology, “noise isolation” does not make use of any power or electronics to block out surrounding noise. Rather, it employs the choice of optimum construction materials and an ergonomic design to block out as much noise as possible from entering the ear canal. Think of it as sound-proofing for your ears.

Sweat proof

If you go to the gym with your headphones, the sweat from your workout will probably destroy them pretty quickly… unless you purchase headphones that have been designed to deal with sweat and other ambient moisture.

Reasonably priced

While Bluetooth earphones can be pretty pricey, sometimes the big price tag is just a marketing gimmick: “if the headphones are expensive, it means they’re really good, right?”

However, it’s possible to find high-quality Bluetooth earphones for a reasonable price. You don’t have to spend a fortune.

Editor’s Pick: Bauseus Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

So, are there any wireless Bluetooth headphones that meet all of the above criteria? We think so—let’s take a look at Bauseus Bluetooth wireless headphones, featured on CompuCleverGear.com

What we like about Baseus Bluetooth wireless earphones:

• Baseus Bluetooth wireless earphones deliver high quality sound in a compact form while looking simple and elegant
• They have a long 5-hour battery life while playing audio
• There are handy buttons to control volume, accept calls, search for music and more
• The headphones are also designed and manufactured with a water-resistant rating of IPX-4 to be sweat-proof and rain-proof
• Best of all, the earphones are completely cordless

Baseus Bluetooth wireless earphones, along with all other earphones,  are currently on sale at CompuCleverGear.com.

In Conclusion...

Thanks to the ultra-premium (and ultra-expensive) Apple AirPods, Bluetooth technology looks like it's here to stay. Bluetooth is a safe, useful technology, and there are many affordable options that allow audiophiles to go "cord-free."

If you have any questions about Bluetooth, let us know in the comments!

The post What Is Bluetooth, and Does It Cause Cancer? appeared first on CompuClever.

If you have ever experienced a hard drive failure you have probably lost photos, videos and other important files. Or, if you have owned your computer for a while, you’ll probably find you’re running out of space on your hard drive, slowing everything down. Luckily, cloud storage can help you protect your files or free up space on your computer, usually automatically.

However, it can be challenging when trying to choose an online backup and storage service. To make it a little easier, we have described a few of the leading providers, with some pros and cons for each you should be aware of.

Dropbox

Dropbox is one of the most well-known online backup services there is. The free version gives you 2GB of storage to start out, and Dropbox is designed to be installed on your desktop computer in order to sync files with the cloud. You can then share these files with anyone with a link.

Many people use Dropbox as an alternative to Facebook to share family photos. Dropbox also offers a smartphone app that backs up your photos online automatically. The service is also used by businesses to easily share and collaborate on documents.

Dropbox Pros

• If you’re looking for a place to backup your photos and other files, Dropbox is great because its interface mimics the Windows folder interface.
• It’s easy to share files and folders just using a link.
• It’s not actually necessary to download the client to use Dropbox.

Dropbox Cons

• While you start out with 2GB of free storage, getting more storage either costs an annual recurring subscription fee, or is the result of referring friends and family to Dropbox.
• Dropbox sometimes changes its terms on the drop of a dime, meaning you may lose access to your online backup files unless you pay a fee.
• If you already have a Microsoft or Google Account, Dropbox may be redundant.

Google Drive

Google Drive is Google’s comprehensive tool for online backup and storage. In fact, Google Drive is much more than cloud storage—it offers free productivity software similar to Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and more.

Like Dropbox, Google Drive features a sync client you install on your computer that performs automatic backups. And, like Dropbox, Google Drive features a smartphone app so that you can access your photos and files anywhere. It’s also integrated with Google’s free and generally well-regarded online photo manager.

Google Drive works best for anyone with a Gmail account and an Android phone.

Google Drive Pros

• Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage to start, which is more than Dropbox; you can get more storage by installing the Drive app on your iPhone or Android smartphone, or by buying a yearly subscription for a nominal fee.
• Drive is integrated with Google’s free email service Gmail; this makes sharing photos by email easy.

Google Drive Cons

• If you’re not used to it, the user interface can be somewhat confusing.
• If you want to share documents, sometimes whoever you’re sharing them with may be prompted to sign into Gmail.
• Drive’s word processing and spreadsheet programs are not nearly as powerful as their Microsoft counterparts.

OneDrive

OneDrive is Microsoft’s take on online back and storage. In many ways it’s one of the more powerful and versatile cloud storage options available. Like Google Drive and Dropbox, OneDrive uses a sync client you download onto your computer (Windows 10 comes with this utility preinstalled) to automatically backup your important files. And, like Google Drive, OneDrive features its own online suite of productivity applications so you can edit wherever you have an internet connection.

OneDrive starts out at 5GB of free online storage, although anyone with an annual subscription to Office 365 (what used to be called ‘Microsoft Office’) receives  1TB of free storage.

OneDrive Pros

• If you have an Office 365 subscription, that 1TB of online storage is usually more than enough to backup your most important files.
• You don’t need to purchase a subscription to access the free, online version of Word and Excel.
• If you’re a Windows users, the OneDrive user interface is probably the easiest to use.

OneDrive Cons

• For whatever reason, the OneDrive sync client can take up a lot of system resources, slowing down your computer.

iCloud

It may come as a surprise, but Apple’s iCloud online backup and sync service can be used on Windows computers. So, if you have an iPhone and perhaps a Windows laptop this makes it easier to backup and access your files.

Of course, you will need to have purchased an Apple product such as an iPod, iPad, iPhone or Macbook in order to use iCloud.

USB Drives Provide an Extra Layer of Protection

The one drawback to all of these services is that they may all end one day, leaving you with no access to your files in the cloud. So, it’s a good idea to hedge your bets and, while using online storage, take the extra step of backing up your files locally. USB thumb drives are ideal for this task. Inexpensive and capable of storing a lot, USB drives can serve as a “backup of your backup.”

Are you using USB 3.0?

Read our recent article on local storage to learn more more about USB thumb drives.

Or, if you’re interested in trying out USB 3.0 — the latest in USB storage technology — for yourself, the Kingston Digital DataTraveler USB 3.0 flash memory drives are on sale right now on our newly launched hardware site CompuCleverGear.com.

The post Which Free Cloud Storage Service Provider Is Right For You? appeared first on CompuClever.