A: This is one of the most common questions听we hear,听and the good news is that a sluggish computer doesn鈥檛听automatically mean you need to go shopping for a new one.

As always, start with a fresh reboot to replenish resources and finalize听any background updates that may be in process.

In many cases, the issue isn鈥檛 inadequate hardware 鈥� it鈥檚 the way your system is configured. Windows includes several default settings that prioritize background activity over raw performance, and most users never revisit them after the initial setup. While Microsoft has focused heavily on stability in recent years, day-to-day performance still depends on how you manage these “hidden” resource-hogs.

Here are six tips in the settings menu that can improve performance:

Reclaim your startup

Over time, many programs sneak onto your “startup list,” meaning they launch the second you turn on your computer. The more items on that list, the longer it takes to boot and the fewer resources your computer will have for the tasks you actually want to do. Review your startup programs under “Startup apps” in Settings and disabling anything you don鈥檛 need to load automatically.

Silence background apps

Even when you aren鈥檛 actively using them, many apps continue running behind the scenes. This quietly consumes memory, processing power and internet bandwidth. Reviewing app permissions and limiting background activity helps ensure your computer is focused on the window you鈥檙e currently using.

Adjust your power plan

If you use a laptop, Windows often defaults to a “Balanced” power mode to conserve battery life. This places a practical speed limit on your processor. When you鈥檙e plugged into a wall outlet, switching to “High Performance” can noticeably improve responsiveness, especially when multitasking.

Manage aggressive updates

Windows updates are more persistent than they used to be. If your system is downloading or preparing an update in the background, overall performance will slow. In the “Windows Update” section, you can set “Active Hours” so updates do not run while you’re working. You can pause updates for several days of weeks if you鈥檙e in the middle of a big project.

Trim the eye candy

Windows uses visual effects, such as animations, shadows and transparency to make the interface look polished, but these require constant work from your graphics hardware. Turning off these visual flourishes in the “Visual effects” section can make an older or midrange machine feel faster.

Let Storage Sense do the chores

Digital clutter, such as temporary files and leftover system data builds up over time. Instead of cleaning it manually, enable “Storage Sense” in the Storage section. This allows Windows to automatically delete unnecessary files, keeping your system lean without any effort on your part.

It鈥檚 easy to assume a slow computer is outdated, but that鈥檚 often not the case. Windows does more behind the scenes than ever before, and buying a new computer without adjusting or maintaining these settings can lead to similar frustration down the road.

Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of听. Ask any tech question on听or听.

Source

If you missed the panic, consider yourself lucky 鈥� because the scariest version of this story isn’t accurate. But there’s enough truth buried underneath to make it worth your attention.

Here’s what actually happened: In November 2025, a well-respected cybersecurity firm published a report suggesting Gmail’s “Smart Features” settings were being used to train Google’s AI models 鈥� and that users had been silently enrolled.

The story spread like wildfire. Within days, Google pushed back hard, calling the reports “misleading” and stating clearly that Gmail content is not used to train its Gemini AI model and that no settings had been changed.

The cybersecurity firm that started the storm issued a correction, acknowledging it had “contributed to a perfect storm of misunderstanding” caused by Google changing the wording and placement of existing settings 鈥� not the settings themselves. Snopes investigated and reached the same conclusion.

Gmail has always read your emails

What is true is that Gmail does read your emails 鈥� and has for years.

Think of it like hiring a tax accountant. If you want them to do your taxes, they have to see your most personal financial details. That’s not surveillance, that’s the service working.

Gmail scans your messages to power spam filtering, spell check, smart replies, and inbox sorting. These are many helpful features that we’ve counted on for years.

The question isn’t whether Google reads your emails 鈥� it’s whether you’re comfortable with how that data is being used and whether your current settings reflect your actual preferences.

The settings to check

That last part is where this story still has legs.

The controls are genuinely confusing, buried in two separate locations, and some users find themselves reenrolled in features they had previously turned off. That’s worth fixing regardless of the AI training debate.

On desktop, open Gmail and click the gear icon, go to the “General” tab, and look for “Smart Features.” Uncheck it if you prefer to opt out.

Then click “Manage Workspace Smart Features” in that same section and toggle those off as well.

On mobile, go to “Settings,” tap “Data Privacy,” and make the same two changes there.

Keep in mind, all of those helpful “smart” features will no longer work.

Take five minutes for a full privacy checkup

While you’re at it, run Google’s .

It walks you through what activity Google is storing, what you’re sharing across services, and how your ads are being personalized.

Most people have never visited this page despite using Google products every day.

The real lesson here isn’t that Google is secretly training AI on your personal messages. It’s that most of us accepted default settings years ago and never looked back.

That’s the habit worth breaking.

Source

A: Home internet has traditionally meant one thing: wires. Whether cable or fiber, someone had to run a line into your house. A newer option 鈥� 5G home internet 鈥� cuts the cord entirely and delivers service over the same cellular networks your smartphone uses.

The technology has matured quickly and, for many households, it’s no longer a fringe option. The real question is whether it fits your specific situation.

A small gateway device connects to a nearby cell tower and broadcasts Wi-Fi throughout your home. Setup is refreshingly simple 鈥� plug it in, place it near a window, and you’re usually up and running in minutes, with no technician visit required, no drilling and no annual contract.

How it actually performs

Typical speeds range from 100 to 300 Mbps 鈥� more than enough for streaming, video calls and a home full of connected devices, but the tradeoff is consistency.

Unlike a wired connection dedicated to your home, fixed wireless shares tower capacity with nearby users. During peak evening hours in dense neighborhoods, you may notice slowdowns. Rural users, paradoxically, often report the most consistent experience because there’s less competition for tower bandwidth.

If fiber is available at your address, it remains the gold standard for performance and consistency. But if your current option is overpriced cable or a slower DSL, 5G home internet is absolutely worth considering.

The main providers

T-Mobile has the broadest availability and most consistent performance across most markets at around $50-$70 per month with no hard data caps and no annual contracts.

Verizon starts around $35 per month for existing customers for their slower base option and offers a faster 5G tier on its ultra-wideband network 鈥� it鈥檚 the fastest fixed wireless option on the market where it鈥檚 available.

AT&T offers fixed wireless primarily in rural and suburban markets where its fiber build-out hasn’t reached. Speeds and pricing trail the other two, but it’s worth checking if your options are limited.

Mint Mobile launched MINTernet in late 2025 with the most aggressive pricing in the category 鈥� $30 per month for existing Mint customers and $40 as a standalone service. It runs on T-Mobile’s network using similar equipment, so coverage is identical. Two fine-print items worth knowing: data throttles after 1TB monthly and Mint customers may experience lower network priority during peak congestion compared with direct T-Mobile subscribers. It’s a value play, not a performance focused option.

Should you switch?

Fixed wireless is worth a serious look if you’re paying over $80 per month for your current service, if you move frequently, if you’re a snowbird splitting time between homes or if you’re simply tired of promotional rates that expire without warning.

It’s less ideal for households with multiple simultaneous 4K streamers, serious gamers sensitive to latency or anyone in a densely populated area with heavy tower congestion.

It鈥檚 easy to test

There鈥檚 no need to guess whether it鈥檚 effective in your situation. T-Mobile offers a 15-day trial, Verizon offers 30 days and Mint offers 14 days.

Start by entering your address on each provider’s website to confirm availability. Keep in mind, your best deal will likely be with your current cellular provider. Be sure to test thoroughly before you cancel your current home internet service.

Source

A: Private browsing 鈥� called Incognito in Chrome, InPrivate in Edge and Private in Safari and Firefox 鈥� is one of the most widely misunderstood features in consumer technology. Most people assume it hides their online activity. It doesn’t, at least not in the way you may think.

Here’s what private browsing actually does: it prevents your browser from saving your browsing history, cookies, site data and information entered in forms on your local device. When you close the private window, that session disappears from your browser as if it never happened.

That’s genuinely useful in certain situations. If you’re shopping for a surprise gift on a shared computer, searching for a surprise pet on a family laptop or logging into a website on someone else’s machine, private browsing keeps that activity off the local device. For those scenarios, it works exactly as intended.

What it doesn’t do

The privacy ends at your device. Every website you visit, every search you conduct and every video you stream is still fully visible to your internet service provider. Your employer can see everything if you’re using a work network. The websites you visit collect your IP address and can track your behavior just as they would in a normal session.

If you’re on your home network, your router logs that traffic. If you’re at a coffee shop, the network operator can see it too.

In 2024, Google settled a class-action lawsuit originally seeking $5 billion from users who claimed Google misled them about what Incognito mode protected. Google paid no money 鈥� but was required to delete billions of browsing records and update its privacy disclosures

The tracking that follows you everywhere

Even without cookies, advertisers have increasingly sophisticated ways to identify you across sessions 鈥� a technique called “browser fingerprinting.” Your browser’s unique combination of screen resolution, installed fonts, time zone, language settings and dozens of other attributes creates a fingerprint that’s often specific enough to identify you without a single cookie.

Private browsing does nothing to hide your fingerprint, so the websites you鈥檙e visiting will still know it鈥檚 you.

What provides more privacy

If genuine privacy from your ISP and network operator is the goal, a reputable virtual private network is your best tool. It encrypts your traffic and masks your IP address from outside observers 鈥� though the VPN provider itself can still see your activity, so choosing a trustworthy one matters.

A more technical approach is to use 听because it routes your traffic through multiple servers, making tracking significantly harder, though it comes with a noticeable speed tradeoff.

For most people, the right mental model is simple: private browsing hides your activity from others who use the same device. It does not hide your activity from the internet.

Before you rely on it for something sensitive, ask yourself whether your concern is about the person sitting next to you or the companies and networks on the other end of your connection. The answer tells you exactly how much protection you鈥檒l actually have.

Private browsing plus a VPN is the most practical combination for everyday users who want reasonable protection without technical complexity.

Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of听. Ask any tech question on听or听.

Source

A: Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday life, which has a lot of people wondering what it means for their jobs and businesses. From writing emails to generating computer code, AI systems are getting better at handling tasks that used听to require a human touch.

That naturally leads to the question: which businesses are safest from AI disruption?

The short answer is that the businesses least likely to be replaced by AI tend to involve physical work, human relationships or unpredictable real-world environments. AI excels at processing information, but the real world is still messy, complicated and very human.

Hands-on work still wins

Many of the hardest jobs to automate involve skilled trades that require working with your hands in constantly changing environments. Think electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and auto mechanics. Every home, building or vehicle presents a slightly different challenge requiring experience and real-time problem-solving.

AI can help diagnose problems faster, but someone still has to show up with tools and fix the issue. The same applies to landscapers, house cleaners, movers and pest control crews 鈥� work that must be done on-site and in person, every time.

Health care and caregiving

This is arguably the largest AI-resistant sector, and it often gets overlooked.

Nurses, home health aides, physical therapists and eldercare workers rely on human presence, physical touch and emotional attunement in ways that technology simply cannot replicate. The same is true for child care workers and mental health professionals 鈥� therapists and counselors provide something that goes well beyond information processing.

As our population ages, demand for these services will only grow, making them among the most durable careers of the next generation.

Trust and relationships matter

Another resistant category involves businesses built around personal trust and judgment. Financial advisers, attorneys, real estate professionals and consultants all rely on relationships that clients value when making major decisions.

It’s also worth noting that some of these professions carry legal and licensing barriers that limit how much AI can formally replace them 鈥� not just cultural preference, but regulatory reality.

The real-world problem solvers

Ironically, businesses that fix and support technology may become more important as AI advances.

As devices, networks and smart systems grow more complex, the average person often feels more overwhelmed 鈥� not less. When something stops working or a security issue appears, people want a real person to explain what happened and help solve it. That’s one reason technology support services remain in strong demand even as the technology itself grows more powerful.

Keeping the fear in perspective

Concerns about technology eliminating all work are not new. People worried that ATMs would wipe out bank tellers, that spreadsheets would eliminate accountants, and that e-commerce would end retail entirely. In each case, the technology changed those fields significantly 鈥� but didn’t erase them.

AI will almost certainly follow a similar pattern. The most dramatic predictions tend to underestimate how much humans adapt, how many new roles emerge and how deeply people still want human connection in the work that matters most to them.

AI as a tool, not a replacement

The key takeaway is that AI will transform many industries without eliminating the need for people. Businesses built entirely around digital information processing face the most exposure. But businesses grounded in physical work, caregiving, real-world problem solving and human relationships are built to last.

There’s听even an upside: as knowledge听work gets disrupted, skilled trades and care professions may see a surge in demand and wages 鈥� not just survival, but a long-overdue recognition of their value.

Source

A: Tax scams aren鈥檛 new 鈥� but the technology behind them has changed dramatically. In 2026, criminals aren鈥檛 just sending sloppy phishing emails. They鈥檙e using artificial intelligence, stolen data, voice cloning, deepfake video and even legitimate tax preparer credentials to manufacture trust.

AI-generated IRS emails and text messages

Phishing messages are now polished, personalized and timed perfectly with filing season. AI tools allow scammers to craft messages that read as if they came straight from a government agency.

You might receive a text that says your refund is 鈥渙n hold鈥� pending verification. The link takes you to a website that looks nearly identical to IRS.gov but is designed to capture your Social Security number and bank details.

The IRS does not听initiate听contact through unsolicited text messages or听emails. If you get one,听don鈥檛听click 鈥� navigate directly to the official website yourself.

Voice cloning and AI phone calls

One of the more unsettling trends this year is AI-powered voice impersonation.

Scammers can now generate realistic voices that sound calm and authoritative. Some calls claim to be from an IRS enforcement unit demanding immediate payment or a non-existent 鈥榯ax resolution and assistance office鈥�. Others impersonate certified public accountants or financial advisers requesting tax documents.

The technology doesn鈥檛 have to be perfect 鈥� it just needs to sound real long enough to create urgency. The IRS does not call demanding immediate payment or ask for gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.

Early filing fraud

Identity theft听remains听a major threat, but technology has made it more efficient.

Using data gathered from prior breaches, criminals file fraudulent returns before you do and route the refund to their own accounts. You only discover the problem when your legitimate return is rejected.

Filing early and requesting an can significantly reduce this risk.

Fake tax preparers and PTIN abuse

Another听trend in 2026 involves tax preparer credentials.

Every paid preparer must have a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number). Scammers are now displaying fake PTINs in online ads to appear legitimate. Others are stealing real PTINs from preparers and filing fraudulent returns using those credentials.

You might hire someone promising a 鈥渕aximum refund guarantee,鈥� see what looks like valid credentials and later discover false information was filed in your name.

Always verify a preparer鈥檚 PTIN through the

Check whether they are a CPA, enrolled agent or licensed attorney.

Bad tax advice going viral

Another growing issue听isn鈥檛听impersonation 鈥斕齣t鈥檚听misinformation.

Social media posts and influencer-style videos are promoting 鈥渓ittle-known credits鈥� or self-employment refunds that many people听don鈥檛听qualify for. The posts often link to unofficial preparation services that collect your personal information 鈥� or encourage filing claims that can trigger audits and penalties.

Highly personalized scam attempts

Because criminals can now purchase and aggregate personal data, scam messages are much more targeted. A fake IRS email might reference your employer or your city. That personalization isn鈥檛 proof of legitimacy, but it is proof that your data is circulating.

How to protect yourself

Technology is making听scams听more convincing, but the fundamentals听haven鈥檛听changed:

• Don鈥檛听click links in unsolicited messages
• Navigate directly to official websites
• Use multifactor authentication
• File early
• Verify preparer credentials independently

Scammers听are blending听AI,听personalization听and stolen data to create schemes that feel real. Your best defense听isn鈥檛听being a cybersecurity expert 鈥斕齣t鈥檚听slowing down, verifying听everything听and refusing to let urgency override common sense.

Source

A: The recent headlines about investigators retrieving video from a doorbell camera 鈥� even without an active subscription 鈥� have understandably made people uneasy.

If you have cameras inside or outside your home, it鈥檚 natural to wonder: Is everything I鈥檓 doing being stored somewhere? And who can access it?

The short answer is that your cameras are almost certainly capable of capturing more than you realize, but that doesn鈥檛 automatically mean you should panic.

Let鈥檚 break it down.

How home cameras store video

Most doorbell and security cameras are cloud-connected. When they detect motion, clips are transmitted to company servers. A paid plan usually determines how long you can view and store those clips in your account.

Even without a subscription, short-term data may briefly pass through back end systems before being deleted. That technical nuance is what fueled concern in the case of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

If footage exists on a provider鈥檚 servers 鈥� even temporarily 鈥� it can potentially be obtained through proper legal process, just like email or social media data.

That doesn鈥檛 mean someone is casually watching your feeds. It does mean cloud-connected devices create digital trails.

What about cameras in TVs, laptops and phones?

This is where fear tends to outpace reality.

Most smart TVs today do not include cameras. A handful of older models once offered built-in cameras for video calls or gesture control, but the feature never gained traction.

If your TV has a camera, it will be obvious 鈥� typically centered at the top bezel or retractable. If you don鈥檛 see one, you likely don鈥檛 have one.

Laptops, tablets and smartphones absolutely do have cameras and microphones, and they are internet-connected by design.

However, modern operating systems tightly control camera access. Apps must request permission before using the camera, and visual indicators now appear when the camera or microphone is active.

On iPhones and many Android devices, you鈥檒l see a green dot when the camera is in use.

On Windows and Mac laptops, an indicator light is wired to the camera hardware itself, so it physically illuminates when the camera is powered on.

The far more common threat isn鈥檛 secret government monitoring 鈥� it鈥檚 malware or a compromised account granting unauthorized access.

Should you cover them?

Covering a laptop camera is a reasonable precaution if it gives you peace of mind. A simple sliding webcam cover works well and won鈥檛 damage the device.

On smartphones and tablets, covering the camera isn鈥檛 practical. Instead, focus on:

• Keeping your operating system updated
• Installing apps only from official app stores
• Reviewing camera permissions in settings
• Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication

smart TVs without cameras don鈥檛 need covers. If yours does have one and you don鈥檛 use it, disable it in settings or physically cover it.

Where you should be most careful

Interior security cameras pose the highest privacy risk because they鈥檙e intentionally designed to stream and record.

Before installing them, ask yourself if the benefit outweighs the exposure. Hallways and entry points are one thing. Bedrooms and bathrooms are another.

Technology isn鈥檛 inherently invasive 鈥� poor security habits are.

Understand which devices actually have cameras, know how they store data and secure your accounts properly.

If a small piece of tape over a webcam helps you sleep better, that鈥檚 fine too.

Peace of mind comes from understanding your tech, not fearing it.

Source

A: Lightweight laptops are incredibly popular right now, and for good reason. If you travel, commute or simply move around the house a lot, carrying a three-pound laptop instead of what feels like a load of bricks can make a big difference.

But going lighter isn鈥檛 just about weight. It comes with some trade-offs you should understand before you make your final decision.

Start with weight 鈥� but don鈥檛 stop there

For most people, 鈥渓ightweight鈥� means something in the 2.5- to 3.5-pound range. That usually puts you in the 13- to 14-inch screen category, which strikes a nice balance between portability and usability.

Smaller machines are easier to carry, but they also come with smaller keyboards and screens. If you spend hours typing or working in spreadsheets, that compact design may start to feel cramped.

Performance still matters

A thin laptop shouldn鈥檛 mean a slow laptop. Look for a current-generation Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7 processor. For RAM, I鈥檇 opt for 16GB to extend the computer鈥檚 usable life.

Where lightweight systems often compromise is cooling. Thinner machines have less room for fans, which means under heavier workloads 鈥� video editing, gaming or large spreadsheets 鈥� performance can throttle to keep temperatures under control. They鈥檙e designed for efficiency, not sustained horsepower.

Storage and speed

Make sure it has a solid-state drive (SSD) that鈥檚 at least 256GB. If you don鈥檛 do everything in the cloud or plan to install a lot of programs, I鈥檇 recommend 512GB or more.

It鈥檚 also smart to check how much storage your current computer is using so you have a realistic sense of your needs.

Battery life: A bright spot

One area where lightweight laptops shine is battery life. Efficient processors and solid-state storage mean many will run 8 to 12 hours on a charge. That鈥檚 a real advantage if you work remotely or travel frequently.

Just remember that manufacturer claims are optimistic. Real-world usage will likely be less 鈥� and battery performance will gradually decline over time.

Ports and connectivity

Thin laptops often sacrifice ports. You may get two USB-C ports and that鈥檚 it. If you rely on USB-A devices, HDMI connections or SD card slots, you might need external hubs or a docking station.

Adapters aren鈥檛 the end of the world, but they鈥檙e one more thing to carry 鈥� and potentially forget.

Build quality and durability

Lightweight often means thinner materials, so look for models made from aluminum or magnesium alloy. Budget lightweight systems may use flexible plastic that won鈥檛 stand up to years of heavy use.

The major trade-offs

Here are the biggest trade-offs: most lightweight laptops have nonupgradeable memory and storage, so what you buy is what you have to live with.

Going lightweight means choosing portability over raw power and expandability.

If your daily routine involves web browsing, email, documents, streaming and video calls, a lightweight laptop should be more than enough. If you regularly edit large videos, game heavily or run demanding software, you may feel constrained.

For most people, the sweet spot is a 13- or 14-inch laptop around three pounds, with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That combination delivers mobility without long-term frustration.

Source

A: If searching your photos 鈥� and especially your videos 鈥� feels worse than it used to, you鈥檙e not imagining it. Many users can no longer find pictures or clips they know are there, even though the same searches worked perfectly fine in the past.

The issue isn鈥檛 that your content disappeared; it鈥檚 that Google Photos changed how its search works 鈥� and not in a way that always matches how we remember things.

From keywords to confidence scores

Google Photos used to behave like a filing system. If a photo had location data, dates or simple tags, search would show it 鈥� even if the match wasn鈥檛 perfect.

Now, search is driven by artificial intelligence that tries to interpret what鈥檚 actually in your photos and videos. It looks for faces, objects, scenes, text and activities, then assigns an internal confidence score. Only photos and videos that pass their 鈥渃onfidence threshold鈥� appear in search results.

That鈥檚 the key change, and the main source of frustration for users.

Why simple searches work better than specific ones

When you search for one word, such as 鈥渄olphin,鈥� Google only has to answer a single question: Is there a dolphin here? That鈥檚 often easy, so results appear.

But when you search 鈥渄olphins in Greece,鈥� Google treats that as one combined idea. Now it must be confident about multiple things at once: that there are dolphins, that there may be more than one and that the photo or video was taken in Greece. If any part of that is uncertain 鈥� weak GPS data, offshore photos or older images 鈥� the result gets filtered out.

Nothing is missing. The AI just isn鈥檛 confident enough to show it.

Why videos are even worse

Videos suffer the most under this system. A photo is judged from one moment. A video contains hundreds or thousands of frames, and Google has to decide what the video is about.

If a dolphin appears briefly in a long ocean clip, the AI may decide it鈥檚 an 鈥渙cean video,鈥� not a 鈥渄olphin video.鈥� If a sunset only dominates part of the clip, it may not count as a sunset at all. If the main subject isn鈥檛 obvious across most frames, the video often won鈥檛 show up in a search.

That鈥檚 why scrolling by date and scrubbing through videos still works 鈥� search hides uncertainty, scrolling shows everything.

There鈥檚 no way to go back but you can make searching better

Many people look for a setting to turn the AI off. In most versions of Google Photos, there isn鈥檛 one anymore. AI-based search is now baked into the core of the app. The old keyword-driven system is gone.

So instead of changing the app, you have to change how you search in it.

Start broad, then narrow:

• Search for the strongest visual concept (鈥渄olphin,鈥� 鈥渟unset,鈥� 鈥渞eceipt鈥�)
• Then, narrow by date or suggested location
• Avoid stacking multiple ideas into one search

For anything that really matters:

• Add a short caption (for example 鈥渄olphins in Greece鈥�)
• Put photos and videos into albums with descriptions
• Mark key items as favorites

Captions and albums don鈥檛 rely on AI confidence 鈥� they give the system anchors it won鈥檛 second-guess.

Source

If you鈥檝e ever searched for ways to clean up or speed up your Windows PC, you鈥檝e probably seen plenty of third-party utilities promising dramatic results. Microsoft鈥檚 answer to that category is Microsoft PC Manager, a free tool designed to bundle several basic system-maintenance features into one place. The big question is whether it actually adds value 鈥� or just duplicates what Windows already does.

What PC Manager is trying to do

PC Manager is essentially a dashboard. It pulls together tools that already exist in Windows and presents them with big buttons and simplified language. The main features include a one-click 鈥渂oost鈥� that clears temporary files and closes background processes, basic storage cleanup, startup app management, a health check and quick access to Windows security settings.

None of these tools are new. Disk cleanup, startup controls, virus protection and memory management have been part of Windows for years. PC Manager鈥檚 goal is convenience, not innovation.

Where it can be useful

For less technical users, PC Manager can act as a gentle guide. Instead of hunting through Settings menus, you get a single app that points out common issues, such as low storage, too many startup apps or outdated updates. If you like the idea of a 鈥渃ontrol panel鈥� that simplifies decisions and nudges you toward good habits, PC Manager can serve that role.

It鈥檚 also relatively safe compared to many third-party 鈥渙ptimizer鈥� tools. There are no ads, no scare tactics, and no attempts to upswell you into a paid version. That alone puts it ahead of much of the competition.

Where it falls short

Despite the name, PC Manager doesn鈥檛 actually manage your PC in any deep or intelligent way. The 鈥渂oost鈥� feature clears temporary files and frees memory, but Windows already does this automatically when it needs to. Closing background apps may give you a short-term sense of speed, but it rarely produces lasting performance gains.

There are no shortcuts when your computer has built up a bit of a mess.

Another limitation is transparency. PC Manager doesn鈥檛 always explain what it鈥檚 changing or why it matters. For example, a health warning might sound urgent even when the issue is minor or already handled by Windows in the background.

Should you use it?

If your computer is running well, you really don鈥檛 need PC Manager. Windows 10 and 11 already include built-in tools that quietly handle security, storage management and performance tuning without your involvement. Adding another layer doesn鈥檛 make your PC healthier.

If you enjoy simple dashboards and want an easy way to review basic system status, PC Manager won鈥檛 hurt anything. Just don鈥檛 expect it to magically speed up an aging computer or fix underlying hardware problems.

A slow PC is usually slowed down by too many startup programs, low storage, outdated hardware or software conflicts 鈥� not by a lack of cleanup tools. No app can compensate for those fundamentals.

PC Manager is fine as a convenience tool, but it鈥檚 not essential. Think of it as a simplified window into Windows 鈥� not a tuneup technician.

Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of . Ask any tech question on or .

Source

A: If you鈥檝e traveled internationally lately, you鈥檝e probably seen eSIM ads everywhere: 鈥淚nstant data in 190 countries!鈥� 鈥淣o SIM card needed!鈥� And the convenience is real. You land, scan a QR code, and you鈥檙e online.

But the question many may have is: are eSIMs safe to use?

In general, yes 鈥� eSIMs are very safe. The bigger risk usually isn鈥檛 the eSIM technology, it鈥檚 choosing the wrong provider that doesn鈥檛 have good coverage or services for the country you鈥檙e visiting.

What is an eSIM?

An embedded Subscriber Identity Module, or eSIM, is simply a digital version of the little plastic SIM card that used to live in your phone. It stores the information your phone needs to connect to a cellular network. Instead of swapping cards, you download a plan onto your phone using a QR code or an app.

From a security standpoint, eSIMs can actually be more secure than physical SIMs because they can鈥檛 be removed and inserted into another device as easily.

The real safety question: who are you buying it from?

Most travel eSIM providers are legitimate, but the market has attracted plenty of 鈥渢oo-good-to-be-true鈥� deals. A questionable provider may not 鈥渉ack鈥� your phone, but they can still create problems: unreliable coverage, confusing limitations, poor support or sloppy handling of your personal information. Some may also not include voice or SMS services.

How to spot a reputable eSIM provider

Here鈥檚 a quick checklist to use:

• Independent reviews: Look beyond app store ratings. Search for real traveler feedback on Reddit, Trustpilot and other travel forums. Consistent reports across multiple trips matter more than five-star hype.
• Transparency: Reputable providers clearly list supported countries, expected speeds, hot spot rules and which local networks they use. Vague details are a red flag.
• Reasonable pricing: If the plan is unbelievably cheap, there鈥檚 usually a catch: throttled speeds, weak coverage or restrictions that appear after you鈥檝e already paid.
• Customer support: Test them before you fly. Send a question and see if you get a clear, human response.
• Refund and expiration policies: Good companies spell out how long the plan lasts and what happens if you don鈥檛 use it.

Names that often听come up in traveler discussions include Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily and Ubigi. You still need to compare plans by country and usage, but those are commonly used options.

Before you buy anything, check your home carrier

This is the step many people skip. Your current provider may offer an international day pass or travel plan that keeps your normal number active. That can be a big deal because your phone number is tied to important things like banking alerts and two-factor authentication codes.

Home-carrier plans are often more expensive than travel eSIM data, but they鈥檙e usually the simplest option for short trips or for anyone who doesn鈥檛 want to troubleshoot their settings while overseas.

Don鈥檛 forget the basics

Even with a good eSIM, your phone still needs good security habits: keep your operating system updated, use a strong passcode, enable Face ID/Touch ID and turn on two-factor authentication. If you鈥檙e doing banking or business work abroad, using a VPN is still a smart extra layer.

Source

A: If your laptop鈥檚 mouse pad (aka the trackpad or touch pad) has started acting up, it鈥檚 not uncommon. If it鈥檚 smooth and accurate one day, and the next it鈥檚 skipping, lagging, ignoring taps or randomly sending your cursor on a sightseeing tour, the cause can range from a dirty pad or fingers to software issues.

The good news is that most trackpad problems can be fixed in just a few minutes.

Start with the simplest fix: Clean it

Trackpads are extremely sensitive to oils from your fingers, hand lotion, food residue or just everyday grime. Even a thin film can reduce accuracy and make the pointer feel 鈥渟lippery鈥� or unpredictable.

Power down the laptop and use a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with water. If it鈥檚 really greasy, use a tiny amount of isopropyl alcohol on the cloth 鈥� not directly on the laptop. Wipe the pad and the area where your palm rests, then let it dry completely before turning it back on.

And, yes, washing your hands helps too. A trackpad can be a drama queen about clean fingers.

Stop the cursor jumping while you type

If your cursor jumps around while you鈥檙e typing, your palms may be brushing the trackpad. Most laptops have palm rejection, but it鈥檚 not perfect.

On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > TouchPad and look for sensitivity options. On a Mac, go to System Settings > Trackpad and adjust tracking speed and tap-to-click behavior.

If you do a lot of typing, try turning off 鈥渢ap to click鈥� and relying on the physical click instead. It can reduce accidental clicks dramatically.

Use keyboard shortcuts to avoid right-clicking

When your trackpad is finicky, right-clicking can feel like trying to thread a needle while riding a roller coaster. The solution is to let your keyboard do more of the heavy lifting.

On Windows, Shift + F10 or Fn + Shift + F10 opens the same menu you鈥檇 normally get from a right-click. Many keyboards also have a 鈥渕enu key鈥� near the right side that does the same thing. On a Mac, Control + Click brings up the right-click menu without requiring a perfect two-finger tap.

And, while we鈥檙e at it, don鈥檛 forget the classics: Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + C / Command + V (Mac) for copy and paste.

If your trackpad is acting up, keyboard shortcuts can keep you productive without fighting the cursor.

Update the drivers (it matters more than you think)

On Windows laptops, trackpads rely on drivers, and outdated or buggy drivers can cause lag, gesture failures or scrolling issues. Visit your laptop manufacturer鈥檚 support site and download the latest touch pad driver for your exact model.

Mac users don鈥檛 manage trackpad drivers directly, but keeping macOS updated achieves the same goal.

Watch for a bigger problem: Battery swelling

If your trackpad suddenly feels stiff, won鈥檛 click normally, or behaves erratically, check the bottom of the laptop. A swollen battery can press upward and interfere with the trackpad mechanism.

If you see bulging, stop using the laptop and get it checked immediately as this could become a fire hazard.

Now, if all else fails, you can purchase an inexpensive wireless mouse and turn off the trackpad altogether.

Source

A: When a computer starts crawling, most people assume it鈥檚 old, broken or infected. In reality, it鈥檚 often just overwhelmed. One misbehaving app, too many open browser tabs, or background process can bring an otherwise healthy system to its knees. The fastest way to see what鈥檚 really going on is a built-in tool called Task Manager.

On a Windows PC, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open it instantly. If you see a very simple window, click “more details” at the bottom to unlock the full troubleshooting tool.

Start with the ‘processes’ tab

The “processes” tab shows everything currently running, grouped by apps, background processes and Windows processes. Across the top, you鈥檒l see columns for CPU, memory, disk and network usage. The numbers being displayed are your clues to what鈥檚 using the most resources.

Click on the “CPU” column to sort from highest to lowest. If something is constantly pegged at a high percentage when you鈥檙e not actively using it, that鈥檚 a red flag. The same goes for the “memory” column 鈥� if one app is consuming gigabytes of working memory (RAM), it can starve everything else and cause slowdowns.

Disk usage is another common culprit. If the percentage for the “disk” usage sits above 75% to 80% for long stretches, especially on older hard drives, the system will feel painfully sluggish. Sorting by “disk” quickly shows which process or application is doing the most reading and writing.

Don鈥檛 panic 鈥� interpret

Seeing high numbers doesn鈥檛 automatically mean something is wrong. Video calls, photo editing, cloud backups and software updates all legitimately use lots of resources. The key question is whether the activity makes sense for what you鈥檙e doing.

If your computer is slow and the top offender is a program you don鈥檛 recognize 鈥� or one you鈥檙e not actively using 鈥� that鈥檚 when it鈥檚 time to dig deeper.

Use end task carefully

If an app is clearly frozen or misbehaving, you can right-click it and choose “end task.” This forces it to close. Stick to obvious apps like browsers or third-party software. Avoid ending Windows system processes unless you鈥檙e absolutely sure what they do. When in doubt, leave it alone.

Check the startup tab

Many slowdowns happen before you even start working. Float your mouse over the icons along the left side until you see “startup apps,” which will show you what programs launch when Windows boots. You鈥檒l often find cloud tools, updaters and helper apps quietly starting every time and reducing your overall resources.

Look at the “startup impact” column. If something is marked “high” and you don鈥檛 need it running constantly, right-click and select “disable.” This doesn鈥檛 uninstall the program, though, it just stops it from auto-launching.

Performance gives the big picture

The “performance” tab shows real-time graphs for CPU, memory, disk and network. This helps answer a different question: is your computer simply underpowered for what you鈥檙e asking it to do?

If memory usage is always near the limit, or your CPU is maxed out during routine tasks, hardware limitations may be your problem.

Clean up or upgrade

When memory resource usage is always high, you can either reduce the load by clearing out unnecessary items or upgrade the RAM to better match how you use your computer.

If your computer hasn鈥檛 been cleaned up in a while, that would be your best first step to better performance and to fully determine if upgrading is even necessary.

Source

A: If your Gmail account is warning you that storage is full 鈥� or worse, rejecting new messages 鈥� you鈥檙e running into a common problem: your Google account only includes 15GB of free space, and that total is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. That means you can delete hundreds of emails and still be out of room if your drive or photo library are stuffed with old files or backups.

Before deleting anything, the smartest first step is understanding what鈥檚 actually using the space. will show you a breakdown so you know where to focus your efforts.

Start with the quick wins

Two spots to check right away are your spam and trash folders. Anything sitting in either of those still counts against your limit until you permanently remove it.

Think of trash like a holding tank; nothing really disappears until you empty it yourself. Doing this alone can free up space in seconds, especially if you鈥檝e deleted a lot of items recently.

Hunt down the space hogs

Big attachments are the usual suspects. Instead of scrolling forever, use Gmail鈥檚 built-in search filters.

Typing 鈥渉as:attachment larger: 10M鈥� will round up the emails carrying the heaviest load. Once you delete them, make sure to empty trash again to actually reclaim the storage 鈥� otherwise, it鈥檚 like taking out the garbage but leaving the bin in the kitchen.

If you鈥檝e been using the same Gmail address for years, chances are you have thousands of messages you鈥檒l never need again. Searches like 鈥渙lder_than: 1y or even older_than: 5y鈥� can help you resurface the dead weight. Newsletters, automated receipts, outdated photos and long-finished conversations are all fair game for cleanup.

Automate the cleanup going forward

A smart long-term approach is that automatically archive or delete specific categories of email 鈥� newsletters, marketing mail, social media notifications, etc.

You can even apply these filters to existing messages to clear them out retroactively. This turns maintenance into a background task rather than an emergency project.

Don鈥檛 forget the other culprits: drive and photos

Here鈥檚 where many people get stuck: Gmail isn鈥檛 always the real problem. If you work with large files in drive or have years of full-resolution photos backed up, those may be eating the bulk of your 15GB.

Visit to sort drive files by size and remove the worst offenders. Check for large videos and images in Google Photos as well, especially if you鈥檝e been backing up in 鈥渙riginal鈥� quality. And just like Gmail, both services have trash bins that must be emptied to finalize the space recovery.

If cleanup isn鈥檛 enough

There comes a point where manual cleanup isn鈥檛 worth the time, especially if you rely on Gmail for work or family communication.

In that case, upgrading to a paid Google One plan might make sense. It鈥檚 inexpensive, gives you more breathing room and avoids the constant delete-and-empty cycle.

The bottom line

Start with the easy fixes, target the biggest files, automate future cleanup and remember that Gmail isn鈥檛 the only piece of the puzzle. A little focused maintenance can save you some money and a lot of frustration, and ensure important messages aren鈥檛 bouncing when you need them most.

Source

A:听Upgrading to a new smartphone is exciting, but it comes with some trepidation as it pertains to transferring your personal data and files. Photos, messages, apps, passwords, and settings are spread across your device, and missing even one category can cause headaches later. The good news is that today鈥檚 phones handle transfers well, but it pays to be methodical and prepared in the event things don鈥檛 go as planned.

Start With a Verified Backup

Before touching the new phone, confirm that your old one has a recent, successful backup. On iPhones, that usually means iCloud; on Android phones, it鈥檚 tied to your Google account. Don鈥檛 assume it鈥檚 happening automatically. Plug the phone in, connect to Wi-Fi, and find the settings that allow you to do a manual backup as this becomes your insurance policy if anything goes wrong

Use the Built-In Transfer Process First

During the initial setup of your new phone, both Apple and Google will ask if you want to transfer data from another device. Follow those prompts carefully. A direct phone-to-phone transfer using Wi-Fi or a cable is typically faster and more complete than restoring from the cloud, especially for large photo libraries and messages.

If the process completes without errors, you鈥檙e usually in good shape 鈥� but don鈥檛 assume you鈥檙e done yet.

Be Prepared for a Manual Restore

Sometimes transfers fail partway through, stall indefinitely, or skip certain data. When that happens, don鈥檛 panic. Both platforms allow you to wipe the new phone and start over using a manual restore.

On an iPhone, this means erasing the device and restoring directly from an iCloud backup or a computer backup if you created one. On Android, you can factory reset and restore from your Google backup during setup. Manual restores take longer, but they鈥檙e often more reliable when something doesn鈥檛 transfer cleanly the first time.

Check the 鈥淗idden鈥� Data

Photos and contacts are easy to spot, but less obvious data matters just as much. Verify text messages, call history, notes, calendars, reminders, and voicemail. Open your email app and confirm all accounts are present and syncing. If you use a password manager, make sure it鈥檚 signed in and unlocking properly.

Test Your Critical Apps

Apps usually reinstall automatically, but settings and logins often don鈥檛. Open key apps one by one 鈥� banking, travel, health, smart-home, and work apps 鈥� and confirm they鈥檙e functioning normally. Expect to reenter passwords or complete two-factor authentication; that鈥檚 normal and a good security safeguard.

Double-Check Photos and Videos

If you rely on cloud photo storage, give it time to finish syncing. Scroll back several years to confirm older photos and videos are present. If you don鈥檛 use cloud storage, manually copy photos to a computer before retiring the old phone.

Don鈥檛 Rush to Erase the Old Phone

Keep your old phone intact for several days or weeks if necessary.听That buffer gives you time to spot anything missing and recover it easily.

Once you鈥檙e confident everything transferred correctly, sign out of your accounts and perform a full factory reset. A careful upgrade now prevents permanent data loss later 鈥� and will make the new phone feel like home.

Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of . Ask any tech question on or .

Source