What’s the most important piece of tech that helps you get online? A router! Listen to this one-minute podcast for an easy way to find the best router for your home.
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Being stalked through your devices? Take these steps now
I’ve been answering tech and digital-lifestyle questions on my national radio show and podcast for many years. At this point, I’ve heard it all. I also notice trends. Sometimes, everyone wants to know about app privacy. Use these steps to stop companies and people from tracking your every move.
More and more, I’m hearing from people who are being stalked online — or who suspect they are. Here’s how to tell if you’re being paranoid or being watched.
For those being stalked or digitally harassed, it’s a terrifying experience and one to take very seriously. Here’s my guide to protecting yourself online.
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A note about stalkers and digital spies
One of my listeners, Rhonda from Boston, called because a hacker had been tormenting her for seven years. They disabled her home security system, broke into her car, and changed her passwords. Jill from Phoenix said she’s been dealing with similar invasive issues for two years.
One family’s issues ended with an arrest after a stalker tricked the college-aged daughter of a caller to my show. Find out how my team and I helped her out here—scary stuff.
In my experience, these stalkers are almost always people who are or were close to the victim.
If something strange happens — your passwords are hacked, someone is logging in to your accounts, you find an AirTag on your car or in your bag — consider who in your life could be behind it.
I don’t say this to scare or make you question your friends and loved ones. Instead, finding out who is behind these invasions can often take a long time, and you need to think logically from the start.
PRIVACY SMARTS: How to catch anyone spying on your text messages
Start with your router
5 ways to increase your PC's download speed
You may have a poor internet connection if downloads take forever to reach 100%. Outages or poorly-constructed websites could also be to blame. Whatever the cause is, try these tricks to increase the download speed on your PC.
Free stuff you get with your cable subscription
Here at Komando HQ, we’ve written a lot of guides about cutting the cord. Here’s a five-step plan you can follow to ditch cable and start streaming. But sticking to cable has its upsides.
In fact, some cable packages include free streaming subscriptions, which means you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, it can be time-consuming to research all the cable TV perks out there.
Tidy your tech: Best cable organization and cord management options
Everyone seems to own laptops, smartphones, desktop computers, Internet of Things devices and so much more. It’s great to be connected, but what isn’t great is all those tangled cords.
Thankfully, there are tons of organizing tools to choose from. Whether you want to hide those cables swinging from your TV or move the wires out of your way on your computer desk, we’ve got the right organizers for you.
Username mistakes you're making that put you at risk online
When it comes to online security, you’ll hear plenty of chatter about passwords. And for good reason. Strong, unique passwords are among the first lines of defense against hackers, spammers and scammers.
We’ve been trained to use good password practices for some time. Most websites request a mix of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, special characters and any combination. But there’s more to creating a secure password. Tap or click here for 10 tips to lock down your accounts with strong passwords.
5 common mistakes that are slowing down your Wi-Fi
If only the calendar flipping over to a new year erased our tech problems. You can do a lot to make your digital life easier in 2023. Start with clearing your inbox. You deserve to hit zero at least once. Tap or click for the quick way I do it.
Must-do tech cleanups for your inbox, network and gadgets
The best way to embark on a new year is to start fresh. After all, you can’t make a new beginning if you’re tied to the past. Tech issues can hold you back when you’re trying to leap forward.
Cleaning up your tech is one of the best ways to obtain a clean slate. By tidying up your tech, you can ensure they’re working in tip-top shape. Tap or click here for five ways to quickly clean up digital junk.
Where to put your router for better speeds
If you sink a ton of money into a high-performing router, you probably expect it to function perfectly. Though, just buying a good router isn’t enough. You need to put it in the ideal spot to maximize efficiency.
Regarding routers, it’s all about location, location, location. By that, we mean you need to think about anything that could obstruct its signals.
Essential privacy and security steps if you unwrapped a tech gift this year
Most tech is easy enough to set up and start using. The secret Big Tech companies don’t want you to know? Some settings are great for them but not for you. Tap or click for privacy defaults you need to change.
It’s never too late to go back and change your settings or do some cleanup to get more years out of even an older gadget. Tap or click for the smartphone cleanup you need to do if yours is more than three months old.
3 simple ways to make your Wi-Fi faster and more stable
Game time. Work time. Chill time. All rely on lightning-fast Wi-Fi. Little is more frustrating than slow internet.
Many things can cause your connection to falter from unauthorized users to a poorly-placed router and even an outdated modem. What’s the best way to get faster internet? We can help.
The greatest gift: Fix your family's tech this holiday season
We’re well into the holiday season and you’re probably planning lots of get-togethers. Want to be the star of the party? Bring along some beautiful memories, but leave the projector behind. Tap or click here to convert old VHS tapes to digital in time for the holidays.
5 ways tech can help you feel safer at home
When I host a national radio show and podcast about all things tech, digital security is always in every program. Take your home’s router, for instance. An outdated model can put your entire network, files, and anything connected to it at risk for hackers. Tap or click for five reasons you need to replace that old router.
Is your ISP throttling your speeds? Here’s how to check
Websites seem sluggish and downloads take forever. It’s frustrating — especially when you’re paying for high-speed internet.
First, make sure it’s not just you. When I’m unsure if slow speeds or timeouts are part of a more significant issue, I hit Down Detector to see if others reported the same problem. Tap or click for a direct link and a few other tricks if a website won’t load.
Security tip: 5 reasons you need to replace your router now
Your router is responsible for sending Wi-Fi signals to your phone, laptop, smart TV, security cameras and more. This makes you especially vulnerable if your router is hacked. Yes, that can happen.
Chinese threat actors are going after routers, telephone networks and online storage and using their combined power to target critical and military targets, steal login credentials and hijack banking information. Tap or click here to secure your home network.
Chinese hackers are going after American routers - How to protect yours
Your router is a crucial part of your home’s connection. It’s the primary way the internet gets into your house, and it sends out the Wi-Fi signal that connects all your wireless devices.
Has it been years since you updated your router? We put together a quick quiz to help you choose the perfect model for your home and needs. This is a must if your connection is spotty and your router isn’t equipped with the latest security standards. Tap or click here to take our router-finder quiz.
Cool ways to use your router's USB ports
Ever look at the back of your router and wonder what the USB port is good for? Listen to this one-minute podcast for a few tech tips that will change your digital life.
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Quiz: Fix your bad Wi-Fi with the right router
Pop quiz: What’s the most important piece of tech in your house that helps you get online? If you guessed router, you’re right on the money — and if your router isn’t fast or powerful enough, you might not get the coverage you need in every room.
Fix your Wi-Fi: 10 ways to get faster speeds
You’re relaxing on your sofa with a bowl of popcorn and a remote. You start to stream a popular show, but the dreaded buffering circle rears its ugly head. Nothing is playing, so you whip out the nearest internet-connected device and type, “How to get faster speeds for streaming” or “Tips to speed up a slow streaming service” into the search bar.
Check your router! Models from 200+ companies at risk
Are you happy with your internet service? Does it seem to be running slower than expected despite shelling out for faster service?
Many factors could affect your internet speed, including the number of devices on the network, your equipment, your browser choice, and more. The simplest one to diagnose and fix is router placement. Finding a good spot for it can increase your speed and signal strength. Tap or click here for tips on the best locations for your router.