Ask Leo! https://askleo.com/ Technology With Confidence Sat, 03 Oct 2026 21:27:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://askleo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cropped-logo2019square-32x32.png Ask Leo! https://askleo.com/ 32 32 Leo A. Notenboom false Copyright Ask Leo! Copyright Ask Leo! podcast TV-G What External Drive Should I Get? https://askleo.com/external-drive-get/ https://askleo.com/external-drive-get/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=17616 I'll review what matters when buying an external backup drive, plus a few current picks worth considering. Capacity, USB speed, SSD versus traditional hard disk, and portable versus desktop can all be confusing.

What External Drive Should I Get? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/external-drive-get/feed/ 68 full 8:57 Should I Repair or Replace My Computer? https://askleo.com/should-i-repair-or-replace-my-computer/ https://askleo.com/should-i-repair-or-replace-my-computer/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:00:04 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=138316 Is it time to fix or replace your computer? The right choice depends on your budget, the machine's age, your warranty, and how much time you're willing to spend. I'll review the key factors and tell the story of my own laptop replacement.

Should I Repair or Replace My Computer? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/should-i-repair-or-replace-my-computer/feed/ 35 full 8:49 Why Do They Make It So Hard to Recover Accounts? https://askleo.com/why-do-they-make-it-so-hard-to-recover-accounts/ https://askleo.com/why-do-they-make-it-so-hard-to-recover-accounts/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:00:57 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=196377 There's a good reason why getting back into a locked account can feel impossible. I'll discuss why account recovery has to be difficult, what you can do to make it easier on yourself, and how to avoid losing an account for good.

Why Do They Make It So Hard to Recover Accounts? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/why-do-they-make-it-so-hard-to-recover-accounts/feed/ 1 full 8:52 Checking and Repairing a Disk with CHKDSK https://askleo.com/checking-and-repairing-a-disk-with-chkdsk/ https://askleo.com/checking-and-repairing-a-disk-with-chkdsk/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:00:02 +0000 http://askleo.com/?p=8363 Your computer has a built-in tool for catching hard drive problems before they turn into bigger headaches. I'll walk you through running CHKDSK from Windows Explorer and the command line, explain what it checks, and show you where to find results after a scheduled scan.

Checking and Repairing a Disk with CHKDSK from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/checking-and-repairing-a-disk-with-chkdsk/feed/ 17 full 11:15 Does All This Talk of AI Mean I Should Choose a Different Career? https://askleo.com/does-all-this-talk-of-ai-mean-i-should-choose-a-different-career/ https://askleo.com/does-all-this-talk-of-ai-mean-i-should-choose-a-different-career/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2026 15:00:15 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=196133 Worried that AI is making coding skills useless? Understanding how to code still gives you an edge, even in the age of AI tools and vibe coding. Find out why your passion and interests, not trends, should guide your tech career choices.

Does All This Talk of AI Mean I Should Choose a Different Career? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/does-all-this-talk-of-ai-mean-i-should-choose-a-different-career/feed/ 4 full 7:49 Responses to Your Three Common Password Manager Objections https://askleo.com/responses-to-your-three-common-password-manager-objections/ https://askleo.com/responses-to-your-three-common-password-manager-objections/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:00:07 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=136938 Many people avoid password managers because they seem hard to set up, difficult to trust, or easy to lock yourself out of. I'll look at each objection and show you why they're not as concerning as they seem. Security experts say a password manager is the smartest step you can take.

Responses to Your Three Common Password Manager Objections from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/responses-to-your-three-common-password-manager-objections/feed/ 57 full 5:34 How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure? https://askleo.com/how-do-websites-keep-passwords-secure/ https://askleo.com/how-do-websites-keep-passwords-secure/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:00:32 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=136163 I'll give you a high-level overview of how websites know you typed the right password without actually storing it. The trick is something called hashing, and once you understand it, you'll know what to look for the next time a data breach hits the news.

How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/how-do-websites-keep-passwords-secure/feed/ 28 full 11:36 The 50-year Takeaway https://askleo.com/the-40-year-take-away/ https://askleo.com/the-40-year-take-away/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:00:25 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=67362 I'll look back at the pace of change in my 50 years in tech and ask the question, "What should today's kids learn for a future none of us can predict?" The answer isn't a skill at all. It's a way of thinking that remains critical no matter what you choose to do.

The 50-year Takeaway from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/the-40-year-take-away/feed/ 67 full 7:00 I’m Drowning in Spam. What Can I Do? https://askleo.com/im_drowning_in_spam_what_can_i_do/ https://askleo.com/im_drowning_in_spam_what_can_i_do/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:00:15 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/im_drowning_in_spam_what_can_i_do.html Three hundred spam emails a day? You're not alone, and no, blocking senders won't fix it. I'll discuss why blocking is pointless, why a full spam folder means things are working, and how to trains your email program to keep more junk out of your inbox.

I’m Drowning in Spam. What Can I Do? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/im_drowning_in_spam_what_can_i_do/feed/ 9 full 10:46 What Happened When My “Bank” Called Me https://askleo.com/what-happened-when-my-bank-called-me/ https://askleo.com/what-happened-when-my-bank-called-me/#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:00:13 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=195987 Your bank calls about a suspicious charge. The caller ID matches, they know your account details, and everything sounds legit. But is it really your bank, or is it a scammer? It happened to me. I'll share the steps I took to protect myself.

What Happened When My “Bank” Called Me from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/what-happened-when-my-bank-called-me/feed/ 9 full 5:26