Ask Leo! https://askleo.com/ Technology With Confidence Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:07:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 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 My Machine’s Full of Malware; Should I Get a New Computer? https://askleo.com/full-of-malware/ https://askleo.com/full-of-malware/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:00:45 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/i_have_a_massive_malware_infection_should_i_just_get_a_new_machine.html If malware has you ready to give up and buy a new computer, don't. I'll explain why your old one can be completely restored to a malware-free state, using steps to wipe out even the worst infections without spending a dime on new hardware.

My Machine’s Full of Malware; Should I Get a New Computer? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/full-of-malware/feed/ 7 full 7:32 Is it Safe to Allow Remote Access? https://askleo.com/allow-remote-access/ https://askleo.com/allow-remote-access/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/is_it_safe_to_allow_a_technician_to_remotely_access_my_machine_to_fix_it.html Is it safe to allow a tech support company to control your computer from far away? It depends on who they are, how you found them, and whether they called you first. I'll share the one rule you must never violate.

Is it Safe to Allow Remote Access? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/allow-remote-access/feed/ 54 full 5:34 How Do I Tell If an Email Was Written by AI? https://askleo.com/how-do-i-tell-if-an-email-was-written-by-ai/ https://askleo.com/how-do-i-tell-if-an-email-was-written-by-ai/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:00:27 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=194560 Does that email feel a little off? Maybe AI wrote it, maybe it didn't. I'll discuss why the old warning signs are disappearing and what matters when judging any message.

How Do I Tell If an Email Was Written by AI? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/how-do-i-tell-if-an-email-was-written-by-ai/feed/ 10 full 8:08 Why Is It So Important to Have Different Passwords on Different Accounts? https://askleo.com/why_is_it_important_to_have_different_passwords_on_different_accounts/ https://askleo.com/why_is_it_important_to_have_different_passwords_on_different_accounts/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/why_is_it_important_to_have_different_passwords_on_different_accounts.html Using one password for every account doesn't save time; it adds risk. Hackers count on you doing it. I'll show you why a single stolen password can unlock your email, your bank, and everything else, and share the easy way to use strong, different password on every site without having to remember them all.

Why Is It So Important to Have Different Passwords on Different Accounts? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/why_is_it_important_to_have_different_passwords_on_different_accounts/feed/ 28 full 5:50 Don’t Trust Your Ears https://askleo.com/dont-trust-your-ears/ https://askleo.com/dont-trust-your-ears/#comments Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:00:01 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=154821 From just a few minutes of audio, AI can clone a voice well enough to fool people who know that voice well. I'll share real examples, explain how easy it is to do, and share tips for staying alert as this technology keeps improving.

Don’t Trust Your Ears from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/dont-trust-your-ears/feed/ 16 full 6:01 How Do I Find Good Local Computer Help? https://askleo.com/how-do-i-find-good-local-computer-help/ https://askleo.com/how-do-i-find-good-local-computer-help/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:00:27 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=25661 Do you need someone to physically look at your computer but don't know who to trust? I'll walk you through smart ways to find local help you can count on, from asking around to reading reviews. Also, why the big chain stores are a gamble.

How Do I Find Good Local Computer Help? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/how-do-i-find-good-local-computer-help/feed/ 70 full 7:57 How Do I Run a Full Scan Using Windows Defender? https://askleo.com/run-a-full-scan/ https://askleo.com/run-a-full-scan/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:00:49 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=139376 If you're worried your computer might have malware, running a full scan with Windows Security is one of the best ways to check. I'll walk you through updating, launching, and completing a full scan, plus explain why it's not a guaranteed fix on its own.

How Do I Run a Full Scan Using Windows Defender? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/run-a-full-scan/feed/ 20 full 4:46 Do Data Removal Services Work? https://askleo.com/do-data-removal-services-work/ https://askleo.com/do-data-removal-services-work/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=194334 Data removal services promise to erase your personal information from the internet. Can they? I'll break down how these services work, where they succeed, where they fall short, and what that means for protecting yourself once your data is out there. (Spoiler: it's already out there.)

Do Data Removal Services Work? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/do-data-removal-services-work/feed/ 12 full 6:50 How Long Should a Password Be? https://askleo.com/how_long_should_a_password_be/ https://askleo.com/how_long_should_a_password_be/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:00:39 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/how_long_should_a_password_be.html The old advice was eight characters, including uppercase, lowercase, digits, and symbols. Modern computers can crack those passwords in hours. I'll describe why length matters more than anything and how long your passwords really need to be.

How Long Should a Password Be? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/how_long_should_a_password_be/feed/ 70 full 11:56 The Biggest Risk to Your Privacy, Revealed https://askleo.com/the-biggest-risk-to-your-privacy/ https://askleo.com/the-biggest-risk-to-your-privacy/#comments Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:00:32 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=27036 We worry a lot about privacy, but our concerns are often misplaced. The biggest risk to our personal privacy is right under our nose -- and that's good.

The Biggest Risk to Your Privacy, Revealed from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/the-biggest-risk-to-your-privacy/feed/ 21 full 8:20