Ask Leo! https://askleo.com/ Technology With Confidence Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:02:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 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 Why ANY Two-Factor Is Better Than No Two-Factor https://askleo.com/why-any-two-factor-is-better-than-no-two-factor-at-all/ https://askleo.com/why-any-two-factor-is-better-than-no-two-factor-at-all/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:00:13 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=70786 You may have heard that hackers can sometimes beat two-factor authentication. It's true, but that doesn't make it useless. I'll describe how each type of two-factor works, which ones hackers can trick, and why skipping 2FA is still the riskiest choice of all.

Why ANY Two-Factor Is Better Than No Two-Factor from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/why-any-two-factor-is-better-than-no-two-factor-at-all/feed/ 29 full 9:17 Why You — Yes, You — Are a Target of Hackers https://askleo.com/why-you-yes-you-are-a-target-of-hackers/ https://askleo.com/why-you-yes-you-are-a-target-of-hackers/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:00:29 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=153830 Every online account you own is valuable to criminals looking to steal your identity, spread malware, or empty your accounts. Here's why you're a target no matter what, and how to protect yourself before it's too late.

Why You — Yes, You — Are a Target of Hackers from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/why-you-yes-you-are-a-target-of-hackers/feed/ 10 full 8:55 Clickfix: What It Is and How to Avoid It https://askleo.com/clickfix-what-it-is-and-how-to-avoid-it/ https://askleo.com/clickfix-what-it-is-and-how-to-avoid-it/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:00:10 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=195093 ClickFix is a scam that turns a simple "prove you're human" (or other fake message) pop-up into a malware trap, using your own keystrokes to install it. I'll discuss how it works, where you'll find it, and the one red flag that gives it away every time.

Clickfix: What It Is and How to Avoid It from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/clickfix-what-it-is-and-how-to-avoid-it/feed/ 7 full 5:38 Why Did My Security Software Not Detect a Virus on My PC? https://askleo.com/security-software-not-detect-a-virus/ https://askleo.com/security-software-not-detect-a-virus/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:00:22 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/why_wouldnt_an_exploit_be_caught_by_my_antimalware_tools.html Malware can slip past even a good antivirus program. Using my silliest metaphor yet, I'll explain vulnerabilities, exploits, and what actually keeps you safe. Learn how infections happen and what you can do about it.

Why Did My Security Software Not Detect a Virus on My PC? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/security-software-not-detect-a-virus/feed/ 19 full 11:04 The Easy-to-Avoid Two-Factor Loss Risk https://askleo.com/two-factor-loss-risk/ https://askleo.com/two-factor-loss-risk/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:00:17 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=17345 Two-factor authentication keeps your accounts safe, but what happens if you lose your phone or key fob? I'll walk you through what you need to do now so you never need to worry about being locked out later.

The Easy-to-Avoid Two-Factor Loss Risk from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/two-factor-loss-risk/feed/ 32 full 7:09 Your 6 Strongest Practical Password Techniques, Ranked https://askleo.com/practical-password-techniques/ https://askleo.com/practical-password-techniques/#comments Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:02 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=132876 Not all passwords are created equal. Some resist hackers for centuries; others fall in seconds. I'll rank six password techniques from strongest to weakest, including one horrible password I still remember from 45 years ago, and how even that can be made secure.

Your 6 Strongest Practical Password Techniques, Ranked from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/practical-password-techniques/feed/ 49 full 10:41 How Do I Make Sure Windows is Really, Completely Up to Date? https://askleo.com/how-do-i-make-sure-windows-is-really-completely-up-to-date/ https://askleo.com/how-do-i-make-sure-windows-is-really-completely-up-to-date/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:00:45 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=132414 Windows Update usually keeps your PC current, but not always right away. I'll show you how to check for updates until none are left, so you can be confident your Windows computer is as up to date as it can be.

How Do I Make Sure Windows is Really, Completely Up to Date? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/how-do-i-make-sure-windows-is-really-completely-up-to-date/feed/ 13 full 4:32 Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices for Sharing Links https://askleo.com/tips-tricks-and-best-practices-for-sharing-links/ https://askleo.com/tips-tricks-and-best-practices-for-sharing-links/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:00:58 +0000 https://askleo.com/?p=195019 Sharing a link seems simple, but some methods create long, broken, or trackable URLs. I'll show you how to copy clean links, strip out tracking codes, shorten long URLs, link to a highlight or video moment, and check that the link will work.

Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices for Sharing Links from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/tips-tricks-and-best-practices-for-sharing-links/feed/ 8 full 23:44 How to Avoid Ransomware https://askleo.com/how-to-avoid-ransomware/ https://askleo.com/how-to-avoid-ransomware/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:00:08 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_avoid_ransomware.html Ransomware can lock up every file on your computer and hold it hostage until you pay. I'll discuss defenses that work, why backups are your best insurance, and why you should never, ever pay the ransom.

How to Avoid Ransomware from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/how-to-avoid-ransomware/feed/ 11 full 5:51 Is Using the Cloud Safe? https://askleo.com/is_the_cloud_dangerous/ https://askleo.com/is_the_cloud_dangerous/#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000 http://ask-leo.com/is_the_cloud_dangerous.html Is the cloud really dangerous, or is that just a lack of understanding? I'll break down what "the cloud" actually is, why it's no riskier than email or online banking, and the simple habits that keep your data safe no matter where it lives.

Is Using the Cloud Safe? from Ask Leo!.
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]]> https://askleo.com/is_the_cloud_dangerous/feed/ 21 full 10:20