The Google Chrome browser on desktop platforms is getting three more productivity upgrades. Thankfully, it's a break from the usual AI-powered enhancements. First, Chrome is getting a split view mode, allowing you to have two web pages open at the same time in a shared window. It splits a browser...
Use a Password Manager? You’re Still Not Safe (yet)
The digital world is messy, noisy, and occasionally hostile, and I've tried to stay at least a little security-conscious as more of my life has moved online. For a long time, that meant using a password manager and calling it a day. Strong, unique passwords everywhere felt like the finish...
It’s Time to Purge Your USB Stick Collection
USB sticks are convenient gadgets for transferring files. You've probably got a bunch of them in your desk drawer, in your bags, plugged into TVs—and they're all putting your data at risk. Here's why. Cheap USB sticks are notoriously unreliableWhen was the last time you actually purchased a USB stick?...
Windows 11 Was Barely Usable Until I Changed These 6 Default Settings
Windows defaults are a mess. Out of the box, it's barely usable because it feels more like a billboard than an operating system. I change these settings right away to make it calmer, more private, and more usable. Rip out CopilotThe Copilot app is always running in the background and...
How to Prevent Windows Disk Encryption from Locking You Out of Your PC
With so much hacking, scamming, theft, and spying in the digital world, encryption is becoming more popular. You see it in messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp, in secure connections to websites that start with "https," and on computer hard drives. Both Apple and Microsoft enable hard drive encryption to...