Your Computer Is Like Your Car: 7 Ways to Keep It Running Smoothly

By George Otte

Your car gets you from Point A to Point B. Your computer puts a world of information at your fingertips.

At first glance, the two couldn’t be more different. Your car is mobile, while your desktop computer is stationary and your laptop only goes where you carry it.

Yet your computer and your car have more in common than you realize. Both require regular care and maintenance to remain in good working order. If used improperly or left to languish for too long, both can fail before their time.

Every car owner has a basic understanding of their vehicle’s maintenance needs, even if they don’t feel comfortable getting under the hood themselves. Every computer user deserves to have the same basic breadth of knowledge about maintaining their machine, even if they don’t know a circuit board from a CPU.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at seven straightforward computer maintenance tips and tasks that can extend your computer’s lifespan and improve its performance for years to come.

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Do You Need a Virtual Private Network? And Other Cybersecurity Tips

By George Otte

How to prevent information from falling into the wrong hands online.

When every week brings fresh news of big-time data breaches and targeted cyberattacks, it’s tempting to assume that there’s nothing you can do to keep your most intimate details safe from people who want to do you harm.

Fortunately, the truth is a bit rosier. While there’s no way to guarantee safety and security on the digital web, it’s absolutely possible to reduce your risk.

One of the most effective forms of protection—one that’s surprisingly, not very well known—is a virtual private network, or VPN. While it’s not a cure-all (nothing is), a VPN can significantly improve your security as you browse the internet, especially if you’re downloading files, streaming video, accessing websites banned by your employer or local government, or simply trying to have a private conversation without strangers listening in.

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