The Ask Leo! Podcast

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

Hotel internet isn't necessarily private. Wired or wireless, it's as exposed as any open hotspot, and the people running it can watch what you do. I'll describe why hotel networks are risky and list the steps that keep your activity safe wherever you connect.

How do you know that download you want is safe? Before you run it, I'll show you how to scan it, when to trust the results, and the simple habits that keep malware off your machine for good.

Good news for Windows 10 holdouts: Microsoft quietly extended its Extended Security Updates program by another year. Here's what changed, why Microsoft may have done it, and what you need to do next (spoiler: probably nothing).

Believing and spreading manure -- lies, falsehoods, and misleading implications -- makes you look bad and makes the internet a dumber place. Become more skeptical, even of things you agree with.

I'll explain how keyloggers work, why a virtual keyboard doesn't help, and how to keep your typing safe.