The Ask Leo! Podcast

I'll give you a high-level overview of how websites know you typed the right password without actually storing it. The trick is something called hashing, and once you understand it, you'll know what to look for the next time a data breach hits the news.

I'll look back at the pace of change in my 50 years in tech and ask the question, "What should today's kids learn for a future none of us can predict?" The answer isn't a skill at all. It's a way of thinking that remains critical no matter what you choose to do.

Three hundred spam emails a day? You're not alone, and no, blocking senders won't fix it. I'll discuss why blocking is pointless, why a full spam folder means things are working, and how to trains your email program to keep more junk out of your inbox.

Your bank calls about a suspicious charge. The caller ID matches, they know your account details, and everything sounds legit. But is it really your bank, or is it a scammer? It happened to me. I'll share the steps I took to protect myself.

I'll walk you through easy ways to place your router, cut interference, pick better channels, and boost your signal so every device connects faster.

I'll walk you through four easy ways to erase and prepare a disk in Windows using File Explorer or the command line, plus tips on choosing the right file system and format type.

Passwords are on their way out. I'll discuss what passkeys actually are, how they work, what happens if you lose your device, and how they protect you from phishing, malware, and data breaches... without the technical jargon.

Lose your laptop, and your data could end up in the wrong hands. I'll walk you through the best ways to encrypt your files, from simple zip passwords to full disk encryption with BitLocker, VeraCrypt, or Cryptomator, so your secrets stay safe no matter what.

Are people are getting ruder online? You're not imagining the jerks, but you might be missing the bigger picture. I'll discuss why the internet doesn't really create more jerks, and why the good people around you still outnumber them by a mile.

If you get a warning that your password has leaked, don't panic, but don't ignore it, either. I'll talk about the difference between a real password breach and a scam, why passwords are risky once exposed "in the wild", and the habit that keeps you safe no matter what.