New year, same you. And that’s OK! You don’t need to makeover your entire life to have a good 2024.

But I can tell you firsthand it’s totally worth it to spend a few minutes cleaning up your tech life. Keep reading for steps to banish junk mail, make your phone less annoying and improve your cybersecurity. You got this!

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You’re cruising along when, suddenly, your computer starts misbehaving. Webpages are lagging, programs are slow to open, and then (uh oh), the blue screen of death or a spinning wheel.

It could be any number of things, but there’s a chance your trusty hard drive is giving out. “Kim! My files!” Yes, I know that’s what’s on your mind. But stay calm. There are ways to make sure your data remains safe and sound.

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The leaves change colors, you grab a scarf, pumpkin spice is back and Apple has a big announcement — all classic signs of fall. Sept. 12 is Wonderlust — yeah, Apple’s naming them now. I know. 

Fear not if your eyes glaze over at yet another camera and processor chip upgrade. Apple’s big promos can start to feel a little same-old, same-old, but some big things are coming this year. Here’s what my grapevine is vining about.

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If you browse the internet regularly, you can’t get around the fact that you need antivirus software. Viruses can pop up in unexpected places, and you want your device to be able to fight one off if it appears.

Dangerous malware making the rounds is what makes having antivirus software protecting you so critical. But what’s the best antivirus software for a Mac or Windows computer? Keep reading to see the best options.

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If you’re not getting texts on your computer, I’m about to change your life. It makes replying to your aunt’s 500-word text essay or your kid’s money bag emoji much easier. Most of us type so much faster on a real keyboard.

You can do it on Windows and Mac. Let me walk you through it.

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Apple makes some expensive gadgets, from $550 headphones to the Mac Pro that starts at $6,999 (and maxes out at a cool $53,000). But that’s nothing compared to how much collectors’ items have sold for.

Check this list, and then we’ll all be kicking ourselves for not tucking one of these treasures in the closet when they came out. Seriously tempted to do that with a Vision Pro headset.

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There are some tech tricks that you only know if someone clues you in.

Take the humble USB cord. If you’re constantly plugging in the wrong way, here’s the secret: The symbol on one isn’t just branding or decoration. That symbol will point up if you’re plugging in horizontally. If you plug a cable vertically, the USB symbol will face you.

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Bandwidth is a hot commodity, even more so when living in a rural area or a region with notoriously lousy internet service. But sometimes your slow internet is caused by your ISP. Tap or click here to see if your ISP is throttling your speeds.

If your ISP isn’t the problem, what is? Where can you go for the answers you need if you’re at home and noticing a lag?

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Taking a screenshot on your iPhone is as easy as pressing two buttons. But what if you wanted to save an entire webpage to view it later? Here’s a trick to avoid taking dozens of screenshots.

Taking full-page screenshots on your computer is even easier. If you want to capture the entire screen, you can use quick keyboard shortcuts or built-in programs. We’ll show you precisely what to do.

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Many computer users feel the need to keep their devices up to date with the latest hardware. After all, if you don’t have the latest components or accessories, your laptop or desktop computer might not be compatible. Tap or click here for seven laptop maintenance steps you should do regularly to keep yours happy.

An excellent example of this is Windows 11. Your system must meet a few strict requirements before installing the operating system. So, if your computer didn’t make the cut, you might have opted to buy a new one that does.

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You can have some fun with ChatGPT and even use it to help craft emails, recipes and essays, but there’s one thing you should never do with any chat app.

No surprise here: The hype around ChatGPT has made it a prime target for hackers and scammers. Several fake OpenAI/ChatGPT apps were found on the Mac App Store. The apps mimic the logo and color schemes used by OpenAI. Here’s what you need to know.

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Having slow internet may occur more than you’d like. You may see a frozen screen when trying to binge-watch your favorite TV show. You might get booted out when paying bills. Tap or click here to get the fastest internet speeds in your area.

The problem may stem from the way your system is set up. However, it might not be your system at all. Slow internet could be the result of someone stealing your Wi-Fi.

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TikTok has been a hot topic with government officials for quite some time now. The app is based in China, and it’s feared that it gives your data to the Communist China government. Scary! But TikTok isn’t the only app with ties to China. Tap or click here for a list of Chinese apps you should delete ASAP.

But don’t stop there. It’s time to take control of your data and stop dangerous countries from getting their hands on it. The good news is that an online tool can now show where your apps are connecting to. If an app connects to a shady location, delete it!

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It turns out there’s a hidden Bitcoin Whitepaper from 2008 on your computer. Conspiracy theorists say Steve Jobs is the anonymous Bitcoin creator. More likely, it was just an Apple engineer who’s into crypto.

Want to see it for yourself?

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Whether you use your computer for work, gaming or browsing, you’ll want to keep it in tip-top shape. The more programs and files you add, the slower your computer will run. Here’s a quick tip to give your Mac or PC a boost.

No matter how long you’ve had your Mac, there’s always something new to learn. Even if you think you’ve mastered every shortcut and trick, new ones are constantly added via updates.

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Getting people to hand over sensitive information is one way cybercriminals rip people off. Sometimes they do this through phishing attacks, and a new campaign targets iPhone and Apple Mac computer users.

Read on to learn how this phishing scheme works and what you can do about it.

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You may have a poor internet connection if downloads take forever to reach 100%. Outages or poorly-constructed websites could also be to blame. Whatever the cause is, try these tricks to increase the download speed on your PC.

Why your PC is suddenly slow

Before diving into a few solutions, let’s look at potential causes. Firstly, think about the type of internet connection you have. Depending on what you’re working with, you may have a higher risk for slow download speeds. Tap or click here for 10 ways to speed up your Wi-Fi.

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Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to get your money and info, and your phone has one vulnerability you probably never considered. Stop making this simple and dangerous mistake.

Even your printer could serve as a way in for hackers. Here are the security steps you probably didn’t know you should take.

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Finder is the first thing that you see when your Mac finishes booting up. It’s your doorway to all the files and folders on your Mac.

You can use Finder to locate items on your computer — it’s as easy as typing in a search term. But did you know you can tweak this function to more easily find what you’re looking for? Here’s how.

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Texting is fast and easy until it’s not. Maybe your service is terrible, and your messages won’t go through — what a pain. Tap or click for my bright ideas to boost your cell reception.

Try audio messages when you have a long story to tell but no time for a phone call. They can be a lifesaver if your connection is bad, too. Tap or click for steps to send audio messages on iPhone and Android.

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