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Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek From saving money on your electric bill to protecting sensitive electronics from damage, there are plenty of good reasons to unplug things when you go on vacation. Here’s what you should shut down, what you shouldn’t, and when. Why Unplug and Turn Things Off When You’re On Vacation? You might … Read more

Rob Lavers RIBA ARPS/Shutterstock.com Star Trek was one of my geekiest influences, and it inspired real scientists and engineers to make some of its tech a reality, but not everything in Star Trek is that impressive anymore. Some of our tech is even better. Star Trek Is Prophetic, But We Can Do Better Star Trek … Read more

Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a handy tool. But it’s all too easy to use them for the wrong task, misconfigure them, or otherwise make common VPN mistakes. Here’s how to avoid them and get the most out of your VPN service. Assuming a VPN Ensures Anonymity One of the … Read more

Justin Duino / How-To Geek Android phones and tablets are chock full of great features, but that’s both a blessing and a curse. There’s probably a lot of things you don’t know about, and maybe even some things you’re doing wrong. Let’s fix some mistakes. Closing Apps Too Often One of the biggest Android myths … Read more

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek Whether you’re authoring a college essay or tearing it up in an online debate, entering text should be as easy and efficient as possible. Windows has tons of built-in tools and features that take the pain out of typing and get you on the road to keyboard nirvana. Look Up … Read more

Justin Duino / How-To Geek Backing up your files on your computer, phone, and other devices is a crucial part of modern life, but it’s all too easy to do it wrong—even when you think you’re doing everything right. Here are ten common mistakes you want to avoid. Not Backing Up: Good Intentions Aren’t a … Read more

Jordan Gloor / How-To Geek An SD card built to specification should last around 10 years, but the actual lifespan depends heavily on many factors. The card’s quality, usage frequency, and environmental conditions can all significantly impact how long the card lasts. SD cards are everywhere, and you probably have photos, saved games, or other … Read more

Justin Duino / How-To Geek A VPN provides peace of mind and convenience for a price. For most users, we think the price is worth it. But a VPN isn’t a magic bullet, and it doesn’t provide 100% protection. There are drawbacks like increased latency and potential slowdowns, plus you may encounter some hassle when … Read more

Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek The best way to monitor internet bandwidth usage is at the router level to track bandwidth usage from all devices in your household. You can also check your ISP’s website to see overall bandwidth usage. Bandwidth monitoring is critical for avoiding ISP data caps and overage fees. One day we … Read more

Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek Mini PCs are a great alternative to the classic big, bulky desktop computers. However, if you’re looking for a compact PC to use with a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, a good ol’ laptop is an even better mini PC. A mini PC is as literal as the name sounds—a computer … Read more