Shows / The Ask Leo! Podcast
Episodes
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why Am I Being Asked to Turn Off My Adblocker When I Don’t Use One?
I'll explain the browser setting that's most likely to blame, show you how to test it in seconds, and help you decide what to do next.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How to Select Text Faster with the Keyboard
I'll show you keystrokes that let you select a letter, word, line, or whole document without your hands ever leaving the keyboard.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do You Delete Things from the Internet?
We say the internet is forever. We also say that once you delete something, it's gone. Both are true, and usually at the worst possible moment. I'll describe…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Microsoft Is Shrinking 365 Family Plan Storage: Check Before You Renew
Microsoft is changing how much OneDrive storage comes with Microsoft 365 Family. If you share your subscription, you could run out of room. I'll show you…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Can a PIN Be as Secure as a Password?
A short PIN seems weaker than a long password, yet for signing in to Windows, it can be just as safe and maybe safer. The secret is where the PIN works, not…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Microsoft Listened: You Can Move the Taskbar Now!
Windows 11 removed the ability to move the taskbar, and people weren't happy, including me. Five years later, it's back. I'll show you where the new setting…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Much Can I Trust Information on the Internet?
There's so much information at your fingertips online, but how much of it can you believe? I'll show you how to spot trustworthy sources, why seeing something…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Is It Safe to Store Files on My Desktop?
A reader's desktop folders suddenly emptied, and some files vanished completely. Here's why the desktop is a risky place to keep anything that matters, where…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Which Files Were Affected by a Hack or Malware?
Once a hacker's had access to your machine, there's no guaranteed way to know everything they touched. I'll discuss why backups, not scans, are your best…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do I Know Whether to Trust AI?
AI sounds sure of itself, but it can be wrong. How can you tell when you don't know much about the subject? I'll show you simple ways to check an AI's work…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Sometimes, the Threat Is in the Hardware
When it comes to security, you probably think about viruses and scams, but what about the hardware you touch every day? I'll cover four hardware threats and…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
No, You Don’t Have a Fax. An Analysis of a Spam Email
A fake fax notice landed in my inbox and turned out to be a perfect teaching tool. I'll walk you through the clues that gave it away, from the sender's address…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Don’t Finish Authorizations You Didn’t Start, and Be Cautious With Those You Did
There are scams that don't need your password or even your two-factor code to get into your account. They use real sign-in pages and a fake app with a harmless…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How to Select Text Faster: Six Tricks You May Not Know
Dragging a mouse across text works, but it's slow and awkward. I'll show you how to double-click, triple-click, or click in the margin to select words…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
What’s the Best Registry Cleaner? What to Use and What to Avoid
Registry cleaners can be dangerous. I'll review when they might be appropriate, which I'd use, and how to use them safely.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
What External Drive Should I Get?
I'll review what matters when buying an external backup drive, plus a few current picks worth considering. Capacity, USB speed, SSD versus traditional hard…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Should I Repair or Replace My Computer?
Is it time to fix or replace your computer? The right choice depends on your budget, the machine's age, your warranty, and how much time you're willing to…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why Do They Make It So Hard to Recover Accounts?
There's a good reason why getting back into a locked account can feel impossible. I'll discuss why account recovery has to be difficult, what you can do to…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Checking and Repairing a Disk with CHKDSK
Your computer has a built-in tool for catching hard drive problems before they turn into bigger headaches. I'll walk you through running CHKDSK from Windows…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Does All This Talk of AI Mean I Should Choose a Different Career?
Worried that AI is making coding skills useless? Understanding how to code still gives you an edge, even in the age of AI tools and vibe coding. Find out why…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Responses to Your Three Common Password Manager Objections
Many people avoid password managers because they seem hard to set up, difficult to trust, or easy to lock yourself out of. I'll look at each objection and show…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure?
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
The 50-year Takeaway
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
I’m Drowning in Spam. What Can I 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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
What Happened When My “Bank” Called Me
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
5 Steps to Better Wi-Fi In Your House
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.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How to Reformat a Disk
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Passkeys Work (A No-Tech Version)
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do I Protect My Laptop Data From Theft?
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why Are There So Many Jerks Online?
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
I’m Told to Change My Password. Why?
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…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Back Up Your Email Using Thunderbird
If your email only lives in your inbox online, it's not backed up. I'll show you how to use a free program to download a full copy of your email to your own…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
What’s the Best Two-Factor Authentication Method?
Not all two-factor authentication works the same way. Some methods are more secure, some are more convenient, and some leave you open to sneaky attacks like…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do I Recover My Outlook Account?
Whether you forgot your password, got hacked, or can't verify your identity while traveling, I'll point you to the steps to try if you're locked out of your…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Should I Avoid Windows Update? It Burned Me
A bad Windows Update can cripple your computer. Once it happens to you, it's tempting to swear off updates forever. I'll explain why that's the wrong move, and…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why Don’t I Get Sound From My Computer?
Computer gone silent? Here's a checklist to get your sound working again in minutes.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
If Too Many Bad Password Attempts Cause Account Locks, How Do Hackers Hack In?
Ever wonder why hackers don't get locked out after a few failed password attempts, the way you do? It turns out they rarely even try. I'll describe the…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
What’s Better, NAS or Cloud Storage?
NAS or cloud? Each has real strengths and real risks, and a recent story about a broadcaster losing 50TB of archives shows what can go wrong. I'll detail pros…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
What Security Software Do You Recommend? (2026 Q3 update)
My updated guide cuts through the hype with four no-nonsense steps to keep your PC safe. Learn what works, what to avoid, and how to stay secure without…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Often Should I Scan My Computer for Malware?
Find out when a manual scan makes sense, and how often you should run one for peace of mind.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Will Ransomware Encrypt Backups?
Worried that ransomware could sneak past your defenses and encrypt your backups? Most ransomware won't, but it's not impossible. I'll discuss how ransomware…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Where Do I Get Driver Updates?
I'll explain when driver updates matter, why most scanning tools aren't worth your trust, and where to find real updates when you truly need them.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why ANY Two-Factor Is Better Than No Two-Factor
You may have heard that hackers can sometimes beat two-factor authentication. It's true, but that doesn't make it useless. I'll describe how each type of…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why You — Yes, You — Are a Target of Hackers
Every online account you own is valuable to criminals looking to steal your identity, spread malware, or empty your accounts. Here's why you're a target no…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Clickfix: What It Is and How to Avoid It
ClickFix is a scam that turns a simple "prove you're human" (or other fake message) pop-up into a malware trap, using your own keystrokes to install it. I'll…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why Did My Security Software Not Detect a Virus on My PC?
Malware can slip past even a good antivirus program. Using my silliest metaphor yet, I'll explain vulnerabilities, exploits, and what actually keeps you safe…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
The Easy-to-Avoid Two-Factor Loss Risk
Two-factor authentication keeps your accounts safe, but what happens if you lose your phone or key fob? I'll walk you through what you need to do now so you…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Your 6 Strongest Practical Password Techniques, Ranked
Not all passwords are created equal. Some resist hackers for centuries; others fall in seconds. I'll rank six password techniques from strongest to weakest…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do I Make Sure Windows is Really, Completely Up to Date?
Windows Update usually keeps your PC current, but not always right away. I'll show you how to check for updates until none are left, so you can be confident…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices for Sharing Links
Sharing a link seems simple, but some methods create long, broken, or trackable URLs. I'll show you how to copy clean links, strip out tracking codes, shorten…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How to Avoid Ransomware
Ransomware can lock up every file on your computer and hold it hostage until you pay. I'll discuss defenses that work, why backups are your best insurance, and…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Is Using the Cloud Safe?
Is the cloud really dangerous, or is that just a lack of understanding? I'll break down what "the cloud" actually is, why it's no riskier than email or online…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
A One-Step Way to Lose Your Account Forever
Most people who lose an account never get it back, and it's usually their own fault. I'll discuss why alternate email addresses and phone numbers are the key…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Why Ask Why?
Wonder why software makers make the choices they do? Me too. But asking "why" rarely brings relief... except in one case.
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do I Change My Windows PIN?
Changing your Windows sign-in PIN isn't a setting in your Microsoft account; it's set on each device. I'll show you where to find it, why a PIN is safer than…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
My Email Is Hacked. How Do I Fix It?
Getting locked out of your own email is scary, and the fallout can spread to your bank, social media, and contacts. I'll walk you through the steps to take…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
I Got a Pop-Up Virus Warning. Is My Computer Infected?
A big pop-up that claims your computer is infected and pushes a specific download cleanup tool can be scary. I'll show why these warnings almost always come…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
My Machine’s Full of Malware; Should I Get a New Computer?
If malware has you ready to give up and buy a new computer, don't. I'll explain why your old one can be completely restored to a malware-free state, using…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
Is it Safe to Allow Remote Access?
Is it safe to allow a tech support company to control your computer from far away? It depends on who they are, how you found them, and whether they called you…
- The Ask Leo! Podcast
How Do I Tell If an Email Was Written by AI?
Does that email feel a little off? Maybe AI wrote it, maybe it didn't. I'll discuss why the old warning signs are disappearing and what matters when judging…