Author: Summer Powell

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, few names stand as tall as Apple. Renowned for its innovation, sleek design, and user-friendly interfaces, Apple’s operating systems have continuously raised the bar in the realm of digital experiences. With each iteration, from iOS 16 to the latest iOS 17, Apple has strived to push boundaries and redefine the way we interact with our devices. Let’s delve into the journey of iOS, exploring its evolution from version 16 to the groundbreaking advancements witnessed in version 17. iOS 16: Setting the Stage for Innovation As the predecessor to iOS 17, iOS 16 laid the…

System File Checker (SFC) is a powerful tool embedded within the Windows operating system aimed at maintaining the integrity of system files. It plays a crucial role in diagnosing and resolving various issues that may arise due to corrupted or missing system files. Introduction to System File Checker (SFC) What is SFC? System File Checker, commonly known as SFC, is a utility program provided by Microsoft Windows. It scans and verifies the integrity of all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with the correct Microsoft versions. Purpose of SFC The primary purpose of SFC is to ensure the stability…

In the past, Ask.com (previously known as Ask Jeeves) used to be mainly a search engine and even posed competition to Google and Yahoo. Sadly, in the years since then, Ask hasn’t aged so well. In 2005 Ask was acquired by a company named InterActiveCorp, an umbrella organization that owns many other popular websites like Dictionary.com, Match.com and About.com. InterActiveCorp is also notorious for pushing toolbar downloads through many of its properties, the most well known of which is the Ask.com Toolbar. While this toolbar is not technically malware, since it does ask permission to install, it is most commonly…

I was somewhat taken aback when I discovered that iTunes was one of the most commonly searched programs for help with uninstalling. However, upon further reflection, it started to make sense. iTunes is present on countless computers, and one of the initial and simplest troubleshooting methods for addressing an iTunes error is to uninstall and then reinstall the program. It seems straightforward enough. Actually, it is pretty simple, but if you’re trying to uninstall everything that is installed with iTunes it’s not quite as straightforward as you might think at first. Here’s how to completely uninstall iTunes: To start, the…

I was planning to write a lengthy introduction on why it’s important to have private search results, but I don’t think it’s necessary anymore. We are all aware that the NSA and potentially other government agencies collect both private and public conversations. Additionally, big internet companies like Google, Facebook, Yahoo, are centered around advertising and gathering as much information about users as possible. Nowadays, it feels like everyone is trying to learn as much as they can about each other. The saying “Knowledge is Power” has never been more accurate, as information is key. But as all of these organizations…

Today, I will demonstrate how downloading one program and taking just 2 minutes to configure it can greatly enhance your computer’s security. By installing this software, your PC will be nearly impervious to hackers. First, you’ll need to download the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) from Microsoft and install it. It’s best to use the Recommended Settings option. This will enable recommended settings designed to protect against the exploitation of the most commonly vulnerable programs. These program include Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook Adobe Reader, the Java plug-in, and Wordpad. Next, open the EMET GUI (which can be found…

The operating system is critical software for your computer. All other programs depend on the operating system to function properly. Most people know Windows is an operating system, and many also know Macs have their own operating system that is not based on Windows. But did you know there are a lot of other operating systems available for your computer, most of which are completely free? You’ve probably heard of Linux at some point. It’s the operating system that most servers on the internet use, and a lot of other connected devices like routers and even TVs and other appliances.…

I evaluate a large amount of software. A LOT of software. Literally hundreds, maybe even thousands, of programs both for my professional work and because I really like playing with computers. But installing  and then uninstalling hundreds of programs on a single computer can cause unintended consequences. I really don’t like having a cluttered PC, and doing all that software testing is a good way to cause a lot of clutter. Fortunately there is a way to run two (or even more) completely different operating systems on your computer at the same time using a technology called “virtualization”. Virtualization technology…

Imagine having a friend on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media platform who consistently shares hilarious pictures. These pictures are so horrible hilarious, in fact, that you’d like to find out where your friend is getting them from. A couple years ago this meant you’d have to randomly surf the internet looking for pictures similar to the one your friend posted, hoping you’d eventually find the right website. But now many search engines have added a “reverse image search” feature. This feature actually lets you search the web using an image instead of a search term. It works…

Online advertising is a trillion dollar industry. It is often seen as the lifeblood of the internet and the driving force behind many of the web’s most popular sites. Google alone is valued at nearly $400 billion and the vast majority of that is from online advertising through its AdWords platform. Facebook, Twitter, and most other search engines are also backed almost entirely by the advertising revenue they generate. If online advertising were to disappear tomorrow, most of the internet as we know it today would disappear with it. Except maybe Wikipedia. With that in mind, it’s easy to see…