Plus, got a side hustle? I show Chris from Colorado how to set up an online presence for his small biz. Major networks are up for grabs — Baby Boomers can rescue them. Tips on setting up Zoom backgrounds, spotting hacked webcams, and finding keyloggers on your devices.
Make this change if your browser is slowing down to a crawl
Quick! What’s the one app you use more than just about any other? I bet it’s your browser. It takes you everywhere online. But with countless extensions and tools, not to mention the complexity of today’s websites, we’re working them to death.
That consistently high demand on your computer’s resources can exhaust the machine, especially laptops. Say hello to shorter battery life, slower performance times, cybersecurity risks and system crashes.
Fortunately, you can do things online faster with a few pro tweaks to your browser’s settings.
Chrome needs a refresh – Here’s how
Chrome is a notorious resource hog. Yes, Google has made changes to fix that, but popping into the settings will further reduce the load on your system and keep your computer happy.
- Manage extensions: Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, then Extensions > Manage Extensions. Remove or disable any unnecessary extensions.
- Disable hardware acceleration: Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, then Settings > System. Toggle off Use hardware acceleration when available.
- Content settings: Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, then Privacy and security > Site settings. Review and customize permissions for Third-party cookies, JavaScript, Images, and Pop-ups and redirects.
Fix Safari if you use a Mac
On a Mac, you probably use the Safari browser. You can make a couple of quick changes here, too.
- Manage extensions: Click Safari in the menu bar > Settings. Open the Extensions tab, then remove or disable anything you don’t use.
- Site settings: From Settings, click the Websites tab. Customize settings for individual websites; you can block plugins, auto-playing media and location access.
- Disable auto-playing media: In Settings, go to the Websites tab > Auto-Play. Choose Stop Media with Sound or Never Autoplay to conserve resources.
Congrats! Just a few minutes and you added time to your computer’s life. Don’t stop yet.
Dive deeper: Check your battery’s lifespan
Laptop batteries are only equipped to handle a limited number of complete cycles or, in layman’s terms, the charging process in which your battery goes from 0% to 100%. If you consistently put your laptop battery through complete charge cycles, it will lose efficiency — and so will batteries as they age.
3 apps that let you borrow eBooks from your local library
Reading is an excellent way to relax and expand your mind through distant worlds, a suspenseful thriller or a thought-provoking autobiography. Tap or click for ways to get Kim’s eBooks.
That’s why your neighborhood library is more popular than ever. You might even be shocked that more than half of the U.S. population has a library card.
Small biz tip: Ways to make 2023 your best year yet
Prepare your business for the new year with these five small business resolutions for 2023. We’ll help you cut costs, gain new skills and find ways to optimize your work life. It’s time to be more strategic with your marketing goals, develop your online presence and whip your finances into shape.
Watch out! 10 warning signs a job offer is actually a scam
Looking for a remote job? Tap or click for work from home jobs in high demand.
These positions were already in demand before the pandemic, as they offer more flexibility and a work-life balance you won’t find in an office position. But while you may be on the prowl for a job that won’t require you to commute, you need to be careful of what you’re getting yourself into. It could be a scam.
Want to erase yourself from the internet? Here’s how
Ever get that eerie feeling somebody’s watching you? I hate to break the bad news, but you have a ton of secret admirers. Tech companies, advertisers, snoops and enterprising hackers are all trying to get their hands on as much of your info as possible.
Here’s how someone knows you’ve blocked them on social media
Social media is an effective tool for staying in touch with friends and family. Facebook is the most used platform, with 2.8 billion users worldwide. Are you locked out of your social media account? Watch out for scammers promising to help.
Locked out of your social media account? Watch out for scammers promising to help
Picture this: You settle down in the evening, ready to scroll through social media. Noticing that you are signed out, you try to log in multiple times. But it appears that you are locked out. You could follow these steps to get back in, but what if that doesn’t work?
How to juggle your many social media accounts - 3 strategies to manage your online presence
Thanks to social media, it’s easier than ever before to update your friends about your life. In a single post, you can let your whole network know what’s going on. If you want your posts to stand out, some simple photo editing techniques can do the trick.