Breathe new life into an old laptop or PC: Install ChromeOS Flex, a free, cloud-based operating system. With processing done on Google’s servers and a bare-bones interface, you’ll get surprisingly good performance. Your PC will need to meet these minimum specs: x64 CPU, 4GB RAM, 16GB storage and a USB port for installation.
Why you can’t access some sites while you’re on a VPN and what to do
Let’s say you’re browsing the web with a VPN. You’re protecting privacy, so you’re confident hackers and advertisers can’t track you. Then you try to go to a site, and it just won’t load.
This can throw a wrench into productivity when working. Or it can ruin your mood when trying to have fun online.
If you want to bypass those infuriating errors that say, “The page you are looking for can’t be found,” we can help. Here’s what to do when a VPN stops site access.
Why you can’t access certain content with a VPN
You can’t access certain apps or websites when your VPN is on for a few reasons. First, you may be dealing with connectivity issues. Perhaps the VPN you’re using is having server issues.
Some sites go out of their way to block connections from VPN servers. The site owners aren’t trying to make your life harder. They block VPNs to cover their backsides. (Legally, not literally.)
Many websites block VPNs because they don’t want to break their contracts. Simply put, many VPN users want to bypass geo-blocking features.
Say you want to watch content that isn’t available in the U.S. If your favorite show is available in the U.K., you can connect to a server there so your internet can access that show. Tap or click here to unlock international Netflix to access more movies and shows.
Streaming sites don’t like this. It lands them in hot water with the production companies they team up with. Here’s why:
- Streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu have long and complicated contracts with production companies.
- Those contracts may involve location limits as part of licensing contracts. Production companies often have stipulations like, “You can stream this show, but only in Canada since we don’t want it in the U.S.”
- Certain websites/services, like PayPal, Venmo and CashApp, identify users for legal purposes through their IP addresses. This is used to resolve problems such as fraud.
I wish I could help every one of you
That’s where the pros at my sponsor Dell come in. We use Dell gear at Komando HQ. Dell laptops, PCs and servers power my national radio show, podcasts, this newsletter and everything else we do.
If you’re shopping for your small business, side hustle or new venture, you can chat with a small business expert for free advice on the right hardware. No obligation to buy, either.
Get it together: Microsoft’s beefing up its Copilot AI chatbot for Excel and Outlook. They say it’ll make life easier for finance pros, but hold the applause. The latest version of Outlook sends unencrypted passwords, emails, contacts, calendar details and even passwords straight to Microsoft’s servers when you add a new email account. No fix yet, so stick to using Outlook’s web version for now, not the desktop client.
Ever wonder how your smartphone “knows” the exact time? It uses one specific time zone — which is it?
$750,000 ransom demand
Made by an IT contractor paid to protect his victim. The infrastructure engineer used his access to lock out the company’s IT administrators, delete all their backups and get access to the rest of their servers. If you own a business, be aware of how much control you’re handing over.
Free online tool shows where your Mac apps are connecting
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.
3 simple ways to make your Wi-Fi faster and more stable
Game time. Work time. Chill time. All rely on lightning-fast Wi-Fi. Little is more frustrating than slow internet.
Many things can cause your connection to falter from unauthorized users to a poorly-placed router and even an outdated modem. What’s the best way to get faster internet? We can help.
Shopping sites don’t want me to tell you this: Prices change on some online retailer websites depending on where you live. Use the VPN I use, ExpressVPN, and switch servers until you find the lowest price. Buy through there, then ship it to your home address.
Apple to pay nearly $15M in iCloud refunds - See if you’re eligible
Mobile phones have excellent features these days, but more significant storage requirements come with technology upgrades. If you only have 64GB of internal storage, it will fill to the brim with photos and videos in no time. Tap or click here for what to do if your iCloud or Google storage is full.
Free check to see if your router has been hacked by criminals
The internet is a crazy place. Not only do marketers and advertisers follow your every move, but there are also hackers and scammers lurking in the dark corners, ready to pounce on your personal information.
At least marketers and advertisers want to make money off of you. The hackers and scammers we’re talking about want to flat-out steal your money by hijacking your personal information.
3 tech favorites Kim relies on that you should, too
As America’s tech pro and a small business owner for over 20 years, Kim has partnered with a few hardware and software vendors and companies.
These companies may sponsor The Kim Komando Show and Komando.com, but she honestly trusts their time-saving tools, security features and money-saving innovations. Kim only partners with companies she is proud to bring to you and uses herself, and she arranges special deals to make these products even more affordable.
5 common VPN issues and how to fix them
VPNs, or virtual private networks, are typically set and forget services that don’t require a lot of troubleshooting. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean there aren’t problems with VPNs you might have to address from time to time.
9 things you didn't know your Chromebook could do
Chromebooks run on Google’s Chrome operating system. Compared to a traditional laptop running Windows or macOS, Chromebooks are typically easier to use and more friendly on your wallet. They rely heavily on a network connection rather than local storage, enabling shorter load and boot times.
Web app data leaked: 38M records exposed, including vaccination statuses
Do you know how many websites store your personal information? Think about all the accounts you have. Many of them store user information using third-party software and servers. And hackers remain a constant threat of stealing your data.
Calling all data nerds! Here's what happens in 1 minute on the internet
The internet is almost like a living organism — active and buzzing whether you’re paying attention or not. So much data is exchanged over the web every second that it can almost seem impossible to keep track of everything.
Does your motherboard have a secret Chinese spy chip?
A recent Bloomberg report has stated that their might be evidence that some Chinese computer manufacturers may be putting a spy chip within the servers that could give Chinese hackers a backdoor.