It’s the first Saturday of summer (or winter depending upon where you live) and we just had our first stationery moon in 18 years – and did you no matter where you live. But enough yammering! I<\/span>t\u2019s Saturday and it’s time for another edition of our Saturday Bonus Questions & Answers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes, the best tips and tricks are hidden in the published questions and answers. And rarely do we post questions and answers on this website. Today, we\u2019re featuring some of the questions and answers from past issues of our InfoAve Weekly<\/a> newsletters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These questions & answers were selected at random from past InfoAve Weekly newsletters.<\/span><\/p>\n Please help us to continue to help you with your Windows computer questions and help you to stay safe in the crazy world of the Internet. We need your support – even the smallest gift helps us. Please… help us by making a donation.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers – 062224<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Juvy has a problem with free MS Office alternatives<\/span><\/strong><\/span> One “problem” I found with the free office program. I saved documents, but then when I had to use Microsoft Office I could not open the file saved in FreeOffice. It works the other way around. You can save documents as a Word doc, but at the time I didn’t think I might need that in the future. Now with Microsoft having their programs online making them a hassle, chances are that I will never go back to Microsoft Office again. Thank you again. Juvy.<\/span><\/p>\n Our answer<\/span><\/strong><\/span> For example, let’s use *.DOCX (Word documents) as an example. It will automatically open in Microsoft Word regardless of any alternate office program you have installed. But you can easily change this in Settings > Apps > Default apps so that DOCX files (MS Word Documents) open in Open Office, WPS Office, Libre Office, etc. You can’t save files in Free Office, you can only save them in folders on your computer unless Free Office offers some form of cloud storage… and even then you can still change your default settings so that DOCX, XLS, PPTX, and other MS Office formats open in Free Office, Open Office, WPS Office, Libre Office or whatever alternate office program you have installed. Some office alternatives may do this for you automatically while others may not. You can change the default program to open any file type in Settings > Apps > Default apps.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, Juvy.<\/span><\/p>\n Margie wants to know why when she looks under “Disk” in Task Manager it shows 100%<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/span><\/strong><\/span> My best guess is that something running in the background (such as a disk scan, malware scan, or Windows update) is causing your disk activity to jump. But unless you can tell me the name of the process, program, or app that is causing the issue it’s a hard guess.<\/span><\/p>\n One way to easily tell the processes causing high disk activity is by sorting the processes so they show from highest to lowest. You can by clicking on the column header (the word Disk in your case). So, click on the word Disk at the top to order the processes from those using the most disk to those using the least, let me know what the top 3 processes listed are and I’ll try to figure out a solution for you.<\/span><\/p>\n Remember this though… If your high disk activity is being caused by background scans or updates, the problem will resolve on its own when the scans\/updates have been completed.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you understand the problem and helps you get it resolved, Margie.<\/span><\/p>\n Dick wants to know what we know about DuckDuckGo<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> We find DuckDuckGo\u2019s search results are not as complete as Google\u2019s, but it is more private. We all need to keep in mind\u2026 nothing is private on the Internet -regardless of what you read or hear.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, Dick.<\/span><\/p>\n Would you be interested in making an automatic monthly gift?\u00a0Visit this page<\/a>. Please help us keep on helping you\u2026 and help us keep you safe on the Web.<\/span><\/p>\n Mary wants our suggestions for a VPN<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> We don\u2019t recommend VPNs for most people\u2026 they don\u2019t protect your identity, they don\u2019t protect you from being scammed, and they don\u2019t prevent your computer from being infected with viruses or malware. The advertising behind VPNs is mostly either false or hyperbolic.<\/span><\/p>\n If you work at home, your employer may require you to use a VPN, in that case, you\u2019d need one.\u00a0 And using a VPN when using public Wi-Fi is a must. Also, if you\u2019re living in a country where censorship is a problem, a VPN can disguise your location well enough to fool most censorship attempts. This would come in handy if you wanted to access certain websites that are restricted to certain countries. <\/span><\/p>\n But at home, a VPN\u00a0 is not necessary. And it’s important to keep in mind, despite the advertising hyperbole, a VPN won\u2019t protect you from being scammed, or prevent your computer from being infected. Many VPN vendors claim they don\u2019t keep logs, but you have to take their word for it. And if they keep logs, logs can be accessed by third parties and law enforcement (with warrants).<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to try a VPN, you can install a free browser-based VPN like CyberGhost for Chrome\/Edge<\/a>. With a browser-based VPN, you can disguise your location and easily turn it on and off as needed.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, Mary.<\/span><\/p>\n Annie wants a different picture on her sign-in screen<\/strong><\/span> Also, may I ask if there is a way to get different pictures upon signing into Windows? I find Microsoft\u2019s photos that they randomly force on you to be somewhat depressing and tedious! Thanks so very much for your wonderful help! Annie<\/span> As far as the Windows 11 sign-in (log-in) screen goes \u2014 here\u2019s how to change the picture, stop Microsoft from changing the picture, and\/or get rid of the picture on the sign-in screen altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Chose \u201cPersonalize\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 3. In Personalization click on \u201cLock screen\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Next to \u201cPersonalize your lock screen\u201d change it to \u201cPicture\u201d (Spotlight allows Microsoft to choose Lock screen pictures). See the screenshot below.<\/span><\/p>\n 5. Scroll down until you see \u201cChoose a photo\u201d then click the \u201cBrowse\u201d button to choose a photo from your PC. If you don\u2019t want any photo at all on your sign-in screen turn the switch next to \u201cShow the lock screen background on the sign-in screen\u201d to \u201cOff\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, Annie.<\/span><\/p>\n Wayne gets an annoying message from American Megatrends when he starts up his computer<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> But if it is starting up without any input from you, you may have a problem with your hardware or your BIOS. Here\u2019s a page<\/a> that can help you determine what is causing the American Megatrends screen to keep appearing on your computer. As you\u2019ll see there are many different causes. But what you\u2019re seeing is not a program -not something you can uninstall -it\u2019s your BIOS settings screen and your computer cannot run without its BIOS (on most newer computers UEFI).<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, Wayne.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve helped hundreds and hundreds of you with your computers since we started our\u00a0<\/strong>Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Service<\/strong><\/a>! If you\u2019re having computer problems \u2013 we CAN help you!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We all know that sooner or later our computers will start having problems. We can help you with any computer need \u2014 from diagnosing and fixing Windows problems \u2013 to setting up a wireless network for you \u2013 to safeguarding by creating an image-based backup (the only kind that works when you need it to work) \u2013 to cleaning up your computer and optimizing it \u2014 and more. We can do almost anything you need and guarantee our work \u2013 you\u2019re either satisfied or we\u2019ll refund your money.<\/span><\/p>\n We connect to your computer and fix it while you watch<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We will connect to your computer via the Internet and fix any problems you may be having. You can\u00a0watch us work and chat with us while we do. If you have any computer questions you\u2019d like to ask we\u2019ll be glad to answer them for you.\u00a0 We don\u2019t just fix your computer, we explain what we\u2019re doing and why we\u2019re doing it and we are right there with the entire time. Since we\u2019ve started we\u2019ve helped hundreds of you with your computer problems and we\u2019ve received dozens of referrals and testimonials from our readers and customers.<\/span><\/p>\n We offer many other computer services too! If you have a problem with your computer \u2013 we can fix it!<\/span><\/p>\n Get more information about Cloudeight Direct Computer Care and or get your repair keys here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Jeanne says we\u2019re wrong about the Brave browser<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> If you use Brave and you don\u2019t have to sign into Chrome, then you\u2019re not using Brave as a privacy browser \u2013 you\u2019re allowing it to save browser history, cache, and passwords \u2013 so you may as well use Edge, Chrome, or Firefox.<\/span><\/p>\n Most people would use Brave assuming it provided them superior online privacy. A truly private browser would not even allow saving log-ins and passwords. Brave can be set up to be totally private, but if you\u2019re going to use it the way you\u2019re using it, you\u2019re not gaining much privacy \u2013 you may as well use Edge, Chrome, or Firefox.<\/span><\/p>\n The idea of a privacy browser is not to save history, passwords, cache, or anything else that could compromise your personal information. Anyone with access to your computer or any malware connected to your PC could find your browsing history, passwords, and whatever else is in your browser\u2019s cache and history.<\/span><\/p>\n Now I\u2019m not that paranoid, so I just use Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. I don\u2019t believe there\u2019s any privacy on the Internet to begin with. But if you\u2019re using Brave because you want to stay as private as possible, then you\u2019ll have to give up the convenience, bite the bullet, and not allow Brave to save your passwords or browsing history.<\/span><\/p>\n Johanna got a phishing email and now worries her accounts might be compromised<\/strong><\/span> I did open the email, but did not click on anything in the mail, nor did I call the 800 number that they requested I call. Should I forward this email to you so that you can just take a look at it?\u00a0 I have checked with my credit card company account, and happily, NOTHING has been charged by this fake company. The billing payment date was today 09\/16\/2022, so I felt relief that they hadn\u2019t somehow broken into my account. Also checked with my Experian account, and all is well there. But I just wasn\u2019t going to feel absolutely OK until I checked with my most trusted TC and Darcy to know for certain that I did all the things that needed to be done \u2026 Thank you SO, SO much as always for your irreplaceable and hugely appreciated help and guidance. Johanna<\/span><\/p>\n Our answer<\/strong><\/span> You did all the right things and there\u2019s no need to forward the email to us. You can\u2019t be scammed or charged anything just by reading an email, if that were the case we\u2019d be getting scammed about 30 times every day (we get that much junk mail). As long as you don\u2019t click any links in an email, don\u2019t call the number(s) in an email, and don\u2019t give the sender any personal information. The miscreants that send this kind of scam spam send them out by the millions hoping to catch a few \u201cphish\u201d. That\u2019s why they call these kinds of emails \u201cPhishing\u201d emails.<\/span><\/p>\n You did a great job by thinking before clicking anything and not allowing yourself to be tricked by this phishing email.<\/span><\/p>\n Way to go, Johanna!<\/span><\/p>\n Dotty wants to know if we’ve heard of Guardio<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Emsisoft offers a FREE browser extension that adds additional browser-specific protection, but even without the extension installed, Emsisoft protects your entire computer and all of your browsers by blocking malware, phishing sites, Trojans, viruses, ransomware, and more. It’s highly rated by independent antivirus\/antimalware testing labs and has won several prestigious awards.<\/span><\/p>\n Guardio borders on being a scam. It claims to be free but it’s only a free trial, In our opinion, it’s a rip-off. If you keep it passed its trial period it will cost you $119.88 a year ($9.99) a month.<\/span><\/p>\n Guardio provides no antivirus protection outside the browser and even its in-browser protection is questionable.<\/span><\/p>\n > It did poorly on tests at detecting phishing sites.<\/span> Guardio claims on its website that it’s a “lightweight extension designed to help you browse quickly and securely. It will clean your browser, speed it up, and protect your private information.” It does not speed up your browser and it does not protect your private information. The statement “clean up your browser” is questionable since it scores poorly in independent tests.<\/span><\/p>\n Guardio claims to protect your computer by protecting your browser – but does even that poorly. It’s not whole-PC antimalware\/antivirus like Emsisoft, which is available from us<\/a> for $29.99 for the first year and $25 to renew, with Emsisoft’s free browser extension optional. Emsisoft costs $45 for the first year ($40 to renew) for full coverage protection for up to 3 of your PCs with a free browser extension optional for all your covered PCs.<\/span><\/p>\n Breaking it down monthly for comparison Emsisoft costs $2.50 per month for a single license and $3.75 a month to cover 3 PCs ($1.25 per month per PC).<\/span><\/p>\n Guardio is expensive, covers only Chromium-based browsers, works poorly, makes promises it doesn’t come close to keeping, and does not protect your PC, just your browser (and does that poorly). Guardio costs $9.99 a month for a single user. You can add 3 additional users for free which brings the cost down to $2.50 a month but that’s very expensive for the little it actually does.<\/span><\/p>\n We rate Guardio as a waste of money and borderline scammy. Our advice, save your money… steer clear of Guardio.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this answers your question, Dotty. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nHello. I’m amazed you have time to send out replies! Thank you for that.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Juvy. it’s incorrect that Microsoft Office forces you to open files with it. It depends on your default app settings. By default, if you have Microsoft Office installed (or use the online version) Windows will automatically set your default apps to open MS Office files with MS Office. But you can change this in Settings >Apps > Default apps.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nHi, My question is in Task Manager, under the heading of the Processor tab, the Disk is showing a constant 100% and it is in red. Why is it red and what could be causing it to be that way? I have opened Task Manager many times and never saw anything like this before. I was wondering why the P was starting so slowly and was going to check my start-up items, they were ok, with only a few things starting up but the 100% disk in red dumbfounded me. Any ideas? Thank you, Margie<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Margie. Disk means Disk activity or Disk usage. When you see 100% disk activity that’s going to make your computer slow to respond or non-responsive but it wouldn’t cause your computer to boot up slower unless whatever program or app that’s causing the high disk usage is starting with Windows.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nDo you know anything about DuckDuckGo? Thanks, Dick.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Dick. DuckDuckGo has been around for over a decade. We wrote about it back in 2011<\/a>\u00a0 It was just a privacy search engine, but now they offer a browser<\/a> and a mail service. We’ve tried both and both work well.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nI am so involved in my family history genealogy work that a great many things get set aside. Some of my ancestors that I have researched go back to 1100 or earlier\u2013just a lot of verification must be done. I need to do better in checking things. And because I do extensive research, I so count on my Emsisoft to be working away. Now I need to investigate VPNs. Any suggestions?<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Mary. Wow\u2026Wow back to the 12th Century? Great work!<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nHi Darcy & TC, \u201cManage your subscription\u201d keeps giving me an error message when I try to change my email address. What can I do to change my address?<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nOur answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Annie. Please let me know what your new email address is and I\u2019ll change your InfoAve subscriptions for you. I\u2019m sorry you\u2019re having problems.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Cloudeight](\"https:\/\/thundercloud.net\/infoave\/images\/2022\/lock.png%20\")
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\nOf late when I power up my computer I get an annoying message from American Megatrends that will not go away until I click my way through their program being very careful not to click anything too risky. How do I get rid of this program? Is it safe to use? Any benefits? Many thanks for all your help to us seniors. Regards, Wayne<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Wayne. American Megatrends makes the motherboard and the BIOS in your computer. It is not a program. It is not something you cannot uninstall. American Megatrends is the Basic input-output system better known as the BIOS. It will show up depending on your machine if you press certain keys or a certain key.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nThis email is about the Brave browser. I love your site and your tips are usually right on except for this one. You mentioned in your response to Christine that in Brave she would have to get used to signing into websites, such as Gmail, Amazon shopping, or any online shopping, etc. each visit. I use Brave and do not have to sign into my Gmail account. When I signed in, for the first time, I clicked on the \u2018remember me\u2019 button. Now I do not have to sign in next time. I do that for any site where I do not need privacy. Thank you for your wonderful website.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThanks for your nice comments.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nDear TC and Darcy, Just received what is surely a terrible phishing email from folks purporting to be from \u201cGeek Squad\u201d and hoping to charge me for over $400.00 for a phantom renewal of a Geek Squad service contract that I never had, nor ever would have.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Johanna. Thanks for your nice comments.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nHave you heard of a browser extension for Chrome users that they are saying will keep your computer free of viruses and malware called Guardio? I use Emsisoft and have never had a problem. Just curious if you have heard of it and your thoughts. Thanks. You are my go-to people! Dotty.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Dotty. Thanks for your nice comments and your long-time support.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n> It earned a dismal score for blocking malware-hosting websites. <\/span>
\n> It does not protect you from identity theft as it claims.<\/span>
\n> No accessible antimalware.<\/span>
\n> No on-demand antimalware scanning.<\/span><\/p>\n
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