{"id":31346,"date":"2026-01-03T09:24:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T14:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/?p=31346"},"modified":"2026-01-03T09:24:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T14:24:33","slug":"saturday-bonus-questions-and-answers-010326","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/saturday-bonus-questions-and-answers-010326\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers \u2013 010326"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers \u2013 010326<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Holiday Season is over, and we’re starting a brand new year. We wish you all the best in the New Year. And today, as we do every Saturday, we\u2019re featuring some of the questions and answers from past issues of our InfoAve Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

These questions & answers were selected at random from past InfoAve Weekly newsletters.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Please consider giving us a helping hand!<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If our computer support & help, or our tips and tricks, have helped you or made your computer life easier or more productive, please consider helping us with a small donation. Your gifts enable us to continue helping you.\u00a0 Take a moment and help us if you can.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Help<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Donate today and help us keep helping you!<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers \u2013 010326<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Laura says Bing has taken over<\/strong><\/span>
\nBing keeps taking over Google Chrome. Someone said I should use Restoro to check it out. Please do you have an answer? Thank you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Laura. Bing is a Microsoft search engine. I am guessing you added a Bing toolbar (extension) or some other extension to Chrome that keeps switching your search engine. It could be a search engine hijacker.<\/span><\/p>\n

Try this:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Type CHROME:\/\/EXTENSIONS in the Chrome address bar & press \u201cEnter\u201d<\/span>
\n2. Disable or remove any extension that contains the word Bing or Search<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also remove Bing from the list of search engines available in Chrome.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Type CHROME:\/\/SETTINGS\/SEARCH in the Chrome address bar & press \u201cEnter\u201d<\/span>
\n2. Make sure your default search engine is set to Google.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cloudeight<\/span><\/p>\n

3. After you click \u201cManage search engines, you can remove Bing from the list of available search engines, if you choose to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cloudeight<\/span><\/p>\n

If the above doesn\u2019t stop Bing,\u00a0reset Chrome by following the instructions on this page<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Resetting Chrome returns Chrome to its defaults. Keep in mind this does not remove bookmarks. It disables all extensions, clears Chrome history and cache, and restores Chrome to its factory defaults.<\/span><\/p>\n

Restoro is malware in our opinion. It\u2019s scammy and it can mess up your computer. Our advice is don\u2019t use it. It\u2019s certainly not the miracle cure it claims to be. If you have installed it, we recommend you uninstall it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mike\u2019s friend sent him a tip on how to make his computer lightning-fast
\n<\/strong>How to kill Win 10 apps\u2026 A friend of mine found on the web how to disable all the extra apps on Win10 to trim his PC down to the bare minimum and reported blinding speeds as a result. Rather than search the internet, I thought I\u2019d ask the experts \u2013 YOU! Where do you look to disable or even remove all the nonessential programs in Windows 10? A list of what to kill or keep and where to find those controls would be terrific.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Michael. There are a lot of myths going on here. Windows Store apps don\u2019t use any resources when they\u2019re not running. And you can stop any app from running in the background by going to Settings > Apps >Privacy >Background apps and turning the switch at the top under \u201cLet apps run in the background\u201d to \u201cOff\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some people refer to desktop programs as \u201capps\u201d. The only programs that generally affect performance are the ones starting with Windows. The only programs that need to start with Windows are programs like antivirus programs or programs necessary for an essential function like the computer\u2019s sound. There are dozens of programs (many free) that help control startups. Generally, there should not be more than 4 or 5 programs starting with Windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our two favorite programs to use to manage Windows startup programs are\u00a0HiBit Uninstaller<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Autoruns<\/a>. You can also use Windows Task Manager to control start-ups. Hibit and Autoruns are more robust.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cutting back on startup programs can make a big difference in computer performance, but \u201clightning-fast\u201d is probably more due to having a lot of RAM than it is to turning off background apps and keeping startup programs to a minimum, although it\u2019s always helpful to keep things under control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Task Manager is also a good way to see what programs are using the most resources thus slowing down your computer.\u00a0See this article<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

And I can tell you this if a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC has only 4GB of RAM, there\u2019s no way on God\u2019s green earth, that that computer is going to be lightning-fast no matter what do. The more programs you open the fewer resources you\u2019ll have available. And most people don\u2019t realize that with most browsers, each tab opens as a separate process. So having 20 browser tabs open will slow down any computer that doesn\u2019t have enough installed RAM. We don\u2019t suggest running Windows 10 or Windows 11 with less than 8 GB of RAM.<\/span><\/p>\n

My $280 cheapie Windows 11 computer runs \u201clightning-fast\u201d because it has 12 GB of RAM. And even with more than adequate RAM, I still don\u2019t allow many programs starting with Windows<\/span><\/p>\n

So, whenever I hear someone saying \u201cOh, you and do this and that and make your computer lightning fast\u201d I raise my eyebrows and think \u201csure\u201d \u2013 because this is the fallacy promoted by the many scammy One-Click-Wonder-Fix programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, I guess, my answer isn\u2019t what you wanted to hear, but we hope it\u2019s helpful anyway.<\/span>
\n\u2014\u2014<\/span>
\nMike wrote back: \u201cBrilliant answer TC! You\u2019re the best! My friend does have heaps of RAM.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Larry says his \u201cwebmail\u201d adblocker no longer works<\/strong><\/span>
\nHello, folks! I need some advice, and I know you computer wizards can help me. I used Web Ad Blocker for a long time, and it worked to block all the ads in all of my email programs (Outlook and Gmail), but then it suddenly quit working. I uninstalled it and reinstalled it, and the ads continue to appear, especially in my Outlook mail. I remember you guys recommending this program and that is why I got it, and it has worked great for years. Reinstalling it did not help. Is Web Ad Blocker no longer viable? Is there another (easy) program that I could install to block ads in my mail, which are so distracting? Thank you both so much, I would be lost without you guys there to help and guide us old folks! I trust your judgment and know you will give me the best advice. Thank you, from your friend! Larry H.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Larry. Thanks so much.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have never heard of a webmail ad blocker and we\u2019re not familiar with \u201cWeb Ad Blocker\u201d so we have no idea what\u2019s going on with it. The only two ad blockers we\u2019ve ever recommended are Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin. While we recommend installing them both, if you\u2019re only going to install one, then you should install uBlock Origin. It will block ads on all web pages, including on webmail pages.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can read more about uBlock Origin here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re using Google Chrome, check out uBlock Origin Lite.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in adding the Privacy Badger extension t<\/span>o your browser also,\u00a0see this page.<\/a><\/p>\n

We hope this helps you, Larry.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"CLOUDEIGHT<\/a><\/p>\n

We can fix your Windows computer\u2026 check out our low prices here!<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Help<\/a>
\nDonate today and help us keep on helping you!<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\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

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Steven asks about clearing browser history & more<\/strong><\/span>
\nDo you recommend clearing all history from Google Chrome? The last time I did that all of the circular icons which I use frequently disappeared from the opening page of Google Chrome. Also, all of my favorites (bookmarks) changed from icons to blank pages (icons not showing until I clicked and opened them again).<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Steve. The site logos (icons) you see when you open Chrome are the sites you visit most. These are based on your browsing history. When you clear your history they\u2019re removed. You can add them back by visiting your favorite sites again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chrome does not have \u201cFavorites\u201d it has bookmarks. Deleting browser history does not remove bookmarks. I think by \u201cicons\u201d you are referring to the \u201cfavicons\u201d (AKA shortcut icon, website icon, tab icon, URL icon, or bookmark icon) that most sites display (like we display a little dragon), and yes, those will disappear if you clear your browser\u2019s cache and history, but they\u2019ll reappear when you reopen that page. The reason for this is that \u201cfavicons\u201d aren\u2019t stored on your computer \u2013 they come from the bookmarked site \u2013 and will reappear when you visit the site again. The favicons will remain visible as they are stored in your browser\u2019s cache. If you want to learn more about favicons,\u00a0see this page<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, everything you describe is a result of clearing your browser\u2019s (Chrome) history\/cache.<\/span><\/p>\n

We recommend clearing history\/cache every few weeks. However, if you visit a scam site or phishing site and you are getting popups, ads, or other problems related to your encounters with scam\/phishing\/malware sites, then clearing the browser\u2019s cache and history is a priority.<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope this helps you, Steven.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sandi wants to know how to show more icons on the Windows 11 taskbar<\/strong><\/span>
\nSome of the icons on my Windows 11 taskbar are hidden and some I can see. How do I get the hidden ones back so I can see them? This has just happened today. Thank you for your help.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Sandi. Right-click on your taskbar and open Taskbar settings. In \u201cTaskbar settings,”\u00a0 click on \u201cOther system tray icons\u201d and turn on the ones you want to show on your taskbar.<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope this helps you, Sandi.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tim has some questions about VPNs<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Guys! Tim from Pittsburgh (again)- regarding VPNs, I am confused- if I sign up for a VPN service, where does that coverage begin? My internet comes from Comcast cable, through my modem and router, to my streaming devices, and to my PC. So, am I \u201ccovered\u201d at the PC, or the Modem, or what? It\u2019s not something that I install on my PC, is it? I don\u2019t get it! (don\u2019t want to go into the plus and minus of VPNs) just can\u2019t figure out how it works! Hopefully, you can clear up another conundrum for this 80-year-old user. Thanks!<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Tim. I think you\u2019re misunderstanding what a VPN is and what it does. A VPN is a Virtual Private Network.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can install a VPN app on your device, or a VPN extension in your browser that allows you to establish a secure connection with a VPN server.<\/span><\/p>\n

A VPN connection creates a secure connection between you and the internet. Via the VPN everything you do on the internet is routed through an encrypted virtual tunnel. This disguises your IP address when you use the internet, making its location invisible to everyone. A VPN service usually allows you to choose the location that you want to appear to be from. You\u2019re in Pittsburgh, but you could choose a VPN server in Los Angeles or London, or anywhere your VPN service has servers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your ISP is involved only in connecting you to the VPN service you use. Normally, your ISP logs everything you do and everywhere you go on the internet, but when you use a VPN service, your ISP only knows you\u2019re connected to a VPN service what you do after you connect to the VPN service your ISP does not know. Many think this provides more security since their ISP cannot log their internet activities. But it\u2019s the devil you know theory. Many VPNs claim they don\u2019t keep logs of your activities, however, many do, and the only proof you have that they don\u2019t log your internet activities is that they say they don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick summary:<\/span><\/p>\n

Without a VPN service\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

YOU>>YOUR ISP>>THE INTERNET<\/span><\/p>\n

With a VPN service\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

YOU >> YOUR ISP>>YOUR VPN SERVICE >>THE INTERNET<\/span><\/p>\n

A VPN service has nothing to do with your ISP, your router, or your modem. ISPs and routers\/modems just get you onto the Internet. Without a VPN everything you do on the Internet goes through your ISP so your ISP can \u201csee\u201d everything you do and everywhere you go on the Internet and keep logs of all your online activities. With a VPN everything you do on the Internet once you\u2019ve connected to your VPN service goes through your VPN. All your ISP knows (and logs) is that you\u2019ve connected to a VPN server. But it\u2019s important to remember that your VPN service may be logging everything you do on the Internet too\u2026 even if they claim they don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let us know if this helps you, Tim.<\/span>
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/span>
\nTim wrote back:\u00a0\u201cTo quote Johnny Nash, \u2018I can see clearly now\u2026\u2019 I think I\u2019ve got it! Many thanks!\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Reg<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you purchased or renewed Reg Organizer through Cloudeight within the last 12 months, you\u2019re entitled to a free version upgrade to Reg Organizer 9.40. It works great with Windows 10 and Windows 11!<\/span><\/p>\n

Save $14 on Reg Organizer right now!<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Reg Organizer \u2013 A Swiss Army Knife of Windows Tools \u2013 Works Great on Windows 10 and 11!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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