Tech tips, security alerts, and plain-English advice from Skits and Jerry.
Hey there, I'm Skits! Welcome to the blog. Jerry and I write about the stuff that actually matters to folks in Winchester — how to keep your computer running, protect your data, spot scams, and make sense of all the tech jargon. No fluff, no corporate-speak. Just honest advice from your neighbors.
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Publishing Sun, Nov 1
Thinking about a new computer as a holiday gift for a parent? Here's how to pick one they'll actually enjoy, and set it up so it's ready to use the moment it's unwrapped.
Publishing Sun, Nov 8
Every family has an IT department, and it's usually one person. Here's a holiday gift that helps your parent all year: ongoing computer support from someone local.
Publishing Sun, Nov 15
Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring the same handful of scams every year, dressed in holiday wrapping. Learn the tells once and you'll spot them in seconds.
Publishing Sun, Nov 22
Heading to a parent's house for Thanksgiving? Here's a 20-minute tech check to do after the pie, and how to tell when onsite help makes more sense.
We'll wrap up Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the habit that feels the most like a chore and does the most quiet good: keeping your software updated.
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It's the spooky season, so here's the only trick worth worrying about: the fake email or text designed to trick you into clicking. It's called phishing, and it's behind most of the scams that hit folks around Winchester.
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Last week we talked about passwords. This week we add the single most valuable two minutes you can spend on your security all year: turning on two-step verification. If you only do one thing this whole month, do this one.
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It's Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and we're keeping it practical all October — four simple habits, one a week, that stop the overwhelming majority of trouble. We're starting with passwords, because almost every story that ends badly starts here.
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Deleted the wrong thing, drive will not spin, or a ransom screen came up — what to do first, what never to touch, and when recovery is still possible.
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Not every file deserves the same worry. Here is how to tell what you could never re-create, and protect that first.
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What actually happens to a Winchester small business the day the main computer dies, and the plan that turns a week of chaos into an afternoon.
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Your cloud protects you more than most people realise — but sync is not a backup, and the difference is what bites when a file goes wrong.
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Whatever cloud you're already paying for can back up your folders automatically. Here's how to switch it on and stay in control.
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Name files like a human, use the search box you already have, and rescue the ones you thought were gone for good.
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A folder system organized by type — with ready-to-copy templates for home, the office, and non-profits — so everything has an obvious home.
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You cleaned out the inbox last month. The same keep-file-toss trick works on your computer, and it's the easiest way to start.
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Find any email in five seconds, send a polished signature, reuse your common replies, and schedule mail to land at the right time — on your computer AND your phone. The finishing touches that make email feel easy.
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The fake invoice. The fake delivery notice. The fake "boss" asking for gift cards. Here's the 30-second check that tells you if an email is real — plus how to open attachments safely. Email-specific, for Winchester homes, businesses, and non-profits.
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The secret to a calm inbox isn't discipline — it's rules. Set up folders, labels, and auto-filing once, and your email sorts itself by type forever. A plain-English guide for Winchester offices and non-profits (and homes too).
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Got 14,000 unread emails? You can clear a cluttered inbox in an afternoon without losing a single thing you need. Here's the archive-vs-delete rule, bulk cleanup, and the unsubscribe purge — for Winchester homes, businesses, and non-profits alike.
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Q2 closed June 30. 7 line items every Winchester small business should audit before Q3 starts — license cleanup, hardware refresh, backup test, MFA coverage, and the 3-2-1 rule.
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Lightning takes out routers, modems, and the occasional whole-home network. What to unplug, what to keep running, and the $25 surge protector that pays for itself in a single storm.
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Owner-operator finally taking a week off? Test these 4 handoffs first — backup admin, password manager, restore, and the OOO that doesn't help a scammer. Real client scenarios from 17 years of doing this.
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Heading to the beach or out to see the grandkids? A 10-minute Winchester homeowner's checklist for the WiFi, the router, the camera, and what NOT to post on Facebook.
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13 courses in Skits' Classroom you can take in 10 minutes. The complete catalog, how to pick, plus in-person training for groups.
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Your internet probably isn't slow — your WiFi is. Free router fixes, placement tips, and when mesh or business-grade gear is the answer.
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The 5 places your computer hides things, how to find any file in seconds, and the 3-2-1 backup rule so you never lose one again.
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Summer scams are ramping up. 5 practical ways to protect yourself from phishing, fake delivery texts, travel scams, and weak passwords.
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Should you repair or replace your computer, printer, or router? Jerry's honest framework for making the smart call without wasting money.
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Your desk, chair, monitor, and keyboard might be causing more problems than your software. A quick hardware health check you can do in 5 minutes.
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Your router is the backbone of everything you do online. When's the last time you checked on it? Here's what to look for and when to replace it.
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Most printer problems take 5 minutes to fix yourself. Here are 5 things to try before you pick up the phone.
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If your computer died right now — just stopped working, no warning — what would you lose? Here's how to set up a backup that actually works.
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That 'update available' notification isn't nagging you for fun. It's patching holes that hackers already know about.
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SMS-based two-factor authentication is vulnerable to SIM swapping and phishing. Hardware keys, authenticator apps, and passkeys are the new standard.
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Your File Explorer is a digital filing cabinet. Here's how to create folders, name files properly, tame the Downloads folder, and use Quick Access.
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The IRS will never call, text, or email you demanding payment. Here's how to spot fake IRS calls, phishing emails, and refund scams.
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Cybercriminals can clone your boss's voice with just seconds of audio. How AI voice scams work and what verification protocols your business needs.
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Stop the annual scavenger hunt. One folder, five minutes a week, and you'll never scramble for tax documents again.
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Your computer works hard for you every day. Clean the keyboard, dust the vents, run updates, and close those browser tabs.
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There's 'having a backup' and then there's 'actually being protected.' Cloud backup, the two-places rule, and file organization.
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About 80% of slow computer issues don't need a new machine. Six fixes you can try right now.
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If your computer died right now, what would you lose? A beginner-friendly guide to the 3-2-1 backup rule.
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Use a passphrase, get a password manager, enable MFA. 15 minutes to dramatically better security.
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Forget learning to code. These five resolutions will genuinely make your daily tech life less frustrating.
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Slow WiFi costs your business time and money. Router placement, channel optimization, and when to upgrade.
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Your vendors' security is your security. How to vet suppliers, require MFA, and protect your business from supply chain attacks.
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Most small businesses run equipment until it dies. A refresh plan spreads the cost and avoids emergencies.
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40% of small businesses never reopen after a data disaster. Here's how to build a backup plan that keeps you running.
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Remote work security has evolved. Zero trust, endpoint detection, VPN best practices, and cloud access management.
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