Program Notes for the 1st Week of the Month
May 4, 2026 | Join Online Meeting > The Gadget Gurus: I will review the current tech news. We will do our best to answer questions about computers, smartphones, apps, cameras, tablets, and the internet. Bring your tech issues and enjoy the meeting.
Google Maps secretly lets you rewind to any year and see how places changed – howtogeek.com
This Week’s Tip or Trick
As of April 2026, the NSA and FBI have strongly advised Americans to reboot their home routers and update their security settings immediately. This follows a major cyber operation linked to Russian intelligence (GRU/APT28) that is exploiting vulnerable routers to access personal, business, and government information.
Key Actions Recommended by the NSA/FBI:
- Reboot: Unplug your router for at least 30 seconds to remove malicious implants.
- Change Default Settings: Change the default admin username and password.
- Update Firmware: Ensure the router’s firmware is up to date to patch vulnerabilities.
- Disable Remote Management: Turn off remote administration to prevent access to the router settings from the internet.
- Update/Replace Hardware: Replace old, end-of-support routers.
BitWarden Tip & Info
Keep your vault tidy with item archiving
Users on any Bitwarden paid plan can now archive vault items, safely keeping lesser-used credentials out of the way without deleting them. When you need them again, they can be accessed, unarchived, and restored to their original location. Archived items will not clutter search results and autofill suggestions, so they won’t slow you down during everyday use.
Q: Re the Brother laser printer, we have been using our L2710DW since 2018, still going strong, and still being made. It has wifi capability. Toner and drum cartridges are much cheaper online than at places like Staples. Jay Beckerman
A: Find the Brother Black & White Printer That Works for You
. I’ve owned this Brother printer since 2021, and it’s still the only one I recommend to friends – howtogeek.com
Q: Clicked on “I am not a robot” while signing into a new account and froze my Chromebook. The message stated that my equipment was under a phishing attack and that I should scan my PC with Norton, Defender, or McAfee. Three restarts did nothing to resolve the issue.
Power wash seems to have worked. Phil D
Discussion: I talked to Phil, and he said the site he visited was legitimate. He logged in normally after he powered-washed his computer.
I cannot be sure, but this is perhaps one of those issues where the bad guys have registered a domain name that is close to the original one, but with a non-obvious typographical error. This is a malware technique that you need to be aware of.
Note: This was probably one of those browser hijackers we encounter on all computer platforms. Power washing may not have been required; clearing the cache might have fixed the problem. But power washing is always a good option, with a Chromebook, it only takes a few minutes.
Q: Phill also mentioned that some extensions had to be removed and reinstalled to work properly after the powerwash. Is this normal?
A: You don’t necessarily have to reinstall extensions after power washing. But you may need to log in if the app requires it.
Tech News & Tips
- ChromeOS 147 rolls out with new auditing tools for Education and Enterprise – chromeunboxed.com
- Your Android phone has a built-in scanner, fax machine, and measuring tape – How-To Geek
- The Password Mistakes That Almost Everyone Still Makes – barrettmedia.com
- These are the 5 Google Wallet settings I change on every Pixel phone – howtogeek.com
- Stop swiping away Android notifications — there’s a smarter way to deal with them – Make Use Of
- Why Passkeys, MFA and Strong Passphrases Matter More Than Ever – gendigital.com
- Google Maps has monthly travel recaps—here’s how to get them – howtogeek.com
- Bitwarden Confirms Compromise—Here Are The Facts For 10 Million Users – Forbes
- Samsung Messages Is Shutting Down: Here’s How to Rescue Your Messages Before It’s Gone – CNET
- You’re using HDMI wrong on your smart TV: Here’s how to fix the mistake once and for all – howtogeek.com
Deals, Sales & Reviews
- I’ve owned this Brother printer since 2021, and it’s still the only one I recommend to friends – howtogeek.com
- Google Pixel ruined voice typing on every other phone for me, but the fix is in sight – 9to5google.com
Video Tips
- What’s My IP Address? – youtube.com · Ask Leo!
- Why Most Rechargeable Batteries Actually Suck – youtube.com · ThioJoe
- My Computer Has Started to Shut Down Randomly. Could It Be the Fan? – youtube.com · Ask Leo!
- How Can I Pin “Restart” to My Taskbar? – youtube.com · Ask Leo!