How to spot a fake browser update before it infects your computer
The fake browser update is one of the most effective attacks currently in use against ordinary people, and it works because it imitates something legitimate that everyone has been…
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The real reason cheap replacement chargers keep breaking
I keep a drawer of dead chargers. Not for sentiment. Because when someone asks why the cheap one failed again, it is easier to open one up than to explain.
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Why front-loading washing machines smell bad and how to fix it
It is not a defect and it is not your fault exactly, but it is fixable, and the fix is mostly about habits rather than parts.
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What to look for inside a vacuum cleaner before you buy it
Vacuum cleaners are sold on suction figures and on how they look in a showroom. Neither tells you much. What matters is airflow, sealing, and whether the parts that wear can be…
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What the salesperson is not telling you about protection plans
I sold these. Not because I believed in every one of them, but because they were part of the job and the targets were real.
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What actually happens to your smart TV during a power outage
A television is not an appliance any more. It is a computer with a very large screen, and computers do not enjoy having the power removed without warning.
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The settings you need to change on your smartphone to stop tracking
Your phone knows where you are, what you do, and roughly what you are interested in, and it shares a good deal of that with companies you have never heard of. Most of it can be…
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Why your clothes dryer is taking two cycles to finish the job
A dryer that needs two cycles has a restricted airflow. That is the answer in nine cases out of ten, and it is a safety problem as much as an inconvenience.
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The home appliance brands that end up in repair shops the most
I am not going to give you a league table of brands, and I want to explain why before anyone accuses me of dodging.
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Why your phone stops charging even with a brand new cable
You bought a new cable and it did not fix it. That is useful information, not a waste of money, because it eliminates the most likely cause and points at the second.
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How plastic parts inside high-end blenders cause early failure
A blender can cost several hundred dollars and still fail because of a moulded plastic part the size of a coin.
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Is it worth paying extra for a smart refrigerator
No, for most households. I will give you the reasoning rather than just the verdict, because there are a couple of cases where the answer changes.
