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Philip Bates-Freelance Writer | Former Security Editor

Philip Bates

Freelance Writer | Former Security Editor

  • 235
    articles
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  • 5
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About Philip Bates

Philip was the Security Editor for MUO, and has worked here since 2014. He’s been a freelance writer since 2012, having achieved a Distinction in Professional Writing FdA.

He's worked with Windows PCs since the 1990s, but is an avid iPhone user. He thinks Brave is much better than Chrome, the Nintendo Switch is the best console, and AI used in creative pursuits is appalling.

Philip has written, proofed, and edited numerous books, and written for publications like the Sherlock Holmes Magazine, HeroCollector, and The British Comedy Guide.

Latest Articles

Find My app on an iPhone showing an offline device
Why Is Find My iPhone Offline? (And How to Find It Anyway)

Learn about your options when Apple's Find My service shows the "Offline" status for your missing iPhone.

emoji dictionary meanings book
What Does This Emoji Mean? Emoji Face and Smiley Meanings Explained

Confused by the emojis in that text message you just got? Here are the commonly accepted meanings of popular emojis.

whispering a secret where to find free comics
The 10 Best Ways to Read Comics Online for Free

Comic books aren't cheap! You can save a lot of money by using these sites to read comics online for free.

iPhone showing iMessage icon with exclamation point in it.
How to Fix "iMessage Not Delivered" on Your iPhone

Seeing an "iMessage not delivered" error? Here are some essential tips and fixes for when iMessages won't deliver your messages.

colorburst 50 kodak camera
Why Film Is Better Than Digital Photography: 6 Reasons

All photographers argue about which is better film or digital? Here's why you should dumpy your DSLR and opt for SLR photography.

Snap logo ghost smartphone iPhone
How to Recover a Lost Snapchat Streak and Get It Back

If you lost your Snapchat Streak, don't panic! Here's how to get a Snapchat Streak back.

looking at facebook on iphone alongside a laptop
What Happens When You Deactivate Your Facebook Account

Instead of deleting Facebook, you may want to deactivate your account instead. Here's what that means and what happens when you do.

blocked stopped removed on snapchat
How to Tell if Someone Blocked You on Snapchat

Getting blocked on Snapchat can be painful. Learn how to tell if someone blocked you on Snapchat!

leaving your laptop open at your desk
How to Tell if Someone Was Snooping on Your PC: 4 Ways

Suspect that your computer isn't how you left it? Think someone is checking on your computer? Learn how to tell if someone was snooping on your PC!

accessing youtube on otherwise blocked pcs
5 Ways to Bypass Blocked Sites Without Using Proxies or VPNs

You're at work or school, but want to view a blocked website. Here are several methods you can try—no proxy or VPN needed.

spying on your smartphone
How to Tell If Your Phone Is Tapped: 7 Warning Signs

How can you tell if your phone is tapped? Can you know who tapped it? Learn the warning signs and what you can do.

Shadow of a person standing in front of the Apple logo
When Did Apple Become Popular? A Brief History of the Rise of Apple

How did Apple start and when did Apple become popular? We answer these questions and more as we explore Apple's past.

dark symbol social media FB
How to See Who Blocked You on Facebook

Worried that someone blocked you on Facebook? There are ways to check for signs of whether that's the case. Here's how to find out.

can you use messenger without fb
How to Use Messenger Without Facebook

You can't simply use Messenger without a Facebook account. But there is a smart little workaround so you can have Messenger without Facebook.

iPhone display with Netflix logo on the screen
13 Common Netflix Error Codes and How to Fix Them

Netflix stopped working? Here are some of the most common Netflix error codes, what each one means, and what you can do to fix the problem.

Image of Apple, App Store, and Apple Store gift cards
How to Recognize and Avoid Free Gift Card Scams: 7 Warning Signs

Received an email or social media message saying you've won a free gift card? It's likely a scam. Here's how to tell.

person liking an instagram photo on a mobile phone
The 12 Most Common Instagram DM Questions, Answered

Everything you need to know about Instagram DMs, from direct message features to how to unsend a DM in Instagram.

Woman browsing in a bookstore
What Is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?

Sometimes called "personal data", PII is valuable to you, to companies, and to hackers. But what is it? What does it include?

An email key on a keyboard
What Is Email Spoofing? How Scammers Forge Fake Emails

It looks like your email account has been hacked, but those weird messages you didn't send are actually due to email spoofing.

Credit cards seen on a circuit board
Can You Trust Your Browser With Credit Card Information?

Shopping online and tempted to save your credit card information in your browser? Here's why you might not want to do that.

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