About Gavin Phillips
Gavin is the Technology Explained Section Editor, co-host on the Really Useful Podcast, and a frequent product reviewer. He has a degree in Contemporary Writing pillaged from the hills of Devon, and more than a decade of professional writing experience. He enjoys copious amounts of tea, board games, and football.
Control Your Windows 10 Settings for Subtle Changes
Did you catch everything the Windows 10 Anniversary Update changed? Privacy settings may have been reset, several Group Policies were revoked, new bugs were introduced, and that's not all.
How Private Investigators Use the Internet to Track You
Digital private investigators know everything about you -- the color of your car, who you voted for, your favorite films... everything. But where do they find this information, and who is profiting from it?
Are You One Of 900 Million Android Users Exposed By QuadRoot?
Has your Android device been potentially compromised by American hardware manufacturing giant Qualcomm? New Android bug QuadRoot affects devices running Qualcomm chipsets -- and that's most Android hardware!
What You Need to Know about Windows 10 Secure Boot Keys
Secure Boot should prevent tablet and PC owners from installing their own OS choice on a Windows 10 device -- but thanks to the accidental leak of the "golden keys", Secure boot is dead.
Is Your Browser Leaking Your Online Secrets?
Is your browser leaking your online secrets? Could it be letting your train spotting obsession out of the bag, without even an inkling of remorse? And if it is, how on earth would you know?
What You Should Actually Do When Harassed Online
The Internet has changed bullying. Let's take a look at what has changed, and what you can do if you find yourself on the receiving end of cyber harassment.
Did You Treat Yourself To Pokémon Go Malware?
You REALLY want to play Pokemon Go, so you've installed region-free copy acquired from a third party mobile store. But did you know that you could be opening your Android device to malware?
All Wrapped Up: The Evolution Of Medical Hijacking
Medical data has risen to the top of the identity theft pile, with these detailed personal credentials now sought by a broad variety of nefarious individuals and hacking organizations. But is the threat real?
Everything You Should Know About Windows Product Keys
25 characters govern your Windows system. Your product key is worth $100 or more, whether or not you upgraded to Windows 10. We explain what you can and can't do with your Windows license.
Your New Security Threat for 2016: JavaScript Ransomware
Locky ransomware has been worrying security researchers, but since its brief disappearance and return as a cross-platform JavaScript ransomware threat, things have changed. But what can you do to defeat the Locky ransomware?
Understanding How to Stay Safe Online in 2016
Why do some users blindly wander the Internet with the bare minimum of online security software installed? Let's look at some commonly misconstrued security statements, and make the right security decisions.
How to Update Windows ISO Installation Media for a Speedy Setup
You can significantly speed up your Windows setup, if you add the latest updates and other tweaks to your installation media. We show you how to do that for Windows 7, Windows 8 / 8.1, and Windows 10 ISO files.
This Is Why We Hate Windows Update
The way Windows Update currently forces Windows 10 upgrades and updates on you is bad. Gavin examines what makes all of us hate Windows Update and what you can do against it.
How to Customize Microsoft Word Layout Settings
Microsoft Office comes with many useful templates, styles, and themes. We'll show you all the settings you need to create your own custom layout in Word 2013 and Word 2016.
6 Reasons You Should Be Using an Anonymising Proxy Server
Online privacy is important, but you don't have to remain exposed. You can use an anonymizing proxy server to remain hidden from prying eyes, granting you a little more security in your online affairs.
TeamViewer Hack: Everything You Need To Know
"Protecting your personal data is at the very core of everything we do" says hacked remote desktop service TeamViewer -- but are they protecting themselves before the customer? Let's examine what we know.
How to Password Protect & Encrypt Your Microsoft Office Files
Would you mind if someone peeked through your OneNote notebooks or had access to your Word documents? If your answer is yes, let us show you how to protect your Office files.
9 Free Tools to Set Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot in Windows
You can share your desktop or laptop Internet connection with other devices by turning your Windows computer into a hotspot. We show you the tools that make this easy.
3 Danger Signs to Look for Each Time You Use an ATM
Taking a few moments before popping your card into the ATM slot to withdraw money could be the difference between spotting it has been tampered with, and becoming penniless. But what should you look for?
How to Half Your Windows 7 Installation Time with an Update
If you'll ever need to reinstall Windows 7, you can now cut the setup time in half. The Windows 7 convenience rollup compiles all Windows updates and security patches since SP1. Let us explain...