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These phone settings will improve your July Fourth fireworks pics 06/27/2025 03:59pm • Watch it live on WTOP.com: "A Capitol Fourth"- the star-spangled concert on the National Mall followed by an Independence Day fireworks show. The dazzling lineup starts 8 p.m. on Friday, July 4.  Q: Can I get decent pictures of fireworks with my smartphone? A: If you plan on capturing fir Data Doctors: How to work safely in a Windows 10 environment when security updates stop 06/25/2025 07:44am • Q: Are the Windows 11 upgrade workarounds for noncompliant (Windows 10) computers safe? A: If you’re one of the millions still using Windows 10, you’ve probably seen the frequent reminders lately about the upcoming end-of-life date: Oct. 14, 2025. It’s not just a suggestion — Microsoft wi Data Doctors: How to check for leaked passwords 06/20/2025 02:37pm • Q: Is there a way to know if my passwords are part of this latest breach? A: You may have seen the headlines about a massive leak involving nearly 10 billion unique passwords and more than 16 billion total entries. The “RockYou2024” file — originally compiled last year — has been updated Data Doctors: Beware the 'found in China' iPhone scam 05/30/2025 12:27pm • Q: My iPhone was stolen six months ago, and I just received a text from someone in the Philippines claiming they have my phone, asking me to remove it from my iCloud account so they can reset it. What should I do? A: Having a smartphone stolen is stressful enough without having to deal with scamm Data Doctors: How to use email aliases 05/23/2025 04:48pm • Q: How are Gmail aliases used? A: Email is an essential part of digital life, but if you only use one address for everything you do, your inbox can become overwhelming and it can be difficult to feel like you have any control of your messages. If you find yourself hesitating to interact with a Data Doctors: How to use the Windows battery life report 05/16/2025 07:16pm • Q: What are my options when the battery on my Windows laptop is going out? A: If you find yourself tethered to a wall outlet more often than you’d like, your laptop’s battery is telling you that something’s wrong. Over time, all rechargeable batteries degrade, but how you use (or abuse) you Data Doctors: How to safely add fonts 05/09/2025 02:42am • Q: How do I add fonts to my computer and are they cross-compatible between Windows and Mac? A: Installing new fonts can give your digital projects a whole new personality, whether you’re creating a flier, a presentation or a custom greeting card. The good news is that adding fonts is simple on Data Doctors: What to know and do about the 'dark web' 05/02/2025 05:13pm • Q: What's the dark web, and should I be worried about it? A: The term "dark web" can pop up in news stories, especially when there's a big data breach. As ominous as it sounds, it’s helpful to have an understanding of it and what you can do about it. What is the dark web? The best analogy I h Data Doctors: Understanding random 'smishing' text messages 04/25/2025 03:28pm • Q: Why am I suddenly getting lots of weird, random texts from strangers asking if they know me? A: If you're receiving vague text messages from numbers you don’t recognize saying something like, “Hi, do I know you?” or “I found your number in my address book,” you’re not alone, and it Data Doctors: What's behind Windows blue screen errors 04/18/2025 07:58am • Q: What causes the blue screen errors that freezes everything on my Windows computer? A: The blue screen of death — often shortened to BSOD — is Windows’ way of saying something went wrong at a system level, and it had to stop everything to avoid bigger problems. The stark screen is made to Data Doctors: Best smartwatches for Android users 04/11/2025 10:57am • Q: Could you provide some guidance for buying a smartwatch to go with my Android smartphone? There are just too many choices! A: Smartwatches can be a great companion to your Android phone, but narrowing down your options starts with identifying what you want to get out of it. Are you looking Data Doctors: 'Pig butchering' and other scams targeting seniors 04/04/2025 05:18pm • Q: I’m trying to protect my parents from scammers. What are some scams targeting older people? A: Older adults are often a prime target for scammers, and it’s not just by chance. They tend to have larger nest eggs, are more trusting, and may be less familiar with technology. Many scams Data Doctors: Signal vs WhatsApp — should you switch? 03/31/2025 04:44pm • Q: What’s the difference between Signal and WhatsApp, and should I switch? A: Until recent news involving the Signal app, it was a relatively unknown messaging platform to many nontechnical users compared to WhatsApp. This is illustrated by comparing the more than 2 billion active users of W So, what's Signal? Tech expert on app Trump administration used to discuss attack plans 03/27/2025 10:59am • Amid the fallout regarding a Signal chat among senior national security officials that inadvertently included The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, tech expert Ken Colburn of Data Doctors says the app is secure for messaging. "When we say secure, we're talking about communication between Data Doctors: Do I really need to stop using Chrome? 03/21/2025 02:55pm • Q: Do I need to switch from Google Chrome to Microsoft Edge because of Microsoft’s warnings if I have Trend Micro installed? A: If you’ve seen recent headlines, you might be wondering if Microsoft is sounding the alarm or simply promoting its own browser. The latest warning is tied to a newly