How to turn a USB flash drive into a secure key for your PC
Just having a password set on your PC in Windows 11 isn’t a sure way to stop hackers from physically gaining access to your PC — yes, it can be bypassed. But there is another…
Dominic Bayley
Dominic Bayley
Why skimping on your PC gaming rig’s motherboard is a bad move
If you ask any PC repairer what PC components end up on their trash heaps most frequently, they will say the motherboard is right up there as one of the most common. In fact, some…
My USB cable got wet. Can I still use it?
A funny thing that happened to me recently was that I accidentally dunked the end of a USB cable in my coffee cup when I was moving it over my desk. “My coffee’s going to…
Here’s why I side-mount my phone to my laptop — and you should too
Short of joining the 5am club (I’m really not a morning person), I’ve been looking for ways to streamline my workflow, and I’m happy to say I’ve finally found one: side-mounting my phone to my…
This simple USB cable accessory helps me reclaim hours of my time
Being a tech editor and reviewer, I’ve dealt with decades worth of devices. That’s all well and good but the result is that I’ve accumulated an awful lot of cables that have ended up in…
Should you turn off your antivirus when you game on your PC?
There’s an unspoken rule in PC gaming that goes a little something like this: “Bar cutting off your right leg, you should do everything you can to maximize your PC performance for games.” Because of…
Gamers beware! This new malware hides in your GPU
There’s a new family of malware that’s impersonating Asus’s Armoury Crate software and infecting PCs with malicious code. The malware known as CoffeeLoader may sound like a futuristic kitchen appliance that automatically pours you some…
Windows’ 100% volume is a phony limit. Here’s how I boost audio 6x higher
If you’re playing audio on a desktop replacement laptop with a six-speaker-strong configuration, something like the Razer Blade 18 with its four woofers, two tweeters, and additional three smart amps, then you’re probably not going…
Hands on: The HP ZBook Ultra G1a smashes the ‘work laptop’ paradigm
I’ve searched high and low for an enterprise-grade laptop that’s portable, has the tools I need to keep my work secure, but that’s also powerful enough to run graphically demanding 3D models, design software, and…
HP expands its Omen brand to include PC gaming components
HP is broadening its Omen gaming lineup with components for desktop gaming PCs. Previously HP focused on prebuilt Omen desktops and gaming laptops, so this shift will likely sit well with gamers looking to upgrade…