devices
7 articles with this tag
How to clear browsing history, cookies and saved passwords (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox on computer and phone): what to delete after a leak, and what to keep first
A guide to deleting browsing history, cookies (site data), cache, saved passwords and autofill in Chrome (Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone), Safari (Mac, iPhone, iPad), Edge and Firefox, using the labels in each vendor's official help. Deleting browsing history does not take back anything already copied and is not a defence against a threat. What reduces future harm is dealing with sign-in state (cookies) and saved passwords: change passwords and sign out of all sessions from a safe device. If you will go to the police, record the threatening email and any suspicious extensions before deleting. If sync is on, deletion also removes the data from your other devices on the same account. In the October 2026 Onamae.com Desktop Cloud case, GMO Internet's sixth notice asks customers to keep browser sync off until their device check is done.
How to check if someone accessed your account: sign-in activity, signed-in devices and forwarding settings (Google, Microsoft, Apple, LINE, Instagram, X)
A guide to checking for unauthorized access. Look in three places: (1) sign-in activity and signed-in devices (Google 'Your devices', Microsoft 'Recent activity', Apple Account device list, LINE 'Devices', Instagram and Facebook 'Where you're logged in', X 'Apps and sessions'); (2) account settings (mail forwarding and filters, connected apps, recovery email and phone); (3) the device itself (iPhone configuration profiles, Android device admin apps, browser extensions). This site's take: changing the password alone can leave signed-in sessions, forwarding rules and connected apps in place. If you find something, sign out other sessions, change the password right away, then check recovery details, two-step verification, forwarding, connected apps and payments in that order.
How to turn off BitLocker: decide whether suspending is enough, and save the recovery key first
Turning off BitLocker fully decrypts the drive. Microsoft says decryption should happen when protection is no longer needed, not as a troubleshooting step. For BIOS or firmware updates, Suspend protection is enough. Save the recovery key outside the PC first; on Pro use Turn off BitLocker in Control Panel or manage-bde -off, on Home switch off Device encryption in Settings. Don't decrypt work or school PCs yourself. To sell or give away a PC, don't decrypt: reset it with Remove everything and Clean data.
Medtronic Data Breach (About 3.83 Million): What Patients Using Its Devices Should Check
On April 24, 2026, medical device maker Medtronic disclosed that an unauthorized party had accessed data in certain of its corporate IT systems. Per its notice letter, the access ran from April 13 to April 19, 2026. The Indiana Attorney General's breach list shows 3,834,294 people affected nationwide, with notices sent on June 29. The information involved: name, contact information, date of birth, Social Security number and health-related information. The company says it has not identified any impact to product security or patient safety, including the ability of any Medtronic device to operate safely and deliver intended therapy. This site's take: device makers hold patient data so that product updates and safety notices can reach you. Don't stop using the device or drop your registration; protect the SSN with a credit freeze and an IRS IP PIN, and verify any call that mentions your device by calling back a number you already have.
BitLocker vs 'Device encryption' — the same technology, full version vs automatic lite
BitLocker and Device encryption share the same encryption engine. Device encryption = the automatic, lite version that works on Home (auto-on with a Microsoft account, recovery key auto-escrowed, minimal options). BitLocker = the full version on Pro+ (startup PIN, external-drive encryption via To Go, fine control). For individuals, being auto-encrypted plus knowing where the recovery key is is usually enough. The state matters more than the name.
Securing a laptop you carry around — protecting against theft, loss, and shoulder-surfing
Carrying a laptop assumes you'll lose it or it'll be stolen. The main defense is setting it up so a loss doesn't leak the contents: disk encryption (BitLocker/FileVault), a strong login with a short auto-lock, and remote wipe/locate. With HTTPS everywhere, public-Wi-Fi sniffing is lower priority; the real threats are rogue APs, shoulder-surfing, and walking away. Don't over-trust a VPN — harden the device first.
Smartphone security basics: protecting the one device that holds your passwords, payments, and ID
A phone concentrates 2FA, email, banking, and ID into one device, so losing it affects many services (a single point of failure). The most effective protection isn't a security app: (1) a strong lock + short auto-lock (the passcode is the encryption key); (2) automatic OS/app updates; (3) official store + permission review; (4) set up remote lock/wipe in advance; (5) keep a backup of your 2FA. iOS/Android already encrypt and sandbox by default.