TECHTIPS

Starting a business is exciting. New name, new logo, new plans… But before you rush into buying laptops, email accounts, software and websites, it’s worth pausing. A few sensible IT choices at the start can save money, time and headaches later. Don’t just go with what works today Think about where the business might be in 1–3 years. Some things to consider: Domain name Your domain name is very important as it reflects your brand and is usually linked to your website, em

Free Beat the Scammers Poster 👉 Download our free Beat the Scammers Poster. Then print it and put it on the wall near your computer. Or give it to someone who could be affected by a scammer, such as an elderly relative. Scams to watch out for: 🧾 “Boss” / Gift Card Scam (Targeting Finance Staff) Scammers impersonate senior staff (e.g. a director or CEO) to trick employees into sending money or buying gift cards. How it works: You receive an email appearing to be from “the bo

Many people assume their files are safely backed up because they “use OneDrive”. But there’s a catch: OneDrive only helps if it’s actually running and syncing properly. We occasionally see computers where OneDrive was set up months or years ago, but the little cloud icon has disappeared, the app has stopped running, or it’s been asking for attention without anyone noticing. In those cases, new files may not have backed up for a long time. A quick check is worthwhile: Lo

Microsoft has confirmed that text-message security codes are being phased out for personal Microsoft accounts, partly because SMS can be vulnerable to phishing and SIM-swap scams. Instead, Microsoft is moving users towards safer options such as passkeys, passwordless sign-in, authenticator apps, and verified email. These methods are generally harder for criminals to intercept or trick people into handing over. If you still rely on text messages for login codes, it’s worth

We occasionally come across people still using email addresses they created 15–20 years ago — sometimes from old internet providers, old jobs, or addresses that perhaps sounded like a good idea at the time. The good news is that moving to a better email address is usually much easier than people expect. In many cases: Auto-forwarding can be enabled, so emails sent to the old address automatically arrive in the new one Existing emails, folders, contacts and calendars can usual

We often see people using a mixture of OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud and other cloud services all at the same time. Before long, things can become a bit of a mess. Photos end up in multiple places, files become difficult to find, and many people unknowingly pay for several storage subscriptions at once — often backing up the same files multiple times. In most cases, it’s much simpler to stick with one main cloud service (or perhaps one for home and one for work). Th

Artificial Intelligence — usually shortened to AI — is suddenly everywhere. Depending on who you ask, it’s either going to revolutionise the world… or steal everyone’s job by Tuesday. The reality is a bit less dramatic. At its core, modern AI is simply software that’s been trained on huge amounts of information so it can: answer questions write text summarise information help with research generate images and assist with everyday tasks Think of it as a very fast digital assis

If you run a charity, you may be eligible for Microsoft 365 at no cost or a significantly reduced price. Microsoft’s non-profit programme gives access to essential tools like Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and Office apps, helping organisations stay organised without increasing overheads. For many UK charities, the starting point is simple: Up to 300 users on Microsoft 365 Business Basic – completely free If you need desktop apps (eg. Outlook, Word, Excel) – Business Standard is a

With the cost of everything creeping up, it’s worth making sure your tech isn’t costing more than it should. We often see people paying for things they don’t really need — usually without realising it. Here are some practical ways to cut unnecessary tech costs. 1. Review your subscriptions & bank statements Many people are paying for multiple cloud services, software subscriptions, or apps without realising it. It’s worth checking: Microsoft 365, iCloud, Google storage plans

We want to make you aware of a nasty and disruptive WhatsApp scam that is affecting people in the local area, and spreading quickly. What is the WhatsApp “Account Takeover” Scam? Scammers attempt to take control of your WhatsApp account by tricking you into sharing a 6-digit verification code. It typically works like this: You receive a message from a trusted contact asking you to send them a code, or claiming a code was sent to you “by mistake”. WhatsApp then sends you a leg

Did you know that you can access your WhatsApp and Messenger accounts from your computer? This is a convenient way of sending and receiving messages without having to deviate away from your screen, and makes it easy to compose longer messages too. Messages sent and received sync to your messaging account seamlessly so they will be reflected on your phone when you pick it up again. Download the desktop apps from here: WhatsApp Windows: https://www.whatsapp.com/download/ Mac:..

Windows 10 reached End of Life on 14 October 2025. Microsoft no longer provide security updates for it, leaving any computers still running Windows 10 increasingly vulnerable to viruses and other security threats. For computers still running Windows 10, some options are: Upgrade the existing device to Windows 11 (if compatible). Replace the device with a new computer. Continue using Windows 10 and accept the associated security risks. With our Free Windows 11 Upgrade Assessm