Hartland Computer Services

If you're confused by the new Foreign Wi-Fi Router Ban, you should be, it's weird. My guess is it was developed by a committee that doesn't understand the router market or desktop security, it's the only thing that would make sense.

My advice is to do nothing until this gets modified or reversed. These companies have deep pockets, they'll pony up.

If you own your own router, not supplied by Spectrum, Metronet or Widstream, do make sure the login isn't Admin/Admin or whatever default it came with. If you don't know how to do that, don't sweat it, this will increase your computer security by the same amount as asking your spouse if they locked the front door before going to bed.

To say this another way, routers may indeed be vulnerable, but this is not how residential users "get hacked".

EXCEPTION: If you own a business and are using a consumer type router in your office(s), you may want to take this opportunity to review your security.

US bans any new consumer-grade routers not made in America : Unfortunately, there aren't many options unless you're Starlink

Apple just released the MacBook Neo at $599 — their cheapest laptop ever — and it's genuinely worth a look if you're a Windows user in the market for a new computer. I haven't had one on my bench yet (but I will), so take this as informed first impressions rather than a personal recommendation. For everyday tasks like email, web browsing, video calls, and light document work, it looks like a strong machine at a price that used to be impossible for Apple.

That said, the main compromise is memory — it ships with 8GB RAM and there's no option to add more. That's fine for casual use but worth knowing upfront, especially if you tend to keep a lot of browser tabs open or multitask heavily. If you know you need more RAM, the MacBook Air is still available and can be configured with plenty — just at a higher price point. The $700 model adds Touch ID and doubles the storage, which is probably worth the extra $100 if this is your main machine.

The bigger consideration for most of my customers is the platform switch itself. Moving from Windows to macOS isn't just a learning curve — it's a different way of thinking about how your computer works. File management, software compatibility, and even basic shortcuts all behave differently. Most people adapt fine, but it takes time, and some software you rely on may not have a Mac version. If you're open to that transition and mostly use your computer for everyday tasks, the Neo is a genuinely compelling option.

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If you know someone affected by the recent Kentucky floods—please pass this on.

We’re offering free computer repair or replacement at cost for flood victims. No service charges, no catch—just trying to help our neighbors get back on their feet.

Please share or tag someone who might need this.

Encryption is not your friend. Remember this. Today, another of our customers lost all their data and programs to this faux security function. For most users, encryption is much more likely to cause you to lose your data than protect it.

"BitLocker" is Microsoft's name for encryption. It is our advice, for most users, to not use it. Now, in Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft is starting to turn on BitLocker without notifying the user. We suggest you check to make sure it's off on your computer. Here are some instructions that will work on all brands of computer.

How to Enable or Disable BitLocker with TPM in Windows | Dell US Windows BitLocker has become a solution for Windows users to encrypt and secure their data. The following is how to enable and disable BitLocker using the standard methods. This article does not discuss the utilization of a USB as a TPM replacement and does not discuss Group Policy changes for advan...

Some smart information here, we agree with most of it. If you think your passwords or accounts have been compromised, first go to your email and change the password, then to your Apple or Microsoft account, then your Amazon or other big retail accounts, then call your bank if you feel it's necessary.

Say g**dby# to annoying password rules Many websites require password habits that actually don’t keep you safer. Neither special characters nor frequent password resets really help security.