Blog

August 27, 2026

Endpoint – Basics #3

We have already covered two important basics: getting familiar with your devices and finding a safe place to store your passwords. Think of this like knowing the layout of your home and keeping your important documents in a lockbox. Today, our third step focuses on a common frustration: what to do when your computer or […]

Endpoint – Basics #3

Today, our third step focuses on a common frustration: what to do when your computer or phone starts running incredibly slow.

When your device feels sluggish, it is usually just overwhelmed. Imagine trying to work in a kitchen where every single cabinet door is open and all the counters are cluttered. It slows you down. On a smartphone or tablet, leaving dozens of apps open in the background does the exact same thing to your device’s memory. Closing the apps you aren’t actively using clears off the counter. For a desktop computer or laptop, simply turning it off and back on again is like a good night’s sleep. It clears out the clutter and gives the system a fresh start.

If clearing the clutter and restarting does not fix the slow down, ask yourself these three simple questions:

Is the device updated? Just like regular home maintenance, your computers and phones need routine software updates. The manufacturer sends these out to keep everything running smoothly and to patch up any newly discovered security holes.

How old is the device? Technology ages quickly. Because the internet constantly requires more power, most smartphones and tablets are realistically designed to last about two to three years before they start to slow down. When it is time to replace one, aim for the middle ground. You don’t need the most expensive model, but the absolute cheapest option will likely struggle right out of the box.

Is the device well-protected? Sometimes a slow computer means a virus has snuck inside. To protect yourself, think of your computer as having two types of keys: a “Master Key” (Administrator account) that can change anything in the house, and a “Guest Key” (Standard User account) that just lets you look around safely. For your daily internet browsing, you should always use the Guest Key. That way, if you accidentally click a bad link, the harmful software doesn’t have the Master Key required to actually damage your computer.

August 20, 2026

Endpoint – The Basics #2

Published on August 17, 2026 In our last post, we defined the “endpoint”—literally the device at the end of the line, like your laptop, desktop, phone, or server. While the technology on these devices is constantly evolving, one critical piece of security often stays stuck in the past: our passwords. Passwords are the gatekeepers of […]

Endpoint – The Basics #2

Published on August 17, 2026

In our last post, we defined the “endpoint”—literally the device at the end of the line, like your laptop, desktop, phone, or server. While the technology on these devices is constantly evolving, one critical piece of security often stays stuck in the past: our passwords.

Passwords are the gatekeepers of our digital lives, yet most people rarely change them. We often hear things like, “I need something I can actually remember,” or “I just add another number or exclamation point to the end.” Years ago, while working at a stock brokerage, I could reliably guess a user’s password in three tries or fewer. How? Simply by looking at the clues left around their desk—sometimes as obvious as a sticky note stuck directly to the monitor labeled “Password.”

While we would like to think habits have changed since then, weak password practices are still widespread. So, what is the best solution? A modern password manager (or “password safe”).

Both iOS and Android have capable password managers built directly into the operating system, and robust dedicated options like Bitwarden or Password Boss offer even more flexibility. These tools securely store credentials, account URLs, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) seeds, and sensitive notes in one encrypted vault. In fact, most IT professionals live out of their password managers every single day.

A quick security tip: Move away from basic dictionary words with swapped numbers. Instead, target complex passphrases or random strings that are 16+ characters long with mixed symbols. The goal isn’t complexity for you to memorize—it is making the password statistically impossible to guess or brute-force.

Final thought: Why spend mental energy memorizing passwords at all? Let a password manager generate, store, and auto-fill long, random passwords for you so you never have to guess or reuse one again.

August 15, 2026

Endpoint – The Basics #1

Published on August 15, 2026 When we say “endpoint,” we literally mean the device at the end of the network line—your laptop, desktop, iPhone, or server. Whether running Windows 11, macOS, or Android, these are the tools we interact with daily. When your endpoint starts lagging, it usually boils down to three primary culprits: 1. […]