Rick's Daily Tips

Why your smart (IoT) devices need their own dedicated user accounts

Posted on March 18, 2025

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Do you own (or plan to acquire) one or more ‘smart devices’ such as a smart speaker, an IP camera, a video doorbell, etc.? If so, here’s a little tip for you…

Virtually all smart IoT devices that connect to the Internet collect various types of data about you, your home and/or your family’s activities and send that info back to the company that made the device.

Of course some data collection and transfer activities are essential in order for the device to serve its intended purpose (an IP camera capturing video and sending it to your remote smartphone, for example), but depending on the device and how it is used some of the data that’s collected can be quite intrusive. [Read more…]

How to quickly save any web page as a PDF document

Posted on March 18, 2025

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Modern web browsers are amazing pieces of software.

They literally bring the Internet to life by allowing us to view and Interact with virtually every website that resides on the Internet today.

Add-Ons and Extensions provide browsers with even more functionality, but one of the handiest things you can do with your browser doesn’t require any extensions or add-ons at all.

With just a few clicks of your mouse you can quickly save the current web page right to your computer as a PDF file.

[Read more…]

How a tech degree can fast-track your career in the evolving job market

Posted on March 18, 2025

The job market is evolving quickly. From automation to smart systems, more roles now demand a deeper understanding of digital systems.

Employers are looking for individuals who can adapt to new challenges, solve problems, and work with modern platforms. Having the right academic background can help you stay ahead.

A specialized degree focused on technical skills can prepare you to move forward faster in your career. Whether you’re starting out or looking to take a new direction, this kind of qualification offers real value in today’s competitive space.

Here’s how you can fast-track your career in tech: [Read more…]

How to stop Firefox from forcing you to sign in every time you open the browser

Posted on March 17, 2025

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A few days ago I started getting messages from folks asking why Firefox had suddenly started forcing them to sign in to their online accounts every time they open their browser.

I checked in to it and discovered that a Firefox software update had apparently enabled the setting that clears the browser history every time Firefox is closed, automatically signing users out of any accounts they were signed into when they closed the browser.

If this is happening to you there’s a very easy fix: [Read more…]