Question: I defaulted on a credit card purchase a few years ago. A court session settled the matter. Now, however, I'm seeing information about it when searching my name on Google. What is going on? How can I get this off Google?
Answer: I get questions about removing information from Google a lot. Unfortunately, Google has very little to do with it. All Google does is find information on the Internet to display. To remove the information, you have to go to the source website. Once you get the information removed there, it will gradually leave Google's databases. In this case, I'm betting the information isn't removable. A lot of courts are digitizing case records and posting them online. That's probably where Google found the information. These court documents are a matter of public record. You can contact the court. It's a bummer when there's information you can't control. However, there's a lot of information that you can control.
Q: I have some sensitive files on my home computer. My friend is telling me I should encrypt them. Is this a good idea?
A: This is a tricky question. Encryption scrambles digital information so unauthorized people can't read it. You need the password for access. That makes it good for security. Unfortunately, if you lose the password you can't get the files anymore either. So it is a bit risky. For a home computer, I would recommend strengthening your security in other ways. Set up a Windows password to keep snoops away. Make sure you have up-to-date security software installed. This will keep viruses from compromising your system. Encrypt any Wi-Fi network you're using. If you do use encryption, keep unencrypted versions of the files as well. Put them on a flash drive and store the drive in a safe.
Q: My mother broke both her arms. She's an avid reader, but she can't hold a book. Do any e-book readers have voice control?
A: I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I hope she makes a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, e-readers don't have voice commands. Most don't even have microphones. The Kindle, however, does have the Read-to-Me feature. This can read any compatible e-book out loud. Once it's started a book, you don't even have to turn pages. The Kindle can also play audio books from Audible.com. You might consider the Nook Simple Touch or Kobo eReader Touch Edition. Both have touch screens. You can turn pages with just a tap.
Q: I love that my Mac can sleep to save power. However, it goes to sleep too quickly. I'm always spending time waking it up again. Is there a way to delay the sleep mode a bit?
A: Sleep mode is a great energy saver. It only uses a little more energy than the computer does when it's off. However, you can start using the computer again much faster. Still, you don't want the computer sleeping every time you turn around. To increase the sleep delay, go to System Preferences and click the Energy Saver icon. Then adjust the sliders to your ideal sleep time. Note that one slider controls the entire computer. The other only controls the monitor. I usually set the computer to 30 minutes and the monitor to 10 minutes. It's a good compromise between power saving and convenience.
Q: My wife wants to start taking more pictures of our family. I'm going to buy her a camera for her birthday. What would be the best one to get?
A: Everyone has different needs. The camera's price, size, complexity and extra features are all things to weigh as you make that decision. If your wife wants to get into serious photography, a digital SLR is your best choice. It gives you the most control for getting the best shots. Of course, it's also a bit harder to use than a point-and-shoot camera.
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