From the Editor

I suspect that Wi-Fi routers are one of

Search Ancestry’s new RNLI records

If your ancestor volunteered to save lives at sea, follow Judith Batchelor’s advice to…

Best Free Software

Robert Irvine recommends new programs that won’t cost you a thing

SHOULD I PAY FOR…?

Choose the right version of software

What should I download?

We advise you which software and apps to use

SOFTWARE WARNING!

Awful ads in Microsoft 365’s PDF reader app

WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT THEY SAY Mozilla on its new

Russian hacking gang Akira

CREDIT: Facebook/Knights of Old When William Knight founded

Get a GRIP!

Modern devices – especially phones – are so slippery that it’s getting harder to hold them firmly. Daniel Booth explains how to add grip so you don’t keep dropping them

Use a VPN on your SMART TV

Watch shows and films from the US – or anywhere else – by installing a VPN on your smart TV. Robert Irvine explains the benefits and recommends the best services

Problems Solved

Our experts solve all your tech problems

Microsoft to fix 24H2 flaw that blocks security updates

M icrosoft is working on a fix for

Marx Bros, Mickey Mouse and Popeye all enter public domain

E arly appearances by the Marx Brothers, Mickey

Nearly a third of UK adults don’t know how to wipe old data

A lmost a third of adults in the

FIRST COPILOT+ MINI PC LAUNCHED

Asus has released the first mini PC that

PLUSNET AXES STATIC IP ADDRESSES

Plusnet axed static IP addresses for new customers

TOMORROW’S WORLD

EngineAI, the Chinese makers of the new PM01

EXTEND AIRTAGS BATTERY TO 10 YEARS

A new gadget called the TimeCapsule claims to

US Government ‘might ban TP-Link routers’ over hack risk

T he US government is considering a ban

Interpol: stop calling dating fraud ‘pig butchering’

I nterpol has called for the media to

MORE AMAZON TVs WORK WITH HEARING AIDS

Amazon is adding support for ASHA hearing aids

THE WORLD’S GONE MAD!

This is Jeran Campanella, whose belief that the

Google suggests ways to fix its search monopoly

G oogle has said that tech companies like

PRESS BUTTON TO SKIP SKY TV ADVERTS

Sky Glass and Stream viewers who pay to

APPLE ADDS 360-DEGREE VIEWS TO MAPS

You can now use Look Around on the

PAY MORE FOR ADOBE PHOTOGRAPHY PLAN

The monthly cost of Adobe’s 20GB Photography plan,

By how much will your broadband bills rise in 2025?

New Ofcom rules simplify increases but you might still get a shock

Malware hidden in ‘concatenated’ ZIP files

Scams and threats to avoid, plus new security tools

Acronis True Image for Windows 11

Acronis has updated its True Image backup and

Netflix payment ‘failed’

ScamWatch Readers warn readers

Letters

Tell us what’s on your mind

Consumeractive

We stand up for your legal rights

Dell Latitude 7455

New products tested by our experts

Apple Mac mini M4

Small systems go

OnePlus Pad 2

And then two come at once

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Writes and wrongs

Mobile security hardware

What is it? Most smartphones and tablets

Netac ZX20L 2TB

Take a drive

Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo

Top seed

Bose SoundLink Flex

Music to your ears

On Sale Weds 29 Jan

GMKtec NucBox G6 A sub-£200 mini PC

An AI-powered voice recorder?

What is it? A recording device called

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Sky high

Buy It

Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

Win 1 of 6…

Majority Snowdon TV soundbars

Read and send emails when you’re offline

What you need: Gmail; OneDrive; Thunderbird Time required:

Prolong laptop battery with Windows 11 Energy Saver

What you need: Windows 11 (24H2) Time required:

Readers’ Tips

TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT Block website clutter

Browser Tips

Secret settings and the best extensions

Phone and Tablet Tips

Brilliant things to do on your device

Make Windows Better

Expert tips for every version

Make Office Better

Top tips for the best office programs

In The Club

Run a club or society? Here's how your tech can make it easier

Google’s dashcam data

It’s using footage from some devices to update Google Maps

Reader Support

Having a problem with our recommended software or expert tips? Email editor@computeractive.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help

Jargon Buster

4K Video with a resolution of at least

Crack his own passwords

Hoping his accounts are secured with something stronger than ‘123456’, Robert Irvine tries to…

Why You MUST Bin YOUR OLD ROUTER

An outdated Wi-Fi router puts every device you connect to your home network at risk. Robert Irvine explains the benefits of switching to a faster, safer and more versatile model