From the Editor

September 2015 was a turning point for the

Brits warned not to install money-stealing free VPN

The top stories in the world of technology

Stop AI chatbots getting married, says US lawmaker

A US politician says AI chatbots are getting

PROTON VPN FREE ADDS TWO COUNTRIES

Proton has added servers from two more countries

TOMORROW’S WORLD

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Fuji, Woven

Microsoft to stop you installing Windows with local accounts

M icrosoft is cracking down further on loopholes

Windows 7 use rockets as people abandon Windows 10

W indows 7’s market share rose to a

TRAIN Wi-Fi SPEEDS IN UK ON SLOW TRACK

UK trains have some of the slowest Wi-Fi

SAMSUNG & iPHONE USERS COULD GET PAYOUT

Anyone who bought a Samsung phone or an

THE WORLD’S GONE MAD!

Police in Ireland were called when this homeless

Photo-hosting site Imgur blocks Brits amid data-watchdog fines

P hoto-hosting website Imgur has blocked people in

Amazon launches cheapest 4K Fire Stick, but RAM is lower

A mazon has launched its cheapest ever 4K

NEW RASPBERRY Pi MINI PC DOUBLES RAM

Raspberry Pi has launched a new version of

BRAVE BROWSER HITS 100 MILLION USERS

Brave has said more than 100 million people

LEBARA OFFERS eSIMS BUT ONLY ON iPHONE

Lebara is rolling out eSIM support in a

Virgin increases annual price rise, but adds Netflix for free

V irgin Media has increased its annual price

First recordable Freely box goes on sale – or does it?

H umax looks set to launch a Freely

Will ChatGPT’s operating system replace Windows?

It has launched apps for tasks you perform on PCs and in browsers

Termination Experts’ cancellation fees

Scams and threats to avoid, plus new security tools

New tools

Proton Mail’s offline mode

Tip from ‘former Screwfix worker’

Readers warn readers

Letters

Tell us what’s on your mind

I’m calling Microsoft’s bluff over Windows 10

As a Windows 10 user, my strategy was

Can a retailer refuse to examine faulty products?

We stand up for your legal rights

Why is Amazon fobbing me off to German seller?

Q I bought a Braun coffee maker on

Currys accepts responsibility and fixes laptop for free

Currys has agreed to fix Thomas Jones’ Asus

Proton offered me two months free for VPN fault

After reading your positive review of Proton VPN

Can we reject late deliveries left on doorstep?

Q In Issue 718’s Consumeractive you told Martin Wilkins

Can The Range refuse to help us with Marketplace seller?

Q I ordered an electric blanket online from The

Master FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search

A new tool uses OCR to extract text from lengthy documents – and it’s completely free. Richard Holt explains how to…

MiniTool Video Converter 4.5

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

Patch My PC Home Updater 5.3.1.0

www.snipca.com/56500 What you need: Windows 10 or

FlyPhotos 2.5.6

www.snipca.com/56494 What you need: Windows 10

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!

Keumars Afifi-Sabet puts the boot into tech villains, jargon-spouting companies and software trying to trick you

Buy It

Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

FREE AT LAST!

Prices seem to be rising everywhere and the golden age of online freebies has passed, but if you look carefully you can still find goodies you previously had to pay for. Daniel Booth reveals what’s become free this year…

Apple iPhone Air

Light fantastic

Gigabyte Gaming A16

Play time

Lenovo Chromebook 14

Breaking Windows?

Geekom Mini IT12 2025

Bargain chip

Microphones

What are they? A microphone is a

Xiaomi 15T Pro

Specs savers

What’s the best tablet for watching the news in my pub?

We solve your buying dilemmas

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

Listen up

LG Xboom Grab

Sounds AI-mazing

Eufy Smart Display E10

Home care

A solar-powered keyboard?

What is it? Logitech’s Signature Slim Solar+

Why you don’t need the BritCard

Digital IDs offer a convenient way to prove your identity and age without needing a physical document. Robert Irvine explains how they work and how to get one

WINDOWS 10

YOUR PROBLEMS FIXED!

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

3G/4G/5G Technologies that deliver faster mobile broadband. 4K

Know How

Intrigued by a new Android app for staying anonymous online, Robert Irvine tries to…

HOW TO...Manage your bookmarks better with Raindrop

What you need: Raindrop account Time required: 30

Block ads and fingerprint tracking

What you need: AdGuard Time required: 30 minutes

Readers’ Tips

Handy hints and tips from your fellow readers

Browser Tips

Secret settings and the best extensions

AI Tips

Clever new tools and tweaks

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

Plan club events with Google Keep

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

Sideloading

Google is tightening its rules on installing apps from outside the Play Store

Can I undo OneDrive activation on my laptop?

PROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHT

Can I transfer all my programs, data and settings to a new PC?

Q I want to transfer my programs and other

Will a Windows virus infect my Linux system?

Q As I use both Windows and Linux, I

What’s happened to OS maps in Bing?

Q I’ve used Bing Maps in the past

Why does the on-screen display menu keep appearing on my friend’s monitor?

A friend of mine is having trouble with

Will my village have a choice of fibre-broadband provider?

Q My village in west Berkshire has had fibre

Why can’t I move my cursor to my second screen?

Q I recently bought an Acer Aspire C24-195ES PC

How do I update PowerShell?

Q Computeractive has been helping me with my computer

Why is my monitor switching off automatically?

QI recently bought a 31.5in LG monitor, which I’ve

Passwords, passkeys, passcodes and PINs?

Q A four-digit passcode has 10,000 variations (zero