Brian Toth Computer Services

05/18/2026

"Windows 11 taskbar can now be docked to any edge of your screen, including the left and right, something that was possible in Windows 10 (and many older versions of Windows) but has been missing from Windows 11 since launch."

Microsoft is also testing a smaller taskbar and more customizable Start menu.

04/15/2026

"Under the new router ban, the Trump administration decides—through an opaque process in which it’s unclear why any particular company receives an exemption—which companies’ devices can be sold to consumers."

"The FCC imposed the device ban only on consumer-grade routers, even though network gear used by large businesses presents a natural target for the foreign hackers the router ban is ostensibly supposed to thwart."

"Nearly every router maker will have to obtain an exemption for future devices."

Trump FCC starts handing out exemptions to its ban on foreign-made routers.

04/10/2026

Typical. 🙂

The category is: iconic space quotes I use daily.

04/02/2026

They were nice products at the time, but there are better, faster options now. And while the network Time Machine support is nice, and pretty reliable, it's really time to let it go.

Time Capsules were slow and often had drive failures. The AirPort Extreme was the better option and allowed you to attach your own external USB hard drive. But, the port was only USB 2.0 which is just too slow.

In addition, Apple made changes a while ago to Time Machine that eliminated the ability to do initial backups or restores by connecting the drive to your Mac, which gave you fast speeds when you needed it and the convenience of wireless for incremental backups when it didn't matter.

So for fast network Time Machine backups, your best bet is now a 3rd party NAS or another Mac that you can backup to. Or just go back to USB drives and set a reminder so you don't forget. 😬

A new GitHub project is trying to retrofit Apple's discontinued Time Capsule with modern SMB support. If this works, Time Machine backups to and restores from the hardware will still work, even after Apple kills it off in macOS 27.

03/25/2026

Stop hoarding the cords, Cleveland! 🔌🚫

That "junk drawer" full of old phones and tangled chargers? It’s time for a "ReStore-ation!" 🛠️

We are thrilled to announce our newest recycling bin location at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Greater Cleveland! Now you can drop off your old electronics while you shop for your next home project.

What we take:
✅ Laptops & Desktops
✅ TVs & Monitors
✅ Game Consoles
✅ All those random cables you don’t recognize anymore!

Let’s keep Cleveland green and support a great cause at the same time. See you at the ReStore! 🤘💚

Full list of Bin Locations: https://summitecycle.com/e-waste-bin-locations/

03/23/2026

🤔 So, all of them?

The Federal Communications Commission has released a notice today designating any consumer routers manufactured outside the US as a security risk.

03/17/2026

02/18/2026

"If a device does not receive the new Secure Boot certificates before the 2011 certificates expire, the PC will continue to function normally, and existing software will keep running… However, the device will enter a degraded security state that limits its ability to receive future boot-level protections."

PCs without the new certificates could eventually have trouble booting new OSes.

01/29/2026

I only recommend my clients bother with VPNs for two reasons: either for secure remote access to your home or office, or to make it look like you're located somewhere else. Don't fall for the cybersecurity hype.

"If you click a sketchy link that downloads malware onto your computer, that malware doesn't care that your IP address is concealed — it's already where it needs to be. Similarly, if you leak critical information in a social post, or privately give it up to a phishing scammer, a VPN won't help."

VPNs aren't fundamentally unsafe, but using the wrong one can be dangerous. Here's how to tell the difference.

01/24/2026

"[Microsoft] does provide BitLocker recovery keys if it receives a valid legal order. … Customers can choose to store their encryption keys locally, in a location inaccessible to Microsoft."

When you setup a new Windows 11 PC with a Microsoft Account (which is typical), encryption is automatically turned on and the recovery keys are stored in the cloud. You can manually create a private backup of your keys and remove the copy saved in the cloud.

Microsoft complied with a warrant to hand over BitLocker recovery keys to the FBI, and privacy advocates are worried.

12/15/2025

🙂🎅🏻🎄