Stop advertisers from tracking you online

Q. I'm tired of seeing targeted ads online. Is there any way to stop them?

A. Yes! Advertisers track you by dropping third-party cookies on your computer. Use a cleaning tool like CCleaner to delete tracking cookies on your computer. Then install an anti-spyware software program like Ad-Aware. It will automatically block third-party cookies from advertisers.

New Siri commands in iOS 7

Q. I like Siri's new voices in iOS 7, but are there any other changes I should know about?

A. There sure are. You can now change basic settings by telling Siri to "Turn on/off Wi-Fi" or "Make the screen brighter/dimmer." Retrieve messages by telling Siri to "Play voicemail messages." Launch apps by saying "Open iPhoto" or "Play Candy Crush." When you need to look something up, tell Siri to "Search Wikipedia for" followed by your query.

Stop smartphone spying apps

Q. I think someone might be spying on my phone. Is that possible?

A. You bet. Spying apps like SpyToMobile are becoming more popular. These stay hidden, but can send someone your texts, emails and even location. To keep someone from installing a spy app, lock your gadget when it's not in use and avoid lending it out. Install a security app like avast! Mobile Security. It can help you detect whether a spy app is sending out your information.

Save money on printer ink

Q. My printer uses up a lot of ink when it turns off and on. Is there any way to make it stop?

A. You could trying leaving your printer on between jobs. This will help cut down on ink-wasting maintenance routines, but probably not as much as you'd like. Instead, save ink during printing with a font like Ecofont. It can reduce ink and toner use by up to 25 percent. Tools like CleanPrint or PrintWhatYouLike can also strip out ink-wasting images and text when printing Web pages.

Charge your smartphone faster

Q. Sometimes I don't have hours to wait for my phone to charge. Is there a way to charge my phone faster?

A. The best way is to turn off your phone while it's charging. If you must keep it on, turn off battery-draining Wi-Fi, cellular, GPS and Bluetooth signals. Use a wall charger instead of your computer's USB port. A hot battery won't charge as quickly, so keep your smartphone away from heaters and heat-trapping fabrics. There are ultra-fast chargers on the market you can use for emergencies, but be warned they'll shorten your battery's lifespan.


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