Help Desk

Making tech work for you

The latest

(Illustration by Erik Carter for The Washington Post)

Never Google ‘free credit report.’ Do this instead.

Never search the web if you're looking for free credit reports. Google ads lead you away from a government-mandated free service.

By Shira OvideApril 21

5 ways to love tech without killing the planet

By Heather Kelly and Chris VelazcoApril 20

You can get better sleep with wearables. Just focus on the right data.

By Chris VelazcoApril 20

Tech companies don’t deserve your loyalty. Become a free agent.

By Shira OvideApril 18

What did the pandemic do to lunch?

By Taylor TelfordApril 17

We the users

(Sean Loose for The Post)

We the users want technology to work for us. Here are our demands.

Our columnist is tallying how technology fails us — and the ideas to make it better. What belongs on the list?

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

THE HELP DESK TEAM

Geoffrey Fowler has for more than a decade been holding tech companies accountable where it matters most: the products you use every day.

Heather Kelly is a veteran journalist on the intersection of humans and gadgets, and offers humorous advice on our digital lives.

Chris Velazco is the guy you’d want to take shopping with you for deep knowledge about what’s new, what’s a rip-off and what’s actually right for you and your family.

Tatum Hunter goes deep into how apps, websites and other technology actually works to help you get the most out of it.

Danielle Abril covers how technology is impacting the way we work and how companies are using artificial intelligence and other tools to exert more control over us.

Ask us your personal tech questions

We want to hear your questions about the phones, computers, apps and speakers that we surround ourselves with.

TECH IN YOUR LIFE

San Francisco is a postcard from a driverless car future. Here’s what it’s like.

By Heather Kelly

You can get better sleep with wearables. Just focus on the right data.

By Chris Velazco

Tech companies don’t deserve your loyalty. Become a free agent.

Hacking your TV remote and 8 other tech tricks we love

Your Data and PRIVACY

Never Google ‘free credit report.’ Do this instead.

How to file your taxes without selling your soul

TikTok and you: Should you delete the app now?

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

Don’t get hacked on Facebook. Do these 6 things now.

By Heather Kelly

(Monica Rodman/The Washington Post)

How to ace your next AI job interview

(Monica Rodman/The Washington Post)

Human or ChatGPT? AI is getting good.

(Monica Rodman/The Washington Post)

Quick Fix: How to remotely access another computer

PRIVACY RESET GUIDE

What did the pandemic do to lunch?

By Taylor Telford

Where are all those tech workers going? A Silicon Valley exodus is shaking up the landscape.

By Danielle Abril

How offices looked in each decade of the last hundred years

By Hamza Shaban

Your next job interview could be judged by AI. Here’s how to prepare.

By Danielle Abril

Internet Access

More phones will connect to satellites this year. Here’s what it means for you.

By Chris Velazco

Internet providers play tricks to raise your bill. Here are the worst.

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

A new feature for old Echo speakers could boost your home WiFi setup

By Chris Velazco

Quick Fix: See if you qualify for discounted internet service

By Chris Velazco

How Facebook users can apply for a share of $725 million settlement

By Heather Kelly

Netflix will finally stop mailing DVDs. These people will miss them.

By Heather Kelly

Customizing some laptops can be needlessly tricky. Not this one.

By Chris Velazco

Now you can ‘buy now, pay later’ with Apple Wallet

By Tatum Hunter and Chris Velazco

5 ways to love tech without killing the planet

By Heather Kelly and Chris Velazco

3 things everyone’s getting wrong about AI

By Tatum Hunter

Why are we so afraid of AI?

AI porn is easy to make now. For women, that’s a nightmare.

By Tatum Hunter

Interactive Quiz

(Kate Pullen for The Post)

Is Amazon Prime worth it for you?

If you're paying for Amazon Prime, or considering signing up, use this quiz to find out how much that $139 a year actually gets you and if there are better deals.

By Heather Kelly and Rachel Lerman

The Price of Big

How does Google’s monopoly hurt you? Try these searches.

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

How Internet and TV providers get away with jacking up your bill

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

There’s no escape from Facebook, even if you don’t use it

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

iTrapped: All the things Apple won’t let you do with your iPhone

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

Online security reset guide