Michael Thompson-Brown
Cybersecurity Expert
Education
- Western Governor's University, MS, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
- University of Phoenix, BA, Business Administration
Certifications & Organizations
- Master of Science, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (MSCIA)
- Certified Ethical Hacker Certification (CEH)
- Association of Computer Repair Business Owners (ACRBO)
Favorite Piece of Advice
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Co-authored Articles (30)
2 Easy Ways to Activate a Windows Product Key
This wikiHow teaches you how to enter your Windows product key and activate Windows on your computer. Product activation tells Microsoft's servers that you have purchased a legitimate license.. 06 March 2024. On Windows ...
How to Move the Start Menu Back to the Left in Windows 11
If you don't like that the Windows 11 Start button moved to the center of the taskbar, you're in luck—you can move the Start menu and other app icons back to the left corner in a few quick steps. And while it's no long...
Fix Your Slow and Unresponsive Windows Computer
A handy guide to diagnosing and resolving slow and unresponsive Windows computersIs Windows lagging or failing to respond at all on your computer? If Windows 10 is running slow, there are plenty of simple fixes. This wi...
How to Fix a Cyclic Redundancy Check Error
Steps to solve a data error cyclic redundancy check A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is a data verification method your computer uses to check the data on your disks (hard disks like your hard drive and optical disks like...
How to Install Puppy Linux on a USB Drive or PC
Run a lightweight version of Linux without the commitment Do you want to try Linux without committing to a full installation? Unlike other Linux distributions, Puppy Linux doesn't require a full installation—it can boo...
How to Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode (Using the Command Prompt)
If Windows 10 isn't behaving properly, you can boot into Safe Mode to run scans, uninstall software, and access the Command Prompt.. 06 March 2024. Whether you're trying to get to the Command Prompt in Safe Mode or you w...
How to
Recover a Dead Hard Disk
This wikiHow teaches you how diagnose and potentially recover a dead or dying hard drive (also known as a hard disk). Keep in mind that following these instructions does not guarantee that you'll be able to recover your ...
How to Find the Largest Files on Your Linux System
Use find, du, or a graphical app to discover your biggest files If you want to know which files on your Linux system are taking up the most space, you have several options, including both command-line and GUI tools. This...
How to Install Linux on Your Computer
Install Linux as a dual-boot or stand-alone operating system. Do you want to install Linux on your computer? Linux is an open-source computer operating system that has been around since the 90s. Because Linux is open-...
Mirroring Your Screen on Windows: Wired and Wireless Options
Project your PC display to a second monitor or projectorThis wikiHow teaches you how to view your computer's screen on an external display such as a TV, monitor or projector. You can connect your computer to a display vi...
What Partition Scheme Should I Use on a Mac?
When you erase and format a disk drive using Disk Utility on macOS, you are asked to choose from one of three partition schemes. You are also asked to choose a format for your hard drive. This wikiHow article will teach ...
How to
Tell if Your Computer Is Infected by a Trojan Horse
A trojan horse is a type of malware that can infect any computer. Trojans find their way onto computers by hiding in software downloads, making them easy to (unintentionally) install. You can also get a trojan horse by v...
How to
Disable Router Firewall
This wikiHow teaches you how to turn off your Wi-Fi router's firewall. Keep in mind that doing this may increase the risk of encountering virtual intruders and malware in your network.. 11 January 2024.
3 Ways to Access Windows XP with a Blank Administrator Password
Are you locked out of your Windows XP Administrator account? When Windows XP is installed on a PC, the Administrator account is not given a password by default. This means it's incredibly easy to log in to most Windows X...
How to
Format a USB to FAT32 on Mac
FAT32 is one of the most commonly used file system formats for USB drives because it is compatible with the widest variety of devices and systems. You can use FAT32 to transfer files between a PC, Mac, Linux, and other ...
2 Simple Ways to See an HFS+ Formatted Drive in Windows
Easily browse HFS+ formatted Mac volumes in WindowsBecause Windows can't read Mac-formatted drives, connecting an HFS-formatted drive to a Windows PC will usually prompt you to format it. However, using third-party softw...
How to
Register Internet Download Manager (IDM) on PC or Mac
This wikiHow teaches you how to register your copy of Internet Download Manager (IDM) with your personal serial number, and start using the full version of the app on your computer.
How to Fix .LNK Extensions in Windows: 6 Easy Methods
If all of your files suddenly have the .lnk extension, you can't open apps by clicking their shortcuts, or you're seeing non-stop errors about .lnk files, the issue might stem from a malware infection or Windows Update g...
How to
Check an IIS Event Log on Windows
This wikiHow teaches you how to find a list of all the saved log files for IIS (Internet Information Services) events on your computer, and view an event's recorded logs, using Windows.
How to
Turn Off Firewall
Your computer's firewall is important for protecting against malware and hackers, but it can sometimes block access to apps or connections you want. You can temporarily disable it, but be aware that doing so puts you at ...