GlitchLanternTech Guides
Tech Guides
Plain-English explainers on backups, passwords, home networks, and keeping your devices fast — written for people who just want their stuff to work.
Protect Your Stuff
How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication Without Locking Yourself Out
Two-factor is the best protection most accounts can get. Here is how to turn it on — and how to make sure a lost phone never costs you access.
8 min read
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule, Explained for Normal People
Every photo you have ever taken lives on hardware that will eventually fail. Here is the simple rule that means it will not matter.
7 min read
Why a Password Manager Is the Best Security Upgrade You Can Make
You cannot remember 150 unique passwords. Nobody can. Here is how a password manager fixes that — and the honest trade-offs.
6 min read
How to Spot a Phishing Message in Ten Seconds
Scam emails and texts have got much more convincing. A few habits catch almost all of them.
6 min read
Home Network
Mesh Wi-Fi vs a Wi-Fi Extender: Which Fixes Your Dead Zones?
Both promise Wi-Fi in the back bedroom. They work very differently, and picking the wrong one can make things slower.
6 min read
Where to Put Your Wi-Fi Router (and Why It Matters More Than Speed)
The same router can deliver double the speed just by moving a couple of metres. Here is the physics, without the jargon.
5 min read
Do You Actually Need a VPN?
Ads promise VPNs will make you anonymous and hacker-proof. The truth is more modest — and more useful.
6 min read
Device Care
What to Do Before You Sell or Trade In Your Phone
A factory reset is only one step. Here is the full checklist for keeping your data and making sure the next owner cannot see it.
6 min read
How to Clean Your Screens and Keyboards Without Damaging Them
Glass cleaner and kitchen roll can ruin a laptop screen. Here is what actually works — safely.
5 min read
How to Make Your Phone Last Another Two Years
Phones are expensive and mostly fine. A few habits keep yours fast, charged, and supported for longer.
6 min read