Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

Various and sundry articles relating to Ask Leo! operations, policies and more.

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Ask Leo! - Terms, Conditions, Privacy and Policies

An overview of the various terms of service that you agree too and should be aware of when you use the Ask Leo! website and newsletter.

Ask Leo! List Break-in

The Ask Leo! newsletter subscriber list was stolen by criminals. I discuss the situation and what, if anything, can or should be done.

Ask Leo! Stickers

Can I republish your articles?

Copying entire articles is a violation of copyright and it's illegal. I do have some alternatives, though.

Can you help me spy on someone?

Ask Leo! is not for spy or hacker advice, so don't wonder if that kind of question goes unanswered.

Does your newsletter have a virus?

Occasionally, the Ask Leo! newsletter will get flagged as having a virus or malware. It doesn't. We'll look at why this happens.

Has it really been a year?

How do I change the email address on which I get your newsletter?

Changing your email address for the weekly Ask Leo! newsletter is easy. It all starts with a click on a link in the last newsletter you've received.

How do I send you files that clarify the problem I'm having?

I encourage people to be as complete as possible in the questions submitted, and typically do not accept supporting files.

How do I turn off those ads that look like links on your site?

Ask Leo! is free, but advertising supported. If those ads get in your way, here's a way to turn them off.

How do I unsubscribe from your newsletter?

Unsubscribing from the weekly Ask Leo! newsletter is easy. All it takes is two, maybe three clicks.

I signed up for your newsletter but never received your confirmation message - would you please subscribe me?

When you sign up for my newsletter, I send an email to the address you specified containing a link you must click. We'll look at why you might miss it.

Link Disappeared

A link to a site outside of Ask Leo! has broken and I don't have a replacement.

Link to Leo!

Want to link to Ask Leo! ? - I really appreciate it! Here are some templates and HTML you can use or start with.

Product Reviews, Recommendations and Affiliate Links Disclosure

I frequently mention specific products in various ways on Ask Leo! - this page is to clarify exactly what those various approaches may be, and any potential relationship or benefit I might derive from those references.

Promotional Material

I occasionally get asked for promotional material, biographical information, or other text about myself or Ask Leo!. Here's a collection of ideas.

Reflections on Two Years of Ask Leo!

What's that "+1" thing I'm seeing on lots of sites?

Google's new "+1" widget on sites and in search results is a quick way to let people know what sites you find helpful and see what your friends find useful too.

What's the difference between an ad and your recommendation?

Advertisements, just like in newspapers or magazines, are nothing more than rented space on a page and should never be confused with recommendations.

What's your public key?

You can use my PGP/GPG public key to encrypt something you send me, or verify something I've signed.

What's your social media strategy?

I use Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and LinkedIn - and I actually have a little bit of a plan around how I use each.

Where do you get your answers?

There are many ways to find information on the internet, and here are a few tricks of mine that can work for readers as well.

Who is Leo?

I help people use computers by answering their questions on the web.

Why am I getting warnings from your newsletter and site links?

A recent newsletter surfaced warnings from a couple of security services. As a result, we'll look at what false positives are, and what to do.

Why am I sometimes not getting your newsletter?

Like any newsletter, "Leo's Answers" the weekly newsletter from Ask Leo! can sometimes be filtered as spam by mistake. There are things you can do.

Why can't I ask you by email or replying to your newsletter?

I really wish I could provide support via email or by allowing you to reply to the newsletter. There are too many problems with that approach, so I provide a simple form instead.

Why can't you give a straight answer?

I can't always give a straight answer because every computer is unique.

Why can't you put full articles in your newsletter?

The weekly Ask Leo! newsletter contains article excerpts and links to the website to continue reading. I discuss the reasons why.

Why didn't you answer my question?

I get a lot of questions every day. Here are some tips to increase your chances of finding the answer you need.

Why do I keep getting a newsletter subscribe pop-up on your site?

The popup box that appears one minute after you first visit Ask Leo! should only appear twice a year. If more, it's probably cookie related.

Why is my email at the bottom of every newsletter?

At the bottom of every newsletter is some information about your subscription. Your information is only displayed in the copy sent to you.

You may want to rethink your recommendation of this product I had problems with.

I value feedback on the recommendations I make, but quite often I hear about things I've not recommended at all, as if I had. We'll look at why.