Fake online reviews could be made illegal

Authorities are trying to clean up fake reviews on websites, to stop undeserving companies getting a good reputation online.

That practice isn’t new, but the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK has cracked down by rapping the knuckles of one online marketing firm, Total SEO & Marketing, which was revealed to have written 800 false reviews promoting 86 small companies, including mechanics and gardeners.

Our guide to 5G

We’ve only recently started using 4G but the mobile industry is already preparing for the next big speed boost, as David Crookes explains

What is 5G?

Take a look at the very top of your mobile phone screen and you’ll probably see 3G or 4G next to the signal-strength indicator, depending on the kind of contract you’re signed up to. These refer to the third- and fourth-generation stages of mobile-telecommunication technology. It follows, then, that 5G is the fifth-generation wireless system – and it promises to be much better than anything that has gone before.

Best free text-editing tools

Windows Notepad is a feeble text editor that doesn’t deserve its place on every Windows PC. Andy Shaw compares a selection of alternatives that offer much more, from spellchecking to tabbed interfaces

Turn your old laptop into a super-speedy Chromebook

If your old PC can’t handle Windows 10, install Chrome OS instead. Wayne Williams guides you through the process

Buying a laptop used to involve a straight choice between two operating systems – Windows or Mac OS X. But now there’s Google’s Chrome OS, which offers a low-cost third option. Chromebooks running the cloud-based operating system have become very popular and it’s easy to see why. They are affordable because as long as you’re happy to carry out most of your work on the web and in your browser, they don’t require much expensive processing power.

The same principle can be applied to an old PC, so although it may not be able to run the latest version of Windows, your old computer may still have more than enough power to run the Chrome operating system. CloudReady (www.neverware.com) brings the Chromebook experience to your PC, and can either replace your existing Windows installation or run alongside it. The OS is aimed commercially at schools but is being given away free to home users.

Secret new hacks for Netflix

With 80 million users worldwide, many of us now prefer watching Netflix to traditional TV. Robert Irvine explains how to get the most from your monthly subscription

Block ads that your ad blocker can’t

Ads keep web content free, but many are annoying, intrusive and even dangerous. Robert Irvine reveals how to block ads that dodge traditional filters

More than 22% of British web users now use ad-blocking tools such as Adblock Plus (adblockplus.org) and uBlock Origin (bit.ly/ublock393) – up from 15% in 2015. Rather than responding to this rising trend by making their ads less invasive, many advertisers are now employing devious methods to evade ad blockers. Here, we explain how to combat the worst offenders.

Stop Websites Spying On You

Ever get the feeling you’re being watched? Wayne Williams reveals who’s snooping on your online activities and explains the best ways to protect your privacy on the web

You’re never alone when you go online; there’s always someone or something observing what you do, even if you’re not doing anything particularly interesting. Many of these ‘spies’ are perfectly harmless, merely tracking your activities for analytics or advertising purposes, but others have more sinister and intrusive motives.

TP-Link AV500 Powerline ac Wi-Fi Kit

TP-Link’s latest kit provides an effective and affordable way to boost your Wi-Fi network

If you want to increase the speed of your Wi-Fi, upgrading your router is a good move, particularly if you’ve got an older model, because the latest Wi-Fi technologies are faster and reach further into your house. However, simply plonking a new router in the same spot as your old one can only do so much – if your problems are caused by Wi-Fi-blocking obstacles such as walls, your newly boosted network is still going to struggle.