Marple Tech Help

23/08/2026

Be extra careful with QR codes!

Scammers set up a monthly subscription of £60 from Les Howard's account after he downloaded an app.

23/08/2026

Giving an old Chromebook a fresh lease of life

This morning I’ve been experimenting with a Samsung Chromebook Pro that had effectively reached the end of its useful life as a Chromebook.

It’s actually still a lovely bit of hardware. Originally a fairly premium machine, it has an Intel Core m3 processor, a superb 12.3" high-resolution touchscreen, built-in stylus and a thin, lightweight design. The hardware still works perfectly well, but its original ChromeOS support has come to an end.

Rather than consign it to a cupboard or recycling, I’ve converted it to run Fedora Linux instead.

The result is a proper, modern desktop operating system with a current web browser, ongoing security updates and access to a huge range of free software. For browsing, email, documents and general everyday computing, there’s plenty of life left in it yet.

This isn't possible or worthwhile with every old computer, but it can be a great option for older Chromebooks and Windows laptops that are still perfectly good physically but have been left behind by their original operating system.

Sometimes the best upgrade isn't a new computer. It's giving the old one a different job. 🐧

14/08/2026

Holiday Notice:
I'm away from Friday 14th August, back at work on Friday 21st August.

Feel free to message etc whilst I am away and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Photo credit: © National Trust Images/John Millar

09/08/2026

Another article from the Help Hub archives:

A guide to help when your PC is running slowly.

A practical slow PC diagnosis guide for Windows users: symptoms, likely causes, safe checks and when an upgrade is worth it.

08/08/2026

A quick one from the Help Hub archive…

You probably don’t need a QR scanner app on your phone.

On most modern iPhones and Android phones, the normal camera already scans QR codes. Unfortunately, some of the separate “QR scanner” apps people download are packed with adverts, pop-ups or other unwanted extras.

So before installing another app, try pointing your camera at the QR code first. Chances are, that’s all you need.

🔗 https://www.marpletech.co.uk/help-hub/qr-scanner-app-camera-already-does/

A calm, plain-English guide to QR scanner apps, fake virus pop-ups and “gateway apps” — why your camera already does the job and how to clean up safely if one caused trouble.

28/07/2026

Did you know that Marple has its own fuel price comparison service? Created by Marple Tech Help to provide a clean, uncluttered way to quickly check for the cheapest fuel near to Marple - if you're interested, it's almost always Morrisons in Hyde. Bookmark it now for use across the UK:
https://cheapfills.co.uk

Compare live UK pump prices near you, with directions straight to the forecourt.

20/07/2026

"Sorry, this is probably a stupid question…"

I hear some version of that almost every week. It comes from teachers, nurses, engineers and company directors, and in all my time doing this job it has never once been true.

Somewhere along the way we all picked up the idea that we should just know how technology works. Nobody ever taught us any of it.

I've written about why asking for help feels so hard, the questions you never need to apologise for, and a new idea that I'm proud Marple Tech Help is the first business to sign up to.

If you've been putting off asking about something, this one is for you.

https://www.marpletech.co.uk/help-hub/no-shame-in-asking/

15/07/2026

Been scammed? Or think you might have been?

The first few minutes can feel overwhelming. What do you do first? Who do you call? Should you change your passwords? Is your bank account at risk?

I’ve built Scam First Aid, a free tool that asks a few simple questions and gives you clear, practical steps for what to do next.

No account. No judgement. Nothing you enter is stored.

👉 beenscammed.co.uk

Even if you don't need it today, please remember the address. Or share it with someone who might.

There is no shame in asking for help.

15/07/2026

Scams move fast. And when you realise something might be wrong, it can be difficult to know what to do first.

So I've built Scam First Aid, a free tool to help.

Answer a few simple questions about what happened and it gives you clear, practical steps for what to do next.

No sign-up. Nothing you enter is stored. Completely free to use.

👉 beenscammed.co.uk

Please save it, share it, or send it to someone who might need it. Knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make a real difference.

Built here in Marple by Marple Tech Help 💚

05/07/2026

Browser pop-ups and redirects aren’t always “just annoying” — they can be a sign of unwanted software on the computer.

I’ve been looking at a laptop today where Chrome had started redirecting to suspicious websites, and pop-ups were also appearing in Microsoft Edge. At first glance it could easily look like a browser setting or a dodgy notification permission, but a deeper check found over 70 unwanted items linked to browser hijacking/adware.

This kind of thing often gets bundled in with downloads, fake update prompts, “free” tools, PDF converters, browser helpers, or misleading pop-ups. It may not always be a traditional virus, but it can still:

• redirect you to unsafe or phishing websites
• change browser/search settings
• install unwanted extensions
• create background tasks that keep bringing it back
• generate fake warnings and scam pop-ups
• make the computer feel slower or unreliable

The important bit: deleting Chrome or switching browser doesn’t always fix it. In this case there were unwanted files, browser components and scheduled tasks still sitting in the background.

A few simple tips:

• Don’t click fake “your PC is infected” warnings
• Don’t allow notifications from websites you don’t recognise
• Be careful with “free” downloads and browser tools
• Keep Windows and your browser updated
• If Chrome or Edge starts redirecting, don’t use the laptop for banking or payments until it has been checked

This one has now had the unwanted software removed, browsers checked, startup items reviewed, and follow-up security scans run for peace of mind.

If your browser starts opening strange pages, showing repeated pop-ups, or warning about phishing sites, it’s worth getting it checked properly rather than just closing the windows and hoping it goes away.

Martyn
Marple Tech Help
Local, friendly computer support in Marple and nearby areas