Steven Melendez

About the author

Steven Melendez is an independent journalist based in New Orleans. He writes about technology and business for a variety of news outlets and holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Is It Safe To Use Autopay?

Monthly bills are a pain. Many companies offer an automatic payment, or autopay, option to pay your bill each month. You’re probably getting a lot of requests to sign up to make those payments without ever getting a bill. This can be a safe and convenient way to pay

Is It Safe To Store My Data in the Cloud?

You may have seen advertisements or pop-ups on your phone, tablet or laptop suggesting you store your data—like photos, documents, videos and emails—in the cloud. This means using a service that will store these files on remote servers where you can access them when you need them. File sizes

Is It Really Safe To Use a Password Manager?

So, how many passwords and usernames do you have? Do you store them all on your smartphone or computer? It seems safe and sensible, right? But it’s not as safe as you think. Writing them down and storing them unsecured on your personal devices naturally carries a real risk

Using Crypto To Pay Online: Tips, Dos and Don’ts

Have you used cryptocurrency to shop online yet? Thought about it? Wonder whether it’s a good idea? Concerned about security? Fluctuating value? Shopping with this digital currency seems a likely choice for shopping online, especially as more and more online stores accept digital currency for purchases. But online shopping

6 Tips for Online Sports Betting Security

If you’re a sports fan, and you love to bet on your teams, you’ve been waiting for online sports betting to become legal in more states. If you live in one of these states, you can often bet online through a variety of online sportsbooks, each with their own

Phone taking a video call

How To Protect Your Security on Video Calls

You’ve probably been on a lot of video conference calls, connecting with work colleagues and hanging out with friends and family. But have you thought about the security of those video apps and services you’re using?The calls are usually encrypted to prevent outsiders from eavesdropping, but it’s important to remember

Laptop computer

Declutter Your Digital Life in 7 Steps

When your computer is running slowly or you can’t put another app on your phone, it might be time to declutter. This means getting rid of files clogging up your digital storage. One of the top causes of a slowdown is a hard drive or memory that’s almost full.

A phone connected to a gaming controller

Security Musts for Video Gamers

Video gaming is an incredibly popular pastime for both kids and adults. Gamers have attracted attention from the media and tech industry, but they’ve also drawn the eyes of scammers and criminals. People who play online games can be especially vulnerable to hackers looking to steal valuable in-game items

A red lock

Identity Theft 101

You can’t miss the stories, and you probably know at least one person with an identity theft nightmare tale. So what are you doing to protect yourself from this kind of fraud when using the internet? While there are a few different ways for hackers and scammers to try

Ethernet cables

What’s the Difference Between Using Ethernet and Wi-Fi to Access the Internet?

Ethernet and Wi-Fi are two different ways to connect a computer to your home network and internet service. Many home routers allow you to connect using either method. Ethernet uses physical cables and can deliver faster speeds, less interference and sometimes better security. Wi-Fi uses signals sent through the