Practical IT for business.
Plain-English articles on managed IT, security, privacy and AI, from a team that’s been doing this since 1990.
Switching to Brave and Firefox: a practical guide
FTI advises clients to move off Chrome and Google Search. Here is what we recommend instead (Brave, Firefox and Brave Search) and…
Can’t cut the Google cord? How to reduce what Google collects
Some businesses can't leave Google entirely: Android phones, a Workspace account, an app that needs Chrome. Here are the settings that reduce…
We trusted specialists with our websites. Here’s what we found.
We hired a company that specialized in websites to look after two of ours. Years later we checked, and found malware, attacker-created…
Is your website your weakest link?
Your website is always online, always public and often the least-watched system your business runs. Here is how business websites get compromised…
Still on Windows 10? Your options after end of support
Windows 10 support has ended, and the first year of paid business security updates ends October 13, 2026. What to upgrade, what…
AI search in 2026: what it means for your business
AI assistants now answer questions that used to mean a page of search ads. Why we recommend them for research, which plans…
How ransomware gangs pressure victims, and how to reduce your risk
Modern ransomware is more than locked files. Criminals steal data, harvest passwords, disable security tools and then apply pressure. Here is how…
Google Chrome and your privacy: why we say remove it
Google earns most of its money from ads, and Chrome is its window onto what your staff do online. Now Gemini reads…
Gmail, Docs and Drive: why we advise businesses to avoid them
Gemini now reads the inbox and the shared drive, and Google's settings let that data shape other Google products. Why we advise…
Leaving Google Search: Brave Search and AI assistants
Google Search is the front door of an advertising business, and it now answers with Gemini and wants to read your email…
Windows updates: timely, not rushed
Skipping updates leaves known holes open. Installing every patch the minute it ships invites a different kind of trouble. How a managed…
Proactive IT management: fix problems before they stop your business
Reactive IT waits for something to break. Proactive IT watches, maintains and plans so fewer things do. Here is what proactive IT…