Breaking News } Flash Flood Watch for Johnston county.

Stump the Geeks:  As anyone can tell by glancing at my desk, I’m not what you’d call a “clean as you go” person.

Stump the Geeks:  Smartphone users pay hidden costs, both in terms of security and performance, according to several recent studies.

Stump the Geeks:  When sending from a smart phone, tablet, etc., why do people put a phrase such as “Sent from my iPhone” or “… Verizon Wireless Phone” or whatever device they are using?

Stump the geeks:  Despite all the preaching by IT professionals, even power users don’t often follow password habits that can help keep systems safe. The letter-number combination isn’t always enough.

Stump the Geeks:  Whether you're looking to upgrade or join the almost 50 percent of mobile subscribers with a smartphone, you're in for a daunting task.

Judging by the response to my last column on eliminating data from old hard drives, quite a few readers got excited about our prescription for physical violence toward their obsolete devices. But several contacted us about a more humane solution.

Stump the Geeks:  Q: I have several nonusable hard drive-type pieces of equipment that have personal data on them that I cannot access to remove. I need to dispose of them or recycle - whatever is appropriate - but not with my personal data on them.

Nothing is more effective at making your most beloved gadgets obsolete than the holidays. Unwrap the gift of a thinner flatscreen, a sleeker cellphone or a lighter laptop, and your old devices likely won't survive through New Year's.

Stump the Geeks:  Q: I have a 50-inch Samsung flat-screen plasma television. I watch WRAL almost exclusively for local news. I noticed recently that the number 5 is now burned into my screen.