Ciara Del Grosso Bates

Google News Lab Fellow and journalism graduate, into technology, development, design and photography.

After seeing the infamous WannaCry in action, I decided to investigate my own backup system's flaws...

Can you protect yourself from ransomware?

The only insurance against ransomware is a good backup. But is your cloud backup protected from infection? After seeing WannaCry in action, I decided to investigate my own backup system's flaws, and make a few changes to protect my most precious files.

Tech • 11 Sep 17

You might want to something about that search history, for starters.

5 ways your laptop will try to embarrass you in college

If you're starting college, you might be hoping to use technology newer than the pen and paper to take notes and help with your coursework. Great, but you might want to consider the huge potential for embarrassment built in to your personal devices...

Tech • 20 Sep 17

Wait a second - you might not have to pay for that.

5 PC products you may be paying for - but do you really have to?

If you're keen to save a few quid (without doing anything illegal) here are five things you have probably been asked to pay for - and whether you really have to.

Tech • 23 Aug 17

Picking your next PC - what to look out for and what it all means

If you just need a quick, cheap replacement to your email and web browsing machine, then you can let weight, battery life, even colour dictate what you buy. If your work or play calls for something a bit tougher, however, here's what to look out for.

Tech • 27 Sep 17

Working with data doesn't have to be intimidating!

Learn to Code: Work with data - or automate your work

Here's some advice (aimed at total beginners) in how to take the first step towards learning to code. The resources here are, where possible, free, or free to try, and they were selected for their accessibility to beginners and usefulness for real work.

Tech • 31 Aug 17

The first step to learning to code is the hardest

Learning to Code - Step One: Choose your own adventure!

If you're going to learn to write code, you'll need a good introduction. It's essential that the first couple of lessons make absolute sense to you, and make sense for your learning goal. Here's some advice for beginners on where to start, and how.

Tech • 29 Aug 17

Age of Empires gets a new life - but it'll need more than 4K

Wololo! The original Age of Empires is being converted. To 4K, that is. On August 21st, Age of Empires Definitive Edition will be demoed at Gamescon - 20 years after its initial release. But it'll need more than fancy graphics to overtake its HD sequel.

gaming • 14 Aug 17

VR headsets are getting more affordable, but still out of reach for most

VR gaming: from the living room to the arcade

Bringing VR (Virtual Reality) gaming to your home remains a very expensive option, from the hardware you'll need to run it, to the headset itself. It's getting more affordable - but for now, the best entertainment tech is still out of reach for most.

Tech • 04 Aug 17

Facebook likes and shares can be used to paint a picture of your personality

Five cool (and creepy) things you can do with your data

If you're worried about over-sharing your personal data, you're not alone. But what exactly are you handing over when you sign up for those terms of service, and what can companies do with it? And, if you don't like it, what to do besides "delete account"

Tech • 02 Aug 17

Batteries in phones are longer lasting than ever - but we're also using them more intensively

How to choose a better battery bank (and keep your smartphone on)

If you've room in your bag or pockets, you need never run out of smartphone juice again. But they're definitely not all equal, and it's worth choosing one consciously: Here's what you need to know before you buy.

Tech • 10 Aug 17