https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/ Practical guides for working on a Mac. Setting one up, keeping it secure, backing it up, and diagnosing it when something stops. en https://everydaymactools.com/assets/apple-touch-icon.pnghttps://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/ https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-new-mac-the-order-that-saves-you-a-week-later.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-new-mac-the-order-that-saves-you-a-week-later.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Most new Mac setups go wrong in the same order. Here is a sequence that puts the irreversible decisions first and leaves the fiddly ones for later. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/migration-assistant-what-it-moves-what-it-quietly-leaves.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/migration-assistant-what-it-moves-what-it-quietly-leaves.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Migration Assistant is thorough but not complete. Here is what reliably comes across, what does not, and what to check before the old Mac is gone. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/moving-from-windows-to-a-mac-the-first-two-hours.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/moving-from-windows-to-a-mac-the-first-two-hours.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The switch is mostly muscle memory. Here are the differences that actually matter on day one, and the settings that make a Mac feel less foreign. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/should-you-migrate-or-start-clean-on-a-new-mac.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/should-you-migrate-or-start-clean-on-a-new-mac.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Migration Assistant brings everything, including what you would rather leave. Here is how to decide, and a middle path that gets most of both. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/signing-in-to-a-mac-apple-account-icloud-and-what-each-unlocks.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/signing-in-to-a-mac-apple-account-icloud-and-what-each-unlocks.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 One sign-in controls purchases, sync, device location and backups at once. Here is what each part does and why two accounts causes trouble. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-second-mac-so-both-feel-like-the-same-machine.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-second-mac-so-both-feel-like-the-same-machine.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Two Macs diverge within weeks unless you decide what syncs. Here is what carries across on its own, what does not, and what to keep deliberately local. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/erasing-a-mac-properly-before-you-sell-or-hand-it-on.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/erasing-a-mac-properly-before-you-sell-or-hand-it-on.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Modern Macs have a one-step erase that does the job. Here is the order that leaves no Activation Lock and no data, and the mistakes that strand the next owner. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/unpairing-everything-what-to-sign-out-of-before-a-mac-leaves-you.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/unpairing-everything-what-to-sign-out-of-before-a-mac-leaves-you.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Signing out is what prevents Activation Lock and stray messages arriving on a machine you no longer own. Here is the full list, in order. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-to-do-on-day-one-with-a-work-issued-mac.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-to-do-on-day-one-with-a-work-issued-mac.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A managed Mac is not yours, and the boundaries are worth establishing before you put anything personal on it. Here is what to check and what to keep separate. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-for-someone-who-is-not-comfortable-with-computers.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-for-someone-who-is-not-comfortable-with-computers.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The goal is a machine they can use without you. That means fewer choices, larger text, and a way for you to help remotely when something goes wrong. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/standard-admin-and-guest-accounts-which-one-you-should-use-daily.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/standard-admin-and-guest-accounts-which-one-you-should-use-daily.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Most people run as an administrator all day without deciding to. Here is what each account type actually permits and when the distinction earns its keep. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-for-a-child-without-turning-it-into-a-fight.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-for-a-child-without-turning-it-into-a-fight.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The controls work best when they are agreed rather than imposed. Here is what macOS offers, what it cannot do, and how to set it up so it lasts. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/restoring-a-mac-from-a-backup-what-to-expect-and-how-long.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/restoring-a-mac-from-a-backup-what-to-expect-and-how-long.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A full restore is slower and more boring than people expect, and mostly unattended. Here is the sequence, realistic timings, and what to check afterwards. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/transferring-apps-to-a-new-mac-when-you-have-lost-the-licences.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/transferring-apps-to-a-new-mac-when-you-have-lost-the-licences.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 App Store purchases follow your account. Everything else needs a licence key you may not have kept. Here is where to find them before the old Mac is gone. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-you-will-travel-with.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-you-will-travel-with.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A travelling Mac has different risks: theft, hostile networks, no power, and border checks. Here is the setup that accounts for all four. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/the-mac-settings-worth-changing-in-the-first-ten-minutes.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/the-mac-settings-worth-changing-in-the-first-ten-minutes.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Most Mac defaults are fine. About a dozen are not, and changing those early saves months of small friction. Here is the short list. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/naming-a-mac-and-why-it-matters-more-than-you-think.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/naming-a-mac-and-why-it-matters-more-than-you-think.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The name appears in AirDrop, Find My, backups, and on your network. Here is where it shows up, what to avoid, and how to change it properly. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-to-share-with-a-partner.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-to-share-with-a-partner.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Two people on one Mac works well with separate accounts and one shared folder. Here is the arrangement, and what to decide about photos and purchases. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/moving-your-browser-to-a-new-mac-without-losing-anything.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/moving-your-browser-to-a-new-mac-without-losing-anything.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Bookmarks, passwords, extensions, open tabs and cookies each move differently. Here is what syncs, what needs exporting, and the order to do it in. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-a-clean-install-actually-fixes-and-what-it-does-not.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-a-clean-install-actually-fixes-and-what-it-does-not.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Clean installs have a reputation as a cure-all. They fix a specific class of problem and waste an evening on the rest. Here is which is which. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-mini-as-a-machine-you-never-sit-in-front-of.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/setting-up-a-mac-mini-as-a-machine-you-never-sit-in-front-of.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A Mac running headless needs screen sharing, a way to survive reboots, and settings that stop it sleeping. Here is the setup that works unattended. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/getting-a-mac-ready-to-lend-to-someone-for-a-week.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/getting-a-mac-ready-to-lend-to-someone-for-a-week.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A separate account is the whole answer, and it takes five minutes. Here is what to set up, what to check afterwards, and when a guest account is enough. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-carries-over-when-you-sign-in-to-a-borrowed-mac.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-carries-over-when-you-sign-in-to-a-borrowed-mac.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Signing in to iCloud on someone else's machine syncs more than people expect, and signing out does not always remove it. Here is what happens and the safer route. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/a-mac-handover-checklist-for-a-new-employee.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/a-mac-handover-checklist-for-a-new-employee.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Handing over a laptop badly costs a week of support calls. Here is a sequence that covers the asset, the accounts and the things people forget to explain. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/how-much-ram-a-mac-actually-needs-by-what-you-do.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/how-much-ram-a-mac-actually-needs-by-what-you-do.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Memory cannot be upgraded later, so the decision is permanent. Here is how to measure what you use now and what each tier realistically supports. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/storage-on-a-mac-why-the-base-model-catches-people-out.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/storage-on-a-mac-why-the-base-model-catches-people-out.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The base storage tier is smaller in practice than it looks, because macOS, iCloud caching and snapshots all take a share. Here is how to size it honestly. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/buying-a-refurbished-mac-what-is-genuinely-different.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/buying-a-refurbished-mac-what-is-genuinely-different.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Apple refurbished, a reseller refurb and a private sale are three different risks. Here is what each gives you and what to check before money changes hands. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/macbook-air-or-macbook-pro-the-question-that-actually-decides-it.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/macbook-air-or-macbook-pro-the-question-that-actually-decides-it.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Both are fast enough for most work. The real difference is sustained load, the display, and how many things you plug in. Here is how to choose. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/thunderbolt-usb-c-and-usb4-telling-the-ports-apart.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/thunderbolt-usb-c-and-usb4-telling-the-ports-apart.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The connector is the same shape and the capability behind it is not. Here is what each standard carries and how to check what your Mac and cable support. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/why-a-usb-c-cable-can-charge-but-not-carry-video.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/why-a-usb-c-cable-can-charge-but-not-carry-video.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The cable charges the Mac and the monitor stays black. That is a cable capability problem, not a Mac fault. Here is how to confirm it in two minutes. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/choosing-a-dock-for-a-laptop-that-lives-on-a-desk.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/choosing-a-dock-for-a-laptop-that-lives-on-a-desk.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 One cable to connect everything is worth having. Here is the difference between a hub and a dock, how much power you need, and what quietly fails. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/how-many-external-displays-your-mac-can-actually-drive.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/how-many-external-displays-your-mac-can-actually-drive.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The limit is set by the chip, not the number of ports, and base models are more restricted than people expect. Here is how to check before you buy a monitor. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/choosing-an-external-display-for-a-mac-and-the-scaling-trap.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/choosing-an-external-display-for-a-mac-and-the-scaling-trap.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Pixel density decides how a Mac looks on a monitor, and the middle resolutions are the ones that disappoint. Here is how to choose by the number that matters. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/why-text-looks-blurry-on-an-external-monitor-mac.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/why-text-looks-blurry-on-an-external-monitor-mac.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A Mac renders beautifully on its own screen and badly on a cheaper external one. The cause is pixel density and scaling, and only some of it is fixable. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/battery-health-on-a-mac-what-the-percentage-means.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/battery-health-on-a-mac-what-the-percentage-means.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Maximum capacity, cycle count and condition each say something different. Here is how to read them, and when Service Recommended actually needs acting on. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/charging-habits-that-actually-affect-a-macbook-battery.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/charging-habits-that-actually-affect-a-macbook-battery.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Most battery advice is inherited from older chemistry and no longer applies. Here is what genuinely shortens a MacBook battery's life and what does not. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/why-a-mac-gets-hot-and-when-that-is-a-problem.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/why-a-mac-gets-hot-and-when-that-is-a-problem.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Warm is normal, hot is usually one process, and thermal throttling is the Mac protecting itself. Here is how to find the cause rather than guess. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/fan-noise-on-a-mac-finding-the-cause-before-the-fix.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/fan-noise-on-a-mac-finding-the-cause-before-the-fix.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Loud fans mean the machine is shedding heat. Here is how to find what is generating it, and the small number of cases where the fans themselves are the fault. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/external-ssd-or-an-internal-upgrade-what-is-possible-now.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/external-ssd-or-an-internal-upgrade-what-is-possible-now.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Internal storage on current Macs cannot be changed. Here is what external storage can realistically replace, and how to set it up so it is not a nuisance. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/choosing-a-keyboard-for-a-mac-including-non-apple-ones.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/choosing-a-keyboard-for-a-mac-including-non-apple-ones.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Any keyboard works on a Mac. The differences that matter are layout, modifier order and whether the function row does what you expect. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/using-a-windows-keyboard-on-a-mac-without-going-mad.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/using-a-windows-keyboard-on-a-mac-without-going-mad.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A PC keyboard works on a Mac immediately, with two keys in the wrong order and a few missing. Here is the remapping that fixes it in two minutes. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/trackpad-or-mouse-what-each-is-genuinely-better-at.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/trackpad-or-mouse-what-each-is-genuinely-better-at.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The Mac is built around gestures, which changes the comparison. Here is what each device does better, and why many people end up using both. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/webcams-and-when-the-built-in-one-is-not-enough.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/webcams-and-when-the-built-in-one-is-not-enough.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Modern Mac cameras are good, and lighting matters more than the sensor. Here is when an external camera actually helps and what to do first instead. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/microphones-for-calls-from-free-to-worth-it.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/microphones-for-calls-from-free-to-worth-it.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Audio matters more than video on a call, and the built-in microphone is better than most people think. Here is what actually improves it, in cost order. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/headphones-and-a-mac-the-bluetooth-quality-question.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/headphones-and-a-mac-the-bluetooth-quality-question.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Bluetooth audio drops in quality the moment the microphone activates. Here is why, what it means for calls, and when to reach for a cable. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/apple-silicon-and-intel-macs-what-still-differs.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/apple-silicon-and-intel-macs-what-still-differs.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The transition is done, and the differences that remain matter for software, virtualisation and recovery. Here is how to tell what you have, including when the shell lies. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/reading-a-mac-s-spec-sheet-without-being-misled.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/reading-a-mac-s-spec-sheet-without-being-misled.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Core counts and memory figures do not compare across chips the way people assume. Here is which numbers predict real performance and which do not. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/when-a-mac-is-genuinely-too-old-to-keep-using.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/when-a-mac-is-genuinely-too-old-to-keep-using.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Age alone is a poor signal. The thresholds that matter are security updates, browser support and whether the work you do still fits. Here they are. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/getting-another-two-years-out-of-an-ageing-mac.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/getting-another-two-years-out-of-an-ageing-mac.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Most of what makes an old Mac feel old is fixable and cheap. Here is the order to work through, from free to worth-paying-for. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/cases-stands-and-the-ergonomics-of-a-laptop-on-a-desk.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/cases-stands-and-the-ergonomics-of-a-laptop-on-a-desk.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A laptop puts the screen too low and the keyboard too close. Raising one means separating the other. Here is the arrangement that works and what it costs. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/surge-protection-power-bricks-and-travelling-with-a-mac-charger.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/surge-protection-power-bricks-and-travelling-with-a-mac-charger.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Apple chargers handle worldwide voltage, so you need a plug adapter and not a converter. Here is what wattage matters and what to carry. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-applecare-covers-and-whether-it-is-worth-it.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-applecare-covers-and-whether-it-is-worth-it.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 AppleCare is insurance with specific limits. Here is what it actually covers, what it does not, and the cases where it pays for itself. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/filevault-what-it-protects-you-from-and-what-it-does-not.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/filevault-what-it-protects-you-from-and-what-it-does-not.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 FileVault encrypts the drive so a stolen Mac is not a stolen filing cabinet. It does nothing about the threats people actually worry about. Here is the boundary. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/does-a-mac-need-antivirus-an-honest-answer.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/does-a-mac-need-antivirus-an-honest-answer.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 macOS has layered protections that handle most of the threat. The realistic risks are different from what antivirus addresses. Here is what actually matters. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/gatekeeper-explained-why-a-mac-blocks-an-app-you-downloaded.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/gatekeeper-explained-why-a-mac-blocks-an-app-you-downloaded.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The warnings look alike and mean different things. Here is what each one is telling you, which deserve attention, and how to open software you trust. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/passkeys-on-a-mac-and-when-they-replace-a-password.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/passkeys-on-a-mac-and-when-they-replace-a-password.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Passkeys cannot be phished or reused, which removes the two biggest password problems. Here is how they work on a Mac and where they still fall short. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/two-factor-authentication-on-an-apple-account-done-properly.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/two-factor-authentication-on-an-apple-account-done-properly.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The codes are the easy part. What matters is the recovery path, because an Apple Account you cannot get into takes your photos and purchases with it. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-to-do-the-hour-after-you-think-your-mac-was-compromised.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/what-to-do-the-hour-after-you-think-your-mac-was-compromised.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Act on the accounts before the machine. Here is the order that limits the damage, and how to find what was actually left behind. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/your-mac-was-stolen-the-order-to-do-things-in.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/your-mac-was-stolen-the-order-to-do-things-in.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The first hour matters, and the instinct to hunt for it yourself is the wrong one. Here is the sequence that protects your accounts and your safety. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/find-my-on-a-mac-what-it-can-and-cannot-do.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/find-my-on-a-mac-what-it-can-and-cannot-do.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Find My locks a stolen Mac and makes it unusable, which is more valuable than locating it. Here is what it genuinely offers and where it stops. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/the-mac-firewall-whether-to-turn-it-on-and-what-changes.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/the-mac-firewall-whether-to-turn-it-on-and-what-changes.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The built-in firewall blocks incoming connections, which matters on networks you do not control. Here is what it does, what it does not, and what to set. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/phishing-that-targets-mac-users-specifically.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/phishing-that-targets-mac-users-specifically.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Apple Account phishing is convincing because the real emails look similar. Here are the checks that work and the one thing that makes them irrelevant. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/the-fake-support-call-and-why-it-works.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/the-fake-support-call-and-why-it-works.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The most effective attack on Mac users involves no malware at all. Here is the script it follows, why intelligent people fall for it, and what to do. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/reading-a-macos-permission-prompt-before-you-click-allow.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/reading-a-macos-permission-prompt-before-you-click-allow.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The prompts arrive when you are busy and each grants something specific. Here is what each one actually permits, and which deserve a pause. https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/signing-in-to-icloud-on-a-mac-that-is-not-yours.html https://everydaymactools.com/guides/blog/signing-in-to-icloud-on-a-mac-that-is-not-yours.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Shared machines, hotel business centres and a colleague's laptop each need a different answer. Here is the decision, and how to leave nothing behind.