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Free Help

Helpful resources

We've put together some free resources for when you want to understand something before you call anyone, or when you just want to brush up.

If something goes wrong, the best step is usually to call us. But these pages can help you understand what's happening and give you a bit more confidence.

From Hebden Tech Tutors

Our own guides and pages

Things we've written ourselves, in plain English.

  • Jargon Glossary

    Plain-English explanations of tech terms you've probably heard but never quite understood. Includes Wi-Fi, cloud, Bluetooth, phishing, and more.

  • Blog

    Short articles on common tech questions. What to do when your phone fills up, how to spot a scam, when to update your password.

  • Technology Tutoring

    One-to-one sessions at your pace. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, video calls. We come to you.

  • Expert Troubleshooting

    Something not working? We'll look at it, fix what we can, and explain what happened. Without the jargon.

  • Device Setup

    New phone, tablet or laptop? We'll get it set up properly and walk you through it so you feel confident using it.

  • Security Check-up

    A 90-minute review of your passwords, accounts, and online safety. Good for anyone who's ever worried about scams.

Jargon Glossary Read the blog

National organisations

Free digital support from trusted organisations

These are well-known, reputable organisations offering free resources for people who want help with technology.

Age UK: Digital Support

Free guides on staying safe online, making video calls, using smartphones, and avoiding scams. Written for older adults. ageuk.org.uk

Good Things Foundation

A charity that helps people in the UK get online and build digital skills. They run a network of local digital support centres and offer free learning materials. goodthingsfoundation.org

Get Safe Online

A free resource covering online safety for everyday people. Includes advice on scams, online banking, passwords, and shopping safely. getsafeonline.org

AbilityNet

Technology help specifically for disabled people and older adults. Free advice on making your phone, tablet, or computer easier to use. abilitynet.org.uk

BBC: Digital Literacy

The BBC produces plain-English guides on technology, internet safety, and getting online. A good starting point for anyone new to the internet. bbc.co.uk/cbbc/quizzes/stay-safe-online (and related BBC digital content)

We link to these organisations because we think they're useful, not because we have any connection to them. Their content and availability may change over time.

Local help

Help closer to home

Local libraries and community spaces sometimes run free digital help sessions. Check with them directly for current availability.

Hebden Bridge Library

The library occasionally runs drop-in sessions for people who want help with phones, tablets, and getting online. Check with them directly for what's currently available.

Todmorden Library

Todmorden Library may also offer digital help sessions. It's worth giving them a call to ask what's on.

Hebden Tech Tutors: Repair Cafes

We run free community Repair Cafes across the Calder Valley. Bring along any device and we'll take a look. No appointment needed. Check our community page for upcoming dates.

Common questions

Things people ask us all the time

Quick, honest answers to the tech questions we hear most often.

My laptop is slow. Do I need a new one?
Probably not. Most slow laptops are slow because of software, not age. A full restart, a clear-out of programmes that run in the background, and occasionally a clean-up of old files can make a real difference. If your laptop is more than ten years old or struggling with basic tasks like opening a website, it might be worth discussing. But nine times out of ten there's something we can do first. Give us a call and we can talk it through.
I got a suspicious email. What should I do?
Don't click any links in it. Don't download any attachments. If it's asking you to log in somewhere, don't. Take a screenshot if you want a record of it, then delete the email. If you're not sure whether it's real (for example, if it says it's from your bank, HMRC, or Royal Mail) call the organisation directly using a phone number you find on their official website, not the one in the email. If you're worried, call us and we'll help you work out what to do.
How do I know if my phone has a virus?
In most cases, it doesn't. Viruses on phones are much rarer than people think, especially on iPhones. What often feels like a virus is actually just a slow phone, too many apps running at once, or a low-quality website trying to scare you into downloading something. If your phone is behaving strangely (crashing a lot, running very hot, or sending messages you didn't write) those are worth looking into. But most of the time a restart and a bit of a clear-out sorts things out.
Is it safe to use public Wi-Fi?
For most everyday tasks, yes. Reading the news, checking the weather, browsing websites: all fine. Where you want to be more careful is anything involving passwords or sensitive information, like logging into your bank, making a payment, or accessing your email on a public connection. If you need to do those things while out, it's safer to switch off the public Wi-Fi and use your phone's mobile data instead. We can show you how to do that if you're not sure.
What's the best antivirus to buy?
For most Windows computers, you don't need to buy anything. Windows Defender (the security software built into Windows 10 and 11) is genuinely good and keeps itself up to date automatically. Mac and iPhone users are well protected by design too. Be wary of adverts or pop-ups that tell you your computer is infected and that you need to buy something urgently. Those are usually scams. If you've already paid for an antivirus and aren't sure whether it's needed, we can take a look.

Still not sure? Just call us.

01422 730 097. No commitment, no jargon, just a friendly conversation.

Get in touch Call 01422 730 097