The do's and don'ts of borrowing a computer

The mere sound of our iPhone's chirp activates the brain regions involved in love and compassion, innovation shows. The bond we share with our computers or smartphones is, for many of us, the most lasting and fulfilling relationship we've managed to hold on to.

But when it comes to our gadgets, absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder. If you find yourself unhooked from your digital life support, you may need to ask those five little words: "Can I use your computer?"

The same password to access multiple sites

Three out of four people use the same password to access multiple sites, a study from Internet security company BitDefender shows. So by saying the security code aloud, you just might be demanding your friend's banking, e-mail and insurance sign-on.

Different browsers call this amnesiac mode different things: In Internet Explore, it's InPrivate Browsing; in Chrome, it's Incognito Mode; in Firefox, it's Private Browsing. Just remember to turn it off when you're done. If nothing else, it'll prevent your judgy friend from seeing that you had to Google "when to use lay and lie." And on a related note ...