Patti Croft
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Patti Croft is a writer at All About Cookies whose experience as a security specialist shapes her approach to product testing and evaluation. At AAC, Patti has authored an extensive library of hands-on reviews and comparisons, specializing in antivirus software and password managers. Her work consistently helps readers make sense of a crowded, often confusing product landscape by breaking down real performance differences rather than relying on marketing claims. She has written over 180 articles for AAC and tests on Mac and iPhone.
Before her cybersecurity writing career, Patti worked as a technical analyst at a leading medical center, where she earned a Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) credential — formal recognition of her expertise in managing and securing sensitive health data in one of the most compliance-intensive environments in tech. Patti holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in Computer Science from Troy University.
In her spare time, she is an avid reader and researcher and loves spending time with her pets. She currently shares an office with her cat, Beau.
- Antivirus
- Password Managers
- Data Security
- M.B.A. and a B.S. in Computer Science from Troy University
- Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA)
- Mac or PC: Mac
- Android or iOS: iPhone
Patti's Latest Articles
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Aura Antivirus vs. McAfee 2026: How Does the Award-Winning AV Solution Compare?
Both Aura Antivirus and McAfee offer a full security suite with more than just antivirus protection, including identity theft insurance and transaction monitoring for those who want financial security with their antivirus.
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Aura Antivirus Price 2026: Subscription Breakdown Explained
Aura plans are confusing because you can purchase tailored security plans separate from the full identity theft protection services. Aura Antivirus has three paid subscriptions, and we explore their value.
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Top 5 TotalAV Alternatives 2026
We reviewed the best TotalAV alternatives you can trust, no matter what device you use.
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How To Hide Apps on Your iPhone: A Step-By-Step Guide
Hiding apps and files on your iPhone will streamline your user experience and enhance your privacy and security. This guide will teach you how to hide content and then how to find it afterward.
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Total Adblock vs. Privacy Badger 2026: Ad Blocking vs. Anti-Tracking
If you’re looking for more online privacy, we can help you decide between using a traditional ad blocker like Total Adblock versus an anti-tracking privacy tool like Privacy Badger.
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How To Open a RAR File
This guide helps you learn what a RAR file is and teaches you how to open one.
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Stealth Viruses: How To Deal with These Elusive Threats
Stealth viruses can cause serious damage without your knowledge, and even your antivirus software might miss them completely. Learn how to detect and block these threats in our expert guide.
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Discord Account Hacked: Here’s What To Do Now
Discord is a popular platform for people of all ages, making it a prime target for hackers. Look for these signs of a hacked Discord account and what to do if your account is compromised.
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Identifying the Common Wells Fargo Scams
If you think you’ve been the victim of a Wells Fargo scam, you need to know what to do next. In this guide, we’ll show you the first steps to take and how to protect yourself against scammers in the future.
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How To Clear Cache on Mac: Step-by-Step Guides
Clearing the cache on your Mac can help your device run faster and free up storage space. We’ll show you how to do it in our detailed, easy-to-follow guides.
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Roblox Account Hacked? Here’s What to Do
If your Roblox account was hacked, don’t panic. Here’s how you can get your account back.
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Bark vs. mSpy 2026: Which Is Best To Keep Your Children Safe Online?
If you want a parental control app and you think you’ve narrowed your choices down to Bark vs. mSpy, this article is for you.
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What Are Driver Updates? Everything You Need To Know
Driver updates aren’t just for tech-savvy computer users. In this easy-to-follow guide, we’ll show you why you should know more about them and how to update drivers.
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Why Is My Mac So Slow and How Can I Fix It?
If your Mac is running slow, here’s what may speed things up and some recommendations to keep your device functional and secure.
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Geek Squad Scams: What Are They and How To Stop Them
Geek Squad scams rely on name recognition for this brand to trick you into sharing private info. We'll show you how to recognize and stop these attacks before they can cause any damage.
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How to Change Your Default Browser: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your default browser automatically opens when you click a website link or perform an internet search. Here's how to change which browser is default.
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Facebook Account Hacked? Here's How To Take Back Control
Facebook hacks make you race against the attacker to recover your account before they lock you out. Learn how to win this race.
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The Best Antivirus for iPads 2026
After extensive testing and research, we feel that the best antivirus programs for iPads are Norton, McAfee, and Avast.
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Qustodio vs. mSpy 2026: Which Product Is Best for Your Family?
We put two parental control apps to the test to see which is better for your family: The feature-rich Qustodio or the surveillance-king mSpy?
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Are Scammers Taking Over Your Computer? Here’s How To Catch Remote Access
Scammers have numerous ways to try and steal your data. Here’s how to tell if someone is remotely accessing your computer.
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Aura Antivirus Review 2026: Is It the Ultimate Cybesecurity Suite?
Aura packs plenty of features into its security suite, giving you antivirus protection, identity theft coverage, crediting monitoring, and even providing coverage for multiple devices and people.
