IT General

I own the Samsung Galaxy S25 and love it—the battery lasts for ages, it's very customizable, and it's super snappy. But it's not a perfect phone. It got me thinking about my old Galaxy S8, and how a phone released in 2017 actually did some things better than the S25.

Though they don't belong to the same lineup, the iPhone 16e and the iPhone SE 3 share the philosophy of being "affordable" iPhones with all the basic features. Let's see how three years of evolution have impacted the iPhone 16e.

The joy of using Linux is that there are so many choices. I'm someone who takes advantage of that choice, testing different Linux distros out there. However, when it comes to daily driving, I went with the flow and stuck with Ubuntu. I don't regret it.

Google is the most popular search engine in the world, and for many years, it was my go-to method of finding information online. However, I rarely use Google anymore; there are plenty of reasons why searching using ChatGPT is superior.

Scientists have discovered that the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way buzzes with activity, shooting out a nonstop stream of flares into space. 

A new study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a variety of light coming from the black hole Sagittarius A* — or rather its accretion disk, the ring of rapidly spinning material that surrounds it. 

While some flares are reminiscent of the ephemeral flickers of a candle, lasting just seconds, others are gigantic eruptions, blasting out a half-dozen incredibly bright jets on a daily basis.

These new findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters this week, could help astrophysicists better understand black holes and how they interact with the gas and dust around them. They also may provide new insight into the evolution of the Milky Way.

"We saw constantly changing, bubbling brightness," said Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, the Northwestern University astronomer who led the study, in a statement. "And then boom! A big burst of brightness suddenly popped up. Then, it calmed down again. We couldn’t find a pattern in this activity. It appears to be random."

SEE ALSO: He found a Milky Way black hole 50 years ago, and finally got to see it The first image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, released to the public in May 2022. Credit: Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration

Scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which runs Webb and the Hubble Space Telescope, are calling this the longest, most-detailed research of Sagittarius A*, pronounced "A-star," to date. The study is based on 48 hours of observation time in eight to 10-hour durations over the course of a year. 

Black holes were little more than a theory 50 years ago — a kooky mathematical solution to a physics problem — and even astronomers at the top of their field weren't entirely convinced they existed. 

Today, not only are supermassive black holes accepted science, they're getting their pictures taken by a collection of enormous, synced-up radio dishes on Earth. Supermassive black holes, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun, are thought to lurk at the center of virtually all large galaxies.

What we know is this: Falling into a black hole is certain death. Any cosmic stuff that wanders too close reaches a point of no return. But scientists have observed something weird at the edge of black holes' accretion disks, similar to the swirl of water around a bathtub drain. A tiny amount of that stuff can suddenly get rerouted. When that happens, high-energy particles can get flung outward as a pair of jets, blasting in opposite directions, though astronomers haven't quite figured out how they work.

The video above shows some of the Webb telescope data from April 7, 2024, covering 9.5 hours of observation, with a big flare appearing toward the end.

Yusef-Zadeh and team are trying to help get to the bottom of that. They've likened the new observations to solar flares, but capable of shining across 26,000 light-years of space. Webb saw brightness changes over short timescales, meaning they are coming from the black hole’s inner disk, not far outside its so-called event horizon, that previously mentioned point of no return.

Yusef-Zadeh speculates the biggest and brightest flares are like magnetic reconnection events, a process in which two magnetic fields crash and release accelerated particles, traveling near the speed of light. The shortest bursts may derive from minor disturbances in the accretion disk, similar to solar flares which occur when the sun's magnetic field jumbles, compresses, and erupts.

"Of course, the processes are more dramatic because the environment around a black hole is much more energetic and much more extreme," he said. "But the Sun’s surface also bubbles with activity."

The next step will be to observe Sagittarius A* for a longer, uninterrupted period of time to see if the flares repeat or are indeed random.

With a massive 14.6-inch display, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra attempts to redefine what it means to be a tablet. While it can be tough to handle at times, its best use cases prove size really matters.

From time to time, the U.S. military shows glimpses of its X-37B spaceplane, which can travel to space for years at a time.

We just got another glimpse. The U.S. Space Force — which took the reins from the Air Force's expansive military operations in space in 2019 — has released a view the robotic craft took from Earth's orbit. You can see a portion of the X-37B and an outstretched panel above a view of a partially shadowed Earth.

"An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in [highly elliptical orbit] in 2024," the Space Force posted on X. "The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel."

SEE ALSO: A dramatic total lunar eclipse is coming. You don't want to miss it.

This is the seventh mission of the X-37B, which orbits 150 to 500 miles above Earth to explore reusable space vehicle technologies and conduct long-term space experiments. The plane was originally built by Boeing for NASA, but the project transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in 2004. At nearly 30 feet long, it's one-fourth the size of NASA's retired Space Shuttle.

An image of Earth captured by the U.S. Space Force's X-37B spaceplane. Credit: U.S. Space Force Tweet may have been deleted

The X-37B's "aerobraking" maneuver mentioned above involves using close passes by Earth's atmosphere to produce drag, ultimately allowing it to switch orbits without burning too much of its finite fuel.

"This novel and efficient series of maneuvers demonstrates the Space Force's commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space," former secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall explained in 2024.

But the spaceplane, which most recently launched in Dec. 2023, isn't coming back home just yet. The mission is "now continuing its test and experimentation objectives," the Space Force said. After that, the craft will plummet through our planet's atmosphere and land on a runway — an event the U.S. military has released images of in the past.

The military clearly wants to promote the X-37B's successes — without revealing too much about its outer space exploits.

An unassuming loophole might be giving the U.S. government and its private contractors free rein to withhold evidence of unidentified craft traveling well above our skies — in outer space.  

That's the argument made by former Capitol Hill policy advisor and attorney Dillon Guthrie, published this January in the Harvard National Security Journal, a publication run by Harvard Law School. Guthrie spent three years as a legislative assistant to Senator John Kerry covering national security issues and later worked directly for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He describes this UFO loophole as a kind of "definitional gap."

"Congress has redefined what were formerly called 'unidentified flying objects' [UFOs] to first 'unidentified aerial phenomena' [UAP in 2021], and then the following year to 'unidentified anomalous phenomena' [also UAP]," Guthrie told Mashable.

As Americans have been learning a lot lately in the age of Elon Musk's DOGE, the devil is in the details when it comes to the nation's large and complex federal bureaucracies. And an antiquated, mid-century sci-fi concept like "unidentified flying objects" packed a lot of assumptions into one short acronym. That's a reality lawmakers determined would hinder good faith efforts to seriously investigate more credible cases of UAP reported by U.S. military personnel in recent years.

Did the Navy pilots who witnessed the now notorious 2015 "GoFast" UFO, for example, really see something that was aerodynamically "flying"? Or was it just floating, like a balloon? Was it or any other strange airborne sighting truly a hard physical "object"? Or were these cases all something more amorphous and temporary, like the plasmified air of ball lightning? 

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

As a term, UAP has offered a more broad and empirically conservative bucket for some of these still as-yet-unexplained events, categorizing them in a way that is not just more palatable to scientists and government officials; it has also made it harder for secretive U.S. defense and intelligence agencies to dodge the new annual reporting requirements now mandated by Congress, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Or, that's the idea, in theory. 

A careful study of the NDAA's most recent definition for UAP, as Guthrie noted in his new article, indicates that "data of any unidentified, spaceborne-only objects may be exempt."

"Under that current statutory definition, there are three kinds of unidentified anomalous phenomena," Guthrie told Mashable. "The first are airborne objects, or phenomena, that are not immediately identifiable. The second are submerged objects [or phenomena] that are not immediately identifiable — so, these would be unidentified objects in the 'sea domain,' or underwater."

"And then there's this third category of UAP, which are 'transmedium objects,'" he continued, "those that are observed to transition between, on the one hand, space and the atmosphere, and, on the other hand, between the atmosphere and bodies of water."

"Just under that strict reading of the definition," Guthrie said, "there is no spaceborne-only UAP." 

NASA's UAP independent study team during a public meeting on May 31, 2023 at the space agency's headquarters. Credit: NASA / Joel Kowsky

Any U.S. intelligence agency or branch of the military, in other words, that tracked a spacecraft circling (but respecting) Earth's border would be free to legally withhold that incredible hard data from Congress. And dozens of very recent cases like this may very well exist: Last November, the Defense Department's official UAP investigators with its All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) disclosed that no less than 49 of last year's 757 cases in their annual unclassified report involved strange sightings of UAP in outer space. 

AARO's 2024 report emphasized, however, that "none of the space domain reports originated from space-based sensors or assets; rather, all of these reports originated from military or commercial pilots or ground observers." But, Chris Mellon — formerly a minority staff director for the Senate Intelligence Committee and a deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Intelligence under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush — believes that this lack of sensor data is likely "a failure of reporting."

"Why is it that none of America's unparalleled space surveillance systems captured and reported what these pilots observed?" Mellon asked in an essay for the technology news website The Debrief this month. 

"Did these systems actually fail to capture any data, or is this another case," the former Pentagon official continued, "in which the information is simply not being shared with AARO or Congress? If the pilots and ground observers were mistaken, cross referencing with these systems could help confirm that as well."

A Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) System site located on Diego Garcia island in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Credit: U.S. Space Force Tweet may have been deleted

Mellon, a longtime advocate for transparency on UAP, recounted his own past government service experience supervising one of these systems, the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) stations now managed by the U.S. Space Force. First established in the 1980s to effectively spy on spy satellites and other foreign orbital platforms, GEODSS can track objects as small as a basketball sailing 20,000 miles or more above Earth's surface.

"Many years ago, I asked a colleague visiting the Maui GEODSS site to inquire if the system had recorded anything 'unusual' in the night skies lately," Mellon recalled. "Sure enough, just a month or so earlier, the system recorded what appeared to be 4–5 bright objects traveling parallel to the horizon." 

GEODSS personnel reportedly were baffled. These gleaming objects appeared to be at once too slow and consistent in their trajectory to be meteors but too fast, hot and high up in space to be any known aircraft. 

"Site personnel had no idea what the objects were and, in those days, had no incentive to acknowledge or report the data," according to Mellon. "That incident occurred in the 1990s, when the GEODSS system was far less capable than it is today."

And, as Guthrie told Mashable, the full suite of America's space monitoring, missile defense and early warning platforms could easily be recording critical, perhaps world-changing evidence about UAP — which could reveal if it's another nation's advanced spacecraft, something mundane, or something truly unknown. Data from these systems — including the Space Fence, NORAD's Solid-State Phased Array Radars (SSPAR), the Space-Based Infrared Monitoring System (SBIRS), and others — could also be kept under wraps based on just this one technicality. 

"If there are no requirements to report on spaceborne-only UAP," Guthrie said, "then there are no requirements by elements of the defense and intelligence communities to report on those objects using these especially sensitive space collection sensors."

"Our ballistic missile defense people were very concerned."

The now well-known 2004 USS Nimitz "Tic Tac" UFO incident, made famous by The New York Times in 2017 and testified to under oath in Congress, included the monitoring of similar objects in space, according to veteran Navy radar operator Kevin Day. Then a senior chief petty officer supervising radar efforts onboard the USS Princeton, a guided-missile cruiser with the Nimitz carrier strike group, Day told Mashable that crew tasked with looking out for ICBM warheads saw these unexplained tracks moving up at 80,000 feet.

"Our ballistic missile defense people were very concerned," Day told Mashable.

Greater engagement with these kinds of potential UAP risks does not appear to be on the way from some of the United States’ best unclassified collection tools — the worldwide network of astronomical observatories and satellites managed by NASA. Despite much fanfare around NASA’s announcement of a dedicated director of UAP research in 2023, the position has been left quietly vacant since September 2024, according to a recent statement from the space agency’s press office.

Guthrie chalks the crux of this problem up to "an absence of overarching political oversight."

"There have been so many agencies that have been alleged to have been or currently be involved in the UAP matter," he explained. "It's all too easy for any of these agencies to pass the buck."

Tweet may have been deleted

Guthrie hopes lawmakers will take-up the advice offered by former Pentagon official Luis Elizondo, who told Congress last November that it should "create a single point-of-contact responsible for a whole-of-government approach to the UAP issue." 

"Currently, the White House, CIA, NASA, the Pentagon, Department of Energy, and others play a role, but no one seems to be in charge," Elizondo added, "leading to unchecked power and corruption."

Beyond redefining the strict legal definition of what UAP means, or even creating a new acronym that would bring "clarity to this issue," Guthrie argues that this more centralized, whole-of-government approach could also help close-up these kinds of loopholes.

"Breaking down those stovepipes," as Guthrie put it, "and along with those stovepipes the ability of a particular agency to just say, 'Oh, we don't feel the need to further act on this matter.'"

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

The fight to ban TikTok is far from over.

It started in 2019, when U.S. legislators first started banning TikTok from government devices, but it reached a fever pitch in 2024 when then-President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that would ban TikTok unless it divested from its parent company, ByteDance. This all happened because of a fear that TikTok poses a national security threat since its parent company is based out of China and subject to Chinese intelligence laws which could theoretically force ByteDance to give its data to the Chinese Communist Party, a U.S. adversary. 

The ban eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, with First Amendment Rights activists swarming to oppose the ban, since Americans have a First Amendment right to receive information from abroad, including propaganda. The Court eventually ruled to uphold the TikTok ban in a unanimous decision. And the ban did go into effect (for about 12 hours). That is, until now-President Donald Trump said he would extend the period of time before the law goes into effect. Now, the app is running and back on App Stores — at least, until Trump's extension runs out on April 5.

TikTok says it likely won't sell, but the only way to stop a U.S. ban now is for another company to step up and buy it. Most of the details about these talks aren't public, and we won't know for sure who's at the helm of the short-form video app until the deal is signed, but that doesn't stop rumors from flying. For instance, for a while we all thought Elon Musk, the CEO of X, SpaceX, and Tesla, was going to buy TikTok, but that was before he came out and said he didn't have any plans. Here's who might actually be in the talks to buy TikTok:

Oracle

Last month, it was reported that the software company Oracle, along with a group of other outside investors, would be taking control of the app. According to NPR, who got the exclusive on the deal, it was being negotiated by Trump's White House and would allow ByteDance to retain a minority stake in the company; Oracle would oversee the app's algorithm, data collection, and software updates. Trump later denied he was working on a deal with Oracle, Reuters reported, but maintained that he was working with "very substantial people" about a deal. Trump even said he would "like Larry [Ellison] to buy it," referring to Oracle chairman.

MrBeast

YouTube and TikTok star Jimmy Donaldson, who you probably know as MrBeast, is apparently looking to buy TikTok along with a group of investors.

“Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get banned,” he posted on X in January. Albeit spelling TikTok incorrectly, his lawyers confirmed to CNN that he was serious.

Project Liberty and Kevin O'Leary

Canadian investor and Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary said he would "love to work with Trump" on a deal to buy TikTok, according to CNBC. He also joined in on a bid along with Project Liberty Founder Frank McCourt on "The People’s Bid for TikTok," which offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash.

Steven Mnuchin

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC in March 2023 that he started an investor group to buy the app but didn't give any details. He helped Trump broker a deal in 2020 that would have Oracle and Walmart take a large stake in TikTok but obviously that didn't pan out.

Perplexity AI and the U.S. Government

The U.S.-based search engine Perplexity AI put in an offer to create a new U.S. holding company called "NewCo" and then to merge with TikTok, Reuters reported. The holding company would mean the U.S. government would get up to half of the new company in future, which could lead to some pretty serious First Amendment concerns.

Microsoft

According to Reuters, Microsoft is also in talks to buy TikTok. The details aren't public.

Bobby Kotick

As IGN reported in March 2024, the former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick reportedly wanted to buy TikTok. The details aren't public and it's unclear if that reported interest has turned into anything solid.

Rumble

The Twitch rival is also thought to be interested in buying TikTok, and even put in an offer in March 2024.

Amazon

In 2024, Forbes reported — with the assistance of a former TikTok employee — that Amazon was also in talks to buy the app. The details here aren't public.

The U.S. government's sovereign wealth fund

Trump has suggested that a sovereign wealth fund in the U.S. could buy TikTok, the BBC reported. This could lead to some First Amendment concerns with regard to what kind of content is policed on the app. Content moderation is one thing on a private social media app, but would hold a whole host of issues when the moderators are a government organization.

There are a number of compelling reasons to catch the looming March 13-14 total lunar eclipse, which will be visible in the entire lower 48 states and greater Americas.

Perhaps the best one is that no two such eclipses are the same. That means, weather permitting, you'll witness something unique.

Total lunar eclipses occur when the sun, Earth, and moon are in alignment, allowing Earth to cast a shadow on the moon and block most sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. But our planet's atmosphere still allows red wavelengths of light to squeeze through, illuminating the moon in reddish, rusty, orangish, or crimson colors. Crucially, both the fickle conditions in Earth's atmosphere, and how deeply the moon passes through Earth's shadow, impact how light is ultimately projected onto the moon. This means different, and even unexpected, light shows.

"It's part of the thrill," Bennett Maruca, an astronomer at the University of Delaware who has witnessed a number of total lunar eclipses, told Mashable. "You don't know exactly what you're going to get."

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Totality — meaning when the moon is totally within Earth's shadow — will begin at 11:26 p.m. PDT on March 13, 2025 / 2:26 a.m. EDT on March 14 / 06:26 UTC, lasting for 65 minutes. And the reddening progresses over hours, as the moon gradually moves into the Earth's shadow. (Technically, the eclipse starts with slight dimming on March 13 at 8:57 p.m. PDT / 11:57 p.m. EDT / 03:57 UTC). So, weather permitting, you'll have ample opportunity to see these bloody colors in action.

During a total lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and moon are in alignment. Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio A map showing how the Americas will have the opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025. Credit: NASA

The first major factor at play in the amount of light and coloration illuminated on the moon is what's transpiring in our atmosphere, as sunlight must pass through our skies.

"Dust and clouds can affect the ultimate color of the moon during this event, which means that each total lunar eclipse ends up being somewhat unique and ultimately 'reflective' of the state of our own planet's weather," Eric Edelman, the planetarium director at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium, told Mashable.

For example, if there's lots of dust in the atmosphere — such as expansive dust clouds from the Sahara desert — you'll generally get a redder eclipsed moon, Edelman noted. Storms play a role in impacting how the penetrating light hits the moon, too. And volcanic eruptions — which can blast prodigious amounts of ash and gas high into the atmosphere — can dim lunar eclipses, as volcanic particles impede light that would otherwise get refracted towards the moon.

"It can be quite surprising."

The other significant player in the moon's illumination is how far the moon travels into Earth's shadow (called the "umbra," and visualized in the short NASA video below). When passing closer to the shadow's center, the moon is illuminated with the darkest colors — to deep browns and even purples. When passing nearer to the shadow's edge, the moon is illuminated with rusty, orange colors. The coming March 2025 eclipse, then, may be more on the rusty spectrum.

But the moon won't be all the same color. Our expansive natural satellite, some 2,159 miles across, will be illuminated by different parts of Earth's shadow, meaning it will display some of those darker colors, as well as the lighter rusty colors. "That's one of the cool things about this eclipse," noted Maruca. "You see the color gradient."

Witnessing totality will mean a late night, or early morning, for many of us. But Maruca emphasizes it's worth it. It'll be a one-of-a-kind space light show. And you don't know exactly what you're going to get.

"It can be quite surprising," Maruca said.

TL;DR: We have fewer than 50 refurbished MacBook Airs left in stock at $230 (reg. $999).

A MacBook for $230 might sound too good to be true if you haven’t heard of refurbished laptops. But this model, restored to like-new condition and backed by a 90-day warranty, is an excellent choice for anyone on a budget but still craving Apple quality.

Check out this laptop’s specs:

• Run Microsoft Office, browse the web, and multitask with an Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM

• Enjoy a 13.3-inch display with Intel HD Graphics 6000 when you’re working or streaming movies in bed

• Download programs or store files with a 128GB SSD

• Work all day without having to find an outlet with the laptop’s 12-hour battery life

Don’t miss this refurbished MacBook Air deal — they’re selling out fast at $230 (reg. $999). No coupon is needed to get this price.

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TL;DR: Enjoy wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in streaming services with the PlayAIBox Wireless Adapter, on sale now for $84.97 (reg. $129) while supplies last.

Tired of plugging and unplugging your phone for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? The PlayAIBox Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Wireless Adapter offers you the freedom and convenience you want on the road. For just $84.97 (reg. $129), this compact gadget upgrades your car with seamless wireless connectivity and built-in streaming services like Netflix and YouTube.

While hands-free convenience for your maps and music is amazing, this adapter also lets you download apps directly from Google Play, store media on external SD cards, and even mirror your phone screen for an enhanced experience.

Whether commuting to work or heading out on a road trip, the PlayAIBox transforms your ride into an entertainment hub, giving you everything from navigation to streaming in one easy-to-use system.

No more fussing with cables. This adapter supports wireless connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means you stay more focused on the road. With dual compatibility for iOS and Android, it works across more than 800 car models and lets you run multiple apps at once, thanks to its Allwinner A133 chip.

Whether you're in extreme heat or freezing cold, the PlayAIBox is built to last with a working temperature range of -30°C to 75°C. And for those long drives or downtime at the rest stop, simply switch over to YouTube, Netflix, or Disney+ for hours of entertainment, all from your car's display.

Keep your digital world at your fingertips without the clutter of cables. Stay connected, stay entertained, and drive confidently with this game-changing wireless adapter.

The PlayAIBox Wireless Adapter is on sale for $84.97 (regularly priced at $129) while this offer still lasts. Inventory is limited.

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TL;DR: Ditch the AI clutter and get one tool that does it all — the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan is available for a one-time payment of $99.99 (reg. $540).

Managing multiple subscriptions for all your creative and professional needs? That’s more juggling than anyone needs — and it’s pricey, too.

Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI on sale for $99.99 — it's a single platform packed with the tools you’d normally need a bunch of apps to accomplish. From content writing and image editing to data analysis, 1minAI has you covered — all in one convenient spot.

1minAI makes it easy to handle a variety of tasks with a user-friendly setup, so you’re not wasting time hopping between different tools. It includes everything from AI-driven writing assistance to design and photo editing options, letting you switch between projects without the constant app shuffle.

Plus, 1minAI gives you 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 extra credits monthly, giving you plenty of space to test, create, and explore without worrying about extra fees.

While AI tools are incredibly helpful, they aren’t perfect — and 1minAI is straightforward about that. You’ll get support with drafting, designing, and brainstorming, but human editing and oversight can bring your projects to the next level. Think of it as an AI sidekick that keeps things running smoothly, while you remain the creative mastermind.

Simplify your creative process and boost efficiency with 1minAI’s Business Plan lifetime subscription — all for $99.99, with no monthly fees.

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TL;DR: The NanoPhone packs essential smartphone features into a tiny, portable design for 50% off at $99.97 until March 30 (reg. $199).

Sick of lugging around a phone that’s practically the size of a tablet? If you’re someone who values portability without sacrificing functionality, then the NanoPhone could be exactly what you need. This little powerhouse — on sale for $99.97 — includes the smartphone features you need into a device so compact, it could practically disappear in your pocket.

Despite its small size, which is literally the size of a credit card, the NanoPhone doesn’t skimp on the essentials. It comes equipped with a clear, responsive touchscreen that makes navigation a breeze, whether you're scrolling through your contacts or browsing the web. The intuitive interface is designed to keep things simple, so you can easily manage calls, texts, and apps without the bulk of a standard smartphone.

The NanoPhone also includes a built-in camera, perfect for capturing those on-the-go moments when you don’t have your full-sized device handy. Plus, it supports Bluetooth connectivity, so you can pair it with wireless headphones or a smartwatch for a seamless experience.

Battery life won’t be an issue either. The NanoPhone is designed to last throughout your day, whether you’re making calls, streaming music, or checking your emails. And with expandable storage, you can carry all your essential apps, photos, and files without compromise.

Whether you’re hitting the gym, going for a run, or just want to travel light, the NanoPhone is a practical solution that could fit your lifestyle.

Small in size and big on features, it's ready to go wherever life takes you.

Get the NanoPhone Miniaturized Smartphone on sale for half off at $99.97 (reg. $199).

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TL;DR: Hurry and grab lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Windows at $34.97 through February 23.

Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel Peacock and never see the ending of Yellowstone or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

Instead of spending $7 monthly (or $70 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. For a little while longer, the Windows software suite is on sale for $34.97 until February 23.

What apps are included?

Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. However, it does have a classic, timeless design.

Here's a list of the apps you get:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

Differences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime license

This purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.

You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.

Plus, now that Microsoft added Copilot’s AI features to Microsoft 365, you might be looking for a way to escape them. Not everyone is crazy about having a virtual robot interfere with their work, and these classic apps won’t ever bug you about it.

The price drop on this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows ends soon, so get your download for $34.97 until February 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Public and private alarm has spiked since Elon Musk officially began executing the so-called Department of Government Efficiency's agenda by gaining access to sensitive databases, dismantling federal agencies, and unceremoniously firing workers by the thousands.

But now there is another reason to worry about DOGE: Scammers are capitalizing on increased interest in its actions in order to defraud people of cryptocurrency, according to the online protection company McAfee, which researches and monitors digital scams.

Specifically, the scammers are taking advantage of confusion about Musk's DOGE initiative and dogecoin, a cryptocurrency founded in 2013 that Musk has also publicly spoken about. Indeed, Musk apparently derived DOGE's name from the doge meme.

Musk is such a fan of the meme, which features a breed of dog known as a shiba inu, that he once replaced X's famous bird with a picture of the doge icon for a limited time. He also recently posted without comment on X, the social platform that he owns, a cartoon rendering of the shiba inu holding an American flag surrounded by the phrase "Department of Government Efficiency."

Tweet may have been deleted

The scams that McAfee spotted have largely featured Musk or DOGE in some capacity. Some also include a similar logo. The most prominent schemes invite victims to send dogecoin to a private wallet, with the promise that they'll receive more dogecoin in return.

But DOGE has nothing to do with dogecoin. And victims certainly won't receive free dogecoin in return for their contribution.

"The fact that people don't really understand that they're two very different things just adds a lot of confusion," McAfee chief technology officer Steve Grobman told Mashable.

Grobman said it was unclear why victims might believe that they'd profit off giving their dogecoin away. He speculated that Musk's status as the richest person in the world might be persuasive to victims who are hopeful that he'd part with dogecoin simply because he can.

Additionally, Groban said that scammers can be convincing when they promise guaranteed returns or high profits, and they frequently use the likeness of trusted public figures to promote fake coins or crypto investments.

It's worth noting that big events that involve Musk, like SpaceX launches, tend to attract scammers and command consumers' attention, while cryptocurrency is generally rife with fraud and insider trading.

But on Thursday Musk himself, as well as President Donald Trump, gave people reason to believe that DOGE might be sending money back to American taxpayers in the form of dividend checks, courtesy of the alleged savings DOGE has yielded. Musk floated the idea of a "DOGE Dividend," which would reimburse taxpayers, courtesy of the alleged savings from DOGE's cost-cutting measures and savings; Trump originally suggested a $5,000 refund.

DOGE has claimed an estimated $55 billion in savings so far, but experts say its calculations don't add up. Nevertheless, the prospect of a dividend may give scammers an even bigger opportunity to pounce on unsuspecting victims than they have now.

One scheme McAfee spotted cloned the official DOGE website but added a button to "Claim $DOGE bonus." Victims who provide between 10,000 $DOGE, (roughly $2,500) and 1,000,000 $DOGE (about $250,000) will supposedly receive between 30,000 $DOGE (around $7,500) and 3,000,000 $DOGE (about $750,000).

Grobman said that the scams leveraged classic techniques for deceiving victims, like creating a sense of urgency and portraying the exchange as a limited opportunity to make money.

He recommended strategies for identifying such schemes, like not engaging with an unknown entity in any financial exchange; never sending your cryptocurrency to an unverified wallet; using means of payment that have fraud protection, like a credit card; and carefully studying websites and email addresses for signs that they are legitimate, such as a .gov address.

He also warned against visiting websites that might capture your email or platform credentials. Some crypto scams are designed to harvest victims' personal information or steal the contents of their crypto wallet. In general, Grobman said that if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.

Still, the hype around crypto is becoming widespread. In addition to Musk's own embrace of crypto, the public may also be more receptive to exploring the currency given that Trump launched a memecoin of his own just days before his January 20 inauguration.

The Trump family and its partners made over $100 million from $TRUMP and that's just from the trading fees alone, according to an analysis performed by the New York Times. While a few outliers appeared to get rich, more than 810,000 crypto wallets have lost a combined $2 billion so far, according to the Times. Still, some observers may see a scam that seems affiliated with DOGE and think their bet is worth the risk.

Tweet may have been deleted

Potential victims of DOGE-related scams may also be intrigued by efforts that seem to link their participation with a broader effort to contribute to and achieve so-called government efficiency, like the DOGE website clone.

Musk's DOGE has already posted an open call on X for the general public to send the entity any tips for reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. With consumers invested in a game show-like search for government spending that they find fraudulent, some may feel like a "reward" promised by these scam websites could be a real offer.

Grobman said scammers operate much like legitimate businesses by testing certain strategies, amplifying what works and ditching what doesn't.

"We see some testing going on right now," Grobamn said, referring to the scams invoking DOGE. "If they get good returns from these tests, they'll double down on them."

UPDATE: Feb. 22, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EST This article has been updated with the latest streaming details for "Anora," "The Brutalist," "A Complete Unknown," and "Wicked."

In another year of outrageous cinema, 10 films made the cut in the Academy's eyes to earn spots on the Best Picture Oscar nominations list. We found narrowing the best movies of the year down to only 10 to be downright impossible, opting instead for a top 25 list, so it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of snubs this year (zero nominations for Challengers? Seriously?).

Even though we're a little disappointed a few of our favorites didn't make the list, the ones that managed to nab the nomination are certainly worth a watch.

SEE ALSO: 2025 Oscar nominations: See the full list

If you'd like to get up to date on the best films of the year (at least by the Academy's standards), we've rounded up how you can watch all 10. Queue 'em up for a movie marathon that's sure to be phenomenal. We'll update the details as more of the films make their way from the theater to the small screen.

Anora

Anora, winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and Mashable's favorite film of the year, is a Cinderella story that doesn't quite go the way you'd expect. "Anora is magnificently alive," Mashable's reviewer writes, adding that it's "as bold as it is brilliant." It's no surprise to us that not only did it nab a Best Picture nomination at the 2025 Oscars, but also five more nominations, including Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

What's it about?

"In a star-making turn, Mikey Madison (Scream 5) stars as a sex worker whose professional relationship with a young Russian client swiftly swings into a quickie wedding in Vegas. But [Sean] Baker, who's made a career out of compelling films centered on the rich inner lives of sex workers, isn't offering a sloppy retread of Pretty Woman. When cronies come banging on the mansion door, it's up to Anora to fight for the future she wants." — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

Read Mashable's review of Anora.

How to watch it: Stream it on Hulu beginning March 17 Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Stream "Anora" on Hulu Starting at $9.99 per month Watch Now

Still in select theaters across the country, Anora is available to rent or purchase at online retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV+ as of Dec. 17. It's also set to make its streaming debut on Hulu on March 17, 2025. Hulu is one of the most generous streamers for newbies with a 30-day free trial. Subscriptions then start at $9.99 per month, but you can save 16% if you opt for the annual plan instead.

The Brutalist

"A towering paean to the American dream," as our reviewer wrote, The Brutalist clocked in at number 17 on our list of the best films of 2024. Directed by Brady Corbet, it's also one of the most prominently featured films this awards season, with 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It already nabbed the Golden Globe for the Best Picture - Drama category, and despite igniting fresh conversation around the use of AI, it's a favorite to take home the Academy Award as well.

What's it about?

"The film, arresting from its first frames, spends three-and-a-half engrossing hours on the tale of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictitious Jewish Hungarian architect and survivor of the Holocaust, whose arrival in America yields both rigorous struggle and tempting opportunity. It embodies the kind of American epics no longer really made by Hollywood studios. All the while, the film also explores the fraught corners of post-World War II Jewish identity in the West." — Siddhant Adlakha, Film Critic

Read Mashable's review of The Brutalist.

How to watch it: Buy it on digital Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime Video Buy "The Brutalist" on digital Watch Now

As of Feb. 18, you can purchase The Brutalist at digital on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV for $19.99. It will also be available to rent at a later date. There's no official streaming release details yet, but as an A24 film, we expect it to make its debut on Max alongside other A24 theatrical releases in the coming month or so.

Featured Video For You 2025 Oscar snubs A Complete Unknown

It's hard to get excited over yet another biopic, but the reviews of A Complete Unknown — which sees Timothée Chalamet embrace his inner Bob Dylan — have been surprisingly positive. Not only has the Dylan biopic nabbed a nomination for Best Picture, but also Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Sound. James Mangold is also nominated for Best Director, Chalamet for Best Lead Actor, and Edward Norton and Monica Barbaro for their supporting roles.

What's it about?

A Complete Unknown follows Bob Dylan's (Chalamet) rise to fame in the early '60s, charting his beginnings as a folk singer in the New York music scene. "But once Dylan hits his groove, the film launches forward several years to 1965, when he's an established megastar whose emerging interest in electric guitar threatens to outrage his fanbase at the Newport Folk Festival, and his early allies." — KP

Read Mashable's review of A Complete Unknown.

How to watch it: Buy it on digital Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime Video Buy "A Complete Unknown" on digital Watch Now

While it's still in select theaters, A Complete Unknown is officially set to make its at-home debut on digital retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV on Feb. 25. You'll be able to purchase it for your digital collection for $29.99 to start, though the price will eventually drop to $19.99. As a Searchlight Pictures film, we expect it to make its streaming debut on Hulu at a later, unknown date.

Conclave

Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) and set amid the halls of the Vatican, the psychological thriller Conclave made our list of the best movies of 2024. Two-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes leads a star-studded cast, which includes Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini, John Lithgow as Cardinal Tremblay, Sergio Castellitto as Cardinal Tedesco, and Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes. It's no surprise to us that the Vatican-set tale earned a nod for Best Picture at this year's Oscars. It also scored nominations for Lead Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, Original Score, Film Editing, and Production Design.

What's it about?

"In the sacred halls of the Vatican, the Catholic church's most revered leaders gather together for a series of secret votes to determine who among them will be God's representative on Earth. And as dean of the conclave, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked not only with keeping things running smoothly but also sussing out what skeletons lie in the closets of the contenders." — KP

Read Mashable's review of Conclave.

How to watch: Stream it on Peacock Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Stream "Conclave" on Peacock Starting at $7.99 per month Watch Now

As a Focus Features film, Conclave made its streaming debut on Peacock back in December. A Peacock Premium subscription will run you $7.99 per month with ads or $13.99 per month without ads. Of course, you can also rent or purchase the film at digital retailers like Prime Video for as low as $5.99.

Dune: Part Two

A pop culture phenomenon, Dune: Part Two dominated the box office in 2024 with over $714 million globally. The Denis Villeneuve-directed film — which brings back Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Stellan Skarsgård and adds Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux — "swings bigger and often hits harder, soaring beyond even the epic highs of its predecessor," according to Mashable's Belen Edwards. It cracked the top 10 of our favorite films list of 2024 and has earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

What's it about?

"Dune: Part Two continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who finds himself among the planet Arrakis' indigenous Fremen. There he becomes entangled in the impossible position of hoping to avenge the Harkonnens' attack on his house, while also trying to avoid a future in which he unleashes holy war upon the universe." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Read Mashable's review of Dune: Part Two.

How to watch it: Stream it on Max or Netflix Opens in a new window Credit: Max Stream "Dune: Part Two" on Max starting at $9.99 per month Watch Now Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Stream "Dune: Part Two" on Netflix starting at $7.99 per month Watch Now

The second installment of the sci-fi franchise started streaming on Max in May of 2024, alongside Dune: Part One. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month with ads. As of January 2025, Part Two is also available to stream on Netflix. Subscriptions start at just $7.99 per month with ads. You can also rent or purchase the film on Prime Video and other digital retailers for as low as $3.99.

Emilia Pérez

"Jacques Audiard's gaudy, star-studded Cannes winner is stirring and surprisingly philosophical," writes Adlakha. It stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz in a musical transgender modern cartel saga. While it didn't make our top films of 2024 list, it managed to score the most Oscar nominations of any film, including Best Picture, Director, Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Original Score, Sound, Original Song (x2), Film Editing, International Feature Film, and Makeup and Hairstyling.

What's it about?

"Emilia Pérez centers on the intertwining stories of four women in Mexico. Chief among them is transgender cartel leader Emilia (Gascón), who asks lawyer Rita (Saldaña) to help her fake her own death so she can undergo gender-affirming surgery and live as her true self." — BE

Read Mashable's review of Emilia Pérez.

How to watch it: Stream it on Netflix Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Stream "Emilia Pérez" on Netflix Starting at $7.99 per month Watch Now

Originally premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in June of 2024, Emilia Pérez made its streaming debut on Netflix back in November. The cheapest Netflix subscription will cost you $7.99 per month, but you'll have to endure some ads along the way. Don't want ads? The price jumps up to $17.99 per month instead.

I'm Still Here

In a surprise by the Academy, international feature I'm Still Here earned three Oscar nods, including Best Picture, after its star Fernanda Torres won the Golden Globe for her leading role. Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir of the same name, the Walter Salles-directed Brazilian drama has an impeccable 95 percent critic rating and 99 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's the underdog of the Best Picture category.

What's it about?

I'm Still Here follows the heartbreaking real-life story of Eunice Paiva (Torres), whose husband Rubens disappears at the hands of the Brazilian military dictatorship in the early 1970s. The lonely and frightening battle to learn the truth and keep her family together transforms her into an activist, lawyer, and hero.

How to watch it: See it in theaters Opens in a new window Credit: Fandango See "I'm Still Here" in theaters Watch Now

I'm Still Here just made its theatrical debut on Jan. 17, 2025. That's currently the only way to watch the film, although we're expecting it to make its digital debut soon at retailers like Apple TV and Prime Video. Stay tuned.

Nickel Boys

Cracking the top three of our best films of the year list, Nickel Boys is an "exquisite, powerful adaptation" of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. As Adlakha writes in his review for Mashable, the moving film about a violent reform school in 1960s Florida is truly transformative. Thus, it is no surprise that it earned nominations for both Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at this year's Oscars.

What's it about?

"The film, like the novel, follows 16-year-old Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse), a promising teen from Tallahassee who lives with his grandmother, Hattie (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), and navigates the Jim Crow-era South. On his way to a technical college for advanced classes, the high schooler finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, leading to false charges of theft and internment at the Nickel Academy, an isolated juvenile home on a sprawling estate that presents itself as a place of hard work and reform.

A young adherent of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Elwood's idealism quickly clashes with Nickel's harsh reality of segregation and corporal punishment. However, he also finds guidance and companionship in Turner (Brandon Wilson), a fellow student hailing from Houston whose more upbeat demeanor and slick survival tips exist in close proximity to his own fears of the school's ruthless staff." — SA

Read Mashable's review of Nickel Boys.

How to watch it: Stream it on MGM+ beginning Feb. 28 Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ Watch "Nickel Boys" on MGM+ starting Feb. 28 7-day free trial, then $6.99 per month Watch Now

An Amazon MGM Studios film, Nickel Boys is currently only available to watch in theaters. However, it is expected to make its streaming debut on MGM+ on Feb. 28. That gives you just enough time to watch it before the Academy Awards air on March 2. MGM+ offers a free seven-day trial, then costs $6.99 per month for subscribers. However, if you wish to watch Nickel Boys before the end of February, it will also be available to rent or purchase on digital soon — stay tuned.

The Substance

French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat's The Substance earned spot number 15 on our list of the best movies of 2024, despite our divided staff. Part body horror romp and part Hollywood ageism satire, it stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid and is one of the most surprising hits of the year. Its gruesome imagery shocked and awed critics and managed to nab not only the Best Picture nomination at the Oscars but also four others — a big feat for a horror flick.

What's it about?

"Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress whose star is fading as she ages, and heartless Hollywood execs (exemplified by a shellfish-chomping Quaid) hunger for young beauties and fresh blood. So when a miracle drug allows her to split her life with a perky younger model of herself (Drive-Away Dolls' Qualley), she leaps at the chance. But the brutal cost it takes is ugly." — KP

Read Mashable's review of The Substance.

How to watch it: Stream it on Mubi Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi Stream "The Substance' on Mubi starting at $14.99 per month Watch Now

The Substance made its streaming debut on Mubi on Oct. 31, 2024, which is no surprise considering it's a Mubi original film. A quality streaming service built for cinephiles, Mubi's library is brimming with the best of international cinema. Subscriptions start at $14.99 per month, but you will get a seven-day free trial to test things out. You can also opt to rent or purchase The Substance from digital retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV for as low as $5.99.

Wicked

What's there to say about Wicked that hasn't already been said? It may not have made our list of the best films of 2024, but it did manage to earn the respect and admiration of the Academy with 10 nominations (including Best Picture). Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star as the green-skinned, magically gifted Elphaba and her pink-loving polar opposite bestie Glinda in the film adaptation of the classic 2003 Broadway musical starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. If the 95 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes is any indication, audiences are loving it, although our own film critic writes that it's "tainted by gray disillusionment, telegraphing the film's climactic reveals."

What's it about?

An adaptation of the Tony award-winning Broadway musical, which is an adaptation of Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked tells the backstory of the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, as well as the popular and privileged Glinda the Good. The witches meet as students at Shiz University in the Land of Oz and embark on a journey from loathing to unexpectedly deep friendship. Part one of the two-part saga ultimately questions, "Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"

Read Mashable's review of Wicked.

How to watch it: Stream it on Peacock beginning March 21 Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Stream "Wicked" on Peacock starting at $7.99 per month Watch Now

Wicked made its at-home debut on digital-on-demand retailers like Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango at Home on Dec. 31. It's now set to make its streaming debut on Peacock, the streaming service owned by NBCUniversal, on March 21. Peacock subscriptions start at $7.99 per month with ads and $13.99 per month without, although there are a few different ways you can save on your subscription.

UPDATE: Feb. 22, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EST New flagship robot vacuums from multiple top robot vacuum brands were announced at CES 2025 in January. I'm currently testing the Roborock Saros 10R and Dreame X50 Ultra at home and will update this guide accordingly.

There's definitely something to be said for the crisp handheld control of a powerful cordless Dyson. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, why not outsource that tedious task? The best robot vacuums patrol your home to clear away dust, debris, and sometimes even stains on hard floors — no elbow grease required.

Are Roombas the best robot vacuums?

Though Roombas are really good robot vacuums, they aren't the only good robot vacuums.

iRobot dominated the robot vacuum realm from the early 2000s up until a few years ago, so it's no surprise that much of the general public forgets that "Roomba" isn't simply a generic term for any robotic vacuum.

But Roombas officially aren't in a league of their own anymore: You can't even Google "Roomba" without a question involving Shark robot vacuums popping up, and other brands like Roborock and Eufy have entered the chat with a fury. And I'm here to put some respect on their names.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

I'm regularly testing the top robot vacuums at multiple price points and comparing them to top performers from previous years, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. During the testing of each robot vacuum, I keep notes on their overall suction power and scrubbing efficiency (if it's a hybrid that also mops), self-maintenance features like self-emptying or self-washing mopping pads, smart mapping to specific rooms and navigation around obstacles, and the overall user experience.

After all that testing, I've narrowed down your shopping list to five options, all of which I've put to the test personally. Here are the best robot vacuums for every home and budget so far in 2025:

(While each vacuum's retail price is listed by default, I've also noted the most common sale price in "The Good" sections. And yes, robot vacuum deals can be found throughout the year — not just during a shopping holiday like Black Friday.)

Don't let it go to your head, but everybody wants you — more specifically, your browsing data. Personal information about the links you click on and the sites you visit is highly valuable to third parties, including your internet service provider (ISP) and Google, who may want to share or monetize it. Certain government and law enforcement agencies are also eager to peek at your activity online for their own surveillance purposes.

One way to reclaim some of your digital privacy is by getting a virtual private network, or VPN, a service that creates an encrypted connection between your device and one of the VPN provider's private, remote servers before spitting it out onto the open web. In plain English, a VPN lets you browse the internet without being tracked.

Why do you need a VPN?

Even the best VPNs can't make you totally anonymous on the web — the VPN companies themselves can still see what you're doing while you're using their servers. But they can secure your personal info and hide your true IP address from prying eyes on the outside. The most trustworthy VPN providers operate transparently and abide by independently verified no-logs policies to prove that they don't collect or store user data in this process.

SEE ALSO: The best free VPN

Because VPN services conceal your real IP address, they're also useful for spoofing your location. This will allow you to bypass geo-restrictions on content that's not available in your country or region. (This is newly pertinent intel for horny Floridians, South Carolinians, and Tennesseans now that a certain adult site is blocked in their states.)

What is the No. 1 best VPN?

After testing (and retesting) the most popular VPN providers, I believe TunnelBear is the top VPN for most people. Its simple, adorable app supports split tunneling and unlimited simultaneous connections, and it offers a free tier that's limited but plenty usable. (It's the best free VPN I've tried.) TunnelBear is also doing some admirable work on the transparency front: Its privacy policy is plainly written, it undergoes regular security audits, and it issues transparency reports that anyone can read. (Overall, its track record is spotless.)

For users who want a more feature-rich VPN service, NordVPN is the one I recommend. It has a widespread server network that successfully unblocks regional content — hello, Love Island UK fans — and supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. Its nice-looking app includes multi-hop connections, among other specialty server types, and users can upgrade their plans with tons of advanced security features (like an ad/tracker blocker and a data breach scanner).

NordVPN also submits its no-log policy to regular third-party audits, though you need an account to read them, and it only recently started issuing transparency reports. It does have one notable blemish on its reputation due to its handling of a server breach several years ago, but it seems to be heading in a positive direction from a trustworthiness standpoint.

ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN are both honorable mentions for unblocking geo-restricted content and location spoofing, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend either of them for long-term use for reasons I get into below.

What I'm testing next

I recently tried the free version of Proton VPN on Windows and think it's a very strong contender for a future addition to this list: Its business model revolves around transparency and digital safety, it has a huge server network, and its free tier includes unlimited bandwidth. I'm currently using the paid version of Proton VPN on Mac and will make a final judgment call after I've completed our full VPN testing protocol.

Read on for Mashable's guide to the best VPN services of 2025. FYI: Prices for most VPN providers' long-term plans change frequently. The rates listed here were accurate at the time of publication.