IT General

GET 30%+ OFF: As of Sept 16, you can score 30% (or more) off an Amazon Echo device. Shop Echo Show and Dot models for less.

Our top picks: Best Echo Show deal Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023 release) $104.99 at Amazon (save $45 ) Get Deal Best Echo deal Echo (4th gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb $64.99 at Amazon (save $54.99 ) Get Deal Best Echo Dot deal Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022 release) Kids $39.99 at Amazon (save $20 ) Get Deal

Prime Day ~fall edition~ is just around the corner, and with it comes hundreds of deals on everything from home appliances to electronics.

While the annual sales event isn’t until October, Amazon’s already gifting us some sweet deals on Echo devices. (Whether or not these deals will be even better come Prime Day isn’t a question we can answer, but it might be a good idea to take advantage of them now, just in case.)

Here are some of the best Echo device deals you can snag right now:

Best Echo Show deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023 release) $104.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Echo Show 10 is one of our favorite Echo devices, but it’s usually pretty pricey at $249.99. But you can get the Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023 release) for just $104.99, down from $149.99.

The Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) has an eight-inch screen, so you can video chat with friends and family, watch videos, stream your favorite shows, and view your security cameras right on the display. It’s compatible with Zigbeen Matter and Thread smart home devices, so you can control your compatible lights, locks, and other gadgets without springing for an extra hub.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8 (2nd gen): Which one should you buy on Prime Day?

You can also set it to auto-rotate through your photos (like a live picture frame), see the weather and news, add things to your to-do list with a button, or just ask Alexa.

Best Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo (4th gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb $64.99 at Amazon
$119.98 Save $54.99 Get Deal Why we like it

You can snag an Echo (4th gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb bundle for $64.99. That’s a great price for the Echo and around $48 less than buying the devices separately.

The Echo (4th gen) is an entry-level smart speaker that lasts for years (I’ve had mine forever). You can play music, listen to podcasts, set reminders, control smart home devices, and more. Plus, with this deal, you’ll also get a smart bulb that you can control with your voice or through the Alexa app.

Best Echo Dot deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022 release) Kids $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022 release) Kids is on sale for $39.99, down from $59.99. Yes, this device is specifically for children, but it's a great value and a super cute addition to any smart home setup.

The Echo Dot Kids has the same capabilities as the regular Echo Dot, but it’s clad in fun, kid-friendly designs and has parental controls to filter explicit content. You’ll also get one year of Amazon Kids+, which unlocks tons of age-appropriate content, games, and Alexa skills.

If you have kids in the house, this Echo Dot deal is a no-brainer.

Natasha Rothwell talks about her inspiration for creating the series 'How to Die Alone' and how she has always created spaces and characters where she feels represented.

At its "It's Glowtime" event on Sept. 9, Apple unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 10, new AirPods, and, yes, the iPhone 16 series. Alongside those new iPhones, Apple is also launching its latest iPhone operating system, iOS 18.

iOS 18 was announced at WWDC back in June, teasing a series of new features. These include new ways to organize your Home Screen, a new customizable Control Center, and Apple Intelligence, the headline feature.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2024: Everything announced, including iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10

Beta testers have been able to try out most of these features for some time now — but with a public release, you'll finally get them for yourself. Here’s what you need to know.

iOS 18 release date

Apple always releases new versions of iOS alongside its new iPhones — and outside of the beta testing program, you can download and install iOS 18 for yourself on Sept. 16, a few days before the new iPhones are released on Sept. 20.

When you do, though, it won’t offer all of the features that Apple announced in June. Some smart home features, for example, are reserved for iOS 18.1, which doesn’t have an official release date yet, so you’ll have to wait a little to try it out. Then, there’s Apple Intelligence, which has its own release timeline.

What’s new in iOS 18?

iOS 18 brings with it a series of great new features. Many of these relate to customization, allowing users to personalize their devices.

Apart from Apple Intelligence, perhaps the headline feature is one that ex-Android users have been asking for—a more customizable Home Screen. With iOS 18, you’ll be able to place apps wherever you want on the screen (within the grid, of course) instead of having them arranged from left to right, top to bottom, at all times. Additionally, you can set new Dark and Tinted Home Screen options, which bring different colors to your Home Screen wallpaper and apps.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max launch at Apple 'Glowtime' event

The Control Center is also becoming more customizable. In iOS 18, you can create and customize multiple pages of the Control Center and more easily place and resize your existing controls. So, you could have a whole page dedicated to smart home controls, or you could place only the controls you care about on one screen in the exact position that works for you.

Plenty of Apple’s first-party apps are getting new features as well. iMessage will let you use any emoji as a Tapback reaction, and you’ll be able to format text with underlines and italics — not to mention RCS support, which brings better cross-platform messaging. The Photos app is getting an all-new single-page design, and you’ll now be able to lock apps behind Face ID — so you can better secure sensitive information. Lastly, passwords are moving out of the Settings app and into their own Passwords app.

Featured Video For You Apple Event 2024 Recap Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is perhaps the most important "feature" of iOS 18. It is just the name that Apple calls its bundle of new AI features. Unfortunately, accessing these features isn’t quite as simple as downloading iOS 18. The very first Apple Intelligence features won’t be available until iOS 18.1, which is expected sometime towards the end of October, based on previous iOS iterations. 

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 is getting Apple Intelligence — and it's free

Even when iOS 18.1 is released, it won’t have all of the Apple Intelligence features that Apple announced in June. The currently available beta version of iOS 18.1 has new writing tools that can generate and summarize text, suggested replies in Messages, phone call recording and transcripts, and notification summaries for both the Messages and Mail apps. These features will almost certainly be available in iOS 18.1, unless Apple runs into a hitch and decides to pull them, which is unlikely.

There are features that no one outside of Apple has tested yet, but these will likely be held until a later iOS 18 release. These features include some headliners, like Image Playground, Genmoji for generated emoji, Siri enhancements (with the ChatGPT integration), and on-screen awareness. These are some of the most significant features of Apple Intelligence, but Apple is taking things slow with AI. The company has even said that some features won't be released until 2025, though it did highlight that ChatGPT integration would be available by the end of 2024, so other Siri enhancements will likely be out by then, too.

Again, though, features could be delayed if Apple wants to hold them longer.

Which devices will support iOS 18?

iOS 18 will be available on all of the same devices that support iOS 17, which is great news for those with a slightly older phone. However, not all of these models will get Apple Intelligence. Only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (along with all iPhone 16 devices) get the new AI features.

Here's a list of devices that will get iOS 18.

• iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max

• iPhone XS, XS Max

• iPhone XR

• iPhone SE (second-generation) 

• iPhone SE (third-generation)

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Horse noise.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 16 Hurdle Word 1 answer

NEIGH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Not to be confused for an alpaca.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 16 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

LLAMA

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Binding.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 16 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TYING

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Not a smile, not a sneer.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 16 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SMIRK

Final Hurdle hint

The USA has this many states.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

FIFTY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

'Shōgun' star Hiroyuki Sanada made history with his Emmys win on Sunday, becoming the first Japanese actor to win the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

"Baby Reindeer" creator Richard Gadd gave a powerful speech at the 76th Emmy Awards. Watch.

TL;DR: Live stream Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons for free on My5. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons are set to battle it out in a really interesting Monday Night Football matchup, and you can watch all the action without spending anything. The Philadelphia Eagles will be looking to build some momentum after securing a win in round one, while the Atlanta Falcons will be keen to bag their first win of the new season.

f you're interested in watching Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Eagles vs. Falcons?

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Sep 16. This fixture will be played at Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Eagles vs. Falcons for free

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons is available to live stream for free on My5.

My5 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in the UK, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access My% from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit My5

5. Live stream Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. It's a short-term solution, but this gives you enough time to watch select NFL fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is currently available for $99.95. Within this limited time deal you'll get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

"Schitt's Creek" star Catherine O'Hara ripped up her Emmys envelope presenting Outstanding Comedy Series and it was perfect. Watch.

Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez roasted each other at the 2024 Emmys while presenting Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

"Schitt's Creek" stars Dan and Eugene Levy opened the 76th Emmy Awards with one of the best Emmys monologues ever. Watch.

Anna Sawai, star of FX's 'Shōgun', made history at the 76th Emmy Awards as the first Asian performer to win Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

John Oliver paid tribute to his late dog during "Last Week Tonight"s Emmy win for Scripted Variety Series.

Apple's iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have the same starting price as last year's models, but replacing the battery on this phone is costlier than before.

According to Apple's iPhone Repair and Service page (first noticed by MacRumors), getting the battery replaced on the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max costs $119. The same type of repair costs $99 for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, just as it was on last year's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.

Ouch. That's a 20 percent increase. Credit: Apple SEE ALSO: Don't get iPhone 16 Pro Max — here's why iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are better buys

This, of course, is for out-of-warranty battery replacement; if your phone is covered by warranty and its battery fails, Apple will replace it for free. The exact terms are as follows, per Apple's own page: "Your product is eligible for a battery replacement at no additional cost if you have AppleCare+ and your product's battery holds less than 80 percent of its original capacity."

We still haven't seen a teardown of the iPhone 16 Pro models, so we don't know what its internals look like. Apple did say that it reorganized the phone's insides and added larger batteries to its Pro models, which may be why the battery replacement has gotten pricier.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for September 16's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 16 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Leading expert

• Green: Has a sharp point

• Blue: Corny

• Purple: Things with limits

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Foremost

• Green: Spiky Things

• Blue: Overly Sentimental Work

• Purple: Things that are Capped

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #463 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Foremost: CHIEF, PREMIER, PRINCIPAL, SUPREME

• Spiky Things: CACTUS, HEDGEHOG, MACE, PINEAPPLE

• Overly Sentimental Work: CHEESE, CORN, MUSH, PAP

• Things that are Capped: BOTTLE, GRADUATE, MUSHROOM, SALARY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 16's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 16 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A bee's sweet treat.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter H.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

HONEY.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

TL;DR: Get a refurbished 13.3-inch 2018 Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) on sale for $399.99 (reg. $999).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 2018 Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $399.99
$999.00 Save $599.01 Refurbished Get Deal

Why overpay when you can enjoy premium features at a fraction of the price?

This refurbished, 13.3-inch 2018 Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) offers all the high-end specs you want — like the sleek Touch Bar, 512GB of storage, and a Retina display — for just $399.99. That's 59% off the regular price of $999.

The Touch Bar gives you shortcuts and tools right above your keyboard for faster navigation and productivity. It’s perfect for professionals and students who want to streamline their workflow.

Plus, the Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM give you the smooth performance you need, no matter what apps you’re running. With 512GB of SSD storage, you’ve got plenty of space for files, photos, and projects, and it keeps everything running fast and efficiently.

And because it’s refurbished, you get all these top-tier features at a fraction of the price. Each unit is tested, so you’re getting the same quality as a brand-new device without the new price tag, especially this particular computer, which received an "A" refurbished rating, which means you probably won't even be able to tell it's used.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just looking for a reliable laptop that doesn’t break the bank, this refurbished 2018 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar delivers serious value — on sale for $399.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Afirstsoft PDF Editor for $49.99 — AI extraction, interactive tools, and 20GB of secure storage included.

If you’re tired of spending hours digging through lengthy PDFs just to find a small piece of information, Afirstsoft is here to make your life easier. Its AI-powered extraction feature allows you to pull out the key information from any PDF document in seconds, no manual scanning needed.

It’s a great option for anyone who deals with contracts, research papers, reports, or any other data-heavy PDFs. Instead of wasting time scrolling endlessly, Afirstsoft does the hard work for you — and it's on sale for $49.99 (reg. $179).

One of the major highlights of Afirstsoft is the interactive PDF "chat". This revolutionary tool lets you ask your document questions and instantly receive answers. Imagine working on a detailed report or a dense research paper — instead of going through hundreds of pages to find specific data, you can simply ask the document. The AI will quickly locate the information and present it to you, transforming the way you interact with your PDFs.

With 20GB of secure, cloud-based storage, you can store all your critical PDFs in one place, accessible whenever you need them. This is ideal for keeping your work organized, especially when dealing with important documents that you need to reference frequently.

Afirstsoft offers lifetime access to these premium features for a one-time payment. No need to worry about ongoing subscription fees or renewal dates.

For anyone who regularly works with PDFs and values efficiency, AI integration, and secure storage, take advantage of this great deal on a lifetime subscription to Afirstsoft AI PDF Editor for $49.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Afirstsoft Afirstsoft AI PDF Editor: Lifetime Subscription $49.99
$179.97 Save $129.98 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get 4K night-vision binoculars for sharp views and the ability to capture footage, day or night, on sale for just $99.99 (reg. $169).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay 4K Night Vision Digital Binoculars with 8x Digital Zoom $99.99
$169.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

Whether you’re out for a night hike, observing wildlife, or just enjoying a stargazing session, 4K Night Vision Digital Binoculars are the perfect tool for seeing what the dark usually hides.

Forget grainy, hard-to-make-out images — this gear gives you crisp 4K visuals no matter the lighting conditions. Get 4K night vision binoculars on sale for just $99.99. That's 41% off the regular price of $169.99.

And with the added bonus of 8x digital zoom, you can bring distant scenes right up close, making them ideal for nature lovers, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Its powerful night vision mode allows you to see clearly in total darkness. Imagine being able to spot wildlife on your next camping trip or take in the nighttime landscape. You can even record what you see, due to built-in photo and video capabilities. Capture the magic of the night in stunning detail and save your footage directly to a microSD card — no extra equipment required.

Designed to be tough, these binoculars can handle the rugged outdoors, so you don’t have to worry about bumps or the occasional drop. The ergonomic design means they’re easy to carry and hold, whether you’re birdwatching in broad daylight or catching a glimpse of the stars after sunset.

If you’ve ever felt limited by what you could see after dark, these 4K Night Vision Digital Binoculars with 8x Digital Zoom unlock a whole new world of possibilities for $99.99 (reg. $169).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Online privacy is in short supply, but that doesn't make it any less important. Your data is seriously valuable stuff, and you should be doing everything you can to protect it when navigating the online world. And if you watch porn, you should be even more vigilant.

We're going to take a wild guess that you'd prefer to be protected from the prying eyes of advertisers, your internet service provider (ISP), and your roommates when you're visiting porn sites. If that is indeed the case, you should consider investing in a VPN. These cybersecurity services provide everything you need to unblock porn sites and stream anonymously.

What is a VPN?

VPNs provide powerful protection for your data and identity when you're online. VPNs offer this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location), making all of your activity untraceable and secure.

SEE ALSO: AdultFriendFinder is basically a porn hookup site that needs a refresh

This concept can be difficult to grasp, so it can be helpful to think of VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware. It's all about anonymity and cybersecurity, and that's particularly important if you're watching porn.

Do you need a VPN for porn?

There are two key reasons to consider a VPN for porn: anonymity and access.

The first reason is perhaps the most important. If you're concerned about your ISP, housemates, landlord, or someone totally random accessing your data, you could probably benefit from using a VPN. Any sort of activity on an unsecured WiFi network leaves your private information and browsing habits exposed to the world, unless you're using a VPN. Even porn sites can track your activity if you're unprotected. Pornhub tracks IP addresses for example, which means it has the potential to collect information about your site usage. But with a VPN, your IP address will always remain hidden.

Remaining private and anonymous is the key argument for using a VPN for porn, but there's another point to consider concerning access to your favourite sites. If you're in a location that has a firewall up to block access to porn sites, you'll need to use a VPN to bypass these restrictions. VPNs hide your real IP address and connect you to a server in another location, meaning you can bypass firewalls to stream on your favourite sites from anywhere in the world.

What features should you consider when selecting a VPN?

There are a number of things you should consider before selecting a VPN for porn. We have highlighted a selection of the most important VPN features to help you make a decision:

• Connection speed — VPNs generally produce a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept anything significant. Make sure you opt for a VPN that doesn't negatively impact your connection speed to the point that you can'tstream porn without disruption.

• Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and whilst it's important to take note of the grade provided by your VPN, the best services will all offer powerful protection for your data. This is obviously vital when navigating porn sites because you need to know that your data is secure.

• Number of connections — Leading VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices with the same account, whilst others limit you to just a single device. Prioritise services that offer multiple simultaneous connections so you can stay secure on all your devices at the same time. You might stream porn on a number of devices, so it's best to secure everything with the same account.

• Privacy policy — This is something that some users might take for granted, but you need to pay special attention to the data-handling, storage, and usage practices of a VPN. These practices should be clearly laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't, you should not subscribe. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions, and browsing history, plus your personal details when you sign up. Your favourite VPN should not store these details under any circumstances, as that would make the whole anonymity thing redundant.

• Server network — The best VPNs provide access to literally thousands of geographically diverse servers. This is useful because you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming porn.

You also need to consider things like price and subscription plans, but these features are a good place to start with your selection process. Once you've picked a favourite option, you can consider the wide range of subscription plans on offer from leading services. There should be something that suits everyone.

Should you use free VPNs?

The big question when it comes to watching porn securely is whether you need to pay for a VPN. The bad news is that, just as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with these cybersecurity services.

There are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs, and free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. The catch is that free versions usually come with limited data usage, meaning you can't really do any streaming or downloading. Free trials come with everything you get in a paid plan, but they obviously don't last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

Considering all of this, the best option for unblocking porn sites and streaming anonymously is with a paid subscription to a VPN. To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you will need to cough up the cash.

What is the best VPN for porn?

There are a lot of services out there offering similar packages, making it difficult to find the best VPN for you. We have tried to make your life a little bit easier by tracking down everything on offer and lining up a selection of the very best VPNs for porn. We have tried to find something for everyone and every budget, and you can find popular services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN in this list.

These are the best VPNs for porn in 2024.

We've been banging on about VPNs for years, and now the world has opened its eyes to how great these services are for boosting online security and bypassing geo-restrictions.

It's about time.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide important protection for your data and identity when you're online by creating a private network that hides your real IP address. This means that all of your activity is untraceable and secure. You can think about VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware.

Do you need a VPN when working from home?

More and more businesses are making the transition from a traditional office setting to a remote workforce. A VPN is absolutely essential for working remotely because it provides an organisaton with an encrypted connection for securely accessing internal company networks.

VPNs can also be used to watch shows on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more of the most popular streaming sites. The need for online entertainment has grown recently, and more people are now turning towards VPNs to unlock blocked or restricted content.

The message is: VPNs are vital for both work and play at home.

What should you consider before investing in a VPN?

The first thing you're likely to notice when you begin the hunt for a VPN is just how many services there are to consider. Yes, it's good to have options, but it's easy to get bogged down by all the choice. That's why it's important to focus on some key factors when making your decision:

• Customer support — if you encounter any problems, it's good to know that you can rely on support agents with the technical knowledge to help.

• Fast connection speeds — the best VPNs offer servers in countries all around the world, ensuring that you get a fast and reliable connection for when you need it most.

• Kill switch — this technology makes sure your sensitive data is not exposed, even if your connection drops unexpectedly.

• Multi-logins — some accounts let you connect multiple devices simultaneously, which is great for protecting an entire household under the same subscription.

• Reliable encryption — the most important thing to consider is how well a service protects your connection, so your data and identity remain hidden from prying eyes.

If you take all of these features into consideration, and find something that ticks most of the boxes, you should be in a good position. Don't panic if things still aren't clear though, because we have already considered these points in detail. We're nice like that.

What is the best VPN for working from home?

We have lined up some of your best options for working and playing at home, with top providers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN making the cut. There is something for everyone and every budget in this list. All you have to do is pick your favourite.

These are the best VPNs for working from home in 2024.