How-To Geek
A fake Windows Update screen is fooling Windows users into installing malware
Social engineering attacks are probably still among the most used ways to actually infect a computer or steal someone's data. A well executed social engineering attack can have some pretty nasty consequences. This one even involves a fake Windows Update screen to round things up.
Excel is adding a search bar and new dialogs
Microsoft is rolling out a substantial update to the Excel for Windows interface, introducing a completely modernized "Get Data" dialog aimed at simplifying the process of connecting to external data sources. This move is the first major step toward modernizing the Power Query experience within Excel, and honestly, it’s a necessary change.
5 legitimately-good movies on Peacock to watch this week (November 24 - 30)
If you're a Peacock subscriber and have gotten a bit tired of scrolling the same movie titles every night, I'm here to do the heavy lifting for you. Peacock's library is full of movies spanning genres from comfort-watch classics to epic animation to newer movies that you might have missed in theaters.
Please stop buying overpriced CPU coolers for your gaming PC
PC builders love to grab the best-in-class components when assembling their beloved machines. While that approach makes sense for a graphics card or CPU, spending three digits on a CPU cooler usually doesn't make sense. Here’s why.
Pebble cuts through the noise and goes 100% open source
There’s been a bit of drama in the Pebble community lately, but it seems we’re heading in the right direction. Today, Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky shared an update on the future of the Pebble Store—and it's very good news.
The 3 shows in Netflix's top 10 actually worth watching this week
Netflix's top 10 lists are a good way to see what's popular with other viewers, though they aren't necessarily an indicator of quality. You might want to watch everything on the list so that you're not left out of any watercooler discussions, but that's going to be time-consuming.
Don't rely on Google Photos—pick up a NAS during UGREEN's Black Friday sale
When you look at the prices for cloud storage, a NAS is probably a recurring thought for you. Sure, it's more money up front, but it's a one-time purchase—and more importantly, it's yours, and not someone else's. If the price has been a turn-off, you can currently save a decent amount of money on UGREEN's best NASes this Black Friday.
Google's ChromeOS replacement has a new name and more revealed details
ChromeOS is getting replaced by... Android. We've known for a while that Google's eventual goal is to merge ChromeOS into Android and replace that with an Android-based desktop operating system. It won't be quite Android, though. And now, we have a few details on how this OS might be shaping up.
Affordable Japanese hybrid that delivers 50 mpg and it's not a Prius
Shoppers hunting for maximum fuel savings in 2025 don’t have to spend luxury-car money to get it. While hybrid technology keeps advancing, a few models still stand out for delivering exceptional efficiency at an attainable price point. And among today’s Japanese hybrids, one in particular has become a go-to choice for buyers who want genuine 50-MPG performance without sacrificing comfort or practicality.
Uber One adds family sharing just in time for the holidays
Uber One members can now share their subscription benefits with their family at no extra charge, just in time for the busy holiday travel season. Uber is rolling this out alongside a wave of seasonal perks, including complimentary ride upgrades and exclusive deals.
7 monitor specs that are officially too old in 2025
We don't often think of our monitors as something that holds the rest of our computer back, but your monitor is the component you use as a window into your computer. It's one of the peripherals you spend the most time using, by far. So when certain specs and missing features start limiting what your PC can offer you, whether for work or play, then it's probably time to start looking for a new screen as your most important upgrade.
Facebook doesn’t make you use your real name anymore in Groups
Before Facebook exploded in popularity, it wasn’t super common to use your real, legal name on social media. Now, Meta is taking a tiny step in the opposite direction and attempting to make Facebook Groups a bit more like forums.
My PC was painfully slow until I fixed this one SSD problem
I've dealt with some slow PCs in my life. At an old job a decade ago, the PCs were so slow that you could quite literally boot the PC, go away for 20 minutes, and come back with it finally ready to be used. But these days, SSDs have thankfully largely eradicated that sluggishness. That is why I instantly knew something was wrong when a 'new' computer was taking forever to reach the desktop.
Chrome on Android is finally getting this desktop feature
Have you ever wished that Google Chrome on Android worked a bit more like the desktop variant? If so, you're not alone. This week, and several years later than expected, Google is rolling out a feature that lets you pin tabs in Chrome for Android, keeping the browser tabs you want front and center.
1Password finally fixes its most frustrating browser limitation
1Password is rolling out a fix for the inability to handle multiple in-page notifications. After eight years, the the in-page notification system for the browser system was starting to show its age as new features and capabilities were built into the software.
Setting up an LTE smartwatch was more trouble than I thought
I’ve tried wearing a smartwatch on and off over the years, but only recently have I tried my first LTE model. Unfortunately, actually getting my watch connected to LTE service was a bigger pain than I expected.
The EV brand most avoided by drivers
Consumer choices aren’t always straightforward. What people like—or don’t like—can be influenced by everything from marketing campaigns and celebrity endorsements to a brand’s reputation for quality.
Microsoft wants to make the File Explorer faster with this trick
Microsoft is making some more changes to File Explorer in Windows 11. Thankfully, it's a break from the trend of shoving AI everywhere, and focuses on performance and usability improvements that most people will probably appreciate.
Plex Pass is 40% off for Black Friday
Plex is a great way to organize and stream your own media library, and Plex Pass gives you access to features like hardware transcoding, downloads, and remote streaming. Now is the best time of the year to upgrade to Plex Pass, as Plex's annual Black Friday discounts are finally live.
4 genuinely good Netflix movies to watch this week (November 24 - 30)
It's Thanksgiving week, which means it's a perfect time to watch some movies on Netflix. There's nothing better than sitting back and putting on a good flick after a hectic day, whether you've been entertaining guests or eating too much food. The tricky part is deciding what to watch.


