How-To Geek

Two-factor authentication is a popular way to add another security measure to an online account. Unfortunately, an alarming number of services, applications, and websites still use SMS authentication for 2FA, which is one of the most insecure approaches around. If you can avoid using it, you should.

I can’t be the only one who gets a small rush of accomplishment when I see the achievement pop-up appear while playing a game. I’m not exactly a completionist, but these bite-sized rewards help motivate me to keep going and to experiment with a game’s world and systems.

Hybrid vehicles are often associated with long-term savings, but the upfront price of a brand-new model can still be a major barrier for many buyers. The latest versions of the Prius offer impressive efficiency and modern technology, yet their price tags have steadily climbed in recent years. For shoppers focused on value, that makes the used market an increasingly attractive alternative.

Microsoft Outlook received a total redesign on Windows in 2023, based on the Outlook web app. Almost three years later, it’s still playing catch-up to the legacy Outlook client, and now Microsoft is delaying the full rollout for enterprise customers.

While keeping your SSD in an enclosure can significantly lower its performance, it's still a good way to store your backups externally, outside of your PC. The problem is that some enclosures may be hiding significant problems, and you won't know until it happens to you.

AirDrop is amazing, and iPhone owners everywhere use it regularly. However, its biggest limitation is that it only works on Apple devices. And while Google recently broke through that wall and got AirDrop working on Pixel devices, my Samsung Galaxy doesn't have that luxury. I don't need it, though, because this open-source alternative already exists.

Prime Video might not have the ever-rotating roster of documentaries and docuseries that Netflix has, but with a little digging, you can find some unique and quirky options that are worth your time without feeling like homework, like some docs can.

Some Home Assistant projects are practical, and others exist just for the sake of it. If you're looking for some more ridiculous Home Assistant projects to keep you entertained this weekend, then look no further.

The Art of Unix Programming (TAoUP), by Eric S. Raymond, is not a tutorial or how-to book. Instead, it is a book about the history and philosophy of Unix. But no other book has had a greater influence on my approach to Linux and macOS, or my everyday use of it. Here are just a few of the things it has taught me.

The popular open-source firmware for routers and other networking equipment, OpenWrt, just released a new major update. OpenWrt 25.12 is now available after “over one year” of development, with new features and more supported devices.

By the end of the week, my brain is usually running on fumes, and I need some stimulation to fill it up again. Something cool and interesting I can use to spark a conversation with my friends or someone in line at the supermarket. Netflix's documentary shelf is basically a library for that.

According to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study, infotainment touchscreens are the study's most problematic category, with consumers expressing a general dislike for what is sometimes described as “infotainment creep.” JD Power’s annual study, released in June 2025, analyzed responses from nearly 93,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2025 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership.

This weekend, set some time aside to focus on a few basics in your homelab. From setting up Tdarr to keep your media library nice and optimized to making Docker management easier with Portainer, and even setting up Nginx Proxy Manager for reverse proxies, here are three homelab projects for you to try out this weekend.

Reinstalling Windows is a clean slate for your PC. Most of us only do it when we have to, but some friends of mine just treat it as regular PC maintenance. One way or another, it is one of the most common steps in troubleshooting a PC that doesn't seem to be doing so well.

Looking for a project to get started on this weekend that makes good use of your 3D printer? Here are three projects that require a fair bit of work and will leave you with a sense of accomplishment when you’re finished.

Windows 11 comes out of the box with more unwanted apps than I can count. Between Bing search, ads in the Start Menu, and Copilot everywhere, it is tempting to run a one-size-fits-all debloat script to remove some of the junk. If you're going to debloat your PC, be cautious: There are many things that can go wrong.

Are you ready for some projects to try out on your Raspberry Pi this weekend? Today, I’m showing you software projects that you can tackle before Monday comes, like setting up Pi-hole, organizing your documents, and even creating your own media streaming platform.

Do you have more than one power tool brand in your garage or shop? It's fairly common to start with one brand, like Ryobi for affordability, then branch out to Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWALT. Now, you have a mix of tools, battery packs, and chargers, and none of them work together. That's why battery adapters are so popular. But will that battery adapter ruin your tool?

All too often, we treat formatting our PC as the first step when something goes wrong. I get it: chances are that'll fix it, and spending hours troubleshooting is no fun. But if it's your SSD or your filesystem that's causing you trouble, I'm here to tell you that formatting the PC might not fix it.

Most people think of the public's access to the internet as only really being a "thing" with the advent of the World Wide Web in the mid-90s with all those rudimentary websites with pictures and even short, blurry video clips the size of a postage stamp.