How-To Geek

Ever wanted to stop a specific app from going online—whether to protect your privacy or block suspicious activity? Me too—and that’s why I use Portmaster, a free, open-source network monitor that lets you see every connection your apps make and blocks anything you don’t trust with a single toggle.

Are you a disgruntled Mac user grumbling about how some software is Windows-only? It’s easier than you might think to solve that problem: buy a cheap Windows mini PC.

Do you think Linux is just for homelabs or servers? Worried it can't handle your professional workflow? Well, I've been daily-driving Linux for 10 years, and here are five ways it helps me do real work.

Have a project idea in mind, but think it's too niche? I, too, was in your shoes until I finally scrapped that thought and started building whatever wild idea hit me. Many projects later, I've now realized that no matter how laughable an idea may sound, I should consider it. Here's why.

Buying used is a great way to save money, whether it’s a car, a piece of furniture, or electronics. I’m constantly browsing Facebook Marketplace for used deals, but there are a few lines I refuse to cross.

Vibe coding promises to do the heavy lifting while you put your feet up. Except it never works out that way, does it? You waste precious time debugging a codebase you don't understand, going around in circles with a mindless AI. I will explain why vibe coding is a terrible idea.

Google's product cemetery is littered with both bad and good ideas. Some failed because the execution was poor, others were simply released half-baked, or too soon.

Back in 2003, Cadillac started dropping their high-performance V-Series tech into regular models, and two decades later, V-Series means serious power. Cars like the CT4-V and CT5-V became known for combining class, sportiness, and legendary supercharged engines.

Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't give me a persistent feeling like I'm being spied on, or my personal data is being sent to who-knows-where, but in the end, that's just a perception. I think Apple is doing a better job when it comes to security and privacy, but there are still a few ways I like to tighten things up when I set up a new Mac.

The end is nigh. The end of the year, that is. And as the snow flutters to the ground and the wind gets crispy, Prime Video turns into one of the best reasons for staying in of all the major streaming services. For December, Prime is lining up a fresh new mix of blockbuster movies, buzzy new originals, holiday specials, and seasons of tried and true comfort shows, so you've always got something new to get you through the snow days.

If you're a Chromebook user, then it makes the most sense to use Google's productivity suite to its full potential. These lightweight web-focused computers are perfect for school, college, and even work. But if you know a few core tips and tricks about using Google Docs on your Chromebook, you will be even more efficient. That's less time working, and more time pretending to work while you browse the web.

The wait is finally nearing an end for those of us in the US who have been waiting on the OnePlus 15. After being caught in the aftermath of the recent US government shutdown, the device has received regulatory clearance to enter the American market.

Unraid has just kicked off its annual Cyber Weekend Sale, offering some serious discounts if you are looking to build or upgrade your home server setup. This is the biggest sale of the season, and it runs now through Cyber Monday, giving you a chance to save up to 25% on perpetual licenses.

Have you tried Linux in the past, but didn’t like the experience? Or are you planning to try Linux but feeling hesitant after hearing about other people’s poor experiences? Here are the five most common reasons why people quit Linux—and five simple ways to address those concerns!

In a sea of midsize SUVs that all follow the same script, the Toyota Crown Signia shows up with its own vibe. It’s not chasing size, speed, or off-road bragging rights—it’s chasing comfort and polish.

It’s no secret that smart light switches are better buys than smart light bulbs, but I don’t have any smart switches installed yet. That’s what led me to devise a delightfully devilish hack that still lets me use my existing light switches to turn on my smart bulbs in a pinch.

Raspberry Pi OS has a new way to set the Wi-Fi network name and password, SSH access, and other options while you install it. The latest update switched to cloud-init, so setting up a Pi from scratch is more like other Linux systems.

You may have seen some articles in the Windows news (and there's a lot of it these days) talking about Microsoft doing everything it can to remove the option for a "local" account from Windows installations. If you've never had to go hunting for this option, you might wonder what the big deal is. However, even if it doesn't affect your directly, the fight to keep a local account option on Windows is an important one.

It’s all over YouTube, TikTok, and other social media services—everyone wants to know how to turn off AI features in Google’s Gmail service. People are simply uncomfortable with the idea that an AI model is reading through their mail, training itself on their personal data.

Hopefully, you're extending your Thanksgiving festivities into a nice, long weekend. But whether you are or not, why not sink into a real and enlightening documentary anyway? It takes some digging, but Prime Video is quietly stacked with docs that are just as riveting as any scripted series—from gorgeous nature shows to deep dives into the nooks and crannies of pop culture, sports, and beyond.