Mashable

The VPN — virtual private network — used to have a bit of a dodgy reputation. It was once considered a means for conducting nefarious activities online. These days it just makes sense for everyone to have an extra layer of security when browsing online. Especially when doing things like checking your internet banking.

Without a VPN, your data is effectively open to anyone because it's not encrypted. While most people don't have to worry too much about being spied on, it's still an unnecessary risk. Circumvent that risk by installing a VPN. It's simple enough to find a good quality VPN.

But before you just buy yourself a VPN, we'd recommend getting a router to install it first. It's easier than installing a VPN client into every single device. Confused? It does sound a bit complicated if you're not tech-minded. To help, we've put together a guide and a list of the best routers for VPNs.

What is a VPN?

The world of VPNs can quickly become quite complicated, but we’ll give you a quick rundown. A virtual private network encrypts your activity to shield your data and let you use the internet anonymously. It gives you an extra layer of privacy and security against hackers and data collectors. A VPN on your device will make your IP address untraceable and keep your data secure, which is especially handy if you’re using an unsecured public WiFi network. Even in your own home, a VPN is useful for secure browsing, bypassing some regional restrictions, and more.

How do you install a VPN?

The set-up is where things can get fiddly. One method is to install a VPN client onto every single device in your home. The odds are though, you have multiple devices that connect to your WiFi network, from your laptop and phone to your TV — maybe even kitchen appliances if you've gone all-in with a smart home. Installing a VPN on every device takes time and effort. Instead, you can download a single VPN client directly to your router. That way, every device connected to your router will use the VPN automatically. It's the safest option, especially if you have kids or tech novices in your home, and if you want to keep things secure with minimal hassle.

What is a VPN router?

Routers don’t (usually) have a pre-installed VPN, but you can download a VPN onto them. Some support the OpenVPN standard which means you can configure a VPN with any provider that supports this, while others can have their firmware changed to a third-party alternative that supports VPNs. Setting up a VPN on your router can be tricky. But if you know what you’re doing and you have lots of devices you want to be covered by a centralised VPN, you’ll probably find that the benefit outweighs the trouble — it's certainly less hassle than setting up a VPN on each device separately.

Should you use a VPN with your router?

Configuring your router with a VPN means that any device connected to your router is protected under that VPN. So, you don’t have to get multiple VPNs, and smart devices that can’t otherwise be configured to use a VPN are protected. Most VPN subscriptions limit the number of devices you can connect to, and you have to pay extra if you want to add on any additional devices. Configuring your router to a VPN acts as a sort of loophole that gets around those limitations. Because the router pairs with any device connected to your wireless network, they’re all protected by that one VPN.

One instance where a VPN router is actually very useful is if you happen to own a small business like a cafe where random people will be connecting to your WiFi throughout the day. The VPN router will help protect customers’ data and it falls to the individual if they want protection on their devices once they leave.

What are the downsides to using a VPN on your router?

As already mentioned, VPNs can be a pain to set up. It’s not like downloading an app on your phone. Just looking at the ExpressVPN setup instructions might be enough to discourage the average person from trying. But if you're tech-minded or good at following instructions, you'll be able to master it. We believe in you. And remember that protecting your devices via a VPN on your router means that devices won’t be protected when you leave your home and are no longer connected to your network.

Additionally, not every service you use functions properly under a VPN. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu work to block VPN usage to prevent users from accessing geo-blocked content (i.e. only available in other countries). Banks might also block VPNs to prevent cybercriminals from accessing accounts.

What are the best VPNs to use with routers?

Our top picks are probably NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It's worth taking your time when it comes to selecting a VPN, because there are a lot of different services out there offering similar sets of features. Fortunately, we can help you find the best VPN.

What is the best VPN router?

The decision is ultimately yours and depends on your own smart home set-up and internet usage, but we've done the hard work of researching and put together this list of top VPN routers. There's something for everyone here.

These are the best VPN routers in 2025.

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

A coating.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

LAYER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An accused criminal needs a good one.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ALIBI

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Pairs well with olives.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CAPER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A lump.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BULGE

Final Hurdle hint

Serious.

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

STERN

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

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 28, get the DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) bundle for $99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $169. That's a discount of 41%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) $99 at Amazon
$169 Save $70   Get Deal

Looking for a great, affordable mic that doesn't add bulk to your video or audio setup? Believe it or not, DJI has the perfect solution: the DJI Mic Mini. This TikTok-approved favorite is popular among several creators and has a bit of a cult following. And now you can get one right now at Amazon while it's still in stock.

As of Oct. 28, get the DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) bundle for $99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $169. That's $70 off and a discount of 41%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: This DJI Mic Mini is small but mighty and massively discounted right now

This bundle nets you two transceivers and one receiver that offer up to 10 hours of battery life. That's a lnog time to be able to sit and record, so you're getting a great bang for your buck. Plus, the mics themselves are super lightweight at just 10g, making them a great pick for attaching to people or items without weighing anything down.

Even though they're small, these mics produce big sound thanks to their 400m transmission range and DJI OsmoAudio that keeps them connected and ready to go with the DJI ecosystem. They offer excellent noise cancellation too, with Basic and Strong options for you to tweak how things sound best to you.

With both a sale price and DJI products quickly becoming scarce, now's a good time to lock yours in before they disappear.

TL;DR: Upgrade any computer with this Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC license, now on sale for $179.99 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC (Lifetime License) $179.99
$249.99 Save $70   Get Deal

Don’t let the PC crowd have all the fun. Mac users can tap into the productivity and power that the Microsoft Office apps have to offer, too. While you typically have to buy a license for your specific device, right now anyone can snag a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC for just $179.99 (reg. $249.99).

Whether you’re a busy student, a stay-at-home mom, or an entrepreneur getting a new business off the ground, there’s something for everyone in Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business. This license works for both PCs and Macs, and outfits your device with five helpful apps.

SEE ALSO: Walmart has dropped some bumper gaming PC and laptop deals, including mice, keyboards, and headsets

Craft documents with Word, map out a budget with Excel, and create a memorable presentation with PowerPoint. You’ll also be able to organize your email correspondence with Outlook and take notes digitally with OneNote. All the apps can be downloaded directly to your PC, so it’s easy to work offline. And you can bypass the monthly subscription fees and own them outright with this license.

This 2024 version includes new features like presentation recording with voice narration and video in PowerPoint, an updated accessibility checker in Outlook, AI-powered writing suggestions in Word, and enhanced data analysis and visualization tools in Excel.

Save $70 on this Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC license, now just $179.99 (reg. $249.99), for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Score the NanoPhone, a miniature smartphone that’s fully functional, for just $109.99 (reg. $199.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: NanoPhone NanoPhone - A Mini 4G Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $109.99
$199.99 Save $90.00   Get Deal

Bigger doesn’t always mean better — especially when you’re trying to cram your giant smartphone into a tiny purse or your pocket. With smartphones getting larger and larger, NanoPhone sets out to bring them back to a manageable, petite size, without sacrificing functionality.

Right now, you can snag one of these mini, fully functional 4G smartphones for just $109.99 (reg. $199.99).

SEE ALSO: Save an extra $10 when you bundle Microsoft Office 2021 and Windows 11 Pro

Unfortunately, in today’s world, we all need to be readily available and usually need to have a phone within reach. Whether you’re looking to downsize your screen time or your actual device, the NanoPhone not only cuts back the temptation to doomscroll for hours, but it’s also ready to slip in your pocket at a moment’s notice thanks to its credit-card-sized stature.

The NanoPhone offers all the functionality you know and love from your current smartphone. It works with your existing SIM card, so you don’t need an extra data plan, and it has 4G, Bluetooth, and WiFi connectivity so you can make calls, download apps, and video chat with loved ones.

If you use your smartphone as your go-to camera, you’ll be pleased to know the NanoPhone has a 5MP front camera and a 2MP rear camera. It also features a lengthy battery life and durable frame built to withstand everyday wear and tear.

Let the NanoPhone be your go-to device when you want to travel light, whether you’re going for a run, on a date night, or just want to keep an emergency backup handy.

Bring home a NanoPhone for only $109.99 (reg. $199.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Improve your cybersecurity skills with the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle, now just $34.97 (reg. $1,098) through Nov. 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackSocial The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle $34.97
$1,098 Save $1,063.03   Get Deal

Hackers are always one step ahead, so you need to think like one to protect your data. If you’ve ever been curious to know how they do it, the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle can show you. You’ll learn ethical hacking across 18 informative courses, and right now you can pick up these skills for just $34.97 (reg. $1,098) until Nov. 2.

Whether you’re hoping to break into the world of cybersecurity or you simply want to be one step ahead of these hackers, the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle is ready to teach you the ins and outs of hacking. This bundle is packed with 18 courses filled with more than 130 hours of instruction and hands-on labs.

SEE ALSO: Should you pay for a VPN?

Work through the courses at your own pace, from the comfort of your couch. There’s no background in cybersecurity needed, and any skill level can learn from this bundle.

If you’re new to this world, start with courses like Complete Python 3 Ethical Hacking Course: Zero to Mastery. It’s taught by Aleksa Tamburkovski, a penetration tester with over five years’ experience, and includes eight hours of instruction covering topics from exploiting Windows machines to building an email scraper.

After you establish a solid foundation, you can move on to more advanced courses like Hacking Wireless Networks. IT Security Academy teaches this one, which walks you through how to prepare your own training environment so you can safely and legally practice your ethical hacking.

Ready to start hacking? Get the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle today for only $34.97 (reg. $1,098) through Nov. 2.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give your mind a daily workout with lifetime access to EDU Unlimited by StackSkills for just $19.97 (reg. $600) until Nov. 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackSkills EDU Unlimited by StackSkills: Lifetime Access $19.97
$600 Save $580.03   Get Deal

Looking for a hobby that will keep you from doomscrolling? What about learning something new every day? That’s what EDU Unlimited by StackSkills brings to the table. It’s an online learning platform filled with more than 1,000 courses for you to peruse.

Right now, you can score lifetime access to continuous learning with EDU Unlimited by StackSkills for just $19.97 (reg. $600). But you’ll want to act fast — this deal only runs through Nov. 2.

SEE ALSO: Go beyond vocabulary — build real language fluency with Babbel

Keep your brain sharp every day with some help from EDU Unlimited by StackSkills. This online learning database makes it easy to dive into new topics, including currently in-demand skills, that not only give your brain a challenge but could also potentially put you on the path to a whole new career.

Learn about blockchain, graphic design, business, marketing, IT, finance, and much more with the courses in EDU Unlimited by StackSkills. It’s filled with subjects, so you’ll find something interesting to explore. And new courses are added monthly, so you’ll never run out of content.

StackSkills stays on top of current trends and makes sure courses are up-to-date with the most recent information. They’re also taught by over 350 of the web’s top-rated instructors who are experts in their field.

Access quarterly instructor Q&A webinars and course certifications. If you run into any issues, there’s also premium customer support available.

Learn new things with just a few clicks with lifetime access to EDU Unlimited by StackSkills for just $19.97 (reg. $600) until Nov. 2.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $703: As of Oct. 28, the LG 39-inch UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor is on sale for just $896.99 at Amazon instead of the usual $1,599.99. That's over $700 or 44% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 39-inch UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor $896.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $703   Get Deal

Making the switch to an OLED monitor will totally transform your gaming experience. Make it an ultra-wide curved screen and you'll go from simply playing a game to being completely submerged in it. Of course, as with most advanced tech in 2025, it's not a cheap upgrade. That's why it pays to take advantage of big discounts when they appear — like this 44% off LG UltraGear deal.

As of Oct. 28, you can get the LG 39-inch UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor for $896.99 instead of $1,599.99. That's a huge $703 discount and drops the monitor to within $50 of its best price ever.

With an ultra-wide, 39-inch WQHD (3440 x 1440) OLED panel, 21:9 aspect ratio, and steep 800R curvature, the LG 39GX90SA-W UltraGear OLED delivers a truly immersive experience. Instead of merely showing you the game, it places you smack dab in the middle by wrapping the action around you. Of course, curved displays and ultra-wide monitors aren't for everyone. They take up more space than a regular monitor and are probably a bit of overkill for more casual gamers and users. They also take some getting used to. That being said, everyone from gamers to artists to multitaskers can benefit from a wrap-around display — and it may even increase eye comfort overall.

The 39-inch UltraGear OLED also packs a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, is compatible with both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium, and offers plenty of ports for your peripherals. Even better, it doubles as a standalone smart TV, thanks to the built-in webOS smart platform. You can stream Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and more without the need for a PC or separate TV. As a double-duty device, it makes the initial sticker shock of the monitor sting a bit less.

SAVE $250: The 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G6 OLED gaming monitor is on sale for $649.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $899.99. That's a 28% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G6 OLED gaming monitor (360Hz) $649.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $250   Get Deal

This coming Sunday, most of us in the U.S. will set the clocks back by one hour. While that means the morning commute might be lighter, the sun will set earlier. If you're not a huge fan of getting home from work or school when darkness is descending at 4 p.m., ease your pain with some gaming. There's a solid gaming monitor on sale at Amazon that can help accommodate this.

As of Oct. 28, the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G6 OLED gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $649.99, marked down from the standard price of $899.99. That's a 28% discount that shaves $250 off the normal price.

A solid gaming monitor can make a huge difference in the overall experience. You'll know that to be true if you've ever dealt with gaming on a laggy monitor. That's certainly not the case with the 360Hz Samsung Odyssey G6 monitor. Not only does it come with this impressive refresh rate, it has a 0.03 ms response time, so you won't miss an even a millisecond of action.

SEE ALSO: The stunning LG 65-inch Class OLED evo AI is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon — act fast to save $900

The 27-inch monitor size strikes a nice balance between a high-quality experience and not needing a larger desk. The glare-free display is also a plus for if that pesky sun peeks its head in during winter afternoons at the perfect blinding angle.

The included stand for the Samsung Odyssey G6 can tilt to your liking as well as swivel, get a height adjustment, or go vertical.

While it's sitting at $650 at Amazon, upgrade your winter gaming set-up with the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G6 OLED gaming monitor. You'll be happy with the outcome, and snagging it soon means you'll have plenty of winter left to enjoy the experience.

TikTok creators stand to make even more money, thanks to a change in the platform's subscription model.

The company announced at TikTok's 2025 U.S. Creator Summit that creators can now earn up to 90 percent of revenue from subscriptions. However, some conditions must be met first.

TikTok said that creators now earn 70 percent of the revenue share, with the chance to get another 20 percentage point bonus on top of that. To be eligible for that bonus, the creators need to have at least 10,000 followers, earn 100,000 views in the last month, and post 3 or more subscription-only videos in the last month.

SEE ALSO: TikTok announces two new AI tools for creators: Smart Split and AI Outline

"The more consistent you are, the more you earn," Marisa Hammonds, the global head of creator marketing and community, said at the Creator Summit.

The change from TikTok emphasizes increasing engagement in communities while, of course, bringing in more money.

"Subscription allows TikTok creators to build stronger, more engaged communities while monetizing through a monthly subscription fee for access to exclusive perks like special badges, subscriber-only posts, chat features, and more," TikTok said in a press statement.

SEE ALSO: The $14 billion TikTok deal will be 'consummated' on Thursday, Treasury secretary says

The change in subscription payout currently applies only to U.S. and Canadian creators, but a TikTok spokesperson said it would be rolled out more broadly in the coming months. A post on TikTok's site notes that the rest of the world currently earns 50 percent of subscription revenue, with the ability to hit bonus figures that bring the total to 70 percent.

TikTok has already proven quite lucrative for creators, but now it might just be even more so.

Elon Musk's answer to Wikipedia is now here. On Monday, Musk announced that his own online encyclopedia, Grokipedia, was now live.

According to Musk, the current version of Grokipedia is only "version 0.1" but he claimed that it's already "better than Wikipedia."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Up until a few years ago, Elon Musk frequently shared links to Wikipedia entries on X, then known as Twitter. However, since he has taken a turn into far-right politics, Musk has become a major critic of Wikipedia, claiming it has a left-wing bias. He has recently started referring to the site as "Wokipedia" and has made calls to "defund" or stop donating to Wikimedia, the nonprofit that runs the platform.

However, for supposedly being better than Wikipedia, Musk's Grokipedia appears to rip off a significant amount of content from it.

For example, as The Verge noticed, the Grokipedia entry for the Sony video game console PlayStation 5 is a complete word-for-word copy of the Wikipedia entry for PlayStation 5. Musk's Grokipedia even copied and pasted the exact same table of contents for the different sections of the PlayStation 5 entry. Even the cited external sources are the same, although it appears Grokipedia has changed the order of how they're listed.

Left: Credit: Wikipedia Right: Credit: Grokipedia / Wikipedia

Grokipedia did add one thing to its PlayStation 5 entry that's not found on the Wikipedia version. A disclaimer at the very bottom of the page, which admits that it "adapted" the content from Wikipedia.

"The content is adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License," it reads. Because Wikipedia content is published under the Creative Commons public license, Grokipedia can republish its content under certain circumstances.

The copying problem appears to be extensive. We used the plagiarism detection service Copyscape to check the Grokipedia entry for the Titanic, and Copyscape found that 18 percent of the page, or about 3,600 words, were copied word-for-word from Wikipedia. At the top of Grokipedia's entry, it contains this notice: "Fact-checked by Grok yesterday."

Left: Credit: Wikipedia Right: Credit: Grokipedia / Wikipedia

That suggests that Grokipedia is intended more as a fact-checking tool than a genuine alternative to Wikipedia.

Unlike Wikipedia, which has human editors who volunteer to contribute to the site, Musk's Grok AI is responsible for the content that gets posted on Grokipedia. And it seems that in many cases, Grok is just scraping Wikipedia entries in their entirety and pasting its contents on Grokipedia's own site.

Social media users are continuing to discover numerous Grokipedia entries that are lifted directly from the corresponding Wikipedia entries, often with no changes.

The Grokipedia entry for composer Franz Liszt? Plagiarized from Wikipedia. The Grokipedia entry for the Miller Effect? Copied sentence-by-sentence from the Wikipedia article. Grokipedia's page for the PC-98? Taken from Wikipedia.

One Wikipedia contributor found their own contribution to an entry was copied line-for-line and published on Grokipedia.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

So, how does Grokipedia differ from the supposedly woke Wikipedia?

Some of the more politically charged articles on Grokipedia appear to have been rewritten in order to add a right-leaning bent, but an enormous portion of Musk's Wikipedia alternative appears to just be Wikipedia itself.

In a Monday blog post, OpenAI touted the improvements its default model, GPT-5, has made in identifying and responding to users' troubling responses, including suicidal ideation. While new safeguards and the introduction of psychiatrists in helping train GPT-5 are leading to improved AI responses to mental health prompts, the blog post also pointed out some numbers that are bound to raise eyebrows.

While explaining GPT-5's abilities to detect serious mental health concerns, like psychosis and mania, the post noted that troubling user conversations with the chatbot are “rare.”

"While, as noted above, these conversations are difficult to detect and measure given how rare they are, our initial analysis estimates that around 0.07% of users active in a given week and 0.01% of messages indicate possible signs of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania."

The percentage seems small, but ChatGPT has 800 million weekly users, according to Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT. Altman made that stunning announcement earlier this month at OpenAI’s DevDay. 

SEE ALSO: Sam Altman: ChatGPT will get more 'friendly' again, even erotically so

If Altman's numbers are correct, that equates to 560,000 ChatGPT users showing signs of psychosis or mania, and 80,000 of their messages indicating mental health emergencies, according to the site’s estimates. 

OpenAI is continuing to work with its models to better identify signs of self-harm and steer those people to resources, like suicide hotlines or their own friends or family members. The blog post continues to suggest that ChatGPT conversations regarding self-harm are rare, but estimates that "0.15% of users active in a given week have conversations that include explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent and 0.05% of messages contain explicit or implicit indicators of suicidal ideation or intent."

With 800 million weekly users, that equates to 1.2 million ChatGPT users engaging in conversations with AI about suicide in a given week, and 400,000 messages from users that demonstrate direct or indirect indications of suicidal intent.

"Even a very small percentage of our large user base represents a meaningful number of people, and that’s why we take this work so seriously," an OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable, adding that the company believes ChatGPT's growing user base reflects society at large, where mental health symptoms and emotional distress are "universally present."

The spokesperson also reiterated that the company's numbers are estimates and "the numbers we provided may significantly change as we learn more."

OpenAI is currently facing a lawsuit from the parents of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who died by suicide earlier this year during a time of heavy ChatGPT use. In a recently amended legal complaint, the Raines allege OpenAI twice downgraded suicide prevention safeguards in order to increase engagement in the months prior to their son's death.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

Instagram's Threads this week introduced a new feature: "ghost posts," which are posts that disappear after 24 hours. The internet isn't quite sure what to make of this.

Ghost posts aren't an awfully novel concept. Disappearing messages sparked Snapchat's rise a decade ago. People post, then delete posts — on X, Threads, or Bluesky — all the time. But having text-based posts archive automatically is a somewhat unique idea. And the internet had mixed reactions.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Everyone is Ghost Posting! Ghosting?

[image or embed]

— jack 🎃🍂 (@j4ck.xyz) October 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM

So threads has introduced something called ghost posts which I really like. They are posts that essentially disappear after 24 hours and only you can see who likes the post and if anybody sends a comment it gets sent directly to your DM. I need BlueSky and others to this this immediately

[image or embed]

— Durrell (@durrell.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy) October 27, 2025 at 1:51 PM

Personally, I don't see the harm in Meta's new ghost posts. At worst, it's a feature that won't really catch on. But I can also see some use cases. Say you're following along with a sports game and want to comment in real-time, but don't want your timeline to forever house random reactions to big plays divorced of context. Ghost posts are perfect in that instance.

It could also be useful when saying a hot take you don't want out there forever. Hot takes are the backbone of text-based social media sites, after all.

The internet is still figuring out if it likes ghost posts, but don't be surprised if you see other sites eventually copy the feature.

TikTok just dropped a whole host of new tools and features — including new monthly rewards and so, so much AI.

Long videos are great for YouTube, but they might not be ideal for short-form video. Enter: Smart Split, an AI-powered editing tool that takes your longer videos — think podcast videos and hour-long video essays — and clips them into shorter videos.

"If you've ever spent hours trimming down podcasts into clips… this one is for you," Kim Farrell, the global head of creators at TikTok, said at TikTok's 2025 U.S. Creator Summit.

SEE ALSO: The $14 billion TikTok deal will be 'consummated' on Thursday, Treasury secretary says

The tool, which is available globally on TikTok Studio Web, automatically clips, reframes, captions, and transcribes users' longer videos into multiple short videos. To use the tool, creators still need to do a bit of work. You'll have to upload videos that are longer than one minute and select which parts you want clipped. Then, either decide how long you want the videos to be or let Smart Split automatically choose the length. You can also choose the caption formatting and reframe the content if necessary.

The platform also launched AI Outline, an AI-powered tool that gives creators video titles, hashtags, hooks, and outlines. Simply enter a prompt or select a topic on Creator Search Insights to get an outline that breaks a video down into six parts. After you get the AI response, you can ask it to edit the response — i.e., ask for it to give you another hook option or make the script better fit your audience. AI Outline is available for creators 18 years or older in the U.S., Canada, and select markets.

It's not surprising that TikTok would continue to lean into AI — it seems every social media platform is. Earlier this month, Twitch announced a new AI-powered tool that automatically creates clips from livestreams, kind of like the Twitch version of Smart Split. Meta has its own array of AI-powered tools for creators, like AI tools on Edit, AI Studio, and the "infinite slop machine" that is Meta AI's Vibes.

An Australian lawsuit against Microsoft over its subscription pricing has highlighted a way to get access to Microsoft 365 for cheaper, so long as you don't need access to the company's AI offerings.

The lawsuit, from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, accused Microsoft Australia and Microsoft Corporation of allegedly misleading customers over subscription price changes. In October 2024, the commission argues, Microsoft told its subscribers that Copilot would be integrated into the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans and that subscribers would have to accept the integration and pay more money for it or they'd have to cancel their subscription altogether, according to TechSpot.

"The Microsoft Office apps included in 365 subscriptions are essential in many people's lives and given there are limited substitutes to the bundled package, cancelling the subscription is a decision many would not make lightly," the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission said, TechSpot reported.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission argued that this is misleading and deceptive because there is a third, secret option. While Microsoft would prefer everyone uses its AI, users can still, of course, use the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic plans.

If you already have Microsoft 365, want to save a few bucks, and aren't particularly interested in AI, there's a way to do that. Simply sign into your Microsoft account, navigate to your subscriptions page and select "Manage," then click "Cancel subscription." You'll be prompted to downgrade to another plan with fewer features, according to Microsoft. Select Microsoft 365 Personal Classic or Microsoft 365 Family Classic, or another plan that works for you.

SAVE $120: As of Oct. 28, the 50-inch Pioneer 4K Xumo TV is on sale for $129.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual $249.99. That's almost 50% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pioneer Pioneer 50-inch 4K Xumo TV $129.99 at Best Buy
$249.99 Save $120   Get Deal

We've been clocking late October as one of the best times of year to find a TV on sale for a while now — the lead up to Black Friday is no joke. Best Buy's Deal of the Day on Oct. 28 is one of the best examples so far this year: A 50-inch 4K TV from Pioneer is on sale for $129.99, slashing nearly 50% off its $249.99 MSRP.

For reference, $129.99 was the sale price of the smaller 43-inch version of this same exact TV during Best Buy's Black Friday sale last year. And the cheapest 50-inch TV we saw during October Prime Day at Amazon was $189.99. If you've been waiting in the wings for a good budget-friendly TV deal this year, this is the one to make a move on.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 24, 2025)

No one's expecting a cheap 4K TV to match the brightness of QLED or the shadow depth of OLED. But nearly 2,000 customers who already bought this TV at Best Buy are impressed by its picture quality for the price.

With your purchase, you'll also unlock a free month of FuboTV if you're a new subscriber (clutch for watching live sports) and two free months of Apple TV+ for new and some returning subscribers (catch up on Severance or end horror season with a bang).

Livestreams can be unpredictable, which is part of the fun, right? Not so much for risk-averse brands considering sponsoring a livestream on Twitch, Kick, or YouTube. A new AI product launching today promises to relieve that advertiser anxiety by yanking ads when livestreams go off the rails.

LiveGuard, from streamer-centric NexTide Media, analyzes advertiser-flagged words, weighing context, language, topics, tone, and emotion. Using those clues, the AI decides whether the content is ok or objectionable and, if the latter, yanks the brand mentions from the stream.

"Brands can fully contextualize their guardrails, choosing to avoid or allow categories such as NSFW discussions, political content, profanity, or other sensitive topics, creating total control over where and how their campaigns appear,” according to a statement from NexTide.

SEE ALSO: This $20 tool lets you livestream your earwax removal in HD

LiveGuard is pitched as novel since it operates live and in-stream, and can make decisions fast.  

Minecraft streamer JeromeASF touted the patent-pending AI tool in a statement: "LiveGuard gives creators and advertisers the confidence to collaborate safely, protecting the live experience without limiting creativity.”

Focused on live media advertising, LiveGuard creator Nextide says its services have been utilized by State Farm, the NFL, and the BET Awards.

Livestreams have a long track record of going awry — there’s a whole Reddit page devoted to live fails. Even Elon Musk was burned by a livestream in August, when he "rage quit" after being continuously cyberbullied. 

SAVE $9.99: As of Oct. 28, new and returning AMC+ subscribers can score a 30-day trial of AMC+ Premium (no ads) for free with the code AMC30FT4. That's a $9.99 value.

Opens in a new window Credit: AMC+ AMC+ Premium free 30-day trial with code AMC30FT4 (save $9.99) Get Deal

The last thing any of us wants is to spend more money on streaming. Nearly every streamer has raised its prices over the past few months — Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock — which is why we recommend jumping on any streaming deal that pops up. While it may not be the most popular option around, AMC+ is running a deal that will cost you zero dollars. It doesn't get much better than that.

New and returning AMC+ subscribers can score a 30-day trial of AMC+ Premium (no ads) for free using the code AMC30FT4 at checkout. That saves you $9.99 and unlocks a massive streaming library for an entire month. If you recently cancelled your other subscriptions after the price hikes, this is a good way to satisfy your craving for new content without spending a cent.

You may know AMC as the home of The Walking Dead universe, but it has a lot more to offer than just your favorite post-apocalyptic zombies. It's also the home to shows like Mad Men, Portlandia, and Killing Eve, and movies like Late Night with the Devil (one of our favorite films of 2024), Clown in a Cornfield, and Good Boy (coming soon). The library also unlocks access to the entire Shudder, Sundance Now, BBC America, and IFC Films libraries, making it an excellent choice for horror freaks, British TV fans, and indie movie lovers alike.

As of now, AMC+ is pretty chill about password sharing, unlike most other streamers, meaning you can share your free month of streaming with your pals. It's really a no-brainer if you're seeking new content. Just remember to cancel your subscription before the month is up if you want to avoid charges.

SAVE 48%: The Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger is on sale at Amazon for $1,199, down from the normal bundle price of $2,299. That's a record-low price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger $1,199 at Amazon
$2,299 Save $1,100   Get Deal

If you're into the camping scene, you already know everyone is buying portable power stations. They're perfect for taking on outdoor adventures to keep your essential tech charged up. Plenty have great recharging options but not all of them can recharge via your car's alternator. If you're looking for a way to charge up while on the road, check out this bundle deal at Amazon.

As of Oct. 28, the Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger is on sale for $1,199 at Amazon, marked down from the standard bundle price of $2,299. That's a record-low price with a 48% discount that shaves a major $1,100 off the price.

On its own, the Bluetti AC200PL offers 2,304Wh of capacity with a max output of 3,600W that puts it in line as a great option for both RV trips and home backup during outages. The TT-30 port option means this model is RV-friendly. Plus, it has major expansion ability. Should you want more power, the Bluetti AC200PL can connect with Bluetti batteries for a maximum of 8,448Wh.

SEE ALSO: The newly-launched Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 portable power station is already $700 off at Amazon

Today's bundle deal also includes the Bluetti Charger 1 alternator charger. This gives you the ability to charge via your car's alternator, delivering a maximum of 560W of power. The brand mentions this is six times faster than using the standard cigarette lighter in the car to recharge. The necessary DC input cable also comes with the Charger 1, so you'll be ready to roll. Bluetti says the Charger 1 can get a 1,000Wh portable power station back to 100 percent in 2.5 hours.

If your fall or winter plans involve taking off on a road trip in the RV or van, jump on this bundle deal to get the Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger while it's on sale for $1,199. Keep in mind this is an Amazon lightning deal which means it could sell out quickly.

The best Way Day deals at a glance Rugs Save up to 80% Shop Now Kitchen and dining room furniture Save up to 65% Shop Now Mattresses Save up to 60% Shop Now Christmas trees Save up to 40% Shop Now Mirrors, pillows, and decor Save up to 65% Shop Now

Leave it to Wayfair's biggest sale of the year to get me in the holiday spirit when I'm strictly trying to milk the last few days of spooky season. But Christmas trees and whimsical outdoor decor are hardly the only home deals participating in Way Day.

Yes, Way Day is back — it kicked off on Oct. 26 and runs through Oct. 29. Kind of like Wayfair's version of Prime Day, the mega home retailer typically one of these sales in the spring and one in the fall. The first one of 2025 was in April, but the fall version's timing just hits differently. You could buy a better mattress to smooth your transition away from daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 2, refresh your kitchen or dining room ahead of hosting guests, try a machine washable rug before paying Ruggable prices, or actually snag holiday decor on sale before the holidays — not at the after-Christmas sales.

SEE ALSO: We found all of the stores with the best Halloween clearance sales so far

Whatever you're eyeing, it'll be nice to get some of those big deliveries out of the way before Black Friday. Here's a broader look at the biggest deals categories this fall Way Day:

• Up to 80% off area rugs

• Up to 65% off kitchen and dining furniture

• Up to 65% off mirrors, pillows, and decor

• Up to 60% off mattresses

• Up to 60% off TV stands and coffee tables

• Up to 60% off living room seating

• Up to 60% off bedroom furniture

• Up to 60% off entryway furniture

• Up to 40% off Christmas trees

• Up to 40% off outdoor seasonal decor

Oh yeah, and enjoy free shipping on just about everything.