Why an IR Blaster Is Still Useful on Phones in 2020
There’s a chance (albeit, an ever-decreasing one) that your phone comes with an IR blaster. These allow your phone to communicate with everyday devices in your home, like TVs and DVRs, using invisible bursts of electromagne…
Why I Still Use an Old PowerPC Mac in 2020
Last month, I bought myself a “new” Mac, and it only cost me $50. How is this possible, when the cheapest Apple computer (the Mac Mini) costs $799, or 16 times what I paid?
Why People Still Buy Feature Phones in 2020
The smartphone in your pocket can perform millions of calculations per second, play visually stunning 3D games, access information worldwide, and maybe even take DSLR-quality photos. It’s easy to take that for granted—par…
Meet Celia, Huawei’s Google Assistant Replacement
Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby, Cortana, Alexa, and now, Celia. Yes, there’s yet another voice assistant on the market thanks to Huawei. But what sets Celia apart from the competition, and what does it mean for the wider voic…
Do Hackers Really Battle in Real Time?
Everyone knows that hacker-attack scene from NCIS. Working in their dimly lit forensics lab, Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) and Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) have to fend off a cybercriminal, hell-bent on stealing information a…
Does Private or Incognito Mode Make Web Browsing Anonymous?
Private is a relative term. This is abundantly clear when it comes to “private browsing”—the setting in a web browser that supposedly allows you to hide your history from others who use the same computer….
Can Law Enforcement Really Track Someone Down with an IP Address?
The internet isn’t anonymous. Wherever you go, you leave breadcrumbs about who you really are. Some of these are bigger than others, but the biggest is your IP address. Armed with this, it isn’t difficult for law enforcem…
Can You Really “Zoom and Enhance” Security Footage?
Two cops stand at a computer. Before them is a blurry security camera image. “Enhance,” barks the senior officer to the rookie, who presses a few buttons. Suddenly, the image transforms, revealing a critical piece of evi…
Can Law Enforcement Really Recover Files You’ve Deleted?
When you delete a file from your computer’s hard drive, it’s never really gone. With enough effort and technical skill, it’s often possible to recover documents and photos previously thought obliterated. These computer …
What Is Harmony OS? Huawei’s New Operating System Explained
After years of speculation and rumor, Chinese tech giant Huawei formally unveiled its Harmony OS operating system in 2019. It’s fair to say that more questions have been raised than answered. How does it work? What problems…
Celebrities on Demand: What Is Cameo?
I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve being sat cross-legged before a cathode ray tube, where I’d watch Picard and the crew save the galaxy from Borg and Romulan ho…
Does It Really Take 60 Seconds to Trace a Phone Call?
How do you trace a phone call? According to TV shows and films, you just have to keep someone talking long enough for a detective to pinpoint his location. While this overused trope can add some tension when paired with a tim…
Can Hackers Really “Bounce” Their Signal All Over the World?
TV shows and films rarely represent hackers accurately. We’re all familiar with the old trope of the hoodie-clad digital criminal frantically typing into a black terminal before triumphantly whispering, “We’re in.”…
What Is a Man-in-the-Middle Attack?
A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack occurs when someone sits between two computers (such as a laptop and remote server) and intercepts traffic. This person can eavesdrop on, or even intercept, communications between the two mac…
How to Protect Yourself From SIM-Swapping Attacks
You think you’re making all the right moves. You’re smart with your security. You have two-factor authentication enabled on all your accounts. But hackers have a way to bypass that: SIM swapping.
What Is Dropshipping, and Is It a Scam?
The internet has radically changed how retailing works thanks to companies like Amazon and eBay. If you’re on Instagram or Facebook, though, you’ve probably also encountered advertisements for shockingly cheap boutique goods …
Are Online Transcription Services Safe and Private?
Transcription was once a manual, tedious process. Doctors, journalists, and a swath of assorted professionals would record their notes and conversations on scratchy Dictaphone tape, and then sit down in front of their compute…
Is It Really Worth Tracking Your Sleep?
According to analyst house Gartner, consumers are expected to buy 86 million smartwatches in 2020. It’s a market worth $23 billion globally. Beyond fitness and sports, a major factor prompting people to buy these stylish wr…
Will the EU Make Apple Get Rid of Lightning on the iPhone?
Earlier this year, after an almost decade-long period of anguish, the European Parliament approved binding plans for a Europe-wide charging standard. But what does this actually mean? Well, it’s complicated—but it could hav…
What Is TikTok, and Why Are Teens Obsessed with It?
TikTok: teens love it, and parents don’t understand it. Congress fears it. Brands want to make money off it. It is, perhaps, the most controversial (and beloved) social network ever. Downloads of the app are rapidly outstri…
What Is a Wangiri or “One Ring” Phone Scam?
All day, strange foreign numbers have called your phone. They’re from a country you’ve never visited. Each time the digits change slightly, making it impossible to block them. They ring for just a few seconds before hangi…
What is the Brave Browser, and How Does It Compare to Chrome?
There are more competing web browsers than ever, with many serving different niches. One example is Brave, which has an unapologetic focus on user privacy and comes with a radical reimagining of how online advertising ought t…
How Safe Are Public Charging Stations?
These days, airports, fast-food restaurants, and even buses have USB charging stations. But are these public ports safe? If you use one, could your phone or tablet be hacked? We checked it out!
