What Are Microtransactions, and Why Do People Hate Them?
The topic of “microtransactions” is a contentious one among gamers. They’re anything that you have to pay money for inside a video game. Here’s why players have a problem with them....
What Does IIRC Mean, and How Do You Use It?
If you keep seeing “IIRC” online, and you’re curious what it means, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll break down what it stands for, where it came from, and how you can use it....
How Can My ISP Tell I’m Using BitTorrent?
Many people have reported getting notices from their internet service providers after downloading files using torrents. How does your ISP know? It’s all in how BitTorrent works. BitTorrent is a lot less anonymous than i...
What Does “TBH” Mean and How Do You Use It?
You’ve probably seen people throwing around the phrase “TBH,” but what does it mean? This expression has been around for quite a while, but its meaning has changed somewhat over time....
Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Web Browser’s Password Manager
We recommend using a password manager like 1Password, LastPass, or Bitwarden. But modern web browsers have built-in password managers, so why install a different one? There are many good reasons to avoid your web browser̵...
Is My iPhone Waterproof?
Modern iPhones are water-resistant, but the strength of that protection varies from model to model. Having your device’s battery or screen replaced might impact this protection, depending on who performed the repairs....
USB4: What’s Different and Why It Matters
The next great (and possibly confusing) version of USB is on its way. In early September 2019, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) published the USB4 specification paving the way for blazing-fast USB connections comparable to...
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!
What Does “SMH” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
The initialism “SMH” has been around for a while, and you’ll often encounter it in chat rooms and on social media websites. But what does SMH mean? Who came up with it, and how do you use it?...
Multi-Layer SSDs: What Are SLC, MLC, TLC, QLC, and PLC?
Solid-state drives improve the performance of aging computers and turn newer PCs into speed machines. But, when you shop for one, you’re bombarded with terms, like SLC, SATA III, NVMe, and M.2. What does it all mean? ...
How Safe Are Password Managers?
A password manager stores all your passwords and automatically fills them in your web browser and mobile apps. But is trusting an app with your passwords and storing them all in one place a smart idea?...
What Is “Military-Grade Encryption”?
Many companies tout “military-grade encryption” to protect your data. If it’s good enough for the military, it must be the best—right? Well, kind of. “Military-grade encryption” is more of ...
How macOS Catalina’s New Security Features Work
macOS Catalina introduces new security controls. For example, apps are now required to ask your permission before accessing parts of the drive where documents and personal files are kept. Let’s take a look at what’...
How Windows 10’s “Reset This PC” Has Gotten More Powerful
The “Reset This PC” feature has been around since Windows 8, but it’s changed a lot since then. Microsoft keeps making it better and better, and it’s easy to miss all the improvements. Cloud Download i...
What Is the Gig Economy, and Why Is It So Controversial?
The “gig economy” is a buzzword on the news and in everyday conversation. It refers to the rise in contracted work—or “gigs”—that aren’t traditional jobs. Ridesharing, food delivery, ...
The Best Ways to Secure Your SSH Server
Secure your Linux system’s SSH connection to protect your system and data. System administrators and home users alike need to harden and secure internet-facing computers, but SSH can be complicated. Here are ten easy qu...
What Is Leetspeak, and How do You Use It?
The internet’s full of weird words like “1337” and “hax0r.” These are forms of leetspeak, a stylistic way of typing that’s been around since the 80s. But why was leetspeak invented, and how...
Did Linux Kill Commercial Unix?
Sales of commercial Unix have fallen off a cliff. There has to be something behind this dramatic decline. Has Linux killed its ancestor by becoming a perfectly viable replacement, like an operating system version of Invasion ...
What Is a “Hot Take,” and Where Did the Phrase Come From?
Hot takes are everywhere online. You’ve probably seen the phrase “hot take” thrown around, but what exactly does it mean? Where did it come from, and how do you use it?
What Is Patch Tuesday for Windows, and When Is It?
Microsoft’s “Patch Tuesday” occurs on the second Tuesday of each month. This is the day when, like clockwork, Microsoft releases large update packages for Windows 10, Windows 7, Microsoft Office, and its oth...
What Does “FWIW” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
While FWIW isn’t the most popular piece of slang on the internet, it routinely finds its way into Twitter posts, message boards, and chat rooms. But what does FWIW mean, where’d it come from, and how do you use it...
A New Wireless Standard: What Is Amazon Sidewalk?
At Amazon’s annual hardware event, the company revealed a new wireless standard for the Internet of Things and smarthome devices called Sidewalk. Sidewalk promises longer range than Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with lower power ...
How HTTP/3 and QUIC Will Speed Up Your Web Browsing
HTTP/3 is becoming more widespread. Cloudflare is now supporting HTTP/3, which is already part of Chrome Canary and will be added to Firefox Nightly soon. This new standard will make your web browsing faster and more secure....
Motherboards Explained: What Are ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX?
Hardware standardization is one of the greatest strengths of desktop PCs. You can mix and match parts to your heart’s content. But not all motherboards are the same physical size. There are different form factors for di...
What Is a GIF, and How Do You Use Them?
Even if you can’t define the word “GIF,” you’ve definitely seen one before. They helped define the early internet, and they’re more popular now than ever before. But what exactly is a GIF, and ho...
