When you finally get tired of your ISP router, one of the most-recommended replacements is making your own with a custom OPNsense firewall. This puts the power back in your hands, limits what your ISP can do to your connection, and gives you plenty of protection and features you've been missing all this time. But one of the awesome things about OPNsense isn't just that it's a powerful router, but that you can make it even better by installing other services as plugins. While there are plenty to go through, some of them I consider essential, and that's the ones here.

While I like to think that most of us know about basic password security practices, the truth is that many of us are guilty of at least some of the bad habits that put our passwords and accounts at risk. After all, there is more than one way that you can put your passwords at risk, and there are also devices that come with terrible default passwords.

Samsung makes some of the best storage out there, making it the perfect choice when you're looking to upgrade your device. And while that might be the case, it isn't always the cheapest solution. Luckily, we're often able to pick up on deals that can save quite a bit. Samsung's highly rated 990 Pro SSD is now on sale from Amazon, with the 4TB model coming down to just $300 for a limited time.

USB Type-C has had a long and winding road in achieving proliferation of the standard. After all, mega-corporations like Apple fought the adoption of the plug type for as long as they could, until governments forced their hand. Today, USB-C is used in just about every consumer gadget, including laptops, phones and tablets, PC gaming peripherals, external drives, and everything in between. Even my Roku remote now charges via USB-C. While standardization has certainly been welcomed by consumers and consumer advocacy groups, it has led to some pervasive myths about the simple, flat connector over the years. These are the most common myths about USB-C that should go the way of the Lightning connector.

Nintendo is gearing up for the release of the Switch 2, and they are doing everything in their power to prepare their players for the forthcoming console.

If you've kept up-to-date with your Windows news, you'll know that . In its piece, the Redmond giant explained why Windows 11 has TPM 2.0 as part of its system requirements, including data encryption, verifying software, and keeping cybercriminals out.

With cyber threats evolving constantly, a robust encryption solution can provide that extra security layer you need to protect your data. Since I discovered VeraCrypt, it has emerged as a file guardian for my files. It marries top-notch encryption capabilities with user-friendly features, and that should be a winning recipe for any user. So, here’s why, for me, VeraCrypt stands out as the ultimate tool for file encryption.

Google is notifying parents using its Family Link parental controls via email that their kids will soon be able to access Gemini AI Apps on their monitored Android devices, The New York Times reports.The company says kids will be able to use Gemini to do things like help them with homework or read them stories. Like its Workplace for Education accounts, Google says children’s data will not be used to train AI. Still, in the email, Google warns parents that “Gemini can make mistakes,” and kids “may encounter content you don’t want them to see.” Besides sillier mistakes like recommending glue as a pizza topping or miscounting the number of “r” letters in strawberry, some AI bots have had more distressing issues. Some young Character.ai users have struggled to tell the difference between chatbots and reality, and the bots told users they’re talking to a real person. After lawsuits alleged the bots had offered inappropriate content, the company has introduced new restrictions and parental controls.In the case of Gemini, Google’s emailed advice says parents should talk to their kids and explain that the AI isn’t human and not to share sensitive information with the chatbot.Kids under 13 will be able to enable and access Gemini all on their own under Google Family Link, which is designed for parents to keep tabs on their kids’ device usage, set limits, and protect them from harmful content. Google spokesperson Karl Ryan confirmed in an email to The Verge that parents can turn off access via Family Link, and that “they will get an additional notification when the young person accesses Gemini for the first time.”

When AI tools are launched, they're either a massive hit or are never heard of again. When you hear about Google's AI-powered NotebookLM, a tool primarily targeted at students and researchers, you'd be inclined to believe it falls into that second category. Even as a student, I would’ve thought the same since most AI tools made for studying tend to focus on doing the work for you rather than helping you do it.

If you’re diving into DIY laser engraving, expensive software shouldn’t limit your creativity. Thankfully, several free design tools pack serious power without the price tag. Whether prepping vector files for engraving or cleaning up images for photo burns, these tools can help you streamline your workflow and improve the final product.

Last month, something strange happened. The RTX 4060 shot up to the top of the Steam hardware survey, representing 8.37% of PC gamers surveyed. The number has dropped since then, but the RTX 4060 constantly dashes between first and second place in Valve's monthly survey. Even at a lower percentage, the RTX 4060 represents a massive number of PC gamers; with close to a billion estimated PC gamers around the world, the RTX 4060 represents tens of millions of players across the globe.

Sam Altman and Elon Musk aren't just competing in the AI race; they both have ambitions to build Silicon Valley's holy grail: an "everything" super app encompassing finance, social media, gaming, and more.Earlier this week, I got a peek at Altman's plan from a cavernous event space on the northern edge of San Francisco. He was not there as the CEO of OpenAI, but as the co-founder and chairman of Tools for Humanity, the parent company of a cryptocurrency called Worldcoin that's now available in the US. Worldcoin is distributed to people who scan their eyes at one of the startup's orbs, which are rolling out in retail stores across America. At the same time, the token is being used to build a super app to rival X.Tools for Humanity's World app is a crypto wallet, social network, and mini-app platform all in one. Its monthly user base has doubled in the last six months to 26 million people, 12 million of whom have been verified by an orb. In the World app, you can message others via a chat interface tied to World IDs - the blockchain-based identifier you get after scanning your eyes - and send or receive cryptocurrency. There are also dozens of mini apps available from developers …Read the full story at The Verge.