Despite ever-improving junk mail filters and more sophisticated defense measures, phishing is still one of the biggest threats to cyber security and they’re becoming increasingly difficult to recognize. Criminals are using Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT to formulate their emails, which results in largely error-free texts with correct grammar and understandable sentence structure. As hackers become more advanced, you’ll need to learn new methods to detect them and stay one step ahead of the game. Below we’ll share a few ways you can catch them in the act, and hopefully avoid falling prey to their scams. Further reading: Top 9 phishing scams to watch out for Phishing from AI accounts Barracuda Networks draws attention to new phishing emails that attempt to steal access to the paid ChatGPT accounts. These are currently in high demand.IDG AI services such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini are becoming increasingly important for companies as they enable them to reduce their costs for routine correspondence or invoicing. Open AI, the manufacturer of ChatGPT, and Google therefore charge money for use once a certain number of queries have been made. The security company Barracuda Networks has now reported that an extensive phishing campaign has been launched in an attempt to steal access to paid ChatGPT accounts. The criminals are sending emails purporting to come from Open AI. In their emails, they explain that they are unable to debit the monthly payment. The recipient should now update their account information within seven days otherwise they will lose access to ChatGPT. A button in the email leads to an online form for entering the account details. Such data can be easily sold via dark channels on the internet. Streaming accounts Fraudsters often try to steal login details for streaming services such as Netflix or Disney. In recent months, there have been several waves of phishing emails requesting data from Netflix accounts. Such accounts are particularly easy to monetize and are therefore popular with criminals. Users receive an email purporting to be from a streaming service asking them to update their payment details. Otherwise, their account will be blocked in a few days. In the email, they see a button or a link that supposedly leads to their account. On the associated website, a form is waiting for them to enter their access data. The email comes from a fraudster, which in most cases can be recognized just by looking at the sender’s address. Only a few phishing senders go to the trouble of forging the email address (the technical term for this is “spoofing.”) You can easily find out where the button or link in the email, which supposedly leads to a form from the streaming provider, actually links to by pointing at it with the mouse for a second or two. Typical for these and other phishing emails is that they’re urgent. Victims usually only have two or three days to resolve the problem. Or the perpetrators claim that the account has already been blocked and the email recipient must act quickly to reactivate it. In this way, the perpetrators build up time pressure so that their victims don’t think twice. Smishing is becoming a plague When a phishing attempt is sent via text message, it’s called smishing. New waves of smishing have been using the grandchild trick. In this case, the text reads: “Hi Dad, this is my new number. Can you write to me on WhatsApp?” If the recipient actually makes contact, they’ll usually receive a reply about an accident or other emergency. To “help” whoever it is on the other end, the recipient will need to transfer a large sum to a specific account. Password manager Access to the encrypted vaults of password managers is particularly valuable to criminals. If they succeed in tapping into the master password, they have free access to login data of all kinds, from bank accounts to online senders and streaming services to accounts with email services and telephone providers. Fraudsters try to access the master password for the password manager LastPass. This would give them free access to all stored passwords and access data.IDG In spring 2024, a new approach by criminals became known. They’re working with phishing kits that make it very easy to forge login forms on websites and add logos of the supposed owner companies. These kits are distributed online by criminal groups as part of phishing-as-a-service offers. In the specific case, the login page of the password manager LastPass was recreated using such a kit. The attackers then started an automated series of calls in which a recorded message explained that a new device was trying to access the LastPass account. The caller was told to authorize access by pressing “1” or block it by pressing “2.” If they dialed “2,” you’ll get a call from an alleged customer service employee. The call comes from a real person who asks for the email address and then they’ll send the victim an email with instructions on how to reset the master password. This email links to the criminal’s website, where the customer was asked to enter their previous master password. As soon as the criminals are in possession of this password, they log into LastPass and change the owner’s telephone number and email address so they no longer have access. As the first contact between the fraudster and their victim is by telephone, this method is known as vishing or voice phishing. Here, too, the criminals push the pace so that the people they call don’t have time to think. As password managers often store numerous access data for important accounts, it’s advisable to secure them with two-factor authentication or set up a login with a passkey. PayPal and Klarna The topic of data protection has now reached the general public. Many people know that there are legal regulations for companies on how they must handle their customers’ data. Criminals are taking advantage of this. In an email with the logo of the payment service provider PayPal, they claim that the account has been blocked because the account information has not yet been confirmed. To unblock the account, the customer would have to activate the “3DS Double Authorization.” Although 3DS authentication does indeed exist, PayPal calls it 3D Secure. After clicking on the button, the recipient of the email is asked to enter their telephone number and PayPal login details. The fraudsters can then call back to request the missing data for the transfer and redirect payments to their account. How to reliably recognize phishing emails An email from ING Bank should also have an address with the domain extension ing.de and not come from support@zakitchha.dreamhostps.com. This is a clear indication that it is phishing.IDG Phishing can result in high financial losses, so be careful and take a close look at incoming emails: Phishing messages may be better worded these days thanks to AI, but they are still not error-free. You should be suspicious of foreign-language phrases, an incorrect or missing salutation, and an unusual choice of words. It’s typical of phishing attempts that the perpetrators put their victims under time pressure. They are asked to make a payment or provide personal details within a few hours or days, otherwise they face the threat of massive financial loss, arrest, or similar. The less time the sender gives you, the higher the probability that it’s a phishing e-mail. If the email contains a button or a link, point to it with the mouse (do not click!) and read the address to which it leads. If it’s not the page of the alleged sender company, you’re probably dealing with a phishing message. Enter the subject line of a suspicious email into Google and see if other people have received the same message. If you suspect a phishing message, you should delete the email immediately and never respond to it. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Dual-screen design works as laptop, all-in-one, tablet, and more Two gorgeous, contrast-rich OLED displays Outstanding audio performance Good CPU and integrated graphics performance Cons Bluetooth keyboard feels awkward in laptop mode Only 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (though upgrades are available) Physical connectivity is limited to Thunderbolt / USB-C Short battery life Our Verdict The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a unique Windows 2-in-1. Though it’s okay as a laptop, and can also be used as a tablet, it’s perhaps best understood as a portable all-in-one. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Lenovo has a long history of bizarre concepts. But unlike many companies that send strange prototypes straight to store shelves, Lenovo often sticks with these oddballs—and the Yoga Book 9i is just the latest example. The latest version of the company’s dual-screen 2-in-1 isn’t a dramatic departure from prior models. It’s still a portable all-in-one that pairs its dual OLED displays with an included Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus. However, the newest Yoga Book 9i has surprisingly capable CPU performance underneath the hood. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Specs and features The Yoga Book 9i Gen 10’s basic specifications don’t look amazing on paper. It has just 16GB of RAM and a 512GB solid state drive. Most Windows devices sold above $1,000 have 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. However, the Yoga Book 9i’s Intel Core Ultra 7 255H deserves some attention. It has a total of 16 cores, six of which are performance cores—and as the benchmarks will show, it’s a big upgrade over laptops with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V or 258V inside. CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc 140V NPU: Intel AI Boost up to 13 TOPS Display: 2x 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED 120Hz Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Webcam: 1440p Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Facial recognition Battery capacity: 88 watt-hours Dimensions: 12.4 x 8.25 x 0.63 inches Weight: 2.69 pounds without keyboard, 3.45 pounds with keyboard, 4.25 with all accessories included Operating System: Windows 11 Home Additional features: Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus Price: $2,079.99 MSRP Despite the limited RAM and storage, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i’s $2,079.99 MSRP feels like a good value. After all, this laptop has two OLED displays and ships with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus. That’s a lot of extra kit most laptops don’t provide. Interestingly, Lenovo’s website currently lists a Yoga Book 9i with 32GB of memory and a 1TB of storage for $2,099.99. You read that right: you can double the RAM and storage for $20. The catch is that you can’t change or upgrade this variant but, for the vast majority of shoppers, it’s an obvious upgrade. The Yoga Book 9i is worth buying, but only for a very specific and unique shopper. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a sleek, futuristic piece of kit. It’s basically two thin slabs of glass connected by a broad, blue-chrome hinge which also contains the 2-in-1’s sound bar. While the top and bottom of the device are finished in a matte blue, the edges are gloss, which adds a touch of luxury. It’s worth mentioning that the new Yoga Book 9i is slightly different from its predecessors, though you wouldn’t know it at a glance (or even a long, close look). The prior model’s 13.3-inch OLED displays have grown to 14 inches. That means the laptop is slightly wider and deeper than before, too, though no thicker at 0.63 inches in profile. The weight officially comes in at just 2.69 pounds, but that doesn’t include the accessories. If you bundle in the keyboard, carrying case, and pen, the total weight increases to 3.55 pounds. That’s heavy for a 2-in-1 with a 14-inch display, though perhaps expected given that the Yoga Book 9i has two of them. Build quality is top-notch. The Yoga Book 9i’s chassis is among the most rigid in the Windows arena. While the upper display will flex if purposely twisted, it doesn’t noticeably flex when in normal use. The lower chassis, meanwhile, seems chiseled from solid stone. I put it under as much tension as I felt comfortable with and saw absolutely zero movement across the device’s lower half. That’s not to say it’s more durable than other 2-in-1s. There are certain risks to a dual-display laptop, and an increased potential for display damage is one of them. Still, Lenovo has done as much as it can to remove that concern. The result is a 2-in-1 that feels luxurious. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Keyboard, trackpad, mouse, and stylus IDG / Matthew Smith Lenovo markets the new Yoga Book 9i as a “portable creative studio.” What does that mean? Well, it’s complex. The dual-display 2-in-1, detachable keyboard, kickstand, mouse, and pen work together to provide many versatile modes. Let’s start with good old-fashioned clamshell laptop use. In this mode, you have the choice between using the bundled detachable keyboard or not. If used, the keyboard sits on top of the lower display and a virtual touchpad can be summoned on the display’s surface (alternatively, you can just use the upper touchscreen). Magnets are used to prevent the keyboard from sliding around while typing. The keyboard is good but, since it sits on top of the lower display, the keys are raised noticeably above the virtual touchpad surface, which feels awkward. It was fine for long typing sessions but more awkward when I had to frequently use the touchpad, as the virtual touchpad provides no tactile sensation when my fingers are inside (or outside) its boundaries. Alternatively, you can ditch the physical keyboard and use a virtual keyboard on the lower touchscreen. It’s summoned with an eight-finger tap, and the keyboard appears where you touch, allowing slight adjustment forward, backward, left, or right. That helps for finding a comfortable position. Still, the lack of tactile feedback makes for a flat, wooden experience, and I had difficulty typing at high speed with accuracy. Perhaps a few weeks or months with the device would eventually build my muscle memory, but it still felt tough after a solid week of use. The Yoga Book 9i gets even more creative when you move beyond clamshell use and into the unique modes only 2-in-1s can offer. It can be used as: A portable desktop all-in-one. The keyboard carrying case becomes a stand for the dual displays, which can sit flat side-by-side. The bundled Bluetooth keyboard and mouse can be used just as if the 2-in-1 was a desktop computer. Stacked mode. The same as above, but with the displays placed one above the other (vertically) instead of side-by-side. A tablet. Fold over the displays and one surface becomes usable as a 14-inch Windows tablet. A stylus is included. A desktop drawing and writing tablet. Fold the device flat on a tabletop surface with both displays facing up. Stylus and touch input can be used to draw, and to navigate Windows. Tent mode. Fold the upper display back to act as a kickstand for the lower display, which remains usable. This is great for watching YouTube, Netflix, and other streaming content. The surprise is that most of these modes work well. Tablet mode is the only one that stumbles, and for reasons common to most Windows 2-in-1s; the Yoga Book 9i is too large and too heavy to use as a tablet for more than a few minutes. I found the portable all-in-one modes particularly convincing. You can post up anywhere you have access to a flat surface and use the Yoga Book 9i like a desktop computer. The dual 14-inch displays even provide a display space that comes close to a 24-inch desktop monitor though, of course, with a split between them. The real question, of course, is whether you’ll take advantage of that. The Yoga Book 9i’s design isn’t great if you just want a laptop to use like a laptop. The typing experience is less enjoyable, the virtual touchpad is annoying, and it’s cumbersome to pack both the laptop and the detachable keyboard. But if you’re a business traveler, student, or otherwise need to do a lot of work while also away from your permanent desk setup, the Yoga Book 9i has advantages. It’s a portable desktop in a laptop form factor. It’s important to note, too, that the Yoga Book 9i’s design marks it as different from the Asus ZenBook Duo (and vice versa). While both are dual-screen laptops, the ZenBook Duo has a Bluetooth keyboard with integrated touchpad that fully covers the bottom display in laptop mode. As a result, the ZenBook Duo feels much more like a traditional laptop. The ZenBook doesn’t ship with a mouse, though, and the larger Bluetooth keyboard with integrated touchpad can feel a bit awkward when you set it to use like an all-in-one. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith Lenovo’s dual-screen design means the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i features two stunning OLED displays. Each provides a resolution of 2880×1800 for an all-in resolution of 2880×3600. Combined, the dual 14-inch OLED displays provide a little less than 180 square inches of display space, which is just barely less than a 21.5-inch 16:9 monitor. The OLED displays provide all the benefits typical of the breed. They have a wide color gamut, unsurpassed contrast, and excellent sharpness. Movies, games, and photos look wonderfully vibrant and detailed. The displays also provide a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, so motion clarity is excellent. Fast-paced games look crisp and scrolling text is easier to read than on a 60Hz alternative. It’s not all good news. Like most OLED panels—and particularly touchscreens—the Yoga’s displays have a glossy, mirror-like finish that readily reflects your surroundings. Even modest ambient lighting will cause noticeable and distinct reflections. The panel brightness is impressive with a maximum around 465 nits, but that’s still not enough for comfortable use outdoors or opposite a bright sunlit window. Audio performance is a perk the latest Yoga Book 9i carries over from its predecessors. The speakers are nestled in the hinge, which acts as a soundbar and delivers strong, clear, enjoyable, and direct sound. This design also has the benefit of making the audio useful in most of the Yoga Book 9i’s many modes, since the speaker remains pointed at the user in most situations. Tablet mode is the exception, as your hands are likely to partially obstruct the speaker. Compared to the alternatives, the Yoga Book 9i’s audio is among the best in its class. While it’s been a few months since I last heard the MacBook Pro 14’s excellent speakers, my memory suggests the Yoga Book 9i can match it. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics A camera hump above the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i’s top display provides room for a 1440p webcam and dual-array microphone. Both are solid. The webcam is sharp, detailed, and provides good color saturation, while the microphone picked up my voice clearly even when I spoke softly. You won’t find a physical privacy shutter, but Lenovo provides an electronic privacy switch which, strangely, is all alone on the laptop’s forward right flank. Biometric login is available through Windows Hello facial recognition. It works well, though no better or worse than with the hundreds of other Windows laptops that offer the feature. A fingerprint reader is not available. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Connectivity The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i goes all-in on modern connectivity. It has just three physical ports, all of which are Thunderbolt / USB-C ports that support 40Gbps of data, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery. All the ports can charge the laptop or connect to an external display. With that said, the lack of USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, or even a 3.5mm audio jack presents obvious limitations. You’ll need an adapter or dock to connect a wired keyboard and mouse, use an older monitor, or even to use wired headphones. Whether that works for you will depend on the peripherals you use day-to-day, but I suspect most people will still have at least one device that requires one of these ports. At least Lenovo doesn’t skimp on wireless connectivity. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the latest version of each wireless standard. Remember, too, that the Yoga Book 9i ships with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus in the box. While the lack of USB-A is a bummer, it helps that the 2-in-1 ships with everything you need to type, point, and draw wirelessly. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Performance The latest Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10, for those counting) is available with just one processor: the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H. And it’s worth your attention. It’d be easy to confuse the Core Ultra 7 255H with something like the Core Ultra 7 256V. After all, they have very similar names; the 256V might even seem more premium. Yet the opposite is true. The 255H has more cores than the 256V (16 vs. eight), and more of those cores are performance cores (six vs four). The 255H also has a higher Turbo clock speed, twice as much cache, and is rated to use significantly more power. IDG / Matthew Smith Our first benchmark is PCMark 10, a holistic system benchmark. Here the Yoga Book 9i scores a respectable 7,520. That’s a mid-pack result among the competitors chosen, but they are rather stiff competition—the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 in particular ranks among the most powerful 14-inch Windows laptops without discrete graphics. The Yoga Book 9i also scored a small win over the Asus ZenBook Duo, despite the Asus having a chip that ranks higher in Intel’s line-up. IDG / Matthew Smith The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i truly blazed away in Handbrake, where it transcoded a feature length film in just under 14 minutes. As the graph shows, this is an exceptionally quick result in this test, and it’s the one benchmark where the Yoga Book 9i takes an edge even over the HP OmniBook Ultra 14. IDG / Matthew Smith Cinebench R23, a heavily multi-threaded CPU benchmark, speaks favorably of the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. It reaches a score of 14,836 which, as the graph shows, is defeated only by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 in the HP OmniBook Ultra 14. The Yoga Book 9i notches another win over the Asus ZenBook Duo, as well. IDG / Matthew Smith Clearly, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i performs well in CPU tests. But what about GPU benchmarks? The Yoga Book 9i does well here, too, though it doesn’t stand out from the pack. Intel’s 140V is a strong integrated graphics option that can generally go toe-to-toe with AMD’s Radeon 890M in similar laptops and 2-in-1s, and the Book 9i is no exception. The Yoga Book 9i posted scores that were a hair behind some other Intel-powered laptops PC World recently tested, but the differences are rather small. In any case, the Yoga Book 9i can be expected to play many games from the prior console generation at 1080p and medium to high detail, with a framerate of 30 to 60 FPS. Older and less demanding games—whether it’s an indie action-RPG like Grim Dawn or the best-selling classic Minecraft (without ray-traced eye candy on)—can exceed 60 FPS. The Yoga Book 9i is an extremely strong performer overall. While the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 395HX was quicker in multi-threaded CPU performance, the Yoga Book 9i otherwise scored victories in many tests. Notably, it matched or beat the Asus ZenBook Duo. The ZenBook Duo is less expensive with an as-tested MSRP of $1,699, but ships with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H. That proves, once again, that a device’s spec sheet can’t tell the full story about its performance. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Battery life and portability There’s a lot to like about the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. It’s versatile, attractive, and performs well in benchmarks. However, the laptop has one major weakness. Battery life. IDG / Matthew Smith I measured just seven hours and nine minutes in PC World’s standard battery test, which loops a 4K trailer of the short film Tears of Steel. This test was conducted in laptop mode, though my testing suggests that the mode used doesn’t have an impact on battery life. This result both did—and didn’t—surprise me. Lenovo ships the Yoga Book 9i with an 88-watt-hour battery, which is massive for a 14-inch Windows 2-in-1. That alone would seem to suggest excellent endurance. However, that battery must support two screens, both of which are OLED (in general, OLED tends to be more power-hungry than LCD-IPS). And the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is a beefy Intel chip. While that bodes well for the Yoga Book 9i’s performance, it also means higher power consumption. It’s worth mention that the new Yoga Book 9i doesn’t last as long as past models. The version I tested in 2023 endured the PC World battery test for 10 hours and 23 minutes. On the flip side, though, the new Yoga Book 9i is much quicker than that predecessor, delivering 50 percent to over 100 percent greater performance in benchmarks. The older model might be worth a look if you prefer battery life, but the new model takes a huge lead in performance. The Asus ZenBook Duo also deserves mention, as it’s also a dual-screen laptop, and lasted a bit longer on battery in dual-screen mode. On top of that, the Duo can last up to 15 hours and 40 minutes in laptop mode, as only a single screen is used in that mode. That’s possible because the Duo’s Bluetooth keyboard includes a touchpad and fully covers the lower display in laptop mode, allowing Asus to disable the lower display in that mode. Lenovo’s reliance on a virtual touchpad in laptop mode means the lower display remains on in laptop mode, which negatively affects battery life. It’s technically possible to use Windows’ settings to force the Yoga Book 9i’s lower display off when in laptop mode, which presumably could increase battery life. However, doing this means the laptop lacks a touchpad, which is hardly ideal.  Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Conclusion The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a laptop that’s also a 2-in-1, and an all-in-one, also a tablet. It ships with not only the laptop itself but also with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus. This versatility makes it a unique offering, and while the Yoga Book 9i’s $2,079.99 MSRP is hardly inexpensive, it feels like good value considering everything the Yoga Book 9i delivers. Yet the Yoga Book 9i isn’t without compromise. Lenovo’s decision to use a Bluetooth keyboard that lacks a touchpad—instead of a keyboard and touchpad combination, as found with the Asus ZenBook Duo—is consequential. It’s arguably better when using the Yoga Book 9i as an all-in-one, but inarguably worse when using the Yoga Book 9i as a laptop. The Yoga Book 9i also struggles with disappointing battery life that reduces its portability. The Yoga Book 9i is worth buying, but only for a very specific and unique shopper. It’s unique in providing a great portable all-in-one experience alongside a decent, though compromised laptop mode. That makes it a good choice if you often move between offices or desks and can post up with a connection to a power outlet. But if you mostly want to use your device as a laptop, and will only occasionally use the all-in-one mode, the Asus ZenBook Duo is the better choice. Read...

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Google knows what we search for, where we go, who we email—and diligently stores it all as well. For many users, this has long been too much of a “good thing”. If you want to live a more digitally self-determined life, you can gradually turn your back on the data giant from Silicon Valley. But to do that means you’ll also need to find alternatives for services such as Google Search, Gmail, Maps etc. Sounds like a lot of effort? It doesn’t have to be. We show you how you can gain more privacy with just a few clicks. Without sacrificing convenience: Replace Google search: No more data snooping Data protection instead of a data octopus: DuckDuckGo shows search results without tracking or personalized advertising.Sam Singleton Google search delivers brilliant results—but it lets them look deep into your personal life. If you don’t want to be tracked while surfing, you can rely on search engines that take privacy seriously. DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo is perhaps the best-known Google alternative. It completely dispenses with tracking, does not store IP addresses and still delivers solid results, especially for general search queries. No user profiles are created and no search histories are recorded. The results come from a mix of its own crawlers and partly from Bing, but occasionally with slightly less accuracy compared to Google. Pro: Pure data protection, quick and simple changeover from other search engines (also mobile). Cons: Fewer personalized hits, weaker results for niche topics. Startpage Startpage shows anonymized Google search results—without any tracking, cookies or personalized advertising. This means we get the usual quality of Google searches without our personal data being stored. The service originates from the Netherlands and is subject to European data protection standards. Pro: Best results with privacy. Cons: Slightly longer loading times, adverts in the mix (but they’re discreet). Gmail? No thanks: Emails without readers Tutanota is a German email provider with a zero-tracking philosophy.Sam Singleton Google scans emails (usually automatically) to personalize advertising and services. If you prefer a more discreet approach, switch to a mail provider with a focus on security. Thankfully, we have plenty of choices, as Gmail is one of the Google services that is easiest to replace. Proton Mail Proton Mail is a secure e-mail service from Switzerland that consistently focusses on data protection. Emails between Proton Mail users are automatically end-to-end encrypted, and password protection can be set up for external recipients. The servers are located in Switzerland and are therefore subject to strict data protection laws. The web interface is modern and easy to understand, there are apps for Android and iOS as well as a bridge for classic mail programs. Pro: Strong encryption, servers outside the USA. Cons: Interface takes some getting used to, limited storage in the free plan. Do without Android: De-Googling your smartphone /e/OS is a completely “de-Googled” open source operating systemSam Singleton Android may be open source, but the Google services it contains are not. If you want a smartphone that is as “Google-free” as possible, you have to dig deeper into your bag of tricks—or try something completely new. /e/OS /e/OS is a privacy-friendly Android operating system that works completely without Google services. Instead, it offers its own apps, an alternative app store (Aurora Store) and synchronization via its own /e/ cloud. Many well-known smartphones (such as Samsung and Fairphone) can be reloaded with /e/OS or purchased pre-installed as a “de-Googled Phone”. It’s ideal for everyone who wants to use Android without being tracked by Google. Pro: Compatible with Android apps, many devices supported. Cons: Somewhat technical to set up, not all apps run perfectly. GrapheneOS (for advanced users) GrapheneOS is a particularly secure Android derivative that was specially developed for Pixel smartphones. It is aimed at experienced users and focusses on maximum security, system hardening, and data protection. Google services are not included as standard, but can be installed manually if required (sandboxed)—GrapheneOS is not designed for the “normal” use of Google services. Pro: Extremely secure, hardly any data leakage. Cons: For technology fans, not “plug & play”, requires some know-how and effort Goodbye Google Maps: How to navigate with privacy Map service without tracking: The open source app Organic Maps does not use advertising, does not collect any user data, and works completely offline.Sam Singleton Google Maps knows our routes—oftentimes better than we do. Fortunately, there are alternatives for privacy fans that come with less prying eyes. Organic Maps Organic Maps is an open source navigation app that is based on OSM (OpenStreetMap) maps and works completely without an internet connection. The app does not use tracking or advertising, which makes it particularly privacy-friendly. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who wants to navigate reliably offline, Organic Maps also offers practical functions such as route planning and voice prompts. Pro: Works without the internet, ideal for travelling. Cons: No traffic data, weaker POI search. Magic Earth The Magic Earth map service combines OpenStreetMap data with its own maps and provides a privacy-friendly alternative to Google Maps. In addition to navigation, the app also offers real-time traffic information, offline maps and an overview of cycle paths and footpaths. With a focus on privacy, Magic Earth does away with user tracking and advertising, but remains functional and user-friendly. Pro: Good maps, many features, no data transfer. Cons: Less well-known places are sometimes harder to find. Byebye Google Chrome: Fast, but nosy Far less widespread than Chrome – but a real high-flyer in terms of data protection and customisation: the Firefox browser.Sam Singleton Chrome is the top dog among browsers, but it’s also a real data hoover. If you want to surf without being watched, you can switch to these alternatives: Firefox Firefox is the classic among free browsers—fast, secure, expandable. Developed by the Mozilla Foundation, Firefox places great emphasis on transparency and data protection. The browser is flexible and can be highly customized with numerous add-ons: from ad blockers to cookie control. Pro: Many data protection add-ons, active community. Cons: Sometimes a little slower than Chrome. Brave Brave is a Chromium browser with in-built tracking protection and ad blocker. It blocks adverts, trackers, and fingerprinting by default, even without extensions. Pro: Very fast, good privacy by default. Cons: Partial crypto integration, which not everyone wants. No more Google Docs: texts and spreadsheets with better data protections ONLYOFFICE is a really strong alternative to Google Docs.Sam Singleton Practical, collaborative, usable everywhere: these are the strengths of Google Docs. But if you don’t want to store your documents on US servers, there are also good alternatives. ONLYOFFICE ONLYOFFICE is a powerful office suite that works with Word, Excel and PowerPoint-compatible documents and works both online and offline. The platform is particularly suitable for team collaboration and offers extensive functions for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Compared to Google Docs, ONLYOFFICE offers more control over your own data, as the software can also be installed on your own servers. Pro: Compatible with Word, Excel & Co. Cons: Somewhat technical to get started (but easy to use in the cloud). CryptPad CryptPad is a web-based office suite that places particular emphasis on data protection and security by storing all data end-to-end encrypted. Users can work together on documents, spreadsheets or presentations without the operator having access to the content. Ideal for anyone who values anonymous use and maximum data sovereignty. CryptPad also offers functions such as surveys, whiteboards, and markdown editors. Pro: Can be used completely anonymously, no registration required. Cons: Fewer functions, not ideal for large teams. Alternatives for Google Drive: Cloud storage without data snooping Tresorit is a cloud provider from Switzerland with a focus on security for teams and individuals.Sam Singleton Google Drive is convenient, but scans content for its own purposes. If you prefer encrypted storage, you should take a look at these services: Tresorit The cloud storage service Tresorit is based in Switzerland and focuses on security and end-to-end encryption. Files are encrypted before being uploaded so that even Tresorit has no access to the content. The servers are located in Europe, which is a clear advantage for users from the EU in terms of data protection. Ideal for companies and private individuals who want to store and share sensitive data securely online. Pro: End-to-end encryption, GDPR-compliant. Cons: More expensive than Google Drive. Snyc.com The Canadian cloud service Sync.com relies on zero-knowledge encryption. This means that only you have access to your data, not the provider. The service is easy to use, offers apps for all platforms and is ideal for team collaboration. There are no trackers or adverts here either, and even with the free entry-level plan you can get a lot done. It’s a strong Google Drive replacement with significantly more privacy. Pro: Good usability, can also be used free of charge. Cons: Sometimes slower uploads, English-language version. Google Photos is not irreplaceable: Archive your memories without the prying eyes Immich is a self-hosting photo management system with AI functions – without Google.Sam Singleton Google recognizes faces, places, and objects in pictures. And while this is impressive, it’s too much for many people. If you want to store your photos securely, you need alternatives. Immich Immich is an open-source solution for managing and backing up photos on your own server or NAS. The user interface is reminiscent of Google Photos—including face recognition, albums, timelines and AI-supported search. All data remains local and under your own control. Ideal for anyone who wants maximum privacy and is prepared to bring some technical know-how to the table. Pro: Face recognition locally, no cloud compulsion. Cons: Technical expertise required. Internxt Photos Simple cloud service with a focus on encryption: Internxt Photos stores images in the cloud—completely end-to-end encrypted so that no one but you can access them. The app is simple, functional and available for desktop and mobile devices. It has server locations in numerous place including in the EU, and no advertising or tracking. Particularly suitable for anyone who wants to store their photos securely online without relying on big tech providers. Pro: GDPR-compliant, intuitive operation. Cons: Fewer features than Google Photos. Bonus tip: Independence from YouTube—is that even possible? YouTube is hard to replace – also because you can find The Full Nerd videos there.Sam Singleton To be honest: not really. YouTube is not just a video portal, but has long been a gigantic archive for tutorials, documentaries, music, live streams and nerd knowledge. If you don’t use it at all, you’re missing out on a lot. Nevertheless, there are ways to become at least a little more independent—or to use YouTube more sparingly. NewPipe NewPipe is an alternative YouTube app for Android (for using YouTube) that works without a Google account, does not show adverts and also has a background mode on board. Pro: No registration required, no tracking, videos can be downloaded directly. Cons: Only for Android, no commenting or liking possible. Peertube Peertube is a free, decentralized video network that sees itself as a counterpart to YouTube. Content comes from many small instances, without a nosy large corporation behind it. Unlike the NewPipe app presented above, it’s a genuine alternative to YouTube with its very own content. Pro: Open source, ad-free, community-based. Cons: Smaller offering, difficult to browse. Conclusion: Escaping the Google universe step by step In the modern, digitalized world, living without Google is almost as difficult as living without electricity. But it is possible, at least in part. If you consciously look for alternatives, you can reduce tracking, strengthen data protection, and gain more control over your own data. Opting out doesn’t have to be a radical break: even small steps (such as an alternative browser or a new search engine) can have a big impact. Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Stand has wide range of ergonomic adjustment Easy-to-use menu system High brightness, good color accuracy 320Hz refresh rate for just $250 Cons Unremarkable design Limited contrast ratio Only 1080p resolution HDR is technically supported, but not great Our Verdict The Alienware AW2525HM prices refresh rate at well under a buck a hertz. That makes it a remarkable value if you want smooth, responsive PC gaming without spending a small fortune. The catch? Its image quality is just so-so. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Alienware AW2525HM Retailer Price $249.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The AW2525HM is an entry-level monitor in Alienware’s 2025 monitor lineup, though you might not know that from a glance at the specifications. This 25-inch monitor has 1080p resolution with a maximum refresh rate of 320Hz, as well as official support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium. Despite that, it retails for just $250. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best gaming monitors for comparison. Alienware AW2525HM specs and features At its core, the Alienware AW2525HM is a traditional IPS-LCD monitor like thousands sold over the past two decades. It combines a 1080p IPS panel with an edge-lit LCD backlight. What sets it apart, though, is the monitor’s low price and high refresh rate. Serving up 320Hz at just $250 is an incredible deal at face value. By comparison, Amazon currently sells the older AW2523HF (a 360Hz monitor) for about $330, and even white label 320Hz monitors typically sell above $250, albeit sometimes with 1440p resolution. Display size: 24.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 1920×1080 Panel type: IPS-LCD Refresh rate: 320Hz Adaptive Sync: Yes, AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible HDR: Yes, HDR10 Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-B 5Gbps upstream, 1x USB-A 5Gbps downstream, 1x USB-A 5Gbps downstream with 7.5 watts power Audio: None Price: $249.99 MSRP You might expect the low price to force some compromise, but there’s less than you think. The monitor lacks USB-C, but that’s not typical for a gaming monitor at this price point, and it still has a bit of downstream USB-A connectivity. The monitor also has broad Adaptive Sync support with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync officially supported. Alienware AW2525HM design The AW2525HM embraces the new look and feel of Alienware’s monitors which, in my opinion at least, is a downgrade from the company’s earlier efforts. The old retro-futuristic vibe is gone, replaced by an organic, smooth look that strangely is available in just one color: navy blue. It’s an odd choice, to be sure, but there are a few benefits. Alienware’s new design language makes a hard pivot toward stands with a small, flat base that minimizes the monitor’s footprint on a desk. The stand also provides a good range of ergonomic adjustment. It provides 110mm of height adjustment, 25 degrees of tilt, 40 degrees of swivel, and rotates 90 degrees for use in portrait mode. These features mark a difference between the AW2525HM and even less expensive white-label monitors available on Amazon, most of which have a more limited range of ergonomic adjustment. Matthew Smith / Foundry The monitor also has a 100x100mm VESA mount for use with third-party monitor arms and stands. As a bonus, the monitor also provides a flip-out headset rack for hanging a gaming headset when it’s not in use. Alienware AW2525HM connectivity The Alienware AW2525HM’s connectivity is solid but expected for a budget- to mid-range gaming monitor. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 for a total of three video inputs. The HDMI 2.1 ports support only 255Hz at 1080p, which means only the DisplayPort can handle the monitor’s full resolution and refresh rate. This isn’t uncommon at this price, though some white-label monitors claim higher refresh rates across the HDMI ports (with the caveat that the specifications of such monitors can prove less reliable). USB connectivity is limited, but present. The AW2525HM doesn’t have USB-C, which is true for most gaming monitors in this price bracket. It does provide two USB-A ports, however, which are driven by a USB-B upstream port. One of the two USB-A ports also provides 7.5 watts of power for charging or powering basic peripherals, like a smartphone or a portable hard drive. The inclusion of two USB-A ports means you can use the monitor as a USB hub for a wired keyboard and mouse, which is always handy in a gaming monitor. Alienware AW2525HM menus, features, and audio Alienware ships the AW2525HM with a familiar, easy-to-navigate menu system controlled by a joystick centered beneath the lower bezel (alternatively, users can control monitor features with Alienware Command Center, a software application). The menu system is a small but notable advantage over competitors. Asus does as well in this area, but brands like Acer and Gigabyte tend to fall a bit behind, often because the menus are smaller and a bit harder to read. Monitors from white-label and Amazon brands (like KTC and Koouri) tend to have menus that are annoying to navigate. On top of that, I’ve yet to test a monitor from an Amazon brand that provides a software utility like Alienware’s Command Center. Matthew Smith / Foundry With that said, the AW2525HM’s feature set doesn’t differ from competitors. It has gaming features, like a crosshair and a dark stabilizer (which increase the brightness of dark scenes to reveal foes). There’s also some image customization, including color calibration for hue, gain, and offset—but that’s only found in the Custom Color mode. Color temperature and gamma adjustment is limited. An sRGB color profile is the only image mode that targets a specific color gamut; no DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB mode here. As for audio, well, there isn’t anything, though that’s no surprise. Budget monitors often omit speakers and, when they are included, they provide barely passable audio quality. However, the AW2525HM also omits a 3.5mm audio-out jack, which is more unusual. That means you won’t be able to pass-through audio and will need to connect your speakers or headphones directly to your PC. Alienware believes (correctly, I’d guess) that most gamers are now using USB headsets. The inclusion of two USB-A ports means you can use the monitor as a USB hub for a wired keyboard and mouse, which is always handy in a gaming monitor. Alienware AW2525HM SDR image quality A lot rides on the Alienware AW2525HM’s SDR image quality. Though it does technically support HDR, SDR is clearly the focus, both because of the monitor’s price point and because fast-paced PC titles built for high refresh rates tend not to focus on HDR support (especially if the game is not also available on console). Matthew Smith / Foundry The AW2525HM comes out swinging with a maximum sustained SDR brightness of 459 nits. That’s not record-setting, but it’s rather high for a monitor priced at $250. That level of brightness is more than enough to make the monitor stand out even in a brightly lit room that lacks good light control. On top of that, the monitor has a semi-gloss finish that reduces glare, so bright light sources have less impact on the image. The result is a monitor that’s very easy to view in a wide range of lighting conditions. Matthew Smith / Foundry Unfortunately, though not unsurprisingly, the monitor’s excellent brightness is paired with sub-par contrast, with a measured contrast ratio of 1010:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness (and, in case you’re curious, this did not vary significantly at other brightness levels). A contrast ratio of 1010:1 isn’t awful for an inexpensive gaming monitor, but it’s not amazing. The limited contrast ratio often results in an image that seems flat and lacks a convincing sense of depth. This is most noticeable in dark scenes, as the monitor can’t properly render dark hues, instead displaying them as a hazy, pale silver-gray. This is the dreaded “IPS glow.” As the graph shows, a better contrast ratio can be had at this price point. Monitors like the Xiaomi G Pro, which has a Mini-LED backlight, and the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30, which has a VA display panel, can provide better contrast on a budget (though they can’t match the AW2525HM’s motion clarity). Matthew Smith / Foundry The Alienware AW2525HM posts respectable color gamut figures. It can display 100 percent of sRGB, 93 percent of DCI-P3, and 87 percent of AdobeRGB. These are good though mid-pack figures. The AW2525HM defeats monitors like the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30, but doesn’t perform as well as the Gigabyte M27QA ICE or Xiaomi G Pro. In general, though, the AW2525HM’s color gamut is a good match for PC games. Titles will look colorful and vibrant, particularly in bright scenes that play better to the monitor’s strong brightness and obscure its mediocre contrast and poor performance in dark scenes. If you want to edit photos, videos, or digital art, the AW2525HM is passable for less demanding work but won’t cut the mustard for more rigorous professional use. It simply doesn’t display enough of DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB, which means some colors will not be visible on the monitor. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Alienware AW2525HM is also mid-pack in color accuracy though, with that said, the average color error of the AW2525HM is low. It comes across as mid-pack only because most budget monitors have managed to achieve a solid level of out-of-box color accuracy. I also saw decent color temperature and gamma results. The AW2525HM’s color temperature of 6500K was spot-on my target and means the image doesn’t appear too warm or cool. The gamma value of 2.3 is slightly off my target of 2.2 and means the image can appear a tad darker than it should, though I found that hard to notice in real-world use. Sharpness is a downside. 1920×1080 resolution is nothing to boast about in 2025 and, on a 24.5-inch panel, it works out to about 90 pixels per inch. A 27-inch 1440p monitor, as a point of comparison, reaches about 110 ppi, and a 27-inch 4K monitor delivers about 163 ppi. The AW2525HM manages to avoid an obvious aliased or pixelated look, but it’s noticeably softer than even a 1440p display. The AW2525HM’s SDR image quality is a mix. It takes a win in brightness and provides respectable color performance but falls short in contrast and sharpness. A wide variety of 1440p and 4K monitors are available at $250, as well, though not with a 320Hz refresh rate. And that, really, is the core compromise made here: a reduction in overall image quality in the service of better motion clarity. Alienware AW2525HM HDR image quality The Alienware AW2525HM supports HDR10 input but it lacks VESA DisplayHDR certification and makes no strong claims on HDR performance. In fact, Alienware’s marketing doesn’t appear to mention HDR at all. I only saw reference to it in the monitor’s specifications. That says everything you need to know about HDR on the display. It’s bright, reaching up to 469 nits in my tests, but that’s about it. The monitor lacks both the contrast and color performance necessary to do HDR justice. HDR content looks a bit different, and a bit brighter, than SDR, but not necessarily better. Personally, I wouldn’t bother to use HDR on this monitor, but some owners may prefer the brighter presentation. Alienware AW2525HM motion performance There’s a lot riding on the Alienware AW2525HM’s motion performance. Fortunately, it’s rather good. The monitor’s Fast IPS panel does the hard work. It has a refresh rate up to 320Hz, as previously mentioned, and provides pixel response times as low as 0.5 milliseconds (which is about as quick as IPS monitors can manage). Games that can achieve a frame rate of 320Hz look smooth and crisp with blur only obvious in the finest details and high-contrast edges. You can find better motion clarity, to be sure: A 360Hz OLED, for example, will blow the AW2525HM out of the water. But for $250, this level of motion clarity is outstanding. Fast-paced titles feel amazingly tight and responsive. I would recommend avoiding the monitor’s fastest response time modes, however. Like most IPS and VA panel monitors, the AW2525HM offers a variety of settings. The fastest can deliver the best clarity but can also cause image artifacts such as apparent halos around high-contrast objects. This problem is known as overshoot and is common among IPS and VA panel monitors. Personally, I think sticking to the slowest response time mode is the best choice for most gamers. The AW2525HM supports Adaptive Sync and has official support for both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible. Most monitors that support Adaptive Sync work with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible (whether their support is listed or not), as those standards are built off Adaptive Sync. Still, I’m pleased to see Alienware list official support. It reduces confusion and provides gamers confidence the monitor will work with their video card. Should you buy the Alienware AW2525HM? The Alienware AW2525HM is yet another competent entry in Alienware’s 2025 monitor lineup which, like its peers, is worth a look mostly because of its price. The monitor’s design isn’t remarkable, and while it does offer a couple USB-A ports and a wide range of ergonomic adjustment, its feature set is typical for a budget gaming monitor. But with a refresh rate of up to 320Hz, broad Adaptive Sync support, and a retail MSRP of just $250, the AW2525HM is a solid pick if you want great motion clarity on a budget. Read...