Many Windows 10 users are still struggling to take that leap of faith and switch over to Windows 11. The move has long seemed to be one that’s inevitable even if postponed for as long as possible, but data protection experts are now advising that it’s the smart move: don’t switch to Windows 11 and stay with Windows 10 if you care about privacy. The reason for this warning is that Microsoft is jeopardizing the security and privacy of its users with AI features like Recall (which we ourselves have tested and discouraged using). Furthermore, some agencies like the Centre for Digital Rights and Democracy allege that the permanent recording of screen content violates GDPR. Sensitive data—such as passwords, bank details, and medical information—can be recorded, which poses a threat to data privacy. The kicker? Experts believe that simply disabling Recall in Windows 11 is not enough. Microsoft states, for example, that Recall is limited to Copilot+ PCs. However, there’s evidence that Recall is present on every PC that’s running Windows 11 24H2. As long as the feature remains native to the operating system, it’s potentially activatable and thus “a massive risk.” Here are your options Data protection experts suggest various courses of action and explain how they would classify the resulting risk for Windows 11 users: Stay with Windows 10 as long as security updates are provided: This option is super effective, but only available until October 2026 when the Extended Security Updates program ends. Switch to Windows 11 and disable Recall: This option has limited effectiveness since the feature remains part of the operating system and can be reactivated through updates. Switch to Windows 11 and trust Microsoft’s default settings and assurances: Ha. This option isn’t effective at all and poses a potential risk as Microsoft can change course at any time. In fact, given that Windows 10 has a definite end date at which point it will no longer receive security updates and become a liability to use, data protection experts recommend switching to another secure operating system as soon as you can. If you want to switch to Linux, we’ve explained how to do that in this guide. Can Microsoft be trusted? The key question here is whether users can still trust Microsoft. In truth, Microsoft has bled trustworthiness with its lack of transparency and mishandling of issues over the past many years. As a private user, trusting Microsoft is ultimately a personal decision. However, in the case of public institutions and other administrative bodies, the Centre for Digital Rights and Democracy strongly discourages using Windows 11 for anything involving sensitive data. It’s also a matter of breaking Microsoft’s monopoly: “Beyond enforcing the GDPR, it is crucial to break Microsoft’s market monopoly and thus the indirect pressure to use the Windows operating system. Instead of spending millions of euros on licenses that violate the GDPR, the government should develop European data protection-compliant solutions. This would not only protect citizens’ data but also shift public investment, digital infrastructure, and the resulting value chain to Europe.” Further reading: Bye, Windows! Which Linux OS is right for you? Read...

If you spend most of your free time gaming, you need a proper computer to enjoy it to the fullest. If you’re still on a ratty gaming machine, or God forbid one that isn’t gaming-capable at all, then you owe it to yourself to level up to something like the Lenovo Legion 5. Best Buy is currently selling this gaming monster for $1,399, which is an enormous discount of $599.57 off its original price. What a deal! This gaming laptop features a 15.1-inch 2560×1600 (16:10) OLED screen with a speedy 165Hz refresh rate, which means you’ll not only have stunning visual clarity but also smooth visuals when watching shows and movies and while gaming. That OLED panel is gorgeous on the eyes, and that resolution is super spacious for productivity. As for performance, this laptop packs an AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor and 16GB of RAM as well as a speedy 512GB SSD that offers quick boot times and plenty of storage space. The best part about this setup, however, is the Blackwell RTX 5070 with 8GB of GDDR7 memory. This combination will easily handle any modern triple-A game you throw at it for years to come, as long as you play on reasonable settings. If you want a powerful gaming laptop at a steep discount, this is one to jump on. Get the Lenovo Legion 5 for $1,399 at Best Buy while this crazy deal is still around. Otherwise, if you want something notably more affordable, see our picks for the best gaming laptops under $1,000. Save $599.57 on Lenovo`s RTX 5070 laptop with 16GB RAMBuy now via Best Buy Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Functional design with a small stand base and tripod mounting Many image-quality features and adjustments 27-inch 5K panel looks extremely sharp Combo of high refresh rate, ELMB Sync, and ELMB 2 deliver on motion clarity Cons Odd VESA mount design USB-C port only provides 15 watts of power delivery Mid-tier contrast and color performance Our Verdict The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG delivers incredible sharpness both at rest and in motion thanks to the one-two punch of improved refresh rates and ELMB. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG Retailer Price $849 View Deal Asus $849 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices 5K monitors aren’t as exotic as they used to be. Once a rare option sold at prices several times higher than their 4K equivalents, 5K monitors are now available for well below $1,000. They’re also available with features that were once unthinkable, and the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is an example of that trend. It has a 5K IPS panel but also provides a refresh rate up to 180Hz at 5K, or 330Hz at 1440p. That’s a big leap over the 60Hz refresh rate 5K monitors have historically stuck with, but does it really make the XG27JCG a good pick for gaming? Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG specs and features The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG’s key feature is of course the Fast IPS LCD panel. It has a maximum resolution of 5120×2880 and a maximum refresh rate of 180Hz when overclocked.And if that refresh isn’t enough, or if your GPU can’t handle gaming at 5K resolution, you can lower the resolution to 2560×1440 and enjoy a refresh rate up to 330Hz. Display size: 27-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 5120×2880 Panel type: Fast IPS LCD Refresh rate: 165Hz/180Hz(OC) at 5K, or 330Hz at 1440p Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 600 Certified Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and up to 15 watts Power Delivery, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 upstream, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 downstream, 3.5mm audio pass-through Audio: No Extra Features: Tripod screw mount Software support: Windows 11, MacOS 12 or later Price: $849 MSRP 5K monitors with high refresh rates are new, so you might expect to pay a premium. Yet that’s not the case. The XG27JCG has a retail MSRP of $849, and while that’s not inexpensive, it’s actually towards the low end of 5K monitor pricing. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG design The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG embraces the company’s current tried-and-true design language. That means you’ll see a lot of matte-black plastic both front and back, as well as a prominent ROG logo with RGB-LED backlighting. The logo is compatible with Asus’ Aura Sync, so you can coordinate it with other devices.It’s a design that screams “I’m a gaming monitor!” at the top of its lungs, but it’s not as impressive as Asus’ ROG OLED monitors, which tend to use materials that look more impressive on the rear panel. Matthew Smith / Foundry An ergonomic stand is included with the monitor, as is typical for monitors in this price range. It has a compact, flat stand base that minimizes the monitor’s footprint on your desk. The stand adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and can pivot (rotate) 90 degrees for use in portrait orientation. A 100x100mm VESA mount is available for use with third-party monitor arms and stands. However, the monitor stand’s neck is affixed from the factory. You can remove it by prying off two plastic pieces and then unscrewing four screws. This reveals a 100x100mm VESA mount, but is a bit recessed, which may not work with some third-party monitor stands and arms. Asus sells an adapter for wall mounts that can resolve this issue. It’s a bit of an unusual design, and I don’t see the logic in it, because it doesn’t seem to provide a functional benefit or look remarkably more attractive than other monitors. Like many Asus ROG monitors, the XG27JCG has a nice extra: a 1/4-inch tripod screw mount. This mount is on top of the stand neck and can be used to attach a variety of handy peripherals, like an adjustable webcam arm or a ring light. Competitors rarely offer this feature, so if you want to mount some extra gear on your monitor, the XG27JCG is a great choice. Matthew Smith / Foundry Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG connectivity Connectivity can be a sore point for Asus ROG monitors, and while the ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG manages to offer some perks, it’s not quite where I would like it to be. The issue is the USB-C port. The monitor does have one, which is good, as it’s still not a guaranteed feature on a monitor marketed to gamers. However, the USB-C power only provides 15 watts of Power Delivery, which is generally not enough to charge a connected laptop at acceptable speeds. You’ll need another power source for the laptop, which increases cable clutter. I do understand why Asus would make this choice. Most Windows gaming laptops require 100 to 240 watts of power, which would require a more expensive USB-C power delivery implementation. Asus instead keeps USB-C power delivery simple, presumably to keep the price low. However, this is a 5K monitor, so it will appeal to not only gamers but also prosumers and professionals. The latter two demographics will be disappointed by the USB-C port. It’s not all bad news, though. The monitor has two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4, plus DisplayPort over USB-C, for a total of four video inputs. Most competitors have three inputs, though four is not uncommon. The XG27JCG also has a USB-A hub with three downstream USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. That’s a good range of USB-A connectivity for a monitor marketed as a gaming display. These can be driven by the USB-C port or a USB-B port, and a KVM switch function is included. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG menus and features Though it’s sold as a gaming display, the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG doesn’t skimp on the menu system or image quality adjustments. It includes specific sRGB and DCI-P3 color modes (in addition to the unspecified “wide gamut” which is the default), plus precisely targeted color temperature and gamma modes and six-axis color saturation adjustment. These features are handy if you’re trying to tune the monitor’s image for a specific look or standard. Matthew Smith / Foundry But the XG27JCG has a phalanx of gaming features, too. These include an FPS counter, a timer and stopwatch, on-screen cross hair and sniper modes, and shadow boost modes including a dynamic shadow boost that’s meant to engage automatically when needed (though I’m honestly not good enough at competitive shooters to say just how well this mode works). There’s also a lot of options for controlling refresh rate and an Extreme Low Motion Blur mode, which I’ll explain more in the motion performance section of this review. The cherry on top is Asus’ DisplayWidget. It’s a software utility that lets you adjust most display features from inside Windows or MacOS. While some competitors (like Dell, BenQ, and Acer) have similar software, some brands (like Samsung and LG) are notably behind in this area. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG audio The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG does not have built-in speakers. This is typical for a gaming monitor. A 3.5mm audio jack is available for audio pass-through. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG SDR image quality The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG has both advantages and disadvantages compared to the average $800 monitor. On the plus side, it provides super-sharp 5K resolution and many image quality adjustments. But on the downside, it uses a Fast IPS LCD panel, a typical display panel that can tend to have downsides in contrast and color gamut. So how does the monitor stack up in SDR? Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is SDR brightness, where the XG27JCG hits a maximum of 354 nits. As the graph shows, that’s okay but not towards the high end of SDR brightness. As you’ll see in the HDR section, the monitor does have the potential to get much brighter, and I would have liked to see that available as an option in SDR, too. However, 354 nits is still just fine for most situations, and in fact I generally used it around 20 to 40 percent of its maximum brightness. You only need to consider a brighter SDR monitor if you’re in an unusually bright setting, like an office where you can’t control the lighting, or a room with large sunlit windows. Matthew Smith / Foundry As mentioned, the XG27JCG has a Fast IPS LCD panel. IPS panels tend to have a limited contrast ratio, and the XG27JCG is not an exception. I measured a maximum contrast ratio of 1230:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness, and that value didn’t change much at other brightness settings. The issue here is the monitor’s backlight, which must shine through the LCD panel to make the display useful. The backlight often bleeds through noticeably in dark scenes, an issue known as “IPS glow.” This can make the image seem washed out in dark scenes. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut performance is better, though still only respectable. I measured a color gamut that spans 100 percent of sRGB, 94 percent of DCI-P3, and 87 percent of AdobeRGB. These figures are high enough to indicate a vivid image, but they’re a few steps behind leading competitors. It’s interesting to note that the Asus ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV has a much better color gamut. So, while the XG27JCG also provides 5K resolution, the ProArt is better if creative work is your primary goal. Matthew Smith / Foundry Having said that, the XG27JCG actually did rather well in terms of color accuracy. It achieved a color error that’s highly competitive with alternatives, and which should provide realistic color in most situations. But that doesn’t mean the image is actually superior to the ProArt, or to most alternatives, because I noticed small issues in gamma and color temperature performance. At default settings, the monitor posted a gamma curve of 2.4 (off the target of 2.2) and a color temperature of 7000K (off the target of 6500K). As a result, the image looked a bit darker and cooler than it should have. I found the color temperature value was easily adjusted in the User Mode color settings, which instantly snapped it to 6500K. But the gamma value was always high. I had to lower it to a menu setting of gamma 2.0 to achieve gamma 2.2. That’s definitely not a deal breaker, but it’s something to keep in mind if you are considering this monitor for creative work.Sharpness, of course, is a strength. The 27-inch 5K panel delivers a resolution of 218 pixels per inch. That’s close to the highest pixel density available (a 6K 32-inch monitor has similar pixel density). Only 8K monitors are significantly more pixel-dense, but they’re uncommon and expensive. 5K resolution is great if you work with high-resolution images or videos, of course, but it noticeably improves the readability of small fonts and is generally great if you read a lot of documents in your day-to-day workflow. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG HDR image quality The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is capable of HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. I found that it achieved the promised level of brightness with a measured maximum of 608 nits. Unlike an OLED display, which is dimmer when large portions of the display are lit in HDR, the XG27JCG produced a maximum of 608 nits in all scenarios.It’s not all good news, however. While the XG27JCG has a high HDR brightness, it lacks the dynamic contrast required to make HDR look its best. Because of how backlit LCD displays work, a bright HDR scene will generally lead to increased brightness in both dark and bright areas of the scene. That flattens contrast and also makes it hard for the XG27JCG to deliver the luminance detail expected.The XG27JCG includes a dynamic backlight feature that is better than average. Now, let’s be clear: This is not a Mini-LED display. A Mini-LED display will place lighting elements directly behind the LCD panel. The XG27JCG is edge-lit, meaning the lights are placed around the edges. As a result, the dynamic backlight feature will cause distracting light uniformity issues in any scene with a mix of bright and dark content. To give credit where it’s due, though, the XG27JCG’s dynamic backlight is better than average. It reacts with relative speed and appears to have more dimming zones than usual (though the exact number is not quoted, as is typical for edge-lit displays). I still don’t think it’s good enough to be of practical use, but it’s better than the norm for a dynamic backlight on an edge-lit LCD display. In addition, the XG27JCG allows HDR brightness adjustment. This is not the norm, as HDR typically locks brightness to that set by the content shown on-screen. That’s okay for a television, but annoying on a computer monitor. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG motion performance The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG’s resolution is the headline feature. However, the monitor’s motion clarity is worth just as much attention, for several reasons. First, the obvious one: refresh rate. The XG27JCG can do up to 165Hz at 5K resolution, or up to 180Hz when overclocked. That’s a big deal! 5K monitors have generally had much lower refresh rates (usually 60Hz). Increasing the refresh rate to 165Hz/180Hz provides a huge leap in smoothness and responsiveness. It’s not just for games, either. The lower latency that a high-refresh display provides can also be felt on the Windows and MacOS desktop. The monitor can also deliver 1440p resolution at up to 330Hz (this mode does not have an overclock available). Personally, I tend to play strategy titles most of all, and I really like the sharpness of 5K in those games. Plus, many can hit high frame rates alongside the resolution. Still, the 1440p/330Hz mode is a nice option if you want to play a more competitive game. Asus also provides adaptive refresh rate support through AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. That is typical for a high-end gaming monitor, of course. But Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) mode is where things get interesting.ELMB is a backlight strobing mode. It strobes the backlight at high frequencies such that a blank, black frame is shown between standard frames. Due to a quirk of human persistence of vision, this has the effect of reducing motion blur. ELMB is not new, and it’s not unique. Many brands offer similar features under different names. However, Asus is a leader in this technique, and proves that leadership with features not easy to find elsewhere. The first is ELMB Sync. A standard backlight strobing is not compatible with adaptive sync. That’s because the frequency of the strobing can be at odds with the dynamic refresh rate. ELMB Sync can get them back in sync, however, so you can use variable refresh rates with ELMB turned on. That’s a big win. The second is ELMB2. This version of ELMB takes advantage of the XG27JCG’s dynamic backlight to refine how the strobing works. Instead of turning the entire backlight on and off quickly, the edge-lit zones move down the display from top to bottom. It’s a bit like the scan line on an old CRT display. And, wow, is it effective. I’ve recently reviewed a number of 500Hz OLED monitors with absolutely astounding image quality. The XG27JCG isn’t quite at that level, but it’s much closer than it has any right to be. ELMB2 delivers incredibly crisp motion with a ton of detail. Even small text is readable as it zooms across the display. While ELMB Sync and ELMB2 are extremely useful, these modes come with some caveats. ELMB Sync is not compatible with dynamic dimming, aspect ratio control, and the blue light filter. ELMB2 additionally is not compatible with variable refresh rates and does not allow brightness control.Still, the XG27JCG’s overall motion performance is outstanding for a 5K monitor. Should you buy the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG? The ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is yet another terrific monitor from Asus, though one with niche appeal. Most gamers will be better served by a 4K OLED monitor, and most creative professionals will prefer a 5K display built specifically for work, which is likely to have a wider color gamut and more features to control monitor image quality. But if you want a monitor that’s great for both work and play, or you have a particular craving to play games at extremely high resolution (which can be quite possible if you enjoy older or less demanding games), the 5K XG27JCG is outstanding. It delivers incredible sharpness and clarity, and it does so at a competitive price. Read...

TL;DR: Get a PDF Agile PDF Editor Lifetime Subscription on sale for $40. PDF editors like Adobe Acrobat ask you to pay a monthly subscription to use one of the most common file formats in the world. If you want a cheaper alternative, PDF Agile for Windows gives you many of the same tools for life, and it’s on sale for $39.99 (reg. $119). PDF Agile lets you edit PDFs directly, even when they started as scans, so you don’t have to go back to the original Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file. For everyday reading and markup, you can switch between Read Mode, full-screen, and Slideshow, then add comments, highlights, underlines, strikethroughs, shapes, and freehand notes. If you want a little extra security, you can lock a file with a password, redact sensitive text or images so they are gone for good, and apply electronic signatures in three different ways. Extra features cover a lot of small jobs: compare two PDFs side by side, compress large files, merge or split documents, crop, reorder, or rotate pages, add page numbers and links, run OCR on scans and screenshots, search text, build bookmark structures, add a solid background, and even turn a PDF into a simple presentation view. PDF Agile is account-based, and this lifetime deal lets you use one account on two Windows devices at the same time. Right now, it’s only $39.99 to get a PDF Agile Lifetime Subscription. PDF Agile for Windows: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

James Milner will equal the Premier League appearance record if he features for Brighton on Sunday, 24 years after making his debut as a 16-year-old. Read...

It’s time to raise those monitors off your desk and enjoy all that extra space. This Huanuo dual monitor arm stand makes it easy to adjust your displays exactly how you need them, and it’ll only cost you $54.99 if you get it right now thanks to a 21% discount on Amazon. The mount is designed to hold two flat or curved screens ranging from 13 to 32 inches, which is pretty much most home office monitors excluding ultrawides (in which case you might prefer this other Huanuo monitor arm instead). This dual monitor arm stand can hold up to 19.8 pounds per arm, which should support nearly all in the supported size range. This Huanuo stand features a heavy-duty dual C-clamp and grommet base to secure to wooden desks. The monitors will be stable, and you’ll be able to adjust them exactly how you need them. The full-motion arms allow for extensive adjustments, including tilts, swivels, and full 360-degree rotations. In this way, you can bring your screens to optimal eye level (and your eyes, neck, and back will thank you). Take advantage of this fantastic limited-time deal while you can! Get the Huanuo dual monitor stand for just $54.99 on Amazon. Save 21% to put your two monitors on arms and never look backBuy now via Amazon Read...

Know what will make your home office experience so much better? A laptop docking station that’ll make it way easier to connect, disconnect, and reconnect all your accessories and peripherals at once. All it takes is a single USB-C and you’re ready to go. And what better docking station than this 12-port Baseus monster that’s now on sale for $75.99? That’s 24% off and the lowest price it’s ever been. This Baseus docking station features 12 ports: dual 4K/60Hz for monitors, four USB-A ports for peripherals and drives, dual USB-C data ports for drives, a USB-C power port with 100 watts of charging, SD and microSD card slots, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. This all-in-one hub is built to make life so much easier for laptop users who have tons of extra gadgets. You’ll be able to attach several more external displays, hook up flash drives and SSDs, move data from SD and microSD cards, and more. And when you need to leave home, just unplug the docking station from your laptop and go. When you come back, plug it in again and everything’s ready. Bam! There’s also a button on top that lets you quickly lock your laptop and enter energy-saving mode. Perfect for when you step away. Grab this 12-port Baseus docking station for $75.99 quick because this is a limited-time deal and it’s going to go soon. Score this laptop docking station for only $75.99 (24% off)Buy now via Amazon Read...

Microsoft is apparently integrating System Monitor (Sysmon) directly into Windows 11. This pro-level tool allows you to detect suspicious processes caused by malware or hackers on a Windows PC. Part of the popular Sysinternals suite, it’s free to download directly from Microsoft. Developed by software engineer Mark Russinovich, Sysmon is a proven system tool for ambitious, professional users that allows you to analyze all processes running on a Windows PC for suspicious activity. It significantly outperforms the built-in Windows event log. (Learn more about why Sysinternals is the best for troubleshooting Windows issues.) Sysmon is now native to Windows 11 In recent Windows Insider blog posts, Microsoft announced that Sysmon is now natively integrated into the operating system starting with Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 26300.7733 (Dev Channel) and 26220.7752 (Beta Channel). Microsoft writes: “Windows now brings Sysmon functionality natively to Windows. Sysmon functionality allows you to capture system events that can help with threat detection, and you can use custom configuration files to filter the events you want to monitor. The captured events are written on the Windows event log, enabling them to be used with security applications and a wide range of use cases.” If the standalone version of Sysmon is already installed on your Windows PC, you must uninstall it before enabling the native version. Users can enable and start using Sysmon in Windows Settings under Settings > System > Optional features > More Windows features (where Sysmon is disabled by default). Alternatively, you can enable Sysmon using the command line via either Command Prompt or PowerShell: Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Sysmon Afterwards, enter the following command: sysmon -i This will install the native Sysmon on your system using default configuration, start monitoring system activity, and start logging events. Further reading: I decided to reset my Windows due to these signs Read...

If I’m stuck using a single screen—which can happen on a laptop while on the go—it can take forever to get my tasks done. If you find yourself in the same predicament and wish there was a solution, have I got the deal for you: KYY’s dual-screen laptop extender conveniently adds two screens to either side of your laptop. Even better, it’s on sale! Get it now for $235.99 (was $299.99), the lowest price it’s ever been. This KYY laptop extender is portable, so you can easily take it with you anywhere, including coffee shops and libraries. It features two 15.6-inch 1080p IPS displays that attach to your laptop and turn it into a triple-screen setup for maximum productivity. It fits laptops from 12 to 17 inches, so no worries unless your laptop is an extreme outlier. A single USB-C cable is all it needs to handle both power and video, and it only weighs 4.85 pounds. The part that fits onto your laptop even comes with an adjustable kickstand, allowing you to angle the extra screens to your perfect preference. Note, however, that it’s only compatible with Windows laptops. Mac users avoid! Again, the price of this thing has never been lower. Get the KYY dual-screen laptop extender for $235.99 while this deal’s still active! Add two 15.6-inch 1080p screens to your laptop so easilyBuy now via Amazon Read...

ExpressVPN just launched a whole bunch of new products, officially expanding the popular VPN service into a full-blown security and privacy suite. The company behind one of our favorite VPNs is entering a new phase in its evolution—from a single-product VPN to an all-encompassing digital protection platform. Now with just one subscription to ExpressVPN, you’ll gain access to not only the VPN itself, but three other protections: ExpressKeys, ExpressMailGuard, and a revamped Identity Defender app. Additionally, the company has plans to roll out its own AI platform called ExpressAI to subscribers at a later date. All of these tools are available for Android and iOS users and while most of the new products are included with all subscription tiers—Basic, Advanced, and Pro—additional features for each are unlocked with the more expensive plans. ExpressKeys ExpressKeys password manager is a new standalone app for Android or iOS included with an ExpressVPN subscription. ExpressVPN ExpressVPN introduced its password manager as an extra security feature within its VPN in late 2023. But now it’s separating the two and giving ExpressKeys room to grow on its own as a dedicated app for Android and iOS.  This move signals a shift from “nice-to-have feature” to more of a core product for the company. The new ExpressKeys app is designed to allow for faster updates, deeper functionality, and more focused development. The new app delivers all of the essentials users expect from a password manager—secure password generation, password autofill, secure credential storage for payment information, biometric unlock on mobile devices, automatic syncing across devices, and password health features. These are all alongside zero-knowledge encryption meaning only the user can access their data.  Existing users of ExpressVPN’s Keys will be able to seamlessly switch as the integrated password manager sunsets after March 5 of this year. ExpressKeys will be available to all subscribers of either ExpressVPN’s Advanced or Pro tiers. ExpressMailGuard ExpressVPN The other new addition to ExpressVPN’s lineup is ExpressMailGuard, an email aliasing and inbox protection service. For those who aren’t familiar with an email protection system like this, they work by allowing users to generate disposable email aliases giving them much more control over spam, tracking, and unnecessary exposure online. At its core, ExpressMailGuard is about total control over your inbox. Email aliases can be used for sign-ups, subscriptions, or any other dodgy online service. Messages sent to these aliases are then forwarded from ExpressMailGuard to the user’s real inbox such as Gmail, Outlook, etc. Aliases can be blocked with the click of a button should they ever start attracting spam or suspicious traffic. A central dashboard shows which aliases are tied to which service, what’s being forwarded or blocked, and how email flows can be filtered or automated.  ExpressMailGuard allows you to create aliases that act as an extra layer of protection for your email accounts. Sam Singleton ExpressMailGuard also works with any email service and any device, making it dead simple to create and manage aliases across all of your existing email accounts. As Shay Peretz, COO of ExpressVPN states, “ExpressMailGuard is like a VPN for email. We’re making it easy for anyone to protect their real email address, reduce unwanted exposure, and manage aliases in one place, no matter which email provider they use.” ExpressMailGuard will be available to subscribers of all ExpressVPN tiers with unlimited aliases. Recipient email addresses, bandwidth limits, and alias domains are available to all tiers as well, but Advanced and Pro plans will include larger limits on all of these. Additionally, subscribers to the higher tiers will gain access to custom rule settings and other tweakable features. Identity Defender Finally, ExpressVPN is re-launching its Identity Defender security feature set as a standalone app. This will include all of the privacy and security tools it previously had such as monitoring of credit, public records, and online exposure, plus data removal services and identity theft insurance. Rather than bundling all of these into the VPN and website, users can now access them via a fully distinct app. It might now sound like a big change, and for many users this is the least impactful upgrade. But from a developer’s point-of-view, making Identity Defender a standalone app allows ExpressVPN to streamline future iterations and updates without worrying about integration with either the VPN or website. Think of it as the company taking the training wheels off and allowing Identity Defender and its developers to expand on their own. The new Identity Defender app is available now to all U.S.-based ExpressVPN subscribers. Read...