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  • How to Plan a Wedding That’s Beautiful, Affordable, and Stress-Free | Better Living

    Planning a wedding can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience. The thought of bringing together family, friends, and your significant other to celebrate your love is beautiful, but the process of organizing the event can quickly become stressful. Between choosing the right venue, picking the perfect dress, and managing the guest list, it’s easy to feel like the wedding will never come together.

    However, planning a wedding that is both beautiful and affordable is entirely possible with the right approach. By prioritizing what’s most important, staying organized, and keeping your goals realistic, you can create a memorable celebration without breaking the bank. Here’s how to plan a wedding that strikes the perfect balance of beauty, affordability, and peace of mind.

    1. Start with a Vision and Keep It Realistic

    Before diving into the details of your wedding, take a step back and define the overall vision for the day. Do you want a grand ceremony in a fancy ballroom, or are you looking for a more intimate gathering at a rustic venue? While it’s tempting to envision a lavish affair, it’s crucial to balance your dreams with what’s achievable for you.

    Creating a vision doesn’t mean you need to get caught up in every trend or Pinterest-worthy idea. Think about the atmosphere you want to create, the type of ceremony that feels most authentic to you and your partner, and the kind of celebration that makes you happiest. The clearer your vision, the easier it will be to make decisions down the road.

    2. The Importance of Creating a Wedding Budget

    One of the first steps in planning your wedding is to establish a wedding budget. This is often the most difficult part of the planning process, but it’s crucial for keeping your expenses in check. Without a budget, it’s easy to get carried away and overspend.

    Start by determining how much you and your partner, along with any family members, are comfortable contributing. Once you have a clear number in mind, break it down into different categories—venue, catering, attire, photography, flowers, and so on. This will help you see where you can allocate funds more efficiently and where you might need to make cuts. Be realistic about your priorities. While you may dream of an extravagant venue, perhaps a smaller, more affordable location could still give you the vibe you want.

    It’s also important to allow for a small buffer in your budget for unexpected costs. Weddings have a way of throwing surprises at you, and it’s always a good idea to have some flexibility built in. For more tips on managing your money wisely, check out our guide on financial planning.

    3. Choose the Right Venue

    The venue often sets the tone for the entire event. Whether you’re hosting an intimate garden ceremony or a large reception in a grand hall, the venue you choose will influence the overall aesthetic, atmosphere, and cost of the wedding.

    If you’re looking to save money, consider venues that offer all-inclusive packages. These can sometimes be more affordable than hiring separate vendors for each service. Alternatively, consider getting married at a local park, beach, or a family-owned property. Many couples have beautiful weddings at these more cost-effective locations, often with fewer restrictions and more freedom to personalize the space.

    When selecting your venue, keep in mind the number of guests you plan to invite, as the size of the venue directly impacts the cost. A smaller guest list typically means a smaller venue, and this can save you both money and stress.

    4. Simplify Your Wedding Attire

    Wedding dresses can be one of the most expensive items on the list, but they don’t have to be. Consider purchasing a pre-owned dress or exploring sales and sample sales for a more budget-friendly option. Many designers offer beautiful, affordable gowns that are both stylish and timeless.

    For grooms, rental options are plentiful for tuxedos or suits. Another cost-effective option is purchasing a suit that can be worn again for other events. This is not only practical but also adds to the overall value of your purchase.

    Bridal parties can also help reduce costs. Instead of expecting bridesmaids to purchase expensive dresses they may never wear again, opt for a more affordable look or choose a color palette and allow them to select their own outfits. This way, they have the flexibility to find something they’ll feel comfortable in and use again.

    5. Cut Costs with Catering and Food

    Catering can easily eat up a large portion of your wedding budget. One way to keep costs down is by opting for a buffet or family-style meal instead of plated dinner service. Buffets are often more affordable, and they allow guests to choose what they want to eat, which adds to the fun atmosphere.

    If you want to go even further, consider having a food truck or a potluck-style reception, depending on your wedding theme and vibe. If you’re planning a smaller wedding, hosting a brunch or cocktail-style reception with finger foods can also be a great and cost-effective alternative to a formal sit-down dinner.

    It’s also essential to consider the bar. A full bar can be expensive, so think about offering a limited selection of drinks, such as beer, wine, and a signature cocktail, rather than a fully stocked bar. This can reduce the overall bar costs while still offering a nice variety to your guests.

    6. Hire a Talented Photographer, but Be Selective

    Wedding photography is another significant expense. A professional photographer is a must if you want to capture the beauty of the day, but you don’t have to go with the most expensive option. Many talented photographers offer packages that are more affordable than those of high-end studios. Look for photographers who are just starting their business or those who offer discounts for weddings during off-peak seasons.

    See also

    Additionally, consider limiting the number of hours you need a photographer. Rather than hiring someone for an entire day, you may only need them for the ceremony and a few hours of the reception. By reducing the hours of coverage, you can lower the price while still getting the perfect shots.

    7. DIY Decorations for a Personal Touch

    While it can be tempting to splurge on extravagant floral arrangements or unique décor, there are plenty of ways to personalize your wedding without spending a fortune. Consider DIY options such as creating your own centerpieces, flower arrangements, or wedding favors.

    DIY projects can be a fun way to get family and friends involved in the planning process. Plus, you can make sure everything reflects your personal style. There are countless tutorials and ideas online for everything from creating your own bouquets to designing beautiful wedding signage. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete these projects so they don’t add to your stress as the wedding day approaches.

    8. Keep the Guest List Manageable

    One of the easiest ways to save money is by limiting the number of guests. While it’s tempting to invite everyone you know, a smaller guest list can drastically reduce your overall wedding costs, from the size of the venue to the amount of food and drinks needed.

    Think about the people who are truly important to you and your partner and focus on inviting them. Remember, your wedding is about celebrating your love, not about satisfying social expectations. A smaller, more intimate celebration can often feel more personal and meaningful.

    Conclusion

    Planning a wedding that is beautiful, affordable, and stress-free is entirely within your reach. By carefully managing your wedding budget, selecting a venue that fits your vision, and making thoughtful decisions about attire, catering, and décor, you can create an unforgettable celebration without breaking the bank.

    If you need extra support with managing wedding expenses, consider exploring ways to trim costs in other areas of your life. And don’t forget—wedding planning can be stressful, but maintaining good financial habits throughout the process will help you start your married life on solid ground.

    Most importantly, remember that the wedding day is about celebrating your love and commitment to one another. By keeping your priorities in mind and staying true to what matters most to you, you can create a wedding that’s both affordable and stress-free.

    Better Living uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no cost to you.

    Heather

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  • Yes, You Can Cook Filet Mignon at Home

    This post may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Oh Sweet Basil may receive compensation when you click on links to such products.

    Cooking filet mignon can feel a little intimidating because no one wants to mess up an expensive steak. But here’s the truth: once you know how to cook filet mignon the right way, it’s actually one of the easiest, most forgiving cuts of beef you can make at home.

    No grill required, no fancy chef skills needed, just a simple method that works every single time. Tender, juicy, restaurant-quality filet mignon made right in your own kitchen.

    In college there were only a couple of restaurants and quickly Texas Roadhouse became my favorite. A Dallas filet, loaded baked potato, no sour cream and house salad with ranch. It was my go-to and I’ve never forgotten that Dallas filet!

    Over the years, I have become such a home body though. Is that normal? Once you become “middle-aged”, hitting the town starts to lose it’s appeal? Is that thing? Well, it’s a thing for me, and going out for Valentine’s Day along with every other human just sounds blah! So I’m cooking a fancy (but so easy) dinner at home again this year. Filet mignon it is! All the fancy restaurants can eat their heart out!

    What You Need to Cook Filet Mignon at Home

    You only need a few simple ingredients to add flavor to the filets, a good cast iron skillet and a pair of tongs. It really is that easy! Oh, a meat thermometer is very helpful too if you have one!

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    • Filet Mignon: A tender, buttery cut of beef that cooks quickly and stays incredibly juicy.
      • PRO TIP: Look for evenly sized steaks so they cook at the same rate.
    • Kosher Salt: Enhances the natural flavor of the steak and helps create a beautiful crust.
    • Ground Black Pepper: Adds just enough warmth and bite to balance the richness of the filet without overpowering it.
    • Oil: Used to get a hot, even sear. Choose a neutral oil with a higher smoke point so the steak browns beautifully without burning.
    • Unsalted Butter: Melted into the pan at the end for basting, adding richness and that classic steakhouse flavor.
    • Garlic: Cloves infuse the butter with savory flavor as the steak finishes cooking.
    • Fresh Rosemary: Adds a subtle, woodsy flavor that makes the steak extra delicious.
    • Fresh Thyme: Brings a soft, earthy note that pairs perfectly with beef and butter for a restaurant-quality finish.
    a cast iron skillet with two seared filet mignons and a large spoon in the skillet

    How to Make Juicy Filet Mignon

    1. Prep: Pull the steaks from the fridge to come to room temperature. Season each steak heavily with salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 475°F.
    2. Sear: Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat for 3-5 minutes, then carefully drizzle with oil. Using tongs, gently place the steaks salted side down and sear for 2-3 minutes.
    3. Flip: Season the other side then flip the steak using the tongs and sear for another 2-3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat.
    4. Finish in the Oven: Add the butter, garlic and herbs to the skillet and place the skillet into the oven. Cook for 4-7 minutes.
      • NOTE: Use a meat thermometer in the thickest portion of the filet and pull from the oven when the internal temperature is 5 degrees below your desired doneness (see section below).
    5. Rest: Remove from the oven and tent with foil for 2-5 minutes. This step is crucial for a juicy filet mignon. Don’t skip it!
    6. Baste: Baste with butter and serve.
    a perfectly seared filet mignon in a cast iron skillet with a spoon next to it full of melted butter and herbs

    How to Tell when Filet Mignon is Done

    Everyone has their preferred level of doneness when it comes to steaks, so it’s completely up to you. Here are the internal temperatures for filet mignon:

    • Rare: 125°F (red with red juices)
    • Medium Rare: 130°F (deep pink with reddish juices)
    • Medium: 140°F (light pink with clearer juices)
    • Medium well: 150°F (gentle pink center with clear juices)
    • Well done: 160°F (fully cooked through, no longer pink at all, all grey meat)

    Common Mistakes to Avoid

    One of the biggest mistakes when cooking filet mignon is starting with a cold steak. It needs to be pulled out of the fridge early and brought to room temperature. Cooking a cold steak leads to uneven cooking.

    Filet mignon needs to be both pan seared first and then finished in the oven. A pan seared filet mignon has a delicious crust on the outside, but that isn’t enough to cook it all the way through. Finishing in the oven brings the steaks to a safe internal temperature. This is the best way to cook filet mignon.

    Once a steak is done, it’s so tempting to jump in and devour it, but the resting period is crucial. The juices redistribute while it rests making it even more tender and melt-in-your-mouth.

    the cross-section of a filet mignon with a pink and juicy center

    What to Serve with Filet Mignon

    For me, the perfect meal is filet mignon with some vegetables on the side, a starch and a carb…bread, yes, always bread! Here are a few of my favorites:

    Vegetables: Roasted Broccoli, Grilled Asparagus, or Strawberry Spinach Salad

    Starch: Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Herb Potatoes, or Baked Potatoes

    Bread: Herbed Focaccia, Crusty Artisan Loaf, or Potato Rolls

    Storing and Reheating

    Filet mignon is best eaten fresh, but if you have leftovers, they should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for 4-5 days. I actually prefer to slice leftovers so they are easier to reheat.

    When leftovers are cut into slices, then I just give each slice a quicky little sear in a skillet on the stove before serving. If the steak is still whole, I prefer to reheat it in the oven at 250 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. When I’m feeling really ambitious, I’ll reverse sear each side for about a minute to get that yummy crust back.

    two pan seared filet mignons in a cast iron skillet with a large silver spoon sitting next to them full of melted butter and herbs

    If you’ve ever wondered how restaurants get filet mignon so tender and flavorful, now you know! It’s not magic, and it’s definitely not complicated. With the right technique and a little confidence, you can cook filet mignon at home that’s just as impressive as anything you’d order at a restaurant.

    Whether it’s for an anniversary dinner, a Valentine’s dinner, or just because you’re craving a really good steak, this filet mignon steak recipe is one you’ll come back to again and again!

    More Elegant Dinner Ideas…

    Watch How to Make Filet Mignon at Home…

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    • Remove fillet steaks from fridge 30-60 minutes before cooking.

      2 Filet Mignons

    • Season heavily with kosher salt and pepper and let sit.

      Kosher Salt, Ground Black Pepper

    • Heat the oven to 475°F.

    • Using a cast iron pan, place over high heat for 3-5 minutes. Once hot, carefully drizzle in oil. Gently, using tongs, add the meat, salted side down.

      1 Tablespoon Oil

    • Sear the Filet Mignon for 2-3 minutes, seasoning the other side heavily with kosher salt and pepper. Cook another 2-3 minutes until browned with a nice crust. Quickly remove skillet from heat.

    • Add the butter, garlic, and herbs.

      2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, 2-3 Cloves Garlic, 2 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary, 2 Sprigs Fresh Thyme

    • Place directly in the oven and cook for 4-7 minutes depending on thickness. Use a meat thermometer in the thickest portion and go under the desired temp by 5 degrees (see note).

    • Remove from oven and tent with foil for 2-5 minutes. Baste with butter and serve.

    Rare: 125°F (red with red juices)
    Medium Rare: 130°F (deep pink with reddish juices)
    Medium: 140°F (light pink with clearer juices)
    Medium well: 150°F (gentle pink center with clear juices)
    Well done: 160°F (fully cooked through, no longer pink at all, all grey meat)

    Serving: 1filet, Calories: 445kcal, Protein: 69g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 22mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 0.04g, Vitamin A: 401IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 8mg

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    Sweet Basil

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  • Stronger Than Cancer: Know Your Risk

    “You have cancer.” They’re three words no one wants to hear. And for many people, by the time symptoms appear and a diagnosis is made, the disease has already progressed to a more serious stage. Whether you have a family history of cancer or simply want to be proactive about your health, it’s important to understand your cancer risk.

    In October, BayCare launched its Cancer Risk Assessment Program, which uses CancerIQ software to evaluate a patient’s risk for nine types of cancer: breast, colorectal, endometrial, gastric, kidney, lung, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate.

    Led by Dr. Peter Blumencranz, medical director of the BayCare Cancer Institute, and Erika Oschmann, an APRN who has worked with oncology patients for nearly a decade, the program is the only one of its kind in West Central Florida—a concept years in the making.

    Often, people don’t know they have cancer until they develop symptoms—such as a breast lump or unexplained weight loss—that prompt a doctor’s visit. This program is designed for those who don’t want to wait for symptoms or for the recommended age of routine screenings, such as age 45 for a mammogram or age 45 for a colonoscopy (previously 50). Identifying at-risk individuals earlier allows physicians to begin screenings sooner and detect cancer at more treatable stages.

    “What I want to see in the long run is—say you have a graph of stage 1 to stage 4 from left to right—can we move that curve so that over the next five years, instead of finding X number of patients who are already stage 3 or 4, we shift the curve to the left and find more stage 1s and 2s?” Dr. Blumencranz says.

    According to the Cancer Research Institute, there are more than 200 types of cancer — some named for the body part where they originate and others classified by the type of cell. Breast, prostate, lung and colorectal are the four most common.

    The initial assessment takes only three to five minutes and asks patients about their family cancer history, lifestyle factors such as smoking, and basic information like age, height and weight. It’s also free to complete.

    For patients identified as high risk, Oschmann meets with them to create a personalized care plan and screening schedule. Those who want to pursue further evaluation can take a longer assessment, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes—similar to filling out new patient paperwork. And even if you have a negative screening or negative genetic test, that doesn’t mean you’ll never develop cancer.

    “We don’t want lack of insurance or lower income to be a barrier, so we offer resources to help,” Oschmann says. For patients who qualify for genetic testing, the team can help secure coverage in 90% to 95% of cases.

    As of the first week of December, 450 people had taken the survey over a five-week period. About 100 of those individuals qualified for advanced screening or were considered high risk, and the program has engaged 50–70 of them—including a patient in whom an incidental lung nodule was discovered, despite not having smoked in 20 years.

    Screening for cancer is important, but lifestyle choices also play a key role, says Dr. Lary 

    Robinson, a thoracic surgeon at Moffitt Cancer Center. Obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, insufficient sleep and stress all contribute to cancer risk. A balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries and whole grains, combined with regular exercise and seven to nine hours of sleep a night, can help lower that risk.

    “You’re not a ‘prisoner of your genes,’” Robinson says. “You are in charge of your health, whether that is good or bad.”

    For those ready to take control of their health, take the survey at BayCare.org/KnowYourRisk to understand your cancer risk and take the first step toward early detection. 

    Don’t know where to start? Join one of Tampa Bay’s Run Clubs. Or if you need info on how to advertise with us, click here.

    Hayli Zuccola

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  • Networking 101 for Location Independent People – Dragos Roua

    When you become location independent, your network of people changes drastically from what you had when you lived in a stable place.

    You no longer have access to your high school friends. You lose touch with colleagues. Those decade-long neighbors, the people with whom you’d established solid contacts over years of shared proximity—they fade into occasional messages, random encounters or annual catch-ups.

    Your social life becomes significantly more frail.

    This is why networking for location independent people should be a priority. It’s how you discover, nurture, and maintain social contacts that will literally help you maintain your mental health.

    Here’s what worked for me, real insights from more than 10 years as a digital nomad.

    1. Be Available

    Being available means going out and actively pursuing social activities.

    When you live in a stable environment, you take this for granted. You don’t even think about networking unless your job requires meeting new people. Otherwise, you’re fine with what you have. The context provides everything you need—the office water cooler, the neighborhood barbecue, the school pickup line.

    But here, in the location independent life, you need to maintain an active approach.

    Being available means putting networking in your top five priorities, alongside generating income and aggressive budgeting—your financial resilience activities. Social resilience deserves the same intentional effort.

    2. Be Useful

    Every time you interact with someone, go out of your way to provide useful information.

    Whether it’s about job opportunities, how to navigate the neighborhood, or how to find promotions at the grocery store on the corner—you’re better off if you provide real advice, real data. Something actionable that people actually need.

    Every interaction is an opportunity to show you have something in your backpack. Some discovery. Some new coffee shop. Some local insight.

    For instance, I share a lot of insights with my friends about the jjimjilbang—the Korean bathhouse—in the neighborhood where I’ve been living for the last six months. It sounds small, but it helps strengthen relationships and bonds in surprisingly meaningful ways.

    Don’t just take from the network, try to give something back to it.

    3. Pursue Both Formalized and Unformalized Meetings

    By formalized, I mean: meetups, organized groups, things through your job context, or anything set up in a structured way.

    By unformalized, I mean: coffee shops, bars, live events, impromptu gatherings like concerts—anything that isn’t a specific networking event.

    In my experience, the impact of both is about 50/50. Both are important. Both are necessary.

    Don’t only try making friends with the barista from your favorite coffee shop. And don’t rely solely on the regular meetups you find on apps in your local neighborhood.

    You need both.

    A Word of Caution

    I’ve found that unformalized events work better for long-term emotional support, while formalized events work better for long-term business support.

    This makes sense when you think about the context in which you meet people. At a meetup, everyone’s there with some agenda—learning, networking, professional development. At a random bar or concert, people are just being human. The connections form differently.

    Build both types of relationships. You’ll need them both.

    4. Build Beyond the Couple

    Let’s say you already have a location independent lifestyle within a couple. Your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, or husband travels with you, and you function well together as a unit.

    This is already a big step forward. Having a partner will greatly reduce the feelings of isolation, the sense of being lost, and the lack of social connection that can otherwise erode your mental health.

    However, even with a solid couple life, you still need to go out and meet new people.

    New people who help you regulate different parts of your activity—the business level, the sport level, the intellectual level. You may have a group you play padel with, a group you play Scrabble with, a group you go hiking with. You might only see these people every four or six months as your travels loop back through certain cities. But they need to be part of your life.

    The strength of a couple unit is significant. It’s vastly better than traveling alone.

    But in time, even this can be crushed. The pressure of loneliness—when you have no one but each other—can make the whole structure implode from within. The relationship starts carrying weight it was never designed to bear. Every social need, every intellectual conversation, every moment of external validation flows through one person.

    Take care of the social health of your relationship by building connections outside the couple. Your partnership will be stronger for it.

    dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)

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  • The WIRED Guide to Digital Opsec for Teens

    Expand your mind, man. Opsec is really all about time travel—taking small, protective steps now before you have a disaster on your hands later. If you’re not on auto-delete, then an explosive, emotional text exchange with the person you’re currently dating—or, ahem, photos you sent to each other—will hang around forever. It’s normal for things to change and for relationships of all types to come and go. You may trust someone and be close to them now but grow apart in a year or two.

    If you imagine an even more extreme scenario where you’re being investigated by the police, they could obtain warrants to search your digital accounts or devices. People have to go to great lengths to maintain their opsec if they’re trying to hide activity from law enforcement. To be clear, this guide is definitely not encouraging you to do crimes. Don’t do crimes! The goal is just to understand the value of keeping basic opsec principles in mind, because if some of your digital information is revealed haphazardly or out of context, it could, theoretically, appear incriminating.

    You probably intuitively understand a lot of this. Don’t give your password to friends, duh.) So this guide is going to largely skip the obvious and emphasize more subtle, unintended consequences of failing to practice good opsec.

    Memorable Opsec Fails

    “Signalgate,” 2025: US officials discussed war plans in a group chat on the mainstream, secure messaging app Signal. Then they accidentally added a journalist to the chat. Subsequently, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth famously (embarrassingly) messaged the chat, “we are currently clean on OPSEC.” At least some members of the chat were also potentially using a modified, insecure version of Signal. All extremely not clean on opsec.

    Gmail Drafts Exposed, 2012: Then-CIA director David Petraeus and his paramour shared a Gmail account to hide their communications by leaving them for each other to see as draft messages. Kind of ingenious given that this was before most texting or messaging apps offered timed disappearing/ephemeral messages, but the FBI figured out the strategy.

    Identities

    Opsec is all about compartmentalizing, and that’s the hardest part. Failure to compartmentalize is often how criminals get caught or how information that was meant to stay secret gets exposed. Think of your online life like rooms in a house. Each room has a separate key. If someone breaks into one room, they can grab everything there, but you don’t want them to be able to run wild beyond that room.

    You can have multiple identities online and compartmentalize the activities of each, but it takes forethought to maintain the separation. There’s the real you who uses your main Gmail or Apple ID for personal and family stuff and social accounts where you use your real name, plus school and maybe work. Another compartment is your school email and school file storage. Then there’s your more adaptable, online personas who may have semi-anonymous handles, like jnd03 for Jane Doe. Friends know that these accounts are yours and classmates can probably guess them. Finally, there may be a pseudonymous you: alt accounts with no obvious link to real you—like Jane Doe using the handles “_aksdi0_0” or “peter_mayfield01.”

    Rules of Separation

    You have accounts under your real name, but you probably also need pseudonymous accounts. Tight compartmentalization will prevent people from doxing your pseudonymous accounts. But that’s easier said than done.

    Obviously, don’t recycle usernames across platforms. If JaneD03 is your Instagram handle, don’t use it or a similar name for your anonymous Reddit account. Don’t even reuse passwords—but especially don’t reuse passwords between real and pseudonymous accounts. To prevent a compromised pseudonymous account from revealing your name, don’t use your main email address; instead, use a unique, pseudonymous one. Gmail “dot tricks” (jane.doe@, j.ane.doe@) don’t count, because they all equally reveal your master account.

    JP Aumasson, Lily Hay Newman

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  • How to Get the Perfect Surround Sound Speaker Setup

    Of course, promise is not the same as deliver—and just as with those soundbars that want to replicate the effects of a surround sound setup, it’s difficult in the extreme to create a sensation of spatial audio without the physical equipment necessary.

    For home cinema, the words ‘spatial audio’ can confidently be swapped for ‘3D sound’. Unlike a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound setup, which creates a circle of sound around the listener, a spatial audio system creates a dome, where sound is delivered from above, as well as from the front, sides and rear.

    Imagine your 7.1-channel system, and add four overhead speakers that have their own discrete information contained within the soundtrack. What you have now is a 7.1.4 system, and any content that’s been mixed specifically for a spatial audio system has an extraordinary amount of scope for the steering of effects within the dome of sound the system can create.

    The best way to achieve a spatial audio effect from height channels is by precisely positioning speakers into the ceiling of your home cinema room. I hardly need to tell you that is is a relatively complicated process, and never what you might be tempted to call “cheap.” That is why a number of loudspeaker brands have developed upwards-firing modules that are designed to sit on top of some of the speaker cabinets in your surround sound setup, and reflect sound off the ceiling in an effort to replicate the effect of overhead speakers. It’s a similar method to those spatial audio soundbars with drivers that face upwards—but obviously on a larger scale.

    Does Surround Sound Actually Sound Better?

    For the most dedicated movie fans, the answer here is undoubtedly yes—if you choose to invest in a surround sound setup, the sound that accompanies the movies you watch will be completely transformed. Whether it’s right for you, your budget and your space is a very different question, and it’s worth weighing up the other options for improving your home cinema sound before you invest.

    Surround Sound vs Stereo Sound

    Which is “better” between surround sound and stereo sound isn’t really an absolute here—it’s a bit like trying to decide which is better between apples or onions. It’s fair to say, though, that if your primary interest is in home cinema rather than in music, a surround sound setup is going to bring you far closer to the objectives of the filmmaker (and their sound designer) than a stereo alternative has a hope of doing.

    All movie soundtracks will have been mixed to be delivered by a surround sound setup, and that’s true whether you’re getting your movie from a streaming service or via legacy media such as 4K Blu-ray. There will be a stereo downmix available for those listening through a TV or stereo system, of course, but the true intentions of a surround sound mix will only become apparent if it’s heard through a surround sound system.

    Surround Sound vs Soundbars

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    For anyone trying to decide between surround sound and a soundbar, what’s best will come down to your budget and/or the space you have—plus how much you really watch movies, and want the full-on home cinema experience. Yes, a soundbar is more convenient than a surround sound setup, and it’s almost certainly more affordable. But is it a surround sound solution? You already know the answer to that one.

    Simon Lucas

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  • Use Google Gemini and ChatGPT to Organize Your Life With Scheduled Actions

    The developers of the big generative AI chatbots are continuing to push out new features at a rapid rate, as they bid to make sure their bot is the one you turn to whenever you need some assistance from artificial intelligence.

    One of the latest updates to Google Gemini gives you the ability to set up scheduled actions. These are exactly what they sound like: Tasks that you can get Google Gemini to run automatically, on a schedule. Maybe you want a weather and news report every morning at 7 am, or perhaps you want an evening meal suggestion every evening at 7 pm. Anything you can already get Gemini to do, you can schedule.

    It brings Gemini up to speed in this regard with the ChatGPT app, which introduced scheduled tasks several months ago. The idea here is more or less the same: The bot can carry out your commands at a specific point in the future, and keep repeating them if you need to. Here’s how the feature works on both platforms.

    Using Scheduled Actions in Gemini

    Editing a scheduled action in Gemini.David Nield

    At the time of writing, this requires a subscription to Google’s AI service, which starts at $20 a month for Google AI Pro. The chatbot can keep track of up to 10 scheduled actions at once, so you need to be quite selective about how you use it. You can use scheduled actions in Gemini on the web, and in the mobile apps for Android and iOS.

    All you need to do to create a scheduled action in Gemini is to describe it, and include the scheduling details in the prompt. For example, you might tell Gemini to “generate an image of a cat playing with a ball of yarn, every Monday at 12 pm,” or “give me a general knowledge trivia question every evening at 7 pm.”

    Scheduled actions can be set to happen once—like next Friday at 3pm, so something happens on a specific day at a specific time. Alternatively, your actions can run on a recurring daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They can’t be set on a more complicated cadence (such as every second Tuesday in the month), or surprise you at random.

    Gemini should recognize that you’ve asked it to schedule something, and will present a recap: What you’ve asked it to do, when, and how frequently. Assuming it’s got all of this information correct, you don’t need to do anything else. The action runs regardless of whether you have Gemini open at the time, and you’ll be alerted to an action running by a notification on your devices (if you’ve got them turned on) and an email.

    David Nield

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  • I Ditched Alexa and Upgraded My Smart Home

    Until recently, my smart home setup was in chaos. After years of testing, buying, and upgrading to the latest smart home gadgets in an attempt to make my life easier, it became a bloated mess that was actually making it more complicated.

    My Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home apps were awash with dead devices, duplicates, and automations that simply didn’t work. My Hue Bridge, trying desperately to tie it all together, was creaking at the seams. And the more advanced platforms I hadn’t quite committed to, such as Homey and SmartThings, were fighting each other for bandwidth on an already congested network.

    I was basically employed as full-time tech support in my own house, just to stop the kids moaning that their lights weren’t working … again. It was time for a reset—a chance to embark on a total rethink of what a comprehensive smart home in 2025 should look like. If that sounds daunting, it needn’t be. Here’s how I gave my smart home a much-needed reboot and brought harmony to my house once more.

    Bye Bye, Alexa

    A lot of people reading this probably walked the same path I did, of adding devices to Alexa early on because it was easy, then losing control as the smart home boom outpaced the platform that was meant to keep everything in sync.

    This meant I ended up running a network of prosumer-grade smart home products on an operating system that, let’s face it, was designed to add dishwasher tablets to a shopping list and remind the kids to brush their teeth. It’s not ever really been cut out to manage low-latency state changes across a hundred different devices.

    Alexa has got better for moderate smart home users though, with Amazon adding things like Zigbee radios, Matter controller and Thread Border Router features to the mix in recent years—all of which give it a bit more flexibility. But it is still more of a great digital assistant than dedicated smart home system, and anyone looking to build something serious should look elsewhere.

    I had already started porting some stuff over to HomeKit a while ago and Apple’s ecosystem is actually a vastly superior one to Amazon’s for the smart home—it’s well worth considering if you’re all in on iOS and devices like Apple TV and HomePod, especially with the Thread radio now built into most modern iPhones too.

    Paul Lamkin

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  • I’m a Smart-Home Writer and This Is How I’m Automating My Holiday Parties

    There’s an automated solution, though. For my latest parties, I brought the HP Sprocket Photo Booth Machine ($600), and it was a hit. It’s a 21-inch-tall, portable photo booth that both automatically prints 3 x 4-inch pictures and lets you download digital versions via a QR code. I love that you can create events on the device and set up customized filters—mine had the word “Soupsgiving” on the bottom, though it was in an incredibly small font compared to the regular filter designs—and you can also add settings like how many prints of one picture guests can print. We left the default setting of two on for the soup-themed Friendsgiving, but I think I’ll bump it up to at least three for future gatherings. Make sure to stock up on HP’s Zink paper packs ($40 for 50) for the photo booth to print with, especially if it’s a big gathering. It will need both Wi-Fi access and a power outlet.

    HP

    Sprocket Photo Booth Machine

    Sprocket Zink Photo Paper

    How to Automate Your Appetizers

    Feeding a crowd is hard. Feeding a crowd that includes some serious allergies and dietary restrictions doesn’t make it any easier. In the spirit of automating everything I could, I turned to ChatGPT to come up with my appetizer for a group that featured two vegetarians and someone whose allergies include avocado, beans, shellfish, and eggs. (Getting those two sets of friends their protein needs at the same time has a singular overlap in the Venn diagram of what they can all eat: tofu.)

    ChatGPT did a good job brainstorming some possible options, and when I asked for a holiday angle, it came up with new options that were nice and seasonal. I chose to go with the lowest-lift option—pomegranate and ricotta crostini—but the baked brie bites were a big contender too. I was able to have this digital conversation and get the recipes all on ChatGPT’s free tier, but you can hit the paywall when you ask too many questions or ask things that need more research from the artificial intelligence.

    How to Automate Your Cooking

    Fellow WIRED reviewer Matthew Korfhage is currently testing two different robots that will cook your dishes for you, but in the meantime, the closest I’ve found is the 10-in-1 Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro ($119). You can choose from options ranging from sear and slow cook to sous vide and even bake. It turned my broccoli-cheddar soup experiment (I was on a quest to replicate my favorite Panera soup for Soupgiving) into a one-pot dish where I could sauté my onions, stir up my béchamel, and then mix in all my ingredients and let it simmer until done. It even comes with an integrated utensil.

    It was really helpful to use in an already busy kitchen, and I imagine it would be indispensable for big, Thanksgiving-style dinners where the stove and oven are monopolized. While I still had to do the cooking, I was able to hang out in my own little spot and let the PossibleCooker help me. It has a timer in the front to help remind me how long I’ve been cooking on a setting, though I do wish there were a medium setting (your choices are low and high for the cooktop settings).

    Photograph: Nena Farrell

    Ninja

    Foodi PossibleCooker Pro

    Automate Your Food Disposal

    There are a lot of food scraps when you’re cooking for events like Thanksgiving and holiday dinner parties. I really loved grabbing the canister from the FoodCycler and bringing it next to where we were cooking soups so everyone could throw their food scraps in as we went. When it’s full, just set it in the machine and it will grind-and-dry the scraps (or leftovers!) into a sort of nutrient-rich meal that can be mixed in with potting soil or sprinkled on your lawn. I have the new FoodCycler Eco 5, and WIRED reviewer Kat Merck recommends the FoodCycler Eco 3 as one of her favorite home food recyclers.

    FoodCycler

    Eco 3 Compact Kitchen Food Recycler

    What Else I’m Testing This Holiday Season

    The holiday season is only just starting, and I’ll be testing more gadgets and gear all season long. Here’s some of what I’m testing next:

    The Bartesian Cocktail Maker ($349): This cocktail maker promises to be the Keurig of cocktail machines, with capsules for cocktail mixes instead of coffee. You’ll need to bring your own liquor, but once you fill up the included containers with the liquid, the machine should be able to take it from there. I’ll be testing some of the fun holiday cocktails too.

    Nena Farrell

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  • I’ve Been Writing About Black Friday for 12 Years. Here’s My Advice

    Black Friday used to actually just be one day long. Shoppers would camp outside of stores, paper circulars in hand, eagerly awaiting the chance to bust down some doors and save a ton of cash. Over time, the sales event has grown. Now, the entire month of November is a hydra where the heads are “slashed prices” and the sword-wielding hero is an overwhelmed customer.

    Nearly every deal is available online, meaning you don’t need to leave the couch to participate. But all the marketing and chaos can get confusing. How can you tell if a deal is worth your time and money? When do sales start and end? Do you really need that gadget? I’m a Black Friday veteran who’s been shopping the sales since early childhood and writing about them since 2013, and I’m here to help.

    When Is Black Friday?

    In 2025, Black Friday falls on November 28. It’s followed by Cyber Monday on December 1, 2025. Most of the official sales start on Wednesday or Thanksgiving, though some of the best deals start on Friday, sometime in the early hours.

    I have been Black Friday shopping for over 20 years. My advice, if you’re on the hunt for killer deals, is to stay up late the day before Thanksgiving to check for online sales starting around midnight Eastern time on Wednesday, November 26. WIRED will also cover major sales later in the day on Thanksgiving. Early Black Friday deals are available now, as they usually are during the weeks leading up to the event.

    Can You Get Black Friday Deals Online?

    You can—and should. We exclusively cover online deals at WIRED because the majority of Black Friday deals are available on the web. The best deals often sell out quickly, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to your favorite store’s sale pages (and our coverage).

    Make a list of what you want to buy ahead of time—this can help you keep a clear head when it’s time to start shopping. You shouldn’t buy things just to buy them. Everyone’s on a tighter budget these days; sales will happen again. Take a deep breath and don’t get sucked into the frenzy.

    Which Retailers Will Have Black Friday Deals?

    Nearly all of them. There are obvious stores, like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, but chances are every retailer and brand will have some sort of sale, spanning deals on clothing, shoes, books, electric scooters, tech, health and beauty items, or fitness specialty goods, to name just a few categories. There might even be promotions going on at your favorite coffee shop or restaurant. When in doubt, visit a retailer’s website. Usually, Black Friday sales are highlighted proudly on the homepage.

    Here are a few Black Friday sales pages from major retailers:

    Is Black Friday Worth It?

    In a word: Usually. Most of the time, Black Friday deals are the best we see all year, and they set the precedent for what dictates a good price in the months that follow.

    However, some Black Friday deals aren’t all that great or are repetitive from year to year. For instance, you’ll predictably see low prices on some smart-home tech, like the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini. In previous years, those speakers have sold for around $20 or so, every single November. This year, they’ll probably dip to the same price. Even if a price is technically a historic low, consider whether you truly need another cheap little speaker before you place your order—especially considering that these deals tend to pop up repeatedly throughout the year.

    Discounts aren’t jaw-dropping if the products go on sale every few months, and unfortunately, we have seen more and more repeat sales as the shopping holidays start to blur into one big ball of madness. But the deals are still worth it if you are in the market for a specific item and want to save some cash. Just keep in mind that price research is important, and if you miss out on a deal, don’t fret; there’s a strong chance it will come around again at some point in the future.

    How Much Money Can I Save on Black Friday?

    That depends on what you’re shopping for. There are so many deals up for grabs in so many categories that it’s impossible to list them all here.

    For example, TVs are usually a great purchase to make around Black Friday, if you can find the right model. They are at their cheapest this time of year, especially if you don’t want to wait until Super Bowl season. In the same vein, you’ll be able to save on clothes, toys, and home goods, but those deals may not be as enticing when you look at specific dollar amounts. It’s safe to assume that everything is less expensive than usual, though.

    Louryn Strampe

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  • Capturing the northern lights: How to take the best photos of auroras

    Multiple parts of the United States were treated to mesmerizing colors from the aurora borealis, or northern lights, in the sky Tuesday night. This is because of a severe geomagnetic storm triggered by solar flares. Related video above: Weather Talk — How do I know if we can see the Northern Lights?The lights can appear faint when looked at with the naked eye, but with the right camera settings, the different colors and waves can be seen in photos.Forecasters say there is still a chance that some regions would get to catch the lights on Wednesday night. Here’s how to take the best photos of them:Using nighttime picture-taking settingsMost newer versions of iPhone and Android phones have a setting for taking pictures in low light. This slows the shutter speed, allowing more light in and taking a clearer picture. Here’s how to adjust settings on iPhone and Android devices like Samsung phones or Google Pixel phones. It’s important to hold your phone steady or use a tripod so your image does not end up blurry.Video below: Check out these dazzling photos of Tuesday night’s northern lights in IowaThere’s an app for that, tooThere are also apps available that are specifically designed to help you take pictures of the northern lights. Check the app stores on your iPhones or Android devices.Be in the right place at the right timeArtificial light pollution can decrease your chances of catching the best colors, so it is best to get away from cities and into rural areas for picture-taking. There will be more visibility the farther north you can get. Any time after it gets dark outside and before midnight will be the best opportunity. Related video below: What causes the colors you see with the northern lights?

    DES MOINES, Iowa —

    Multiple parts of the United States were treated to mesmerizing colors from the aurora borealis, or northern lights, in the sky Tuesday night. This is because of a severe geomagnetic storm triggered by solar flares.

    Related video above: Weather Talk — How do I know if we can see the Northern Lights?

    The lights can appear faint when looked at with the naked eye, but with the right camera settings, the different colors and waves can be seen in photos.

    Forecasters say there is still a chance that some regions would get to catch the lights on Wednesday night. Here’s how to take the best photos of them:

    Using nighttime picture-taking settings

    Most newer versions of iPhone and Android phones have a setting for taking pictures in low light. This slows the shutter speed, allowing more light in and taking a clearer picture. Here’s how to adjust settings on iPhone and Android devices like Samsung phones or Google Pixel phones.

    It’s important to hold your phone steady or use a tripod so your image does not end up blurry.

    Video below: Check out these dazzling photos of Tuesday night’s northern lights in Iowa

    There’s an app for that, too

    There are also apps available that are specifically designed to help you take pictures of the northern lights. Check the app stores on your iPhones or Android devices.

    Be in the right place at the right time

    Artificial light pollution can decrease your chances of catching the best colors, so it is best to get away from cities and into rural areas for picture-taking.

    There will be more visibility the farther north you can get. Any time after it gets dark outside and before midnight will be the best opportunity.

    Related video below: What causes the colors you see with the northern lights?

    Source link

  • Capturing the northern lights: How to take the best photos of auroras

    Multiple parts of the United States were treated to mesmerizing colors from the aurora borealis, or northern lights, in the sky Tuesday night. This is because of a severe geomagnetic storm triggered by solar flares. Related video above: Weather Talk — How do I know if we can see the Northern Lights?The lights can appear faint when looked at with the naked eye, but with the right camera settings, the different colors and waves can be seen in photos.Forecasters say there is still a chance that some regions would get to catch the lights on Wednesday night. Here’s how to take the best photos of them:Using nighttime picture-taking settingsMost newer versions of iPhone and Android phones have a setting for taking pictures in low light. This slows the shutter speed, allowing more light in and taking a clearer picture. Here’s how to adjust settings on iPhone and Android devices like Samsung phones or Google Pixel phones. It’s important to hold your phone steady or use a tripod so your image does not end up blurry.Video below: Check out these dazzling photos of Tuesday night’s northern lights in IowaThere’s an app for that, tooThere are also apps available that are specifically designed to help you take pictures of the northern lights. Check the app stores on your iPhones or Android devices.Be in the right place at the right timeArtificial light pollution can decrease your chances of catching the best colors, so it is best to get away from cities and into rural areas for picture-taking. There will be more visibility the farther north you can get. Any time after it gets dark outside and before midnight will be the best opportunity. Related video below: What causes the colors you see with the northern lights?

    DES MOINES, Iowa —

    Multiple parts of the United States were treated to mesmerizing colors from the aurora borealis, or northern lights, in the sky Tuesday night. This is because of a severe geomagnetic storm triggered by solar flares.

    Related video above: Weather Talk — How do I know if we can see the Northern Lights?

    The lights can appear faint when looked at with the naked eye, but with the right camera settings, the different colors and waves can be seen in photos.

    Forecasters say there is still a chance that some regions would get to catch the lights on Wednesday night. Here’s how to take the best photos of them:

    Using nighttime picture-taking settings

    Most newer versions of iPhone and Android phones have a setting for taking pictures in low light. This slows the shutter speed, allowing more light in and taking a clearer picture. Here’s how to adjust settings on iPhone and Android devices like Samsung phones or Google Pixel phones.

    It’s important to hold your phone steady or use a tripod so your image does not end up blurry.

    Video below: Check out these dazzling photos of Tuesday night’s northern lights in Iowa

    There’s an app for that, too

    There are also apps available that are specifically designed to help you take pictures of the northern lights. Check the app stores on your iPhones or Android devices.

    Be in the right place at the right time

    Artificial light pollution can decrease your chances of catching the best colors, so it is best to get away from cities and into rural areas for picture-taking.

    There will be more visibility the farther north you can get. Any time after it gets dark outside and before midnight will be the best opportunity.

    Related video below: What causes the colors you see with the northern lights?

    Source link

  • 5 social media safety tips to protect your privacy online

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Let’s face it: Social media can feel like a minefield. Between oversharing personal details, friend requests from strangers and sneaky scams sliding into your DMs, it’s easy to put yourself at risk without realizing it. But staying safe online doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few smart settings and habits, you can enjoy social media without giving away more than you mean to.

    Settings and menus on social media platforms can change over time and may vary by device (iOS vs. Android vs. Web) or region. The steps below were accurate at the time of publishing, but you may see slightly different wording or paths depending on updates, app version or mobile device manufacturer.

    Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
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    HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PERSONAL INFO FROM PEOPLE-SEARCH SITES

    1) Turn off Location Sharing

    Many apps automatically tag your posts with your location. That can let strangers know your routines or even your home address.

    Scammers have a harder time learning about your life the less you share online.    (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    How to turn off Location Sharing

    On iPhone

    • Go to Settings.
    • Click Privacy & Security.
    • Tap Location Services.
    • Then pick the app.
    • Set it to “Never” or “While Using the App.”

    On Android

    (Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.)

    • Go to Settings.
    • Tap Location.
    • Click App permissions.
    • Then select the app and toggle location off or select Don’t allow.

    Note: Some apps may still have permission for “While using the app” or “Only this time.” So, you should check each app individually, especially camera and social-media apps, for location permissions.

    Pro tip: Even turning off location for just your camera app helps keep photos from carrying hidden location data.

    META TO ALLOW TEENS’ PARENTS TO DISABLE PRIVATE CHATS WITH AI AFTER BACKLASH OVER FLIRTY CHATBOTS

    A child holds an iPhone at an Apple store on Sept. 25, 2015 in Chicago.

    Parents — and even some teens — are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media use on young people. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

    2) Use a private account

    A private account means only people you approve can see your posts and photos. Think of it like putting a lock on your front door.

    How to set private accounts

    Facebook

    • Go to Settings & Privacy.
    • Tap Settings.
    • Scroll to the Audience & Visibility (or Your Activity) section.
    • Click Posts.
    • Find “Who can see your future posts?” and set it to Friends.

    Instagram

    • Tap your profile.
    • Tap the menu (☰).
    • Tap Account Privacy.
    • Toggle on Private account.

    TikTok

    • Go to your Profile.
    • Tap the menu (☰).
    • Select Settings and privacy.
    • Tap Privacy.
    • Toggle on Private account.

    X (formerly Twitter)

    • Click on your profile icon in the top left of the screen.
    • Open Settings and privacy.
    • Select Privacy and safety.
    • Tap Audience and tagging.
    • Toggle Protect your posts (or Protect your Tweets).
    • Once enabled, only approved followers can see your posts.

    Snapchat

    • Open Settings (gear icon).
    • Scroll to Privacy Controls.
    • Under “Who Can,” adjust options like Contact Me, View My Story and See Me in Quick Add to Friends only.

    YouTube

    • Go to your YouTube Studio (desktop or mobile app).
    • When uploading, set visibility to Private or Unlisted.
    • For existing videos, open the video’s settings and change visibility as needed.

    Note: Entire channels cannot be made private, only individual videos.

    LinkedIn

    • Tap your profile photo
    • Settings.
    • Go to Visibility.
    • Under Profile viewing options, select Private mode.
    • You can also control who sees your connections and activity under “Visibility of your LinkedIn activity.”
    identity theft tech scam

    Identity theft has become so commonplace that it no longer shocks you to hear about the latest scam. (Cyberguy.com)

    3) Report suspicious accounts

    Fake profiles are everywhere. Scammers may pose as friends, celebrities or even customer service reps. Reporting them helps keep you (and others) safe.

    How to report an account

    Facebook

    • Go to the fake or impersonating profile.
    • Tap the three-dot menu (Options).
    • Select Find support or report profile.
    • Choose a reason, such as pretending to be someone else.
    • Follow the on-screen prompts to submit the report.

    Instagram

    • Go to the profile.
    • Tap the three-dot menu.
    • Select Report.
    • Choose a reason.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the report.

    TikTok

    • Open the profile.
    • Tap the three-dot menu (or sometimes the Share icon).
    • Select Report.
    • Choose Report account.
    • Select the reason.
    • Submit the report.

    X (formerly Twitter)

    • Go to the account profile.
    • Tap the three-dot or overflow icon.
    • Select Report.
    • Choose the type of issue.
    • If you’re reporting an entire profile rather than a single post, select Report @username from the profile page.

    YouTube

    • Go to the channel page.
    • Tap the About tab (on desktop) or the three-dot menu (on mobile).
    • Select Report.
    • Choose the reason.
    • Submit the report.

    Snapchat

    • Go to the user’s profile.
    • Tap the three-dot menu or gear icon.
    • Select Report.
    • Choose the reason.
    • Submit the report.

    LinkedIn

    • Visit the fake or suspicious profile.
    • Tap the More button (or three dots).
    • Select Report abuse.
    • Select a reason and follow the prompts.

    Pro tip: Don’t just block. Report alerts to the platform so they can remove the account for everyone.

    Teenage boy on smartphone

    With a few smart settings and habits, you can enjoy social media without giving away more than you mean to. (Thai Liang Lim/Getty Images)

    4) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

    Even if someone steals your password, 2FA makes it harder for them to break in. It adds an extra step, like a code texted to your phone.

    How to enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

    Facebook

    • Go to the menu and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
    • Tap Accounts Center.
    • Then click Password and Security.
    • Tap Two-factor authentication.
    • It may ask you to choose an account to set up two-factor authentication. 
    • Choose your preferred method, such as an authentication app, text message or security key and follow the on-screen instructions.

    Instagram

    • Go to your profile and open Settings.
    • Click Accounts Center. 
    • Select Password and Security.
    • Then Two-Factor Authentication.
    • It may ask you to choose an account to set up two-factor authentication. 
    • Choose your preferred method, such as an authentication app, text message or security key and follow the on-screen instructions.

    TikTok

    • Go to your Profile.
    • Then open the Menu.
    • Select Settings and privacy.
    • Then, Security and permissions.
    • Tap 2-step verification.
    • Choose one or more verification methods, such as text message, email or an authentication app.
    • Click Turn On. 
    • Follow the prompts to finish setup.

    X (formerly Twitter)

    • Click on your profile on the upper left of the screen.
    • Open Settings and privacy.
    • Select Security and account access, then Security.
    • Tap Two-factor authentication.
    • Choose your preferred method, such as text message, authentication app or security key.
    • Follow the steps to turn it on.

    Note: Text message (SMS) verification on X may only be available for paid (Premium) users or in certain regions. If SMS isn’t available, you can still use an authentication app or a physical security key for two-factor authentication.

    Pro tip: Use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Authy) instead of text messages for stronger protection.

    5) Check your photos before posting

    Your photos may reveal more than you think — house numbers, car license plates or even vacation details that signal you’re away from home.

    Quick fixes before posting

    • Crop or blur backgrounds that show personal details.
    • Avoid posting in real time while traveling. Wait until you’re back.
    • Review old posts to make sure you’re not unintentionally sharing private info.

    SOCIAL MEDIA VERIFICATION SYSTEMS LOSE POWER AS SCAMMERS PURCHASE CHECKMARKS TO APPEAR LEGITIMATE

    Bonus tip: Keep personal info under wraps

    Every time you post, share or comment online, you’re leaving small clues about your life, and scammers are great at putting those pieces together. The less information fraudsters can find about you, the weaker their scams become.

    Many impersonators use public details like your hometown, workplace or family connections to build fake profiles that seem trustworthy. Even information like your email address or phone number can be exploited if it’s floating around the internet.

    A personal data removal service can help reduce that risk by scrubbing your personal details from people search sites and data brokers. While no solution is perfect, minimizing your digital footprint makes you a much harder target for impersonation and social-engineering scams. These services actively monitor and systematically remove your information from hundreds of sites, saving you time and giving you peace of mind.

    Protecting your privacy online isn’t just about what you share on social media; it’s also about controlling what’s out there already. Limiting that data means scammers can’t easily cross-reference your information with data from breaches or the dark web.

    Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

    Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: CyberGuy.com.

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Staying safe on social media isn’t about deleting your accounts; it’s about taking control of your information. Turning off location sharing keeps your whereabouts private. Switching to a private account gives you more say over who sees your posts. Being cautious with friend requests and DMs helps you avoid scams. And double-checking your photos before posting prevents oversharing. With just a few quick settings and habits, you can enjoy social media with peace of mind.

    Have you ever spotted a scam or fake account online? Tell us what happened by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

    Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
    Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CyberGuy.com newsletter.

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    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  

    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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  • Fear Not! You Can Live With a Cat Even if You’re Allergic

    From dietary supplements to cleaning advice, we’ll teach you how to live in harmony with cats (and dogs!), even if you’re allergic.

    Molly Higgins

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  • How to Protect Yourself Against Getting Locked Out of Your Cloud Accounts

    If you’re sensitive to tech disasters, you might want to look away now: A recent Reddit thread tells the story of an unfortunate user who found 30 years of photos and work locked away and inaccessible in Microsoft OneDrive.

    The individual made use of their cloud storage account to consolidate files from various hard drives, which had to be discarded due to a move. The plan was to then move the files back from OneDrive to new hard drives, but before the user was able to do this, their account was locked by Microsoft—without any reason given.

    It’s still not clear why the account was locked or why Microsoft has so far ignored the user’s appeals to restore access, but it’s a warning to the rest of us—and a reminder to put a few basic protections and precautions in place.

    Keep Multiple Backups

    It used to be a truth universally acknowledged that data wasn’t properly backed up until it was backed up twice, in two separate locations. You can copy your important files to an external hard drive, but if it’s in the same room as your laptop, then theft, fire, or flood can wipe out both copies at the same time.

    Today, having two backups of everything—so three copies in total—might seem excessive, as cloud storage services so rarely go down. We’ve all become used to the idea that the data we’ve logged with Microsoft, Google, Apple, or other providers is always going to be available, so we don’t need to worry about it.

    Apps will often push you to delete local copies of your files.

    Photograph: David Nield

    David Nield

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  • Swedish Death Cleaning, but for Your Digital Life

    What do you want people to have now? Why wait for death to share things you want to share? For example, you might want to give people access to photos and videos. You might also share important documents that are actively in use—health files, children’s immunization records, pet health records—with one or two trusted people.

    The best cloud storage services let you securely share files and folders. Keeping documents in cloud storage also means they’re backed up, so copies of your documents are safe in the event of a fire, flood, theft, or local data loss.

    What do you want a trusted person to access quickly and easily if you’re incapacitated or die unexpectedly? One of my fears is that I’ll be hospitalized and no one will remember that I prepared and signed an advance health care directive. If you don’t have a lawyer who holds your important documents (and maybe even if you do), make sure at least two people can access digital copies of them quickly and easily.

    Just as with other important documents, you can share these files securely via cloud storage, but put them into a clearly labeled folder, like _IMPORTANT FILES. Using an underscore ensures that the folder appears at the top of the list when files are sorted alphabetically. Because these documents contain sensitive information, make sure you review the security settings when you enable sharing so that only your trusted persons can access them.

    Examples of papers to include are your will, power of attorney form, advance health directive, deeds and titles, certificates (birth, marriage, divorce), and identity papers (Social Security cards, naturalization papers).

    What do you want people to have only after you die? You might not want your sibling or your spouse to have the keys to your email or your Instagram account now, but do you want them to post on your behalf after you die? Do you want them to permanently delete any accounts once you’re gone?

    Jill Duffy

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  • Want to Start a Website? These Are the Best Website Builders

    Top Website Builders

    Best for Most People

    Squarespace Core

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    Best Cheap Website Builder

    Hostinger Website Builder

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    Best for Small Business

    Strikingly Core

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    Best Free Website Builder

    Strikingly Website Builder

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    Publishing a website is still more complicated than it has any right to be, but the best website builders streamline the process. Instead of juggling a bunch of files on a server and learning the ins and outs of networking, website builders do exactly what’s written on the tin. Piece by piece, using a drag-and-drop interface, you can design your website the way you want with immediate feedback, rather than spending time buried in code and hoping it comes out on the other end.

    There are dozens of website builders, and most of them range from decent to straight-up bad. Any web host with a bit of ambition has a website builder floating around, even if it’s slow, clunky, and lacking features. I focused on finding the best tools for building your website that go beyond just an add-on, and these are my favorites. If you’re after something simpler than a full-blown website, check out our list of the Best Portfolio Websites.

    Table of Contents

    Best Website Builder for Most

    Squarespace via Jacob Roach

    You’ve heard of Squarespace over and over again, I’m sure, and that’s not an accident. It’s an inviting website builder that made a name for itself with bold, striking templates. Beneath the veneer of attractive, but seemingly simple, websites, you’ll find one of the most capable website builders on the market. That balance of power and usability is what sets Squarespace apart.

    It feels like a creative tool. Where other website builders lag and stutter to get a new element on your page, Squarespace feels fluid. Your dashboard gives you quick access to edit your site, and around every corner, Squarespace feels designed so you never have to look up a tutorial. I started a simple photography website, and within an hour, I had a custom course page set up, an appointment schedule with automated confirmation emails, and services (with pricing and the ability to accept payments) configured.

    Squarespace isn’t cheap, but it also doesn’t meddle in restrictive, low-cost plans. Even on the Basic plan, you have access to ecommerce tools and space for multiple contributors.

    Squarespace Pricing and Plans

    Best Cheap Website Builder

    Hostinger via Jacob Roach

    Hostinger is better known as a web hosting provider, but it has a surprisingly robust website builder that you can use on its own or for free as part of a hosting package. You don’t get the same world-class template design and dense feature-set of a more expensive builder like Squarespace, but that’s OK. Hostinger’s website builder will run you just a few bucks a month, and based on my testing, it feels heavily angled toward newcomers.

    You sacrifice some power for convenience, but there’s an awful lot you can accomplish with Hostinger. Integrations with PayPal, Stripe, and Square allow you to quickly set up e-commerce. Add-ons with WhatsApp give you live chat capabilities, and Printful support means you can sell print-on-demand merchandise. And, if you outgrow the website builder, Hostinger allows you to export your website’s content to WordPress.

    Where Hostinger wins for me is through its AI tools. Just about every website builder these days has AI integrated in some way, but it’s around every corner at Hostinger. You need to pay extra for some of these AI features—the logo generator, for example, requires credits—but they give you a great starting point for mocking up the look, feel, and tone of your website.

    Hostinger Pricing and Plans

    Best for Small Businesses

    Wix via Jacob Roach

    Wix is undoubtedly the biggest competitor to Squarespace, and I had a hard time putting one above the other. Ultimately, Wix ended up in the backseat due to higher prices and a slightly less intuitive interface. That’s partly because of how powerful Wix is. Rather than corral you in an elegant (if restrictive) website-building workflow, Wix gives you a ton of options.

    First, templates. You get a few hundred elsewhere, but Wix offers over 2,000 templates. At the time of writing, there are 223 pages of them on Wix’s website. They aren’t all winners, but I was able to mock up a quick photography portfolio website within a few minutes by browsing the templates and uploading a few photos.

    Jacob Roach

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  • Stop Fumbling With Your Keys and Get These Smart Locks Instead

    Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro for $170: WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu also tested the U-Bolt Pro from Ultraloq, which uses the same app that the Fingerprint models do. He says it took a few attempts to connect to Wi-Fi, but once connected it worked well with no Wi-Fi issues during the year he tested it. It has built-in Wi-Fi, uses four AA batteries that last around two months (less in super colder weather), and has a hidden mechanical keyhole as a backup in case the battery dies when you’re not home, and you get two spare keys. There’s a charging port underneath so you can give it some juice during emergencies if the lock is dead and you don’t have the key, but we wish it was USB-C instead of Micro USB. It’s a good lock, but he prefers the Fingerprint models since it has a nicer build quality and it has eight batteries, so the lock lasts twice as long.

    Photograph: Nena Farrell

    Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch for $300: I’ve been testing this lock for a few weeks in tandem with ADT’s security system and Google Home. Unlike the other locks in this guide, I didn’t install it—an ADT tech did, and installation can be included in an ADT security package like the one I’ve been testing. For the lock itself, it’s worked well. It’s a full dead-bolt replacement, and came with a single key, and has both a keypad and fingerprint reader for entry options. The fingerprint reader is speedy and efficient, and my husband says the keypad has been easy to use (you activate the keypad by touching the Yale button, but if your finger is registered to the app, that’s also the fingerprint reader button). Instead of using the Yale app, I primarily control this app with the ADT+ app, but there are versions of this lock that don’t use or require ADT’s service. I do wish I could set it to lock after every 10 minutes, rather than three, but that’s the longest option the ADT+ app gives me to set it. I can also partially control it in the Google Home app, but only to lock and unlock it, not to dive into detailed settings like passcodes and auto-lock times.

    Yale Assure Touchscreen Lever Lock for $240: I’ve been testing this no-dead-bolt lever door handle with its sleek-looking keypad for four months on the door to my house from inside my garage. Unlike Yale’s Approach Lock, it won’t sense you coming, but it awakens with even a light touch to the keypad. It’s easy to lock and unlock and view the activity log on the Yale Access app, or you can use a pin code to unlock. You can also create different codes for different people to know exactly who’s been coming and going and when. It works with Google Home, Apple Home, and Alexa, and has also got two physical keys for backup in case of battery failure. Setup wasn’t exactly a breeze, requiring the Bilt app to install and then the Yale app to configure, and online reviews are quite voluminous in their complaints of both battery life and the handle becoming loose over time. Neither of these issues has arisen during our test period; however, we will update this review with further observations as time goes on. —Kat Merck

    Avoid These Smart Locks

    We haven’t loved every smart lock we’ve tried. These are the ones to skip.

    Image may contain Blade Razor and Weapon

    Defiant Smart Deadbolt

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    Defiant Smart Deadbolt Powered by Hubspace for $100: The shoddy build quality is a huge turn-off on this smart lock from Defiant. The buttons are mushy, it’s very loud, and what is the point of Wi-Fi connectivity if it never connects to Wi-Fi? I finally got it paired with the Hubspace app, but the lock never stayed connected to my Wi-Fi, so I had none of the benefits. —Julian Chokkattu

    Eufy FamiLock S3 Max for $400: This lock is cool because it includes a camera, letting the device double as a digital peephole (convenient for smaller family members!) and has a super interesting biometric option that uses the veins in your palm for authentication. Unfortunately, once installed, the lock didn’t work on my door, even though it was the correct size and placement.

    Nena Farrell

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  • The Easiest Way to Make DIY Dishwasher Detergent When You Run Out (Better Than Store-Bought!)

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    We’ve all been there: You’ve loaded your dishwasher to the brim with just about every useful dish you own and then realize you’re completely out of dishwasher detergent. If a last-minute dash to grab some isn’t in the cards, it might be easier to whip up a DIY dishwasher detergent that’ll get the job done until you can make it to the store. 

    We’ve seen a lot of DIY dishwasher detergent recipes that include items you may not already have in your home (like washing soda, which — yes — is different from baking soda!). To simplify, below are three DIY dishwasher detergent “recipes” that you can make with things you’re much more likely to actually have on hand. 

    Method 1: Baking soda & vinegar

    The combo might be famous for “volcano” concoctions, but both baking soda and vinegar are excellent natural cleaners. To use this DIY method, Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert at CottageCare, suggests the following: 

    “This cleaning duo will cut grease, deodorize, and freshen your dishes,” he says. And if you have a septic system, Schrader advises you to steer clear of recipes that are heavy in borax. Instead, he recommends using vinegar or baking soda solutions like this one instead.

    Method 2: Salt, lemon & baking soda

    Need something more abrasive for tough stains or super dirty dishes? Try this natural dishwasher detergent that uses the scrubbing power of salt for an amped-up clean. 

    “The salt gets rid of greasy residue and the lemon oils cut right through it, which leaves your dishes sparkling clean,” Schrader says. 

    Method 3: Castile soap & baking soda

    I’ll preface this recipe with the warning that it’s generally not recommended to use dish soap in your dishwasher. That’s because it can create suds that can cause potential damage to the machine (not to mention a soapy mess on your floor when it overflows). But if you’re really in a pinch and don’t have anything else in your home, Schrader recommends using a tiny amount of Castile soap. 

    “This is mild enough for most machines but is effective,” Schrader says. “Of the three options, the Castile soap combination is the best option for glassware because most harsher DIY powders will leave a cloudy film,” he advises. 

    Method #4: Castile soap, baking soda, salt & vinegar

    Though it requires a few more steps, this is a gentle but effective option to use instead of store-bought dishwasher detergent, says Marilee Nelson, cofounder of Branch Basics.

    Other Tricks if You’re Out of Dishwasher Detergent

    When in doubt, hand-wash.

    Of course, handwashing dishes is always an easy option, Nelson says. Dish soap is preferable, but experts say hand soap can work in a pinch — with some caution. Because many hand soaps include mild additives that aren’t food-safe, be diligent about rinsing to prevent buildup. To sanitize and kill any lingering germs when handwashing, public health experts suggest dishes need contact with water that is 170 degrees or hotter for at least 30 seconds. 

    Use bleach (with caution). 

    Alternatively, you can soak dishes in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of cool water for at least 1 minute. But make sure you read this guide to cleaning with bleach before you do!

    Bookmark this guide to DIY dishwasher detergents so you’ll know exactly what to do if you ever run out when you’re cleaning your dishes. These common household items can totally save the day if you happen to run out of store-bought detergent — and some even work better!

    What do you do when you run out of dishwasher detergent? Let us know in the comments below!

    Christin Perry

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  • The Easiest Way to Clean a Wood Table (And Get Rid of Pesky Water Marks!)

    Regina Yunghans

    Regina is an architect who lives with her husband and children in Lawrence, KS. As a LEED Accredited Professional and longtime contributor to Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn, her focus is on healthy, sustainable living through design.

    Regina Yunghans

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