Month: July 2025

Hacking is hard. Well, sometimes.

Other times, you just call up a company’s IT service desk and pretend to be an employee who needs a password reset, an Okta multifactor authentication reset, and a Microsoft multifactor authentication reset… and it’s done. Without even verifying your identity.

So you use that information to log in to the target network and discover a more trusted user who works in IT security. You call the IT service desk back, acting like you are now this second person, and you request the same thing: a password reset, an Okta multifactor authentication reset, and a Microsoft multifactor authentication reset. Again, the desk provides it, no identity verification needed.

So you log in to the network with these new credentials and set about planting ransomware or exfiltrating data in the target network, eventually doing an estimated $380 million in damage. Easy, right?

According to The Clorox Company, which makes everything from lip balm to cat litter to charcoal to bleach, this is exactly what happened to it in 2023. But Clorox says that the "debilitating" breach was not its fault. It had outsourced the "service desk" part of its IT security operations to the massive services company Cognizant—and Clorox says that Cognizant failed to follow even the most basic agreed-upon procedures for running the service desk.

In the words of a new Clorox lawsuit, Cognizant’s behavior was "all a devastating lie," it "failed to show even scant care," and it was "aware that its employees were not adequately trained."

"Cognizant was not duped by any elaborate ploy or sophisticated hacking techniques," says the lawsuit, using italics to indicate outrage emphasis. "The cybercriminal just called the Cognizant Service Desk, asked for credentials to access Clorox’s network, and Cognizant handed the credentials right over. Cognizant is on tape handing over the keys to Clorox’s corporate network to the cybercriminal—no authentication questions asked."

I can has password reset?

From 2013 through 2023, Cognizant had helped "guard the proverbial front door" to Clorox’s network by running a "service desk" that handled common access requests around passwords, VPNs, and multifactor authentication (MFA) such as SMS codes.

I’m always on the lookout for apps that enhance Plex, whether it’s fetching accurate metadata or organizing my library. In my search, these Plex apps won me over after just one interaction and have already become part of my go-to for each Plex installation.

7

Amazon Alexa

Controlling gadgets with your voice is good fun, especially if you have an army of smart home devices, so why not add Plex to that list? I know I lose the remote at least every other day, and having a hands-free backup to control media playback would be nice.

Although Amazon Alexa has all the basic voice commands you need to navigate Plex, you can add commands using Alexa Skills and get specific. For example, if you can’t decide on what to watch, there’s an Alex Skill that suggests content after you’ve said, "Alexa, suggest something to watch."

Download: Amazon Alexa for Android | iOS (Free)

6

Plex Dash

As your Plex library expands and you invite more people to enjoy the content, you’ll learn that having backend information is invaluable. What’s the most-watched movie on your server? How has your bandwidth been holding up, and when does it tend to spike in usage? What are your viewers watching right now? Plex Dash will answer every one of those questions and more.

Plex Dash also doubles as a helpful tool for troubleshooting and making changes to your server on the fly. Not only can you refresh your libraries from the app, but if your server happens to crash, you can get your hands on server logs.

Download: Plex Dash for Android | iOS (Free; premium available)

5

Plexamp

YouTube is as far as I’ll go when it comes to streaming music, so you won’t catch me using Spotify (or listening to its AI music). When I’m not streaming music, I’ll listen to my own library on Plexamp, where I can quickly access all the CDs I ripped to my Plex server. It’s the most frictionless music app I’ve used to date—even easier than VLC.

For one, I appreciate that the UI resembles a miniaturized Plex app, similar to Plex Dash and Plex Photos. Secondly, Plexamp is incredibly lightweight, especially on PC, where it’s nothing but a teeny-tiny sidebar you can drag. Lastly, I particularly love its Mood playlist, which Plexamp creates and organizes itself, then gives me the option to pick music based on my mood.

Download: Plexamp for Android | iOS | Windows | MacOS | Linux | Raspberry Pi (Free)

4

Plex Photos

Lately, I’ve been thinking of gathering images I’ve uploaded on Facebook of my family and making them accessible on Plex for my wife and I. With the Plex Photos app, as long as my server keeps running, we can download copies of images and videos any time we need to.

Now, Plex Photos isn’t rich with features—it just accesses images and videos. However, if you go the extra mile to organize your library, it’ll reflect in the app when you switch to Library View. You’ll then see all your photos, segregated by folders and albums. But my favorite feature is Timeline View, which orders them by dates uploaded, making it easier to find something from, say, a year ago.

Download: Plex Photos for Android | iOS (Free)

3

The Plex App

If you’re someone who mostly streams Plex from their browser, having the Plex app will feel significantly better. I use Google Chrome and, for some reason, the browser really punishes the quality when I stream Netflix or HBO Max, but that’s where the Plex app solved my problem.

For one, I like the very minor convenience of having an app that takes me directly to Plex, as opposed to typing a URL into a browser. Secondly, Plex has my second favorite streaming UI (the first being Netflix), which is sleek, simple, and the icons are sized well. And lastly, I like having control over my Plex server and don’t want to risk my browser’s own settings getting in the way.

Download: Plex (Free)

WebTools-NG is a bit of a hodgepodge of different features, from organizing your Plex server to plugins; in fact, getting plugins is the app’s specialty. Once installed, you’ll be able to check out and install plugins for Plex through the Unofficial App Store (UAS)—at least the ones that still work.

Aside from organization and troubleshooting, one of the best features WebTools-NG has is the ExportTools module. With it, you can export a handy list of all the available content in your Plex library, which lets you export a handy list of available content on your library. It can even be used to create lists of specific content, like only 4K movies, or find missing episodes.

Download: WebTools-NG for Windows | MacOS | Linux (Free)

1

FileBot

Say your library grows to a respectable size, but you haven’t exactly been the best organizer. You could do it manually, but FileBolt is far quicker and even includes the work of renaming files to their proper titling, episodes included. Though there are plenty of other tools for organizing your Plex library, FileBolt is the one I rely on the most.

Aside from pulling metadata for accuracy, FileBot also has the ability to find artwork, cover images, and subtitles for movies and shows. For example, Plex originally pulled the cover image for Clash of the Titans (2010) for my copy of Clash of the Titans (1981), but FileBot rectified the problem. Now, Harry Hamlin’s stoic stare graces my Plex server!

Download: FileBot (Free trial; Subscription & Life-Time license available)

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With plugins being phased out, I hope apps start to take center stage when it comes to customizing Plex. Just with these apps alone, you can organize your Plex library, troubleshoot, install plugins, even keep a watchful eye on server usage.

Windows 11 has been widely known to suck at privacy, since it comes with a lot of default settings that can be a privacy nightmare. But don’t worry—there are ways to regain significant control in that area. You just have to take charge.

7

Location Tracking

Windows 11 tracks your location by default, allowing Microsoft and third-party apps to know where you are. If you’re uncomfortable with this, or rarely use location-based apps like Weather or Uber, disabling location services prevents data collection. Also, doing this can save battery on laptops and tablets.

To do that, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll down to the App Permissions section, and select Location. From there, toggle off Location services.

In the pop-up, click Turn off to completely disable location services.

6

App Permissions

Windows 11 grants many permissions to apps by default, which can compromise your privacy. It’s also easy to grant permissions you didn’t intend to. For both reasons, it’s best to review and adjust app permissions to ensure certain apps don’t have too much access.

To do so, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, then scroll down to the App Permissions section. Here, you will find permissions like Camera, Microphone, and Contacts. Select an app, expand the Let apps access your [permission] section, and toggle off access for apps that don’t need it.

Audit these settings regularly, especially after installing new apps, to ensure permissions haven’t changed.

5

Cloud Clipboard

The clipboard is a handy feature that temporarily stores items you’ve copied (such as text and images), allowing you to quickly paste them between apps. The clipboard history, which you bring up by pressing Win + V, is especially helpful for retrieving multiple copied items. This gets even better with the best Windows clipboard tips.

But do you want the clipboard to sync data to Microsoft’s servers or between devices, leading to data collection and potential accidental sharing of sensitive data? If you don’t, you can easily disable clipboard history by going to Settings > System > Clipboard and toggling off Clipboard history across devices.

4

Cloud Sync

Windows’ cloud sync ability can also be a privacy problem, since it stores settings, files, app data, and preferences in your OneDrive account. Besides the obvious data collection potential for Microsoft, it can also lead to persistent tracking. To stop this from happening, you can unlink your OneDrive account from Windows.

To do that, click the OneDrive icon in the bottom-right notification area. Next, click the cog icon in the top-right corner and select Settings in the menu.

Select the Account tab on the left and click the Unlink this PC link.

In the popup, click Unlink account, and that’s it—no more cloud sync.

3

Microsoft Account Settings

When installing Windows 11, you’re required to sign in with a Microsoft account to complete the installation. While there are some benefits to linking your Microsoft account with Windows, doing so also allows Microsoft to track usage patterns, collect data, and create a digital profile tied directly to your identity.

Some tricks let you bypass the Microsoft account requirement, but if you signed in anyway, the good news is that you can still sign out afterward. You’ll use what’s called a local account afterward, which offers a more private experience.

To switch to a local account, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click the Sign in with a local account instead link.

From there, follow the instructions to sign out of your Microsoft account. Just keep in mind that using a local account on Windows has some drawbacks.

2

Telemetry and Background Data Collection

By default, Microsoft collects data about your device and usage habits in the name of improving the OS. This is called telemetry, which can include information about your hardware, app usage, feature usage, and performance data. While you can’t disable this data collection completely, you can limit it.

To do that, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostic & feedback and expand the Diagnostic data section. Find the Send optional diagnostic data toggle and turn it off.

Afterward, it’s time to clean any diagnostic data that Microsoft may have already collected for your Windows PC. Scroll down, expand the Delete diagnostic data section, and click Delete.

1

Personalized Ads and Advertising ID

Personalized ads rely on extensive tracking of your online behavior, browsing history, and personal information without your explicit consent. This is a privacy nightmare that you can thankfully turn off by disabling your advertising ID in Settings. However, keep in mind that apps will continue to show you non-personalized ads after disabling this (based on general factors like your location and what you’re doing in the app).

Go to Settings > Privacy & security > General and toggle off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID. Here, you will also find some additional tracking options that you might want to toggle off, such as Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list and Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches.

Disable Personalized Ads in Microsoft Edge

If you use Edge, an additional step can ensure it doesn’t serve you personalized ads while browsing. Open Edge, click the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, and head to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Privacy. Next, toggle off the Allow Microsoft to save your browsing activity…

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As you can see, Windows doesn’t offer the most private experience from the start. It’s up to you to make some much-needed changes to ensure that Microsoft gets the least amount of data from you. And since making these changes won’t take you more than an hour, they’re worth making if you highly value your privacy.

Need an extra monitor but don’t want to buy one? Your phone or tablet is already the perfect second screen—you just need the right app to make the most out of it.

Meet GlideX and Set It Up

GlideX is a cross-device utility that lets you connect your Android device, iPhone, or iPad to a Windows PC using Wi-Fi or USB. It handles basic tasks like file transfer and screen mirroring, but the real draw is its Extend feature, which turns your phone or tablet into a second monitor for your PC. GlideX also supports PC-to-PC extension, meaning you can use another Windows PC or Mac as an additional display.

If you own an ASUS laptop, there’s a GlideX Exclusive version that unlocks advanced features. With this, you can connect up to two devices simultaneously and enjoy 2K resolution at 60Hz, compared to the standard 1080p 60Hz limit and one connected device. The Exclusive edition also includes remote access capabilities and shared camera features. But the general version offers everything most people need for a solid extended display experience.

Setting up GlideX is surprisingly easy. Download the GlideX app on your Windows PC from the Microsoft Store and install the companion app on your Android or iOS device. Launch both apps and ensure your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, or connect the devices via a USB cable.

For a USB connection on Android, you’ll need to enable Developer Options first, then turn on USB debugging. Once USB debugging is enabled, connect your devices via a USB cable.

The app will automatically detect available devices. Click Start Now on your PC, then follow the on-screen instructions to pair your devices.

How to Use Your Phone or Tablet as an Extended Display

To use your phone or tablet as an extended display, open GlideX on your PC and navigate to the Cross-device operation tab. Under the Extend option, click Search for device. Your tablet or phone should appear in the list of available devices. Select it, and you’ll see a screen share request pop up on your mobile device—tap Accept to connect.

Once connected, your phone or tablet will become an extended part of your computer display. You can launch apps on your main screen and move them to your mobile device, and switch between windows using Alt + Tab like with any regular monitor. To disconnect, simply click the unlink icon next to your connected device.

The touchscreen support makes GlideX especially useful for tablets. You can tap, scroll, and pinch to zoom directly on your tablet screen—it responds just like a touchscreen laptop display. This makes it perfect for reading documents, monitoring chat windows, or keeping reference materials visible while you work on your main screen.

GlideX offers flexible display configuration options. Click the Preferences button to access display settings where you can adjust the layout, resolution, and frame rate. Choose between Dynamic mode, which automatically adjusts quality based on network speed, or Manual mode for fixed settings. You can set the resolution up to FHD (1080p) and frame rate up to 60 FPS, depending on your connection quality.

What sets GlideX apart from similar solutions is its flexibility. You can continue using your phone normally without disconnecting the extended display. Simply switch between apps on your mobile device, and when you need the extended screen again, switch back to GlideX.

GlideX Can Do a Whole Lot More

Beyond screen extension, GlideX packs plenty of useful features to help you work more efficiently across devices. You can mirror your phone’s screen on your PC or use Unify Control to link your phone, tablet, and even another PC, allowing you to control them all with a single keyboard and mouse and move your cursor smoothly between screens.

Sharing files is just as easy thanks to the File Transfer feature. Drag and drop files into the transfer window, and they’ll instantly appear on your other device. The Activity Feed keeps track of every transfer, showing file names, sizes, and status updates at a glance.

When you need quick access to your photos, Phone Album works much like Phone Link’s Photos feature, allowing you to browse and view all images stored on your phone using your PC. You can also download multiple files at once or delete them to free up storage space.

The Exclusive version also adds a few practical extras. The Communication feature lets you make and receive phone calls through your PC’s speakers and microphone. Shared Cam turns your phone into a webcam for video calls in apps like Zoom or Skype. Finally, Remote Access allows you to use your ASUS PC as personal cloud storage, so you can get to your files from anywhere on your phone or tablet.

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Whether you need a quick second monitor for a spreadsheet, want to keep messaging apps visible while working, or simply need to move files between devices, GlideX handles it all through one clean interface. While it won’t serve as a full replacement for using Phone Link to connect your phone and PC, especially if you don’t have an ASUS computer, it’s a simple way to extend your setup without spending anything extra.