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Massive data leaks and breaches are continually piling faster upon each other—just in the last few months, we learned about a few billion records lost through National Public Data, another few million through Medicare, and 100 million through MC2 Data. Companies that handle background checks and other data processing services just aren’t securing the sensitive data flowing through their fingers. Unfortunately, we the public must take the brunt of the consequences, which comes in the form of higher risk of fraud, identity theft, account takeovers, and other schemes seeking to rob of us our money. But you don’t have to leave yourself open to such attacks—at least, not wide open. You can make it more difficult for bad actors to steal from you. Because your time is just as precious as your cash, and trying to recover from a successful scam can take both from you. Make your login methods stronger The more that passwords leak onto the internet, the easier it becomes for hackers to guess what yours might be. Not only can they feed that data into their cracking tools, but they can also use the passwords for credential stuffing attacks—that is, plugging in known email and password combinations around the web to see what accounts can be accessed. So at minimum, you need passwords that are both strong and unique to safeguard your accounts. (A password manager can help you keep them all straight.)  Choosing a password manager can be as easy as using the one included with a good paid antivirus software suite.Chris Hoffman/IDG But even a good password can’t keep out intruders if someone obtains or guesses it. You really want stronger protection—which is where two-factor authentication and/or passkeys come in. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second hurdle for hackers to clear before account access is granted. Most commonly, an app that generates a one-time code is used as a method for 2FA, but an even more secure method is a hardware dongle like a YubiKey. As a physical item, someone would need to have it in their possession to use it. (Note: You can use codes sent to you by email or text message for 2FA, but they’re weaker methods, as SMS and email can be intercepted.) Alternatively, you can skip passwords all together by using passkeys instead. This newer login method is more secure than passwords and less hassle than 2FA. Because passkeys are encrypted and tied to both the device and the website they’re created for, they can’t be stolen through phishing or used across the web like a password. You also authorize use of the passkey through biometric or PIN authentication for added protection. Many major services now support passkeys.WABetainfo I now recommend a passkey as a primary method for login where available, so long as you’re using a system that backs them up. Apple and Android phones automatically sync passkeys across devices, as do password managers that can save passkeys. If you don’t trust the cloud, you should set up more than one hardware dongle as a passkey device. You can also leave a very strong password + 2FA on your account as a backup method of login, in case you lose your device and can’t access an alternative one with synced passkeys. Transitioning all your accounts to more secure logins can take time—so at minimum, tackle your most sensitive accounts first, like those related to finances, taxes, and your primary email accounts. Related: Microsoft just made passkeys even easier to use in Windows 11 Lock down your financial life The data lost to breaches and leaks include personally identifiable information—and not just full names, birthdates, and addresses, but also social security numbers for U.S. residents, putting them at high risk for identity theft. You should consider taking the following steps to protect yourself:  Freeze your credit Check your credit report Freeze your banking report Set up an IRS identity protection PIN You can read more about each step in our full rundown of how to stay safe when your personal details can be found on the dark web, but this list summarizes the basics for U.S. residents—and can serve as topics to consider if you live elsewhere. You want to freeze your credit and banking reports so only you can open accounts in your name, review your existing credit report for any fraudulent activity, and set up an identity protection PIN with the IRS so only you can file a tax return in your name. Don’t let someone else steal your tax refund from you.PCWorld If all goes smoothly, you shouldn’t need more than half an hour per step—meaning most people can tackle these over the course of a week pretty easily. Afterward, you’ll need to keep track of PIN numbers to temporarily unfreeze your credit or banking profiles, as well as file your taxes. You can use a password manager to store these securely—if you’re concerned about someone breaching your service, you can opt for a locally stored file. (Or you can split the difference and use a database file saved to a cloud account with a major company with robust security teams, like Google, Apple, or Microsoft.) Be careful of who you talk to At this point, the dark web is full of personal identifiable information on most of us—meaning bad actors can easily craft personalized scams. They know not just details like your name and residence, but also websites and services you’ve signed up for. So screen all your communication carefully—and be wary of anything full of high urgency. Maybe your package is truly about to go astray, suspicious activity has actually appeared on your credit card, or your brother really did lose his wallet on vacation. You still have time to figure out if the message is legitimate, as security experts recommend. Look up official contact information and initiate communication through them to verify that a message or call you’ve received is legtimate.PCWorld For example, if your credit card has been compromised, don’t click on links in the email or text message informing you about it, or give personal information to whomever has called you. Instead, you should initiate contact with your bank using the contact info listed on your credit card or their website, and follow up through those means. If instead you’re trying to verify communication from someone you know, rather than a corporation, the same rules apply. For phone calls, ring them back on their known line (since incoming phone numbers can be spoofed). For messages over email, text, or other communication platforms like Messenger, try a different alternative in case their account has been hacked. (Ex: If you get a request for a quick wire transfer over Messenger, try calling or texting them to confirm their account wasn’t hacked.) In this new hellscape for digital privacy, trust no longer can be something you automatically give—especially with the rise of AI being used to create even more sophisticated scams. Stay current with the news As part of avoiding personalized scams, it helps to know what further data breaches and leaks have occurred. For example, AT&T subscribers aware of the company’s loss of customer data (including social security numbers) could more carefully scrutinize communication related to their accounts. Google’s Dark Web Monitoring used to be an exclusive perk for its Google One subscribers—but the company has since made it free to all of its users.PCWorld You can stay abreast of the news in several ways—and generally, you’ll want to lean on more than one source, as not ever service reports the same events, much less on the same timetable. Here are some to consider: Broadcast and online media (including PCWorld): These outlets generally report on huge breaches, as well as those relevant to their core audience Google: If you have an account, you can access the company’s Dark Web Monitoring service, which can be surprisingly quick to report new leaks or breaches Antivirus suites: Paid subscriptions often include Dark Web Monitoring, while free ones will sometimes report if basic information about you (email, name) has leaked And as always, keep an eye out for email updates from the companies and services you do business with. Often email or written communication will include details about the information lost and any remedial services being offered—but you’ll want to corroborate the details with news reports to make sure the message you’ve received is trustworthy. Related: Hackers know your social security number. Here’s how to stay safe Read...

Whether you’ve been working from home for years, or you’re new to the game, there are probably several ways in which you can improve your home-office setup for maximum comfort and productivity. We’re talking both hardware and software upgrades here. Things such as a Thunderbolt dock for adding extra ports for external displays and storage, or a monitor arm for total flexibility and improved ergonomics, or a trustworthy VPN and full-featured PDF editing software can all make a world of difference in your overall work satisfaction and success. Here we present our favorite work from home tech of 2024/2025, all of which has been personally tested and approved by PCWorld’s hardware and software experts. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus – Best work-from-home laptop Your home office laptop needs to be reliable; it needs zippy performance and a penchant for productivity; and for optimum flexibility the device should be easy to transport and have exceptional battery life. You get all that with the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus — and you get it for less than $1,000. The Inspiron line is all about business-like practicality, but the Inspiron 14 Plus, while feeling quite durable, features some welcome aesthetic upgrades in the form of its partially aluminum chassis and slender profile. Inside, an Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD make for exceptionally snappy performance. But there’s more to a satisfying work laptop than capable internals. The Inspiron 14 Plus comes correct with an array of suitable accoutrements: a firm and surprisingly quick keyboard with white backlighting, a biometric fingerprint sensor for easy login, and a nice assortment of ports that belie its compact size — headphone jack, microSD card reader, a couple USB-A ports, Thunderbolt 4 port, and full-size HDMI. The screen is also a treat, with a clear 2240×1400 resolution image, comparatively high peak brightness, and an anti-glare coating that can withstand challenging lighting conditions. The icing on the cake is an exceptional battery life lasting just over 17 hours. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus – Best work-from-home Chromebook Let’s face it, there are many work scenarios in which a full-fledged Windows laptop is overkill. Emails, documents, spreadsheets, and even presentations, are all easily handled using online apps — something a Chromebook can accomplish for a fraction of a Windows laptop’s cost. Of course, some Chromebooks are more capable than others, such as the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. Among Chromebooks, the Plus designation signifies more robust performance, in this case an Intel Core i3-1315U CPU, Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD. What really sets the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus apart, however, is its attractive styling and impressive build quality. In the words of our reviewer: “This thing looks and feels fancy, real fancy.” The 2-in-1 design lets you use the device as a standard clamshell, in a tent configuration, or as a tablet. Input options include both a backlit chiclet-style keyboard that’s pleasantly springy to use, or touch input via the 1200p crisp and vibrant display. Performance is speedy and satisfying, and the battery, while not stellar, ran for over nine hours on a single charge — enough to last a full day away from an outlet. Read our full Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review NexiGo HelloCam – Best work-from-home webcam Best Prices Today: $69.99 at Amazon$69.99 at NexiGo There are a couple reasons why we consider the NexiGo HelloCam to be the best work-from-home webcam. For starters, it does what you want a webcam to do: Its 1080p/30fps fixed-focus lens produces a good picture that will have you making a positive impression in your Zoom meetings. The noise-cancelling mics will ensure that you’re being heard loud and clear. But the NexiGo HelloCam offers another perk for home workers: Windows Hello support, which lets you log in to your Windows computer with facial recognition. This is a feature that’s usually relegated to higher-priced webcams. The HelloCam also offers a requisite privacy shutter, here in the form of a physical barrier that shuts when the webcam is not in use. Alternative option: If you don’t need Windows Hello, you can save a little money and get a slight boost in resolution (to 1440p) with the Anker PowerConf C200. Dell U2724DE – Best work-from-home monitor Best Prices Today: $499.99 at B & H Photo There’s no better all-around home office monitor than Dell’s Ultrasharp U2724DE. Image quality is top-notch thanks to the IPS Black panel. Besides boasting an impressive contrast ratio, it also excels at color performance. A 120Hz refresh rate means that it can be pressed into service for after-hours gaming sessions. The stand is fit for purpose with solid construction and all the expected ergonomic adjustments, including 90-degree rotation into portrait mode. But the real show-stopper is the near-universal connectivity that should meet the needs of almost any scenario. Multiple video inputs, support for “daisy-chaining,” 90 watts of power for charging a device connected via USB-C, downstream ports for peripherals, and even a 2.5G RJ45 jack. There’s also a KVM switch and an ambient light sensor for intelligently adjusting screen brightness. Indeed, the U2724DE is no slacker! Read our full Dell U2724DE review Herman Miller Flo – Best work-from-home monitor arm Best Prices Today: $295 at Herman Miller A monitor arm is one of those pieces of gear that turns a conventional home office into a seriously professional setup. That’s particularly true of the Herman Miller Flo, which ticks all the boxes for a premier product. Aesthetically, it’s about as smooth and stylish as a monitor arm can be, capable of blending in with any environment. Setting it up is simple, thanks to a refined design that requires relatively few screws and a VESA mount that can be pre-mounted to a monitor and then clipped into place. The Flo offers a wide range of adjustment including tilt, swivel, and rotation, but more importantly, its operation is smoother than other products, moving into place with only a nudge. It also comes with a 12-year warranty and 24/7 customer support. It’s pricey, but everything about the Flo is top shelf. Anker 555 PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best work-from-home USB-C hub Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon Whether you’re using a laptop or a desktop PC, port accessibility might be lacking. In such cases, the Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub has the answer. Anker’s hub offers a full complement of connectivity for legacy USB devices like mice and keyboards, for both SD and microSD media, for charging USB-C devices at up to 85W, and for running a monitor over HDMI at 60Hz. An Ethernet port is also part of the mix. The hub is well designed, even elegant, with a premium aluminum and polycarbonate exterior that keeps cools in use. It’s got a nice, sturdy heft at 4.5 ounces, and even comes with a carrying pouch. Plugable TBT3-UDZ – Best work-from-home Thunderbolt dock Best Prices Today: $255.41 at Amazon$369 at Newegg There are times when a USB-C hub falls short of your connectivity needs, such as when you want to connect two high-res monitors — scenarios that call for a Thunderbolt dock. The the best of the bunch is Plugable’s TBT3-UDZ. Okay, yes, it uses Thunderbolt 3 rather than Thunderbolt 4, but the capabilities and performance are mostly equivalent (while saving you a few dollars). What impresses us most about the TBT3-UDZ is its flexibility. Whether your two monitors use DisplayPort cables or HDMI, this dock will accommodate them. Two 4K displays can run at 60Hz in tandem. Of course, the TBT3-UDZ has every other kind of port you could want, as well — USB-C, a plethora of USB-A, standard and micro card reader, headphone jack, Ethernet, the whole gamut. It can charge a smartphone and a laptop. We also appreciate the space-saving vertical orientation of the attractive and solid gun-metal chassis, and the ample 30-inch cable that connects the dock to your PC. Read our full Plugable TBT3-UDZ review Logitech MX Keys S Keyboard – Best work-from-home wireless keyboard Best Prices Today: $109.99 at Amazon For anyone who favors a stylish keyboard that works effortlessly with multiple devices, the Logitech MX Keys S is it. Sporting an almost Apple-like clean aesthetic, the MX Keys S is a low-profile board that comes in Graphite, Gray, or Rose colorways. Besides being visually stunning, the full-sized layout is comfortable to type on, with a smooth and sure feel to the keys. The white backlighting automatically adjusts to the ambient lighting conditions. Using either Bluetooth or the bundled proprietary Logi Bolt dongle, the keyboard can be switched among three devices. If you prefer a mechanical, “clicky” keyboard, we recommend the also-very-good Logitech MX Mechanical variant. Read our full Logitech MX Keys S Keyboard review Creative Pebble X Plus – Best work-from-home computer speakers No home office is complete without a good set of computer speakers. For a compact, capable, but affordable solution, we think the best option is the Creative Pebble X Plus. The system consists of two speakers and a subwoofer. It offers Bluetooth, aux, and USB connection to your audio source of choice. A button on one of the satellites lets you switch between devices. The sound output is clear and can easily fill a room. There’s excellent detail in the treble and midrange. Besides providing a significant boost over your laptop’s audio, the Pebble X Plus features RGB for some added visual flare when it’s time to clock off and unwind. Read our full Creative Pebble X Plus review Lexar SL600 Blaze 20Gbps USB SSD – Best work-from-home external SSD Best Prices Today: $129.99 at B & H Photo There are many very fast external SSDs to choose from. But in our tests, the Lexar SL600 Blaze is not only among the fastest, but also competitively priced, making it an obvious recommendation for portable storage. Available in up to 4TB capacity, this USB 3.2 x 2 (Superspeed 20Gbps) not only has the space for even large, multimedia projects, it will be reading and writing that data at a wonderfully brisk pace. While SSDs are known for their durability, the SL600 Blaze’s 5-year warranty just provides extra assurance. Read our full Lexar SL600 Blaze 20Gbps USB SSD review SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD – Best work-from-home SSD for backups Best Prices Today: $249.99 at Western Digital There is no worse feeling than laboring over a project — be it work-related or personal — only to lose it all because of a drive crash, power outage, mistaken deletion, or some other tragedy. This is why the importance of a solid backup solution cannot be overstated. Laptop users in particular should consider an external drive for backup. And if time is money, an SSD will get ‘er done far faster than an external hard drive. The SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD is the external backup SSD to beat. Available in 4TB or 8TB capacities, this rugged desktop companion will not only provide that relatively speedy auxillary storage for data redundancy and/or overflow, as an SSD you needn’t worry about its susceptibility to jostles, shocks, or drops, as you would with a mechanical hard drive. Read our full SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD review R-Drive Image 7.2 – Best work-from-home Windows backup Best Prices Today: $44.95 at R-tools Technology As noted above, there’s no excuse not to prepare for data disaster. We’ve told you what backup drive to use, but what about backup software? R-Drive Image has a legacy of reliability that makes it unmatched in this space. Indeed, in our experience its record is unblemished! Now at version 7.2, R-Drive Image is more full-featured and capable than ever. It offers the range of backup duties: disk and partitions, files and folders, WinPE and Linux boot media creation, the works. You can save your backups locally, to the network, or to your preferred cloud storage. You can even replicate backups across multiple destinations.  The interface is straightforward, and performance is speedy. There’s really no need to consider other options.  Read our full R-Drive Image review EaseUS PDF Editor – Best work-from-home PDF editor Best Prices Today: $49.95 at EaseUS There is no denying that the pinnacle of PDF editing is Adobe’s Acrobat Pro DC. But it’s probably overkill for the needs of most home office-workers, while being relatively expensive. That’s why our recommendation for the best PDF editor for a home office is EaseUS PDF Editor. For just $49.95 a year, or an incredible $79.95 lifetime subscription, you get a full set of PDF editing tools, including a variety of annotation tools for easy collaboration. The app is straightforward, making it possible to jump right in and get started. Add and remove text; add images; change font type, color, and size; add watermarks, background, headers and footers; enable permissions and password protection. It’s all here. The one caveat is that it’s Windows only. For more suggestions, see our roundup of the best PDF editors. Read our full EaseUS PDF Editor review ExpressVPN – Best work-from-home VPN A virtual private network (VPN) is a key component of online privacy, routing all your internet traffic through an anonymized and encrypted funnel. If you want to protect your work (or personal) online activities protected from prying eyes and/or hackers, a VPN is a must. In addition to that, by allowing you to run your internet browsing through servers all across the globe, a VPN can help you access your streaming services when you’re abroad, or bypass other regional restrictions. ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN overall. It’s feature-rich but easy to use; it provides broad device support; it uses diskless servers, so none of your data is ever permanently stored; it undergoes third-party audits for added reassurance about its privacy practices; and it offers some added benefits such as ad- and tracker-blocking and a password manager. Read our full ExpressVPN review Norton 360 Deluxe – Best work-from-home antivirus software For full-coverage antivirus protection at a reasonable price, Norton 360 Deluxe is the total package. You can relax knowing that Norton’s strong online protection has your back with minimal resource overhead. In addition to real-time monitoring against threats online, you can also perform scans of varying scope or complexity at will or on a schedule. Norton has earned very high marks from the major third-party testing outfits. Norton 360 Deluxe also offers lots of extras, such as cloud backup, a password manager, dark web monitoring, and even PC utilities. All those things might be value adds for you, but the core competency of the product — keeping you, your data, and your devices safe from nefarious actors — is why we consider it the best antivirus software overall. Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review Read...

TL;DR: Manage your PDFs easily with this SwifDoo lifetime license, now only $34.99 (reg. $129). While PDFs are the universal file type used by countless businesses, they’re not necessarily the easiest to manipulate if you find spelling errors or want to add an annotation for clarity. Fortunately, PDF management is simple when you have SwifDoo PDF Pro. A lifetime license is now available for only $34.99 (reg. $129) while supplies last. Enjoy lifelong access to intuitive, user-friendly PDF tools with SwifDoo PDF Pro. This platform offers editing and annotating features to make contracts, business reports, work proposals, and academic writing more clear by adding text, highlighting passages, and inserting notes. PDF conversion is also seamless with this platform, as you can turn them into Word, Excel, JPG, and CAD (and vice versa) without losing the formatting you selected. In addition, you can add or remove protective PDF watermarks in a single click, secure sensitive PDFs with encryption, and even add digital signatures. Working with PDFs doesn’t have to be a nightmare.  Grab a lifetime license for Swifdoo PDF Pro for just $34.99 while inventory is still available.   SwifDoo PDF Pro: Perpetual Lifetime License for Windows Only $34.99 at PCWorld StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

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