A buildup of dust and debris inside your game controller can cause the joystick to register movement even when you're not touching it—a problem called stick drift. Keeping your controllers clean and dry helps prevent this annoying issue from ruining your gaming sessions and saves you the cost of replacing them. Worth knowing: a gentle cleaning with a soft, dry cloth around the joystick area, or occasionally using a can of compressed air, can keep your controllers working smoothly for years.
Apple is working on a new tool that will let you prove your iPhone photos are genuine and haven't been artificially created or manipulated. As deepfake technology becomes more convincing, having proof that a photo really came from your camera—like a digital fingerprint—could protect you from being fooled or accused of sharing fake images. You can watch for this feature to appear in your iPhone settings under Camera options in the coming months, though Apple hasn't officially announced it yet.
A passenger on a Delta flight created a fake Wi-Fi network while the plane was in the air, mimicking the airline's real one to potentially trick people into connecting to it. This matters because scammers use this trick to steal passwords and personal information from unsuspecting travelers—something you're especially vulnerable to when you're tired or distracted during a flight. Worth knowing: before connecting to any Wi-Fi on a plane or in a public place, ask the flight attendant or staff to confirm the exact network name, and avoid logging into banking or email accounts on public networks.
Researchers found a serious security weakness in Zoom where someone could take control of your computer during a meeting—and they discovered it using just a handful of commands fed to artificial intelligence. If left unfixed, a bad actor could spy on you through your camera, listen through your microphone, or steal your personal information without you knowing anything happened. Worth knowing: Zoom has already released a patch to fix this, so update your Zoom app right away if you haven't done so recently, and avoid joining meetings from people you don't trust.
# Connecting Bluetooth Headphones to Your PS5
The PS5 doesn't connect to Bluetooth headphones the way your phone or tablet does—instead, you'll need to use a USB adapter or plug your headphones into the controller. This matters because many of us have invested in wireless headphones we love, and it's frustrating when they won't work with our gaming console right away. Worth knowing: a simple USB Bluetooth adapter (usually under £15) will solve the problem, or you can check if your headphone manufacturer makes a PS5-compatible version.
Spotify is adding labels to show listeners when songs are made by artificial intelligence rather than real artists, as the platform gets flooded with computer-generated music. For someone your age who enjoys discovering new music, this helps you know whether you're listening to a genuine musician or a computer creation—something that matters if you care about supporting real artists. Worth knowing: when you're browsing Spotify, look for any AI labels on songs you're considering, especially if an artist name is unfamiliar to you.
A researcher found a way to steal passkeys from Google's password manager on Windows computers—a discovery that alarmed people because passkeys are supposed to be locked away in a special, super-secure part of your computer chip. It turns out that while some passkeys do live in that protected vault, Google's app also keeps copies elsewhere for easier access, which creates a potential weak spot that malware could exploit. Worth knowing: passkeys are still significantly safer than old-fashioned passwords, but if you use Google Password Manager on Windows, keep your antivirus updated and be cautious about what you download—malware is the real threat here, not passkeys themselves.
Apple is working on a tool that lets you prove a photo is genuinely yours and hasn't been faked or altered by AI, which is becoming increasingly important as fake images spread online. For someone who shares family photos or worries about deepfakes of public figures, this kind of proof could help you trust what you're seeing and protect your own pictures from being misused. Worth knowing: when this feature arrives, you might see an option in your Photos app to create a verified record of your images, similar to how a notary stamps a document.
When you delete files from a USB drive, they're not truly gone—specialized software can still recover them, which means your personal information could end up in someone else's hands if you donate or discard the drive. For anyone who's stored financial records, passwords, or medical information on these devices over the years, this is a real privacy concern worth taking seriously. You can either use free secure-deletion software (like Eraser or BleachBit) to permanently wipe the drive before disposal, or simply destroy the device physically with a hammer or drill if it contains particularly sensitive data.
# MagSafe vs Qi Wireless Charging
Apple's MagSafe uses magnets to snap your phone into perfect alignment before charging, while the older Qi standard (used by most Android phones) relies on looser positioning and works more by trial and error. MagSafe is faster and more reliable because the magnets ensure your phone charges every time, whereas Qi chargers sometimes fail to power up if your phone isn't positioned just right. Worth knowing: if you're shopping for a wireless charger, check whether your phone supports MagSafe (iPhones 12 and newer) or standard Qi, as a charger designed for one won't work optimally with the other.
Valve, the company behind Steam (a popular platform for buying and playing computer games), has confirmed that personal information belonging to some European customers who bought their gaming hardware may have been leaked by hackers. If you use Steam to buy games or own their gaming equipment, this could affect your account security and payment details stored with them. Worth knowing: check your Steam account for any unfamiliar activity, change your password to something unique and strong, and consider reviewing any saved payment methods in your account settings.
# Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 2.4G Wireless: What's the Difference?
Bluetooth is designed for short-range connections between two devices (like your phone and hearing aids), Wi-Fi connects you to the internet through a router, and 2.4G wireless is a frequency band that both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can use, which sometimes causes them to interfere with each other. Understanding which technology does what helps you troubleshoot why your devices might be acting up—for instance, if your Bluetooth headphones keep cutting out, a nearby microwave or Wi-Fi router operating on the same frequency could be the culprit. Worth knowing: if you're having trouble with wireless devices dropping connection, try moving them away from your microwave, cordless phone, or router to see if that helps.
