These 224 Malicious Apps Managed to Bypass the Play Store's Anti-Malware Checks
Sep. 17th, 2025 07:30 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
lh_wayfarer_feedGoogle and Apple’s app stores both have a reputation for being pretty trustworthy these days. It’s easy to assume that if an app is in either the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store, it’s safe to download. But a new Google crackdown this week reminds us that this isn’t so clear cut.
Yesterday, a third-party security report revealed that Google had recently removed 224 malicious apps from the Android Play Store. Dubbed “SlopAds” apps by security company Human, which discovered the apps and wrote the report, these apps evaded Google’s usual security procedures and instead used a clever workaround to secretly install malware on users’ devices, even when downloaded straight from Google’s servers.
The way these apps worked was that, if you downloaded them by searching for them through the Google Play Store, they would work as advertised with no malware dragging them down. Generally, these apps were pitched as simple utilities, or attempted to pass themselves off as more popular programs like ChatGPT, to try to trick users into downloading them. Not the best tools, certainly, but if accessed directly through Google, they wouldn’t hurt you.
But the trick is that, if you downloaded one of these apps after arriving at the Play Store via one of SlopAds ad campaigns, it would also secretly download an encrypted configuration file that, after a few post-download checks, would install malware on your device.
Once a device was infected, the app would then steal its information, and start using it to generate fake ad impressions on sites run by the scammers, maximizing profit.
It was a clever way to get around Google’s regular review process, and a good reminder that, even as major companies try to make their app stores safe to use, you should still be vigilant while browsing them.
How to avoid installing malware on your device
While SlopAds has been thwarted for now, you should still take a few steps to keep your device safe while downloading new apps, especially since SlopAds isn’t alone in sneaking Malware onto the Play Store. Here are just a few ways to protect your device while browsing for new apps.
Download your apps directly from the Play Store
Android is different from iOS in that it allows you to sideload apps onto your device. This can be convenient when working with smaller developers, who might not have the resources to get their programs on the Play Store. But downloading an app that hasn’t been verified by Google opens you up to extra risk. Always ensure you trust a developer and the specific APK file you’re using before sideloading an app. Google is currently working to block sideloading unless a developer is verified (which has been controversial, despite the extra security it gives you), although these changes aren’t set to hit most of the world until 2027.
Find apps through the Play Store
As SlopAds proves, navigating to an app through an outside source can flag it to download extra files to your device that you won’t get if you find the app through the Play Store’s own search functionality. Always be cautious about links to apps that you find on suspicious websites, and especially in ads. Using the Play Store to discover new apps instead could save you some headaches down the line, especially as Google’s search is less likely to send you to suspicious apps than it is popular apps that have been verified as safe by other users.
Check user reviews and permissions
If you scroll down before downloading an app through the Play Store, you’ll see which permissions an app needs to do its work on your phone, and you’ll also be able to read user reviews. This can be handy if there are known issues with an app, or the requested permissions seem to be a bit too generous for what the app claims to do. However, this isn’t a catch-all solution—SlopAds did its malicious behavior in the background without needing any sort of permissions, and depending on where a user downloaded a SlopAd app from, it might not have even installed malware on their device. It’s possible apps with good reviews could still have harmful software included on the sly.
Turn on Google Play Protect
While SlopAds was able to bypass Google Play Protect, it’s still a good idea to turn it on if it isn’t enabled on your device already. This will scan an app for known malware before downloading it, giving you an extra layer of protection. It will also periodically scan apps already installed on your device. To ensure it’s turned on, open the Play Store, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and navigate to Play Protect > Settings. To scan sideloaded apps, you can also turn on the Improve harmful app detection setting, which is in the same spot.
Run a Google Security Checkup
Finally, you can run a Google Security Checkup on your device via a web browser. This will help you tighten your online security, encouraging you to take security steps like adding a recovery email or phone number to your Google account. It’ll also list recent security activity, and will generally ensure that, even if a malicious app steals your data, you’ll be able to lock it out of your account with the least issue possible.
These 224 Malicious Apps Managed to Bypass the Play Store's Anti-Malware Checks
Sep. 17th, 2025 07:30 pmlifehacker_feedGoogle and Apple’s app stores both have a reputation for being pretty trustworthy these days. It’s easy to assume that if an app is in either the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store, it’s safe to download. But a new Google crackdown this week reminds us that this isn’t so clear cut.
Yesterday, a third-party security report revealed that Google had recently removed 224 malicious apps from the Android Play Store. Dubbed “SlopAds” apps by security company Human, which discovered the apps and wrote the report, these apps evaded Google’s usual security procedures and instead used a clever workaround to secretly install malware on users’ devices, even when downloaded straight from Google’s servers.
The way these apps worked was that, if you downloaded them by searching for them through the Google Play Store, they would work as advertised with no malware dragging them down. Generally, these apps were pitched as simple utilities, or attempted to pass themselves off as more popular programs like ChatGPT, to try to trick users into downloading them. Not the best tools, certainly, but if accessed directly through Google, they wouldn’t hurt you.
But the trick is that, if you downloaded one of these apps after arriving at the Play Store via one of SlopAds ad campaigns, it would also secretly download an encrypted configuration file that, after a few post-download checks, would install malware on your device.
Once a device was infected, the app would then steal its information, and start using it to generate fake ad impressions on sites run by the scammers, maximizing profit.
It was a clever way to get around Google’s regular review process, and a good reminder that, even as major companies try to make their app stores safe to use, you should still be vigilant while browsing them.
How to avoid installing malware on your device
While SlopAds has been thwarted for now, you should still take a few steps to keep your device safe while downloading new apps, especially since SlopAds isn’t alone in sneaking Malware onto the Play Store. Here are just a few ways to protect your device while browsing for new apps.
Download your apps directly from the Play Store
Android is different from iOS in that it allows you to sideload apps onto your device. This can be convenient when working with smaller developers, who might not have the resources to get their programs on the Play Store. But downloading an app that hasn’t been verified by Google opens you up to extra risk. Always ensure you trust a developer and the specific APK file you’re using before sideloading an app. Google is currently working to block sideloading unless a developer is verified (which has been controversial, despite the extra security it gives you), although these changes aren’t set to hit most of the world until 2027.
Find apps through the Play Store
As SlopAds proves, navigating to an app through an outside source can flag it to download extra files to your device that you won’t get if you find the app through the Play Store’s own search functionality. Always be cautious about links to apps that you find on suspicious websites, and especially in ads. Using the Play Store to discover new apps instead could save you some headaches down the line, especially as Google’s search is less likely to send you to suspicious apps than it is popular apps that have been verified as safe by other users.
Check user reviews and permissions
If you scroll down before downloading an app through the Play Store, you’ll see which permissions an app needs to do its work on your phone, and you’ll also be able to read user reviews. This can be handy if there are known issues with an app, or the requested permissions seem to be a bit too generous for what the app claims to do. However, this isn’t a catch-all solution—SlopAds did its malicious behavior in the background without needing any sort of permissions, and depending on where a user downloaded a SlopAd app from, it might not have even installed malware on their device. It’s possible apps with good reviews could still have harmful software included on the sly.
Turn on Google Play Protect
While SlopAds was able to bypass Google Play Protect, it’s still a good idea to turn it on if it isn’t enabled on your device already. This will scan an app for known malware before downloading it, giving you an extra layer of protection. It will also periodically scan apps already installed on your device. To ensure it’s turned on, open the Play Store, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and navigate to Play Protect > Settings. To scan sideloaded apps, you can also turn on the Improve harmful app detection setting, which is in the same spot.
Run a Google Security Checkup
Finally, you can run a Google Security Checkup on your device via a web browser. This will help you tighten your online security, encouraging you to take security steps like adding a recovery email or phone number to your Google account. It’ll also list recent security activity, and will generally ensure that, even if a malicious app steals your data, you’ll be able to lock it out of your account with the least issue possible.
New Pinch Hit + Art Treats Welcome
Sep. 17th, 2025 02:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
classicfilmexWe have one new pinch hit, due September 21.
If you want to claim it, please email the mods at classicfilmexchange@gmail.com with your AO3 username or comment here (comments are screened).
Unrelated, we had a question about the possibility of art being allowed for treats, despite the exchange itself being fic-only, and we've decided to open up the option of art, but only for treats, not for assignments. As with fic, please make sure your work doesn't violate any of your recipients DNWs.
Finally, don't forget the treats for pinch-hitters post! If you pick up a pinch hit and aren't participating in the exchange, leave prompts there and, if you've got a hankering to do a little treating, please check there to see if you're familiar with any of the fandoms being requested.
Book review: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Sep. 17th, 2025 12:17 pmrocky41_7 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
booknookTitle: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Author: Becky Chambers
Genre: Sci-fi
Last night I finished Becky Chambers' The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, a sci-fi book about a motley crew of spacefarers who "drill" wormholes to enable rapid travel across space for the diverse galactic alliance known as the GC. At the start of the book, they are offered a bid on a particularly difficult, lucrative job, and can't resist taking the bait.
This should be (another) lesson to me in not going all-in on a creator because I've enjoyed one of their works. I loved Chambers' To Be Taught, if Fortunate, and I've heard plenty of internet praise for The Long Way, so when I saw it at the bookstore recently, I dropped $20 on it readily. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
First - if you picked up this book looking for the femslash, it's barely there, and it's a lot more friends-with-benefits than romance. The other two romances in the book get a lot more attention. This isn't a complaint from me, but if what you really want is F/F romance, it's not really here.
This is a character-driven book with barely a plot, which wouldn't be a problem if the characters were interesting. As it is, they are functionally interchangeable: a crew of people who are all optimistic, friendly, emotionally open, painstakingly polite, and obsessively well-intentioned (except for the one guy who's a Jerk, who exists to be a jerk whenever the scene calls for someone who needs to be less-than-fanatically-polite or there's a chance for Chambers to squeeze in another instance of his being a jerk, even when he's technically right). There is no character growth to speak of; none of these characters changes at all between the start of the book and the end. There's no complexity to anyone.
( Read more... )
Author: Becky Chambers
Genre: Sci-fi
Last night I finished Becky Chambers' The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, a sci-fi book about a motley crew of spacefarers who "drill" wormholes to enable rapid travel across space for the diverse galactic alliance known as the GC. At the start of the book, they are offered a bid on a particularly difficult, lucrative job, and can't resist taking the bait.
This should be (another) lesson to me in not going all-in on a creator because I've enjoyed one of their works. I loved Chambers' To Be Taught, if Fortunate, and I've heard plenty of internet praise for The Long Way, so when I saw it at the bookstore recently, I dropped $20 on it readily. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
First - if you picked up this book looking for the femslash, it's barely there, and it's a lot more friends-with-benefits than romance. The other two romances in the book get a lot more attention. This isn't a complaint from me, but if what you really want is F/F romance, it's not really here.
This is a character-driven book with barely a plot, which wouldn't be a problem if the characters were interesting. As it is, they are functionally interchangeable: a crew of people who are all optimistic, friendly, emotionally open, painstakingly polite, and obsessively well-intentioned (except for the one guy who's a Jerk, who exists to be a jerk whenever the scene calls for someone who needs to be less-than-fanatically-polite or there's a chance for Chambers to squeeze in another instance of his being a jerk, even when he's technically right). There is no character growth to speak of; none of these characters changes at all between the start of the book and the end. There's no complexity to anyone.
( Read more... )
Recent Reading: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Sep. 17th, 2025 12:15 pmrocky41_7 posting in booksLast night I finished Becky Chambers' The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, a sci-fi book about a motley crew of spacefarers who "drill" wormholes to enable rapid travel across space for the diverse galactic alliance known as the GC. At the start of the book, they are offered a bid on a particularly difficult, lucrative job, and can't resist taking the bait.
This should be (another) lesson to me in not going all-in on a creator because I've enjoyed one of their works. I loved Chambers' To Be Taught, if Fortunate, and I've heard plenty of internet praise for The Long Way, so when I saw it at the bookstore recently, I dropped $20 on it readily. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
First - if you picked up this book looking for the femslash, it's barely there, and it's a lot more friends-with-benefits than romance. The other two romances in the book get a lot more attention. This isn't a complaint from me, but if what you really want is F/F romance, it's not really here.
This is a character-driven book with barely a plot, which wouldn't be a problem if the characters were interesting. As it is, they are functionally interchangeable: a crew of people who are all optimistic, friendly, emotionally open, painstakingly polite, and obsessively well-intentioned (except for the one guy who's a Jerk, who exists to be a jerk whenever the scene calls for someone who needs to be less-than-fanatically-polite or there's a chance for Chambers to squeeze in another instance of his being a jerk, even when he's technically right). There is no character growth to speak of; none of these characters changes at all between the start of the book and the end. There's no complexity to anyone.
( Read more... )
This should be (another) lesson to me in not going all-in on a creator because I've enjoyed one of their works. I loved Chambers' To Be Taught, if Fortunate, and I've heard plenty of internet praise for The Long Way, so when I saw it at the bookstore recently, I dropped $20 on it readily. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
First - if you picked up this book looking for the femslash, it's barely there, and it's a lot more friends-with-benefits than romance. The other two romances in the book get a lot more attention. This isn't a complaint from me, but if what you really want is F/F romance, it's not really here.
This is a character-driven book with barely a plot, which wouldn't be a problem if the characters were interesting. As it is, they are functionally interchangeable: a crew of people who are all optimistic, friendly, emotionally open, painstakingly polite, and obsessively well-intentioned (except for the one guy who's a Jerk, who exists to be a jerk whenever the scene calls for someone who needs to be less-than-fanatically-polite or there's a chance for Chambers to squeeze in another instance of his being a jerk, even when he's technically right). There is no character growth to speak of; none of these characters changes at all between the start of the book and the end. There's no complexity to anyone.
( Read more... )
Appeals Court: Abandoned Phones Don’t Equal Abandoned Privacy Rights
Sep. 17th, 2025 05:46 pmeff_feedThis posted was drafted by EFF legal intern Alexandra Halbeck
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which covers California and most of the Western U.S., just delivered good news for digital privacy: abandoning a phone doesn’t abandon your Fourth Amendment rights in the phone’s contents. In United States v. Hunt, the court made clear that no longer having control of a device is not the same thing as surrendering the privacy of the information it contains. As a result, courts must separately analyze whether someone intended to abandon a physical phone and whether they intended to abandon the data stored within it. Given how much personal information our phones contain, it will be unlikely for courts to find that someone truly intended to give up their privacy rights in that data.
This approach mirrors what EFF urged in the amicus brief we filed in Hunt, joined by the ACLU, ACLU of Oregon, EPIC, and NACDL. We argued that a person may be separated from—or even discard—a device, yet still retain a robust privacy interest in the information it holds. Treating phones like wallets or backpacks ignores the reality of technology. Smartphones are comprehensive archives of our lives, containing years of messages, photos, location history, health data, browsing habits, and countless other intimate details. As the Supreme Court recognized in Riley v. California, our phones hold “the privacies of life,” and accessing those digital contents generally requires a warrant. This is an issue EFF has worked on across the country, and it is gratifying to see such an unambiguous ruling from an influential appellate court.
The facts of Hunt underscore why the court’s distinction between a device and its contents matters. In 2017, Dontae Hunt was shot multiple times and dropped an iPhone while fleeing for medical help. Police collected the phone from the crime scene and kept it as evidence. Nearly three years later—during an unrelated drug investigation—federal agents obtained a warrant and searched the phone’s contents. Hunt challenged both the warrantless seizure and the later search, arguing he never intended to abandon either the device or its data.
The court rejected the government’s sweeping abandonment theory and drew a crucial line for the digital age: even if police have legal possession of hardware, they do not have green light to rummage through its contents. The panel emphasized that courts must treat the device and the data as separate questions under a Fourth Amendment analysis.
In this specific case, because the government ultimately obtained a warrant before searching the device, that aspect of the case survived constitutional scrutiny—but crucially, only on that basis. The court also found that police acted reasonably in initially seizing the phone during the shooting investigation and keeping it as unclaimed property until a warrant could be obtained to search it.
Under Hunt, if officers find a phone that’s been misplaced, dropped during an emergency, or otherwise separated from its owner, they cannot leap from custody of the glass-and-metal shell to unfettered access to the comprehensive digital record inside. This decision ensures that constitutional protections don’t evaporate just because someone abandons their device, and that warrants still matter in the digital age. Our constitutional rights should follow our digital lives—no matter where our devices may end up.
Movies: Kraven, Wicked Part 1, Flight Risk
Sep. 17th, 2025 09:13 pmslippery_fishKraven: I hoped for some entertaining trash when I chose to watch this movie. Unfortunately, it was mostly boring. Yes, there was the chance to ogle a half-naked, nicely-muscled guy a few times but I need a bit more than that. :D I hoped that the relationship between the brothers would get me on board but even with them, I needed a little bit more.
Wicked Part 1: This was fun. I loved the sets and the world building, the singing worked for me (but I'm not overly picky when it comes to stuff like this). I really liked Ariana in this, her acting and singing both were surprisingly good.
The relationship between Glinda and Elphaba was fun and I actually liked the men's places in this. I don't really see the Elphaba/Fiyero thing, but whatever. I never read the book or the musical so I'm curious to see how all things go to hell in the second part.
Flight Risk: Solid action movie with a likeable set of protags. Winston is fun, Madolyn is kinda stiff, and together they work pretty well. I also liked the chemistry between Madolyn and Hassan. Sure, Hassan played it up to calm her down but the actors sold it well.
But then, we have our villain: Darryl. Very one-note and Mark Wahlberg only managed to sell him until his identity was revealed. After that, he was just such a bland character.
It was pretty exiting at times and I think the pacing worked pretty well. It also didn't try to be unnecessarily clever. It didn't try to draw things out, it used its confrontations as effective punches. So yeah, it worked for me for the most part .
Wicked Part 1: This was fun. I loved the sets and the world building, the singing worked for me (but I'm not overly picky when it comes to stuff like this). I really liked Ariana in this, her acting and singing both were surprisingly good.
The relationship between Glinda and Elphaba was fun and I actually liked the men's places in this. I don't really see the Elphaba/Fiyero thing, but whatever. I never read the book or the musical so I'm curious to see how all things go to hell in the second part.
Flight Risk: Solid action movie with a likeable set of protags. Winston is fun, Madolyn is kinda stiff, and together they work pretty well. I also liked the chemistry between Madolyn and Hassan. Sure, Hassan played it up to calm her down but the actors sold it well.
But then, we have our villain: Darryl. Very one-note and Mark Wahlberg only managed to sell him until his identity was revealed. After that, he was just such a bland character.
It was pretty exiting at times and I think the pacing worked pretty well. It also didn't try to be unnecessarily clever. It didn't try to draw things out, it used its confrontations as effective punches. So yeah, it worked for me for the most part .
Wednesday is indulging in a spicy margarita
Sep. 17th, 2025 07:37 pmoursinWhat I read
A little while ago Kobo had an edition of CS Lewis's 'Space Trilogy' on promotion, so I thought, aeons since I read that, why not? It turned out to have been not terribly well formatted for e-reader but I have encountered worse, it was bearable. Out of the Silent Planet, well, we do not go to CLS for cosmological realism, do we? But why aliens still so binary, hmmm? (okay, I think there is probably some theological point going on there, mmmhmm?) (though in That Hideous Strength there is a mention of 7 genders, okay Jack, could you expand that thought a little?) I remembered Perelandra as dull, at least for my taste - travelogue plus endless theological wafflery - and it pretty much matched the remembrance. However, while one still sees the problematic in That Hideous Strength (no, really, Jack, cheroot-chomping lesbian sadist? your id is very strange) he does do awfully well the horrible machinations of the nasty MEN in their masculine institutions, and boy, NICE is striking an unexpected resonance with its techbros and their transhuman agenda. Also - quite aside from BEARS!!! - actual female bonding.
Possibly it wasn't such a great idea to go on to Andrew Hickey, The Basilisk Murders (Sarah Turner Mysteries #1) (2017), set at a tech conference, which I think I saw someone recommend somewhere. Not sure it entirely works as a mystery (and I felt some aspects of the conference were a little implausible) - and what is this thing, that this thing is, of male authors doing the police in different voices writing first-person female narrative crime fiction? This is at least the second I have encountered within the space of a few weeks. We feel they have seen a market niche.... /cynicism
Apparently I already read this yonks ago and have a copy hanging around somewhere? I was actually looking for something else by Dame Rebecca and came across this, The Essential Rebecca West: Uncollected Prose (2010), which is more, some odd stray pieces it is nice to have (I laughed aloud at the one on Milton and Paradise Lost) but hardly essential among the rest of her oeuvre.
At the same time I picked up Carl Rollyson, Rebecca West and the God That Failed: Essays (2005), which apparently I have also read before. It's offcuts of stuff that didn't make it into his biography, mostly talks/articles on various aspects that he couldn't go into in as much detail as he would have liked.
On the go
Rebecca West, The Return of the Soldier (1918), on account of we watched a DVD of the movie recently. Yes, I have a copy of the book but have no idea where it is. I was also looking for Harriet Hume, ditto.
Up next
Not sure.
How to Find (and Use) Your Apple Watch's New Sleep Score
Sep. 17th, 2025 06:30 pmlh_wayfarer_feedDid you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
The latest Apple Watches now boast a sleep score, which gives you a number on a scale of 1 to 100 for how well you slept. But that’s not all—you can even get this number without the Series 11 watch, as I discovered this morning while waiting for my new watch to be delivered. To get the new sleep score, just make sure you have iOS 26 and watch OS 26 installed.
Where to find the sleep score
You can view the sleep score on your iPhone or on your Apple Watch. On the watch (Series 6 or later), go to the Sleep app. The sleep score is the first thing it will show you. On the iPhone, the sleep score gets its own card in the Apple Health app. If you don't see it, tap the search icon and then tap on Sleep.
Many devices can give you an Apple sleep score, not just the newest Apple Watch
The sleep score is a data analysis feature that doesn’t require specific Apple Watch hardware, and Apple has said that Apple Watches as old as Series 6 will get it. What’s more, I noticed that my Apple Health app gives me sleep scores for nights I wore other devices to bed, but not an Apple Watch.
According to my settings, my Apple Health app receives sleep data from the Coros, Garmin, Zepp (Amazfit), Oura, Ultrahuman, Whoop, and Withings devices I’ve used. I’ve rarely worn an Apple Watch to bed lately, but I’m always wearing something, usually including an Oura ring. I have sleep scores for all of those nights, not just the nights I wore an Apple Watch.
Your past sleep scores are calculated retroactively
The sleep score is new with iOS 26 and watch OS 26, but the data needed to calculate it was there anytime you wore a supported device to bed. Scrolling back, I can see sleep scores going back to April of 2020.
How sleep scores are calculated
Apple’s sleep score comes with a breakdown of where your 100 potential points come from. This includes:
50 points for how long you slept
30 points for how consistent your bedtime was with previous nights
20 points for minimizing interruptions
My own scores include a lot of “high” and “excellent” ratings, even though I don’t think my sleep has been great. But sleep scores are never totally scientific—even when they’re based on solid data, there’s no such thing as a medical cutoff for what counts as “high” or “excellent” sleep. The World Sleep Society tells us to “focus on trends and patterns, not individual ‘scores.’” If you see your sleep scores trending up (or down), that’s more important than what exactly your number is today.
What It's Like to Race With the Garmin Forerunner 165
Sep. 17th, 2025 05:30 pmlh_wayfarer_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
Last week I ran the D.C. half-marathon alongside nearly 8,000 other runners. While I generally love running with my Garmin Forerunner 165 (which I've previously reviewed), when I strapped the watch on the morning of the race, I had some reservations. This watch has earned a reputation as a barebones beginner device—and I was worried if it would hold up when it really mattered. Would the GPS remain accurate throughout the 13.1 mile run? Would the pacing features actually help me hit my goal time?
After crossing the finish line, I'm happy to report that this entry-level watch met my expectations in almost every way.
Training with Garmin's built-in plans
In the leadup to race day, I tested Garmin's training plans. It's a simple process: Once you select a plan in Garmin Connect, your watch automatically receives each day's workout, complete with target paces, intervals, and recovery periods.
The selling point for me is that Garmin's training plans adapt to your performance over time, adjusting target paces based on recent runs and fitness assessments. For my marathon training, the plan included everything from easy runs and tempo workouts, to speed intervals and long runs (which may not be long enough—but more on that in a moment).
As I've previously noted, I particularly love the pacing guidance during tempo runs—the watch beeps and displays alerts when I drifted outside my target pace zone, helping me nail those challenging sustained efforts that are so crucial for race preparation.
That said, I'm not convinced Garmin's training philosophy is entirely reliable, particularly over long run distances. I have a sneaking suspicion the device might not suggest long enough peak mileage for some runners, but I'll dive deeper into that analysis after completing a full training cycle. In the meantime, I'm absolutely loving the pacing assistance and structured workouts.
Creating a custom race day workout
Ahead of race day, I took advantage of one of Garmin's best features: creating a custom workout. To do so, I opened the Garmin Connect app and navigated to Training > Workouts > Create a Workout. From there, I built a step-by-step plan for my race. I created a warm-up mile (at an easy pace), followed by the main event (an 11-mile step with ambitious target pace alerts), and an extra ambitious final mile push. The key was setting up pace alerts that would notify me if I was running too fast or too slow relative to my half-marathon pace goal.
Once saved, the workout automatically synced to my Forerunner 165, and I could start it just like any other workout on race morning. Having this structure eliminated the guesswork and helped me stay disciplined during those early miles, when adrenaline and crowd energy make it so tempting to start out too fast.
Forerunner 165 GPS accuracy
Here's where the Forerunner 165 really impressed me. I was genuinely concerned about GPS accuracy going into the race. Anyone who has ever attended a concert knows how dense crowds disrupt GPS on your phone or watch, and this half-marathon had around 8,000 runners plus who knows how many spectators cheering for us. More advanced Garmin watches offer dual-band GPS for improved accuracy, which the Forerunner 165 lacks. I worried that in a crowded race environment, amid tall buildings and thousands of other runners, the single-band GPS might struggle to maintain precision.
My fears were unfounded. Throughout the race, my Garmin's distance measurements matched almost perfectly with the official mile markers set up by the race organizers. Mile after mile, when I reached each marker, my watch showed within 0.1 miles of the expected distance. This consistency gave me confidence in my pacing and eliminated the stress of wondering whether my watch was leading me astray.
You can see how close Garmin's tracking is to my official race results in a side-by-side here.
Garmin's summary on the left, my official race results on the right.
Credit: Meredith Dietz
I should note that I'm an extremely relatable runner, in that I'm truly right in the 50th percentile of marathon runners: No faster, no slower. This means my experience is probably representative of what most recreational racers can expect from this watch.
How the Forerunner 165 performed on race day
During the race itself, the Forerunner 165 delivered exactly what I needed without overwhelming me with unnecessary data. The screen remained easily readable in various lighting conditions, from the pre-dawn start through full daylight. Battery life was never a concern—after two-plus hours of GPS tracking, I still had plenty of juice remaining.
The vibration alerts for pace deviations were perfectly calibrated: noticeable enough to get my attention without being jarring or distracting. The auto-lap feature marked each mile clearly, giving me regular checkpoints to assess my progress against my race plan.
Advice for racing with the Garmin Forerunner 165
Based on my race day experience, here are my top recommendations for getting the most out of your Forerunner 165 during a race:
Charge fully the night before. Even though battery life is excellent, there's no reason to risk it. A full charge will easily handle any race distance.
Set up your data screens in advance. Customize what information appears on your main screen. I recommend keeping it simple: current pace, average pace, and elapsed time. Too much data can be overwhelming when you're pooped.
Practice with your custom workout. Don't let race day be the first time you use a custom workout. Test it during a long training run to make sure the pace alerts and structure work for your preferences.
Trust the GPS. My biggest surprise was how accurate the GPS remained throughout the race. Trust your watch's distance and pace readings rather than trying to calculate based on course markers or feel.
Use the lap button strategically. While auto-lap is great, manually hitting the lap button at key points (like the halfway mark or when you start your finishing kick) can provide helpful psychological markers.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 might be positioned as an entry-level watch, but it did exactly what I needed it to do on race day, with accurate GPS, reliable pacing feedback, and an easy-to-read display. Sometimes, it seems, the most advanced features aren't necessary—sometimes you just need a watch that works when it counts.
Water Update
Sep. 17th, 2025 09:33 amranunculusThis morning the tanks were half full, which is respectable for this time of year. However, the water at the house was still trickling out of the faucet indicating there was virtually no pressure. I opened the faucet at the base of Tank Hill, which is about 40 vertical feet below the tanks. The water ran out with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Water flow was even more anemic at the faucet on the hillside. The faucet at the garden, which is lower than the one at the base of Tank Hill, ran reasonably freely, but not the way it should have. I got out the new hatchet and hammered open the valve for the 2 inch Fire Hose pipe. A LOT of water poured out. The flow from the garden faucet increased. After a minute or so I hammered closed the 2 inch valve, closed all the faucets, got a bale of hay from the Iris Barn and came back to the house. Low and behold water comes flowing easily out of the faucets. I'm still not entirely happy with the pressure, but further "blowing out" of the water pipes can wait till the tanks are full and the garden is watered. For now I can at least take a shower! My guess is that dirt has accumulated in the bottom of tank 1 and partially blocked the flow of water down the hill. This is a real problem because there is no effective AND safe way to clean the tanks. It is possible to climb into the tanks and bucket out dirt (dirty water) but doing that requires a supplied air source. No one installed a "cleanout" valve for the tanks so there isn't any way to drain them and clean them. On top of all of that there is no way to isolate one tank from the others so cleaning can be done without draining everything. If I drain everything there will be no water for a couple of days while the tanks refill. So it has been about 20 years since the tanks were cleaned last. Plenty of dirt and tiny stones get washed down from the springs despite my best efforts. As soon as I've finished paying for the new stove I'll hire someone to help re-plumb the tanks and fix this issue. Maybe next spring when the springs are running fast and the tanks aren't doubling as a source for water in case of a fire.
How to Find (and Use) Your Apple Watch's New Sleep Score
Sep. 17th, 2025 06:30 pmlifehacker_feedDid you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
The latest Apple Watches now boast a sleep score, which gives you a number on a scale of 1 to 100 for how well you slept. But that’s not all—you can even get this number without the Series 11 watch, as I discovered this morning while waiting for my new watch to be delivered. To get the new sleep score, just make sure you have iOS 26 and watch OS 26 installed.
Where to find the sleep score
You can view the sleep score on your iPhone or on your Apple Watch. On the watch (Series 6 or later), go to the Sleep app. The sleep score is the first thing it will show you. On the iPhone, the sleep score gets its own card in the Apple Health app. If you don't see it, tap the search icon and then tap on Sleep.
Many devices can give you an Apple sleep score, not just the newest Apple Watch
The sleep score is a data analysis feature that doesn’t require specific Apple Watch hardware, and Apple has said that Apple Watches as old as Series 6 will get it. What’s more, I noticed that my Apple Health app gives me sleep scores for nights I wore other devices to bed, but not an Apple Watch.
According to my settings, my Apple Health app receives sleep data from the Coros, Garmin, Zepp (Amazfit), Oura, Ultrahuman, Whoop, and Withings devices I’ve used. I’ve rarely worn an Apple Watch to bed lately, but I’m always wearing something, usually including an Oura ring. I have sleep scores for all of those nights, not just the nights I wore an Apple Watch.
Your past sleep scores are calculated retroactively
The sleep score is new with iOS 26 and watch OS 26, but the data needed to calculate it was there anytime you wore a supported device to bed. Scrolling back, I can see sleep scores going back to April of 2020.
How sleep scores are calculated
Apple’s sleep score comes with a breakdown of where your 100 potential points come from. This includes:
50 points for how long you slept
30 points for how consistent your bedtime was with previous nights
20 points for minimizing interruptions
My own scores include a lot of “high” and “excellent” ratings, even though I don’t think my sleep has been great. But sleep scores are never totally scientific—even when they’re based on solid data, there’s no such thing as a medical cutoff for what counts as “high” or “excellent” sleep. The World Sleep Society tells us to “focus on trends and patterns, not individual ‘scores.’” If you see your sleep scores trending up (or down), that’s more important than what exactly your number is today.
What It's Like to Race With the Garmin Forerunner 165
Sep. 17th, 2025 05:30 pmlifehacker_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
Last week I ran the D.C. half-marathon alongside nearly 8,000 other runners. While I generally love running with my Garmin Forerunner 165 (which I've previously reviewed), when I strapped the watch on the morning of the race, I had some reservations. This watch has earned a reputation as a barebones beginner device—and I was worried if it would hold up when it really mattered. Would the GPS remain accurate throughout the 13.1 mile run? Would the pacing features actually help me hit my goal time?
After crossing the finish line, I'm happy to report that this entry-level watch met my expectations in almost every way.
Training with Garmin's built-in plans
In the leadup to race day, I tested Garmin's training plans. It's a simple process: Once you select a plan in Garmin Connect, your watch automatically receives each day's workout, complete with target paces, intervals, and recovery periods.
The selling point for me is that Garmin's training plans adapt to your performance over time, adjusting target paces based on recent runs and fitness assessments. For my marathon training, the plan included everything from easy runs and tempo workouts, to speed intervals and long runs (which may not be long enough—but more on that in a moment).
As I've previously noted, I particularly love the pacing guidance during tempo runs—the watch beeps and displays alerts when I drifted outside my target pace zone, helping me nail those challenging sustained efforts that are so crucial for race preparation.
That said, I'm not convinced Garmin's training philosophy is entirely reliable, particularly over long run distances. I have a sneaking suspicion the device might not suggest long enough peak mileage for some runners, but I'll dive deeper into that analysis after completing a full training cycle. In the meantime, I'm absolutely loving the pacing assistance and structured workouts.
Creating a custom race day workout
Ahead of race day, I took advantage of one of Garmin's best features: creating a custom workout. To do so, I opened the Garmin Connect app and navigated to Training > Workouts > Create a Workout. From there, I built a step-by-step plan for my race. I created a warm-up mile (at an easy pace), followed by the main event (an 11-mile step with ambitious target pace alerts), and an extra ambitious final mile push. The key was setting up pace alerts that would notify me if I was running too fast or too slow relative to my half-marathon pace goal.
Once saved, the workout automatically synced to my Forerunner 165, and I could start it just like any other workout on race morning. Having this structure eliminated the guesswork and helped me stay disciplined during those early miles, when adrenaline and crowd energy make it so tempting to start out too fast.
Forerunner 165 GPS accuracy
Here's where the Forerunner 165 really impressed me. I was genuinely concerned about GPS accuracy going into the race. Anyone who has ever attended a concert knows how dense crowds disrupt GPS on your phone or watch, and this half-marathon had around 8,000 runners plus who knows how many spectators cheering for us. More advanced Garmin watches offer dual-band GPS for improved accuracy, which the Forerunner 165 lacks. I worried that in a crowded race environment, amid tall buildings and thousands of other runners, the single-band GPS might struggle to maintain precision.
My fears were unfounded. Throughout the race, my Garmin's distance measurements matched almost perfectly with the official mile markers set up by the race organizers. Mile after mile, when I reached each marker, my watch showed within 0.1 miles of the expected distance. This consistency gave me confidence in my pacing and eliminated the stress of wondering whether my watch was leading me astray.
You can see how close Garmin's tracking is to my official race results in a side-by-side here.
Garmin's summary on the left, my official race results on the right.
Credit: Meredith Dietz
I should note that I'm an extremely relatable runner, in that I'm truly right in the 50th percentile of marathon runners: No faster, no slower. This means my experience is probably representative of what most recreational racers can expect from this watch.
How the Forerunner 165 performed on race day
During the race itself, the Forerunner 165 delivered exactly what I needed without overwhelming me with unnecessary data. The screen remained easily readable in various lighting conditions, from the pre-dawn start through full daylight. Battery life was never a concern—after two-plus hours of GPS tracking, I still had plenty of juice remaining.
The vibration alerts for pace deviations were perfectly calibrated: noticeable enough to get my attention without being jarring or distracting. The auto-lap feature marked each mile clearly, giving me regular checkpoints to assess my progress against my race plan.
Advice for racing with the Garmin Forerunner 165
Based on my race day experience, here are my top recommendations for getting the most out of your Forerunner 165 during a race:
Charge fully the night before. Even though battery life is excellent, there's no reason to risk it. A full charge will easily handle any race distance.
Set up your data screens in advance. Customize what information appears on your main screen. I recommend keeping it simple: current pace, average pace, and elapsed time. Too much data can be overwhelming when you're pooped.
Practice with your custom workout. Don't let race day be the first time you use a custom workout. Test it during a long training run to make sure the pace alerts and structure work for your preferences.
Trust the GPS. My biggest surprise was how accurate the GPS remained throughout the race. Trust your watch's distance and pace readings rather than trying to calculate based on course markers or feel.
Use the lap button strategically. While auto-lap is great, manually hitting the lap button at key points (like the halfway mark or when you start your finishing kick) can provide helpful psychological markers.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 might be positioned as an entry-level watch, but it did exactly what I needed it to do on race day, with accurate GPS, reliable pacing feedback, and an easy-to-read display. Sometimes, it seems, the most advanced features aren't necessary—sometimes you just need a watch that works when it counts.
Amazing Spider-Man #113
Sep. 17th, 2025 06:48 pmiamrman posting in scans_dailyWriter: Gerry Conway
Pencils and inks: John Romita, Sr.
If Doctor Octopus is on one side of the gang war, then which exciting new super-villain is his opposition?
( Read more... )
Amnesty [Challenge #459: Dice] Dragon Age: Inquisition- Roll the Dice
Sep. 17th, 2025 10:45 ampreludian_staves posting in 100wordsTitle:
Roll the Dice
Fandom:
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Rating:
Gen
Notes:
Set in an unspecified point in the main story timeline around one of my Inquisitors.
( Read more... )
Roll the Dice
Fandom:
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Rating:
Gen
Notes:
Set in an unspecified point in the main story timeline around one of my Inquisitors.
( Read more... )
ICE 🤝 Cyber Mercenaries | EFFector 37.12
Sep. 17th, 2025 05:19 pmeff_feedIt's easy to keep up with the fight for digital privacy and free expression. Our EFFector newsletter delivers bite-sized updates, stories, and actions you can take to stay informed and help out.
In this latest issue, we show how libraries and schools can safeguard their computers with Privacy Badger; highlight the dangers of unaccountable corporations and billionaires buying surveillance tech for police; and share news that EFF’s Executive Director, Cindy Cohn, will be stepping down in mid-2026 after more than two decades of leadership.
EFFector isn’t just for reading—you can listen, too! In our audio companion, EFF Senior Staff Technologist Cooper Quintin explains why ICE’s contract with Paragon Solutions is so dangerous. Catch the conversation on YouTube or the Internet Archive.
EFFECTOR 37.12 - ICE 🤝 Cyber Mercenaries
Since 1990 EFF has published EFFector to help keep readers on the bleeding edge of their digital rights. We know that the intersection of technology, civil liberties, human rights, and the law can be complicated, so EFFector is a great way to stay on top of things. The newsletter is chock full of links to updates, announcements, blog posts, and other stories to help keep readers—and listeners—up to date on the movement to protect online privacy and free expression.
Thank you to the supporters around the world who make our work possible! If you're not a member yet, join EFF today to help us fight for a brighter digital future.
My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The 13-Inch M4 MacBook Air
Sep. 17th, 2025 05:00 pmlh_wayfarer_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
Every model in the 2025 lineup of M4 MacBook Air laptops is currently marked down by $200 on Amazon, taking them to record-low prices. Of these, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air with 16GB unified memory and 256GB SSD storage is arguably the best MacBook Air for most people, and a great buy at $799 (originally $999).
Although this is ostensibly the entry-level MacBook Air, it is well-equipped to last you for many years. It comes with 16GB of RAM standard, twice what the previous generation's basic model included. The 13.6-inch "Liquid Retina" display has a resolution of 2,560 by 1,664, a P3 wide color gamut, and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. You'll also get an excellent backlit keyboard with Touch ID, Wi-Fi 6E support, and great speakers and microphones. Apple even decided to bring back MagSafe charging with this laptop.
The 12MP camera comes with the Center Stage, which follows your face as you move around the frame during video calls. The two USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 4 means you can extend to up to two 6K external monitors.
For a "basic" laptop, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air offers incredible capabilities and features for the price, and is arguably a much better value than the Pro, according to Lifehacker Senior Tech Editor Jake Peterson. If you take into account the current discount, it really is the best all-around MacBook you can buy.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now
Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds
—
$199.00
(List Price $249.00)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack)
—
$699.99
(List Price $1,099.99)
Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025)
—
$299.00
(List Price $349.00)
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
—
$38.50
(List Price $39.99)
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
—
$89.99
(List Price $139.99)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023)
—
$29.99
(List Price $49.99)
Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB 11" 2000x1200 Tablet
—
$174.99
(List Price $229.99)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model)
—
$39.99
(List Price $59.99)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The 13-Inch M4 MacBook Air
Sep. 17th, 2025 05:00 pmlifehacker_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
Every model in the 2025 lineup of M4 MacBook Air laptops is currently marked down by $200 on Amazon, taking them to record-low prices. Of these, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air with 16GB unified memory and 256GB SSD storage is arguably the best MacBook Air for most people, and a great buy at $799 (originally $999).
Although this is ostensibly the entry-level MacBook Air, it is well-equipped to last you for many years. It comes with 16GB of RAM standard, twice what the previous generation's basic model included. The 13.6-inch "Liquid Retina" display has a resolution of 2,560 by 1,664, a P3 wide color gamut, and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. You'll also get an excellent backlit keyboard with Touch ID, Wi-Fi 6E support, and great speakers and microphones. Apple even decided to bring back MagSafe charging with this laptop.
The 12MP camera comes with the Center Stage, which follows your face as you move around the frame during video calls. The two USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 4 means you can extend to up to two 6K external monitors.
For a "basic" laptop, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air offers incredible capabilities and features for the price, and is arguably a much better value than the Pro, according to Lifehacker Senior Tech Editor Jake Peterson. If you take into account the current discount, it really is the best all-around MacBook you can buy.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now
Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds
—
$199.00
(List Price $249.00)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack)
—
$699.99
(List Price $1,099.99)
Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025)
—
$299.00
(List Price $349.00)
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
—
$38.50
(List Price $39.99)
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
—
$89.99
(List Price $139.99)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023)
—
$29.99
(List Price $49.99)
Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB 11" 2000x1200 Tablet
—
$174.99
(List Price $229.99)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model)
—
$39.99
(List Price $59.99)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
What I am reading Wednesday
Sep. 17th, 2025 06:02 pmparanoidangelWhat I Just Finished Reading
One Minute Away by Mark Watson. I knew he had a new book out and hadn't intended to read it because I couldn't decide if I liked the previous two that I'd read. But then it was (the only one) that was in the library ebooks so I borrowed it. And I think I liked this one.
What I'm Currently Reading
A whole lot of fanfic. This covers all three categories. I've had a lot of stuff on my marked for later list for ages. Sometimes I get it down a bit but by reading the shorter fics. As a result there are some longer ones on there that have been there for over a year. So I put them on my ebook reader and am working through them. Hopefully getting the list down will make it easier to keep it down.
What I'm Reading Next
No idea, but I have a lot of books on my to read list, so whichever of them takes my fancy. I am purposely avoiding the Kobo website because I do not need any more books, even 99p ones.
Mirrored from my blog.