XDA

Linux doesn’t need antivirus the way Windows does, but not for the reason most people think

Anmol Mehrotra — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:17 GMT

Linux has forever been considered above Windows when it comes to security. Part of the reason for that, and what people usually assume, is that Linux doesn't have a meaningful market share for attackers to target with sophisticated malware or attacks. While that holds true when compared to Windows's market share, it definitely is not the full picture. Linux also has an advanced permission management system that usually prevents files from being accessed or executed, which provides additional security. I tested this by setting up WSL and an Ubuntu installation, then letting it scan my data, including a file infected with make-believe malware, to see how it responded.

I replaced the Adobe suite with a free open source alternative that Claude can control directly

Dhruv Bhutani — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:00:19 GMT

For something as popular as it is, nobody actually likes paying for Adobe products. As a photography enthusiast, I'm married to Lightroom because it's the software that I'm used to, but with every successive update, the app keeps getting more and more bloated and error-prone. I'm also not a fan of the app's subscription, cloud-focussed approach. But things just got interesting.

A cheap secondhand phone now runs Android Auto in my car full-time, and my real phone stays in my pocket

Anurag Singh — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:00:17 GMT

I've been having issues with the head unit in my car, and I want a dedicated screen for navigation and music without pulling my phone out of my pocket every time I get in. Since I already have an old Samsung Galaxy S21 FE that I bought from a friend for a few hundred bucks, I decided to put it to good use. It's a few generations old now, and you can pick one up second-hand for much less than it originally cost. The screen is still perfectly useful for displaying a map.

I stopped installing apps for small jobs, and these 5 browser tools handle them just fine

Yash Patel — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 21:31:16 GMT

Installing a desktop app for every little task can quickly become frustrating. Before I know it, my PC is filled with tools I use only once in a while. But I've found that some browser-based alternatives are good enough to handle these jobs without adding more software to my system. From simple utilities to surprisingly capable creative tools, there are plenty of options worth trying. Here are five browser tools that have earned a place in my workflow and made me rethink which desktop apps I actually need.

I tried to kill double NAT on my network, and one box on my wall kept blocking it

Shekhar Vaidya — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 21:00:18 GMT

After getting a public IP address from my ISP, I revisited the whole network setup I built around CGNAT. The other issue was double-NAT, but I never really cared about it because CGNAT was the main wall for my homelab.

Mindchuk turns a text message into a note, and it's the cleanest way I've found to capture ideas on the go

Patrick Hearn — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:31:18 GMT

When an idea strikes you, how do you keep track of it? Some of us write it down in a notebook or on our phones. Others use voice memos. Whatever your approach, it's likely you'll either forget the idea or where you wrote it down. You'll search for it, give up, and then stumble upon the note years later. No? Just me? I wanted a solution for keeping all my notes and ideas in one place, preferably with a method that works on busy days.

5 ways you're wasting Claude usage limits without even realizing it

Yash Patel — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:00:17 GMT

Claude can be incredibly useful for writing, research, and everyday tasks, but nothing kills the momentum faster than running into a usage limit in the middle of your work. It's easy to assume that you're simply using Claude too much, especially when you rely on it throughout the day. But the problem might not be how often you use it. It could be how you use it. Some common habits make AI workflows less efficient than they need to be. If you keep running out of Claude usage sooner than expected, these are the habits worth reconsidering.

HACS is becoming an official Home Assistant marketplace, so I cleaned out integrations I'd forgotten about

Jasmine Mannan — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:30:18 GMT

Over the months and years of using Home Assistant, you likely use the Home Assistant Community Store like an untamed app store, installing custom integrations, themes, and front-end cards for every shiny new smart device or gimmick you test. This leads to your custom_components directory becoming a digital junk drawer filled with abandoned experimental cards, dead API scrapers, and integrations for devices you threw away years ago.

I played the same games on an emulator and the original console, and one difference changed everything

João Carrasqueira — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:00:19 GMT

I love gaming, and over time, my appreciation for older titles has grown. I love collecting them, too, not just playing them, so I have the original hardware for at least some of these games. Sometimes, though, emulation is easier, and for retro titles, I do believe it's completely justified.

Cat8 cables are a waste of money for your house, and Cat6 does everything you need

Tanveer Singh — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:30:17 GMT

In the world of networking, bigger numbers seem to attract the most attention. Wi-Fi 7 was heavily marketed, but most of its features can't even be used by most people. Wired networking doesn't stay in the news as much, but Ethernet cable standards still manage to keep the conversation going. People seem to be convinced that the greater the number accompanying their "Cat" cable, the faster and more reliable their Ethernet connection will be.