Web Threads
Join the How-To Geek community chatting about all things Web.
When It Comes to Privacy-Focused Web Browsers, What’s Your Go-to Choice and Why?
I've used Chrome and Firefox for years, but now I want a browser that isn't trying to track my every move.
Do You Think Free VPNs Are Good Enough in 2025?
No one wants another subscription for something they don't use regularly. Have you found a reliable free VPN that does what you need? Did you try one and regret not going paid from the start?
Which Web Search Engine Do You Prefer?
Until recently, I used DuckDuckGo for personal web searches and Google for professional research, thinking Google was more thorough and up-to-date. Its automatic AI summaries started driving me up the wall, though, so I've switched over to DDG for almost all my web searches, and only fall back on Google if I can't find what I'm looking for. What search engine(s) do you use and why?
Which Dead Website Do You Miss the Most?
Over the past three decades, many websites on the internet have come and gone. Some of the greatest have gone offline too soon. Which defunct website do you wish still existed?
How Fast Is Your Internet?
When you do speed tests on your phone or computer at home, what kind of speeds are you getting? Does it match what you pay for? Depending on the device and connection, I can typically get upwards of around 850Mbps. That's plenty fast, and close enough to the 1Gbps I pay for, to not draw any complaints from me.
What's a Browser Shortcut Everyone Should Know?
Web browsers have evolved to become very powerful over the years, including in the realm of shortcuts. My favorite I've been surprised more people don't know about is that, with a mouse, you can middle-click a link to open it in a new tab. What shortcut do you think everyone here should know?
Do You Prefer Google Docs or Microsoft Word?
If you're doing anything productive on a computer, chances at least part of the time you're typing a document. The question is what software you use. Do you have a preference for either Google Docs or Microsoft Word? Or maybe one of their more obscure competitors like LibreOffice Writer?
What Are Your Best Online Shopping Tips?
A lot has changed in the world of online shopping over the last couple of decades, but one fact remains: you've gotta be in the know to get the best deals and avoid being scammed. What rules do you live by when you're shopping online, whether it's retail or secondhand sellers?
Which Password Manager Do You Use?
If you spend much time at all using the internet, password managers are crucial for keeping your passwords organized and securely stored. Otherwise, you're stuck trying to remember them or write them down by hand. What password manager do you recommend? Or do you stick with your browser's built-in manager?
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Do You Still Use RSS Feeds?
RSS (Real Simple Syndication) is one of the oldest tools we have for reading blog posts, news articles, and other articles. Despite its simplicity, it's effectively been replaced by social media and their built-in feeds. Are you still using RSS feeds in 2025? If so, what app do you use?
How Many Videos Are in Your YouTube Watch Later Playlist?
The Watch Later playlist on YouTube is really handy for storing videos that you don't have time for immediately, but want to watch in the future. I often add videos to this playlist, but remove them if they linger for too long because it's usually a sign I'm not really interested in them.
What's Your Current Duolingo Streak?
Duolingo is the world's most downloaded educational app. It aims to make language learning accessible and fun. Part of the hook is its streak mechanism, which builds each day you complete a lesson. If you use Duolingo, what's your current streak, and what's your record?
Will You Subscribe to YouTube Premium Lite?
YouTube Premium costs $13.99/month, but YouTube recently rolled out a Lite membership in the US that costs $7.99/month (after testing in a few other countries). The difference is that Lite removes ads from most videos, but not from music content, and also doesn't get other features like offline viewing and background playing. Personally, I think it's too expensive for little benefit.
Do You Watch YouTube on Your TV?
According to YouTube, over 400 million hours of podcasts were watched monthly on YouTube on TVs in 2024. That stat is only for podcasts, not all the other videos, so it's clear that many people favor watching the streaming platform on TV over other devices like phones and computers. What's your preference?
Do You Watch Podcasts on YouTube?
According to YouTube, podcasts on its platform are watched by more than one billion active viewers every month, and it's the most frequently used service for listening to podcasts in the US. Are you one of these people, or do you enjoy your podcasts elsewhere?
Do You Use Discord to Chat With Friends?
Discord is an excellent platform to build and join communities, especially if you're a gamer. You can use it to meet new people or keep in touch with real-life friends. Do you have your own Discord server with friends, where you can chat, play games, and share memes?
Do You Waste Too Much Time Online?
If you're being honest with yourself, do you think you spend a reasonable amount of time online, or would you prefer to cut back? Consider all the devices you use to browse the internet, like your phone, laptop, and tablet.
Do You Know HTML?
I recently started learning some HTML and a little bit of CSS with some online resources so I could make a personal website. How much HTML do you know? Are you able to put together a basic website without looking things up?
Do You Track the Movies You've Watched?
How do you remember if you've seen a movie? By obsessively tracking it with a service like Letterboxd or recording it in a spreadsheet, of course! Or perhaps you just rely on your good old-fashioned memory.
Do You Use Book Recommendation Services?
Platforms like Goodreads and StoryGraph exist to help you track the books you've read and discover new ones. Personally, I get recommendations from friends, but I use StoryGraph to record everything I read. What about you?
Which Email App Do You Use the Most?
While most people use Gmail or Apple Mail, those certainly aren't your only options. Popular email app clients include Outlook, Spark, Proton Mail, Thunderbird, and more. So, which email app is your favorite, or which one do you use the most? Why?
I'm Giving SearXNG a Try, Do You Have Any Suggestions?
I recently spun up a SearXNG container on my home server. The goal, I guess, is to escape targeted ads and crappy search results—two things that I am regularly exposed to in my research-heavy, Google-heavy job as a "technology journalist." Anway, I'm slowly equipping this self-hosted search engine with Traefik and other integrations, but I'd like to know if our community has any suggestions for how to move forward.
Which TV Show or Movie Actually Gets Tech Right?
Technology or hacking is difficult to portray on screen with any sense of accuracy, and we experts or enthusiasts always notice the glaring issues. How many times have we seen a nerdy kid use an old Nokia to hack open a secure door? Ridiculous. So, what movie or TV show did you watch and truly enjoy, or thought it got tech/hacking right? I'm thinking about Mr. Robot, District 9, Sneakers, I, Robot, etc. I'll also go out on a limb to say Ex Machina and Wall-E, to name a few.
Which Inactive Website Do You Still Visit?
There are more than one billion websites at your fingertips, though the majority of them aren't maintained or updated. While there's undoubtedly a lot of junk out there, some of these inactive websites can prove to be valuable resources. Is there a website you visit which, while old and dusty, you still enjoy or find useful?
Do You Pay for Google One?
Google One is a subscription from the tech giant that expands your storage space across all Google services. It's great if you store lots of media in Google Photos, for example, and you can share it with family members. It also offers some other features depending on your plan, like Gemini Advanced. Do you use Google One? If so, do you think it's good value?
How Long Have You Been Using the Internet?
The youngsters among you might not be able to imagine a time before the internet, but unbelievably some of us did live without websites, social media, and apps. Have you grown up with the internet, or did you log on at a later point? How do you think it has changed in that time?
What's Your Favorite Browser Extension?
Web browsers are perfectly capable out of the box with no customization, but extensions take things to the next level. With them, you can tweak your browser's appearance, improve security, and add new features. What browser extension do you recommend?
How Has Google Lens Helped You?
With Google Lens, you can scan your surroundings and photos to translate text, identify plants, shop for clothes, and more. It's often quicker than searching with words! What do you use Google Lens for, and how successful is it?
Do You Use the Same Web Browser Across Devices?
Most web browsers have syncing capabilities, which means your tabs and preferences carry over between devices. But perhaps you prefer to use a different browser on desktop than you do on mobile. Do you use the same web browser on every device? Why or why not?
