Eliana Willis

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFinding a lightweight Linux distribution is as easy as closing your eyes and pointing to a list. Chances are good that your finger will land on a distribution perfectly suited for older hardware, giving that aging machine new life. On newer hardware, those lightweight distributions run faster than any OS you have ever experienced. Xubuntu is one such distribution.Xubuntu is an official Ubuntu spin that opts for the Xfce desktop environment (which is what makes this distribution so fast). Xfce is not only very lightweight, but it is also highly flexible. You can bend and twist Xfce into just about any layout you want, but those new to Linux might want to leave the default settings as is — because the default Xubuntu layout is as simple as it gets.Also: Why this Linux distro is my new favorite Windows replacementWhen you first log in, you are greeted by two desktop icons (Trash and Home), a top bar with a desktop menu and system tray, and a right-click menu. Click the desktop menu, and a searchable menu appears that includes categories, favorites, and power options. Within the menu, you will find apps like LibreOffice, Geary (email), Firefox, media players, an App Center, and more.Also: These 6 lightweight Linux apps let older PCs run blazing fastThe look of Xubuntu is straight-up classic with no frills or eye candy. It is basic, and it is simple. But what really makes Xubuntu stand out is its sheer speed. With all of the updates, bug fixes, and general improvements that went into Ubuntu 25.04, as well as the polish on the latest version of Xfce, this distribution is all about speed. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETYour Roku TV is getting a slew of updates to make finding something to watch easier — including one for your favorite purple city.At an event in New York City last week, Roku introduced its new TVs and streaming devices, smart home products, and TVs, but it also announced some new additions that will be coming to all existing Roku TVs.Also: Your TV’s USB port has an underrated benefit that can revitalize an old system – here’s how it worksHere’s what’s on the way.What’s coming to all Roku TVsRoku understands the struggle of finding something to watch, it says, so it’s rolling out several ways to make content more personal. These include: “Coming Soon to Theaters,” a row that shows you what’s currently in theaters. If you’d rather wait until you can watch it at home, you can add a movie to your saved list and Roku will alert you when it’s available.Short-form content rows are headed to the All Things Food and All Things Home tabs, letting you browse videos like recipes, home cleaning hacks, and more one after the other (essentially TikTok or Reels for your TV). A personalized highlight row in the Sports Zone lets you follow the latest action from your favorite teams and players. You can also get notifications when it’s gametime for your favorite teams.If you want to see the best of the best, watch for Roku’s new badges that will identify award-winning films.Missing your favorite purple-hued cityscape? Instead of having to wait for your set to go idle to visit, you can now head to Roku City with one click with a dedicated tile. This fake city, complete with its own mass transit, homes, restaurants, and even a city hall, has become a fan-favorite over the past few years, and now it’s even easier to pay a visit.Hardware updates On the hardware side, new versions of the Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick Plus are on the way. The new models are so power-efficient, Roku says, that they are powered directly by your TV — meaning no more hanging cables. The new sticks are also getting a sleek redesign that ensures they don’t block neighboring HDMI ports. The classic Roku Streaming Stick is also getting a voice remote. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf you have an older Google Nest thermostat, it might be losing its smart capabilities later this year. In a post last week on the official support blog, Google announced that it would end support for three thermostat models: The original first-generation Nest Learning Thermostat from 2011, the second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat that followed a year later in 2012, and the second generation of the European version of the Nest Learning Thermostat from 2014. No more smart featuresNot only is Google stopping future software updates for those devices, it is pulling all smart features. The thermostats will still work, including existing schedules, and you can continue to control the temperature and set schedules directly on the device, Google says, but you will not be able to control anything with the Nest app or Google Assistant. Support ends on Oct. 25, 2025. No other devices are affected at this time. An olive branchTo lessen the blow a little, Google is making an offer to affected customers. If you are still using one of these thermostats, Google will send you a $130 off promo code to purchase the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat (which ZDNET’s Maria Diaz called “a beautiful piece of tech that works” and one that “you can count on working for years — or maybe even decades”). With an MSRP of $280, that cuts the price to $150. Google said it was making the change to “fully invest” in the latest generation of thermostats. More

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETNothing’s affordable sub-brand, CMF, has announced a new phone alongside a trio of earbuds. The CMF Phone 2 Pro, which succeeds last year’s CMF Phone 1, is a budget smartphone that takes on the likes of the Moto G series, Samsung Galaxy A lineup, and even the more expensive Google Pixel 9a — all for under $300.  A bold design that isn’t afraid to experimentThe CMF Phone 2 Pro carries Nothing’s signature bold look and nomenclature. The biggest upgrade is in the optics department. Like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, the new Pro phone adds a telephoto camera to the main and ultrawide-angle lenses. And like its predecessor, it retains the modular design, so you can add various screw-in accessories to have more fun with the design. Also: The best budget Android phone I’ve tested is not made by Samsung or MotorolaIt can be customized in several ways for more personalization, creativity, and functionality. A Universal Cover, for example, lets you add a set of different camera lenses, like fisheye or macro lenses, to the phone’s camera. Other accessories include a kickstand attachment and a lanyard.  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Motorola’s Moto G is available from the company’s website for $200. The smartphone boasts a long-lasting battery, booming speakers, and a solid camera array. However, I wouldn’t call it a “pocket-sized theater” due to its sub-standard screen. more buying choices In a world where flagship smartphones can cost $1,000 or more, […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWith viruses, ransomware, spyware, infostealers, and outright scams, online fraud has been a pervasive and growing problem. In the US, one in three people who reported fraud last year lost money, with the total collective amount reaching $12.5 billion. Now, security firm Malwarebytes is trying to combat these types of cybercrimes with its latest security tools.Also: 7 password rules security experts live by in 2025 – the last one might surprise youAimed at financial institutions, HR benefit providers, and internet service providers, the new tools offer a package of security, privacy, and identity protection. Organizations can opt to use all the tools or pick and choose what they need. Either way, the goal is to help them defend their customers and employees from viruses, ransomware, and other scams that fall into online fraud. “Malwarebytes’ new partnership program is a direct response to the alarming surge in cybercrime impacting consumers around the globe,” Oren Arar, vice president of business development for Malwarebytes, said in a news release. Also: If we want a passwordless future, let’s get our passkey story straight”By partnering with us, organizations can enhance their own security posture while delivering essential protection their customers and employees need to stay safe in today’s digital landscape. This program provides a significant step in mitigating the rising tide of financial losses associated with online fraud.” The benefits of Malwarebytes’ new toolsDesigned to be flexible and customizable, Malwarebytes’ new tools offer several different benefits. Also: 8 simple ways to teach your friends and family about cybersecurity – before it’s too lateComprehensive protection for consumers. Watching over PCs, mobile devices, and network traffic, the real-time protection can detect and block more advanced cyberthreats. A VPN is available to secure all online activity, an identity tool can monitor for identity theft and similar risks, and a data remover can erase sensitive personal data found online.Browser security. With a browser component, the tools can detect phishing sites and other malicious pages. They are also able to protect users against banking trojans that try to steal sensitive financial information.Turnkey integration. The tools can integrate directly into an organization’s environment without any complicated setup required. Since the security is cloud-based, organizations can scale it based on the needs of their employees and customers. Malwarebytes also offers API integration, automated license key provisioning, and flexible features that can be bundled together or used on an opt-in basis. More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETLinux and privacy go hand in hand. Also: I’m a Linux power user, and this distro made me rethink what an operating system can beThat starts with robust security and ends with smart, preventative behavior on the part of the user. Fortunately, it is not hard to gain extra privacy when using the Linux operating system and, even better, it can (mostly) be done for free. 1. Use an anonymous-centric distribution Certain Linux distributions, such as Kodachi and Tails, are created with privacy in mind. These distributions tend to be used live (which means they are not installed like a traditional operating system) and include components geared toward helping you keep your privacy intact. You will find tools for anonymity, encryption, logging, and much more — all of which go a long way toward bolstering your privacy. Also: 5 best Linux distros for staying anonymous — when a VPN is not enoughThe one caveat to using such a distribution is that every time you reboot, you are back at square one (which is by design and helps prevent your OS from leaving any trace of you behind). 2. Use Tor Browser If you do not like the idea of using a live distribution, you should at least employ Tor Browser. When using Tor Browser, your web activity is automatically encrypted and anonymous. Tor Browser is the best web browser for security and privacy, and no other browser can touch it. This browser is for those who want to ensure their time on the web is protected from those who would steal information and use it against them. Also: I found the most private and secure way to browse the web — and it isn’t incognito modeTor Browser can be installed from most standard repositories and used free of charge. 3. Use encryption Another addition you can make is the use of encryption. Linux enjoys GnuPG, which is a free implementation of Pretty Good Privacy, and does an outstanding job of encrypting data. You can not only encrypt files and folders, but also integrate it with your email client to send encrypted communications. Also: How to encrypt any email – in Outlook, Gmail, and other popular servicesThe one thing to remember, however, is that you must have the public keys of those to whom you want to send encrypted messages. Other than that, using GnuPG is very simple and worth the time involved in getting it set up. 4. Disable location sharing Some Linux distributions (especially those based on either the GNOME or KDE Plasma desktops) include systems for telemetry (sending user information to the development teams). Also: How to find out if an AirTag is tracking you – and what to do about itYou might not want such information being sent out from your machine (even if the receiving party can be trusted, you never know if it will be intercepted). GNOME makes it easy for you to disable such information, which includes location sharing. In the Privacy section of Settings, you will find the Location Services option, which you can click the On/Off slider until it is in the off position. For KDE Plasma, you can disable the geoclue service with sudo systemctl disable geoclue. More