Scammers are getting increasingly clever about injecting apps with malware. Certainly it’s nothing new that malicious apps are littered across the internet, but lately they’ve been popping up with alarming frequency even in theoretically safe spots like the Google Play Store and even Apple’s App Store. Malware is even showing up on Steam, serving as a reminder that we all need to be careful with each and every app (or game) we choose to download onto our devices.

As reported by GameRant, Valve recently removed a title called PirateFi from Steam. Created by developer Seaworth Interactive, the game was free to play, and was advertised as a survival adventure that let players fish and swim, with both single player and co-op mode. The game was only released on Feb. 6 of this year, meaning it was active on Steam for less than one week.

Why the removal? Steam claims the game’s developer uploaded versions of the game to Steam that included suspected malware. Steam has since removed those builds, as well as the game itself, but if you happened to play the game while these builds were active, Steam says its likely your PC was infected with malicious code.

Luckily, the scope of the situation was small, relatively speaking: It appears only about 1,500 people actually downloaded the game, which is fewer than many malware scares in recent memory. Moreover, Valve reached out to affected players directly, warning them of the likely malware problem.

SteamDB shared Valve’s message to PirateFi players in a post on X. As part of this message, Steam is warning players they should completely reformat their PC’s OS to make sure they scrub their machine of malware entirely.

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It seems some players who were affected were acutely aware of how malicious the game was. One negative review claimed the game emptied their Steam wallet to buy Dota 2 skins, while another claims most of their accounts were hacked after installing the game.

A troubling trend

Still, that this occurred at all is troubling. Usually it’s safe to download apps and games from official sources like app stores—especially Steam. It’s almost unheard of that a game on Valve’s store would be malicious. It’s even rarer than finding malicious apps on Apple’s stores, which, while uncommon, do slip past the company’s defenses every now and then.

Do I expect more malicious games to pop up on Steam? Not necessarily. In fact, Steam might bolster its security even more following this event. Still, these kinds of situations are a good reminder that, truly, you can never be too careful online.

What to do if you played PirateFi

If you installed PirateFi on your PC, you should delete it as soon as possible. Steam recommends running an antivirus scan of your machine to root out any potential malware, and to look for any new software you don’t recognize: Malware tends to install new programs and files to run in the background, so make sure to uninstall anything you know you didn’t install yourself.

You may want to consider changing passwords on your accounts, as well. While regularly changing passwords isn’t necessary, this malware may have obtained the passwords of your accounts, which puts your accounts at risk. To be extra secure, you may want to reformat your PC entirely—though this is obviously the most intensive solution.

Again, encountering malware on Steam is quite rare, but it’s still worth exercising caution whenever downloading new titles on the store. Make sure to inspect the pages for new games before installing them: Look at the images and the description to see if the game is delivering on what’s being advertised. Importantly, check reviews: If there are too many negative ratings, or too few ratings at all, it might be best to skip the title altogether.

I gave up wearing an Apple Watch about three marathons ago. Fitness watches are fantastic tools for most runners, but they’re not for me—especially when I’m not training for a specific race.

It turns out that, for me, there’s a distinct freedom in running without a training plan. After years of following structured programs with specific paces, distances, and workout types, I’ve learned to appreciate the art of intuitive running—letting my body guide the way rather than my watch.

The joy of watchless running

The decision to ditch my running watch was a conscious one. No more obsessing over pace, distance, or heart rate. Instead, I’ve developed a deeper connection with my body’s natural rhythms and signals. I measure my runs less in miles or minutes, and more in landmarks, breath patterns, and perceived effort. My body has become my most reliable metric.

How to run without a training plan

Without digital data, I focus on three key indicators:

Pay attention to your breathing pattern

My breath has become my personal speedometer. A “good” pace means breathing through my nose or maintaining a comfortable conversation. When I want to push slightly, I’ll let myself breathe harder but never to the point of not being able to string together a few words. This natural governor keeps me honest about my effort level.

Listen to your body’s feedback

I pay attention to how my feet strike the ground, whether my shoulders are relaxed, and if my form feels fluid. These physical cues tell me more about my running quality than any GPS watch could. When my footfalls feel light and my posture stays tall, I know I’m moving well.

Pay attention to your recovery signals

Perhaps most importantly, I listen to how my body feels the day after a run. Mild muscle fatigue is fine, but any hint of joint pain or excessive tiredness means I need to dial back. This attention to recovery has helped me avoid injuries more effectively than when I was following strict training plans.

The advantages of a “slow and steady” approach

Without a race deadline looming, I can truly embrace the “slow and steady” approach to my running. I’m not building toward a specific event; I’m building a sustainable running practice. This means:

• Taking genuine easy days (most days are easy days)

• Gradually increasing distance by feel rather than forced progression

• Respecting recovery as much as the running itself

• Adding intensity only when my body feels particularly springy and willing

The benefits of intuitive running

This more intuitive approach has transformed my relationship with running. Gone is the pressure to hit certain paces or weekly mileage targets. Instead, each run becomes an opportunity to tune into my body’s capabilities on that particular day.

This isn’t just about my hippie mentality—it’s a true fitness hack for me. I’ve found myself more consistent than ever, partly because I’m not burning out from trying to stick to an arbitrary schedule. Some days I run longer, others shorter. Some days I find myself naturally picking up the pace, while others I’m content to move at what feels like a whisper.

Don’t get me wrong. I know there’s a time for intensity and diligence—I’ve run six marathons, after all. but it’s perfect for maintaining fitness and joy in running. I’m building a base that will serve me well when I do decide to train for another marathon. More importantly, I’m cultivating a sustainable practice that I can maintain for years to come.

The beauty of running lies in its simplicity. No gadgets, no complicated workouts—just me, my breath, and the road ahead. It’s a reminder that sometimes, less structure leads to more consistency, and paying attention to our bodies can be more valuable than any data point a watch could provide.

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These days, there are some features that make Bluetooth speakers better than they were just a couple of years ago: USB-C for universal fast charging, hi-res audio playback for great audio quality, charging for other devices, and a built-in speakerphone. The Beats Pill speaker has all these features and more, making it a great modern speaker. It is down to $99.99 (originally $149.95), matching the lowest price it has been since its recent release, according to price-tracking tools. For less than a hundred dollars, this speaker is a steal.

Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker

Maximum Output: 100 Watts, Frequency Response: 1 MHz, Connectivity: Bluetooth and USB, Audio: Mono.

$99.99
at Amazon

$149.95
Save $49.96

Get Deal

Get Deal

$99.99
at Amazon

$149.95
Save $49.96

I’ve been trying out the Beats Pill speaker since it came out in June, and it has everything I would want in a portable speaker: a stereo sound when connected to another compatible speaker, multi-room mode to play the same music on multiple speakers, the Find My Device feature in case you misplace it, and Class 1 Bluetooth for extended range.

This Beats speaker is not just for Apple users, since Android users can also connect to the Bluetooth 5.3, but it only supports AAC and SBC codecs, so there are no Android-friendly codec options that will make the audio pop out. Apple users will get the most out of the Pill, with seamless iOS compatibility for a much smoother experience. You can read about it in more detail on PCMag’s “excellent” review.

When it comes to battery life, you can expect around 24 hours per charge depending on your use, which is up there with other speakers of its size. The sound is the classic bright Beats sound signature, offering a balanced yet bass-heavy sound. It is rated IP67 for being dust-proof and waterproof, so it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes. The main con for this speaker is that there is no adjustable EQ on the app, but it already comes with a great sound signature.

As a teen, I was confused when I read a box of taco directions. I remember the step after cooking the ground beef was something like “drain off the water.” What water? It only took one time, and then I knew what water they were referring to. Cooking ground beef often results in gray, rubbery nubbins, and browning it is even harder because of that pool of liquid. Luckily, there’s an easy remedy for this problem: Cook faster, more tender ground beef with a sprinkle of baking soda.

The best way to cook ground beef

I have no issues making this claim: This is the best way to cook ground beef. Full stop. Baking soda is a household chemical most folks have readily available in the kitchen (and if you don’t it’s about $1.50 at the grocery store). This method requires the tiniest amount to be effective (more on that in a moment), and it results in not only beautifully browned, crisped edges on your ground beef, but those morsels are soft, juicy, and more flavorful than when they steam in their own liquid mess. 

I first became aware of baking soda’s cooking benefits from America’s Test Kitchen because it can speed up the cooking of tough vegetables. There’s a lot more it can do with meat—and that includes sliced or ground beef, chicken, and pork too. The way I do it is by dumping the ground meat into a large frying pan. (Crowding any ingredient, whether veggie or meat, is a surefire way to create steam and that delays browning, so give your food plenty of space.) Break up the meat with the heat off, and then sprinkle on a small amount of baking soda. America’s Test Kitchen recommends about a quarter teaspoon for every 12 ounces of meat, so for 16 ounces of beef I eyeballed a heaping quarter-teaspoon. 

Sprinkle the bicarb as widely as you can to cover the most meat surface as possible. It’s impossible to cover every spot, and that’s okay, it’ll still work wonders. Toss, flip, and stir the meat around to mix up the meat with the baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes. When the timer is up, turn on the flame and cook as usual. 

What’s the difference?

I cooked two batches of meat to show the difference—one with the baking soda treatment and one without. For the baking soda batch, I sprinkled it on and waited 15 minutes. Then I turned the flame onto about medium heat and started stirring and breaking up the meat as it began to cook. Not only did the meat cook quickly, but I started seeing browning within the first two minutes; a lot of the meat was still raw in areas. 

Browning starts very quickly in the pan with the baking soda treatment.
Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

The entire pan of meat was cooked in five minutes, and I crisped it for two extra minutes. There was only one moment where I could see some liquid emerge, but it was nothing you would equate to a pool. 

The liquid that emerges from the baking-soda-treated meat is minimal.
Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

For the regular ground meat, I simply started cooking it over medium heat, breaking it apart and stirring. Things were looking the same for the first minute, minus the browning. Then just before the final parts turned gray, a great puddle of liquid formed. That liquid is supposed to be inside your meat, by the way. Instead, it fills the pan before the meat can start browning and further delays that browning. That pan took an extra five minutes and the meat pieces were noticeably tough.

The untreated ground beef expelled much more liquid and became tough at the end of cooking.
Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Why does adding baking soda brown ground beef better?

Baking soda does double duty with meat, acting both as a tenderizer and creating an environment for better browning. In regard to tenderizing, whenever meat hits a hot pan you can see it visibly contract. Whether it’s a burger or a steak, you’ve probably witnessed what appears to be shrinkage. When meat cooks, the muscle fibers contract and squeeze out liquid as a result. The more you cook it, the more liquid squeezes out. That’s why overcooked meat tastes dry. That is exactly what you’re seeing when you see that pool of liquid in a pan of ground beef. What’s left behind is hard, overdone bits of meat in the pan.

Baking soda fixes this by preventing the fibers from squeezing out so much of their juices. That same article explains that bicarbonate of soda changes the pH on the meat, causing the muscle filaments (tiny strands that exist in muscle cells) to repel from each other even when they meet heat. So instead of tightening up, they stay apart. The liquid inside doesn’t have to abandon ship, and that results in juicier meat. 

Less liquid in the pan also means faster browning—because browning can only happen if there isn’t a ton of water or steam present. Additionally, increasing the pH with baking soda creates a more basic environment for the meat, and that is when the Maillard reaction really pops off. The Maillard reaction is what we have to thank for gorgeously browned baked goods, meats, and vegetables, and these browned areas actually create new, more complex flavors. More browning actually does mean your food is more flavorful. And while Maillard reactions can happen without baking soda, they increase with a higher pH. 

Isn’t it nice to know that the smallest, cheapest, most simple addition to your ground beef can have such a meaningful effect on your dinner? I find this very satisfying. Give it a try and I think you will too.    

There’s chatter on TikTok right now about going “monk mode,” but if you watch enough videos on the subject, you’ll realize this means different things to different people. At its core, though, the idea of engaging with your work in a distraction-free environment is timeless. In fact, even “monk mode” has been around as a specific concept since the early 2000s and has experienced periodic surges of popularity on Google over the years. Here’s how to make it work for you.

Define what your “monk mode” is

When you’re in monk mode, you’re approximating what monks do, or at least part of it. Imagine a monk in your mind. What is he doing? Whatever it is, it’s probably calm and focused. I imagine a monk in plain clothes, sitting at a desk in an unadorned room, reading a religious text, fully immersed in the task at hand. I had friends in high school who went on to be monks, and I know that’s a reductive oversimplification of what they do—but this “mode” relies on the baseline stereotype of a calm, focused person engaging in their activities, so that’s what we’re working with.

At its most basic, entering monk mode means committing to deep work, or work that is solely focused on one task, with no attempt at multitasking and no allowances for distractions like social media. Deep work is a concept I’ve discussed here before, so how is monk mode different? Well, first of all, it’s got a catchier name and is well-suited to the viral TikTok economy, but second of all, it’s different if you make it different. Some creators say “monk mode” to just mean deep work, using it to identify moments of the day when they turn off their notifications, buckle down, and focus on one task. Others, though, take it to a different level entirely, committing to weeks or months that can include, among other things, restricting their access to social media all the time, not drinking alcohol or smoking weed, not consuming adult content, meditating or reading a set amount of time each day, or avoiding going out socially.

Clearly, there’s a significant difference between committing to a blocked period of uninterrupted work on a particular task and taking on a 60- or 90-day quest to rid your entire life of anything that might be a distraction. There’s a happy medium in there: You can commit to undertaking the same block of work time every day for a set amount of days. In fact, that’s how a lot of people said they did it in the pre-TikTok era. If you want to begin a habit or reach a goal—you want to go to the gym more consistently or start a business—block out a certain amount of time each day, set a goal of working on it with no distractions at that time every day, and do it for 90 days. That’s a monk-mode approach that doesn’t have to involve giving up half the activities in your life—and it provides a solid entry point to this whole endeavor.

What to keep in mind about monk mode

The more you watch these videos, the more they start veering into manosphere territory, with TikToks featuring jacked dudes who claim to be able to tell you how to “escape the matrix.” It’s grifty business and you shouldn’t feel bad if you can’t cut out social media, seeing your friends, or drinking your morning coffee just to appease a stranger who would actually lose their livelihood if you did stop going on social media and is probably betting the farm on the assumption that you won’t.

Resetting your goals and committing to sustained, deep work on them is a good thing, but do it in a way that is sustainable for you and actually makes sense. Going monk mode can really be as simple as committing to waking up an hour earlier every day and using that bonus hour to work, undistracted, on your passion project before emails start coming in during your 9-to-5. If you feel like cutting out weed or clubs or whatever behaviors or habits you think are holding you back, go for it, but take time to consider what your problems or barriers are before eliminating something from your life based on the advice of some guy on TikTok. Personally, when I engage in my own version of what we’re now calling monk mode, I don’t focus on the “bad” things I can get rid of, but rather, on the “good” things I can add in, then structure my three-month plan around meeting the goal of engaging sincerely and routinely with those good things.

As I said, I’ve known some monks. If there’s one thing I know about them, it’s that they’re not miserable or actively trying to punish themselves. They focus on their responsibilities because it’s the right thing to do and it leads to greater fulfillment. Try starting there. Oh, and put your phone on Do Not Disturb.