Ben Stegner on Muck Rack

Ben Stegner

Pittsburgh
As seen in: MSN, MSN Canada, Flipboard, MUO, Nintendo Life
Former Editor in Chief of MakeUseOf. I explain technology. Redeemed. 🇺🇸💞🇭🇳 @Gissell_Pinto
Back to Ben Stegner’s profile

Articles by Ben Stegner

This forgotten Windows customization adds way more personality than I expected

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
There are lots of ways to add personality to your Windows setup. The basics are easy, like changing the wallpaper or adjusting the theme color. Then, if you want to get more advanced, tools like Rainmeter let you build custom desktop setups however you like. But one of my favorite Windows customizations is often overlooked: changing the mouse cursor. While not difficult to do, Windows also doesn’t make it obvious that you can adjust it.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

Your group chats might be terrible without you even realizing it

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Group chats should be simple: add everyone to a thread, and they can talk to each other. But this is rarely the case in reality—especially when your group contains a mix of iPhone and Android users. I recently had a bad group chat experience that didn’t have an obvious cause at first. You should know about this, because your group chats might also be suffering for no good reason. My group chat woes I have a group chat with ~10 friends I play video games with on a regular basis.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I've had this $15/month phone service since 2020 and it rocks

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
There are plenty of subscriptions I can’t believe people pay for; one of the top categories of these is expensive phone plans. I regularly hear friends and acquaintances mention that they pay close to $100/month per person for their phone service. I’ve never paid even half that in a given month, thanks to using lower-cost phone providers. In April 2020, I switched to Mint Mobile to save as much as possible. Almost six years later, I’m still happy with it and would recommend it to most people.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Please stop using old HDMI cables

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
It’s easy to assume that all HDMI cables are the same. You plug them into your TV and connected device, and the picture you expect pops up. But while all HDMI cables provide basic functionality, old cables don’t bring the modern features that let modern devices look their best. Updated HDMI cables don’t cost much more than old ones, so if you’ve been using old ones for a while, it’s a worthwhile upgrade to swap them out.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (3) Issue with article?

This scam notification reminds me that nothing is safe

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Lots of scams come from surprise sources, like an email impersonating your bank or a sudden loud pop-up. We trust the apps and websites we use all the time not to throw scams our way, but letting your guard down can lead to you falling for tricks. Recently, I got a scam notification from a financial service I use. Its systems were breached, allowing someone to broadcast a sham that looked legitimate. Thankfully, I didn’t even consider opening it, but I’m sure many people did.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Your phone’s emergency features can do more than call 911

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
The emergency features of your phone are most famous for giving you an easy way to call 911, whether you need to do so discreetly in your pocket or when you can’t unlock your device. But Android and iOS pack so many more useful features that are important in emergencies. By their nature, it’s worth setting up these features before you need them. Take the time to explore what’s on offer, and your phone could prove invaluable in a crisis.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

I removed these Windows startup apps and my PC finally felt fast

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
The faster your PC boots, the sooner you can start doing what you want with it. If you’ve never configured your computer’s startup apps, then you’re wasting time every time you turn it on. Having apps that you never use, or only need on occasion, launch immediately with your system is unnecessary. But you don’t want to disable everything that runs at boot; knowing what to leave and what to remove is crucial.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

The built-in Windows screen recorder is so good that you won't need another

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
If you see screen recording as something that’s tedious to get into, I have good news. Windows includes built-in screen recording tools that let you take captures without a fuss. Next time you need to illustrate a bug, record a how-to video for a colleague, or make a recording of your gamplay, don’t worry about downloading a dedicated screen recorder. Windows has what you need already, and it’s not difficult to use.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I almost lost my entire digital life, so I built a disaster plan

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
It’s not fun to think about, but with how much is now tied up in our online lives, a digital “emergency plan” is something everyone needs. If you become unavailable, people close to you will need to manage your accounts and access your data. By thinking about this ahead of time, you can be prepared. Thankfully, many services provide emergency or legacy contact options to help you streamline your setup.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I almost lost my entire digital life, so I built a disaster plan

|
By Ben Stegner
| Flipboard
5 hours ago The new entity has a global remit and a steep price for a permanent seat. Imagine you’re the president of a midsized country, and you’re offered a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The only condition: you have to pay the secretary general of the United Nations $1 billion. This is …
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

This is the only Markdown editor I’ll ever use on Windows

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Shortly after I started writing for MUO in 2014, colleagues introduced me to Markdown. I quickly adopted it for writing all my articles, as I appreciated its simplicity and ease of copying to HTML. Fighting with unnecessary formatting in a word processor is the worst. Since then, I’ve gone through several Markdown editors on Windows, settling on one for the last several years. It’s not perfect, but I’m happy with it overall.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

These 6 Windows settings affect performance more than hardware upgrades

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
But once you have a reasonably future-proofed PC, upgrading to a slightly faster SSD or adding a bit more RAM won't have as great an effect. Instead, you should turn to tweaking Windows settings to eke more horsepower out of your system. Windows power plans Image by Amir Bohlooli. NAN. It’s easy to miss, but Windows offers power plans to control how much energy the system consumes. By default, it’s set to a balanced plan, which is good for general usage and saves battery on a laptop.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Why your phone battery drains even when you’re not using it

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
It’s expected that your phone battery will drain during the day while you use it. The screen is the biggest culprit of battery drain, which is why active use consumes so much more juice. But why does your battery drop when you’re not even using it, like overnight as you sleep? Your phone performs a lot of tasks that take battery power, even while you’re not using the device. And while some drop is expected, heavy battery decrease could point to other issues you need to fix.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

The hidden reason your Wi-Fi is slow might be the extender you bought to fix it

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Wi-Fi repeaters sound like a simple solution to the frustrating problem of wireless dead zones. Plug a new networking point into the wall to provide coverage to an area that doesn’t have it, and you’re all set, right? While they can be useful in some circumstances, Wi-Fi repeaters often end up causing more trouble than they solve. You might not realize all the problems with them; if you have any other option to improve your network, it will serve you better.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

I used this hack to get my own email domain for practically free

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Having the same @gmail.com or @outlook.com email address domain as everyone else can get boring after a while. If you want to stand out for fun or to promote your own brand, you can set up a custom email domain (@yoursite.com), but it’s not always easy or affordable. However, you may not have realized there’s an easier option: iCloud+. Using this, anyone can get a custom email domain for a low cost and minimal setup. I recently added one, and I want to take you through the process.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Stop paying a monthly fee for the terrible router your cable company gave you

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
It’s a normal part of having a home internet plan to tack on another $10-$15 per month to rent a modem/router combo from your ISP. While the companies highly encourage you to do this, and it might seem like the best option, it isn’t. You’re already paying too much for your internet plan—adding that extra charge is unnecessary. And you’re not even getting a good product in exchange. Ditching your ISP’s router and upgrading to your own has lots of benefits.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Your toilet keeps running at random times because of this $10 rubber part

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
One of the most common bathroom problems is the toilet running at random times. Hearing your toilet running for a few seconds when you haven’t flushed might startle you, but it’s more than an inconvenience—it’s a problem that’s costing you money. Any water you use unnecessarily is still charged. Thankfully, this is an easy fix you can handle even if you aren’t a plumbing expert. I’m not terribly handy around the house, and I fixed this problem myself back in 2024.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Please stop inviting bots to your online meetings

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Given how popular AI assistants have become, you’ve likely seen more than a few in your online meetings lately. And while AI notetakers can be useful, they come with a host of other issues that you should think through before inviting them to all your calls. From the way they reflect on you to potential data-sharing issues, AI meeting assistants aren’t all positives. I’ve seen them in increasing numbers lately, and I’m not always happy to.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

MakeUseOf's best of CES 2026: headphones, rollable laptops, and multi-screen smartphones

|
By Gavin Phillips Verified, Amir Bohlooli Verified, Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
The time has come for our annual pilgrimage to the Nevada desert and the shiny lights of Las Vegas, home to everyone's favorite tech show: CES. You never truly know what's going to turn up at CES, which is what makes it exciting each year. Sure, there's the normal array of laptops and smartphones and whatnot, but it's not always about those more regular bits of tech.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I've been using unread emails as a task list for too long - I'm switching to this

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
For how much I write about tech, sometimes it’s shocking how low-tech my own methods can be. I’ve used such a practice to sort my email and keep track of what I need to action in it for a long time; I’m finally going to adjust this to a much smoother solution. While this isn’t wildly groundbreaking, it will solve some pain points and help me better keep my tasks in check.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

5 ways you're accidentally destroying your Windows installation

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Whether through neglect, misunderstanding, or overzealous cleaning, you don’t want your OS installation to meet an untimely end. Keep these issues in mind so your maintenance is a positive force, and you can address issues before they become serious. Careless registry edits Image by Amir Bohlooli. NAN. The Windows registry is a powerful tool for modifying your system, but how you do so is vital.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

I still can’t believe Google killed these popular services

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
With a business as dominant as Google with its hands in so many areas, it’s no surprise that the company has killed off tons of services. However, Google is infamous not only for shutting down services, but for doing so to many tools beloved by their users. Many of Google’s shutdowns make sense or had a direct successor step in, but others stung at the time and continue to even today. While there are always alternatives, Google acted too quickly in exterminating these.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Most American banks' security options are terrible; here's how I still stay safe

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
It’s frustrating that the most important website accounts are often the ones with the worst security options. I can set a 100-character password on a random forum account, while banks commonly limit your password to 20 characters (and sometimes without symbols). My bank’s security options are poor compared to many other accounts, but I’ve still configured it to stay safe. This requires some creativity, but it’s worth doing if your bank’s site has the same basic security options.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Google has perfected so many products, yet one category still breaks it

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
While they may not all be as excellent as they once were, it’s undeniable that Google has offered top-tier products across many categories. Google Search has dominated almost since its inception, and nothing comes close to Chrome’s popularity among browsers. YouTube is the world’s home for video, and that’s not to mention many other successes like Maps, Android, Gmail, and Drive. Notably, these services also have longevity in common (Drive is the newest among those mentioned, released in 2012).
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

These 7 shareable subscriptions don't care if you live in different houses

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Shareable family subscriptions are a great way to cut down on costs, but companies don’t want you to save too much. Many family plans have become more strict about who you share them with. Netflix is one of the most infamous examples, as it now requires you to pay for an extra member if anyone uses the account outside your primary home. Thankfully, several group plans are still lax about who you invite.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

MakeUseOf's best tech of 2025: beautiful smartphones, powerful laptops, and much more

|
By Gavin Phillips Verified, Amir Bohlooli Verified, Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
2025 is done, and the light is shining bright on 2026 and all the joy of the New Year. But before we start making resolutions we'll never keep, there is just one small matter to take care of: MakeUseOf's Best of 2025 awards It's been a jam-packed year of tech with some absolutely amazing new smartphones, laptops, and more. And while we don't get our hands on every single gadget launched throughout the year, we're confident the bits we did use are some of the best of all—and bits you'll love, too.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I replaced File Explorer with a dual‑pane manager and will never look back

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
For a long time, File Explorer wasn’t a part of Windows I had a particular problem with. It did its job and was reliable enough. However, since moving to Windows 11 in 2022, I’ve become more frustrated with it. I thus decided to try a File Explorer alternative with dual-pane support, and I’m wondering why I didn’t switch sooner. Not only does this add a super useful function to file browsing, but you get tons of handy touches that aren’t part of the default File Explorer.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

The best part of iCloud isn’t syncing

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
You’d expect that the main benefit of iCloud is file syncing—after all, it’s right in the name. But if that’s all you’ve used iCloud for, you’re missing out on its best trick. iCloud can help keep you more private online and cut down on the incessant email spam we all get. It’s available for everyone, but gets even better if you’re an iCloud+ subscriber.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Your router has a hidden remote-access feature you need to disable right now

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Since the router is the guardian of your network, you’d think that router manufacturers would ship them with default options configured for security. However, several of the stock options on your router can open you up to security threats, requiring you to adjust them. One option that’s easy to overlook is remote management of the router. This allows you (or anyone with your credentials) to manage your router from outside your network.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

This default iPhone feature can do so much more once you customize it

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Do Not Disturb used to be a simple toggle to suppress all notifications on your iPhone. But since iOS 15, it’s grown into a suite of profiles called Focus, which is so much more useful. Putting Focus to good use can be confusing at first, but after some configuration, it’s a feature you’ll love. You get full control over which notifications can grab your attention at what times. Meet and tweak your Focus modes To get started, open Settings and enter the Focus section.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

These cheap tech decisions will cost you in the long run

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Given how many tech expenses we all deal with, it’s tempting to make the cheapest purchases possible to save money. But over time, these low upfront costs give way to many more expenses. Whether it’s having to spend again to replace devices or wasting more time on their problems, being cheap ends up eventually costing more. Recognizing these pitfalls and spending a bit more upfront will help you get more from every purchase and minimize wasted money.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I thought Windows libraries were useless until I used them like this

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
File Explorer includes features that are easy to overlook, especially when Windows hides them. Libraries are one such feature, as Windows 11 doesn’t even have them enabled by default. Introducing libraries Windows libraries are virtual containers that let you see the contents of multiple folders at once. Using them, you can view data from various places on your computer all in one location, reducing the need to click around or remember where everything is.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

Windows Vista wasn’t the disaster we all remember it as

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Windows Vista is one of the most infamous versions of the OS, living alongside Windows ME and Windows 8 as the ones people love to hate. And while Vista certainly had its problems, it wasn’t a complete disaster either. Arguably, Vista’s problems came down to it being ahead of its time, rather than fundamentally flawed at its core. There are a lot of successes that Vista teed up Windows 7 for, and if it had launched under different circumstances, we might remember it differently.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

This free Apple CarPlay app made me actually look forward to running errands

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
One of Apple CarPlay’s weaknesses is the low count of apps that work with it, and the lack of variety among them. They fall into four major categories: navigation, audio, store integrations, and messaging. With few choices, the handful of apps that connect to CarPlay need to be excellent. I’m happy to say that Overcast is one such app. It’s a great podcast manager that I started using to get around issues with Apple’s stock Podcasts offering, and is now an essential part of my drives.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

You're not using this Windows productivity feature enough

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
It’s easy to miss out on great OS features, whether you didn’t know about them, get used to working less efficiently, or don’t fully understand them. One of the best Windows features you’re likely not using to its full potential is virtual desktops, which are accessible through the Task View function. Windows has only officially had virtual desktops available since Windows 10.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I love Apple CarPlay... except for this

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
My first car was a 2002 model, which required an annoying setup of a phone stand, FM transmitter, and tapping a tiny screen to enjoy navigation and music in the car. When it came time for a replacement, I made sure my new car had Android Auto and Apple CarPlay so I wouldn’t have to deal with that clumsy setup again. I’ve had that car for almost 8 years, and after more than five years with Apple CarPlay, I’m happy with it overall. It’s convenient, and I can’t imagine having a car without it.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Keyboard keys don’t line up perfectly - and there's a reason why

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Like many computing standards, the answer mostly lies with historical concerns, though there are other minor reasons why this practice has persisted. Lots of keyboard history goes back to the typewriter The main reason our keyboard keys aren’t perfectly straight today goes back to their predecessor: the typewriter. Since typewriters physically strike paper to print characters onto it, every key with a letter, number, or symbol needs a way to print.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

I loved my Apple Watch, but I barely wear it now

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
I had a few early Android smartwatches, like the Moto 360, but they never clicked for me. Poor battery life and functionality that felt tacked-on instead of integrated with my phone put me off. After switching to iPhone in 2020, I got an Apple Watch SE and actually enjoyed using a smartwatch for the first time. And while I upgraded to an Apple Watch Series 9 in 2023, I’ve found myself wearing the smartwatch less and less lately.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Stop buying “gold-plated” HDMI cables - here’s what actually matters

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Marketers love using tech buzzwords to trick you into spending more money than necessary. And ever since HDMI has become the standard way to connect devices to TVs, companies have offered gold-plated HDMI cables that are supposedly of “superior” quality. In reality, this practice has minimal benefits and isn’t something you should pay extra for. You don’t need an expensive HDMI cable, but you should know what to look out for when buying one since they aren’t all the same.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

You can finally toss these old cables because you’ll never need them again

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Cable standards for tech change slowly, given how long many devices last and how much effort is required for manufacturers to shift the ports their devices use. And while there are plenty of outdated cables you should still hold onto because of this, you don't need to keep everything. Many cable types have been out of use for long enough that they don’t need to take up space in your drawer anymore.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

You can finally toss these old cables because you’ll never need them again

|
By Ben Stegner
| Flipboard
2 hours ago Here’s their resale price. While the iPhone 17 is expected to be one of the hottest gifts this holiday season, some of the early adopters of Apple’s latest phone may be moving on to something different already. New data from B-Stock, a B2B marketplace for wholesale liquidation of returned and …
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (10) Issue with article?

Spotify’s standout feature is YouTube’s worst

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Every time we reach the end of the year, another service gets the Spotify Wrapped treatment. This year marks the first time YouTube has done a roundup: its new YouTube Recap. And while it sounds like a natural fit for the year-end celebration season, YouTube Recap fell flat for me. With Spotify Wrapped launching a day later and impressing me much more, I’ve worked through why this is.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (3) Issue with article?

6+ items cluttering your home that you’ll never actually need

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
It’s too easy to let clutter pile up all across our homes. You might have good intentions of not wanting items to go to waste or having to spend money to replace them later, but clutter causes its own set of problems long before those theoretical ones arise. It’s worth combing through your house for several common categories of items that most people keep for far too long and don’t need.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Never buy these 5 tech items at a dollar store

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
We’ve all seen those USB flash drives, headphones, and other techy goods at a dollar store, gas station, or similar cheap retailer. And while it can be tempting to give them a try—even if out of curiosity—there are certain items you shouldn’t bother with buying at discount stores. Save your money, avoid a bad experience with terrible products, and keep yourself safe by avoiding tech junk from a dollar store or other discount retailer.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

YouTube search results are shockingly bad in 2025

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
You don’t need me to tell you that YouTube is getting worse in all sorts of ways. From clickbait thumbnails to AI slop to Shorts being shoved into every corner of the service (and much more), it’s harder than ever to navigate and find what you’re looking for on YouTube. It’s interesting to take a closer examination of one specific area of big problems like this to break them down.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

I benchmarked myself instead of my PC and discovered a lot

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
For fun, I walked through all these so I could share my results and see how I stack up to others. I’ll be interested to see how you do once you give it a try! Let’s benchmark Outside of computers, the word “benchmark” is used for a standard by which we evaluate something. Within computing, benchmarks more specifically refer to standard tests for various components, with scores given to represent the results.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

These cables are outdated, but you should still keep them at home Original

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
One of the most underrated advancements in tech is the consolidation of the cable types we use. From your phone to your PC, and secondary devices like game consoles and audio accessories, you need fewer cable types than ever to keep everything connected and charged. However, you shouldn’t throw out all your old cables yet. We all have older devices that use a largely obsolete cable type.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (3) Issue with article?

You’re probably wasting money on these common tech traps

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
From overpriced gadgets to services that increase in cost every year, techy purchases can eat up lots of your spending. And while some of these expenses are unavoidable, many people fall for common technical traps that take money out of their wallets for no good reason. “Recommended” options, outdated advice, and poorly explained services are all methods that companies rely on to take your money.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

I don’t need as much speed as my ISP tries to sell me, and you don’t either

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Internet service providers (ISPs) don’t make it easy to understand how much internet speed you need for streaming and other activities. Non-standard measurements, vague language, and inconsistent metrics all contribute to confusion. This makes it easy to overpay for speed you aren’t using. When reviewing my ISP’s latest offers, I was struck by how they were overkill for most people. As with so many sales techniques, you don’t need as much as they’re trying to sell you.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Passkeys were designed to simplify logins, but I’ve never been more confused

|
By Ben Stegner
| MUO Verified
Over the past several weeks, I’ve taken the time to upgrade my online account security. This started with changing the app I keep two-factor authentication codes in; while doing this, I also decided to add passkeys to as many accounts as possible. I like the idea of passkeys, and I’m glad to have the option. But as I worked through dozens of accounts, I wondered why something designed to simplify the complexities of passwords is implemented in such an inconsistent manner.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?
Show More
 •  Privacy  •  Terms  •  Security and Legal  •   •   •   • 

© 2026 Muck Rack

SOC 2® Certified