Published December 28, 2024 8:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Using VPNs without messing up your banking apps Tech expert Kurt Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy. A virtual private network (VPN) is a useful tool that allows you to mask your IP and create a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet. This means you can browse the web more privately, especially when connected to a public Wi-Fi network. Another use case for VPNs is accessing sites that are blocked in your region. For example, you could be sitting in New York and accessing content on Chinese social media platforms (though I wouldnt recommend doing that). However, a VPN can sometimes have the opposite effect, blocking you from accessing content that you were otherwise able to view.I recently received an email from Carol in Douglasville, Georgia, who asked:"Why am I blocked from seeing a site when I use a VPN? I am being blocked from answering emails I receive from the VA, Social Security and government sites that I need to connect to concerning my benefits."She says she attempted changing servers and even switched to different cities within the U.S., but she still couldnt access the sites. Carol, that sounds like a serious issue. Understandably, you would want to use a VPN when visiting websites, and not being able to access them can be quite frustrating. This situation may even force you to disable your VPN, which could put you at risk. Below, Ill discuss why this happens and how you can work around the issue. A VPN on a smartphone. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What is a VPN?Avirtual private network (VPN) is a secure connection method used to add privacy and security to private and public networks, like the internet and Wi-Fi hotspots. VPNs are often used to protect sensitive data and to ensure that online activities are safe from cyber threats. By encrypting your internet traffic and masking your online identity, a VPN provides anonymity and protects against hackers, snoopers and data breaches. It also allows you to access content that may be restricted based on your geographic location, making it a great tool for boosting your online privacy and freedom.Here are 10 reasons you need a VPN at home.Why are you not able to access certain websites when using a VPN?Website owners can decide who gets to access their sites and who doesnt. Many sites block IPs from known VPNs or data centers, especially if their content is restricted to certain countries or regions.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?Big platforms like Netflix or banking sites often use VPN detection tools to prevent people from accessing their services anonymously. Government websites do this, too, mostly to prevent people from bypassing regional or national restrictions. For instance, in countries with strict content rules, blocking VPNs helps prevent people from accessing content the government doesn't want them to see.But even setting your VPN to a different location in the same country doesnt always work. Why? Because some sites are trying to keep cybercriminals out. VPNs can hide your identity and location, which is great for privacy but can also be misused for fraud. Government websites dealing with things like taxes, voting or benefits need to verify who you are and where youre logging in from to prevent misuse. Allowing VPNs could make it easier for fraudsters to slip through.Another reason for blocking VPNs is to keep bots at bay. Bots can use VPNs to scrape government websites or overload their systems. Blocking VPN traffic helps protect sensitive information and makes it easier to trace and authenticate real users. A VPN being used on a laptop. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)6 ways to bypass VPN blockersIf you're having trouble accessing certain sites with your VPN on, try the steps below. Start from the first step and keep going until the issue is resolved.1. Use a reliable VPN providerUsing a reliable VPN service is one of the best ways to work around VPN blocks. Not all VPNs are created equal, and choosing a high-quality provider can make a significant difference. Look for a VPN that offers obfuscated or "stealth" servers, which disguise VPN traffic to appear as regular internet usage, making it harder for detection systems to block you.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREA good VPN should also have a large server network with plenty of options across different locations so you can easily switch if one server is blocked. Some services even offer dedicated IP addresses, which are less likely to be flagged compared to shared ones.. A woman using a VPN on her cellphone. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)2. Switch to a different serverIf one server isnt working, try connecting to another in the same country or region. VPN providers usually have multiple servers, and switching might help you bypass the block. If this doesnt work, use obfuscated servers. These servers are designed to hide the fact that youre using a VPN. They can bypass strict VPN detection systems, especially on government or streaming websites.3. Change VPN protocolsTo bypass VPN blocks, you can change the connection protocol your device uses. VPN protocols determine how devices link to servers, and some protocols are more adept at evading detection than others.If you're facing issues accessing specific websites, switching to a different protocol may help. For instance, some protocols offer a good balance of speed and security, while others prioritize faster performance or efficiency, potentially improving your ability to bypass restrictions.For more detailed information, it's important to research which protocols are best suited for specific use cases, as the effectiveness of different protocols can vary.4. Enable Split TunnelingIf you only need the VPN for certain apps or websites, enable split tunneling in your VPN settings. This lets you access blocked sites using your regular connection while keeping the VPN active for other purposes. For example, you can enable split tunneling to watch a movie on Netflix using your regular internet connection while keeping your banking app secure with the VPN.5. Try a different VPN providerNot all VPNs are created equal. Some are better at bypassing blocks than others. If your current VPN isnt working, consider switching to one that specializes in evading detection.6. Use mobile data or another networkIf all else fails, switch to a mobile data connection or a different network. Sometimes, the issue is with your current ISP (internet service provider) rather than the VPN.Kurts key takeawayVPNs are great for getting around restrictions, but some websites have blockers to stop VPN traffic. There are a few ways to get around these blockers, and sometimes, it's just as easy as switching servers. Youll have the best chance of getting your VPN unblocked if you're using a reliable service. They keep an eye on their servers to make sure everythings running smoothly and offer extra features like dedicated IP addresses.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHave you ever faced any issues accessing websites while using a VPN? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterFollow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Before you sell or trash your old Android phone, you should properly delete all sensitive information. Here's the best (and simplest) way to do it.

As winters chill sets in, many seek warmth and companionship, leading to intense but fleeting ... [+] romances that often fade with the changing seasons.gettyA hibernation relationship refers to when a couple comes together during the winter months, spending significant time denning indoors, away from the cold. Its like being in a cozy bubble where they find comfort in each others company, embracing the intimacy and quiet of the season.Whether its binge-watching shows, cooking elaborate meals or spending entire weekends lounging on the couch, couples in these relationships savor the cocooning nature of winter. This seasonal closeness can feel magical.The slower pace of winter also naturally encourages introspection and bonding. With less pressure to socialize, partners often deepen their connection. Emotional intimacy grows and shared activities create a sense of closeness that can feel genuine and specialwhile it lasts. As spring approaches, the dynamic in such relationships begins to change.The Psychology Behind Hibernation RelationshipsFrom a psychological standpoint, hibernation relationships can be viewed as a response to seasonal rhythms. Winter naturally invites reflection and retreat, aligning with our need for rest and rejuvenation. During this time, the desire for physical warmth, emotional comfort and connection often leads people to seek intimate companionship.Additionally, research published in Perception suggests that perceptions of physical attractiveness can vary seasonally, with participants rating certain traits differently in winter as compared to summer. Specifically, preferences related to body shape were found to fluctuate, with higher ratings of attractiveness in the colder months and lower ratings during warmer seasons.MORE FOR YOUSimilarly, the psychological dynamics of hibernation relationships also shift as winter ends. The change in seasons often triggers a change in priorities, which can lead to the dissolution of hibernation relationships.Warmer weather brings new energy, naturally triggering a desire to re-enter the world. The spontaneity of outdoor activities, reconnecting with friends and resurgence of social events stir up a sense of restlessness and a need for novelty. A once-cozy dynamic can start to feel suffocating and the romance that flourished indoors begins to fizzle.Here are two reasons why these relationships may no longer fulfill the emotional needs of either person as spring takes hold:1. Internal Changes Echo Environmental ChangesIn the winter, couples in hibernation relationships find intimacy in the quiet, closed-off space they share. However, as winter passes, the confinement of indoor spaces, combined with the lack of external stimulation, can cause tension and a sense of stagnation in relationships.As the weather warms, they often feel the urge to seek out new social and engaging environments outside the home. This desire for novelty and activity in the outside world can unintentionally create distance, reducing the quality time spent together and making it harder to maintain connection.Katherine Milkman, a Wharton researcher, explores this idea in her work on the fresh start effect. According to her, moments like New Years, birthdays or the first day of a new season inspire motivation by offering a sense of a clean slatesomething that can be especially impactful in relationships.Milkmans research found that even subtle moments, like the first day of spring, can significantly boost goal setting. People were 3.5 times more likely to set goals on springs first day than any other, highlighting the power of seasonal shifts to motivate growth and change. This explains why couples can also feel the urge to reset and commit to new goals for their relationships.Seasonal changes can also influence hormones, affecting our emotions and physiology. For instance, a 2016 study found that testosterone levels tend to be lower in winter and rise with warmer weather.As testosterone levels increase in the spring, people may experience a heightened desire for exploration and activity, which can draw them away from a relationship that thrived during the quieter winter months. These hormonal fluctuations can make hibernation relationships feel less fulfilling as the season changes.2. Most People Enter Hibernation Relationships For The Wrong ReasonsIn some cases, one partner might expect a hibernation relationship to continue beyond the winter months, while the other views it as a temporary connection to pass the cold season. These misaligned expectations can lead to disappointment and, eventually, a breakup once spring arrives.Sometimes, a fear of being single or feeling alone can also cause us to settle for relationships were not really committed to or excited about, but enter to find security and a sense of connection. However, this rarely creates a strong enough foundation to keep couples together, as what binds them is situational, rather than stemming from aligned core values and genuine compatibility.So, the transition from winter to spring can stir up various environmental, emotional and biological factors that make the dynamics of a hibernation relationship unsustainable, leading to its eventual end.While such relationships may provide warmth and companionship during colder months, they can leave partners feeling confused or emotionally vulnerable when they fade. If one partner is caught off guard by the breakup, it can trigger feelings of abandonment or inadequacy.Hibernation relationships, like any short-term connection, require emotional maturity to navigate. Its important for partners to assess whether the relationship is based on long-term compatibility or simply a seasonal connection. Recognizing its temporary nature can help mitigate disappointment, allowing both individuals to view it as a positive chapter rather than a failure.Here are some practical strategies to navigate the tricky terrain of hibernation relationships.Communicate expectations. Both partners need to be upfront about what they want from the relationship. Are they seeking something long-term or is this just a seasonal connection? Open dialogue can help prevent misunderstandings later.Avoid over-investment. While its easy to get swept up in the warmth of a hibernation relationship, maintaining a sense of individual identity is crucial. Spending time with friends, pursuing personal hobbies and staying engaged in your own life ensures you dont become overly reliant on the relationship and stay attuned to your own needs, which helps avoid impulsive decision-making in your love life.Be prepared for change. Understanding that a dynamic based on a solely seasonal connection will likely shift when spring arrives helps manage expectations. If you only seek a short-term connection, embrace the relationship for what it is in the moment, while acknowledging that change is a natural part of life.Take time for reflection. If a hibernation relationship ends, take time to reflect on what it taught you about your emotional needs and relationship dynamics. What was fulfilling during the winter months? What did you learn about your desires for companionship?In essence, hibernation relationships may not last forever, but they can serve as an opportunity for growth, connection and exploration. These seasonal relationships offer valuable insights into the role that timing, our environment and emotional needs play in our connections with others.Does a fear of being single cause you to choose relationships that arent built to last? Take the science-backed Fear Of Being Single Scale to find out.

Squid Game season 2NetflixAfter three years, Netflixs most successful show of all time has returned in the form of Squid Game season 2. It seemed impossible the follow-up season would capture the viral magic of the original, and while viewing hours remain to be seen, it turns out that yes, this is a pretty solid season, albeit perhaps less so than the original, which is no great surprise.Squid Game season 2 excels in some ways and not in others, fattened up with what feels like filler content, which is not great for a season only seven episodes long. Most of that feels like nothing but pure set-up for the third and final season, and once you reach the end, you realize that this is more or less just one long season split in half. Spoilers will follow in this review.Seong Gi-hun has been using his billions to track down the games face-slapping recruiter to try and lead him back to those who run the games, namely the Front Man in the black mask. Similarly, Hwang Jun-ho is doing the same thing, sailing around trying to find the island to reunite with his brother (who is in fact, the Front Man).The two join forces and the plan eventually becomes that Gi-hun will be abducted and return to the island embedded with a tracker and a mercenary team he hired, run by Jun-ho, will follow him to invade the island. Unsurprisingly, things do not go according to plan. His tracker gets removed, and Gi-hun finds himself thrown back into the games again, which is where we all knew this was heading.Squid GameNetflixMORE FOR YOUWhile the season starts somewhat slow, once it returns to the games, you could make the argument that aspects of this portion of the season work better than even the original. Season 2 does a really great job of setting up a large cast of characters, each with their own motivations and personalities, in a way that season 1 didnt do quite as well. Such memorable characters include an old woman and her loser son, a rapper who keeps taking drugs and partying through the games, a transwoman looking for money for surgery and relocate out of Korea, and a woman literally about to give birth with her deadbeat boyfriend also, separately, in the games.The most significant addition is the arrival of In-ho, who we know is secretly the Front Man himself, but Gi-hun never figures it out all season. Through the end of the season, I still was not quite clear on why the Front Man would insert himself in these games, and it seems to mirror the season 1 storyline with the terminally-ill old man doing the same exact thing. Here, during an eventual player uprising, In-ho betrays some fellow players and puts the mask back on, but again, I still dont really get the purpose of this, as he could have easily died at any point before this, or at least could not have survived without giving himself away. Is this just for thrills or was there an actual reason here? If so, we dont figure it out by the finale.There is also an interesting dynamic introduced here that was not present in season 1, the ability for players to vote to leave the games after every round, which results in some dramatic sequences and eventually wild moments like sides killing each other in order to secure their numbers. Continuing the games may ultimately feel like a forgone conclusion, but its a neat mechanic that has freshened things up a bit, in addition to the new games (and they are all new, except the introductory Red Light, Green Light).Squid GameNetflixEverything that is not the games in season 2 does not work well at all. This includes the aimless storyline of Jun-ho and the mercenary team sailing around trying to find the game island now that Gi-huns tracker died. This does not become interesting until the very last second when its revealed the captain of the boat appears to be a Squid Game-hired traitor, but even then, it felt like a waste of 10 minutes per episode.Similarly, the season started with a cool idea showing the story of a North Korean defector behind one of the guard masks, rather than focusing only on the players. The guard, No-eul, finds herself at odds with other guards, including the new manager, as she stands in the way of an organ harvesting side-gig that wants preferably injured but not dead players, so they can extract valuable bits and pieces from them. She keeps killing the injured ones before they can be taken, which results in threats on her life. Then it juststops. While Im sure more is planned for her next season, it was bizarre to see this final players versus guards epic finale battle unfold and she had no role in it whatsoever. Another plotline that again, felt like a waste of 5-10 minutes an episode. And these add up.While its good that the A-plot is solid in season 2 here, having utterly useless B and C plots does bring the season down and makes it feel overstuffed despite being just seven episodes. I dont think its a bad thing the show returned, as this certainly does not feel like some disastrous follow=up. Its definitely good enough, and Im curious to see how it all ends. But yes, a lot of that initial magic has faded.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

Recap: Gaming studios face difficult decisions as they weigh the ever-mounting cost of cutting-edge visuals and the diminishing returns that they provide. They have to figure out a way to combine visual spectacle with engaging gameplay and sustainable development practices. For decades, giants in the gaming industry like Sony and Microsoft banked on realistic visuals to captivate audiences. This strategy has transformed once-flat pixelated worlds into immersive experiences that rival cinematic productions. However, the cost of achieving such realism has skyrocketed, leading to a reevaluation of priorities within the gaming sector.Marvel's Spider-Man 2, released in 2023, is one example. Leveraging the PlayStation 5's processing power, developers at Insomniac Games crafted a visually stunning New York City. Peter Parker's iconic suits were rendered with intricate textures, while skyscrapers reflected sunlight with remarkable accuracy.This level of detail, however, came at a steep price. The game's development reportedly cost around $300 million, more than triple the budget of its predecessor from just five years earlier.Another example of the industry's technical prowess can be seen in a particularly noteworthy scene in The Last of Us: Part II, when the protagonist Ellie removes her shirt, revealing bruises and scrapes on her back. This moment unfolds without any graphical glitches, demonstrating the painstaking attention to detail that has become a hallmark of high-budget game development. // Related StoriesWhile these visuals are impressive, they raise questions about the sustainability of such investments. Despite Spider-Man 2's commercial success, with over 11 million copies sold, Sony announced 900 layoffs in February 2024, which affected the game's developers at Insomniac.In short, the financial returns on these investments are diminishing. At the same time, audience preferences are shifting as well. Jacob Navok, a former executive at Square Enix, told The New York Times that high-fidelity visuals primarily appeal to a specific demographic of gamers in their 40s and 50s.Meanwhile, younger generations are gravitating towards games with simpler graphics but robust social features, such as Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite. For many young gamers, "playing is an excuse for hanging out with other people," said Joost van Dreunen, a market analyst and professor at New York University. This social aspect has become a driving force in game design and popularity.As development costs soar and player preferences evolve, some studios are exploring alternative approaches. The live service model, which prioritizes regular content updates over graphical fidelity, has gained traction. Games like Genshin Impact have found tremendous success, generating billions in revenue primarily through mobile platforms.However, this model has risks. High-profile failures like Warner Bros. Discovery's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Sony's short-lived Concord demonstrate the challenges of entering the competitive live service market.Industry professionals are divided on the path forward. Some, like David Reitman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, see potential in artificial intelligence to reduce the costs associated with high-end graphics. Others, like independent developer Rami Ismail, are skeptical of quick technological fixes and worry about the industry's current trajectory.

TL;DR: Minecraft has long been a platform for impressive feats by modders, from recreating massive structures to running computer systems within the game. Now, a new project takes this creativity to another level by running Minecraft on COBOL, a programming language designed in 1959. While COBOL remains vital today, a shortage of developers proficient in the language has become a significant challenge. Modder meyfa recently published tools and instructions for running a Minecraft server using COBOL, a programming language created for business IT systems in the 1950s and 60s. Despite COBOL's enterprise-focused nature and the developer's lack of prior experience, this alternative version of Minecraft runs smoothly, supporting most of the game's basic features.The in-development project, called CobolCraft, doesn't yet include all Minecraft functionality. However, it does support key features such as infinite terrain generation, saving persistent world data to disk, importing existing worlds, player inventory management, and basic block functionality.Multiplayer is also supported, with up to 10 players able to join, along with features like chat, server status updates, server configuration options, and whitelisting.Also read: Face it, there is nothing that can replace COBOLWhile CobolCraft will likely never support the most complex multi-state block interactions, simpler items such as torches, slabs, stairs, doors, and beds are fully functional.The mod is primarily designed for Linux, though a platform-independent version could be made available through Docker. However, the project remains untested on Windows.Running CobolCraft on Linux requires several tools and dependencies, including cobc, make, g++, zlib, curl, and a recent version of Java. Detailed instructions can be found on the developer's Docker Hub page.Perhaps the most striking takeaway from this project is that new developers can still learn COBOL nearly 70 years after its inception. Originally designed for business systems, the language still runs on IT mainframes and handles tons of business transactions today, but finding coders knowledgeable in COBOL is becoming increasingly difficult.Related reading: Decades-old programming languages Fortran and Cobol are still thrivingMeyfa had no prior experience with COBOL before developing CobolCraft. Moreover, a game like Minecraft is ill-suited to COBOL's enterprise-oriented design, making this project an especially strenuous exercise in coding skills.CobolCraft was built using GnuCOBOL, an open-source fork that developers have maintained for over two decades. For those curious, an introductory guide to writing in GnuCOBOL is available here.Translating Minecraft into an ancient programming language is arguably another of the intriguing accomplishments in the game's history. Yet, Minecraft has long served as a testing ground for ambitious projects. Modders have previously built a recreation of the original Legend of Zelda, a Google Earth voxel converter, a PC capable of running Doom, and even a simulation of the entire known universe within the game.

Every time a new music biopic hits theaters, people make some sort of joke about howWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox Storyshould have killed the genre completely. Director James Mangold should take those comments more personally than most, given that the movieWalk Hardis most directly parodying is his 2005 Johnny Cash biopicWalk the Line.Instead of taking the suggestion to heart, though, Mangold has made another music biopic with A Complete Unknown. In a recent interview withEntertainment Weekly, Mangold explained why he didnt want to let all theWalk Hardjokes deter him.WALK HARD TrailerI foundWalk Hardhilarious, Mangold explained. But I also never understood why satire would negate making the real thing anymore. I wasnt frightened off any more than Robert Eggers should be frightened of making a monster movie in the face ofYoung Frankensteinor if another filmmaker might be frightened of making a Western in the face ofBlazing Saddles. Its unfair to say that if someone makes a satire of a genre, it somehow has put a tombstone in the genre for all time. That seems a little ludicrous to me.Recommended VideosMangold did acknowledge that the genre became slightly less popular in the wake of Walk Hard, but he didnt think that was because of the movie.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThat was just that they had run their course for that moment, he said. It takes so long to make a movie that I dont think things operate in quite the instantaneous fashion where everyone suddenly stays away.RelatedUltimately, what bothered Mangold the most aboutWalk Hardwasnt the jokes, but the fact that it got a much bigger budget than the movie it was making fun of.I was more unnerved that the studio who made the movie paid twice as much forWalk Hardand refused to pay half as much forWalk the Line, he said.He added that no filmmaker should take satire of their work too seriously. He clearly doesnt. We live in an age of such irony that sometimes theres good cliches to avoid, but theres also some things that we should hold on to, the director explained. Trope is not a negative word if you look it up.Editors Recommendations

The movie is slated for a 2025 release, and Allen said that he has already done about five hours of recording for it.

Table of ContentsTable of Contents7. Land of Bad (2024)6. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)5. Carry-On (2024)4. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)3. Civil War (2024)2. Rebel Ridge (2024)1. Dune: Part Two (2024)Looking back at the past year in film, action remains a reliable genre both at the box office and on streaming. Action occupies six spots on the list of the 12 highest-grossing movies of 2024. From blockbusters and IP-driven properties to superhero stories and monster epics, action continues to be embraced by audiences globally.You know its been a competitive year in action when a superhero movie doesnt crack the list of the top seven action movies of 2024. What films did make the cut? Check out the full rankings below.Recommended VideosNeed more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week,the best action movies on Netflix, RelatedVariance FilmsIts early, but Land of BadFord v FerrariandMiracle. Land of Bad is a great example of how a solid movie with little attention in theaters can increase its popularity exponentially on Netflix.Sergeant JJ Kinney (Liam Hemsworth), aka Playboy, joins Delta Force for an extraction mission in the Philippines. Their mission is to rescue a CIA spy and escape the hostile environment. Eddie Reaper Grimm (Russell Crowe) pilots a Reaper drone remotely from the U.S., providing air support to the team. When the mission goes haywire, Playboy is the only survivor. Now, he must rely on Reaper to guide him through the jungle in this loud, explosive, and masculine thriller.Stream Land of Bad on Netflix.Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)Disney/20th Century StudiosWhat a wonderful day to include Kingdom of the Planet of the ApesKingdomsprotagonist, Noa (Owen Teague), a teenage ape and heir to his tribe.One night, a rival ape clan burns down Noas village and kidnaps the surviving members. Noa manages to escape, but hes now an ape without a clan.Forced to come of age, Noa embarks on a journey to the rival kingdom to rescue his friends and family. Along the way, Noa gains an unlikely ally in Mae (Freya Allan), a girl immune to the virus that turns humans feral.While Kingdomfails to live up to Matt Reeves Apes films,Kingdomis a solid first film in a new trilogy, and the franchise remains the gold standard for motion capture performances.Stream Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on Hulu.Carry-On | Sneak Peek #2 | NetflixJaume Collet-Serra has seemingly dedicated his life to keeping the mid-budget action thriller alive. Collet-Serras resume includes Unknown, Non-Stop, Run All Night, The Shallows, and The Commuter. Add Carry-OnUpon putting it into his ear, Ethan hears a message from a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman), who demands a package make its way through security no questions asked. If Ethan refuses, his pregnant girlfriend, Nora (Sofia Carson), will be killed. Refusing to abide by the rules, Ethan goes full John McClane and embarks on a mission to save the day in this wildly entertaining Christmas thriller.Stream Carry-On on Netflix.Warner Bros.Unfortunately for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, its legacy will likely be associated with the films box office misfortunes and its inability to match the highs of the superb Mad Max: Fury Road. Its a shame because George Miller only has a finite number of films remaining in his career and should be praised for Furiosasbravery and boldness.Serving as a prequel toFury Road,Furiosafollows the origin stories of the titular character (Anya Taylor-Joy), a young girl kidnapped from her home as a girl and forced to hide her identity while working at the Citadel. Furiosa becomes a witness to the war over the Wasteland between the Citadels Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) and the Biker Hordes leader, Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). WhileFuriosa is not a chase movie, Miller still flexes his prowess in the War Rig scenes, proving no living director shoots better vehicle sequences than him.Stream Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagaon Max.A24Alex Garlands dystopian thriller Civil WarSeveral reviews criticized Garland for refusing to fully explore American politics in 2024, believing he took an apolitical approach to an important discussion. As an action film and a story about journalists, Civil War is a harrowing escapade backed by terrific performances from its cast. Jesse Plemons gives the horror performance of the year in a sick-to-your-stomach scene. Also, Civil War, like many of Garlands films, sounds incredible.Stream Civil War on Max.NetflixTheres locked-in, and then theres Aaron Pierre explaining what PACE means to Don Johnson in Rebel Ridge.Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, Rebel Ridgestars Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine veteran heading to a small Louisiana town to bail his cousin out of jail. Terry is stunned when the two police officers detain him and invoke a civil forfeiture clause to seize his $36,000 in bail money. When Terry tries to get his money back from the cops, the police chief (Johnson) refuses to listen.With the help of courthouse employee Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb), Terry learns about the towns corruption and realizes he must take matters into his own hands to get what he wants. Rebel Ridgehooks you in from the opening scene and keeps your attention throughout the 131-minute run time. Pierre is a revelation in a star-making performance that will catapult him to higher-profile projects, includingLanterns.Stream Rebel Ridge on Netflix.Warner Bros. PicturesDont overthink it. Dune: Part TwoPaul and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), are now with the Fremen tribe, with many members believing the heir to House Atreides is their messiah, the Lisan al-Gaib. For Paul to free the people of Arrakis from the Harkonnens, he must embrace his destiny and fulfill the Fremens prophecy, no matter how many times he tries to resist. Dune: Part Twois Villeneuves version ofThe Two Towers an epic adventure from a director who truly understands the material.Stream Dune: Part Two on Max.Editors Recommendations

In-N-Out is commonly thought of as a Californian chain, but I visited an In-N-Out restaurant in Austin.The In-N-Out location was painted a bright white to accent the chain's signature red branding. Erin McDowell/Business Insider When I arrived in Austin, In-N-Out Burger was one of the first places on my must-visit list. Luckily, the nearest location was just a short drive from my hotel in South Austin.When I arrived at the restaurant, I spotted the iconic yellow-and-red logo on the crisp white building. As someone from the East Coast, this would be my first time experiencing In-N-Out and I couldn't wait to try it. I ordered a Double-Double burger "animal style" and an order of fries.The burger came wrapped in paper. Erin McDowell/Insider In-N-Out's most iconic menu item is arguably its Double Double burger, so I knew I had to try it.Although I've heard mixed reviews on the chain's plain fries, since I ordered the burger animal style, I decided to order them on their own rather than "animal style" or with cheese. The burger came partially wrapped in paper, which made it easy to hold and bite into.The burger came with two patties, lettuce, tomato, and gooey cheese, plus sauce with onions. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The Double-Double includes two patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread, but ordering it animal-style adds mustard-cooked patties, pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions.When I visited in 2021, the entire meal came to $11.80, including tax, which I thought was a fair price considering how much food I received. The price of a Double Double has since risen from $4.50 to an average price of $5.29 at some locations, ABC News reported in June. The cheese and sauce practically oozed out of the burger. I wasn't complaining.The burger was large and loaded with flavorful toppings. Erin McDowell/Business Insider After biting into the massive burger, tangy mustard, pickles, and onions hit my tongue.The pickles were tart and crunchy, the beef patties were over-the-top juicy and flavorful, and the cheese-to-meat ratio was spot-on.The onions added a lot of flavor and the spread stood out with its rich, savory taste. It reminded me more of Thousand-Island dressing rather than a typical burger special sauce. The toppings tasted fresh and added a lot of flavor to the burger.I liked the toppings, sauce, and cheese on this burger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The burger patties themselves were on the thinner side, and I thought they were just OK. To me, the real standouts of this burger were the layers of melted cheese, the tangy sauce, and the lettuce, tomato, and pickles.If I were grasping to find other criticisms, I also wasn't blown away by the bun. It was soft yet didn't have much flavor on its own, and it was slightly dry and crumbly.However, this was a truly exceptional burger, and once earned the top spot on my ranking of every fast-food double cheeseburger.I was eager to see how the New York-based chain would stack up against this West Coast icon. I was interested to see if 7th Street Burger in New York City could top In-N-Out as my favorite fast-food burger.I visited the 7th Street Burger location on the Lower East Side in Manhattan. Erin McDowell/Business Insider When I arrived at the Lower East Side location in Manhattan on a rainy weekday, there were hardly any people inside the small standing-room-only restaurant.However, on the weekend at its flagship East 7th Street location, you can typically expect to wait in line to try one of its famous smash burgers. I ordered a double cheeseburger with fries and a side of the chain's signature sauce for dipping.The cheeseburger was deliciously greasy. Erin McDowell/Business Insider When I unwrapped my burger, the first thing I noticed was how greasy it was. The paper was practically dripping.However, the burger patties appeared perfectly crispy, and I could see layers of gooey cheese emerging from the burger.The cheeseburger also smelled heavenly I imagined it would be the perfect antidote to the many nearly identical salads I typically eat during the workweek. The burger came smothered in sauce, cheese, and chopped grilled onions.The burger had a hearty serving of house sauce on it. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The double cheeseburger comes with two fresh beef burger patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin's potato bun.My burger cost $9.50, a side of fries set me back $4.50, and I paid an additional $1 for a side of the house sauce. This was almost double the price of the In-N-Out burger, so the West Coast chain immediately won in terms of value.No matter how good a fast-food burger is, I struggle to find a reason to pay nearly $10 for one.Potential reasons for In-N-Out's low prices include its limited menus, a focus on in-house production, and a strategic real-estate plan that places restaurants close to one another and to highways for more efficient deliveries.In-N-Out also has many more locations than 7th Street Burger, with around 400 total locations compared to just 19, and is a bigger, more profitable company, which could make it easier to keep prices lower for the consumer.Business Insider reached out to 7th Street Burger for comment on its prices but did not immediately hear back. The burger patties were decadently crispy but still retained their juiciness.The burger came on a Martin's potato roll. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Slices of gooey cheese were nestled between the two thin, perfectly griddled, and charred beef patties and a generous serving of the chain's house sauce, which resembled a tangy, creamy burger sauce.Held together by a squishy, soft potato roll, this burger was definitely no-frills. There wasn't any lettuce or tomato to cut through the intensely savory fat bomb I was eating, but I didn't mind.Topped with pickles and onions, this burger delivered a balanced, classic flavor profile that elevated what a standard smash burger can be. I was truly torn over which burger I preferred.I liked the patties and bun better on the 7th Street Burger cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The pros for the 7th Street Burger double cheeseburger were the sauce, crispy patties, and the bun.However, In-N-Out impressed me with its fresh toppings, equally gooey cheese, the sheer size of the burger, and the comparatively low price.The burgers were also so different in their design. 7th Street Burger does smash burgers, and does them well. Both burgers were incredible in their own right but, if I had to choose just one, I think I'd betray my East-Coast roots and opt for the burger from out west.In my opinion, In-N-Out's Double Double animal-style simply can't be topped in terms of flavor, size, and value.However, before I get out to the West Coast again, 7th Street Burger is a perfectly adequate alternative for an out-of-this-world fast-food burger.