Technology
12 must-have apps to crush your New Year’s resolutions
Happy New Year! As 2025 begins, it’s the perfect time to set intentions and start fresh. Whether you’re aiming to adopt healthier habits, master new skills or take control of your finances, there’s an app to help you make it happen. Technology can be a game-changer in turning resolutions into realities, and we’ve come up with a list of tools designed to support your goals and keep you motivated all year long.
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Happy New Year sign (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
1) Habitica to build better habits
- iPhone: 4.0 stars (at time of publishing)
- Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
If your goal is to create and stick to healthy habits, Habitica offers a fun, gamified approach to habit tracking. By turning your tasks into a role-playing game, Habitica motivates you to complete daily tasks, habits and to-dos to level up your character, earn rewards and avoid penalties. You can join parties with friends, participate in quests and tackle challenges together. The app is perfect for anyone who loves games and wants to make self-improvement enjoyable. Habitica is free with optional in-app purchases for customization and premium content.
Habitica app (Habitica) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
SKYROCKET TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE WITH THIS GEAR IN 2025
2) MyFitnessPal to master nutrition and fitness goals
- iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
- Android: 4.3 stars (at time of publishing)
MyFitnessPal is a powerful tool for tracking your nutrition, exercise and progress toward health goals. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, gain muscle or maintain a healthier lifestyle, the app offers a massive food database, a barcode scanner and customizable goals to suit your needs. It also integrates with fitness trackers and apps to provide a comprehensive overview of your wellness journey. MyFitnessPal offers free features, with a premium subscription unlocking more advanced insights and features, such as macronutrient goals and meal planning.
MyFitnessPal app (MyFitnessPal) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
5 WAYS TECH CAN HELP YOU FEEL LESS ALONE
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.4 stars (at time of publishing)
Headspace app (Headspace) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The Headspace app can help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions of practicing mindfulness and meditation. You can access hundreds of tailored sessions, courses and exercises for various topics, such as stress, sleep, focus and happiness. Headspace can help you improve your mental health and well-being in 2025. You can try Headspace for free for 10 days and cancel anytime. Headspace offers discounts for students, educators and health care professionals.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Duolingo app (Duoloingo) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If your New Year’s resolution is to learn a new language or improve your existing skills, the Duolingo app can help you accomplish your goals. With this app, you can set your own goals and track your progress as you learn from over 40 languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese and more. Duolingo makes learning enjoyable and effortless with bite-sized lessons, games and stories that fit your schedule and level. You can also use Duolingo for free with some limitations, such as ads, fewer lessons and no offline access.
BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS EXPERT REVIEWED
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 5.0 stars (at time of publishing)
Serial Reader app (Serial Reader) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If one of your New Year’s resolution goals is to read more books, you might want to check out Serial Reader, a mobile app that delivers bite-sized portions of books to your phone every day. The app lets you choose from over 700 classic books, from “Pride and Prejudice” to “War and Peace,” and sends you a 10-minute portion of the book every day. You can read at your own pace, adjust the font size and theme and sync your progress across devices. You can also earn achievements and badges as you complete books and challenge yourself to read more.
Serial Reader is a great way to discover new books, revisit old favorites or catch up on the classics you’ve always wanted to read. It’s also a fun and easy way to make reading a habit and a part of your daily routine. You can start reading for free or upgrade to Serial Reader Premium to unlock more features, such as offline reading, highlighting, notes and more.
SMART RINGS THAT CAN TRACK YOUR SLEEP, FITNESS, COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
iPhone: 4.6 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.6 stars (at time of publishing)
Yousician app (Yousician) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If your New Year’s resolution is to learn and master musical instruments or vocals, the Yousician app can help you do just that. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can find the right lessons and songs for you. You can also practice with real-time feedback, track your progress and challenge yourself with new goals. The app supports guitar, piano, ukulele, bass and singing. You can choose from various genres, styles and levels of difficulty.
The app is free to download and use, but it has some limitations. You can only access a limited number of lessons and songs per day, and you can only use one instrument at a time. If you want to unlock unlimited access to all the features and content, you need to subscribe to the premium plan.
7) Nike Training Club to help get in shape
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.4 stars (at time of publishing)
Nike Training Club app (Nike) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Nike Training Club is a versatile mobile app designed to help you achieve your fitness goals in 2025. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, build muscle or improve overall health, Nike Training Club offers a wide array of resources to keep you motivated. With access to hundreds of free workouts for all fitness levels, including body-weight exercises, yoga and cardio, this app is perfect for getting started without any cost. The app also features personalized training plans, expert tips and instructional videos from professional trainers.
For those who want more, Nike Training Club provides a premium upgrade that includes HD workout videos, advanced workout tracking and comprehensive training plans tailored to your fitness journey. Get ready to crush your fitness goals with one of the highest-rated fitness apps on the market.
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iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)
QUITNOW app (QUITNOW) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If one of your New Year’s resolution goals is to quit smoking, you might want to try QUITNOW, a mobile app that helps you break free from nicotine addiction. QUITNOW is an app that tracks your progress, shows you how much money you save and rewards you with achievements and health benefits as you quit smoking. You can also join a community of over 10 million quitters, chat with other users and get support and advice from experts and coaches. QUITNOW is a free app, but you can upgrade to QUITNOW PRO to access more features, such as personalized plans, motivational quotes and advanced stats.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)
Todoist app (Todoist) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Todoist is a mobile app designed to help you organize your life and achieve your New Year’s resolutions in 2025. With Todoist, you can create tasks, projects and subtasks, assigning due dates, priorities and labels to each. The app allows for seamless syncing across devices, enabling collaboration with others and integration with various apps and services. Todoist provides feedback, reminders and productivity statistics to keep you motivated. It is free to download, but you can upgrade to Todoist Premium or Todoist Business for enhanced features. The Premium plan offers additional functionalities such as comments, attachments, filters and templates. As of now, Todoist boasts more than 30 million users, reflecting its popularity as a task management tool.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
YNAB app (YNAB) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The YNAB app is a great mobile app for helping you create a budget, plan your spending and save more money in 2025. YNAB lets you connect your bank accounts, credit cards, loans and track your transactions and balances. You can also set goals, assign categories and prioritize your expenses. YNAB also provides you with reports, feedback and coaching to help you improve your financial skills and habits. YNAB is not free, but you can get a 34-day free trial to use the app.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.2 stars (at time of publishing)
Skillshare app (Skillshare) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Skillshare is a great app for helping you keep your New Year’s resolution of learning something new. You can discover new passions, hobbies and interests with the app. You can access thousands of online classes on various topics, such as photography, design, business and more. You can also watch videos, do projects and get feedback from experts and peers. The app also offers live sessions, workshops and challenges to keep you motivated and engaged. The app is perfect for anyone who wants to learn something new, explore their creativity or advance their career.
The app is free to download and use, but it has some limitations. You can only watch a limited number of classes and videos per month, and you can’t access the premium features and content. If you want to unlock unlimited access to all the classes, videos and features, you need to subscribe to the premium plan.
iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)
Lumosity app (Lumosity) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to improve your cognitive skills and mental fitness? Well, then the Lumosity app might be worth downloading. Lumosity is a brain-training app that offers personalized and adaptive exercises that challenge your memory, attention, speed, flexibility and problem-solving abilities. You can track your progress and compare your results with others. Lumosity also provides insights and tips on how to optimize your brain health and performance. Whether you want to sharpen your mind, boost your productivity or have fun, Lumosity could be the app for you. Lumosity has different subscription plans to suit your needs and budget. You can try Lumosity for free for 7 days and cancel anytime.
Connected Care app (Connected Care) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Experience the peace of mind that comes with being closely involved in your family’s caregiving with Connected Care. This lovingly designed, intuitive mobile app transforms the complexities of managing health care into a seamless and heartwarming part of your daily routine.
Imagine easily organizing your loved one’s doctor visits, medication schedules and medical history all within the palm of your hand. With Connected Care, not only do you get a comprehensive medical summary at a glance, but you also become part of a nurturing network that ensures your family member’s needs are attended to with the utmost care and attention.
Enjoy how easy it is to share important updates about your loved one’s care with other family members and caregivers. With Connected Care, you can create a team of people who are all on the same page and ready to give the best support. Connected Care is more than just an app; it’s a caring friend who helps you manage long-term care.
While the majority of features are free, the option for a subscription to Connected Care Premium allows you to enhance this experience, ensuring that you have all the tools you need at your fingertips. Should you opt for premium, the process is made simple through your Apple account, with the flexibility to manage your subscription directly from the App Store settings.
Discover how Connected Care can help you keep the heart of your family beating strong, every single day.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
A new year is a blank slate filled with endless possibilities, and these apps are here to help you make the most of it. Whether your goal is personal growth, better health or learning something new, these tools can make your journey more manageable and enjoyable. Start 2025 with purpose and let these apps be your partners in creating lasting change. Here’s to a year of progress, achievement and success.
What’s your biggest goal for 2025, and which app do you think will help you achieve it and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
Here’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War show
Amazon has slowly been teasing out casting details for its live-action adaptation of God of War, and now we have our first look at the show. It’s a single image but a notable one showing protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus. The characters are played by Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson, respectively, and they look relatively close to their video game counterparts.
There aren’t a lot of other details about the show just yet, but this is Amazon’s official description:
The God of War series storyline follows father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.
That sounds a lot like the recent soft reboot of the franchise, which started with 2018’s God of War and continued through Ragnarök in 2022. For the Amazon series, Ronald D. Moore, best-known for his work on For All Mankind and Battlestar Galactica, will serve as showrunner. The rest of the cast includes: Mandy Patinkin (Odin), Ed Skrein (Baldur), Max Parker (Heimdall), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Thor), Teresa Palmer (Sif), Alastair Duncan (Mimir), Jeff Gulka (Sindri), and Danny Woodburn (Brok).
While production is underway on the God of War series, there’s no word on when it might start streaming.
Technology
300,000 Chrome users hit by fake AI extensions
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Your web browser may feel like a safe place, especially when you install helpful tools that promise to make your life easier. But security researchers have uncovered a dangerous campaign in which more than 300,000 people installed Chrome extensions pretending to be artificial intelligence (AI) assistants. Instead of helping, these fake tools secretly collect sensitive information like your emails, passwords and browsing activity.
They used familiar names like ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Assistant. If you use Chrome and have installed any AI-related extension, your personal information may already be exposed. Even worse, some of these malicious extensions are still available today, putting more people at risk without their knowing.
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More than 300,000 Chrome users installed fake AI extensions that secretly harvested sensitive data. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What you need to know about fake AI extensions
Security researchers at browser security company LayerX discovered a large campaign involving 30 malicious Chrome extensions disguised as AI-powered assistants (via BleepingComputer). Together, these extensions were installed more than 300,000 times by unsuspecting users.
Some of the most popular extensions included names like AI Sidebar with 70,000 users, AI Assistant with 60,000 users, ChatGPT Translate with 30,000 users, and Google Gemini with 10,000 users. Another extension called Gemini AI Sidebar had 80,000 users before it was removed.
These extensions were distributed through the official Chrome Web Store, which made them appear legitimate and trustworthy. Even more concerning, researchers found that many of these extensions were connected to the same malicious server, showing they were part of a coordinated effort.
While some extensions have since been removed, others remain available. This means new users could still unknowingly install them and expose their personal data. Here’s the list of the affected extensions:
- AI Assistant
- Llama
- Gemini AI Sidebar
- AI Sidebar
- ChatGPT Sidebar
- Grok
- Asking ChatGPT
- ChatGBT
- Chat Bot GPT
- Grok Chatbot
- Chat With Gemini
- XAI
- Google Gemini
- Ask Gemini
- AI Letter Generator
- AI Message Generator
- AI Translator
- AI For Translation
- AI Cover Letter Generator
- AI Image Generator ChatGPT
- Ai Wallpaper Generator
- Ai Picture Generator
- DeepSeek Download
- AI Email Writer
- Email Generator AI
- DeepSeek Chat
- ChatGPT Picture Generator
- ChatGPT Translate
- AI GPT
- ChatGPT Translation
- ChatGPT for Gmail
FAKE AI CHAT RESULTS ARE SPREADING DANGEROUS MAC MALWARE
These malicious tools were listed in the official Chrome Web Store, making them appear legitimate and trustworthy. (LayerX)
How the fake AI Chrome extension attack works
These fake extensions pretend to offer helpful AI features, such as translating text, summarizing emails, or acting as an AI assistant. But behind the scenes, they quietly monitor what you are doing online.
Once installed, the extension gains permission to view and interact with the websites you visit. This allows it to read the contents of web pages, including login screens where you enter your username and password.
In some cases, the extensions specifically targeted Gmail. They could read your email messages directly from your browser, including emails you received and even drafts you were still writing. This means attackers could access private conversations, financial information and sensitive personal details.
The extensions then sent this information to servers controlled by the attackers. Because they loaded content remotely, the attackers could change their behavior at any time without needing to update the extension.
Some versions could also activate voice features through your browser. This could potentially capture spoken conversations near your device and send transcripts back to the attackers.
If you installed one of these extensions, attackers may already have access to extremely sensitive information. This includes your email content, login credentials, browsing habits and possibly even voice recordings.
We reached out to Google for comment, and a spokesperson told CyberGuy that the company “can confirm that the extensions from this report have all been removed from the Google Web Store.”
BROWSER EXTENSION MALWARE INFECTED 8.8M USERS IN DARKSPECTRE ATTACK
Once installed, the extensions could read emails, capture passwords, monitor browsing activity and send the data to attacker-controlled servers. (Bildquelle/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
7 ways you can protect yourself from malicious Chrome extensions
If you have ever installed an AI-related Chrome extension, taking a few simple precautions now can help protect your accounts and prevent further damage.
1) Remove any suspicious or unused browser extensions
On a Windows PC or Mac, open Chrome and type chrome://extensions into the address bar. Review every extension listed. If you see anything unfamiliar, especially AI assistants you don’t remember installing, click “Remove” immediately. Malicious extensions depend on going unnoticed. Removing them stops further data collection and cuts off the attacker’s access to your information.
2) Change your passwords
If you installed any suspicious extension, assume your passwords may be compromised. Start by changing your email password first, since email controls access to most other accounts. Then update passwords for banking, shopping and social media accounts. This prevents attackers from using stolen credentials to break into your accounts.
3) Use a password manager to create and protect strong passwords
A password manager generates unique, complex passwords for each account and stores them securely. This prevents attackers from accessing multiple accounts if one password is stolen. Password managers also alert you if your login credentials appear in known data breaches, helping you respond quickly and protect your identity. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.
4) Install strong antivirus software and keep it active
Good antivirus software can detect malicious browser extensions, spyware, and other hidden threats. It scans your system for suspicious activity and blocks harmful programs before they can steal your information. This adds an important layer of protection that works continuously in the background to keep your device safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
5) Use an identity theft protection service
Identity theft protection services monitor your personal data, including email addresses, financial accounts, and Social Security numbers, for signs of misuse. If criminals try to open accounts or commit fraud using your information, you receive alerts quickly. Early detection allows you to act fast and limit financial and personal damage. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.
6) Keep your browser and computer fully updated
Software updates fix security vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. Enable automatic updates for Chrome and your operating system so you always have the latest protections. These updates strengthen your defenses against malicious extensions and prevent attackers from taking advantage of known weaknesses.
7) Use a personal data removal service
Personal data removal services scan data broker websites that collect and sell your personal information. They help remove your data from these sites, reducing what attackers can find and use against you. Less exposed information means fewer opportunities for criminals to target you with scams, identity theft or phishing attacks.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaway
Even tools designed to make your life easier can become tools for cybercriminals. Malicious extensions often hide behind trusted names and convincing features, making them difficult to spot. You can significantly reduce your risk by reviewing your browser extensions regularly, removing anything suspicious and using protective tools like password managers and strong antivirus software.
Have you checked your browser extensions recently? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance
Less than 24 hours before the deadline in an ultimatum issued by the Pentagon, Anthropic has refused the Department of Defense’s demands for unrestricted access to its AI.
It’s the culmination of a dramatic exchange of public statements, social media posts, and behind-the-scenes negotiations, coming down to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s desire to renegotiate all AI labs’ current contracts with the military. But Anthropic, so far, has refused to back down from its two current red lines: no mass surveillance of Americans, and no lethal autonomous weapons (or weapons with license to kill targets with no human oversight whatsoever). OpenAI and xAI had reportedly already agreed to the new terms, while Anthropic’s refusal had led to CEO Dario Amodei being summoned to the White House this week for a meeting with Hegseth himself, in which the Secretary reportedly issued an ultimatum to the CEO to back down by the end of business day on Friday or else.
In a statement late Thursday, Amodei wrote, “I believe deeply in the existential importance of using AI to defend the United States and other democracies, and to defeat our autocratic adversaries. Anthropic has therefore worked proactively to deploy our models to the Department of War and the intelligence community.”
He added that the company has “never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner” but that in a “narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values” — going on to specifically mention mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. (Amodei mentioned that “partial autonomous weapons … are vital to the defense of democracy” and that fully autonomous weapons may eventually “prove critical for our national defense,” but that “today, frontier AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons.” He did not rule out Anthropic acquiescing to the military’s use of fully autonomous weapons in the future but mentioned that they were not ready now.)
The Pentagon had already reportedly asked major defense contractors to assess their dependence on Anthropic’s Claude, which could be seen as the first step to designating the company a “supply chain risk” – a public threat that the Pentagon had made recently (and a classification usually reserved for threats to national security). The Pentagon was also reportedly considering invoking the Defense Production Act to make Anthropic comply.
Amodei wrote in his statement that the Pentagon’s “threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request.” He also wrote that “should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions. Our models will be available on the expansive terms we have proposed for as long as required.”
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