Views are the most visible metric on the internet. You can see, in more or less real time, how many views something got on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and most other video platforms. X tracks views for every single thing you post, as does Threads. A view is the universal currency of success — more views, more fun.
Technology
On TikTok, YouTube, X, and everywhere, ‘views’ are lies
But it’s all nonsense. Views are nothing. Views are lies.
You may not need me to remind you of this. We’ve known for years that view counts are meaningless, to the point that Facebook wound up getting sued for aggressively inflating view counts in an effort to convince people to make Facebook videos. Others have written thoughtfully about how stupid view counts are. But we still talk about view counts, view counts are still everywhere, so let’s talk once again about view counts.
A “view,” in reality, is not a universal metric. It’s not really anything. It is whatever a platform wants it to be, which usually has no actual correlation to whether someone actually encountered and experienced a piece of content. You can just make the views whatever you want! And if you don’t like the way the numbers look, make views something else!
Let’s just run through a few of these, shall we? The simplest ones to understand are the social platforms: Instagram, TikTok, and (as of last week) YouTube Shorts all count a view the second a video starts playing. This is objectively absurd. Every time you scroll, even if you immediately jump to the next video, the platform logs that you watched the video the same as if you’d seen the whole thing. That’s like saying, if you’re in a Best Buy and you walk past a TV playing Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, you’ve now technically seen Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Congratulations, you’re a pirate.
In a way, though, that ridiculously easy bar to clear is actually a more accurate measure than some others. On Facebook, for instance, a view is defined as “the number of times a reel or video was played, plus the number of times photos or text were on screen.” Since videos autoplay all over the platform, those two metrics are effectively the same thing. The metric is so unhelpful that Facebook actually offers creators two other numbers: three-second video views, also known as “people who pressed play,” and one-minute video views, which is at least slightly closer to “people who actually watched this thing.” Those numbers aren’t public, though, because they’d be much lower.
The view has been the universal Meta metric since last fall, when Facebook combined all its other performance and engagement metrics into just one. For photos, text posts, and Stories, the company wrote in a blog post, “Views are calculated as the number of times they appear on a person’s screen, including repeat views.” That used to be a different metric — your content being presented to someone was known as an “impression,” but they had to interact with it in some way before it became a view. Now it’s just views.
The idea that everything in your feed counts as a view is pernicious, and it’s everywhere
The idea that everything in your feed counts as a view is pernicious, and it’s everywhere. As you scroll on X, every single post on your feed gets a view as it flows up and off your screen. Posts that appear in search results, on someone’s profile page — anything that shows up on the page appears to be considered “viewed.” X’s documentation on post views is sketchy and vague, but its video rules are pretty straightforward: if the video was playing for at least two seconds, and half of the player was in view on your screen, then that counts as a view. All these videos play automatically, so we’re back to the same thing: if it loaded, you viewed it.
The reason so many companies have embraced such stupid metrics is both simple and self-reinforcing. If you’re the platform that counts views in a way that actually reflects reality, your numbers will be lower. Creators might see that, decide your platform doesn’t have the juice, and start posting somewhere they’ll ostensibly get more eyeballs. Advertisers might worry that they’ll be broadcasting to dead air. On the social web, momentum is everything, and sometimes you have to lie about the size of your party to get the first people in the door.
In this way of defining views, the platforms also have all the control. Think about it: you don’t press play to get the video going, and you don’t have to stick around for it to count. Whatever the platform wants to get views, gets views. There is no step two, no intermediary, no actual matching of content and audience. There are just… views.
Even the Hollywood types are being pulled into the vortex of made-up view counts. Netflix once clocked a view only after you’d completed 70 percent of something — which, I should point out, is the closest thing to actually tracking whether you’ve watched something of any metric we’ve discussed so far. Now, it only takes two minutes for Netflix to decide you’ve watched something. Netflix actually picked two minutes because it’s “long enough to indicate the choice was intentional.” First of all, no it’s not. Second, Netflix knows how much you actually watched! It just wants the numbers to be higher — around 35 percent higher than under the previous metric, Netflix admitted.
Ironically, Netflix is one of the few streamers that explains how it calculates views at all; most keep their metrics quiet, so they can say things like “it was a huge hit!” without having to provide any actual information. Even YouTube is cagey about its calculations: it’s generally accepted wisdom that you have to watch 30 seconds of a standard YouTube video for it to count as a view, but if that’s official policy I sure can’t find it anywhere.
It is incredibly obvious, by the way, that all the companies peddling these fake numbers know what they’re doing. If they thought public-facing view counts were legit, they’d offer those same numbers to creators and advertisers. Creators typically get to see non-public data like watch time and actual interactions, but even they are consistently being given less and less to work with. Advertisers, though, have the run of the place: YouTube and other platforms still track impressions separately from views, but only for ads. (YouTube may count every Shorts scroll as a view publicly, but it only pays creators for what it calls “Engaged views.”) Many platforms even tell advertisers how many people watched a quarter, half, three-quarters, or all of a video. The platforms themselves are collecting all this data and more, of course, in an effort to better tune the algorithm. They know the answers! But they’ll never show them to you.
We’ve been doing this whole internet thing for a while now, and it’s pretty clear that just about all the metrics are bad. They’ve turned the internet into a game to be won, a system to be gamed, a race to the biggest numbers even when the numbers don’t mean anything. Maybe we’d all be better off without the numbers, but they’re not going anywhere. So all we can do is remember: “views” are not views. Views are lies.
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When missiles fly, we expect explosions. We expect smoke, sirens and satellite images. What we do not expect is silence.
On February 28, 2026, as fighter jets and cruise missiles struck Iranian Revolutionary Guard command centers during Operation Roar of the Lion, a parallel assault reportedly unfolded in cyberspace.
Official news sites and key media platforms went offline, government digital services and local apps failed across major cities, and security communications systems reportedly stopped functioning, plunging Iran into a near-total digital blackout.
According to NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization that tracks connectivity disruptions, nationwide internet traffic in Iran plunged to just 4 percent of normal levels.
That level of collapse suggests either a deliberate state-ordered shutdown or a large-scale cyberattack designed to paralyze critical infrastructure. Western intelligence sources later indicated the digital offensive aimed to disrupt IRGC command and control systems and limit coordination of counterattacks.
For the United States and its allies, the episode offers a stark reminder that modern conflict now blends airstrikes with digital warfare in ways that can ripple far beyond the battlefield.
In a matter of hours, modern conflict looked less like tanks and more like a blinking cursor.
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Iran’s national symbols stand in contrast to reports of a sweeping digital blackout that reportedly disrupted communications and critical systems across the country. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Iran internet shutdown: A country offline in real time
Reports described widespread outages across Iran. Official news sites stopped functioning. IRNA, Iran’s state-run news agency, went offline.
Tasnim, a semi-official news outlet closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reportedly displayed subversive messages targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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The IRGC, Iran’s powerful military and intelligence force, plays a central role in national security and regional operations. At the same time, local apps and government digital services failed in cities like Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz.
This was not one website defaced for headlines. It appeared systemic. Electronic warfare reportedly disrupted navigation and communications systems.
Distributed denial of service attacks, often called DDoS attacks, flooded networks with traffic to overwhelm and disable them.
Deep intrusions targeted energy and aviation systems. Even Iran’s isolated national internet struggled under pressure.
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For a regime that tightly controls information, losing digital command creates both operational and political risk.
Why cyber warfare matters in the Iran conflict
Cyber operations offer something missiles cannot. They disrupt without always killing. They send a signal without immediately triggering full-scale war. That matters in a region where escalation can spiral fast.
History shows Iran understands this logic. Between 2012 and 2014, Iranian actors targeted U.S. financial institutions in Operation Ababil. Saudi Aramco also suffered a major cyberattack.
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After Israeli strikes in 2025, cyberattacks targeting Israel surged dramatically within days.
Cyber retaliation lets leaders respond while limiting direct military confrontation. It buys leverage in negotiations. It creates pressure without necessarily crossing a red line.
But there is a catch. Every cyber strike risks miscalculation. And digital damage can spill into the real world fast if critical infrastructure is hit.
As military strikes targeted IRGC command centers, internet traffic inside Iran reportedly plunged to just 4 percent of normal levels. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If the blackout and strikes mark a turning point, Tehran has options. None are simple.
1) Cyberattacks against U.S. or allied infrastructure
Cyber retaliation remains one of Iran’s most flexible tools. It can range from disruptive attacks and influence campaigns to more targeted intrusions that pressure critical services. Recent expert commentary warns that U.S. cyber defenses and the private sector could face sustained testing.
2) Targeting U.S. drones and unmanned systems
Iran has used drones and electronic interference as signals before. Analysts continue to flag jamming, spoofing and harassment of unmanned systems as a way to raise costs without immediately striking large numbers of personnel.
3) Maritime attacks in the Strait of Hormuz
This risk is rising fast. An EU naval mission official reportedly said IRGC radio transmissions warned ships that passage through Hormuz was “not allowed”. Greece has also urged ships to avoid high-risk routes and warned about electronic interference that can disrupt navigation. Insurers are already repricing the danger, with reports of war-risk policies being canceled or sharply increased.
4) Support for allied or informal armed groups
Iran has long worked with allied forces and militias in the region, and some of those groups could step up attacks on U.S. interests or allied partners in retaliation, widening the clash without direct state-to-state engagement.
5) Limited ballistic missile strikes
Missile strikes remain a high-impact option, but they raise the odds of rapid escalation. Recent expert analysis continues to frame them as a tool Iran may use for signaling, especially if leadership feels cornered.
Tehran’s skyline, including the Azadi Tower, became the backdrop to a crisis shaped as much by cyber disruption as by missiles in the sky. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The escalation risk between the U.S. and Iran
Here is the uncomfortable truth. Neither Washington nor Tehran likely wants a full-scale regional war. In moments like this, military strikes rarely stand alone.
They often move alongside diplomacy. Leaders send signals. They apply pressure. At the same time, they try to leave room for talks.
But escalation has momentum. Each missile changes the equation. Each casualty raises the stakes. The more damage done, the harder it becomes to step back.
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Fear plays a role. So does pride. Domestic audiences demand strength. Leaders feel pressure to respond in kind. That is how limited strikes can spiral into something much larger.
What the Iran cyberattack blackout means for global cybersecurity
This episode highlights something bigger than regional tension. Nation-states now pair kinetic strikes with digital offensives.
Cyberattacks can blind communications, freeze infrastructure and disrupt financial systems before the world even processes the first explosion.
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For businesses and individuals, that reality matters. Modern conflict no longer stays confined to battlefields.
Supply chains, energy grids and online platforms can feel the ripple effects. The blackout in Iran serves as a reminder that digital resilience is now a national security issue.
How to stay safe during rising cyber tensions
When a country’s internet can plunge to just 4 percent of normal traffic in hours, it is a reminder that cyber conflict can escalate quickly.
Even if the disruption happens overseas, global networks are interconnected. Financial systems, supply chains and online platforms can feel the ripple effects.
You cannot control geopolitics. You can control your digital hygiene. Here are practical steps to reduce your personal risk during periods of heightened cyber activity:
Install strong antivirus software to guard against state-linked phishing and malware campaigns that often spike during geopolitical conflicts.
Nation-state actors frequently exploit breaking news and global instability to spread malicious links and ransomware. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
Keep devices updated so security patches close vulnerabilities that attackers often exploit during global cyber spikes.
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Use strong, unique passwords stored in a reputable password manager to protect your accounts if cyber retaliation campaigns expand beyond government targets. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on financial, email and social accounts to safeguard access in case stolen credentials circulate during heightened cyber conflict.
Be cautious with urgent headlines or alerts about international conflict, since attackers frequently mimic breaking news.
Monitor financial accounts for unusual activity in case broader disruptions spill into banking systems.
When tensions rise, phishing campaigns often rise with them. Threat actors exploit fear and confusion. Staying disciplined with basic security habits makes you a harder target if malicious traffic increases.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
The reported cyber blackout inside Iran may signal a new chapter in modern conflict. Jets and missiles still matter. But so do servers, satellites and code. Leaders may try to contain the damage while showing strength.
Still, history shows how quickly careful plans can unravel once pressure builds. War today runs on electricity and bandwidth as much as fuel and ammunition.
When networks go dark, the impact does not stay on a battlefield. It spills into banking systems, airports, hospitals and the phones in our pockets. That is what makes this moment different.
If an entire nation’s digital systems can be disrupted in hours, how prepared is your community if something similar ever hits closer to home? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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We finally have an update to the Soundcore Space One that launched two and a half years ago. At MWC 2026, Soundcore has announced the Space 2, which will be available in the US on April 21st in three colors — linen white, jet black, and seafoam green — for $129.99. That’s $30 more than the Space One’s original price.
According to Soundcore, the Space 2 have had a full-band noise cancellation upgrade with the focus of those improvements on the low-frequency sounds we all generally use ANC headphones to block — things like airplane, train, and bus engine sounds while traveling. The Space 2 use the same number of microphones as the Space One for noise canceling, instead relying on optimized mic placement and structure and materials improvements for the boost in performance.
Redesigned 40mm drivers incorporate dual layers in their design. There’s a silk diaphragm with metal ceramic that supposedly results in faster transient response — the driver’s ability to respond to sudden sound quickly and accurately — with better balanced sound reproduction. The Space One had great sound performance for the price, but I’m all for any improvement to sound performance accuracy. Like the Space One, the Space 2 will support LDAC high-res audio.
The headphones connect wirelessly over Bluetooth 6.1, although they do not support Auracast transmissions — an unfortunate exclusion. There’s also a 3.5mm jack for a wired connection.
Battery life has been increased to up to 50 hours with ANC and 70 hours with ANC off. This is up from 40 hours with ANC and 55 hours without ANC with the Space One headphones. With a five-minute charge the Space 2 get an additional four hours of listening.
The Space 2 will include many of the features found on the Space One. You can use HearID 3.0 to go through a series of sound samples to tune the headphones’ sound to your preferences. It worked well for me on the Space One to get them closer to a sound I liked, with a bit of the edge taken off the higher frequencies. There’s also a sensor that detects when you remove the headphones and stops playback so you don’t miss any of your music or podcast. They once again come with a cloth bag that matches the color of the headphones instead of a case, which is one change I wish Soundcore had made, as the cloth bag doesn’t offer as much protection if you tend to throw your headphones into your backpack or bag.
The Soundcore Space One were among the best budget ANC headphones when they came out, and still hold up to more recent releases. But with the bump in price to over $100 for the Space 2, there’s a bit more expectation on them. ANC performance continues to improve — and products get cheaper — across manufacturers, so the Soundcore Space 2 has some competition from companies like Sony, EarFun, and JLab. If the ANC on the Space 2 stands up to current budget headphones and they still sound as good and are as comfortable as the Space One, you can expect to see the new Soundcore Space 2 on many recommendation lists.
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If you have ever turned on your VPN and suddenly could not log in to your bank, email, streaming service or work portal, you are not imagining things. In fact, this is one of the most common frustrations VPN users face today.
However, the issue is not that VPNs stopped working. Instead, websites have become far more aggressive about blocking traffic that looks suspicious.
As a result, the way your VPN is built now matters just as much as whether you use one at all.
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Shared VPN IPs often trigger red flags, which is why banks, email providers and streaming sites sometimes block access. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why websites block many VPN connections
Most VPNs give you a shared IP address. As a result, hundreds or even thousands of people can appear online from the same address at the same time. From a website’s perspective, that traffic pattern raises red flags. When platforms detect too many logins, rapid location changes or unusual activity tied to one IP, they step in quickly. In many cases, they respond by:
- Blocking access
- Triggering captchas
- Requiring extra verification codes
- Temporarily locking accounts
Meanwhile, you did nothing wrong. Instead, you end up dealing with restrictions caused by other users sharing that same IP address.
What a dedicated IP does differently
With a dedicated IP, you get an address that belongs only to you. Unlike shared VPN connections, no one else uses it.
Each time you connect, you use the same IP address. As a result, you avoid sharing traffic, rotating locations or competing with random users whose activity could trigger blocks.
Because of that consistency, your connection looks much more like a typical home or office internet setup. And that simple difference can dramatically reduce website suspicion and login headaches.
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A dedicated IP gives you a consistent address that looks more like a normal home connection, reducing captchas and login alerts. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What a dedicated IP can do that shared VPN IPs usually can’t
That consistency does more than reduce suspicion; it improves how smoothly you access the sites and services you use every day.
Access more websites without blocks
Banks, government portals, healthcare sites, and streaming services are far less likely to block a dedicated IP because it does not show heavy or erratic traffic patterns.
Reduce captchas and security challenges
Those endless “prove you’re human” messages are usually triggered by shared IP abuse. A dedicated IP dramatically reduces them.
Make banking and email logins smoother
Financial institutions and email providers often flag constantly changing IP addresses as suspicious. A dedicated IP stays consistent, so login alerts and lockouts happen far less often.
Support remote work and secure systems
Some employers only allow access from approved IP addresses. Shared VPN IPs cannot be approved. Dedicated IPs can.
Improve streaming reliability
Shared VPN IPs are often the first to get blocked when streaming services crack down. Dedicated IPs are less likely to be flagged because traffic looks normal and predictable.
What a dedicated IP does not do
A dedicated IP:
- Does not remove encryption
- Does not expose your identity
- Does not weaken your privacy
Your traffic remains encrypted, and your real location stays hidden. You simply get a connection that websites trust more.
Who benefits most from a dedicated IP
A dedicated IP is especially helpful if you:
- Use online banking regularly
- Travel and access sites from different locations
- Work remotely
- Stream often
- Get tired of captchas and blocked pages
- Want a VPN that feels normal to use
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With fewer blocks and smoother logins, a dedicated IP helps your VPN work quietly in the background instead of getting in your way. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to choose a VPN that offers a dedicated IP
If you want these benefits, look for a VPN provider that offers a dedicated IP option built directly into its service. Some providers include it in premium plans, while others offer it as an add-on. Either way, the process should be simple. You should be able to select your dedicated IP inside the app without advanced setup or manual configuration. Before signing up, check that the provider also offers strong speeds, reliable uptime and clear privacy policies. A dedicated IP improves access, but overall performance still matters.
What to look for beyond a dedicated IP
A dedicated IP reduces blocks. However, a quality VPN should also deliver strong security and smooth performance.
Fast, stable connections: Speed matters for streaming, video calls and everyday browsing. Look for providers known for consistent performance.
Wide server coverage: More server locations give you flexibility when traveling and help reduce location errors.
Clear privacy practices: Choose a VPN with a strict no-logs policy and independent audits when possible.
Secure server technology: Modern VPNs often use RAM-based servers that automatically wipe data on reboot.
Easy-to-use apps: Protection should feel simple, not technical. Clean apps across major devices make daily use effortless.
For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaway
If your VPN keeps getting blocked, the problem may not be the VPN itself. It may be the shared IP address behind it. Websites are increasingly aggressive about suspicious traffic. When hundreds of users share the same IP, banks, email providers and streaming platforms take notice. That is when the captchas, verification codes and account lockouts start. A dedicated IP changes that experience. You still get encryption. You still protect your real location. But your connection looks stable and predictable, which helps you avoid constant interruptions.
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Should protecting your privacy really mean fighting with your bank, email, and streaming apps? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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