Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 108, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, hope your holiday shopping is going well, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
Technology
Red Dead Redemption is so back
This week, I’ve been reading about Ariana Grande and pelvic floors and Josh Shapiro and Las Vegas, finishing and then immediately rewatching The Chair Company, working by the light of this extremely rad MoMA lamp, installing a bunch of Hue Dimmer Switches around my house, trying desperately to hide the giant box that came with my new Frame TV, wondering if my 12,983 minutes of Spotify time this year is a lot or a little, and getting my Christmas tree out of storage. Which took some work.
I also have for you a 15-year-old game that feels as good as new, a great new entrant in the Wrapped Wars, a couple of fun productivity tools, and much more. Year’s almost over, but the new stuff keeps coming! Let’s dig in.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you watching / reading / listening to / playing / wrapping with a bow this week? Tell me everything: installer@theverge.com. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe here.)
- Red Dead Redemption. If you just off-handedly asked me my favorite modern video games, without thinking about it I’d probably say Red Dead and the Arkham Batman series. Cool to see the 2010 game come to mobile (though for Netflix subscribers only), even cooler to see it updated for modern consoles, including my beloved Switch 2. I haven’t checked in with John Martson in a while, but I’m confident this one has held up.
- Fizzy. From the folks behind Hey and Basecamp, a really nifty new kanban tool that reminds me of Trello, only both more chaotic and much cleaner. It’s really fast, and my brain loves a good project-management board… plus, it’s open-source, so it might spawn some other really fun stuff.
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. I know at least a few folks who have been waiting for this game to see if it completes the appeal of the Switch 2. By all accounts, it seems to be handily worth the price of admission, even if there’s some “modern games!” cruft in the mix.
- It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley. I keep hearing things about this doc, about Buckley’s life and the remarkable album he made, Grace. This will not be a joyful watch, I suspect, but for anyone who loves even just his version of “Hallelujah,” it’s worth the watch.
- YouTube Recap. This is Wrapped Week, so everybody from Spotify to Google Photos is rolling out years in review. I love YouTube’s already, since it just feels the most revealing about my actual personality. It also made it clear that I watch, uh, too much YouTube.
- Mirumi. This furry little robot was one of the delights of last CES, and is now finally becoming real. (Real-ish, anyway — it’s still a Kickstarter project.) It’s pretty expensive, given that it does, you know, nothing! But I mean, look at it.
- Halo. The team at Matter continues to have the best-looking reading app on the planet, and their new habit tracker for iOS looks just as good. Some potentially interesting, potentially annoying AI stuff in here, but even the basic tracker stuff is just lovely to look at and use.
- Routine. After more than a decade of start-and-stop development, this game turned into an unusual, engrossing, deeply fun and deeply stressful sci-fi title for PC and Xbox. One of those games I can tell I’m going to enjoy just from the vibe of the trailer.
- Notion Calendar. This is such a dumb, small thing: Notion finally updated this app so you can hide the right sidebar! Now it’s all calendar and no nonsense. This was already my daily driver calendar app, but for some reason that tiny change makes me like it even more.
Here are two of the fun things about working with The Verge’s Jess Weatherbed: she has a deep knowledge of creative tools and always writes fascinating stuff about how people make art in the future, and it seems every single time we’re in a meeting together she has completely reorganized and redesigned her home office. Every time the Meet loads, Jess has some new treasure in the background.
Jess is as much an artist and designer as she is a tech reporter, and I’m also told she’s a very accomplished D&D player. I asked her to share her homescreen with us to see how all those interests smash together into a single device. I was not disappointed.
Here’s Jess’s homescreen, plus some info on the apps she uses and why:
The phone: I currently have an iPhone 14 Pro Max, but not for much longer; I’m literally waiting on my new iPhone 17 Pro Max to arrive. I was mostly enticed by the iPhone 17 Pro in a glorious orange, which, after begging Apple to remember that color exists for the past few years, felt too personal to ignore.
The wallpaper: The wallpaper itself is nothing special, just some unwatermarked stock imagery I found a while back. I like how it’s a photograph that shows some texture instead of a flat digital image, but I mostly just wanted something colorful to complement the image widgets I have.
The shots on my main screen were taken from a tokusatsu-inspired photoshoot for W Magazine’s 2023 feature “Jennifer Coolidge Will Destroy You.” I absolutely adore Coolidge and kaiju- / mecha-related media, so when I saw the shoot I became kinda obsessed?? I’m planning to get a few images blown up into hi-res posters that I can frame in my hallway. I just feel so much joy every time I look at them.
The photo on my second homescreen page is my cat, Trevor. He’s a silly 12-month-old Maine Coon who’s totally mastered the art of rage-baiting me. We have the same birthday. It was fate.
The apps: Settings, Calendar, Clock, App Store, Camera, Slack, WhatsApp, Messenger, Phone, Chrome, Discord, TikTok.
I don’t think my apps are anything special. I keep the most-used selection loose on my main homescreen, and everything is tinted yellow because it matches the overall vibe and also feels easier on my eyes. I have a Spotify widget because I like having the album art of whatever I’m listening to on my screen. I’m also stuck with Facebook Messenger because my family exclusively uses it to chat; otherwise I only message friends using WhatsApp or Discord. I can’t remember the last time I actually texted someone.
The mess on my second homescreen page is actually incredibly organized for me. I have folders for all my apps, like “games and entertainment,” “shopping,” and “useful crap” for anything that doesn’t fit into other categories.
Some of my current favorite apps include Focus Friend, which is a fun gamified focus timer that helps me keep my ADHD in check, and Next Spaceflight, which tells you about upcoming rocket launches and space missions. I also love learning about what’s around me, so I use apps like Merlin Bird ID and Seek by iNaturalist to identify birds and plants, and because I live on the coast, MarineTraffic to ID passing ships. It’s like a flight tracker, but for boats!
I also asked Jess to share a few things she’s into right now. Here’s what she sent back:
- I’ve been trying to cut down on my TikTok consumption, but I’ve really been enjoying two accounts lately. The first is @drinksonmemusic, who posts “Beat Battle” challenges with @southbymusic where both lads will make electronic remix tunes based on randomized, often ridiculous prompts. It’s fun, silly, and makes me feel energized.
- The second account is @shef_phoenix, which is a cooking channel that mostly experiments with making small food big and big food small (though it’s nice to see that he’s been branching out into other cooking projects). The guy has been hounded into trying to make a “giant grape,” and watching that madness unfold has entertained me greatly.
- Outside of TikTok, I’ve most enjoyed watching Dropout these last few months. The cast and shows are fantastically funny, and it’s something that I can reliably throw on in the background when friends come over, which eventually catches all of our attention. Worth every penny.
- Comics have also recaptured my attention lately as I’ve attempted to walk back my screen time. I’ve been re-reading Cerebus the Aardvark, which I first found decades ago in my family’s attic, the Hellboy omnibus, and DC’s Absolute Universe. I’ve especially enjoyed Absolute Batman, which feels like something the old edgy teenage me would have been obsessed with.
Here’s what the Installer community is into this week. I want to know what you’re into right now as well! Email installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations for anything and everything, and we’ll feature some of our favorites here every week. For even more great recommendations, check out the replies to this post on Threads and this post on Bluesky.
“Haven’t played online multiplayer shooters since Halo 3 and COD 4 days, but Arc Raiders has turned that all around. Solo or with some friends, this game has been an obsession. Almost at 40 hours of play time and I only got it a few weeks ago. Been playing this on the Steam Deck and it runs like a dream.” — Mike
“I just got my Nomad! Super excited for a rugged portable speaker — and the promise of CarPlay in my Tesla.” — Zebulon
“Switching over more light switches to Tapo Matter switches. Have had some installed for the past six months, and appreciate that they just work when disconnected from Wi-Fi or when we have guests over.” — Tim
“The Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake LED. Amazing, and hard to get.” — Chris
“My Retroid Pocket G2 showed up today. Sean already had an article about Valve funding Fex for Android / PC emulation, and with Winlator and Gamehub, there are some amazing options for emulating steam games on handhelds. Some of them get better performance than a Steam Deck!” — Cameron
“The new Enterprise model from Lego might take the win for IP blend of the year. My geek gauge broke.” — David
“Buying a BenQ ScreenBar Pro LED light bar for my monitor was the best home office upgrade I’ve done in a long time. It just mounts on top of your monitor and your webcam mounts on top of the light bar. Very nice light for your workspace and perfect when you’re working late with kids sleeping nearby.” — Shady
“I’ve been obsessed with Vampires SMP as of late, a narrative roleplay series set within Minecraft with an insanely fun and dramatic cast. I can’t stop thinking about this show and its characters to a degree that few TV shows have managed.” — Eris
“Spreading managed democracy in Helldivers 2 is awesome.” — Ani
I’ve written a bunch here in the last few weeks about Raycast, the launcher / note-taker / AI chat / many other things app that has become a key part of my computing life. (I also had Thomas Paul Mann, the company’s CEO, on The Vergecast last weekend.) I’ve heard from a bunch of you that you want to know more about how to use Raycast. This is a good idea! Especially now that it’s on Windows, a Raycast deep dive is a good idea, and I’m on it. But in the meantime, you should check out Raycast’s YouTube channel, which is as good a set of product videos as you’ll find — some deep dives on features, some user interviews, lots of good stuff. The “101 Things You Can Do With Raycast” video is also a fabulous place to start. I find new things every time I watch it.
More to come, though. I love Raycast, I know a lot of you do too, and we’ll get in the weeds on how to make the most of it. If you have tips / favorite features, send them my way!
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Fox has announced that it’s acquiring Roku outright, in a deal that values the streaming company at $22 billion.
The deal will see Fox’s TV networks and Tubi streamer combine with Roku’s network of streaming devices, smart TV software, and The Roku Channel. The companies say in a press release that by combining they’ll become the third-largest player in the US TV industry by viewing share.
It doesn’t sound like the plan is to build Roku and Fox into a walled ecosystem. Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood, who will stay on in the company and join Fox’s board of directors, said in an investor call that Roku “will continue to operate as an open, partner-friendly platform supporting the entire streaming ecosystem.” As for Fox, the press release says the companies are “committed” to the “continued ubiquitous distribution” of Fox’s own content.
”This is a defining moment for Fox, and a natural extension of the deliberate and focused strategy we have been executing for nearly a decade,” Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said in a statement. “Today, we take the next step: bringing together the most valuable live content portfolio in video consumption with the preeminent streaming platform through which America watches it.”
“Over the past two decades, we’ve built Roku into the leading TV streaming platform, reaching more than 100 million households globally and reshaping how people discover and enjoy entertainment,” said Roku CEO Wood. “I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built, and the combination with Fox is an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate our vision, scale faster and innovate more aggressively for viewers, partners and advertisers.”
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, but remains subject to regulatory approval, which in the current climate seems unlikely to pose a problem in the US.
Update, June 15th: Added Anthony Wood quote from the investor call.
Last year, the FBI opened a Cyber Range in Huntsville, Alabama, for simulating cyberattacks. Think of it sort of like the famous Hogan’s Alley, but for modern digital crime training. It’s a massive 22,000 square-foot replica of an entire town, complete with a convenience store, gas station, hospital, and even fully furnished houses.
It’s a training facility where the bureau can recreate real-world scenarios for training and research purposes. All of the various buildings and facilities are hooked up the way they would be in a real town. There’s even a small data center with over 200 servers that can be hacked, infected with malware, and studied. But, importantly, all of the systems in the fake town are cut off from the outside world, which means there’s no danger of any malicious code or anything from escaping containment.
Students practice performing forensic investigations on car entertainment systems, hospital computer networks, and corporate security systems. They can see how various cyberattacks might affect power grids or spread through home networks.
While the facility opened last year, the FBI only shared a video this week, giving the public its first glimpse inside.
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Your Wi-Fi router may be the least glamorous gadget in your home. It sits on a shelf, blinks in the corner and only gets attention when Netflix freezes. However, that little box controls a lot more than you may think.
The FBI and Justice Department say a Russian military intelligence hacking group abused vulnerable small office and home office routers to help run an espionage operation. The group is known as APT28, Fancy Bear and Forest Blizzard. It has been linked to Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency.
The hackers changed router settings so internet requests could flow through servers they controlled. That gave them a way to watch for valuable targets, redirect traffic and steal sensitive login information. The Justice Department and FBI say they disrupted the U.S. portion of the network in April. That is good news. Still, law enforcement cannot walk into your house, update your router or change the password printed on an old sticker. That part is on you.
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FBI WARNS OF HACKERS EXPLOITING OUTDATED ROUTERS. CHECK YOURS NOW
Wires are connected to a router to maintain internet connectivity. (Wolf Von Dewitz/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
How this router attack worked
This attack focused on SOHO routers. That stands for small office and home office routers. In other words, these are the kinds of devices used by small businesses, remote workers and some homes. The Justice Department says the hackers used weaknesses in older routers to change DNS settings.
DNS is like the address book for the internet. When you type a website name, DNS helps your device find the right online destination. If hackers control that address book, they can send certain requests through their own servers. That can let them spot valuable targets and try to steal passwords, authentication tokens, emails or browsing data.
That to me is scary because the victim may not see anything obvious. Your laptop may still connect. Your phone may still browse. Your router may still look normal. Meanwhile, the traffic can be quietly routed through a bad path.
Why old routers can become a weak spot
Routers age like any other device. The problem is that many people keep them for years after the manufacturer stops supporting them. That can leave known security holes sitting open.
Many people also never change the router’s admin username and password. That admin login is different from your Wi-Fi password. It controls the router itself. If that login still uses a default password, a hacker has a much easier path inside.
Think of it this way. You may have strong passwords on your bank account, email and phone. But if your router is outdated and poorly protected, your network still has a soft spot.
DON’T USE YOUR HOME WI-FI BEFORE FIXING CERTAIN SECURITY RISKS
A router’s admin settings can become a security weak spot when firmware is outdated or default passwords are never changed. (TP-Link)
Which routers were targeted?
The FBI specifically referred to the TP-Link WR841N in its warning. The UK National Cyber Security Centre also listed other TP-Link models targeted by APT28. The agency says the list may not be complete.
Here are the routers named in the advisory:
- TP-Link LTE Wireless N Router MR6400
- TP-Link Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Archer C5
- TP-Link Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Archer C7
- TP-Link Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WDR3600
- TP-Link Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WDR4300
- TP-Link Wireless Dual Band Router WDR3500
- TP-Link Wireless Lite N Router WR740N
- TP-Link Wireless Lite N Router WR740N/WR741ND
- TP-Link Wireless Lite N Router WR749N
- TP-Link Wireless N 3G/4G Router MR3420
- TP-Link Wireless N Access Point WA801ND
- TP-Link Wireless N Access Point WA901ND
- TP-Link Wireless N Gigabit Router WR1043ND
- TP-Link Wireless N Gigabit Router WR1045ND
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR840N
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR841HP
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR841N
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR841N/WR841ND
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR842N
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR842ND
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR845N
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR941ND
- TP-Link Wireless N Router WR945N
If you see your model on this list, take it seriously. Many of these routers are older. Some may no longer get normal security support. We reached out to TP-Link for comments, but did not hear back before our deadline.
What TP-Link says about the router warnings
A spokesperson from TP-Link Systems Inc. told CyberGuy the company is aware of recent public reporting involving legacy consumer routers, including TP-Link models listed in those reports. The company said the referenced legacy router models reached End of Service and Life status several years ago.
“While these products are outside our standard maintenance lifecycle, TP-Link has developed security updates for select legacy models where technically feasible,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also urged customers using legacy or end-of-service devices to upgrade to currently supported hardware that receives regular security updates.
“As immediate precautions, users should update to the latest available firmware, disable remote management, and restrict device access to trusted internal networks only,” the spokesperson said.
TP-Link added that the security of its customers is its highest priority and said detailed mitigation guidance, along with a list of identified affected legacy products, is available on its official security advisory page.
What this means for you
Most people do not think about their router until the Wi-Fi drops. But your router sits between your devices and the internet. That gives it a powerful position in your home or small business. If a hacker changes the router’s settings, every connected device can feel the impact. That includes your laptop, smartphone, tablet, smart TV and work computer.
This is especially important if you work from home. A weak router can create a risk for your personal accounts and your workplace accounts. The good news is that you do not need to be a cybersecurity expert to lower the risk. You just need to stop treating your router like a forgotten appliance.
ETHERNET VS WI-FI SECURITY COMPARISON REVEALS SURPRISING RESULTS FOR HOME USERS SEEKING PROTECTION
Security agencies say replacing unsupported routers is one of the most important steps users can take after this kind of attack. (TP-Link)
How to protect your router from hackers
The good news is that a few simple router checks can reduce your risk and help keep hackers from quietly changing how your internet traffic moves.
1) Check your router model
Look at the label on your router. You can usually find the model number on the bottom or back of the device. If it matches one of the listed models, check the manufacturer’s support page for firmware updates. If the device is no longer supported, replace it. Do not keep an end-of-life router because it “still works.” A router can still provide Wi-Fi while leaving your network exposed.
2) Update your router firmware
Firmware is the software that runs your router. Updates often fix security problems. Open your router’s app or log in to its admin page. Look for a firmware update section. Turn on automatic updates if your router offers that option. If it does not, set a reminder to check for updates regularly.
3) Change the router admin password
Your router has an admin login. This is separate from your Wi-Fi network password. Change the default admin username and password. Use a long, unique password that you do not use anywhere else. A password manager can help you create and store a strong router password so you do not have to remember it. Also, change your Wi-Fi password if you have shared it widely or kept it for years. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com
4) Disable remote management
Most people do not need to manage a home router from outside the house. Remote management can give attackers another way to reach your router. Log in to your router settings and turn it off unless you truly need it. The wording may vary by brand. Look for “remote management,” “remote access” or “WAN access.”
5) Reboot your router
A reboot will not fix every router problem. However, security agencies often recommend restarting routers as part of basic home network hygiene. Unplug your router, wait about 30 seconds and plug it back in. This can help clear some temporary malicious activity. Still, it does not replace updates, stronger passwords or replacing an outdated device.
6) Watch browser certificate warnings
Do not click through browser warnings that say a site certificate is invalid or unsafe. Those warnings can appear when something is interfering with a secure connection. In this kind of attack, that warning could be a major red flag. Close the page instead. Then check the site by typing the address yourself on a trusted network.
7) Use a VPN for sensitive work
If you handle work files or sensitive accounts from home, use your company-approved VPN. A VPN can help protect traffic when you connect to workplace systems. It can also reduce exposure when you use networks you do not fully control. Still, a VPN isn’t a free pass to ignore router updates. You need safer habits and safer hardware. 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
8) Use strong antivirus software
Strong antivirus software can help protect your devices if a bad link, a fake login page or a malicious download reaches you. It will not fix a vulnerable router, but it can add another layer of protection for your computer and phone. Look for security software that can detect malware, warn you about phishing sites and help block suspicious activity before it causes damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
9) Consider identity theft protection
If hackers steal your login details, the damage can spread beyond your Wi-Fi network. Identity theft protection can help monitor for signs that your personal information is being misused. It may alert you to suspicious activity involving your credit, accounts or personal data so you can act faster. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com
10) Use a data removal service
A data removal service can help reduce the amount of personal information about you that is available online. That is important because scammers often combine stolen logins with exposed details from data broker sites. Removing your information from those sites can make it harder for criminals to build a fuller profile of you or your family. 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
11) Replace outdated routers
If your router no longer receives security updates, replace it. That may feel annoying. I get it. Nobody gets excited about buying a router the way they might get excited about a new phone. But your router protects everything connected to it. Spending money on a supported device can be cheaper than cleaning up stolen passwords later.
Kurt’s key takeaways
This router warning should make every home and small business owner pause for a minute. The scariest part is how ordinary the target is. We are talking about routers that may be sitting in homes, home offices and small businesses right now. The FBI and its partners disrupted part of the Russian operation. However, that does not magically secure old routers still sitting on shelves. So check your model. Update the firmware. Change the admin password. Turn off remote management. Replace the router if it no longer gets updates. Your router may be boring. But if it gets hijacked, it can become one of the most important security problems in your home.
Would you know how old your router is right now, or is it one of those devices you have not touched since the day it was installed? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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