Our favorite budget 4K gaming monitor just hit its best-ever price
The best budget 4K gaming monitor we’ve ever tested is now available at its cheapest price ever as the Asus TUF VG289Q drops to $199 on Amazon, a 17 percent discount off its $239 MSRP.
This 28-inch IPS display delivers stunningly crisp and detailed visuals at a 3840×2160 resolution. The monitor is compatible with HDR10 (high dynamic range) for beautiful colors and brightness levels, meaning you’ll have a great experience no matter what you’re watching.
When we reviewed the Asus TUF VG289Q gaming monitor, we gave it a four-star rating and praised its video quality and overall gaming performance, as well as the fact that it comes with several ergonomic adjustment options that we really appreciated. As of right now, it continues to be our top pick among budget 4K monitors.
The only downside to this monitor is its relatively low 60Hz refresh rate, which could potentially disqualify this as a “gaming monitor” to hardcore gamers. But it isn’t the end of the world. According to our expert reviewer: “Despite its outstanding visual quality and color range, it only delivers a refresh rate of 60Hz, which, while still suitable for gaming, is well below many other gaming-branded monitors.”
Other winning aspects include flexible connectivity with one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 inputs, support for AMD FreeSync to eliminate screen tearing and choppy frame rates, AMD Shadow Boost for clearer details in dark areas, and a complimentary 3-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud if you buy now.
Given that many other 4K gaming monitors are double, triple, or even quadruple this price, the Asus TUF VG289Q is still a worthwhile buy if you’re tight on cash and want the 4K experience. Hurry up and snag this 4K monitor for just $199 on Amazon while this deal lasts!
Get this 28-inch 4K gaming monitor at its best-ever priceBuy now on Amazon 
© 2024 PC World 2:05am  
|
Here’s why you need a VPN with in-flight Wi-Fi
In-flight Wi-Fi comes with the same risks you’d find when connecting to any public Wi-Fi network. Unfortunately, in our haste to keep connected on a long flight, we often don’t give it a second thought. But precautions should be taken to safeguard against common threats.
The best solution if you want to browse online while mid-air is a VPN. A VPN will securely encrypt your traffic, keeping it safe and private. Here I’ll show you the potential risks involved with in-flight Wi-Fi and how a VPN is the perfect tool to protect yourself.
Check out my list of best VPNs to keep you safe whether you’re up in the sky or down on land.
Is in-flight Wi-Fi secure?
It’s important to stay connected while traveling. During a long flight, you can use the down time and convenience of in-flight Wi-Fi to navigate your destination with online maps, keep in touch with friends and family, or search for the best restaurants to hit up when you land.
Public Wi-Fi, whether in-flight or at your local corner cafe, can come with risks though. If you connect to an unsecure network you may be vulnerable to hackers. In fact, a recent Forbes Advisor survey found that 43 percent of those surveyed have had their online security compromised while using public Wi-Fi.
There are a few types of potential attack methods that might be used against you while trying to connect to in-flight Wi-Fi. The most common is called a “Man-in-the-middle” attack. It typically involves a hacker compromising a public Wi-Fi router and intercepting data traveling between the user and the network.
Another form of a man-in-the-middle attack is called an “Evil twin attack.” Here it’s common to see an attacker create a fake Wi-Fi hotspot with a similar name to the real Wi-Fi network to lure unsuspecting users—think “Frontier_01” instead of the official “Frontier.” These types of attacks typically require close physical proximity and therefore make crowded airplanes a good target.
Just such an attack happened in Australia earlier this year when a man was caught setting up fake Wi-Fi networks on flights. When unsuspecting users connected to his hotspots, they were taken to a fake webpage that required them to sign in with emails or social media logins, which he then copied and stole.
When using any kind of public Wi-Fi network it’s important that you safeguard yourself. While some cautious security experts would advise that you never connect to in-flight Wi-Fi, this is impractical for many people. By taking just a few precautions you can significantly reduce the chance of accidentally compromising your data on these networks.
How to stay safe while using in-flight Wi-Fi
Despite the potential hazards of connecting to in-flight Wi-Fi, there are some easy steps you can take to protect yourself. First and foremost, you should always make sure you’re connecting to the correct Wi-Fi network. If you’re unsure or don’t know the airline’s network name, it’s best to just ask a cabin attendant.
The next best step is to use a VPN with any and all public Wi-Fi connections—even those at 35,000 feet. A VPN will secure your connection and run all of your traffic through an encrypted tunnel so that your data is kept private from potential attackers.
Remember that I mentioned how many people have had their online security compromised while using public Wi-Fi? That same survey showed that only 40 percent of people regularly use a VPN while connected to public Wi-Fi. That leaves a large group of people who are unaware or actively choosing to ignore the risks. Don’t be one of these people.
A VPN, such as any of those on my list of the best VPNs, is an affordable and trustworthy solution. Alternatively, you could opt for a VPN router such as ExpressVPN’s Aircove Go or Deeper Connect’s Air Portable VPN Router to seamlessly connect multiple devices to a VPN while using public Wi-Fi.
These work by first establishing a connection to the public network and then creating a new secure network via the router. You can then connect all of your devices to this router network and they will automatically run through a VPN.
Whichever way you choose, remember that taking just a couple of minutes and investing a few dollars into the proper precautions can help save you a whole lot of trouble down the line.
© 2024 PC World 1:05am 
|
|
|
|
|
How to convert a PDF to JPG
Converting a PDF to an image or JPG can be useful for various reasons. Perhaps you need a specific image from a PDF document or want to save a PDF as an image to insert it into a presentation. In this article, you will learn how to convert a PDF to JPG using simple methods and which tools are best suited for this.
Further reading: The best PDF editors
What is the difference between PDF and JPG?
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a format that was developed for the exchange of documents, regardless of the operating system or software used. It supports text, images, links and even interactive elements. A major advantage of PDF files is that they retain the layout of the document, regardless of the device on which they are opened.
JPG, on the other hand, is an image format that was developed for compressing and storing photos and graphics. It reduces the file size through compression, although this can also lead to a certain loss of quality. While PDF files are more suitable for printing and text documents, the JPG format offers a compact and easy way to save and share images.
Why convert a PDF to JPG at all?
Converting a PDF to a JPG image can be useful for several reasons:
Ease of sharing: Images are easier to embed on social media or websites.
Extraction of images: Often a PDF file contains images that you need as separate files.
Compatibility: Not all programs or systems support PDF. If you are asked for an image, you have no choice but to convert the PDF.
Convert PDF to JPG with Windows onboard tools
Unfortunately, there is no direct function for Windows users to convert a PDF to an image file such as JPG. However, there is an easy way to save a PDF as an image — without any additional software: With the Snipping Tool, which is already pre-installed in Windows. The Snipping Tool allows you to create screenshots. Here is the procedure:
Open the PDF file you want to save as an image — for example, in the Microsoft Edge browser or Adobe Reader.
Press the key combination Windows key + Shift + S to start the Snipping Tool.
Select the area of the PDF file that you want to save as an image.
The Snipping Tool will now create a screenshot of the selected area. Then save it in the desired image format, for example as a JPG.
Convert PDF to JPG free of charge with GIMP and others
Free image editing programs such as GIMP allow you to convert PDF files to JPG. In the case of Paint.net, you first need a plugin without which you cannot open the PDF. Then proceed as follows:
Open the PDF file in the respective software via File > Open (alternatively: Import).
Select the PDF pages that you want to save as JPG.
Go to File > Export as and select the JPG format.
Convert PDF to JPG with online web tools
Online conversion tools are another easy option if you don’t want to install software. Tools such as ilovepdf.com or the Adobe Acrobat converter are particularly user-friendly. This is how it works:
The free Adobe Acrobat Converter makes it easy to upload a PDF and convert it to JPG.Foundry
Open a web tool of your choice and upload your PDF file.
Adjust the settings (optional), e.g. the image size or quality.
Click on “Convert” and download the JPG file.
Converting JPG to PDF without loss of quality: Is it possible?
Various tools are available to convert an image into a PDF without any loss of quality — in other words, the exact opposite process. On Windows, for example, you can open the image in the Microsoft Edge browser and save it as a PDF using the print function — make sure you use the highest quality settings. For direct conversion, tools such as GIMP also offer lossless results.
Another free web tool is Canva, which converts images to PDF in the best quality. Alternatively, you can use the Adobe Acrobat converter presented above, which also offers lossless conversion.
How do I get an image from a PDF file?
Either use the Windows snipping tool or convert the PDF to JPG format first. The image can then be easily cropped and edited. To do this, simply open the converted JPG in an image editing program such as Paint.net, GIMP, or Photopea and cut out the desired image area.
© 2024 PC World 2:05am 
|
|
|
