Welcome back, my nascent hackers!

One of the many reasons I write this blog is to help you keep the Internet free and open. Throughout human history, whenever a government or other powerful entity has wanted to subjugate a people or group, the first thing they do is isolate that group from others and control the flow of information to it. By enabling all of you in Null Byte land, you have the power to keep the Internet free, open, and uncensored while making the world a safer place for everyone.

One of the areas that governments and large corporations have been aggressively trying to limit… more

Unlike wine, you can’t re-cork or stopper leftover bubbly after you’ve opened it, but all is not lost even if you haven’t managed to finish every last drop. You can use your leftover champagne to make light-as-air crêpes or pancakes, to create a detox face mask, to cook seafood and rice, or to make dips and salad dressings.

#1. Make Light-as-Air Champagne Crêpes

Leftover champagne lends these crêpes a sweet taste and helps them cook up extra light and with exceptionally crisp, lacy edges.

Ingredients:

3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
¾ cup champagne
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt… more

Thanks to Verizon Wireless, I pay over $220 a month for my phone bill. It’s just me on the plan—no family members, and it’s not even unlimited data. So, when I receive that data alert message telling me that I’ve used up 90% of my plan and that I’ve still got a few more week until my billing cycle starts over, you know that I’m left scrambling to connect to some Wi-Fi.

Although we live in a very connected time, where free Wi-Fi should be readily available for all of us to use and share no matter where we are, I guess we’re just not there yet. Residential areas password-protect their networks… more

CyanogenMod has always been on the forefront of ROM customization, and its newest release, CyanogenMod 12, is no exception. In the newest nightlies, they have included an updated version of their Theme Engine, which allows you to effortlessly change the way your entire system looks.

Unfortunately, installing the Theme Engine cannot be done via an APK or TWRP flash. The only way to use it is to flash the newest nightly release, or another custom ROM that has the feature baked in. If you do decide to use the nightly or a custom ROM, know that they are not official releases by OnePlus One, so… more

Before heading out on a hike, or any excursion for that matter, it would be wise to take a map with you just in case you get lost while on your quest.

But let’s be realistic, few people are going to use a physical map—or even know how to obtain or read one—in this digital age. We are used to navigating with our smartphones, which is extremely convenient, unless we’re out of range for any type of data connection.

So, instead of resorting to confusing maps or finding your way home by reading the sky, here’s the trick to saving offline maps in Google Maps on Android and iOS devices. We’ve… more

Charcoal is a famously prized substance when it comes to food and drink. Grilling aficionados swear by it, and its purifying properties make it the main ingredient in Brita filters (and its alternatives).

Powdered charcoal is also a cooking ingredient. Yes, that’s right: it can actually go in your food—and the results are delightful. Some even say that because of charcoal’s ability to absorb organic toxins, it might even make your food better for you (although that’s up for debate). However, what is undeniable is that many ERs keep it on hand to deal with poisoning cases.
Kueh lapis, a… more

With Apple’s Yosemite build of Mac OS X came Continuity, a feature that has allowed us to connect our mobile devices to our computers, letting us access apps, send text messages, answer phone calls, and more while seamlessly switching from one device to the other.

Pushbullet, finally available for Mac OS X, looks to advance the features that Continuity has to offer by connecting our devices so that we can view our smartphone’s notifications on our computer, as well as share text, links, and files, and even copy and paste text between the two.
Video: .
Connecting Pushbullet on Your Mac & iOS… more

Was it your New Year’s resolution to quit smoking this year? Whether you are a first-time quitter or a chronic relapser, this is the year to kick this unhealthy habit for good.

Like with any bad habit you want to break, the first important step is to make an honest, specific list of why you want to quit this habit. In the case of smoking, your list of reasons can include better health, a decreased probability of getting cancer or another disease, whiter teeth, a lesser chance of getting wrinkles, and wanting to live a longer and healthier life.

Whether you choose to use a nicotine patch or… more

There’s perhaps no statement more classic (and more annoying) than the “but” sentence. We’ve all heard it before: “I love you, but…”

No matter what fantastic, complimentary remark came before the “but,” all that our brains retain is the negative phrase that follows. Although we hate these sentences, there’s no way we can avoid sharing “but” comments every so often.

However, by changing sentence structure, we can offer others feedback, news, and even critiques in a more positive manner. Reddit user gcanyon suggests twisting your words—but only in order, not in content. When we hear the… more

When you search for a specific location or business with the Google app, a Knowledge Graph card is usually the top result. This card displays a handy mini-map and offers a quick link for directions to the location of your query, but it has one irksome flaw—these links can only be opened by the Google Maps app.

So developer Vladimir Shutoff decided he would remedy this issue with his latest Xposed module. Waze and Nokia HERE users will be happy to know that with this one installed, search results from the Google app can be opened with the maps or navigation app of your choosing.
Video:… more