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17 tips to avoid getting hacked that you might have forgotten—or never even knew

A few lessons from IT professionals about securing your personal data.

identity theft, getting hacked, hackers, computer protection
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There are unsavory people interested in your information.

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Mozilla

In 2009, Scott McGready stumbled on a massive phishing scam targeting his company's email server.

Thousands of emails bombarded the company in a short period of time. They all came from the same source, pretending to be someone or something they weren't in order to lure people into clicking on shady links and giving up their personal data.

"While investigating it, I stumbled upon the phisher's database which had [the] personal data of thousands of people," McGready says. "I was surprised how little effort was required on the fraudster's part to acquire such a trove of information."

This discovery sparked McGready's interest in information security and teaching others how to protect themselves from fraud. Since then, this journey has taken him from the U.K.'s National Trading Standards department to the documentary series "Secrets of the Scammers" to his own company and beyond.

Here are just a few lessons from McGready — and some other IT professionals — about securing your personal data:

data hacking, browsing, protection, financial

Is your information protected online?

Stomchak/Wikimedia Commons

1. Know there is a LOT of data about you online.

"Having data readily available online means that things like phishing emails can be automatically tailored to targets without much effort," McGready says.

But what does "data" really mean in this case? Um. Er. Pretty much everything. Even if we don't realize it. Something as simple as your basic browsing habits and location history can actually reveal a lot about you. Even if your name's not attached to it, a savvy social hacker could still figure something out.

2. Be aware that your friends may expose info about you — even if you're not on social media.

"We tend to share every detail of our lives on social media because we feel obliged to by peer pressure — whether that be adding your birthday to your Facebook profile because the website keeps asking for it," McGready says. But it's worse when your friend tags you in that photo from high school with your school mascot in the background and — oops. There goes another security question.

social media, data leak, Facebook, friends

Things don't always go as planned with technology.

Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash

3. Pay attention so you can mitigate the risks (though probably not completely avoid them).

McGready recommends keeping your social media profiles as private as possible and asking your friends and family to do the same. "Even those that intentionally aren't on social media may be easily findable by their friends or family that share the 'dinner table selfie.'"

4. It's better to be proactive than wait until you're compromised.

"We hear about data leaks almost every week, it seems," McGready says. "The general public are no longer asking 'if' their data is compromised, but rather 'when.'"

This might sound scary. But it's also a good reminder to stay sharp.

public, risk, education, accounts

Do you know everyone that's using your computer?

Image via Pixabay.

5. Check the Facebook apps and third-party services that might have access to your account.

"It's worth checking what data you share with specific companies and only giving out the bare minimum in case of a data breach in the future," McGready explains.

For example: Does Bejeweled Blitz really need permission to access everything you've ever put on Facebook, to post on your behalf, and to spam your friends and family? It's not just annoying — it puts you at risk if that information leaks.

6. Take some time to get rid of those old accounts.

A clever hacker might still be able to figure out something through your iwasdefinitelyacool15yearold@aol.com email address. "Many of us, myself included, also have a large number of 'dormant accounts' on websites that we no longer use," McGready says. "I'd fully recommend logging into these accounts and changing all the profile information before deleting the account."

science, history, websites, companies

It's important to know what accounts are open in your name.

Photo from Daderot/Wikimedia Commons.

7. Don't feel bad if it happens to you. Even IT professionals fall for it!

Georgia Bullen, technology projects director for New America's Open Technology Institute, recounts how she was hacked:

"My password wasn't secure enough and so someone had built a program that was logging into not-secure-enough accounts and then spamming."

What she felt at the time is all too familiar for anyone who's been hacked: "Embarrassed, confused, and then really worried that someone else was going to click on something from me."

8. Be smart, pay attention, and know what you're getting into with any website or service you sign up for.

This bears repeating because a little awareness can make a big difference.

security, passwords, service, defense

What type of security for your accounts do you have?

Photo by Marcello Casal Jr/ABr/Wikimedia Commons.

9. Have a solid P@$w0rds plan.

Passwords are the Achilles' heel of the modern world — but there's a trick.

"It's totally possible [for hackers] to take one password, see where you've re-used it, and then get access to those accounts as well. And that's where the bigger danger happens," explains Harlo Holmes from the Freedom of the Press Foundation.

That's why, in general, passwords should be different for every website or service used, and consist of three random words, interspersed with special characters; a DiceWare password like "correct horse battery staple" is a good place to start.

Password managers can help out by creating unique passwords for you. Which leads to...

10. Use a password manager.

Password managers can generate strong, random passwords for you. And they keep track of all of your different passwords so you don't need to memorize them yourself.

All you need to do is remember one super-secure master password in order to unlock every other possible password combination. That way, says Bullen, you can't even make the mistake of verbally giving your password away because you genuinely don't know it yourself! (Unless it's your master password, in which case, ya know, don't do that.)

11. Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.

Safety is good, but a back-up plan is even better. 2FA sends a code to a device on your person just to make sure that the person logging in is really you. Even if your password does get compromised, the hacker probably doesn't have access to your smartphone, too. (Probably.)

Mozilla's Amira Dhalla explains how it works:

12. Consider using a separate email address — with a separate strong password — for important accounts like banking.

That way, even if you do use the same password elsewhere, hackers will have a harder time getting in to your important accounts. (Make sure this secondary email account has two-factor authentication, too!)

13. Be sure to hover over links before you click them.

"Links may look legitimate, but upon hovering, they actually redirect to a completely different place," McGready says. (Don't believe me? See what happens when you click on www.upworthy.com/definitely-not-an-upworthy-page.)

14. Always double-check the URL in the address bar. (But even that's not always safe.)

Ever notice that green padlock in your browser bar? It's a good sign! ... except when it's not. As McGready explains, "While it's true that this means your data is encrypted between your computer and the website itself, it doesn't legitimize the website."

routers, world wide web, computers, Wi-Fi

Using default passwords on the computer router can leave you vulnerable..

Photo by Michael Geiger on Unsplash

15. Secure your router.

It may seem harmless to use the default password for your router, but that can actually leave you vulnerable to hackers (there are even websites that can be used to find out different routers' default settings). And someone accessing your router can access pretty much your entire home network. So it's worth taking that small extra step of setting up a strong user name and password.

16. Be wary: These days, the internet is in everything from lightbulbs to baby diapers. Which is super cool! And bad.

McGready sees "the internet of things," or IoT, as the biggest online threat on the horizon. Even if you have worried about Amazon spying on you, you probably didn't consider who else could be spying on you through a vulnerable Wi-Fi or Bluetooth system built into your smart home. "The issue comes when these wireless chips are integrated by default on all products, whether the customer wants them or not," McGready explains.

17. Exercise a little extra caution.

It all boils down to the fact that humans are too trusting.

We trust that our friends aren't going to expose our address over Twitter. We trust that some disgruntled Angry Birds employee won't hijack our linked Facebook page because we didn't pay attention to permissions. We trust the green padlock in the browser bar that keeps our credit cards secure, even if the website taking that information wants to use it for a shady purpose.

Simply put, we trust that the internet is mostly good and that people are, too.

It's hard to solve a problem you can't see — which is why McGready is so passionate about teaching online safety.

"Show the public exactly what is possible and what they should be watching out for," McGready says. "It's one thing to tell someone that a scammer can send a text which appears to be from a legitimate company or a known person; it's another thing entirely to send a text to that person's phone which comes from 'Mum.'"

There's no "one weird trick" to protect us from the dangers of technology. But we can do our due diligence — as long as we know where to start.

This article originally appeared on 06.19.17

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Check out the new NAPA TradeWear collection
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NAPA is launching a free merch collection, changing how we celebrate automotive careers

How TradeWear is tackling the technician shortage

NAPA is launching a free merch collection, changing how we celebrate automotive careers
Enter the Toolbelt Generation
Enter the Toolbelt Generation
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These days, cars can do a lot more than get you from point A to point B. With features like emergency braking, electric powertrains, and self-parking systems, getting behind the wheel of a modern vehicle means being surrounded by cutting-edge technology. While innovation races ahead, one important element is being left in the dust: trained professionals who know how to fix these increasingly complex systems.

By 2027, the industry is anticipating a nationwide shortage of nearly 800,000 technicians – everything from avionics experts to diesel and collision repair specialists. And while the industry is expected to grow by 3% in the next decade, not enough young people are entering the field quickly enough, and the skills needed to do the job are changing fast.

Enter the "Toolbelt Generation"

Gen Z has increasingly been shifting away from traditional four-year colleges, exploring trade school alternatives as a smarter path forward. This cultural shift has dubbed them the "Toolbelt Generation," and they're onto something big. With a 16% increase in vocation-focused community colleges last year, young people are choosing flexible, hands-on careers without the heavy cost of traditional college education.

But here's the thing: while university students get all the fanfare – the branded hoodies, the campus pride, the cultural celebration – trade school students have been missing out on that same sense of belonging and recognition. Despite outdated stereotypes that paint trade work as "lesser than," these students are actually mastering some of the most sophisticated technology on the planet. Until now, society just hasn't caught up to celebrating what they do.

A creative solution rooted in culture

The NAPA TradeWear Collection is the latest initiative they have using a brilliant solution to change this narrative entirely. In partnership with Dickies and prolific video game artist Stephen Bliss, NAPA launched TradeWear – their first-ever, free merch collection celebrating young trade school students and the automotive technician career path.

The inspiration came from a fascinating cultural insight: automotive and racing games were cited as one of the biggest influences of the current generation of trade school students. That's where Stephen Bliss comes in – he's been behind some of this generation's most iconic video game artwork, making him the perfect partner to bridge the digital-to-physical journey that's inspiring real careers.

"Being an automotive technician is such a badass career," said Stephen Bliss, designer of the new NAPA TradeWear line. "It's both an art and a science, and I designed this line with that artful side in mind – celebrating what drives people to create something tangible with their own hands."

The collection does more than just look cool – it's making a statement that these career paths deserve the same pride and recognition as any traditional college experience.

"NAPA is working to break down barriers for the next generation of technicians by eliminating financial barriers, debunk outdated stereotypes, and create cutting edge training methods to fill this automotive technician gap,” said Danny Huffaker, SVP, Product & Marketing at NAPA, “TradeWear is the latest initiative in champion young technicians, celebrating technical careers with the same pride we give to traditional college paths."

An innovative approach

TradeWear represents just one way NAPA is rising to meet this moment of industry transformation. As America's largest network of automotive parts and care, they're taking a comprehensive approach to supporting the next generation of technicians.

NAPA is set to debut the Autotech XcceleratoR in early 2026—a breakthrough that fuses XR (extended reality) and AI to transform how technicians learn. Think of it as a flight simulator for cars: immersive, hands-on practice with smart guidance that adapts to each learner, building real-world skills faster and safer. As a first-of-its-kind program at national scale, XcceleratoR is designed to train more students in less time, elevate quality across the industry, and set the standard for the next 100 years of automotive training.

NAPA is also championing educational investment through expanded scholarship programs. This year, NAPA launched the Carlyle Tools MAX Impact Scholarship, providing monthly $2,500 awards plus professional-grade Carlyle toolboxes to empower emerging skilled technicians. This initiative joins a comprehensive scholarship portfolio that delivered educational support this year through partnerships with WD40, the University of the Aftermarket, TechForce and SkillsUSA.

Looking toward the future

In a world full of desk jobs and digital burnout, technician jobs in the automotive industry allow people to create an entirely different way of living – a flexible, hands-on career without the heavy cost of a traditional college education.

By investing in innovative training, providing financial support, and most importantly, instilling pride in a new generation of workers through initiatives like TradeWear, NAPA is helping ensure these exciting career paths continue to thrive for generations to come.

Check out the new NAPA TradeWear collection and snag a free item from the collection.

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Education

It's not brains or talent. Expert says high achievers have two traits anyone can learn.

She broke it down into a simple formula.

angela duckworth, grit, ted talk, success, psychologist, therapist
via TED / YouTube

Angela Duckworth speaking at a TED event.

Why is it that some people are high achievers who have a track record of success and some people never come close to accomplishing their dreams? Is it talent, luck, or how you were raised? Is it that some people are just gifted and have exceptional talents that others don't?

The good news is, according to psychologist Angela Duckworth, the most critical factor in being a high achiever has nothing to do with talent or intelligence. It’s how long you can keep getting back up after getting hit. She calls it “grit” and, according to Duckworth’s research, it’s the common denominator in high achievers across the board, whether it’s cadets at West Point or kids in a spelling bee. Duckworth goes into depth on the topic in her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

What personal traits make someone successful?

“The common denominator of high achievers, no matter what they’re achieving, is this special combination of passion and perseverance for really long-term goals,” Duckworth revealed on The Mel Robbins Podcast. “And in a word, it’s grit.”


“Partly, it’s hard work, right? Partly it’s practicing what you can’t yet do, and partly it’s resilience,” she continued. “So part of perseverance is, on the really bad days, do you get up again? So, if you marry passion for long-term goals with perseverance for long-term goals well then you have this quality that I find to be the common denominator of elite achievers in every field that I've studied."

When pressed to define the specific meaning of grit, Duckworth responded: “It’s these two parts, right? Passion for long-term goals, like loving something and staying in love with it. Not kind of wandering off and doing something else, and then something else again, and then something else again, but having a kind of North Star."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

For anyone who wants to achieve great things in life, grit is an attitude that one can develop for themselves that isn’t based on natural abilities or how well one was educated. Those things matter, of course, but having a gritty attitude is something someone can learn.

"I am not saying that there aren't genes at play because every psychologist will tell you that's also part of the story for everything and grit included,” Duckworth said. “But absolutely, how gritty we are is a function of what we know, who were around, and the places we go."

Why grit is so important

Grit is critical for people to become highly successful because it means that you stick with the task even when confronted with barriers. In every journey of taking an idea that you love and turning it into reality there is going to be what’s known as the dark swamp of despair—a place that you must wade through to get to the other side. It takes grit and determination to make it through the times when you fear that you might fail. If it were easy, then everyone could be high achievers.


Grit is what keeps people practicing in their room every night as teenagers and makes them an accomplished guitar player. Grit is what makes a basketball player the first one in the gym and the last to leave so that they make the starting lineup. Grit is knocking on the next door after 12 people have just slammed their doors in your face.

The wonderful thing about Duckworth’s work is that it presents an opportunity for everyone willing to do the work. You can no longer use the fact that you may not have specialized intelligence or a God-given talent as an excuse. All you need is perseverance and passion and you have as good a shot as anyone at achieving your dreams.

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People are still loving Drew Barrymore's live reaction to her first perimenopause hot flash

“I don’t know that I have ever heard a celebrity talk about a hot flash in the moment. Thank you for being so real."

Drew Barrymore, perimenopause, menopause, hot flash, Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, The Drew Barrymore Show, authenticity, CBS Mornings, Gayle King
The Drew Barrymore Show/Youtube

Drew Barrymore getting a quick assist from Jennifer Aniston

It feels safe to say that many, if not most people hail Drew Barrymore as the “Queen of Candid.” She can seemingly talk to absolutely anyone about anything in a way that’s consistently warm and authentic.

That even goes for when she experiences her first hot flash in front of a live television audience, apparently.

While speaking with guests Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler on her talk show, Barrymore abruptly appears flustered, fanning herself and removing her jacket.


@drewbarrymore I either had my first perimenopause hot flash or got really exciting! Maybe both? @thedrewbarrymoreshow ♬ original sound - Drew Barrymore


Without missing a beat, she says, “I am so hot, I think I'm having my first perimenopause hot flashes.”

“Oh, I feel so honored!” Jennifer Aniston quips as she fixes Barrymore’s mic, which is a sweet moment in and of itself.

“I’m so sorry!” Barrymore continues, laughing through it all. “Do you feel this?!” she says, placing Aniston’s hand just below her neck. “Or maybe I’m just excited!”

Sandler, then reaching for Barrymore’s palm, assures her, “Yeah you got a hot hand.”

“Well, I’m so glad I have this moment documented!” Barrymore exclaims.

One viewer on TikTok gushed, “I don’t know that I have ever heard a celebrity talk about a hot flash in the moment. Thank you for being so real.”

Another echoed, “Drew, we have a whole generation (X) entering the change. Let’s normalize it. Just wait until you’re soaked with sweat, then cold lol.”

One person commented on the exchange between Aniston and Barrymore, noting how refreshing it was to see two “beautiful, authentic, powerful women my own age to look up to.”

Only a week prior, Barrymore had again been an unofficial spokeswoman for perimenopause when she sat down with Gayle King of “CBS Mornings” to share more of her personal experiences, including having a period “every two weeks.”


@cbsmornings How did Drew Barrymore know she was in perimenopause? She tells Gayle King and Nikki Battiste one of the main symptoms she experienced. Watch their full conversation tomorrow on #CBSMornings. #drewbarrymore #gayleking #menopause #perimenopause #fertility #health ♬ original sound - CBS Mornings


"One doctor also just told me this could last, in the worst-case scenario, 10 years. And I was like, ‘I will never make it 10 years like this!’" she told King.

Considering that every woman who lives past their 40s will probably go through at least some version of this—even earlier, for some—one would think that there should be more conversations about this pivotal life chapter. Maybe then it wouldn’t be so daunting.

Or at the very least, there might be less stigma around it. As Barrymore eloquently put it in her interview, “The way menopause has been branded is, 'You're old, you're done.' That's not it." Instead, she feels that in reality, "more women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are looking so attractive, feeling so vibrant, living their best lives.”

Imagine that—life getting better as you grow older. What a radical thought.

Drew Barrymore, perimenopause, menopause, hot flash, Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, The Drew Barrymore Show, authenticity, CBS Mornings, Gayle King YouTube

This article originally appeared two years ago.

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14 comfort meals from the 1970s that are still delicious and affordable

Break out the casserole dish.

casserole, casseroles, 1970s food, 1970s recipes, 1970s diet
Image courtesy of Reddit/Slow-moving-sloth

Foods like casseroles were popular during the 1970s.

All things old are new again—and the same goes for classic recipes.

For those who grew up during the 1970s (that's Baby Boomers and Generation Jones), staple dishes that were served at the dinner table are being rediscovered on Reddit by newer generations looking for filling, comforting, and affordable meals.

According to JSTOR, actress Liza Minelli first coined "comfort food" back in 1970. Minelli told food columnist Johna Blinn, "Comfort food is anything you just yum, yum, yum."

Meals from the 1970s are nostalgic and also budget friendly. Try making one of these comforting recipes from Redditors that will fill you up and not break the bank.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Tuna casserole

"I LITERALLY made a tuna casserole last night & had the leftovers for lunch today." - Disastrous-Soup-5413, RogerClyneIsAGod2

Turkey (or chicken) tetrazzini

"Tetrazzini is a creamy pasta dish with turkey (or chicken) chicken, mushrooms, and cheese." - Disastrous-Soup-5413

Liver and onions

"Liver and onions, mashed potatoes and a green salad made with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes cut in wedges, cucumber slices .. peeled and miracle whip salad dressing." - Kaktusblute

Quiche Lorraine

"A family favorite quiche recipe from the 1970’s. The secret? Half a cup of mayonnaise and an unreasonable quantity of cheese. My mom uses sweet onion instead of green onion, but otherwise made as written:

1/2 c. real mayonnaise
1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. corn starch
1 1/2 c. cubed cooked ham
1 1/2 c. (about 1/2 pound) chopped Swiss cheese
1/3 c. sliced green onion
Dash pepper
1 unbaked 9" pastry shell

Mix together real mayonnaise, milk, eggs and corn starch until smooth. Stir in ham, cheese, onion and pepper. Turn into pastry shell. Bake in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven 35-40 minutes until golden brown on top and knife inserted comes out clean." - banoctopus

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Cheese fondue

"For fondue, you can go in a few different directions. Cubed crusty bread is one of the classic ways to dip into cheese fondue, but you could use fruits, vegetables, chunks of cooked or cured sausages, so long as they will keep their structural integrity." - Bluecat72

Meatloaf and baked potatoes

"A basic meatloaf is ground beef, minced onions, bread crumbs, an egg and a squirt of ketchup for moisture, salt, pepper, garlic powder.. whatever you like. Get your hands in there and squish it all together until thoroughly mixed. Form into a vague loaf shape on a pan and bake at 350 for an hour. Poke a couple potatoes with a fork and cook them in the microwave for 5-7 minutes. Enjoy a meatloaf sandwich with mustard for lunch the next day 😋." - yblame

Pork chops with rice and cream of mushroom soup

"Brown the chops, take them out of the pan, pour in rice, soup and water, stir to combine. Put the pork chops on top. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked. Tossed green salad: iceberg lettuce, chopped scallions, tomatoes, cucumbers, Wishbone Italian Dressing." - hicjacket

Salmon croquettes

"Salmon croquettes were a staple of my childhood. Canned salmon, saltine crackers, and an egg. We called them croquettes but naw, they were shaped into salmon patties." - DazzlingBullfrog9, throwawaytodaycat

Mexican casserole

"Brown ground beef, stir in a can of tomato sauce and 1 sliced green onion. Mix together a cup of sour cream, a cup of cottage cheese and a can of chopped green chilies. In a 9x13 pan, layer crushed tortilla chips, meat, cream mixture and grated Colby-jack or Colby cheese. Repeat layers. Bake until hot and bubbly." - Open-Gazelle1767

Hamburger Stroganoff

"One pound ground beef, 1 package Lipton onion soup mix, 1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup, sour cream. Brown the ground beef, stir in the can of soup and soup mix. Stir in the sour cream until it looks right...I think it's a half pint, but maybe a whole pint. Serve over rice for the 2 kids who eat rice and egg noodles for the one kid who doesn't." - Open-Gazelle1767

Shake 'N Bake Chicken

"Shake’n Bake chicken or pork chops. 'And I helped!' Preheat oven to 400F. Moisten chicken with water. Place breasts in Shake-n-Bake shaker bag. Shake the bag vigorously to coat the chicken. Bake for 20 minutes if boneless, 45 minutes if it does have bones." - Karin58

@allrecipes

Where are all the Shake n Bake girlies? 🍗 Today @nicolesperfectbite is showing you how to make this classic bread coating at home—and dare we say better than the original? 👀 #instafood #food #foodie #shakenbake #bake #chicken #breadcrumbs #paprika #garlic #onion #powder #meat #breading #bread #easy #easyrecipe #recipe #quickandeasy #weeknightdinner

Grilled cheese and tomato soup

"Still my favorite thing to eat, but now I make my own tomato bisque, my own bread, and use Gouda or cheddar. Back then Mom made this for Friday lunch: Campbell's tomato soup (made with milk) and the grilled cheese was two slices of five-loaves-for-a-dollar white bread with Velveeta, grilled with Miami Maid margarine in the Revere Ware skillet." - Mindless_Pop_632, mulberryred

Pork sausage and rice

"I grew up in the 70s and my mother made this sausage and rice dish at least once a month. The recipe is from Peg Bracken's I Hate To Cook Book. Crumble 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of pork sausage (hamburger will do, but pork is better) into a skillet and brown it. Pour off the fat. Add:

1 green pepper, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
2 or 3 celery stalks, chopped
2 c. chicken consommé or bouillon
1 c. raw rice
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt

Put on the lid and let it simmer at lowest possible heat for 1 hour." - officerbirb

Sloppy Joes

"Classic Sloppy Joes. My family had these regularly in the ‘70s." - ThatPtarmiganAgain

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27 most common English words people always misspell

"For me it's 'necessary'. Two c’s? Two s’s? I never know."

spell, spelling, hard words to spell, misspell, misspelled, misspelling
Photo credit: Canva

Woman confused about how to spell a word.

There's a reason spelling bees remain an impressive feat of knowledge--spelling is not easy. And certain words in English are harder to spell than others. That's because English is an amalgam of different languages.

According to the University of Florida Literacy Institute, "English spellings seem particularly challenging to learn because English words have origins in multiple languages—mostly Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Greek. This makes English orthography opaque, or difficult to understand or 'see through'," they note. "This is in contrast to languages such as Spanish, where words are mostly from Latin, which makes the orthography transparent or clear."

Logophiles on Reddit shared the words that always trip them up when it comes to spelling. These are 27 words that are commonly misspelled.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"For me it's 'necessary'. Two c’s? Two s’s? I never know." - isaacturner_12

"Definitely. I just misspelled it but autocorrect made it right. 😆" - jes_537

"Privilege. I always wanna spell it 'privelege' at first." - affectionateanarchy8

"Vacum? Vaccum? Vacuum? Vaccum?" - frightenedscared

"'Restaurant' will always be hard for me." - Last_City5746

"Embarrassimg. Edit: Embarrassing." - IamTroyOfTroy

"Cemetery. Stephen King said he remembers it because the e’s are spaced evenly like tombstones." jintana, shinofonan

"Bureaucracy. I struggled until I realized that I have no problems with just the word bureau. So now it’s not “bureaucracy”… it’s a bureau with a cracy. 🤷🏻♀️ it works for me." - _incredigirl_, benjaminhayes12

"Gaurantee [guarantee]." - duckweedlagoon


@english.with.lucy

Can you spell these SUPER HARD words? #spellingtest #spelling #spellingbee #englishchallenge

"Ceiling (the i before e rule is actually not true in most cases, it just works with the most popular words. It works here but my head can't grasp it)." - duckweedlagoon

Maintainance [Maintenance]." - duckweedlagoon

"License. My answer for this is and always will be lisence licence license." - Winter_drivE1

"That red-purple color. Fuschia? Fuchsia? Fucshia?" - AllHailSeizure

"Tomorrow. Tomaro... tomarro... towmaro... towmorro..." - kenerling

"Privilege. Privelige previleige privelige prievlige previlegie. Autocorrect doesn’t even help me anymore." "- froderenfelemus

"Rhythm. I was going to say that I thought I finally had “rhythm” down but then spellchecker told me it was incorrect. The word looks wrong however I spell it. Rhythm? Rhythym? Argh!" - elt0p0, Pedantic_Girl

"Awkward. I had to look it up. Again." - Studio_T3

"Angle and angel." - DEEGAHhh

"My common misspelling is: Acceptable – acceptible." - RainbowWarrior73

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Calendar. Autocorrect fixed it for me just now." - hangry_hangry_hippie

"Maintenance. I think I finally have it down now, but took 30 years 😂 I always wanted to spell it maintainance." - whineANDcheese_

"Also, lackadaisical. Usually I mess that one up so bad that autocorrect can’t even get it. I always feel like it’s some for of lacks or lax not lack." - whineANDcheese_

"Pharmascutical Pharmacutical Pharmaceuticul Pharmacetical Pharmacuticall Pharmaceutical." - discombobubolated

"sacrilegious -- really? Not sacreligious? Go figure." - jomabu23

"Broccoli. I'm also pretty sure I lost a chance at a best paper award because of 'guage' instead of gauge in a headline." - 1369ic

"Occassion...occasion...occasion. now none of them look right!" - i_do_me

"When ever I type thorough or throughout, I seem to try to spell both at the same time: Throroughout." - ColoradoScoop

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17 of the funniest finalists in the 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A bashful elephant, spunky gorilla, and more!

elephants, gorillas, comedy wildlife awards, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards
via © Henry Szwinto/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards and © Mark Meth-Cohn / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards finalists.

It's that time of year again for one of Upworthy's favorite traditions: sharing with you the finalists for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.

The 2025 competition received over 10,000 "brilliant and hilarious" entries from 108 countries and has been whittled down to 40 finalists, which include a smoking duck, a prancing gorilla, and some wrestling green frogs. The photographers are competing for the top prize—an incredible one-week safari in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. Other prizes include Nikon Z6 III and Nikon Z50 II cameras.

“We had an awesome year last year and are absolutely delighted to be able to partner with the Nikon team again for 2025," Tom Sullam, Comedy Wildlife Competition co-founder, said in a statement. "Their ongoing support has supercharged the competition, reaching more people in more countries than ever before, helping us raise awareness of animal and habitat conservation and, crucially, highlight the fundamental importance of having wildlife on our planet and in our lives."

Upworthy's 17 funniest finalists in the 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

(You can see all of them here)


1. "Now which direction is my nest?" (gannet) by Alison Tuck, U.K.

comedy wildlife awards, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A gannet in a bad spot.© Alison Tuck / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


"A windy day on Bempton Cliffs during the nesting season." — Alison Tuck

2. "Welcome to Zen Lemur Yoga Course!" (ring-tailed lemur) by Andrey Giljov, Russia

comedy wildlife awards, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A lemur telling a fish story.© Andrey Giljov / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"Instructor Lemur demonstrates perfect enthusiasm, reaching high to embrace the universe. Student Lemur contemplates whether enlightenment is worth this much effort before breakfast. Flexibility? Optional. Dramatic flair? Mandatory." — Andrey Giljov

3. "Go away" (white tailed sea eagle) by Annette Kirby, Australia

comedy wildlife awards, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards An angry sea eagle.© Annette Kirby / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


"In February 2025, I flew from my home in South Australia, where the summer temperatures ranged from mid-20s to mid-40 degrees Celsius, to the island of Hokkadia in Japan, where temperatures were minus degrees, the coldest day being minus 18 degrees Celsius. I experienced a winter wonderland so vastly different from my arid, hot home environment. A highlight was visiting Rausa on the Shirenhoka Peninsula and Nemuro Straits, where the Steller’s Sea Eagle gathers in the winter to fish from drift ice. With fewer than 5000 left in the world, they are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species. The female can weigh up to 9.5kg, making it the heaviest eagle in the world. Their wingspan, up to 2.5 metres, is the largest of any living eagle.

In Japan, they are protected and designated as national treasures.They are indeed a national treasure, so entertaining to watch and photograph as they fight to protect their catch. A favourite place for them to perch is on the sea wall protecting the fishing fleet at Rausa. They wait watching the boats come into the harbour, hoping for a free feed of fish. I captured this photo of the Steller’s Sea Eagle as it sat in a deep hole in the snow. It had a fish and had flown on the sea wall and found a hole in the deep, fresh snow. Other birds were flying above, and as they came closer, I captured the look they gave me. There was no way it was parting with its catch. As it had made its intentions clear to other competitors, it stayed alert but managed to enjoy its catch." — Annette Kirby


4. "I just can't wait to be king" (lion) by Bret Saalwaechter, U.S.A

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards Laughing lions. © Bret Saalwaechter / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


"I’ve always been fascinated by the complex social lives of lions, and there’s no better place to observe them than Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. I captured this image in September 2024, during the dry season, when dwindling food and water can heighten family tensions. One morning near the Semetu Kopjes, we found a pride locked in a lively standoff - hungry cubs clamoring for milk, mothers giving in briefly before retreating in exhaustion. Life in the dry season is no picnic—lions are anxiously waiting for the Great Migration and the feast it promises—but it makes for some incredible wildlife behavior and these cubs were the stars of the show. For over an hour, they followed their mother around a famous Serengeti kopje—those iconic rocky outcrops that dot the landscape—alternating between trying to suckle and play. Each time the mother, already in a foul mood from the sweltering heat, would give a quick roar of disapproval and escape the circus. But the cubs, like any persistent little ones, would chase her down, nipping at her and yelping for more attention. This back-and-forth drama played out again and again Roaring in protest, the lionesses leapt onto the kopje for a moment’s peace, only to be followed by their relentless offspring. As the chaos peaked, the entire pride erupted in a chorus of roars and wails, giving me the perfect instant to press the shutter." — Bret Saalwaechter

5. "Territorial defence operation" (white tailed eagle and gull) by Antoine Rezer, France

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A bird pooping on another bird.© Antoine Rezer / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"Driving along the edge of a fjord in north-western Iceland, I spot some gyrfalcons. I stop and watch them for a long time – there's a whole family! My eye is drawn to a larger bird of prey, a white-tailed eagle. Amazing! It lands after making it clear to the falcons that he's the boss.I feast my eyes on the scene, as it's not every day that I get to witness something like this! When a seagull arrives, I imagine that the eagle will keep it at bay. I'm wrong! The gull's low-level flights follow one after another but are not enough. So the gull changes strategy and drops its bomb on the eagle! The eagle finally flies away, leaving the site to the gull. Motivation can be stronger than size!" — Antoine Rezer

6. "Relaxing in the trees!" (yellow-cheeked gibbon) by Diana Rebman, U.S.A.

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A gibbon chilling out.© Diana Rebman / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"This Yellow-cheeked Gibbon was just hanging out in the trees. Looks like he's waiting for a beer to be served." — Diana Rebman

7. "Baptism of the unwilling convert" (green frog) by Grayson Bell, U.S.A.

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards Wrestling frogs.© Grayson Bell / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"One morning I was hanging out with my camera along the edge of a pond near our home. I noticed 2 frogs fighting and took a bunch of photos. This photo captures two male Green frogs, which are native to Maine. They usually have a greenish-brown back, dusky bars on their hind legs, and a lighter underside. Males may have a yellow throat, while females have a white throat. They make a throaty sound like a ‘boink’. In this photo, these two male frogs are jockeying for territory. They will engage in physical confrontations, such as wrestling, to defend a valuable habit that attracts females. I took several shots of them, but this one in particular amused me because it looked like one was trying to baptize the other against his will." — Grayson Bell

8. "Peek-a-boo" (Asian elephant) by Henry Szwinto, U.K.

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A sheepish elephant.© Photographer’s Name / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"A Sri Lankan Elephant playing peek a boo with his ears." — Henry Szwinto

9. "Bad mouthing" (leopards) by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod, Sri Lanka

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A leopard talking smack.© Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"Two females and one male. Here in the selected image, the larger one is the male cub and the other is one of the female cubs. A few minutes before I took this image, these three were playing together on that boulder. Later, a female saw something moving in the bushes and ventured to investigate it. These two also wanted to follow them, but this playful interaction happened before them, following the other sibling." — Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod

10. "Outdoor smoking zone" (mallard) by Lars Beygang, Germany

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A smoking duck.© Lars Beygang / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


"During the spring months, I was commissioned to photograph the urban wildlife of a city near my hometown in Bavaria. After several early mornings by the pond, I decided to return to the same spot once more. It was a very cold morning, with temperatures low enough to make the breath visible. As the first rays of sunlight broke through from behind, I noticed a mallard perched on a fence, calling out into the air. I quickly pressed the shutter, hoping to capture the visible breath streaming from its beak. The scene made me smile - it looked as if the duck had just stepped outside for a quick smoke in the cold morning light." — Lars Beygang

11. "Fonzies advertising" (sifaka) by Liliana Luca, Italy

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A rude sifaka.© Liliana Luca/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"This moment happened after the tourists had left Nosy Komba (Madagascar). I stopped, letting the silence fall around me, and turned my attention to a group of crowned sifakas (Propithecus deckenii). It was then that he appeared, staring at me with wide, curious eyes, as if questioning my presence... or perhaps my clothing choices. Then, with the grace of a stage actor and the timing of a comedian, he raised his hand, licked it thoughtfully, and then paused mid-gesture, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.The photo immediately reminded me of that old snack commercial:"If you don't lick your fingers... you're only half enjoying it!"Ultimately, this is why I love nature photography so much: sometimes nature's sense of humor is better than our own; you just have to be ready to catch it." — Liliana Luca

12. "High five" (gorilla) by Mark Meth-Cohn, U.K.


comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A happy gorilla.© Mark Meth-Cohn / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


"This photograph was taken during a trip to Rwanda earlier this year, where we spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home. On this particular day, we came across a large family group gathered in a forest clearing, the adults were calmly foraging while the youngsters were enthusiastically playing. One young male was especially keen to show off his acrobatic flair; pirouetting, tumbling, and high kicking. Watching his performance was pure joy, and I’m thrilled to have captured his playful spirit in this image." — Mark Meth-Cohn

13. "The choir" (lion) by Meline Ellwanger, U.S.A

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards Lions yawning in unison.Meline Ellwanger © Photographer’s Name / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


"A hilariously lucky moment I caught of these these three lions yawning at the same time." — Meline Ellwanger


14. "Paint me like one of your forest girls" (orangutan) by Michael Stavrakakis, Australia

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A danging orangutang. © Michael Stavrakakis / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"This image was captured in the Tanjung Puting National Park in southern Borneo and features Sandra, the oldest known orangutan living in the area. A once-rehabilitated orangutan who had previously lived in captivity, Sandra since been successfully released back into the wild. Known for her quirky and unique character, she quickly grew comfortable with our presence and before long had truly found her stage." — Michael Stavrakakis

15. "Squirrel airborne: surrender mode" (red squirrel) by Stefan Cruysberghs, Belgium

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A flying squirrel.Stefan Cruysberghs © Photographer’s Name / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


A few years ago, a simple wooden hide was available for rent in a forest near my home, known for its lively red squirrel population. I had visited the spot several times before, and eventually began experimenting with capturing squirrels mid-jump. This resulted in countless blurry shots, but also a few fun and quirky moments—including the one I submitted. Sadly, the forest has since been cut down due to an infestation of bark beetles, but I still cherish the images I captured of these agile and comical little acrobats. I thought this flying squirrel looks like it’s throwing in the towel mid-air—arms wide, total surrender!" — Stefan Cruysberghs

16. "Headlock" (bridled guillemots) by Warren Price, U.K.

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A guillemot biting another guillemots.© Warren Price/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards


"These guillemots were nesting on a small rocky cliff ledge where space was at a premium. The nests all crammed in close together which isn’t a good recipe for being good neighbours, as guillemots are fiercely territorial. Aggression and battles are frequent over nesting space, and I captured this image of this bemused-looking bridled guillemot, its head firmly clamped in its/neighbour's beak. I liked the way the guillemot was looking directly into my lens, its white eyeliner eyes highlighting its predicament! Sometimes you just want to bite your neighbour's head off..literally!" — Warren Price

17. "The wig" (rhino) by Yann Chauvette, Canada

comedy wildlife, comedy photos, funny animals, Nikon, photo awards A rhino covered in moss. Yann Chauvette © Photographer’s Name / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

"The Greater One-Horned Rhino feasting on aquatic fine food, diving underwater, and coming back up with a new wig made out of his delicious meal." — Yann Chauvette

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