Worst Life Hacks of 2017
It has been a good year for the worst. A year when even what we did to improve the situation made life worse. Here are the so-called life hacks that caused the most damage in 2017.
1.iOS 11
Updating software is one of the basic maintenance items for your devices . Updates fix bugs and security flaws , introduce new features, and take advantage of new hardware . Every major update comes with a few new bugs or annoyances, maybe even a controversial new design to get used to. But the vast majority in general is a good idea. Apple’s iOS 11 was not there.
The OS design is uncharacteristically sloppy , the new control center is less intuitive than the one it replaced, and some native apps have lost useful features. The first release was full of bugs , some of which were fixed in updates. But iOS 11.1 added pesky new bugs, such as a calculator app that couldn’t add three numbers . Even after a few updates, iOS 11 is still buggy and awkward enough to push some longtime users towards Android.
2. Equifax “Solutions” for Data Leakage
Credit reporting agency Equifax has taken on and worsened the worst data breach in history . They launched a website where users could check to see if their data had been compromised, but it produced conflicting results. The site was located at equifaxsecurity2017.com , the URL sounded so unofficial that Equifax’s Twitter account was accidentally linked to the fake securityequifax2017.com site.
3. Pack with Cheerios seeds
Cheerios just wanted to help bring back the bees. So they handed out packets of seeds that included invasive species that appeared to include Forget-me-not, a weed that is banned in two states. Further investigation revealed that the package did indeed contain the less harmful plant, but Cheerios did not seem to be aware of this when distributing the seeds. The most important lesson is that the natural world is complex and if you want to improve it, you need to do research.
4. Amazon key
Sometimes it can be difficult to get a package to your home when you are not around. Maybe you can fix this by delivering things to work or picking them up from your local UPS. Amazon wants you to fix this by installing a smart lock and a camera that continuously records your home.
Yes, Amazon’s decision not to receive your packages is that you give them the opportunity to open the door and look inside your home. For most customers, this is a pretty big trade-off if they don’t leave packages at their doorstep. And it’s clear that Amazon plans to do more with this access as soon as they go live. Otherwise, why don’t you just sell you a locker that goes beyond your home? It seems to be easier.
5. Individually packaged Chipotle ingredients.
Some poor bastard told the world that he was asking Chipotle employees to package each ingredient in his order separately so he could assemble them at home. Everyone yelled at him for wasting staff time. Some defended him. Remember, if your “hacker” works more for someone else, be polite and tip him big, and don’t overlook this point when you post.
6. One weird trick to flatten your belly
You cannot tell your body where to gain or lose fat. Exercising your abdominal muscles strengthens and tone them, but does not remove fat. However, sites like Health.com still publish headlines like “10 Minute Workout with Love”.
7. Wolverine
Sliding keys between your fingers is a poor self-defense technique that teachers have to regularly rebut. This will likely hurt you as much as the attacker, and is a good way to drop keys, making you even more vulnerable. Experts tell Lifehacker it’s best to use bare hands.
8. Unroll.me
Unroll.me, a popular newsletter and spam unsubscribe service, was caught scanning user emails for Lyft receipts and selling Uber data. This is another reminder that free services often find “innovative” ways to make money selling your data.
9. Baking soda and vinegar.
If you google “how to unclog a clogged drain,” you will see many suggestions on how to ditch expensive Drano and just throw in some baking soda and vinegar. But all you’re left with is a clogged sink covered in wet baking soda. (We’ve learned this the hard way.) Boiled water mixed with dish soap or salt works better, and even cheaper. Or just give in and use Drano. Turns out the dreaded chemicals are really good for cleaning.
10. Clean food
What is even pure food? The people promoting this don’t even agree with the definition. This is for the best, because none of its versions are particularly beneficial to your health. While you should definitely cut back on sugar, eat more vegetables, and avoid artificial trans fats , don’t believe that a useless diet is effective just because it includes one of these powerful tips along with “no one should ever eat” gluten or dairy junk. …
11. Investing in Bitcoin
Over the past few years, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have revolutionized how people can lose money. You could have lost it on a stolen laptop . You could lose it due to market crash or pump-and-dump scams . You can save it in a physical digital wallet and lose your password .
Maybe, just maybe, you can safely store it and be able to sell it for a profit (after you hand over your driver’s license and social security number ). If so, good! But remember, you are lucky, not brilliant.
12. Bump Stocks.
It’s not fun. Shock butts use a legal loophole to convert semi-automatic rifles to automatic rifles. The Las Vegas mass murderer tied twelve of them to his warehouse. There is no good reason not to ban them.
Honorable Mention # 1: XXL by Bill O’Reilly
Bill O’Reilly has been tweeting “tips of the day” for a long time. While we are working on a more thorough analysis of the life hacks of serial sexual harassment , we want to highlight this little conspiracy theory:
Of course, Bill.
Honorable Mention # 2: Peanut Butter Slices
Hate wasting a few seconds spreading peanut butter on your bread? Then just spend more time spreading it on waxed paper, rolling it out, cooling the paper, and then pulling it out when you make your sandwich. That’s the advice in this Facebook video from Food Network that was so stupid that even Mashable didn’t fall for it .
Thanks for coming up with helpful tips here throughout the year!