This year, we broke down some tough subjects, from technical how-tos to internet-related law to psychological theory. Here are some of our favorite explainers from 2011.
Facebook Is Tracking Your Every Move on the Web; Here's How to Stop It
Recent information has come to light showing that Facebook keeps track of where you are on the web without your consent. Here's how to protect yourself, and keep your browsing habits to yourself. More ?
What Sugar Actually Does to Your Brain and Body
We consume an enormous amount of sugar, whether consciously or not, but it's a largely misunderstood substance. There are different kinds and different ways your body processes them all. More ?
Know Your Network: The Complete Guide
We spent a week learning all about your home network, your routers, and all the cool things you can do with them. Here's the complete guide that will teach you how to pick out the best network hardware, get to know it better, make it perform at its best, and more. More ?
Do I Really Need to Eject USB Drives Before Removing Them?
Some computers (like Macs) always warn you about disconnecting flash drives without ejecting, while Windows doesn't seem to have a problem-in fact, some USB drives don't even have an eject option. More ?
All About SOPA, the Bill That Wants to Cripple Your Internet Very Soon
SOPA, or the Stop Online Piracy Act, is another one of those bills that sounds like it's going to do something mildly positive but, in reality, has serious potential to negatively change the internet as we know it. More ?
What Does the IPv6 Transition Mean to Me?
Dear Lifehacker, I've heard that we're running out of IP addresses and we need to switch to a new system called IPv6, but I don't understand any of it. More ?
Why Should I Care About HTTPS on Facebook (or Other Web Sites)?
Dear Lifehacker, I'm not a huge nerd, but everyone's talking about switching to HTTPS on Facebook because it's so much better. Why is it better and why should I care? More ?
Does Bitrate Really Make a Difference In My Music?
Dear Lifehacker, I hear a lot of arguing about "lossless" and "lossy" music these days, but I'm having a hard time getting straight answers. Does bitrate really matter? More ?
What Google Voice Number Porting Actually Means for Your Cellphone
Google Voice is offering number porting, but in a limited test. But couldn't Google Voice already work with any number? Isn't it easy to transfer numbers? More ?
What Stress Actually Does to You and What You Can Do About It
Stress is an unpleasant fact of life. We all experience it for various reasons, and we all try to come up with ways of coping with it-some with more success than others. More ?
What You Need to Know About the Internet Snooping Bill (and How You Can Protect Yourself)
On Thursday, the US House of Representatives approved an internet snooping bill that requires internet service providers (ISPs) to keep records of customer activity for a year so police can review them as needed. More ?
An Introduction to Net Neutrality: What It Is, What It Means for You, and What You Can Do About It
We've dropped the net neutrality term around here a few times, but you may not entirely understand what it's all about. Here's a primer on what net neutrality is, how it might affect you, and what you can do about it. More ?
The Smarter Way to Seek Revenge
Vengeance is evil but often sweet, and it can be hard to pass up when someone really pisses you off. Here's a look at how revenge works, how best to enact it, and if it's really worthwhile at all. More ?
WTF Desktop Environments: GNOME, KDE, and More Explained
You can customize nearly every last inch of your Linux installation to fit your liking, and it starts with choosing the right desktop environment. Whether you're a Linux beginner or you're just looking for a new interface, here's an overview of how desktop environments work and how to pick the right one for you. More ?
Everything You Need to Know About the Verizon iPhone and Making the Switch
It seems like the phone-owning world was holding their breath for this moment. Now that Verizon's own iPhone is almost here, you might be thinking of switching-and have many questions. More ?
What Does My Internet Provider See When I'm Downloading Torrents?
Dear Lifehacker, I've done lots of research about my Internet Service Provider's relationship with my uTorrent activity, but I still don't feel entirely confident in my knowledge about what they see. More ?
How iTunes Match Works and Whether You Should Subscribe
Apple's much-delayed iTunes Match service launched this year, bringing their vision of music in the cloud to iTunes and iOS users alike. But what is it, exactly, and is it worth your money? More ?
How to Create a Personal Encryption Scheme to Easily Hide Your Data in Plain Sight
Towing the line between keeping your private information secure and still conveniently accessible is always a challenge, but you can make it a little easier-and fun-by coming up with your own simple encryption schemes that you can decode easily in your head. More ?
Please Help Me Understand the Android Releases
Dear Lifehacker, Google's CEO said something about a new version, but it's coming after Android 3.0 ("Honeycomb"), and it ties in with Android 2.3 ("Gingerbread'), which really hasn't moved out yet, and might also update. More ?
How Advertising Manipulates Your Choices and Spending Habits (and What to Do About It)
Advertisements aren't inherently bad, but many use manipulative tactics that influence in ways we don't even realize. Despite how much you think you ignore them, and how little you may believe they affect you, that's not necessarily the case. More ?
There you have it. We've tackled some pretty hefty subjects this year, but hopefully we're all a little more knowledgeable on the things that affect us every day. Whether your favorite made the list or not, let us know which explainers were your favorite in 201. And, if you're really thirsty for knowledge, check out our most popular explainers of 2010, too. Here's to a great year!
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/YDur_KGJArw/most-popular-explainers-of-2011
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British PM Could Get iPad App To Track UK Stats - bit.ly/tqI2JW 
giz_au 
Allegedly enraged over her five-year-old son's playing of a video game he received as a Christmas gift, Jutrina Tillman of Phoenix, Arizona, dragged the young boy into his bedroom and began to strangle him before threatening to kill him and his 13-year-old sister with a butcher knife.
Owners of popular HTC phones like an Evo, myTouch, G2, and others can now root their phone in just a few simple steps with the HTC Super Tool for Windows. 
Mike_Reisman 
travelUSAgeek 
Ever since we got our iPhone 4S, we?ve been having a lot of fun with its built-in digital assistant, Siri. An excellent repository to all kinds of Siri tricks has been LifeWithSiri.com. Now, there?s Life with Siri, an ebook that compiles the funniest Siri responses from the site, giving you plenty of fodder to show off your new iPhone 4S to your envious Christmas guests.
