Entertainment
70s Sci-Fi Thriller Re-Defined An Entire Genre Forever
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

1977 changed everything for science fiction with the surprise success of George Lucas’s adventure, Star Wars: A New Hope, and Steven Spielberg’s thoughtful dramatic thriller, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It turns out, there was an audience for each of them, and while the influence of Star Wars on culture is undeniable, Speilberg’s take on UFOs quietly shaped the visual language of alien abductions, how we talk about them, raised them up from the fringe of culture, and proved that thoughtful, purposeful sci-fi would always have an audience. Looking back, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Close Encounters would be a success, but that’s only with hindsight since the film was blazing a new trail and re-inventing science fiction on the fly.
A Story Of Obsession

Close Encounters of the Third Kind starts off with a series of unexplained events from back when “conspiracy theories” meant the Bermuda Triangle, culminating with utility worker Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) watching a UFO go overhead, that’s soon joined by others, beginning an obsession with the extraterrestrials. Unable to get an image of a mountain out of his head, Roy keeps trying to recreate it, including out of his mashed potatoes, in a moment that everyone who saw the film tried to recreate at least once. Roy’s family, including his wife Ronnie (Teri Garr,) eventually leave because of his obsession, but though it costs him everything, Roy can’t let it go.
As UFO sightings spread around the globe, the mystery deepens, from a three-year-old being abducted to a strange piece of music playing when the UFOs get close to humans. The army gets involved, and again, it’s a moment that seems like a well-worn trope today, but Close Encounters of the Third Kind was one of the first to show an area being cordoned off with a lame excuse, in this case, toxic chemicals from a train derailment. What happens next is proof that when sci-fi is done right, it can instill a sense of wonder and curiosity about the universe and our place in it.
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Is A Sci-Fi Classic

Almost 50 years later, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is considered to be one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time, and its influence can be felt in everything from The X-Files to Arrival, but also in how we view UFOs and stories of alien abductions. Casting aside the thought of aliens as a hostile invading force, Spielberg instead showed the aliens as something truly alien and unknowable, with motives we can’t understand. It’s a film that’s not about conflict but communication.
At the time of its release, Close Encounters of the Third Kind received widespread praise for its almost childlike portrayal of an alien invasion that managed to be both mysterious and wonderous simultaneously. Both critics and the audience alike were in agreement that the final scene is one of the greatest moments in movie history; even today, the imagery has become so iconic that those who haven’t seen the movie will instantly recognize it. And it’s all backed by a John Williams score that stands among the legendary composer’s greatest work.
The Sequel That Never Was

Though it never reached the heights of Steven Spielberg’s other alien movie, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind was a blockbuster in its own right, and like the later alien film, Spielberg toyed with the idea of a sequel. The never-made film was going to lean into the government covering up alien encounters, but while researching it, Spielberg became frustrated over just how far the real government went to cover up stories and left it for later filmmakers to explore. It’s for the best that a sequel never even entered production, as it would be nearly impossible for even someone as talented as Spielberg to capture the lightning-in-the-bottle wonder of Dreyfuss’ performance as Roy.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is now a film that has been built up in the culture to such an extent it can be hard for later generations to appreciate how groundbreaking it truly was. The film’s deliberate, thoughtful pace moves slower than today’s alien invasion films, but for those willing to give it a shot, the dated special effects and trope-filled plot will still melt away into the night sky over Devils Tower.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is available through Video on Demand on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, and Apple TV.
Entertainment
Get lifetime ad blocking for up to 9 devices for $11
TL;DR: Protect up to nine devices with the AdGuard Family Plan Lifetime Subscription for $11 (reg. $169.99) through July 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
It doesn’t matter if your household has two devices or 20, keeping everyone’s online activity protected can quickly become complicated. The AdGuard Family Plan simplifies things by covering up to nine devices with a single lifetime subscription. Through July 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT, new users can get it for $11 (reg. $169.99).
The Family Plan is designed specifically for households rather than individual users. In addition to blocking intrusive ads across supported devices, it helps reduce online tracking, warns about phishing sites, and adds another layer of protection against malware. That means fewer distractions while browsing and more peace of mind when the whole family is online.
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If you’re looking for an easy way to protect multiple devices without juggling separate subscriptions, the AdGuard Family Plan Lifetime Subscription is price-dropped to $11 (reg. $169.99) through July 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
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Entertainment
Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for life for $27.97 — Ditch 365 for good
TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional 2021 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher, and Teams (free version). Get a lifetime Windows license for $27.97 (reg. $219.99).
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Microsoft keeps releasing new versions of Office, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs the latest one. For plenty of entrepreneurs, freelancers, students, and everyday office workers, Office Professional 2021 still checks every important box. For a limited time, a lifetime license is just $27.97 (reg. $219.99).
Office Professional 2021 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher, and the free version of Teams, giving you a complete productivity suite that works offline after installation. It’s compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11, so you can keep working with the familiar desktop apps you already rely on.
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Microsoft 365 includes extras like cloud storage, AI-powered tools, and continuous feature updates, but not everyone needs them. If you’re perfectly happy with the familiar Office apps you’ve been using for years, Office 2021 delivers the essentials without an ongoing subscription.
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Normally $219.99, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for just $27.97.
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Entertainment
Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says.
There’s a commonly asked question about AdultFriendFinder, everyone’s favorite spicy dating platform: Is AFF safe to use? We get it. Unlike other big-name dating sites, its interface is packed with adult content. It’s extremely NSFW and appears to be a potential breeding ground for scams. Wannabe daters are right to question its legitimacy — they understandably want to know whether AFF is the real deal.
To better understand the risks of using AdultFriendFinder, we consulted Anna Larkina, a Web Data and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity services, about the kinds of threats users might face on AFF and how they can mitigate those risks.
Credit: AdultFriendFinder
Understanding the risks of online dating
To begin, it’s worth remembering that there’s a risk inherent to using any online service, whether it’s an adult dating site or otherwise. Even the most reputable websites have been exploited and experienced major hacks over the years. “Users should remember that any service can potentially encounter various cybersecurity issues,” Larkina told us. That includes “data leaks, attacks on third-party contractors, or issues related to the human factor.”
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But the risks are, of course, higher on certain websites. With a regular merchant website, for instance, you’re only handing over your credit card information (which is very valuable, admittedly), but with a dating site, you’re potentially providing your credit card details plus crucial personal information, from your date of birth and nationality to your address and phone number. That’s information that can prove very appealing to scammers and bad-faith actors.
While this is a risk you take with any dating service, AdultFriendFinder is perhaps more vulnerable than most dating sites because of the nature of its content and user base, so it’s important to understand the potential issues.
What risks are specific to AdultFriendFinder?
The “adult content” angle
While NSFW is permitted — encouraged, even — on AFF, users are under no obligation to post nude photos of themselves, or get down and dirty on a webcam feed. Many, many people opt to do so, of course, and while there’s no judgment here — no siree, let that freak flag fly high and proud — you are risking potentially awkward conversations with family, friends, or co-workers if they happen to stumble across your account. (That would mean they’d have to fess up to being AFF users too, but even so…)
Unfortunately, bad actors can exploit and use your own personal information against you.
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“Data from services with adult content or dating services can be especially sensitive for users, because it’s more personal,” warns Larkina. “If fraudsters somehow obtain such private data, they can use it for more ‘efficient’ blackmailing or targeted phishing.” Needless to say, you should be wary of how you use the site and what information you share, especially if you have a public-facing job.
AFF security breaches
While dating sites invest heavily in cybersecurity protections, online threats are constant and keep evolving all the time. Hackers eager to discover treasure troves of personal and financial information often target online dating platforms, which can make users feel super vulnerable.
AdultFriendFinder has suffered two major security breaches, which is actually a pretty stellar record of security over its entire 30-year history. In 2016, hackers gained access to the personal information of four million AFF users before the breach was found and stopped. And a larger breach occurred in 2016, affecting some 300 million AFF accounts, including 15 million that had been officially deleted by users but whose data had not been properly expunged from the AFF servers.
Phishing scams
Another common hacking technique — and one particularly effective on dating websites — is phishing, in which a bad actor assumes a false identity to gain your trust and deceive you into revealing sensitive or compromising information. It’s easy to do on dating sites because, by their very nature, people sign up specifically to search people out and make connections. Scammers can pose as attractive people, telling users exactly what they want to hear and luring them into the scam.
To combat phishing, AFF offers the ability to verify identities with government-issued identification. This verification process is still an optional extra — it’s not mandatory when setting up an account. We recommended doing it though, and setting a search filter to verified accounts only. It’s a surefire way to protect yourself against bad actors.
Can your AFF account be found?
While the private information you give AFF (your real name and email address, for example) isn’t public-facing, AFF’s dating profiles are public by default, so if you include a picture of your face (as many accounts do), you can be recognized by friends, co-workers, and family members.
And since AFF has suffered two major hacks before, there’s always a chance it could happen again, which could result in your email address and information ending up in a dodgy database.
How to protect your online identity when using AdultFriendFinder
Does this all mean you should never use AdultFriendFinder, or any dating site? Absolutely not. We’re here to help you protect yourself and stay vigilant, not to discourage you from signing up.
Larkina has shared an additional list of best practices to help you mitigate risks while having fun on AFF or any other dating site:
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Don’t use a professional email address to sign up for a dating site. If you’re especially nervous, consider creating a new email address just for the purposes of signing up.
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To protect your accounts, use strong and unique passwords, change them regularly, and if possible, enable two-factor authentication
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Be extremely cautious with what you share with strangers, especially when it comes to sensitive information or intimate photos. “Always assess reputational and other risks before posting or sending anything,” cautions Larkina.
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When using AFF in particular, limit your interactions to users who have verified their identity
Summing up her advice, Larkina urges online dating service users to treat these “platforms as public spaces, not as private ones” as far as possible, and be ever mindful that “every piece of data you provide — email, phone number, username, etc. — becomes part of your digital footprint.” If you’re careful about what you share and who you share it with, you can safely enjoy AdultFriendFinder and any other dating site.
