The Best Tech Gifts Are the Ones That Keep Your Options Open

It’s December 23. You’re staring at a tracking number that hasn’t moved since Tuesday, or maybe you’re realizing that gift card feels a little impersonal. Meanwhile, the entire internet is arguing about a 60 Minutes segment on El Salvador that got yanked from the airwaves yesterday.

If you haven’t heard, the new regime at CBS News pulled a report on the CECOT prison system at the eleventh hour. Naturally, the internet did what the internet does: it found a way. The clip is bouncing around via Canadian broadcasts and iCloud links, turning a news segment into "digital contraband."

I’m not here to debate the politics of the newsroom. I’m here to tell you that this situation highlights a massive gap in how most people use technology. We rely entirely on platforms that can shut off the tap whenever they want.

So, if you’re looking for a last-minute digital gift—or just something to spend your Christmas money on—let’s talk about the gear that gives you actual ownership of your digital life. Because the best gift you can give this year isn’t a gadget; it’s access.

The Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The only reason anyone saw that censored report is that people in the US routed their traffic through Canada to watch the Global TV feed. It’s a classic move, but it reminds us why a VPN is a non-negotiable tool for the modern web.

Stop thinking of VPNs as shady hacker tools. They are digital skeleton keys. Whether you’re trying to watch a blacked-out sports game or access news that’s been geoblocked, a VPN is the only way to ensure your internet experience isn't curated by your ISP or local restrictions.

The Pick: If you’re gifting a subscription, go with ExpressVPN or NordVPN. I’ve used both for years. They’re fast enough to stream 4K video without buffering, and their apps are idiot-proof enough for your dad to use on his iPad. Avoid the "free" VPNs—if you aren't paying for the product, you are the product.

Physical Storage: The "Cloud" Is Just Someone Else's Computer

The 60 Minutes clip is currently circulating via iCloud links. That’s convenient, but it’s fragile. If Apple decides that content violates a term of service, poof—it’s gone.

We’ve gotten too comfortable renting our digital space. We stream our music, we stream our movies, and we store our documents on Google Drive. But when content gets pulled—whether it’s a censored news report, a delisted video game, or a movie erased for tax write-offs—you realize you don't own any of it.

The Pick: The Samsung T9 Portable SSD. It’s tiny, it’s rugged, and it’s blazing fast. Buy the 2TB version. Use it to back up the things you actually care about—photos, important docs, and yes, media you don’t want to lose. It fits in a stocking, and unlike a cloud subscription, you only pay for it once.

For the power user on your list, look at a Synology DiskStation NAS. It’s essentially your own private cloud that sits in your living room. You control the data. You control the access. No monthly fees, no terms of service updates.

The Gift of Privacy

If this week has taught us anything, it’s that information travels fast, but it travels safest when it’s encrypted. The people sharing these clips aren't doing it over open channels; they're using secure drops.

While you can’t exactly wrap "encryption" and put it under the tree, you can gift the hardware that supports it. A high-quality router that supports robust encryption standards is an underrated upgrade. Most people are still renting a dusty modem from their cable company that hasn't been updated since 2020.

The Pick: The Eero Max 7. It’s pricey, but it brings Wi-Fi 7 speeds and, more importantly, robust security features that update automatically. It manages your network traffic intelligently and adds a layer of separation between your smart fridge and your laptop.

The Bottom Line

Look, the holiday season is usually about the shiny new toy—the VR headset or the latest smartwatch. But as we head into 2026, the tech landscape feels a little more volatile. The walls around our digital gardens are getting higher.

The most valuable technology right now is the kind that empowers you. It’s the drive that holds your data, the software that masks your location, and the network you control. These aren't just gifts; they're insurance policies for your digital freedom.

Happy holidays, and safe browsing.