badges Archives

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

Slay the Spire 2 patch notes arrive for all, meaning an easier early game but harder infinites

The latest patch for Slay the Spire 2 has transitioned from beta to the main game, introducing several enhancements. Players can now experience improved map generation, a more forgiving Act One, and five new Neow relics: Hefty Tablet, Neow's Talisman, Phial Holster, Winged Boots, and Neow's Bones. Elite enemies appear one floor later, and rebalancing has adjusted foes like the Skulking Colony and Byrdonis. The Act Three boss, Doormaker, has been redesigned with a unique setup and three phases: Hunger, Scrutiny, and Grasp. All five classes have been rebalanced, with new cards introduced, such as Not Yet, Blade of Ink, Regent's Arsenal, and Borrowed Time. Shop relic prices have been reduced, and gold-generating relics are no longer available for purchase. Ascension level six now features 'Inflation,' increasing card removal costs. The patch also includes new art, visual effects, a 'Phobia mode,' and Badges for achievements. Achievements and epochs cannot be unlocked during daily and custom runs, and the main and beta branches will maintain separate records. The patch 0.103.2 is now live for all versions of the game.

Winsage

April 15, 2026

Microsoft releases Windows 10 KB5082200 extended security update

Microsoft has released the Windows 10 KB5082200 extended security update, addressing vulnerabilities from the April 2026 Patch Tuesday, including two critical zero-day flaws. The update enhances security with new protections against phishing attacks using Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) files and provides updated indicators in Windows Security for new Secure Boot certificates. Users can install the update by checking for updates in the Windows Update settings. After installation, Windows 10 will upgrade to build 19045.7184, and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 will transition to build 19044.7184. The update resolves a total of 167 vulnerabilities, including two significant zero-day issues, and includes fixes for signing into Microsoft apps, enhanced Remote Desktop security, dynamic Secure Boot status reporting, and issues affecting Intel-based devices with Connected Standby. Microsoft is also rolling out new Secure Boot certificates to replace older ones expiring in June 2026, with no known issues reported for this update.

Winsage

April 11, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build for Canary Channel 29565.1000

Windows Insider Preview Build 29565.1000 has been released in the Windows 11 Insider Canary Channel. Key updates include improved performance for the Bubbles screensaver on high refresh rate monitors, refinements to the drag tray based on user feedback, and enhancements to the Windows Security app, which now features color-coded icon badges for Secure Boot status. The Feedback Hub has also received updates, including a new default window size that remembers dimensions, mouse back button navigation, and improved visibility for community feedback. Canary Channel builds may be unstable and are subject to change. Users can enable a toggle in Settings to access new features gradually. A clean installation of Windows 11 is required to exit the Canary Channel.

Winsage

April 11, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (KB 5083635) has been released to the Beta Channel, featuring several updates: - The FAT32 volume formatting size limit has increased from 32GB to 2TB. - Performance improvements for navigating large volumes in Storage settings. - Reduced frequency of UAC prompts on the Storage page. - Resolution of unrealistic data usage values in Network settings. - Enhancements to the Windows Security app's Secure Boot experience, including color-coded icon badges and updated certificates. - A revamped Feedback Hub with a modernized experience, simpler feedback submission, easier navigation, a new compliment feedback type, and improved screenshot capture tools. - Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2, and features are gradually rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. - A desktop watermark appears in Insider pre-release builds. - Features may not be released beyond Windows Insiders and may evolve or be removed.

Winsage

April 11, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8170 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8170 (KB 5083632) has been released to the Dev Channel. Key changes include: - The FAT32 volume formatting size limit has increased from 32GB to 2TB. - Performance improvements for navigating large storage volumes in Settings. - A UAC prompt for accessing temporary files is now only shown when entering that specific section. - An issue with unrealistic data usage values in the Network settings has been fixed. - Enhancements to the Windows Security app include color-coded icon badges and updated text in the Secure Boot section, with updates to Secure Boot certificates being rolled out. - Feedback Hub version 2.2604.101.0 is being rolled out, featuring design improvements, improved default window size, mouse back button navigation, and corrected upvote buttons for Chinese display language users. Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2, and features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. The desktop watermark is present in Insider pre-release builds. Features may not be released to the public and could evolve or be removed based on feedback.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Slay the Spire 2 adds end-of-run badges ‘to let you know what was unique about each adventure’ in latest beta patch

Developer Mega Crit has introduced a new feature called badges in Slay the Spire 2, which will highlight unique player achievements at the end of gameplay runs. The current balance of reviews for the game stands at 801 negative against 817 positive. Ascension 6 has been reworked to increase the cost of removing cards from the deck at the Merchant. The Blade of Ink card has been revamped to generate Inky Shivs, and the Borrowed Time card now offers increased energy gain. The Doormaker enemy has been adjusted for enhanced challenge, while Leading Strike has received buffs and other cards like Speedster and Untouchable have been slightly nerfed. The History Course relic has been adjusted for its X-value, and the Skulking Colony has been buffed to attack on all turns. New portrait art has been added for several cards, and improvements have been made to dialogue timings and speech bubble positions. Clarifications in card descriptions and updates to translations have been implemented. Various bug fixes have addressed issues from startup crashes to specific softlocks related to card upgrades.

Tech Optimizer

March 27, 2026

Bogus Avast website fakes virus scan, installs Venom Stealer instead

A deceptive website impersonating Avast antivirus tricks users into downloading Venom Stealer malware, which steals passwords, session cookies, and cryptocurrency wallet information. The site conducts a fake virus scan, falsely reporting threats to encourage users to download a malicious file named Avastsystemcleaner.exe. This file mimics legitimate software and operates stealthily, targeting web browsers to harvest credentials and session cookies. It also captures screenshots and sends stolen data to the command-and-control domain app-metrics-cdn[.]com via unencrypted HTTP. The malware employs evasion techniques to avoid detection and is part of a long-standing cybercrime tactic that exploits user trust in security software. Indicators of compromise include the file hash SHA-256: ecbeaa13921dbad8028d29534c3878503f45a82a09cf27857fa4335bd1c9286d, the domain app-metrics-cdn[.]com, and the network indicator 104.21.14.89.

BetaBeacon

March 15, 2026

Verified Steam Machine games will need to hit 1080p at 30fps

Steam Machine Verified badge requirements include a 1080p resolution target at 30fps.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Google cleans house, bans 80,000 developer accounts from the Play Store

Google blocked the publication of over 1.75 million policy-violating applications on its Google Play platform in 2025 and took action against over 80,000 developer accounts attempting to introduce harmful apps. The company conducted more than 10,000 safety checks on every app and integrated generative AI models into its app review process, preventing over 255,000 apps from gaining excessive access to sensitive user data. Google blocked 160 million fake or manipulated ratings and reviews in the previous year and identified more than 27 million new malicious apps from outside Google Play, thwarting 266 million risky installation attempts in 2025. Google introduced in-call scam protection to prevent users from disabling Google Play Protect during phone calls. The Play Policy Insights tool provides developers with real-time feedback, and the Play Integrity API performs over 20 billion daily checks to prevent abuse. Google plans to extend developer verification to all developers and has implemented protections for sensitive data in Android 16.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Keeping Google Play & Android app ecosystems safe in 2025

The Android ecosystem focuses on preventing real-world harm, including malware and privacy invasions, by enhancing investments in AI and real-time defenses. In 2025, over 1.75 million policy-violating apps were prevented from being published, and more than 80,000 malicious developer accounts were banned. Google Play conducts over 10,000 safety checks on each app, blocking over 255,000 apps from accessing sensitive user data and 160 million spam ratings and reviews. Google Play Protect scans over 350 billion apps daily, identifying over 27 million new malicious apps last year. Enhanced fraud protection was expanded to 185 markets, blocking 266 million risky installation attempts. Developer tools like Play Policy Insights and the Play Integrity API were introduced to streamline app development and enhance security. Developer verification is being extended to ensure accountability, and Android 16 includes features to protect sensitive information with minimal code.