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Riot Games found a motherboard security flaw that helps PC cheaters
AppWizard
December 19, 2025

Riot Games found a motherboard security flaw that helps PC cheaters

Riot Games has identified a significant security vulnerability in recent motherboards that could be exploited by cheaters, allowing cheats to operate undetected and undermining competitive gaming integrity. Major motherboard manufacturers, including Asrock, Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI, have released BIOS updates to mitigate this issue. If unaddressed, the vulnerability would have rendered existing direct memory access (DMA) detection and prevention technologies ineffective. The vulnerability involves DMA hardware devices connecting via PCIe slots, which could bypass input-output memory management unit (IOMMU) protections. Riot's Vanguard anti-cheat software may soon require players to update their BIOS to continue playing Valorant, and other anti-cheat systems are likely to implement similar checks.
Your Windows 11 upgrade not working? Try my 5 favorite troubleshooting tricks
Winsage
November 26, 2025

Your Windows 11 upgrade not working? Try my 5 favorite troubleshooting tricks

When upgrading to Windows 11 on older hardware, users may encounter frustrating error codes and messages. To resolve upgrade issues, it is recommended to: 1. Ensure all necessary driver and firmware/BIOS updates are installed, as many users have found success after addressing these updates. 2. Check Microsoft's Windows release information dashboard for known issues related to the upgrade, as there may be temporary compatibility blocks that can be bypassed by updating or uninstalling incompatible software. 3. Restart the upgrade process after checking for pending updates, uninstalling unnecessary software, and disconnecting non-essential peripherals. Selecting "Not right now" for update downloads can help minimize complications. 4. Search for specific error codes and messages online, using reliable sources like Reddit or Microsoft for potential solutions. 5. Utilize the SetupDiag tool to analyze Windows log files for detailed reports on upgrade failures, which can help identify the causes of issues. This involves downloading the tool, creating a specific folder, and running commands in an elevated command prompt to generate a readable report.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review - now my favorite budget gaming CPU
AppWizard
October 7, 2025

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review – now my favorite budget gaming CPU

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a budget gaming CPU with six cores and a peak boost clock of 5.4GHz, priced at 9 after a reduction from its initial price of 9. It features 12 threads, a 65W TDP, and is built on the AMD Zen 5 architecture with Socket AM5 compatibility. The CPU has a 32MB L3 cache and supports Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT). In gaming benchmarks, it outperformed the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Intel Core i5 14600K in several titles, achieving an average of 211fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at High settings. However, it lags behind in multi-threaded applications, scoring 16,286 at 65W TDP in Cinebench R23, compared to the Core i5 14600K's score of 23,990. The 9600X's thermal performance is efficient, peaking at 68°C during tests.
Millennium edition of Windows is 25 years old
Winsage
September 14, 2025

Millennium edition of Windows is 25 years old

On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released Windows ME, the last version of Windows to rely on MS-DOS. It was intended as a successor to Windows 95, 98, and 98 SE, offering discounted updates and compatibility with existing software. Windows ME obscured DOS, making it less accessible for users, and eliminated the ability to create bootable DOS copies from formatted floppy disks. It inherited system file protection from Windows 2000 to prevent "DLL hell," where application software replaced system libraries, causing other programs to fail. Windows ME aimed to bridge the gap between Windows 98 and Windows XP, but users faced compatibility issues with programs not designed for the new version. The control panel adopted a web-like appearance, and documentation transitioned to HTML format. Windows ME had minimal system requirements of a 150 MHz Pentium and 32 MB of RAM, and performance tests showed negligible differences compared to Windows 2000. Windows XP was released a year later, marking the end of DOS's relevance in Microsoft's operating systems.
Secure Boot is required to play Battlefield 6 on PC — here's how to enable it on Windows 10 and Windows 11
Winsage
August 7, 2025

Secure Boot is required to play Battlefield 6 on PC — here’s how to enable it on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Secure Boot is a feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that prevents unsafe applications from launching during startup, helping maintain a malware-free environment and serving as a prerequisite for anti-cheat systems like EA's Javelin. It is mandatory for upgrading to Windows 11 but not required for Windows 10. To check if Secure Boot is enabled, users can type "msinfo" in the Windows search bar and verify the Secure Boot State and BIOS Mode in the System Summary. If Secure Boot is off or unsupported, users may need to change their BIOS Mode to UEFI and enable Secure Boot. To enable Secure Boot, TPM 2.0 must be enabled, and the Windows boot drive must be GPT. If the drive is MBR, it can be converted to GPT using the command "mbr2gpt /validate /disk:0 /allowFullOS" followed by "mbr2gpt /convert /disk:0 /allowfullOS." After ensuring UEFI mode is set by disabling Compatibility Support Module (CSM) in the BIOS, users can enable Secure Boot by navigating to the Boot or Secure Boot menu in BIOS and setting it to enabled.
Still stuck on Windows 10? Microsoft reveals the reasons why you can’t upgrade to Windows 11, and how to fix them
Winsage
August 5, 2025

Still stuck on Windows 10? Microsoft reveals the reasons why you can’t upgrade to Windows 11, and how to fix them

Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has been challenging for many users due to Microsoft's strict requirements, including the necessity of a TPM 2.0 chip and other high system specifications. Microsoft has introduced a pop-up notification and a support article to assist users with the upgrade process. Steps for upgrading include checking for updates in Settings, using laptop companion applications for BIOS updates, and searching for driver updates from manufacturers' websites. It is technically possible to install Windows 11 on systems that do not meet the official requirements, but users are advised to proceed with caution due to potential compatibility issues. Microsoft has acknowledged the lack of clear guidance regarding end-of-life notifications and is now providing support initiatives to help users transition to Windows 11.
UEFI BIOS flaws: SecureBoot bypass and firmware replacement possible
Winsage
June 12, 2025

UEFI BIOS flaws: SecureBoot bypass and firmware replacement possible

Recent findings have identified two vulnerabilities in various UEFI BIOS versions from multiple manufacturers, compromising the SecureBoot mechanism. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to bypass SecureBoot protections and replace firmware, particularly in Insyde BIOSes. The issues stem from unprotected NVRAM variables, specifically the "IhisiParamBuffer," which can be manipulated to execute unsigned UEFI binaries. Affected UEFI applications include "DTBios" and "BiosFlashShell" from DTResearch, with a CVSS score of 8.2. Microsoft has added 14 new hashes to its DBX database to mitigate these risks. Additionally, a vulnerability in the Insyde H2O UEFI firmware app allows attackers to infiltrate digital certificates due to the insecure handling of the "SecureFlashCertData" variable, which is incorrectly treated as trusted memory. This flaw, known as "Hydroph0bia," has a CVSS score of 7.8 and enables unauthorized execution of firmware certified with manipulated certificates. Manufacturers are urged to provide firmware updates to address these vulnerabilities, as inconsistent support for locking UEFI variables raises security concerns.
Windows 11 Update Issues and What To Do About Them
Winsage
April 11, 2025

Windows 11 Update Issues and What To Do About Them

Windows 11 version 24H2 has introduced significant issues, including blue screens of death (BSOD) and device bricking associated with update KB5043145. Users have reported problems such as black screens, corrupted boot sectors, and non-functional system restore points. Businesses are facing complications like failed domain join operations, group policy errors, and stalled WSUS updates. Specific issues include Remote Desktop disconnections after update KB5050094, the removal of the Windows Copilot app in March 2025, blocked BIOS updates for Lenovo ThinkPad users, and gaming performance problems for titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Microsoft is aware of these issues but is slow to provide solutions. Users are advised to use built-in troubleshooters, roll back problematic updates, pause updates, manually update drivers, and back up their systems before major updates.
Windows 11 update flags a core Lenovo tool as risky - and it's causing problems
Winsage
March 29, 2025

Windows 11 update flags a core Lenovo tool as risky – and it’s causing problems

Lenovo ThinkPad users are experiencing difficulties with BIOS updates due to a modification by Microsoft affecting the executable file WinFlash64.exe, following recent Windows 11 and Windows 10 updates. The latest Windows patches (24H2, 23H2, and 22H2 for Windows 11, and 22H2 for Windows 10) have categorized the BIOS update as a 'vulnerable driver,' preventing installation. Users report failures when using Lenovo's BIOS Update Utility or the Lenovo Vantage app. A fix is in development, and users may try applying the BIOS update through Windows Update if available. Lenovo plans to release a resolution with BIOS version v1.61.
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