campaigns Archives

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

McDonald’s | A Minecraft Movie Meal

tms developed two campaigns featuring exclusive toys and packaging for McDonald's, including six Movie Meal collectibles inspired by McDonald’s characters and six toys from the Minecraft Movie. The campaigns transformed McDonald's restaurants into immersive experiences and included a retail kit for over 100 global markets. Packaging design included a golden treasure chest for the Minecraft Movie Meal and three variations of Happy Meal boxes. Customers could scan toys to unlock in-game skins for Minecraft and participate in a digital treasure chest quest related to the movie.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

EU Imposes Sanctions on Tech Giant VK and State-Backed MAX Messaging App

The European Union has sanctioned VK, the Russian technology firm behind VKontakte and its subsidiary MAX, due to their involvement in cyber activities and providing personal data to Russian authorities against dissenters. These sanctions were formalized on July 13 and align with a broader effort involving the UK, targeting individuals and entities linked to Russia's cyber operations. The MAX application is developed under the oversight of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Additionally, Apple's removal of VK applications from its App Store has prompted a response from the Kremlin, with government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicating a need for clarification from Apple on this decision.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

You can now spot AI-generated Google ads, if you know where to look

Google is introducing AI labels for ads across its platforms, including Search, YouTube, and Discover, to indicate when advertisements have been generated or edited using artificial intelligence. The label “Created or edited with AI” will be displayed in My Ad Center under “How this ad was made.” This feature will roll out globally, with automatic labeling for ads created using Google's AI tools, while advertisers using third-party AI tools must self-disclose their AI usage. This initiative aims to enhance transparency in digital advertising and improve the identification of AI-generated content. However, the responsibility for disclosure in cases not involving Google's tools lies with the advertisers, which may allow some to evade transparency measures.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Tempest Rising’s elusive third faction will get its own singleplayer campaign as a paid expansion, and you can play the demo right now

Tempest Rising, a successor to the Command & Conquer series, features three factions: the Global Defense Force (GDF), the Tempest Dynasty, and the Veti. The Veti faction, previously AI-controlled, will receive its own campaign in a paid expansion titled The Veti's Wrath, which includes 11 new campaign missions. The Veti are inspired by Ancient Egyptian aesthetics and have unique gameplay mechanics focused on conversion and sacrifice, allowing players to resurrect fallen enemy soldiers as "enlightened" units. A demo is currently available, featuring the first two missions of the Veti campaign. The Veti will be a free multiplayer faction, while single-player gameplay will require a purchase. Tempest Rising is currently available at a 30% discount, retailing for £21, with the promotion ending tomorrow.

Winsage

July 11, 2026

AI Threat Forces Microsoft To Update Windows Patch Guidance

Microsoft is advocating for a reevaluation of Windows patch management practices due to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) impacting cybersecurity. The company emphasizes that traditional timelines for patch deployment, typically spanning several weeks after the monthly Patch Tuesday, are inadequate against modern cyber threats. Microsoft recommends organizations shorten deployment windows to under three days for quality updates, with immediate installation deadlines and minimal user grace periods. To support these changes, Microsoft is enhancing Windows Autopatch with a new reporting dashboard for patch compliance and security insights. The company is promoting cloud-managed deployment through Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch while continuing to support legacy tools. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing Windows Hotpatch technology, allowing security updates to be installed without immediate reboots, and advocating for the use of identity-based access controls to isolate unpatched devices. The guidance reflects a shift from scheduled patching to continuous risk management, encouraging organizations to prioritize high-risk assets and automate update deployments. Microsoft is also investing in AI-assisted vulnerability discovery and automated code analysis to improve defensive capabilities. The overarching message is that enterprises must adapt their update strategies to address the accelerated pace of AI-driven exploitation.

Tech Optimizer

July 11, 2026

Microsoft closes RoguePlanet vulnerability in Defender: SYSTEM privileges via the antivirus engine

A vulnerability known as RoguePlanet was identified in Microsoft Defender, tracked as CVE-2026-50656. This flaw allows local privilege escalation to the NT AUTHORITYSYSTEM account, requiring an attacker to have local code execution capabilities. It can be exploited through methods such as opening malicious email attachments. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-59: “Improper Link Resolution Before File Access” and involves a race condition that affects the Defender engine's operations. RoguePlanet was disclosed by security researcher Nightmare-Eclipse on June 10, 2026, and confirmed by various security firms. Microsoft released a fix in version 1.1.26060.3008 of the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine, which should be installed automatically in standard Windows configurations. Users can verify their engine version using PowerShell. The vulnerability affects both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems with the June 2026 security updates, and disabling real-time protection does not reliably mitigate it.

Tech Optimizer

July 6, 2026

Why Antivirus Alone No Longer Protects Small Businesses

Many small businesses have historically relied on antivirus software for computer security, which was effective against identifiable malware. However, the current cyber threat landscape includes sophisticated attacks such as phishing, credential theft, and ransomware that traditional antivirus solutions may not adequately address. Factors driving increased cyber threats in Kenya include phishing, weak authentication practices, delayed software updates, and the use of artificial intelligence by malicious actors. While antivirus software can detect known malware and block common threats, it falls short against tactics like stolen credentials and social engineering. The Communications Authority recommends complementing antivirus with multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, secure configurations, and user training. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions enhance visibility into attacks by monitoring endpoint activity for suspicious behaviors, allowing for prompt investigation and response. A layered security strategy that integrates multiple protective measures is essential for effective cybersecurity, and many modern security platforms offer unified solutions to simplify management for smaller organizations. The Kaspersky SMB Cybersecurity Guide provides insights into modern attack methods and the role of endpoint protection in improving a business's cybersecurity posture.

AppWizard

July 4, 2026

Crossfire is actually the second singleplayer shooter named after Korea’s Counter-Strike—and the last one was made by Remedy

Crossfire is a new military simulation game developed by the creators of the 2019 reboot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, published by Smilegate. It features an innovative cover mechanic and a deeper emotional connection between its two lead characters. The game is related to the earlier multiplayer FPS Crossfire, which received a single-player mode called CrossfireX, developed by Remedy Entertainment. CrossfireX includes three-hour FPS campaigns that follow a Call of Duty formula and features a bullet-time mechanic. The game faced challenges upon release and was met with poor reception, leading to its shutdown just over a year after launch.

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

“You are the endgame”: Total War: Warhammer’s new nightmarish Chaos invasion finally gives Archaon the apocalyptic event he’s been waiting 10 years for

Total War enthusiasts enjoy endgame events, such as the Mongol and Timurid invasions in Medieval 2 and Archaon's arrival in Total War: Warhammer. The upcoming rework for the Vampire Counts will enhance Archaon's invasion, allowing players to engage in an endgame crisis after meeting short victory conditions. This new mechanic will prevent territory occupation while increasing overall power as players devastate regions. Archaon can confederate all Chaos factions by defeating their leaders, expanding the conflict. Visual updates for Archaon and new units will be introduced, addressing previous shortcomings. The Lords of the End Times expansion is anticipated to launch later this year.

Winsage

July 1, 2026

Steve Ballmer once trashed Linux as “a cancer” — now it’s saving Windows 10 holdouts

In 2001, Steve Ballmer, then CEO of Microsoft, referred to Linux as a "cancer" threatening Microsoft's intellectual property and likened its users to "communist thieves." By 2016, after Microsoft ported SQL Server to Linux, Ballmer expressed enthusiasm for the change and acknowledged that the conflict with open-source had benefited Microsoft's financial success. In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith admitted the company had been on the wrong side of history regarding open source and noted the need for change. Microsoft has since embraced open-source technologies, introducing products like Azure Linux 4.0, built on Fedora. As Windows 11's transition becomes difficult for users, advocacy groups have criticized Microsoft for ending support for Windows 10, which could lead to millions of discarded computers. Microsoft extended Windows 10's life through an Extended Security Updates program until October 14, 2026, with a recent announcement pushing it to 2027. Rising hardware costs and design flaws in Windows 11 have led some users to consider alternatives like Linux. A survey revealed that 30% of PCs are still running Windows 10, and a poll showed that 68% of respondents plan to stick with Windows 10 through 2027.