charges Archives

Winsage

March 3, 2026

Bootleg Windows, Office scheme crashes, triggers 22-month lockup for Florida woman

A Florida woman, Heidi Richards, 52, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for fraudulently acquiring and selling Microsoft certificate of authenticity (COA) labels in bulk through her company, Trinity Software Distribution. Between 2018 and 2023, she spent over a million dollars on COA labels, primarily for Windows 10 and Microsoft Office products. Richards directed employees to transcribe product activation codes from the COA labels into a spreadsheet, which were then distributed to buyers for software activation. Although the labels were genuine, their procurement and sale were illegal. Following a trial in November 2025, a federal jury found her guilty, and she was also ordered to pay a ,000 fine.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

Hack-and-Slash Action Game Verminsteel Announced for PC

Developer Glass Bottom Games has announced its upcoming title, Verminsteel, an anthropomorphic hack-and-slash action game set to launch on PC via Steam in 2027. The game features players as a crow warrior fighting against occupying forces, utilizing various weapons and engaging in battles across the Fragarian countryside. Players can also play as other characters, rally allies, and upgrade weapons. The game emphasizes community themes and has been developed without the use of generative AI.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

Is Marathon’s time-to-kill too fast, or am I too Arc Raiders-pilled?

The author completed the original Mass Effect and shifted focus to extraction shooters, particularly Marathon, influenced by experiences in Arc Raiders. During the first 24 hours with Marathon, the author compared it to Arc Raiders, noting the challenging gameplay dynamics, including a fast time-to-kill (TTK) and the importance of teamwork. Initial frustrations with Marathon's pace shifted to appreciation as the author adapted strategies with friends. The game emphasizes sound and teamwork, with a TTK that feels punishing but manageable with squad support. The author reflected on the need for better resource management, expressing concerns about inventory issues and the early loss of loadouts. They suggested that Bungie should streamline gameplay to enhance the PvP experience.

Tech Optimizer

February 27, 2026

Fake Avast Website Steals Users’ Credit Card Information

A phishing scam is targeting French-speaking users in Europe by impersonating Avast antivirus software. Victims are lured to a fraudulent website that mimics Avast's official portal, where they are tricked into providing credit card details due to a fabricated €499.99 charge and promises of a refund. The scam uses realistic branding, dynamic JavaScript for urgency, and live chat features to collect personal information. Users are asked to select refund reasons and submit their personal details, after which they are prompted for credit card information. The scam employs the Luhn algorithm to validate card numbers and displays a fake confirmation message after data submission. Key red flags include dynamic dates, tight deadlines, requests for full card re-entry, and suspicious live chat interactions. Avast has warned users about these scams and encourages reporting to authorities.

Tech Optimizer

February 27, 2026

Replicate spatial data using AWS DMS and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL

The process of migrating spatial data from self-managed PostgreSQL, Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, or Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL or Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition using AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) is outlined. Spatial data includes points, lines, polygons, and collections of these features, which are essential for applications like mapping and asset tracking. AWS DMS treats spatial columns as large objects (LOBs) and requires proper configuration for LOB handling and PostGIS support to avoid migration failures. PostGIS is an extension for PostgreSQL that manages geospatial data types and functions, enabling operations such as radius searches and distance calculations. Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL fully integrates with PostGIS, making it suitable for geospatial applications. The migration solution involves ensuring compatibility of PostGIS versions between source and target databases, configuring AWS DMS, and validating the migration. Prerequisites include having an AWS account, RDS instances for source and target, a DMS replication instance, and the PostGIS extension installed on both databases. Tables must have primary or unique key constraints, and geometry columns must be nullable for LOB handling. Best practices for configuring PostGIS include validating version compatibility, monitoring resource usage, and establishing backup strategies. Implementation steps involve creating a spatial table in the source database, preparing the target database, configuring the AWS DMS task with specific settings, and monitoring the migration process through CloudWatch logs. Common errors during replication may relate to LOB handling or PostGIS data types. Post-migration validation includes comparing row counts, verifying geometry data types, and ensuring the functionality of PostGIS spatial functions. Finally, it is recommended to clean up all resources post-migration to avoid ongoing charges.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

Anthropomorphic hack-and-slash action game Verminsteel announced for PC

Glass Bottom Games has announced their new project, Verminsteel, an anthropomorphic hack-and-slash action game featuring a crow protagonist. The game is set for release on PC via Steam in 2027. Players will use a variety of weapons, including swords and frying pans, to battle against enemy forces and rescue townsfolk. The game emphasizes community and collaboration, with players able to recruit allies and utilize their unique skills. Key features include a deep combat system, squad maneuvers, and weapon upgrades. Glass Bottom Games confirmed that no generative AI was used in the game's development. An announcement trailer is available for viewing.

Winsage

February 25, 2026

Microsoft gives Windows laggards the ‘gift of time’ wrapped in licensing fees

Microsoft is offering up to three years of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for older Windows installations, with the expectation of compensation. Most major versions of Windows 10 will reach end of support by 2025, while Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB and Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 will end support on October 13, 2026, and Windows Server 2016 will conclude support on January 12, 2027. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025 for Windows Server 2016 users. The pricing for ESU for Windows 10 2016 LTSB starts at a specified amount per device for the first year, with expected increases in subsequent years. Customers using Intune or Windows Autopatch may receive a reduced rate. There is no official pricing for Windows Server 2016 ESU, creating uncertainty for administrators. Historically, Microsoft has charged a premium for extended support, with previous ESU costs for Windows Server 2012 being 100 percent of the full license price for the first year. The final cost of ESU will depend on each organization’s licensing agreement.

AppWizard

February 22, 2026

Monster Hunter rival Wild Hearts might have been left to die, yet I can’t help but love it

Wild Hearts, developed by Koei Tecmo's Omega Force and published by EA, was released in February 2023 but faced performance issues that affected its reception, earning a score of 7/10. The game features innovative mechanics, including a unique weapon system and the Karakuri system, which allows players to summon structures for strategic gameplay. It showcases captivating creature designs, merging animal traits with nature. As of July 2025, it was released on the Nintendo Switch 2, but performance issues persisted, with only 55% positive ratings on Steam. The game is available through EA Play, Game Pass, and frequent sales, often up to 90% off.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

“It needs to cooperate fairly, and it’s clearly not.” Why Valve is facing a £656m day in the UK courts

Tim Sweeney of Epic Games has criticized revenue sharing on digital storefronts, leading to the creation of the Epic Game Store, which charges a 12% fee to developers. Legal actions against Apple and Google resulted in them allowing alternative storefronts for games. Valve maintains a 30% commission on Steam, prompting antitrust lawsuits from developers in the U.S. in 2021, which were consolidated into a class action approved in November 2024. In the UK, Vicki Shotbolt is leading a legal case against Valve, alleging violations of competition laws, with a court ruling allowing the case to proceed to trial. Shotbolt argues that Valve's 30% revenue share inflates prices for consumers and that its price parity requirement restricts developers from offering lower prices on other platforms. She emphasizes the need for fair cooperation in the gaming ecosystem and highlights Valve's market dominance, which pressures developers to use Steam. If successful, the class action could seek up to £656 million in damages for UK consumers and aims for a more equitable profit-sharing model between Valve and developers.

AppWizard

February 19, 2026

FBI Boston says more extremists targeting kids on platforms including Roblox, Minecraft, Call of Duty

The Boston field office of the FBI has warned parents about the rise of online extremist groups targeting children, linked to an ideology called Nihilistic Violent Extremism. The FBI is investigating around 350 suspects nationwide, often young men aged 25 and under, who engage with children on platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, and Call of Duty, as well as social media like Discord. These suspects manipulate children into producing sexual content, self-harm, or violence. In Massachusetts, Joseph Pacheco, 23, faces federal charges for sending child pornography and animal crush videos to a child and making threats. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley noted the challenges in prosecuting cases involving minors, highlighting the need for parental vigilance.