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silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
July 10, 2026

Hackers Use Fake VLC Executable and Malicious libvlc.dll to Deploy ValleyRAT

Cybercriminals are exploiting the VLC media player to install ValleyRAT, a remote access trojan, by embedding malware in a seemingly harmless file linked in phishing emails. The attack starts with an email that prompts the victim to download a ZIP archive containing a fake VLC executable and a malicious DLL named libvlc.dll. This method uses DLL sideloading to execute the malware under the guise of a legitimate application. Once executed, the malware establishes persistence by creating a registry entry and connects to a remote server to retrieve the final payload. ValleyRAT employs evasion tactics to avoid detection, including assessing system characteristics before executing harmful actions and using a fileless approach to deliver the payload directly into memory. Researchers have identified indicators of compromise, including specific SHA1 hashes and URLs associated with the malicious campaign.
The Tiny Android Tablet Built to Survive Long Gaming Sessions
BetaBeacon
July 8, 2026

The Tiny Android Tablet Built to Survive Long Gaming Sessions

The REDMAGIC Astra 2 features a 9.06-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2.4K, a refresh rate of 185Hz, and a peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits. The tablet is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and the REDMAGIC RedCore R4 gaming chip. The device also includes visible liquid cooling, Liquid Metal 3.0, and a large vapor chamber for heat management. The global model is listed with 75W charging, while the domestic model in China has 80W charging.
The Curious Case of Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, Essentially Windows 11 "Pro Max"
Winsage
July 5, 2026

The Curious Case of Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, Essentially Windows 11 “Pro Max”

Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, available since 2021, is a successor to Windows 10 Pro for Workstations. It focuses on performance and efficiency, lacking consumer bloat such as sponsored shortcuts. Key features include support for the Resilient File System (ReFS), which enhances fault-tolerant storage, and the ability to support up to four CPU sockets and a maximum memory capacity of 6 TB. Networking capabilities include support for SMB Direct client and RDMA, which improve performance for clustered AI inferencing setups. It also supports NVDIMM-N for enhanced workstation applications. Unlike Windows Server, it does not include a native NVMe SSD driver. Windows 11 Pro for Workstations is not available for direct purchase by end-users; it can only be obtained through OEM channels or the Windows for Business channel.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
July 3, 2026

Hackers Use Fake VLC Executable and Malicious libvlc.dll to Deploy ValleyRAT

Cybercriminals are using a sophisticated method to bypass security measures by embedding malware within the VLC media player. This campaign exploits VLC to install ValleyRAT, a remote access trojan, through phishing emails that contain links to download a seemingly harmless file. Once the file is opened, it activates a hidden backdoor that evades detection by antivirus solutions. The malware has been active since 2023, with a significant increase in activity noted through 2025 and into 2026, particularly targeting Chinese and Japanese-speaking users. The infection process begins when a victim clicks a link in a phishing email, leading to a ZIP archive containing a disguised executable and a malicious DLL (libvlc.dll). The executable mimics a legitimate VLC file, and when executed, it loads the DLL, allowing the malware to run under the guise of VLC. The malware establishes persistence by creating a registry entry and connects to a remote server to retrieve the final payload. ValleyRAT employs evasion tactics to avoid detection, such as performing checks on system behavior and using a fileless approach to inject its payload directly into memory, avoiding storage on disk. Researchers recommend training employees to recognize suspicious filenames and deploying endpoint detection tools to identify DLL sideloading behavior. For organizations affected by this campaign, isolating compromised systems and reviewing security logs are critical initial steps. Indicators of compromise include a malicious email domain, a ZIP archive containing a fake VLC executable, and a download URL for ValleyRAT.
Steam Machine review: Valve's underwhelming living-room PC has a serious price problem
AppWizard
June 22, 2026

Steam Machine review: Valve’s underwhelming living-room PC has a serious price problem

The Steam Machine is a compact gaming system measuring 16.5 × 15.5 × 15.3 cm, designed to run SteamOS and provide access to the Steam library while offering a user experience similar to consoles. It features a custom AMD CPU with six cores and twelve threads, 16 MiB of L3 cache, and a maximum clock speed of 4.86 GHz. The system includes 16 GiB of DDR5 memory and a discrete Radeon graphics unit with 8 GiB of GDDR6 video memory based on the Navi 33 architecture, operating with 28 compute units and a power budget of 110 watts. Storage consists of an NVMe drive with approximately 1.9 TB of space and a zram swap of around 7.6 GiB. The Steam Machine runs SteamOS 3.8.9 in its x86-64 version, allowing it to function as either a Linux PC or a gaming interface. Connectivity options include one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, four USB-A ports, a USB-C port, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. Its hardware is aligned with PC architecture but lacks the customization options of a bespoke system.
NVIDIA's RTX Spark launch is huge, but Qualcomm and Microsoft built the Windows ARM foundation
Winsage
June 17, 2026

NVIDIA’s RTX Spark launch is huge, but Qualcomm and Microsoft built the Windows ARM foundation

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon X Elite in 2023, an ARM-based processor that outperformed traditional x86 processors. The Snapdragon X Series featured a custom Oryon core design and was optimized for Windows through collaboration with Microsoft, including the introduction of the Prism emulation layer, which allows x86/x64 applications to run on ARM. Many applications, such as Adobe Illustrator and Discord, now run natively on ARM, showing significant performance improvements. By 2026, NVIDIA unveiled the RTX Spark, an ARM-powered system on a chip, developed with MediaTek, featuring an ARM Cortex CPU and a Blackwell RTX GPU. NVIDIA also announced improvements to Windows for better workload scheduling and support for kernel-level anti-cheat software on Windows ARM.
Microsoft hides these secret Windows 11 performance boost settings available on every PC
Winsage
June 14, 2026

Microsoft hides these secret Windows 11 performance boost settings available on every PC

Windows enthusiasts aim to enhance system performance while managing heat and power consumption, especially in mobile PCs. Under-volting techniques are commonly used to optimize performance and reduce power consumption, with tools like AMD's Ryzen Master and Intel's XTU available for this purpose. Users can also adjust settings in the BIOS, such as Curve Optimizer for Ryzen processors. Processor Power Management operates through the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), which includes P-states for voltage-frequency scaling and C-states for CPU sleep states. Windows provides two default P-States: "Minimum Processor State" and "Maximum Processor State." A Registry modification can unlock additional options under a "Processor performance boost mode" dropdown, allowing for five distinct profiles: 1. Disabled: Disables processor boosting, reducing power consumption and heat but limiting performance. 2. Enabled: Allows boost functionality under normal conditions, balancing performance with power and thermal constraints. 3. Aggressive: Prioritizes performance, allowing higher boost states but increasing power draw and thermal output. 4. Efficient Enabled: Focuses on energy efficiency while allowing boosting. 5. Efficient Aggressive: Balances performance responsiveness with efficiency. To enable the Processor performance boost mode, users must access the Registry Editor, navigate to a specific path, and modify the value of Attributes from 1 to 2. This will reveal the new "Processor performance boost mode" dropdown with the five P-State options. The settings are summarized as follows: - Disabled: P-state behavior is disabled. - Enabled: P-state behavior is enabled with Efficient Enabled CPPC. - Aggressive: P-state behavior is enabled with Aggressive CPPC. - Efficient Enabled: Efficient P-state behavior with Efficient Enabled CPPC. - Efficient Aggressive: Efficient P-state behavior with Aggressive CPPC. - Aggressive At Guaranteed: Requests performance above the guaranteed level. - Efficient Aggressive At Guaranteed: Consistently requests the highest performance above the guaranteed level. Users should be cautious when modifying these settings, as issues may arise that require reverting to original settings.
AMD taunts Apple's MacBook Neo for failing to run 75% of top PC games — Only 5 out of the 20 top PC games work on the Neo, while all run on AMD's budget offerings
AppWizard
June 14, 2026

AMD taunts Apple’s MacBook Neo for failing to run 75% of top PC games — Only 5 out of the 20 top PC games work on the Neo, while all run on AMD’s budget offerings

The MacBook Neo has received positive reviews, redefining expectations for budget laptops and raising concerns among Windows manufacturers. AMD has launched a marketing campaign comparing its Ryzen 200 series systems to the MacBook Neo, highlighting that 15 of the top 20 PC games are incompatible with the Neo, which can only run five natively. AMD's systems provide access to extensive gaming libraries without requiring workarounds. AMD's selected comparison device, the HP OmniBook X Flip with a Ryzen 5 220 chip, can run older games but struggles with modern titles. While AMD claims its systems can run all top PC games, performance may not meet gamers' expectations. Apple's Silicon is powerful, but gaming demand on Mac remains limited, and users can only emulate x86 code, not achieve native compatibility. The MacBook Neo is recognized as a strong budget option, while Intel's Wildcat Lake laptops and Qualcomm's Snapdragon C-series chips are emerging alternatives in the market.
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