CPU resources Archives

Winsage

March 24, 2025

What Is Runtime Broker On Your PC, And Is It Safe To Disable It?

The Runtime Broker is a core process in Windows that manages permissions for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. It typically uses minimal CPU resources but can spike to around 30% when a UWP app is launched to verify permissions. High CPU usage may persist even after closing an app, which can often be resolved by ending the process in Task Manager. If issues recur with a specific app, users can either uninstall it or check for updates. Disabling the Runtime Broker is not recommended, as it may destabilize the system and compromise security. Users can verify the legitimacy of the Runtime Broker process by checking its file location in the C:WindowsSystem32 directory. If the location differs, it may indicate malware.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

5 apps that give you the desktop widgets Microsoft won’t

Microsoft has reintroduced a side widget feature in Windows 11, but it lacks extensive customization options. Users nostalgic for Windows 7's desktop gadgets can explore several third-party applications to enhance their desktop experience: 1. Rainmeter: A powerful desktop customization tool that allows users to create and apply skins as widgets displaying various information, with a vibrant community providing thousands of skins and mods. 2. Widget Launcher: A simple application for adding various widgets like calendars and clocks to the desktop, allowing resizing, but includes ads during the installation process. 3. GadgetPack: Restores the classic Windows 7 gadget experience on Windows 10 and 11, featuring around 50 pre-installed gadgets that can be customized and placed anywhere on the desktop. 4. BeWidgets: A modern widget application for creating custom widgets for time, date, finances, and weather, designed with a minimalist aesthetic, though it requires manual creation of widgets each time. 5. Widgets Box: Offers a diverse collection of widgets, including digital clocks and calendars, but many features require a paid subscription. It includes unique tools like a browser search bar and a stylish flip clock.

TrendTechie

February 19, 2025

Вместо подарков – майнер: новогодняя ловушка на торрентах унесла ресурсы компьютеров по всему миру

A campaign known as StaryDobry, identified by Kaspersky Lab, began on the last day of 2024, targeting users of popular torrent trackers during the holiday season. The attack affected users globally, particularly in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Brazil. Cybercriminals distributed trojanized versions of popular games like BeamNG.drive and Garry’s Mod, which contained hidden cryptocurrency mining software. The malware used in this campaign included XMRig, designed for mining Monero (XMR) without user consent. The installation process involved multiple layers of evasion, including checking for debugging tools and system parameters. The malware extracted files using RAR libraries, sent system fingerprints to a command server, and launched a loader that disguised itself as system files. XMRig operated in the background, utilizing the victim's CPU for mining while avoiding detection by terminating itself if analysis tools were present. The attack poses risks not only to individual users but also to corporate systems through compromised devices. No information is available about the attackers behind this campaign.

Winsage

December 18, 2024

Elevate your PC gaming experience with Windows 11 this holiday season

Windows 11 offers new gaming experiences for PC Game Pass subscribers, including titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™. Key features include: - Auto HDR: Enhances SDR games to HDR for improved colors and contrasts. - DirectStorage: Reduces load times using NVMe SSDs, optimizing data loading for better performance. - Game Bar Compact Mode: Simplifies navigation on smaller screens, providing quick access to games and performance metrics. - Dynamic Lighting: Allows synchronization and customization of RGB lighting across devices. - Optimizations for Windowed Games: Introduces Variable Rate Refresh (VRR) to reduce tearing and stuttering in windowed modes. - Advanced Hybrid (CASO)/UMA: Improves performance on hybrid laptops with integrated and discrete GPUs. - Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 support: Enhances online gaming with faster speeds and lower latency. - Color filters for colorblind players: Helps colorblind players differentiate colors while improving frame rates. - Automatic Super Resolution for Arm Copilot+ PCs: Upscales lower-resolution content in real-time. - Xbox app on Windows PC: Manages PC gaming content and facilitates cloud gaming and cross-platform connections.

Winsage

November 21, 2024

An end to rebooting? Microsoft’s latest change means you won’t need to restart your work laptop for every Windows update any more

Microsoft is rolling out hotpatching capabilities to Windows 11 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 users, allowing for rebootless updates. This feature enables users to download and install security updates without interrupting their work. Hotpatch updates activate immediately upon installation, reducing system downtime and improving efficiency by updating in-memory code without needing additional binaries. This process enhances security by allowing quicker installations and minimizing vulnerability time. Hotpatching has been available for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition since February 2022, but there are no plans to extend this feature to Windows 11 Home and Pro editions at this time.

Tech Optimizer

November 19, 2024

The 6 Best Free Mac Antivirus Software Providers for 2024

Many Mac users question the necessity of additional antivirus software, which depends on their usage patterns and operating environments. macOS has a strong security framework, including built-in antivirus Xprotect, which is sufficient for average users. However, high-risk users may require more advanced protection. Top free antivirus software options for Mac in 2024 include: - Bitdefender: Offers a free on-demand malware scanner, lightweight operation, and customizable scanning options. Free for one device; business plans start at .99/month. - Malwarebytes: Provides a free virus cleanup tool that works with other security software, excelling at detecting elusive malware. Free for one device; business plans start at .97/year. - Avira: Features scheduled virus scanning, a free VPN, a password manager, and a junk file cleaner. Free for one device; paid plans start at .99/month. - Total AV: Includes a Smart Scan feature and various utilities for system maintenance. Free for one device; pro plans start at .95/year. For most businesses, macOS's built-in Xprotect is adequate, but specific needs may warrant additional tools like Malwarebytes for cleanup or Bitdefender for high-risk activities. The analysis of these products involved hands-on testing and review of independent audit results and customer feedback.

Tech Optimizer

November 7, 2024

TotalAV vs PCProtect: Which Is the Best Antivirus?

TotalAV offers superior protection and user experience compared to PCProtect, with affordability enhancing its appeal. TotalAV blocked all prepared malware samples and nine out of ten wild samples in tests, while PCProtect missed two prepared and three wild samples, achieving a 75% effectiveness score. TotalAV features an intuitive interface, effective password manager, and superior VPN, while PCProtect's interface could benefit from redesign. TotalAV provides three pricing options, with the basic version covering four devices, making it more cost-effective than PCProtect, which is available for three devices. Both antivirus programs support Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. TotalAV has received high ratings from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, while PCProtect has not been evaluated by leading cybersecurity firms.

AppWizard

November 6, 2024

Valve introduces recording function to Steam

Valve has introduced a new game recording feature for Steam that allows players to record, replay, and create clips of their gameplay. This feature is compatible with both PC and Valve's Steam Deck. The key component is the Background Recording mode, which continuously captures gameplay and saves it to a hard drive, with users able to toggle it on or off. The Steam Timeline interface provides real-time updates during recording sessions, logging significant events like achievements and screenshots. The technology is designed to minimize impact on gaming performance, but users with Intel GPUs may face limitations as the feature does not support these graphics cards. The feature was initially launched in beta in June before its official rollout.

Winsage

October 26, 2024

AI in Windows 11 is finally getting (kind of) interesting

Microsoft is rolling out updates for Copilot+ PCs, including a new AI feature called Super Resolution in the Photos app for Windows 11 version 24H2 on Snapdragon X PCs. This feature enhances image size and resolution. Upcoming capabilities like Click To Do and the Recall feature are expected to be released to Insiders this month. Windows 11 version 24H2 has improved the update process, making updates up to 45% faster to install, with restart times improving by nearly 40% and consuming up to 25% less CPU resources. Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit highlighted the second-generation Oryon CPUs, which offer enhanced single-core performance while consuming 57% less power compared to the first generation. There is anticipation for the next generation of Snapdragon X processors, but there is a need for software developers to optimize for Arm architecture.

Winsage

October 26, 2024

Some Intel-based PCs now need urgent BIOS fixes before installing Windows 11 24H2 — but is that you?

Windows 11, version 24H2 introduces a more efficient installation process but poses critical BIOS-related issues for users with Intel Z890 motherboards, which are designed for high-performance computing. Users must adjust their BIOS settings to avoid system crashes and reboots during the update. Asus has acknowledged the problem and provided a solution, while other manufacturers have not yet addressed the issue publicly. BIOS updates have been released to help users, who are advised to install these updates or disable integrated graphics before upgrading. Additionally, Windows 11 24H2 has been reported to cause disruptions with applications like Voicemeeter, Microsoft Word, and Excel, leading to recommendations for users to postpone the upgrade until these issues are resolved.