digital rights Archives

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

A cracked version of Marvel Tōkon is reigniting questions around DRM and its impact on PC games

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has faced significant criticism since its PC release due to performance issues, including stuttering frame rates and network problems. A patch was issued, but many players still experienced difficulties. The console version has not encountered these issues, leading to speculation that the DRM in the Steam version may be causing high CPU usage. A cracked, DRM-free version has emerged, reportedly offering better performance, with players noting it is less taxing on CPUs and runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware. Social media has highlighted a nearly 40 FPS difference between the two versions. Concurrent player counts on Steam have dropped from a peak of 24,498 to 5,249 shortly after launch, as some players turn to the cracked version, which does not support online matchmaking. This situation raises concerns about the impact of DRM on gaming performance and could affect PC sales and the overall player base. The Marvel Tōkon social media account has indicated that further fixes for the PC version are forthcoming, but inquiries to Sony remain unanswered.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

The New Rat Horror Game Is Being Pirated A Week Before Launch

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy has leaked online a week before its official release on August 27, allowing unauthorized copies to circulate due to compromised digital rights management (DRM). Players are sharing images and some have begun playing the game, while others are avoiding spoilers. This leak follows a trend of significant game leaks in 2026, including Forza Horizon 6 and Lego Batman. The game does not offer paid early access options and is expected to provide around 20 hours of gameplay with an action-oriented approach, including a parry system. It will also be available on day one for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on console and PC.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Sony may be discontinuing video game discs — but there’s still a way to get physical copies

Sony will phase out physical discs for new PlayStation titles starting January 2028. GOG reassures gamers of ownership rights, allowing them to own and preserve purchased games on physical media. The Tomb Raider I-VI Remastered bundle is available for purchase, featuring enhanced versions of the classic series. All games on GOG are DRM-free, enabling players to download and burn titles onto discs. The process for burning games involves logging into the GOG library, downloading the offline installer, and burning the game file onto a disc. GOG also offers alternatives for game storage, such as external hard drives and cloud storage, ensuring long-term ownership without reliance on a launcher or internet connection. GOG has a selection of over 5,200 DRM-free games available for purchase.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

The Android gravy train is over! Google starts to roll out new app sideloading restrictions – here’s why that’s a good thing

Google is enhancing security measures for Android devices by focusing on the verification of apps, developers, and app stores. A new feature called "advanced flow" is being introduced for users who install applications from unverified developers. The process of sideloading is being refined to improve user security while maintaining user choice. This includes: - Verification of developers and their applications. - Inclusion of additional app stores like Honor App Market, Oppo App Market, Samsung's Galaxy Store, Palm Store, V-Appstore, and GetApps. - Updates to the Android Developer Verifier for access to the latest security protocols. These changes aim to create a safer environment for users while allowing advanced users to install apps from various sources. Google has shared a timeline for these changes and is addressing ongoing discussions about digital rights and user safety, particularly in relation to the Epic Games antitrust case.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

The Best Places to Buy and Rent PC Games Online in 2026

The digital landscape for purchasing PC games has evolved, offering various online stores for Linux, macOS, and Windows games, with some also featuring e-books, movies, and software. Notable platforms include Steam, Epic Games Store, Humble Bundle, and Xbox, each with diverse game libraries. Some publishers, like Blizzard and EA, initially required exclusive downloads but are now allowing games across multiple storefronts. Steam offers extensive titles and a Verified program for Steam Deck users, while GOG.com focuses on classic games and itch.io on indie titles. Consumers can purchase games from different platforms and use tools like CheapShark to compare prices and find deals.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

The offline messaging apps challenging internet shutdowns

Governments are finding it harder to suppress protests through internet shutdowns due to the use of offline messaging applications. Bitchat, an app launched in 2025 by Jack Dorsey, allows devices to communicate via Bluetooth without internet access and gained popularity during recent student protests in New Delhi amid an internet blackout. The Indian government attempted to block access to Bitchat's source code on GitHub, marking a notable first instance of trying to geoblock an open-source repository. On July 26, Bitchat had 430,000 daily active users in India, with 74% of global downloads occurring in the country from July 20 to July 26. The app has been used in various protests globally, including those in Hong Kong, Myanmar, Nepal, Uganda, Madagascar, and Iran. On July 23, the Indian government ordered GitHub to disable access to three Bitchat repositories in India quickly. Jack Dorsey expressed concerns about the Indian government's stance on Bitchat, while digital rights advocates criticized the government's actions as unnecessary. The repositories remained accessible in India and were mirrored on decentralized platforms, complicating removal efforts. India's government has increasingly scrutinized communication platforms based on their design, imposing restrictions on apps like Telegram and WhatsApp.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Android Apps Share Location Data With Advertisers by Default

A recent investigation by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) revealed that many Android applications contain third-party code that automatically transmits users' precise location data to external companies, including advertisers and data brokers, once location permission is granted. There are no specific location permissions for Software Development Kits (SDKs) on Android, meaning that granting one app access allows all bundled components to access the same data. Developers may be unaware that their apps are configured to share location histories with external firms, as advertising SDKs often prioritize data collection for revenue generation. The EFF calls for advertising SDKs to stop making personal data sharing the default setting and urges developers to disable unnecessary data collection. Location data can reach data brokers, which may experience breaches, compromising user privacy and security. This situation poses hidden risks for investors in the mobile advertising sector, as legal challenges and reputational damage may arise from regulatory scrutiny of location data practices. The EFF emphasizes that app-level permissions do not provide meaningful consent for third-party data sharing, highlighting the value and risks associated with location data.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

Xbox 360 games are reportedly coming to PC this year as Microsoft prepares disc-to-digital conversion for an upcoming launch

Microsoft is enhancing its gaming offerings with a new emulation initiative that will allow Xbox 360 games to be accessible on PC, the next-gen console Project Helix, and compatible handheld devices. This initiative is part of Microsoft's commitment to backwards compatibility, which has already seen four classic Xbox titles available on PC. The Project Helix console is designed to function more like a PC and support PC games, aiming to bridge the gap between console and PC gaming. Additionally, a disc-to-digital conversion initiative is expected to roll out soon, allowing owners of physical Xbox games to access a digital library linked to their original discs. This conversion process was set to begin in July, with general availability projected for August 2026, targeting Xbox One and Series X owners. An official announcement regarding this service may be imminent. Microsoft's strategy comes at a time when Sony is discontinuing physical discs, positioning Microsoft to potentially capitalize on Sony's missteps in navigating digital rights and player concerns.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Amid youth protests, Centre directs blocking of messaging app that works without internet: Developer

The Union Home Ministry has requested GitHub to remove repositories related to Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app that functions without internet connectivity, due to security concerns amid protests in central Delhi. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, shared the directive, which aims to suppress the availability of such technologies. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre has expressed worries that decentralized communication tools like Bitchat could be misused for unlawful activities. The directive, issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, requires GitHub to disable access to three Bitchat-related repositories within three hours. The Internet Freedom Foundation criticized the government's lack of transparency and argued that concerns about potential misuse do not justify banning access to the app's code. The protests, initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party, are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged mismanagement of competitive examinations, with increased support following police actions against demonstrators.

TrendTechie

July 24, 2026

BitTorrent исполнилось 25 лет. Как программа одного человека изменила интернет и поставила Голливуд в тупик

On July 2, 2001, Bram Cohen announced the operational status of his program, BitTorrent, on a mailing list for peer-to-peer network developers. BitTorrent revolutionized file sharing by segmenting files into smaller pieces, allowing users to download from multiple sources simultaneously and share already downloaded data, which improved download speeds as file popularity increased. Unlike earlier peer-to-peer networks, BitTorrent did not have a built-in catalog, relying on external websites for users to locate torrents. The first major torrent catalog, Suprnova, emerged in 2002, followed by The Pirate Bay in 2003, making the protocol widely accessible. By 2004, BitTorrent accounted for nearly a third of all internet traffic. In 2004, Cohen founded BitTorrent Inc., which acquired the client µTorrent in 2006. The company launched the BitTorrent Entertainment Network in 2007, but it closed in 2008 due to competition from free pirated content. BitTorrent Inc. later explored various technologies but struggled to establish a sustainable business model. The protocol evolved with decentralization features like the distributed hash table (DHT) and magnet links. In 2018, BitTorrent was acquired by the blockchain project TRON for an estimated 0 million. BitTorrent Inc. claims around 54 million active users per month, with additional users on independent clients. Despite a decline in torrent traffic from its peak, the network has been experiencing growth, attributed to rising streaming costs and fragmented content availability.