discovery Archives

Tech Optimizer

April 13, 2026

Fake Windows 11 support site offers ‘update’ that steals data and evades antiviruses

Malwarebytes has discovered a counterfeit Windows support site offering a fake "cumulative update" for Windows 11 24H2. Users who click the "Download Update" button download an 83MB package designed to compromise sensitive information, including passwords and payment details. The file, named WindowsUpdate 1.0.0.msi, falsely lists Microsoft as the author and is created using WiX Toolset 4.0.0.5512. VirusTotal reported zero detections for the main executable and VBS launcher, highlighting the malware's architecture designed to evade detection. The malicious website's address includes "microsoft-update.support," differing from the legitimate support site. Malwarebytes has added the malicious site to its detection service database.

Winsage

April 13, 2026

Microsoft is finally letting you delay Windows updates to a day you actually want

Microsoft is testing a new calendar-based pause feature for Windows updates that allows users to select specific dates for their updates, moving beyond fixed presets. This feature is currently in a preview build and was discovered by a member of the Windows Insider community. While details on how long users can delay updates are limited, the new interface aims to enhance user control over update schedules.

Winsage

April 11, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (KB 5083635) has been released to the Beta Channel, featuring several updates: - The FAT32 volume formatting size limit has increased from 32GB to 2TB. - Performance improvements for navigating large volumes in Storage settings. - Reduced frequency of UAC prompts on the Storage page. - Resolution of unrealistic data usage values in Network settings. - Enhancements to the Windows Security app's Secure Boot experience, including color-coded icon badges and updated certificates. - A revamped Feedback Hub with a modernized experience, simpler feedback submission, easier navigation, a new compliment feedback type, and improved screenshot capture tools. - Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2, and features are gradually rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. - A desktop watermark appears in Insider pre-release builds. - Features may not be released beyond Windows Insiders and may evolve or be removed.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

Esoteric Ebb’s creator reckons most players only saw half the game, and that’s fine by him: ‘You’ve got to miss stuff in order to feel like the world is bigger’

A player completed New Vegas after 300 hours over 15 years, demonstrating dedication to experiencing every aspect of the game. Christoffer Bodegård, the creator of Esoteric Ebb, designed the game to evoke wonder and discovery, similar to classic RPGs like Elden Ring. He introduced the concept of the "illusionary wall of agency," suggesting that with numerous choices and content, players may feel they have missed significant portions even after completing a large percentage of the game. This design philosophy enhances gameplay and fosters a deeper connection between players and the game world, encouraging exploration and repeated engagement.

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Intent redirection vulnerability in third-party SDK exposed millions of Android wallets to potential risk

Version 5.2.1 of the EngageSDK was released to address security vulnerabilities related to third-party SDKs, particularly affecting digital asset management applications. Although no exploitation of this vulnerability has been reported, developers are urged to upgrade to the latest version. The Android operating system's security model provides some protections against these vulnerabilities, and the Android team has updated user protections during the transition to the secure version. The vulnerability, classified as severe, allows unauthorized access to protected components and sensitive data through intent redirection. Affected applications, particularly in the cryptocurrency and digital wallet sectors, account for over 30 million installations. The vulnerability was first identified in version 4.5.4 of the EngageLab SDK, reported in April 2025, and was addressed in version 5.2.1 released on November 3, 2025, which set the vulnerable activity to non-exported. Developers are advised to regularly review their Android manifests and upgrade to the latest SDK version to maintain application security.

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Forget Stardew Valley’s cozy vibes. New farming sim Crop keeps you “on edge,” and I can’t get enough of it

Players in the game Crop start their journey in an abandoned car, with the nearby farmhouse representing hope amidst a washed-out bridge to the outside world. The first task is to dig a grave for the previous owner, setting a grim tone for the farming experience. Gameplay involves traditional farming mechanics but with a slow, deliberate pace that emphasizes effort and intention. Players can earn money to invest in equipment and expand their farms, while the narrative hints at darker themes, including an abduction and the mysterious death of the former owner. The game features occult symbols and unsettling notes, suggesting a connection between sacrifice and abundance. Influences include the eerie atmosphere of Twin Peaks and the storytelling of Tarkovsky, alongside elements from Outer Wilds and Dredge. Relationships with characters are tracked through 'minimaps,' and the game has an estimated playtime of around 15 hours, focusing on exploration and uncovering mysteries rather than fitting into the horror genre.

Winsage

April 9, 2026

Windows is sabotaging your expensive hardware, and these are the biggest ways how

Modern PCs, even with mid-range hardware, can experience performance issues not solely due to hardware limitations but because of how Windows operates. The operating system runs numerous background services that consume resources, including Connected User Experiences and Telemetry, Diagnostic Policy Service, and Windows Error Reporting. These services log activity and send data to Microsoft, leading to unexpected CPU spikes and disk usage. Startup applications, such as Microsoft Teams and OneDrive, also contribute to longer boot times and increased resource usage. Users should monitor and limit these applications to improve startup performance. Legacy features like SysMain, Windows Search indexing, and automatic folder type discovery can hinder performance on modern systems, as they were designed for older hardware and can cause unnecessary disk activity. Microsoft services like Copilot and OneDrive continuously run in the background, consuming memory and CPU resources, which affects overall system performance. Windows' power management settings prioritize energy efficiency over performance, leading to inconsistent responsiveness and delays during tasks. This conservative approach impacts various components, making the system feel sluggish.

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Project Zomboid identifies and bans over a dozen Steam Workshop mods containing ‘heavily obfuscated code’ that was ‘creating malicious files’

The Indie Stone has identified a security issue involving 14 mods on the Steam Workshop for Project Zomboid, which contain heavily obfuscated code linked to the creation of malicious files outside the game's directory. Reports from players indicated that one mod was generating harmful code, prompting an investigation that confirmed the presence of the exploit across multiple mods uploaded by the same user. The affected mods had between 500 and 2,200 installations, and the user has been banned while the mods have been removed from the Steam Workshop. The exploit specifically affects Build 42 branches of Project Zomboid, with players using Build 41 being unaffected. The Indie Stone advises players who downloaded these mods to take security precautions beyond simply uninstalling them. The affected mods include various soundtracks, such as Risk of Rain 2 OST, NieR: Automata OST, and others, each with specific Workshop and Mod IDs.

AppWizard

April 8, 2026

It Looks Like Steam Will Soon Use Frame Rate Data Gathered by Its Millions of Users to Estimate How Well a Gam

Valve is collecting frame rate data from its user base to predict game performance on individual systems. This initiative started with a SteamOS beta that gathers performance metrics. A code string in a recent Steam update suggests that Valve plans to use this data to estimate game performance based on users' CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications. Users will have the option to input their hardware details or receive projections based on their existing configuration. This feature aims to provide more comprehensive performance estimates compared to existing offerings from other digital game stores. The current data collection is limited to the beta client, but the rollout of this feature is expected to help gamers assess their hardware's capability to run new titles.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

It Looks Like Steam Will Soon Use Frame Rate Data Gathered by Its Millions of Users to Estimate How Well a Gam

Valve is planning to use frame rate data from its user base to estimate game performance on individual gaming PCs. This initiative began with a beta version of SteamOS that collects performance metrics. A code string found in a recent Steam update indicates that users will soon be able to input their CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications to receive tailored performance estimates. Steam will also automatically generate projections based on users' current hardware configurations. This feature aims to provide more comprehensive performance insights compared to existing platforms like the Xbox app and Windows Store. The frame rate data collection is currently in beta and may take time to become widely accessible.