guard Archives

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Neverwinter: Monoliths of Madness Launches For PC & Consoles

Neverwinter has released its latest expansion, Monoliths of Madness, available on PC and consoles. The expansion introduces chaotic magic and new challenges in Faerûn, with strange monoliths emerging across Menzoberranzan, Northdark Reaches, Narbondellyn, and Dragonbone Vale, spreading madness and attracting cultists. Players, starting at level 20, will join the Emerald Enclave to uncover the origins of these monoliths and cleanse Madness Altars by defeating nightmares and cultists. The expansion features updated combat enchantments, allowing players to equip Strike and Guard bonuses for deeper customization. A Wild Adventure Lockbox is available until November 17, offering a Mythic mount, Star Angler, and a Mythic companion, Encore the Virtuoso. Additionally, a new Battle Pass, Of Minds and Madness, allows players to unlock free rewards and access a Premium Reward Track with exclusive items, including a new Artifact to enhance character strength.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Fully Playable Scream Game Found in Steam Leak [2026]

A horror game based on the Scream film franchise was discovered in the Steam data leak that occurred from August 29 to 31, 2026. The game, an unfinished multiplayer prototype created by Fatshark, was found by a Twitter user named Roly Poly Reaper, who managed to run it on their computer and enable online multiplayer. The prototype included several unfinished builds, with one featuring operational networking code that allowed players to take on the roles of survivors evading a player-controlled Ghostface. The project appears to have been a pitch build, never fully greenlit for production, and was stored in Valve’s old Steam2 backend for approximately 15 years before the leak. Roly Poly Reaper used the Goldberg Steam emulator and Radmin VPN to run the game, circumventing the need for a live connection to Valve’s servers. Fatshark, known for cooperative shooters, had reportedly built the Scream prototype around 2011, coinciding with the release of Scream 4. The prototype's existence predates the popularization of the asymmetric horror genre by several years. The Steam2 leak itself involved approximately 12 to 13 terabytes of data, including various internal builds and beta versions from Valve and third-party developers. Valve has not publicly commented on the leak.

Winsage

September 1, 2026

TerminalFix Attacks Use Fake CAPTCHAs To Secretly Hack Windows PCs

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has identified a new variant of the ClickFix malware campaign called "TerminalFix." This variant uses deceptive CAPTCHAs that mimic trusted services like Cloudflare and directs users to PowerShell or a command prompt, allowing for the execution of complex scripts. TerminalFix aims to orchestrate a multi-stage attack that provides attackers with persistent, network-level proxy access through the compromised host, potentially leading to significant data theft and malware propagation within unsecured enterprise networks. Recommendations for defense against TerminalFix include restricting access to PowerShell and Windows Run dialogs, monitoring for DLL sideloading indicators, blocking Flash plugins, and enabling cloud-delivered protection in Microsoft Defender Antivirus. The attacks primarily target enterprise environments rather than individual consumers.

Winsage

August 29, 2026

‘Force Restart’—Microsoft Changes Windows Update Next Month

Microsoft will implement changes to Windows PC updates next month, requiring mandatory restarts for specific security component fixes in September and October. The September update will necessitate a "force restart," while the October update will follow the regular quarterly routine. These changes primarily affect managed PCs, and IT administrators are advised to inform users. Additionally, users are cautioned about the Windows 11 update KB5120998 due to issues like broken cursor styling and reset wallpaper settings, with some users successfully resolving problems by uninstalling the update. Windows 11 users are also experiencing a DISM error, 0x800f0915, when repairing the system image post-update, although reports of this issue are low.

Tech Optimizer

August 28, 2026

Best McAfee Alternatives 2026: Tested and Compared

Users are increasingly seeking alternatives to McAfee due to high renewal prices and system performance issues. Norton 360 is highlighted as the best alternative, offering superior lab scores, faster scan times, and 50 GB of cloud backup. Bitdefender is noted for its affordability and low system resource usage, while Avast One provides free real-time protection. McAfee's renewal pricing can increase by 200%, and its scans can take nearly 17 minutes with high CPU usage. Users also face challenges with preinstalled trials and cumbersome cancellation processes. Norton 360 has a 96.3% offline detection rate, completing scans 3:25 faster than McAfee, while Bitdefender has a peak CPU usage of 11% during scans. Avast One achieves a perfect score in AV-TEST and offers real-time protection at no cost. To switch from McAfee, users should cancel auto-renewal, download a new antivirus, uninstall McAfee, and run a full scan with the new software.

Tech Optimizer

August 26, 2026

AVG Antivirus Review 2026: Is the Free Version Enough?

AVG AntiVirus Free has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, with specific scores of 4.7 for protection, 4.3 for performance and features, and 3.5 for customer support. The software is available for free or can be purchased starting at .88 for the first year, with pricing verified in August 2026. It achieved a 99.77% malware detection rate with only four false alarms and offers features such as real-time protection and Ransomware Protection. However, customer support is rated lower, and there are upselling prompts after scans. AVG is owned by Gen Digital and has been in operation for over 35 years, originally founded as Grisoft in the Czech Republic. The free version includes essential features like File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield, Email Shield, and Ransomware Protection, while some features like Enhanced Firewall and Fake Website Shield are exclusive to paid versions. AVG's performance on Windows 11 has been validated by independent tests, scoring 6/6/6 in AV-TEST and achieving a 96.3% offline detection rate in AV-Comparatives. The software is available across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. AVG's customer support includes email and phone options, with a reasonable response time. The software is safe to install when downloaded from official sources, and it has been recognized for its effectiveness in malware detection.

Tech Optimizer

August 24, 2026

Malwarebytes Review 2026: Safe, But is Free Tier Enough?

Overall Rating: 4.3/5 ⭐ Protection: 4.3 ⭐ Performance: 3.9 ⭐ Features: 4.4 ⭐ Support: 4.8 ⭐ Value: 4.2 ⭐ Pricing starts at .99 for the first year, verified August 2026. Malwarebytes earned the AV-TEST TOP PRODUCT award in March-April 2026, scoring 17.5 out of 18 points. It successfully removed all infections in remediation tests and had no false detections across 1.5 million legitimate samples at AV-TEST. The software can coexist with other antivirus solutions and offers a free version with limited features. The free version lacks ongoing protection after 14 days, while the paid version provides real-time protection. Malwarebytes has a privacy policy stating it does not sell customer data and collects only necessary identifiers. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, having raised a total of 0 million, including a recent investment from Vector Capital in September 2022. It acquired AzireVPN in November 2024. Malwarebytes offers various plans, including Standard, Plus, and Total, with consistent renewal pricing. The Windows version includes comprehensive features, while the Mac version targets adware and browser hijackers. The Android app provides scanning capabilities and phishing protection, and the iPhone app focuses on scam text filtering. Customer support is efficient, with quick responses.

Winsage

August 23, 2026

Microsoft Edge is ending support for MDAG and WIP in Windows 10

Microsoft has phased out support for Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG), starting with its deprecation for Office applications in November 2023 and for the Edge browser in December 2023. By April 2024, MDAG was removed from Edge and other browser stores, and it was completely eliminated from Windows 11, version 24H2. Microsoft is finalizing the retirement of MDAG by discontinuing support in Edge entirely. The advisory MC1459132 indicates that this phase affects Microsoft Edge users on Windows 10, as Windows Information Protection (WIP) was already phased out in favor of Microsoft Purview in 2022. Organizations using WIP are advised to transition to Microsoft Purview Information Protection, Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Endpoint DLP, and Intune app protection policies. Users of MDAG should utilize Edge's built-in security features and consider other isolation solutions. Support for WIP and MDAG will officially end by September 2026, and functionalities related to them will stop in Microsoft Edge 154 and later versions. IT administrators are encouraged to begin migration activities to avoid disruptions.

Tech Optimizer

August 23, 2026

Aura vs LifeLock vs Identity Guard 2026: $5M Coverage

Identity theft complaints are increasing, leading to a competitive market for protection services. Aura offers a comprehensive security suite with up to million in identity theft insurance, while LifeLock provides tiered coverage from million to million under the Norton brand. Identity Guard is a budget-friendly option with coverage capped at million and lacks features like antivirus and VPN. Aura includes three-bureau credit monitoring on all plans, while LifeLock's comprehensive monitoring is only available on its highest tier, and Identity Guard's entry-level plan does not include credit monitoring. All three services provide dark web monitoring and SSN alerts, but Aura features AI-driven scam detection. Aura's Family plan covers up to five adults and unlimited children, whereas LifeLock's family options are more restrictive. Identity Guard's pricing is predictable, with a 20% increase after the first year, while Aura does not advertise significant post-year-one hikes. LifeLock operates under Gen Digital, which also owns Norton, while Aura is privately held and Identity Guard operates independently.

AppWizard

August 23, 2026

Red Dead Redemption 2 gets new lease of life with Mafia inspired expansion

Rockstar Games is not currently pursuing a new-gen update for Red Dead Redemption 2, leaving fans uncertain about the game's future. Meanwhile, a mod called 'Mafia 1899' has been created by NexusMods user M8Tmods, which enhances the game with new features and activities inspired by the Mafia franchise. This mod includes 13 mission types, such as protection rackets, wagon robberies, and assassinations, with several missions directly inspired by Mafia 1: Definitive Edition. Notable missions include the 'Police Files Heist,' 'Booze Wagon Heist,' 'Church of Holy Heist,' and 'Warehouse Heist.' The mod has received positive feedback from the community, with players expressing excitement and nostalgia for the new content. It integrates with the existing storylines of Arthur and John, and some players have suggested developing it into a standalone mode.