Konami is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Castlevania franchise by offering a free port of the original NES game on iOS and Android until October 24.
Norton, Bitdefender, and Malwarebytes have adjusted their antivirus products to mitigate the negative effects on gaming performance. In June 2026, Norton 360 and Bitdefender Total Security both received a perfect AV-TEST score of 18 out of 18, while Malwarebytes achieved a 100% real-world protection rate in AV-Comparatives testing, though it had more false positives. Bitdefender Total Security is recommended for gamers due to its low frame-rate impact of 0-2%, while Norton 360 offers features for streamers and competitive players, and Malwarebytes serves as a lightweight secondary scanner.
The value of gaming accounts has increased, making them targets for cybercriminals, with malware campaigns like Vidar 2.0 accounting for 41% of gaming-related malware detections. New malware families such as Katz and Bee specifically target Discord and gaming platforms.
In terms of performance, Norton showed a 2-3% FPS decrease in Cyberpunk 2077, while Bitdefender's impact was only 0-2%, and Malwarebytes had less than 1% impact. Norton and Bitdefender are tied in detection capabilities, both scoring 18/18 in AV-TEST, while Malwarebytes had a 92.4% offline detection rate and 98.3% online.
Norton includes a no-log VPN and gamer-tag monitoring, while Bitdefender offers identity protection without specific gamer-tag monitoring. Malwarebytes lacks a VPN and password manager. Pricing varies, with Norton starting at .99 for three devices, Bitdefender at .99 for one device, and Malwarebytes at .99 for one device.
To switch antivirus solutions, users should back up their license keys, use removal tools, and ensure game-aware modes are active. Each product has unique strengths: Norton excels in gamer-tag monitoring, Bitdefender minimizes CPU usage, and Malwarebytes is lightweight but lacks additional features.
Cybersecurity threats are on the rise, with Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report indicating that 48% of breaches involve ransomware and 31% arise from software vulnerabilities. A review of leading antivirus programs assessed their effectiveness against various threats.
Top antivirus software includes:
- Bitdefender: Best overall, effective against various threats, perfect score from AV-TEST.
- Norton 360: Best all-in-one suite, includes VPN and parental controls, perfect score from AV-TEST.
- McAfee+ Premium: Best for families, unlimited device coverage, full marks from AV-TEST.
- Malwarebytes: Best for simple protection, user-friendly interface, rated 5.5/6 by AV-TEST.
- ESET NOD32: Best for advanced users, lightweight and fast, includes Gamer Mode.
- Avast: Best free option, offers various scanning options, straightforward upgrade path.
- Microsoft Defender: Built-in for Windows, essential protection, perfect score from AV-TEST.
- Intego ONE: Best for Mac users, includes firewall and VPN.
- Surfshark Antivirus: Combines antivirus and VPN services, real-time protection.
- TotalAV: Best for beginners, combines antivirus with web security tools.
The evaluation process included lab data from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, hands-on experience, and criteria such as malware protection, false positives, system performance impact, phishing protection, ease of use, platform coverage, additional security features, and pricing.
Key metrics from antivirus lab tests include protection scores, false positives, and performance impact. The choice between antivirus software and internet security suites depends on individual needs. Antivirus software remains necessary, especially for Windows PCs, to complement other security measures.
Aniimo, a new creature-catching game, has been released on iPhone by Pawprint Studio. The game allows players to capture over 200 creatures known as Aniimo and merge with them to utilize their abilities for combat, traversal, and puzzle-solving. Aniimo has gained popularity with over 100,000 concurrent Steam players and positive reviews for its art style and combat mechanics. The mobile release offers full cross-platform play and cross-progression with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, as well as online co-op, PvP modes, and a Homeland system. The game is available for free on the App Store with in-app purchases and is accessible on Android, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
A small business is typically defined as one where the owner can personally name all employees, usually comprising a workforce of a few dozen. Licensing options for IT protection for small businesses vary, with Malwarebytes and Norton covering up to 20 devices, ESET offering plans for five to 25 devices, and Bitdefender providing options for three, five, ten, or 25 users. Avast and AVG allow licenses for one to 999 devices. All security suites support Windows, and most, except AVG, also support Mac devices. Four suites offer protection for Android and iOS devices, while Avast and AVG do not support mobile devices. Bitdefender, ESET, and Norton provide dedicated server editions, while Avast and AVG allow individual policy definitions for servers. Remote installation features vary in reliability, but all suites enable administrators to manage installations and monitor device status. Norton offers backup solutions and 500GB of shared hosted storage, while firewall protection is standard except for Malwarebytes. Bitdefender and ESET provide anti-theft systems for lost devices, and both ESET and Avast have measures against unauthorized device access. Malwarebytes and Norton offer 24/7 priority support, and Norton provides dark web monitoring for sensitive information.
BeXide has released Namco Legendary Mountains on iOS and Android, a Voxel-based puzzler where players match up iconic characters from Namco's classic coin-op era to create chains and prevent a stack from spilling over a bowl's edge.
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NAMCO LEGENDARY Mountains is a 3D puzzle game set to launch for iOS and Android on September 24, priced at .99. The game features classic Namco arcade games in voxel form, with players tossing, stacking, and merging Voxels to achieve high scores. Key features include dedicated stages and sounds from classic titles like DIG DUG and PAC-MAN, over 100 unique Voxels to collect, and online rankings for score attack.
Players in Aniimo take on the role of Pathfinders exploring Idyll and discovering over 200 magical creatures. The game's Twining mechanic allows players to merge with their Aniimo and control them directly, unlocking various abilities. The launch introduces new creatures like Squarrel, Squashel, and Sparkelf, along with different biomes, weather conditions, rarities, and forms for collecting Aniimo. Players can also customize their Homeland, farm resources, decorate their space, and enjoy multiplayer features with friends. Aniimo supports full cross-play and cross-progression between mobile, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, allowing players to switch platforms without losing progress. The game is available on iOS, Android, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, and aniimo.com, making it accessible for players at home or on the go.
