logging Archives

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Microsoft says October updates didn’t actually fix VPN issues

Microsoft has acknowledged ongoing connection issues with its Always On VPN feature, which were initially reported as resolved in the October 2026 cumulative updates for Windows 11. However, these issues persist, particularly affecting users with automatic protocol selection using IKEv2 and SSTP. A service alert revealed that the bug was mistakenly marked as resolved and has since been changed to "Mitigated." Microsoft is working on a proper fix and has provided a temporary workaround for affected users by advising IT administrators to select a single tunneling protocol instead of automatic protocol selection. The September cumulative updates have also caused various other problems for users, prompting Microsoft to release emergency out-of-band updates to address critical issues.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

How to Change Windows 11 Clock Font, Size, and Color

Windows 11 does not provide built-in options to customize the taskbar clock's font, size, or color. To achieve this, users need a third-party tool called Windhawk along with its Taskbar Clock Customization mod. Testing on Windows 11 Pro version 25H2 confirmed that the mod allows changes to the clock's font family, size, weight, and color. The mod requires Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 (version 22H2 or newer) and must be installed from windhawk.net. Users need internet access for the initial mod load, as Windhawk downloads necessary debug symbols. Windhawk is open-source, and while generally safe, code injection may trigger antivirus alerts. Users can revert to the default clock by disabling or removing the mod through Windhawk.

Winsage

October 20, 2026

Latest Windows update disables key security setting – but there’s a workaround

Microsoft's October update for Windows 11, released on October 13, has caused a glitch that disables the Smart App Control feature for some users. This feature, introduced in 2022, is intended to block harmful applications and files. Microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. Users can check if they are affected by navigating to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control settings. If the option is set to Off and the On option is grayed out, they have encountered the bug. A temporary workaround involves executing specific commands in the command prompt to modify the Windows Registry, which may allow users to enable Smart App Control again after rebooting their PC.

AppWizard

October 20, 2026

Is the Lloyds Banking app down? Hundreds reports issues

Customers are experiencing difficulties logging into and using the Lloyds Bank app, with a significant increase in reports on Downdetector. The problems began shortly before 7 AM and have worsened throughout the morning. Users have expressed their frustrations on social media, reporting issues such as being unable to send money, freezing during usage, and difficulties accessing the app.

Tech Optimizer

October 20, 2026

Switch Antivirus Software: 13 Steps, Zero Gaps [2026]

ESET rebranded its home security lineup in 2026, introducing ESET HOME Security Essential and Premium, and added automatic ransomware backup to its Ultimate plan. The NOD32 engine was updated to version 19.2 on August 27, 2026. IPVanish launched a next-generation antivirus product on October 7, 2026, built on the VIPRE engine and integrated into its VPN application. Many Australians are reconsidering their antivirus options due to discrepancies between current product names and older installations. A comprehensive 13-step guide has been developed to facilitate the transition to new antivirus software, addressing potential risks such as performance issues from running multiple engines, improper uninstallation, and loss of license keys. In 2026, ESET introduced features like a Website Security Inspector and a Microphone Monitor, while IPVanish's antivirus includes real-time anti-ransomware protection and machine-learning threat detection. Security.org's 2025 report indicated that 84% of users made no changes to their antivirus software over the past year, with many only reconsidering when faced with price increases or product discontinuations. The choice between paid and free antivirus solutions is significant, with 54% of third-party users paying for their software. ESET's Ultimate tier is the only one that includes ransomware backup features. Before switching antivirus products, users should ensure they are running compatible operating systems, have administrator access, document current and new antivirus version numbers, and have a stable internet connection. A PowerShell command can check the current antivirus status. Steps for migration include auditing current antivirus features, choosing a suitable replacement, exporting license keys, and using official removal tools to uninstall the old software. After installation, users should verify real-time protection is active and rebuild exclusions and scan schedules. Common pitfalls during migration include failing to uninstall the old antivirus completely, forgetting to disable tamper protection, and losing exclusion lists. For mobile devices, permissions from the old antivirus must be cleared to avoid conflicts. Advanced users managing multiple devices may benefit from staggering migrations and checking for known vulnerabilities in the antivirus products. A PowerShell script can be created to log the antivirus state before and after migration.

BetaBeacon

October 20, 2026

Forza Horizon (v0.6.0 Update) | Android Port

Google has introduced a passive sign-in feature for YouTube users, allowing them to stay signed in to their accounts without actively logging in each time they visit the site.

BetaBeacon

October 16, 2026

DroidDeck Setup: Play Steam Games on Android [2026]

DroidDeck is a project that allows users to run a real Steam client on their Android device, enabling them to access and play their existing Steam library without the need for a strong, low-latency network connection or a gaming PC. The latest version, 0.4.0, includes multi-storefront logins, four-controller local co-op support, and a KDE Plasma-style desktop interface. Users need to ensure their device meets specific hardware requirements, including having an Adreno GPU, sufficient RAM, and free storage space.

AppWizard

October 12, 2026

Adding WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Email Chats to an Android App Without Rebuilding Each One

Field sales applications, recruitment tools, and property management systems can integrate with messaging platforms on Android devices, addressing the need for users to view conversations directly within the app. A unified messaging API simplifies the integration process for developers, as each messaging channel has distinct authentication methods and message formats. The Android application should only communicate with a backend that interacts with the messaging API for security, event handling, and policy enforcement. Users can link their accounts through a hosted authentication link, reducing coding efforts. The unified API supports various platforms, including WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Telegram, Instagram, Gmail, and Outlook. When a message arrives, the messaging API triggers a webhook, and the relay service verifies the request, stores the message, identifies users, and sends push notifications via Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM). To ensure functionality in offline scenarios, the app should render conversation lists from local storage and manage outgoing messages with a WorkManager. Attachments should be handled efficiently by listing them as metadata and downloading them on demand, while uploads should involve client-side compression and resumable requests. By following this approach, developers maintain a single conversation model and sync engine, abstracting complexities associated with multiple messaging providers.

Tech Optimizer

October 10, 2026

How and why we built Managed PostgreSQL for AI workloads

The Nebius Managed PostgreSQL team developed a solution for AI workloads using CloudNativePG and Kubernetes, resulting in improved backup and restore times by transitioning from Barman to WAL-G, reducing a 1.5 TB backup duration from over a day to two hours. Since its launch in 2025, the service supports hundreds of production clusters and manages tens of tebibytes of data. Key features include high availability, point-in-time recovery, automated failover, compressed and encrypted backups, rapid restoration, connection pooling, and strict synchronous replication for zero data loss. Kubernetes and CloudNativePG were chosen for their advantages, including out-of-the-box features and open-source distribution. Each cloud project has a separate MK8s cluster for customer isolation and security. Persistent data is stored on fault-tolerant SSD drives, enabling swift instance migration during failures. Regular physical backups are archived, allowing restoration within a seven-day window with a single click. The transition from Barman to WAL-G addressed slow backup and restoration times and resource control limitations. With WAL-G, backups and restorations for a 1.5 TB cluster improved to two hours and one hour, respectively. PgBouncer was implemented to manage database connections effectively, reducing connection storms during peak AI workload traffic. Two vector search extensions, pgvector and pgvectorscale, are available to cater to different memory and dataset needs. Benchmarking showed that Nebius performs competitively with AWS at a lower cost. The infrastructure integrates cloud engineering principles with specialized expertise to meet AI workload demands.

BetaBeacon

October 8, 2026

Yes, You Can Play Steam Games On Your Android Phone

- GameNative software allows users to play Steam games on their Android devices - Installation process involves downloading the .APK file from the GameNative GitHub page - Users need to enable "Install unknown apps" functionality in their phone's settings - After installation, users can log into their Steam account through the GameNative app - Users can search their Steam library, install games onto their Android device, and play them - GameNative community provides a list of supported games and offers help through its Discord page - Users need to be connected to a network to play games, but offline play is also possible