monitor Archives

Tech Optimizer

September 10, 2026

Bitdefender Family parental control review

Bitdefender offers family plans that include comprehensive security features such as antivirus protection, a password manager, a VPN, and identity theft protection. Parental control features are integrated into these family plans rather than offered as standalone subscriptions. The Total Security Family plan costs .99 for the first year and supports up to 25 devices for five family members. The Premium Security Plan is priced at .99 for the first year and includes additional features like scam protection and a VPN. The Ultimate Security Family Plan and Ultimate Security Plus Family Plan are priced at .99 and .99, respectively, offering more extensive identity theft protection and credit monitoring. Key parental control features include screen-time scheduling, internet time management, age-appropriate content filtering, location tracking, Safe Search, and YouTube restrictions. The parental controls are compatible with Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS, though functionality may vary by platform. The setup requires physical access to the child's device, and after 2025, controls will be managed through the Bitdefender Central web dashboard. Bitdefender provides extensive customer support resources and 24/7 assistance via live chat, phone, or email. However, it lacks some advanced features found in dedicated parental control applications, such as social media monitoring and text/call monitoring.

Tech Optimizer

September 10, 2026

8 Antivirus (Endpoint Protection) Software for Business: Our Top Picks by Use Case (2026)

If you hold Microsoft 365 E5, you have access to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, which provides enterprise-grade endpoint protection at no additional cost. For organizations without a dedicated security specialist, Sophos is recommended for its user-friendly platform. CrowdStrike is suggested for those with a mature Security Operations Center (SOC) and sufficient budget. Other options include SentinelOne for mid-sized organizations needing automation, ESET for older hardware and virtual desktops, Avast Business for very small businesses, VIPRE for budget-conscious mixed estates, and Expel for tool-agnostic managed detection and response. Antivirus and EDR are now unified under a single agent, and organizations should inquire about update staging processes to avoid issues like those experienced in July 2024 with a major vendor's faulty content update. Independent tests from organizations like AV-Comparatives and AV-TEST are crucial for evaluating protection rates and false positives. Linux servers require attention as they are often targeted by ransomware. When deploying endpoint protection, avoid running two real-time agents simultaneously, activate prevention features promptly, and test deployments on critical applications first. Organizations should confirm their Microsoft licensing covers necessary features and ensure there is a plan for responding to alerts. Common pitfalls include neglecting identity management and failing to test response workflows before incidents occur.

Winsage

September 10, 2026

Windows 11’s last Secure Boot deadline is weeks away, here’s what you must do

Microsoft is continuing the rollout of Secure Boot certificate updates, with the next significant deadline on October 19, 2026, when the Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011 certificate expires. The September 2026 Patch Tuesday update has expanded eligibility for Secure Boot certificates to more PCs classified as “high confidence.” Users may need to reboot their PCs to install these updates, and some may require firmware updates beforehand. Microsoft has confirmed that the update process will persist beyond established deadlines, and older certificates are expiring in stages, with the first two deadlines having already passed. Users should ensure they have the latest updates installed and check their Secure Boot status in Windows Security. Microsoft has assured that PCs without the newer certificates will continue to boot normally and receive standard updates while the rollout continues.

Winsage

September 10, 2026

CVE-2026-85880 and CVE-2026-81963: Microsoft Patches Two Actively Exploited Windows Zero-Days

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday on September 8, 2026, addressed two critical Windows privilege escalation vulnerabilities: CVE-2026-85880 and CVE-2026-81963, both with a CVSS score of 7.8. CVE-2026-85880 is a heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC), allowing attackers with low-privilege local access to escalate privileges to SYSTEM. CVE-2026-81963 involves improper link resolution in the Windows Update Stack, enabling similar privilege escalation. Both vulnerabilities require no user interaction and have been actively exploited prior to the patch release. CISA added them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on September 8, 2026, with a remediation deadline of September 22 for U.S. federal agencies. CVE-2026-85880 affects various Windows 10 and Server versions but excludes Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. CVE-2026-81963 impacts newer Windows platforms, including Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Microsoft released security updates for both vulnerabilities on September 8, 2026, and organizations are advised to prioritize these updates. Security teams should monitor for signs of privilege escalation and unusual SYSTEM-level activities related to these vulnerabilities.

AppWizard

September 10, 2026

How to Delete Your Digital Footprint From the Internet: A Complete Guide

Android privacy tools allow users to control camera access, microphone use, location permissions, and app activity, but they only protect information managed on the device or connected services. A digital footprint extends beyond the device, with personal information remaining accessible through search results, social media profiles, and data broker listings even after permissions are changed. To manage this footprint, users should identify publicly visible information, review old accounts, and delete unnecessary records. Simply deleting an Android app does not erase the associated account, which may retain personal data. Users should actively close unused online accounts to maintain digital hygiene. Data brokers publish personal information that cannot be removed through Android privacy settings, requiring users to follow an opt-out process to remove their data. While Android privacy settings are important, they do not eliminate external records. Data breaches require vigilance, including changing compromised credentials and monitoring for suspicious activity. Removing the source of information is more effective than just eliminating search results, and legal rights may exist in some regions for personal data removal. Completely erasing a digital footprint is rarely feasible due to public records and the persistence of past posts. The goal should be to minimize irrelevant content while retaining useful accounts. Users should begin by deleting information they control, then address data brokers and public profiles.

BetaBeacon

September 9, 2026

Android Studio vs Genymotion vs BlueStacks 5 [2026]

Android Studio Emulator is the official Android SDK tooling maintained by Google for app developers to test code against specific Android API levels, screen densities, and hardware profiles.

Winsage

September 9, 2026

Four Spy Groups Used the Same Chrome and Windows Exploit Kit Within a Week

Recent investigations have identified the BlueMoon exploit kit, used by espionage-driven threat activity clusters, particularly linked to APT31, a China-aligned state-sponsored group, since August 28, 2026. BlueMoon exploits three vulnerabilities: CVE-2026-85046 (a type confusion vulnerability in Google Chrome's V8 engine), an unassigned V8 sandbox escape, and CVE-2026-85880 (a heap-based buffer overflow in Windows ALPC). Google and Microsoft have released patches for these vulnerabilities, which were exploited as "patch-gap" zero-days. The attack vectors typically begin with phishing emails that lead victims to malicious URLs, triggering the vulnerabilities for code execution and privilege escalation. Variants of BlueMoon have been detected, featuring modifications for specific campaigns. Notable attack chains include: - APT31 targeting NGOs and mining firms in the U.S. with a malicious browser add-on called GemStone. - UNK_LateNight targeting U.S. aerospace companies, deploying BlueMoon alongside the ShadowPad backdoor. - UNK_DoubleCheck targeting a Vietnamese manufacturer, using DLL sideloading to execute a Rust binary. - UNK_QuietRacket targeting government and financial organizations in Indonesia and Singapore, modifying BlueMoon to execute a .NET assembly. CISA added the Chrome flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on September 4, 2026, requiring federal agencies to apply patches by September 18, 2026. Indicators of compromise include specific process trees, files, folders, scheduled tasks, mutexes, and registry keys. Proofpoint has released detection rules to help organizations identify and mitigate these threats.

AppWizard

September 9, 2026

Attorney General Tong Announces Investigation Into “Predator’s Paradise” Kik Messenger App

Attorney General William Tong has launched an investigation into MediaLab.AI Inc., the parent company of the messaging app Kik, following allegations of inadequate age verification and content moderation practices. Kik has been criticized for its reputation as a platform for sexual abuse, exploitation, and bullying, particularly among minors, with over one-third of American teens reportedly using the app. A 2025 report ranked Kik as the second worst app for extreme sexual content and the third worst for severe bullying, and the app has been included on the National Center on Child Exploitation's "Dirty Dozen" list. Despite claims of restricting new users to those aged 18 and older as of September 2023, evidence suggests that Kik continued to market to younger audiences, and the app maintained a "Teen" rating until early 2025. The Attorney General's office issued a notice of violation to MediaLab in July 2025 for deficiencies in Kik’s privacy practices and has issued a civil investigative demand for further records related to data processing and content moderation. This investigation is part of a broader effort to protect children from online threats in Connecticut.

AppWizard

September 9, 2026

Gigabud Uses Android App Cloning to Evade Fraud Detection

The Gigabud Android banking trojan can clone banking applications into a separate Android work profile, allowing fraudsters to bypass malware alerts during transactions. Research by Group-IB, released on September 9, indicates that Gigabud is used with Vwork, a modified app for cloning, attributed to the GoldFactory group. The infection has been confirmed in Indonesia but targets 11 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, Thailand, and Turkiye. Vwork uses Android's Work Profile feature to isolate cloned apps, making them less detectable. This allows operators to install malware, clone banking apps, and execute transactions without raising alarms. During fraud, fake login screens capture credentials, and an invisible overlay collects lock screen codes. From February to July 2026, 1,469 devices were compromised in Indonesia, with financial losses nearing 0,939. Gigabud spreads through phishing and social media, requesting permissions to control devices. Group-IB identified six behavioral signals for banks to monitor as indicators of high-risk sessions. Recommendations include device binding and downloading apps only from official stores.

Winsage

September 9, 2026

Announcing new builds for 8 September 2026

New Insider Preview builds for Windows 11 are being released for the Beta and Experimental channels, featuring enhancements aimed at improving user experience. 1. Cross-device resume improvements: Users can now continue browsing on their PC from where they left off on their phone, with options to open the webpage in the PC's default browser or install the phone's browser if not already present. 2. Narrator: The Narrator feature has been upgraded to include math reading and navigation support, enhancing accessibility for users who are blind or have low vision, especially in STEM fields. 3. Magnifier: The Magnifier tool now allows each display to maintain its own zoom level, enabling users to set different zoom percentages for multiple screens, improving comfort and clarity when working across different resolutions.