monitoring Archives

Winsage

June 12, 2026

Microsoft’s bug-hunting nemesis extends vendetta with more zero-day attacks — Nightmare Eclipse publishes RoguePlanet and GreatXML local privilege escalation exploits

Nightmare-Eclipse, also known as Chaotic-Eclipse, has introduced two new exploits: RoguePlanet and GreatXML. RoguePlanet exploits a vulnerability in Windows Defender, allowing attackers to gain SYSTEM user access privileges by tricking a user into executing a script. This access enables attackers to execute commands beyond standard Administrator capabilities, siphon sensitive data, and install malware. GreatXML provides a method for bypassing BitLocker encryption by creating a specially crafted "unattend.xml" file and a "Recovery" directory on the Windows recovery partition. Microsoft has shifted its stance from threatening legal action against Eclipse and is now monitoring the situation, while Eclipse has postponed a planned mass disclosure of zero-day Windows vulnerabilities initially set for July 14 due to delays in developing RoguePlanet.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Time to get a little sadder about Destiny 2: TWIDs are coming to an end

Destiny 2 has launched the Monument of Triumph update, marking the end of its live service updates. The update was well-received and rolled out smoothly, with Bungie promising to monitor performance and release an incremental patch for any issues. Players have shared stories of their dedication, including one who ignored tornado warnings to complete a raid. The community has enjoyed weekly updates and discussions, creating cherished memories as the game transitions to a new phase.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2026

Avast One: Security and privacy suite under the microscope

Avast One is the flagship consumer security suite from Avast (Gen Digital), combining antivirus, firewall, VPN, and privacy utilities into a single subscription for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It offers four primary areas: device security, online privacy, identity protection, and performance tools. Device security includes real-time antivirus, Web Shield, Mail Shield, and Ransomware Shield. The online privacy component features a full VPN service with bank-grade encryption and a no-logs policy. Identity protection includes data breach monitoring and, in some markets, credit monitoring. Performance tools assist with disk cleanup and system optimization. Avast One has three plan tiers: Avast One Essential (free), Avast One Individual (paid, supports multiple devices), and Avast One Family (paid, supports up to 30 devices). Pricing varies based on promotions, with Avast One Individual typically around per year and Avast One Family ranging from to 0 per year. The suite can be downloaded directly from Avast's website, with installers available for various platforms. Avast One includes automatic updates and is designed to operate lightly on modern hardware, with options to minimize system impact during scans. Customer support includes self-help documentation, community forums, and direct support for paying customers. Avast One aims to appeal to both non-technical users and power users, providing a user-friendly interface while allowing for advanced configurations. The product is positioned as a comprehensive solution for households looking to secure multiple devices with a single subscription.

Winsage

June 11, 2026

Windows 11 Sucks Slightly Less Now, Thanks To A June Update

The June update for Windows 11, identified as KB5094126 (OS Builds 26200.8655 and 26100.8655), introduces significant enhancements and numerous bug fixes and security patches. A key feature is a low-latency profile that improves responsiveness of core system elements like the Start Menu and Search by allowing the CPU to quickly reach maximum clock speed upon user interaction. This update also refines the Start Menu, improves app launch speeds, and addresses longstanding issues such as faster downloads from the Windows Store and optimized Windows Search results. New features include multi-app camera support, Shared Audio functionality for streaming to multiple Bluetooth devices, and the ability to personalize user folder names during installation. Additionally, the update resolves 206 security vulnerabilities, including a critical kernel-level remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2026-45657) with a threat score of 9.8.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Windows 11’s new performance boosting Low Latency mode is now available, and here’s what it does

The latest Windows 11 update includes the Low Latency Profile feature, which enhances performance for certain applications by temporarily increasing CPU speed for brief intervals. Currently, only Microsoft's applications and native Windows 11 features can utilize this capability, but third-party applications may be able to in the future. The update, identified as KB5094126, is necessary to activate the feature, which operates quietly in the background. Users can verify the feature's functionality by ensuring the update is installed and can conduct tests to observe changes in CPU clock speed. Personal experiences with the feature show varying degrees of improvement in responsiveness, particularly on older systems.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

Intel XPU Manager 2.0 Overhauls Windows & Linux Management For Arc Pro GPUs

Intel has released XPU Manager 2.0, enhancing software for monitoring and managing data center GPUs on Windows and Linux. Key improvements include a streamlined codebase, enhanced support for network interface cards (NICs), a revamped dashboard for the xpu-smi command, and a complete rewrite of the XPU Manager daemon in Go. The software now supports the OpenTelemetry data format but has retired the REST API and does not include the XPU Manager C API in this release. Officially supported graphics cards are the Intel Arc Pro B50, B60, B65, and B70. Compatibility is provided for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS, with limited support for Microsoft Windows Server 2022.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

Microsoft releases Windows 10 KB5094127 extended security update

Microsoft has released the Windows 10 KB5094127 extended security update, which addresses vulnerabilities identified during the June 2026 Patch Tuesday and enhances monitoring of updated Secure Boot certificates. Users on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC or enrolled in the ESU program can install it via the Windows Update settings. The update upgrades Windows 10 to build 19045.7417 and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 to build 19044.7417. It focuses on security enhancements and bug fixes, resolving a total of 200 vulnerabilities, including three zero-day flaws. Key features include improved File Explorer search functionality for Chinese text and UTF-8 encoded files, dynamic status reporting for Secure Boot states, a new policy setting to limit Secure Boot service data sent to Microsoft, and enhanced targeting data for automatic receipt of new Secure Boot certificates. A known issue may cause BitLocker recovery notifications on certain systems, particularly those with specific BitLocker Group Policy settings. Microsoft recommends removing the Group Policy setting and suspending/resuming BitLocker as a temporary fix.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

Windows 11’s CPU performance boost released today, enable it using these steps

Microsoft's June 2026 Patch Tuesday update, KB5094126, introduced the Low Latency Profile feature in Windows 11, aimed at improving responsiveness of core shell experiences like the Start menu and Action Center. This feature optimizes CPU performance by allowing it to quickly reach maximum frequency for one to three seconds during user interactions, enhancing the speed of actions such as opening the Start menu. Users must install the update and may need to enable the feature manually using ViVeTool if it is not activated automatically. The Low Latency Profile is designed to work without significantly impacting battery life or thermal performance. Other enhancements in the update include Shared Audio for Bluetooth headphones, Multi-App Camera functionality, and improved Task Manager capabilities.

Tech Optimizer

June 9, 2026

I trusted Malwarebytes to secure my PC for a month

Malwarebytes is an effective antivirus solution that provides robust protection against cyber threats, identified and blocked threats efficiently during usage. The software features a user-friendly interface with a Dashboard that includes tools such as a system scanner, VPN, and Trusted Advisor, which assesses system security. The Privacy, Identity, Tools, and Scam Guard sections offer additional functionalities, including monitoring for data breaches and identifying fraudulent emails. Malwarebytes operates with minimal CPU resource usage while effectively blocking malware and phishing attempts. An independent evaluation by MRG Effitas confirmed its high performance, earning a Level 1 certification. Pricing for Malwarebytes Premium starts at an annual fee for the Standard plan, with additional options available.

Winsage

June 8, 2026

Microsoft answers what you must do as Windows 11 Secure Boot deadline hits in days

The expiration date of the original Microsoft Secure Boot KEK certificate is June 24, 2026. Microsoft held a live "Ask Microsoft Anything" session on June 4 to address concerns regarding this deadline. The expiration affects the KEK key, while the DB key remains valid until October. After June 24, Microsoft will not be able to sign new DBX payloads, which are necessary for revoking compromised bootloaders. Devices without the new KEK may miss future revocations, leading to decreased security but will not stop booting immediately. The June Patch Tuesday update is expected to classify most systems as high confidence. IT administrators are advised to use the Intune monitoring report for device status and updates. Devices in a "temporarily paused" status require OEM firmware updates. Administrators should not delay manual rollouts for devices outside the high confidence classification. Secure Boot must be enabled to update certificates, and re-enabling it later can pose risks. Older models may receive high confidence classification faster than newer ones due to statistical requirements. In PXE boot environments, caution is needed when updating bootloaders. The Secure Boot update mechanism is consistent across Windows 10 and 11, and event logs are important diagnostic tools. Key event log entries include 1801, 1802, and 1803, which indicate various device statuses and issues. Microsoft provides resources at aka.ms/GetSecureBoot for further guidance.