network Archives

AppWizard

May 6, 2026

Minecraft Expands Experiences Ahead of Licensing Expo

Minecraft has over 200 global partners across various sectors, including apparel, food, collectibles, and creative play, as it approaches Licensing Expo 2026. Recent collaborations include an apparel line with Cool Shirtz, a partnership with Adidas, and a global fashion collection with OppoSuits. New product categories include Actimel products in Europe, Sticki Rolls, STEM-focused activity kits from Horizon Group USA, and a plush collaboration with Ty. The brand is expanding into location-based entertainment with the upcoming Minecraft Experience: Moonlight Trail and a themed land, Minecraft World, set to open at Chessington World of Adventures in 2027. A sequel to A Minecraft Movie is in development with Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, along with a new animated series for Netflix. Minecraft will be present at Licensing Expo at booth No. J98-J103.

Tech Optimizer

May 5, 2026

Intego ONE

Intego has released Intego ONE, a rebranded antivirus solution for Mac users that combines antivirus capabilities with a firewall. The product has received a 97.1% malware detection score in independent lab tests, although it lacks phishing protection, a feature offered by competitors like Norton and Bitdefender. Intego ONE has a tiered pricing structure, with the Essential tier costing .99 annually and providing antivirus and firewall protection, while the Advanced tier, which includes the SmartClean system cleanup tool, costs .99. The top-tier Complete subscription, which includes a VPN, is priced at .99 annually. Intego offers a 7-day free trial for potential customers. The software installation is straightforward, requiring Full Disk Access for optimal functionality. Intego's firewall is integrated into the main application for easier user interaction. The SmartClean feature aims to optimize system performance but may not justify its additional cost for all users. The VPN included in the Complete tier is user-friendly but may be priced higher than standalone options.

Winsage

May 5, 2026

Unpatched flaws turn Ollama’s auto-updater into a persistent RCE vector, researchers say

Researchers at Striga have identified two vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-42248 and CVE-2026-42249) in Ollama’s Windows auto-updater that could allow an attacker to install a persistent executable that runs at user login. CVE-2026-42248 fails to properly verify signatures of downloaded content, while CVE-2026-42249 is a path traversal flaw that allows an attacker to inject malicious code into the user's Startup folder. Exploitation requires control over the update response, with potential methods including compromising the update infrastructure or redirecting the client. The vulnerabilities affect Ollama versions 0.12.10 through 0.17.5, and users are advised to disable auto-updates and remove shortcuts from the Startup folder to mitigate risks.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

FEMITBOT Network Abuses Telegram Mini Apps for Crypto Scams and Android Malware

A fraud network called FEMITBOT has emerged, using Telegram's Mini App feature to conduct investment scams and distribute malware. Identified by the research firm CTM360, the network operates through API responses and presents itself as organized. The scams involve Telegram Mini Apps that display phishing pages, fake dashboards showing fictitious earnings, and urgency tactics to pressure users into making quick decisions. FEMITBOT mimics well-known brands like Apple and Coca-Cola to enhance credibility and disseminates Android malware disguised as legitimate applications. The operation is highly organized, utilizing marketing tools to optimize their scams. Users are warned to be cautious of bots requesting deposits before granting access to funds.

BetaBeacon

May 5, 2026

ScarCruft hackers push BirdCall Android malware via game platform

APT37, also known as ScarCruft and Ricochet Chollima, has developed an Android version of the backdoor BirdCall, which serves as spyware in addition to a backdoor. The malware was delivered through a Chinese website that hosts games for Android, iOS, and Windows, targeting only Android and Windows systems. The Android variant of BirdCall has capabilities such as extracting IP geolocation information, collecting contact lists, call logs, SMS data, device information, taking screenshots, recording audio, and exfiltrating files. Users are advised to download software only from official marketplaces and trusted publisher sites to protect against malware infections.

Tech Optimizer

May 3, 2026

TigerFS Mounts PostgreSQL As Transactional Filesystem

TigerFS is an open-source project introduced on April 4, 2026, by Michael Freedman, the CTO of TigerData. It allows users to mount a PostgreSQL database as a POSIX-like filesystem, storing database rows as individual files while ensuring ACID guarantees. Key features include an MIT license, support for both file-first and data-first workflows, mounting options using FUSE on Linux and NFS on macOS, and integration with standard Unix tools.

Winsage

May 2, 2026

“Xbox mode is easily the headline feature”: In May’s Windows 11 update, I walk through the 11 upgrades that change how we use the OS, and why some of them surprised me

Microsoft will begin rolling out the May 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 on May 12, 2026. Key features of this update include: 1. Xbox Mode: Transforms PCs into a console-like experience, prioritizing system resources for gaming and freeing up to 2GB of memory. 2. Voice Typing Improvements: Redesign of Voice Typing elements on the touch keyboard. 3. New Arabic 101 Legacy Keyboard Layout: Available for addition from the Region page in Settings. 4. Drop Tray Changes: Renamed from Drag Tray and can be disabled in Settings > System > Multitasking. 5. Taskbar AI Agents Support: Allows monitoring of AI agents directly from the Taskbar, starting with the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. 6. Debloat Policy with Dynamic List Support: Enables administrators to specify additional apps for removal beyond the default list. 7. Windows Driver Policy Update: Changes how the kernel manages trust for third-party drivers, eliminating default trust for cross-signed drivers. 8. Batch File Security Changes: Enhances security for batch files and Command Prompt scripts, with an option for a hardened processing mode. 9. Format FAT32 up to 2TB: The format command-line tool now supports formatting volumes up to 2TB using FAT32.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Hit cowboy co-op shooter’s servers are struggling, developer says its service provider ‘is currently drinking mojitos instead of helping’

Progress is being made on the game Far Far West, developed by Evil Raptor, which has launched on Steam. The servers are operational, but some promotional codes are experiencing issues. The studio is working on a fix and exploring a workaround for online gameplay. A patch addressing server challenges is available on the beta branch, and players are encouraged to participate in testing. Far Far West has sold over 250,000 copies within two days of release and has an "overwhelmingly positive" rating on Steam from over 8,900 reviews. The game can be played solo or with friends using session codes or direct invites through Steam. A dedicated Beta Discord channel has been established for player feedback.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era sold 250,000 copies and ‘broke even on development costs’ in 1 day

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era sold over 250,000 copies within its first day of early access. It received 91% positive reviews from more than 3,500 user reviews on Steam, achieving a "very positive" overall rating. The game reached a peak concurrent player count of nearly 52,000 on Steam and is currently among the top-selling games on the platform. The first patch for the game has been released, which includes bug fixes, network enhancements, balance adjustments, and localization fixes.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

April Xbox Update: Customize Your Console, Manually Add Your Favorite Games on PC, and More.

Users can now customize console colors by adjusting sliders for a unique hue, which will accentuate elements of the console interface. Quick Resume has been enhanced to allow disabling on a per-game basis. The Play History feature has been revamped with a new tab for easier access. A User Selected Resolution feature lets players choose streaming resolution, while a Network Quality Indicator provides real-time network health insights. PC gamers can manually add any installed game or app to their Xbox library. Users can pin up to three favorite games for quick access. A Gamepad Cursor feature allows navigation in non-controller apps. Xbox notifications can be repositioned on the Game Bar. The Xbox mobile app now includes wishlist alerts for game changes. Recent updates for the ROG Xbox Ally improve external display experiences. Microsoft Rewards is hosting a Total Prize Drop event with prizes up to ,000,000. The Handheld Compatibility Program has expanded, adding titles like Hades II as handheld optimized. Xbox Cloud Gaming now includes over 1,000 games for streaming.