online Archives

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Mod activates split-screen support in Halo: Campaign Evolved PC that’s just sitting there, unused

The PC version of Halo: Campaign Evolved lacks split-screen functionality, which is available on Xbox and PS5. This absence has disappointed players, especially with the rise of living room PCs. A mod called "Halo Campaign Evolved Split-screen Coop," created by Jpurd123, allows for local split-screen play by utilizing existing code in the game. The mod supports only two-player split-screen and has been tested with the Steam version, leaving other platforms potentially unsupported. Additionally, both players must use controllers, as mixing input methods causes issues. Despite these limitations, the mod's quick development reflects the community's dedication to enhancing the gaming experience.

Tech Optimizer

July 29, 2026

They might have grown up online — but Gen Z are apparently far less likely to use antivirus, study finds

A recent survey by Kaspersky involving 7,200 respondents from 18 countries found that only 27% of Generation Z use antivirus software on their mobile devices. Additionally, 57% of Gen Z spend more time online than offline, yet many lack awareness of online safety principles. Alarmingly, 52% reported experiencing attacks on their devices or accounts, but few take necessary precautions. Only 28% regularly back up important personal data on their phones, and many neglect changing passwords. To address these issues, Kaspersky launched "Case 404," a cyber-detective adventure game aimed at improving cybersecurity awareness among Gen Z.

Tech Optimizer

July 29, 2026

After rewriting SQLite in Rust, Turso turns its sights on Postgres

Cloud database provider Turso is developing a Postgres-compatible implementation based on its SQLite-compatible database, which was created from scratch in Rust. CEO Glauber Costa believes Postgres can benefit from modernization for cloud-native applications. Turso's SQLite reimplementation, now called Turso, uses a virtual machine architecture that may eventually support other database frontends, including MySQL and Redis. The company initially forked SQLite into libSQL but later pivoted to a cloud service named Turso. They focused on a virtual machine architecture for their rewrite, which translates SQL queries into a custom bytecode language. Turso has developed a Postgres-compatible prototype named pgmicro, which aims to run existing applications with minimal modifications. The company is also working on a database-as-a-cloud service that will allow customers to use various database types on the Turso platform.

Tech Optimizer

July 29, 2026

Gen Z shows low cybersecurity awareness, Kaspersky study finds

A study by Kaspersky surveyed 7,200 Gen Z individuals across 18 countries and found that only 27% use mobile antivirus software, while 28% regularly back up their phone data. Many have experienced cyberattacks, with 17% reporting hacked social media accounts and 12% losing access to gaming accounts. The study highlights that compromised smartphones can expose sensitive personal information, increasing the risk of identity theft and financial fraud. Kaspersky has introduced an interactive online game, Case 404, to educate Gen Z on recognizing scams and phishing attempts.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Koei Tecmo Wants to Release 6 Console and PC Games, 19 Mid-Range Games Before March 2027

Koei Tecmo has launched successful titles like Nioh 3 and Pokémon Pokopia and is shifting focus from blockbuster releases to sustainable growth. The company plans to release six major console and PC titles, 19 mid-range titles, and two original online and mobile titles by March 2027. Major anticipated titles include Attack on Titan 3, which will have a unique opening animation produced by MAPPA, and Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember. Koei Tecmo's president expressed surprise at the success of Pokémon Pokopia, which exceeded initial expectations.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Blizzard’s former Battle.net lead is moving his expertise over to the Epic Games Store to ‘elevate player, creator, and developer experiences’

Epic Games has appointed Martin Keely as the new Vice President and General Manager of the Epic Games Store following Steve Allison's departure. Keely previously worked at Activision Blizzard for seven years, overseeing the Battle.net launcher. He expressed enthusiasm for his new role and aims to enhance player, creator, and developer experiences. The Epic Games Store faces challenges regarding user experience and competition, particularly as the company prepares for Unreal Engine 6 and seeks to improve cross-platform functionality.

Tech Optimizer

July 29, 2026

They might have grown up online — but Gen Z are apparently far less likely to use antivirus, study finds

A recent Kaspersky survey found that only 27% of Generation Z respondents use antivirus software on their mobile devices, despite 57% spending more time online than offline. The survey, which included 7,200 individuals from 18 countries, revealed that 52% have experienced attacks on their devices or accounts, and only 28% regularly back up important personal data. In response, Kaspersky launched "Case 404," a cyber-detective adventure game aimed at educating players about online security and helping them recognize scams and phishing attempts.

Winsage

July 28, 2026

Your Windows Recycle Bin is a privacy risk—here’s how to actually delete your files

The Recycle Bin in Windows, introduced in 1995, serves as a temporary storage for deleted files rather than permanently removing them. When a file is deleted, it is moved to the Recycle Bin, which requires manual emptying or activation of a Storage Sense policy to clear its contents. This can lead to reduced hard drive space for users unaware of its behavior. The Recycle Bin can contain sensitive information, and if someone gains access to a Microsoft account, they can view its contents. Even after emptying the Recycle Bin, data can be recovered unless overwritten, with different recovery processes for solid-state drives (SSDs) due to maintenance routines like the TRIM command. Risks extend beyond physical access, as compromised accounts or malware can access deleted files. To securely delete sensitive files, users can use the Shift + Del shortcut, file shredding applications, and consider encrypting their drives with BitLocker. Specialized shredders for SSDs exist, and users can optimize drives through Windows settings to manage data recovery risks.

Winsage

July 28, 2026

Why Does Windows Explorer Use So Much Memory?

A user on Reddit reported that Windows Explorer was using over 21GB of memory, which can cause performance issues on systems with less than 8GB of RAM. One cause of excessive memory consumption is third-party shell extensions, which can be identified by booting into Safe Mode. A tool called ShellExView can help locate problematic extensions. To create a system restore point, users can press Win + R, type systempropertiesprotection.exe, click Create, enter a description, and click Create. Windows Explorer may also retain large caches of temporary data, leading to high memory usage. To clear temporary files, users can press Win + I, navigate to System > Storage > Temporary files, check the relevant boxes, and click Remove files. They can also manually clean the thumbnail and icon cache by deleting specific files in the %localappdata% directory. Corrupted system files can contribute to high memory usage, and users can run DISM and SFC tools to repair these files by accessing the Terminal (admin) and executing the commands DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and sfc /scannow.

Tech Optimizer

July 27, 2026

What to look for in antivirus software without the jargon

Shopping for antivirus software can be overwhelming due to technical jargon and extensive feature lists. Key considerations for effective antivirus software include: - Real-time protection: The software should continuously monitor activities and provide automatic protection against threats. - Malware and ransomware blocking: It should defend against various online threats, including malware, spyware, and ransomware. - Firewall protection: A firewall should monitor and block suspicious connections to enhance security. - Performance: The software should operate quietly in the background without interrupting daily tasks. - Frequent updates: Regular updates are essential to combat evolving online threats. - Scam protection: The software should flag suspicious links and messages to prevent cyberattacks before they reach the device. When choosing antivirus software, prioritize these features to ensure effective protection without complicating your life.