pop-up ads Archives

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft might be sick of hearing “When is Windows 12 coming?” — but Windows 10’s death remains the hot topic for most users

Microsoft introduced Windows 11 over three years ago as the successor to Windows 10, which will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025. Windows 11 currently holds a market share of 43.72%, while Windows 10 has 52.94%. Users are gradually transitioning to Windows 11, influenced by the impending support deadline for Windows 10. A recent update for Windows 11 added new features, but there is speculation about Windows 12, which Microsoft has not confirmed. User sentiment reflects more concern about the end of Windows 10 support than excitement for Windows 12. In response, Microsoft is promoting Windows 11 through ads and highlighting the benefits of Copilot+ PCs, which claim to outperform older devices.

Tech Optimizer

March 10, 2025

Refunds Headed to Users Who Fell for Fake Antivirus, Computer Repair Scams

Restoro and Reimage will pay over million to settle allegations of misleading consumers into subscribing to their computer repair services. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it will distribute 6,375 to over 700,000 affected consumers, particularly older adults, who were misled by deceptive pop-up ads claiming their computers had issues. The FTC's investigation revealed that these companies provided false antivirus alerts and recommended expensive repair plans. Payments to eligible consumers will be issued via PayPal on March 13 and 14, with recipients advised to redeem their payments within 30 days. Both companies are now prohibited from misrepresenting security or performance issues and engaging in deceptive telemarketing practices, and their websites have been taken offline.

Winsage

February 10, 2025

Bill Gates says he’d “hide from the press” if former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer traded “the new and hot OS” for Windows 10

Mark Cuban humorously compared the hypothetical trading of Mavericks player Luka Dončić to Microsoft trading Windows 11 for Windows 10 during a conversation with Bill Gates. Gates reflected on his journey with Microsoft, admitting he didn't recognize the company's success until the late 1990s. As Microsoft plans to phase out Windows 10 by October 14, 2025, it still holds a 60.33% market share compared to Windows 11's 36.65%. Many users prefer Windows 10 due to factors such as the current state of the PC market, strict system requirements for Windows 11, and reported design flaws in Windows 11. A public interest research group has filed a petition against ending support for Windows 10, citing that over 40% of users still rely on it. Microsoft remains committed to its timeline, but users can extend support for Windows 10 through the Extended Security Updates program for an additional year.

Winsage

February 7, 2025

Microsoft tries again with aggressive tactics against Google and Chrome, touting Edge’s “world-class performance” with a pop-up ad promo

Microsoft is intensifying efforts to promote Bing and Edge, encouraging users to stay loyal to Edge while searching for the Google Web Store via Bing. A pop-up message promotes Edge's advantages, contrasting with straightforward Google Search results that lack similar ads. Microsoft is also using its Bing Wallpaper app to recommend Bing as the default search engine and automatically adding the Bing extension to Chrome. The company has faced criticism for mimicking Google's interface, including replicating the Google Doodle, which Google Chrome lead Parisa Tabriz described as a "new low." Mozilla has raised concerns about Microsoft's misleading designs giving Edge an unfair advantage. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged that Google generates more revenue from Windows than Microsoft does.

Tech Optimizer

February 2, 2025

Microsoft thinks it could stop this dangerous scam forever

Microsoft has launched a new ‘Scareware blocker’ feature for Edge web browsers on Windows PCs, designed to enhance user protection against tech support scams. This machine learning threat detection software identifies signs of scareware in real-time and aims to reduce the prevalence of such scams, which cost victims millions annually according to the FBI. The technology analyzes new websites and uses a SmartScreen feature for global protection, processing information locally without uploading images to the cloud. When a potential threat is detected, Edge exits full-screen mode, stops aggressive audio playback, and alerts the user. Users can report malicious sites or inaccuracies to improve the model. The feature is available to all Edge users upon updating their browser.

AppWizard

December 16, 2024

Android users warned of chilling Russian spy attack that records phone calls

Recent findings from Lookout reveal malware targeting Android devices, specifically designed to record phone calls and access personal photos. This malware is hidden in counterfeit versions of popular apps like Telegram and Samsung Knox. Two strains identified are BoneSpy, operational since 2021, and PlainGnome, discovered earlier this year, both linked to the Gamaredon group associated with Russia's FSB, primarily targeting Russian-speaking users. BoneSpy can collect text messages, record audio and calls, capture location data, take pictures, access browser history, and read notifications. PlainGnome includes all these features but operates more stealthily, recording audio and calls only when the device is idle, making detection less likely. Neither strain has been found on Google Play, suggesting victims install it through social engineering attacks. Signs of infection include being signed out of Google accounts, persistent pop-up ads, alerts about viruses, malfunctioning antivirus software, decreased device speed, unexpected storage loss, and unauthorized changes to browser settings. Users may also notice their contacts receiving messages they did not send.

AppWizard

November 19, 2024

These are the Android apps I ditched, and for good reason

Many users have transitioned from one app to another for reasons such as enhanced features, improved usability, or a fresh start. - A user switched from Evernote to Notion due to Evernote's limitations, including lack of customization and device syncing issues. Notion offered greater flexibility and a user-friendly interface. - Another user moved from Microsoft To Do to Todoist because of the absence of natural language processing in Microsoft To Do, which made task management cumbersome. Todoist provided natural language recognition and a more appealing design. - The transition from ChatGPT to Gemini was motivated by Gemini's extensions that improved productivity within Google's ecosystem, allowing seamless access to various tools. - A user shifted from Google News to Feedly for better customization, as Feedly allowed them to curate their news sources more effectively. - The switch from Yahoo Finance to Koyfin was due to Koyfin's intuitive interface and focus on market data, which users found clearer and more helpful for investment decisions. - Lastly, a user transitioned from Pocket Casts to Spotify for convenience, as Spotify consolidated their music and podcast listening experience.

Winsage

November 14, 2024

Microsoft’s ‘helpful’ Edge pop-up strikes again, and it’s long past time for a chat about boundaries

The Edge web browser has started launching automatically for Windows 11 users, disregarding their default browser preferences, as part of Microsoft's strategy to promote Edge. Users are receiving full-screen notifications suggesting they import data from their preferred browser, with the option to agree pre-selected, making it easy to switch to Edge unintentionally. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that this notification was intentional, allowing users to import data. However, opting out of the auto-start feature requires multiple steps, including signing into a Microsoft account. Despite aggressive promotion tactics, Edge has not significantly increased its user base, indicating that these strategies may not be effective.

AppWizard

August 13, 2024

Terrifying Android ‘spy app’ hides itself on your phone and records screen

Cybersecurity experts have identified a mobile spyware application called LianSpy, which targets Android smartphones by stealing confidential data and monitoring user activities while concealing itself on the home screen. Discovered in March 2024, LianSpy has been operational for at least three years, primarily affecting users in Russia but potentially impacting Android users globally. It requires user interaction for full activation, requesting permissions under the guise of legitimate applications. LianSpy can operate with root privileges, allowing it to bypass notifications about microphone or camera usage. Signs of infection on Android devices include being signed out of accounts, persistent pop-up ads, alerts about viruses, decreased device speed, and unexpected changes to browser settings. Users are advised to conduct regular spyware sweeps and keep their operating systems updated to mitigate risks.

Winsage

July 22, 2024

Windows 11 is displaying a pop-up to promote the Backup app – gHacks Tech News

Windows 11 is displaying a pop-up promoting Windows Backup, warning users that their PC is not fully backed up. However, the warning is incorrect as Windows Backup saves a limited amount of user data. Dismissing the notification will disable the pop-up for a few weeks, but it may reappear if certain settings are disabled. Microsoft has been criticized for aggressive advertising in Windows 11, with suggestions to create a Promo Center instead. Users can use free apps like Veeam Agent, Rescuezilla, or Macrium Reflect Free to back up their PC to an external hard drive.