protecting Archives

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

‘Off the wishlist it comes’: 007 First Light fans are requesting refunds after learning about Denuvo DRM addition ahead of launch

IO Interactive has decided to implement Denuvo Digital Rights Management (DRM) into the game 007 First Light just days before its launch, leading to significant discontent among potential players who have expressed their frustrations on Steam and initiated refund requests. Players criticize Denuvo for its impact on game performance and restrictions on PC users, with many stating they will not purchase the game at launch as a result. Denuvo has faced scrutiny for its effectiveness, as many games have been cracked despite its use. The likelihood of IO Interactive reversing its decision to include Denuvo seems low, reflecting a trend among game publishers prioritizing anti-piracy measures over consumer satisfaction.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

I’ve been playing games for 40 years, writing about them for 20, and I’m here to say parts of Roblox need to be legislated out of existence

An experiment by Professor Marcus Carter's team found that children quickly converted gift cards into Robux on Roblox, raising concerns about the platform's monetization strategies, which include deceptive practices in 14 of the top 15 games. Tactics like "near miss" visuals and countdown timers encourage spending, while many children reported being scammed through item swaps and gem-doubling schemes. Complaints to the Federal Trade Commission from organizations like Fairplay and the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation highlight how Roblox's design exploits children's developmental vulnerabilities, particularly impulse control. One case involved a 10-year-old girl who spent over ,000 in two months despite parental attempts to limit purchases. Critics argue that Roblox prioritizes profit over user well-being, with features designed to maximize engagement rather than genuine enjoyment. Experts advocate for legislative changes to address these issues, warning that without intervention, Roblox will continue to exploit young users.

TrendTechie

May 20, 2026

Мосгорсуд закрыл доступ к советской киноклассике на торент-треккере

The Moscow City Court has ruled against the unauthorized distribution of nearly one hundred Soviet films, following a request from Mosfilm. The ruling targets the torrent tracker torrentino.com, and Mosfilm has 15 days to file a formal lawsuit for a permanent ban on the pirated content. If they do not file, the temporary protective measures will be lifted. The affected films include 94 titles, such as "War and Peace," "The Irony of Fate," and "Solaris." This action follows a prior ruling that blocked access to four Soviet films on rutor.org.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Report: Sony shuts the door on singleplayer games for PC

Sony has decided to halt the release of single-player titles on PC and will focus on multiplayer offerings, as confirmed by PlayStation head Hermen Hulst. This decision was shared with employees and is influenced by the underperformance of Sony's single-player games in sales on PC. Additionally, the upcoming launch of Project Helix, which is designed to run PC games, may be a factor in protecting exclusive titles from being available on competing platforms like Xbox. Industry studies indicate that exclusive games are a key motivator for consumers choosing gaming platforms.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

MiniPlasma zero-day gives SYSTEM access on fully patched Windows 11

GitHub has introduced enhancements aimed at improving security and user experience on its platform. Key features include a more robust authentication process to protect user accounts, improved monitoring tools for tracking changes and vulnerabilities in repositories, a streamlined interface for easier navigation, and new collaboration features such as integrated chat options and real-time updates. Additionally, GitHub has launched initiatives to encourage user feedback to ensure the enhancements meet the needs of its user base.

Winsage

May 17, 2026

New Windows ‘MiniPlasma’ zero-day exploit gives SYSTEM access, PoC released

A cybersecurity researcher, known as Chaotic Eclipse, has released a proof-of-concept exploit for a Windows privilege escalation zero-day vulnerability called "MiniPlasma," which allows attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges on fully patched Windows systems. The vulnerability affects the cldflt.sys Cloud Filter driver and was reported by Google Project Zero in September 2020, assigned the identifier CVE-2020-17103, and claimed to be resolved by Microsoft in December 2020. However, Chaotic Eclipse asserts that the vulnerability remains unpatched. Testing confirmed that the exploit works on Windows 11 Pro, enabling command prompt access with SYSTEM privileges from a standard user account. Will Dormann, a vulnerability analyst, verified the exploit's effectiveness but noted it did not work in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Canary build. The exploit leverages the undocumented CfAbortHydration API to manage registry key creation improperly. Chaotic Eclipse has previously disclosed other Windows zero-day vulnerabilities and claims their actions are a protest against Microsoft's handling of vulnerabilities.

Winsage

May 15, 2026

Microsoft fixes a major BitLocker bug… but leaves Windows 10 users hanging (for now)

Microsoft confirmed a BitLocker-related issue caused by the April 2026 Security Update (KB5083769) for Windows 11, which led some devices to boot into the BitLocker recovery screen. A fix has been released, but it is currently available only for Windows 11, version 25H2, with Windows 10 and Windows Server users awaiting a solution. Administrators are advised to remove the "Configure TPM platform validation profile for native UEFI firmware configurations" Group Policy setting before installing the April 2026 update. Additionally, a security researcher named Chaotic Eclipse has developed a zero-day exploit called YellowKey, which can bypass BitLocker security using a USB stick, affecting Windows Server 2022 and 2025 but not Windows 10.

AppWizard

May 9, 2026

America is about to get tougher on VPNs

Numerous countries have implemented restrictions on online access, requiring users to verify their identities to view adult content. In Utah, Bill S.B. 73 has taken effect to prevent children from using VPNs to bypass age verification for adult content. The bill prohibits commercial entities from facilitating or encouraging the use of VPNs to circumvent age verification requirements. It lacks clarity on what constitutes "material harmful to minors," leading to varied interpretations. The bill also states that individuals are considered to be accessing a website from Utah if they are physically located in the state, regardless of VPN use, which poses challenges for website operators in determining user locations.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Messenger is the most invasive app, research says

Recent research from Surfshark indicates that Meta's Messenger app collects 32 out of 35 possible data types, making it the "most data-hungry messaging app." Following Meta's decision to disable end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages on May 8, 2026, user privacy is compromised, allowing Meta access to message content. Cybersecurity experts express concerns about the implications of this change and highlight that users provide valuable data to the company. In contrast, WhatsApp continues to offer end-to-end encryption. Surfshark also notes that 90% of messaging apps now incorporate AI features, raising privacy concerns regarding user data sharing. For privacy-conscious users, Signal is ranked as a top alternative due to its minimal data collection and strong encryption. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is highlighted as a tool for enhancing online privacy and security.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Age of Empire 4’s new DLC drops today, and the Jin Dynasty is a beautifully-realized civ

Age of Empires 4's latest expansion, Yue Fei's Legacy, introduces a new campaign featuring eight missions centered on the general Yue Fei and his ally Han Shizhong, tasked with protecting the Song Dynasty's last prince from Jin forces. The campaign begins with the Jiankang Incident of 1127 and includes various challenges such as evading Jin pursuers and reclaiming territory. The expansion also adds the Jin Dynasty as a new civilization, characterized by efficient horse-mounted villagers and the elite Iron Pagoda cavalry units. The Jin Dynasty features a unique defensive mechanism called the Meng'an Mouke Emplacement, which automatically deploys defensive cavalry units when enemies approach.