Proton Archives

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

This Russian military intelligence group has been stealing people’s sensitive data, so you might want to connect your router through a VPN

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in the UK has reported that the Russian military intelligence group APT28 is exploiting vulnerabilities in routers to redirect internet traffic through malicious servers, siphoning off sensitive information from users. This includes login credentials, search histories, and private messages. APT28's servers function as anti-VPNs, designed to extract user data rather than protect it. The group appears to be gathering data for strategic objectives, particularly targeting businesses in sectors like manufacturing and military contracting, while also potentially weaponizing information from individuals to influence public opinion. The NCSC has issued guidance for businesses on online privacy, and recommends the use of VPNs as a protective measure for individuals, with NordVPN being highlighted as a top choice among various reliable options.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

New Proton Experimental build fixes up a bunch of old Capcom games for Steam Deck and Linux

The Steam Deck has become popular among retro gaming enthusiasts due to its efficient storage use. Players have faced challenges accessing Steam versions of classic Capcom titles like Dino Crisis and the original Resident Evil series. Recent updates to Proton Experimental have improved compatibility, with games like the original Resident Evil (1996), Resident Evil 2 (1998), Dino Crisis, and Dino Crisis 2 now playable on the Steam platform. The appeal of these original games lies in nostalgia, as they resonate with players despite the availability of modern versions.

Winsage

April 10, 2026

Microsoft Locked Out VeraCrypt, WireGuard, and Windscribe from Pushing Windows Updates

Microsoft implemented a mandatory account verification process for all partners in the Windows Hardware Program who had not completed verification since April 2024, effective October 16, 2025. This requirement necessitated that partners verify their identities using a government-issued ID matching the name of the primary contact in the Partner Center. Failure to meet this deadline or pass verification resulted in account suspension, preventing further submissions. This affected the ability of developers to sign Windows kernel drivers, leading to suspensions for notable open source projects like VeraCrypt, WireGuard, and Windscribe. Mounir Idrassi, the developer of VeraCrypt, reported his account was terminated without notice, and Jason Donenfeld of WireGuard faced similar issues. Windscribe experienced a prolonged resolution process despite having a verified account for over eight years. Following these suspensions, Scott Hanselman from Microsoft announced that the accounts would be reinstated and corrective measures were being taken.

Winsage

April 8, 2026

Linux gamers didn’t do anything wrong, but they might pay for Windows piracy anyway

Gaming on Linux has advanced significantly due to Valve's Proton compatibility layer and the Steam Deck, allowing most single-player PC games to run on the platform. Data from ProtonDB indicates that nearly every Windows game is now playable on Linux. However, hypervisor-based DRM bypass techniques have emerged, weakening Denuvo's anti-tamper protections and reviving day-zero piracy. Hypervisors operate beneath the operating system, allowing pirates to manipulate Denuvo's validation checks, drastically reducing the time to crack games. This resurgence of piracy poses security risks, as users must disable kernel-level security features, exposing their systems to vulnerabilities. Irdeto, the company behind Denuvo, recognizes the need for updated security measures, but these could complicate the gaming experience for Linux users. Linux's open-source nature complicates enforcing kernel integrity, making effective anti-cheat and DRM systems challenging. Despite these issues, Linux gaming has seen considerable growth, but the threat of hypervisor-based piracy could jeopardize this progress and lead to tighter DRM measures that may reduce Linux compatibility.

Winsage

April 8, 2026

CachyOS is dethroning Windows at the one thing it owned for decades

Windows has historically been the dominant operating system for PC gaming, with Linux being less appealing due to a lack of developer support and compatibility issues. The introduction of Valve's Proton in 2018 transformed the Linux gaming experience by allowing Windows games to run on Linux without requiring developers to create separate versions. CachyOS, a Linux distribution, has emerged as a strong competitor to Windows 11, often outperforming it in gaming performance due to its specialized schedulers. However, certain games with specific anti-cheat mechanisms remain inaccessible on Linux, keeping Windows as the preferred choice for many popular titles. Despite this, the growing popularity of Linux distributions like CachyOS may lead to increased demand for Linux-compatible games and potential solutions for anti-cheat issues in the future.

Winsage

April 6, 2026

Death of Windows? Cachy OS Destroys Windows 11 in Gaming Performance

Recent benchmark results show that Linux, specifically CachyOS, outperforms Windows 11 in various modern gaming titles. Tests conducted by NJ Tech used identical hardware configurations, including an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor and a Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card. In the game Crimson Desert, CachyOS achieved 63 FPS compared to Windows 11's 59 FPS, and in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, CachyOS delivered 81 FPS versus Windows' 68 FPS. In Red Dead Redemption 2, CachyOS averaged 85 FPS while Windows recorded 81 FPS, and in Cyberpunk 2077, CachyOS reached 98 FPS compared to Windows' 91 FPS. Overall, Linux showed frame rates approximately 3 to 10 percent higher across multiple tests. However, in The First Descendant, Windows outperformed CachyOS with 63 FPS to 54 FPS, and in The Division 2, both platforms had identical average frame rates of 128 FPS, though Windows had slightly more stable lows. All games on Linux were run using Proton, which has evolved into a robust solution for running Windows games on Linux. The results indicate that the performance gap between Linux and Windows in gaming is narrowing, with Linux capable of matching or surpassing Windows in certain scenarios.

Winsage

April 6, 2026

Linux gaming reaches 5.3% on Steam, Windows drops below 93%

The Linux gaming market share among Steam users has reached 5.3%, a historic high, coinciding with Windows usage dropping below 93%. Windows 10 usage has decreased by nearly 15%, while Windows 11 has gained only 10.6%. SteamOS Holo 64-bit is the leading Linux distribution, making up 25% of all Linux users, largely due to the popularity of the Steam Deck. macOS has gained 1.2% market share, indicating a shift in gaming preferences. Valve announced plans to expand SteamOS to desktop PCs, which may further boost Linux gaming adoption.

Winsage

April 5, 2026

Wine 11.6 just made modding Windows games on Linux easier, and Proton could be next

Wine version 11.6 introduces DLL load-order heuristics to enhance the modding experience for gamers on Linux, allowing third-party mod DLLs to load automatically and prioritizing them over default Microsoft versions. The update also revives the Android driver, suggesting potential future support for running Android applications and games on Linux. Additionally, it includes various bug fixes and enhancements to VBScript compatibility, improving the functionality of Windows-based applications on Linux devices.

BetaBeacon

April 5, 2026

Wine 11.6 Begins Reviving Its Android Driver

Wine 11.6 has been released with a focus on reviving its Android driver, updating the build system for Android, and enhancing the DLL loader order heuristics to better support game mods.

Winsage

April 4, 2026

Wine 11.6 is an exciting release to make modding Windows games on Linux simpler

Wine version 11.6 enhances the experience of running Windows games on Linux through Proton, focusing on game modding capabilities. Key features include the revival of the Android driver, implementation of DLL load order heuristics for better mod support, improved compatibility with VBScript, and 28 bug fixes for application and game performance. The update allows Wine to prioritize DLLs provided with mods over its own versions, facilitating the use of a wider array of mods without additional tweaks. These changes are expected to be integrated into Proton for Steam users.