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Microsoft Releases July 2026 Patch Tuesday Updates
Winsage
July 14, 2026

Microsoft Releases July 2026 Patch Tuesday Updates

Microsoft has released the July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 versions 26H1, 25H2, and 24H2, introducing several key features: - A new recovery feature allows users to revert their PCs to a recent restore point. - The Widgets experience has been revamped to minimize distractions, including no longer opening upon hover and reduced memory usage. - Users can pause Windows updates for up to 35 days and re-pause them as needed. - A new screen tint feature applies a color overlay to reduce eye strain. - Magnifier now offers preset zoom increments and allows specific zoom percentages to be input. - Bluetooth connectivity improvements include quicker pairing for Apple’s AirPods and better reliability for Beats Studio Pro headphones. - Voice access and voice typing features are now available in French, German, and Spanish. - Users can customize the right-click zone size on touchpads with a pressable surface. - The emoji panel now uses GIPHY for GIF content. - Taskbar notification counts and badge visuals will update accurately. For Qualcomm-powered PCs running Windows 11 version 26H1, the KB5101649 update includes the Point-in-time restore feature and introduces new NPU usage metrics in Task Manager, the option to assign a custom user folder name during setup, and allows multiple applications to access the camera stream simultaneously. Improvements have also been made to Windows Hello authentication and Microsoft Store performance, along with enhancements to Windows Search for better file location and prioritization.
Ubisoft promises new Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon games are coming, but says this year will be 'quieter' than most
AppWizard
July 14, 2026

Ubisoft promises new Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon games are coming, but says this year will be ‘quieter’ than most

Ubisoft's recent financial report indicates that while new titles are planned, including Black Flag Resynced, the upcoming fiscal year will have a "lighter new release slate." CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that new entries in the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry series are in development, but release timelines remain uncertain. The company has faced delays and cancellations, exemplified by Beyond Good and Evil 2. Ubisoft has experienced layoffs, studio closures, and restructuring efforts, which have not resolved ongoing issues. There is speculation about Tencent's interest in supporting Ubisoft's new structure, despite not pursuing a stake in 2025.
Microsoft demystifies how Windows updates work
Winsage
July 13, 2026

Microsoft demystifies how Windows updates work

Microsoft has released a guide on the Windows servicing model, detailing monthly security updates, optional preview releases, hotpatch updates, and feature rollout mechanisms. Patch Tuesday occurs every second Tuesday of the month, delivering cumulative security updates to supported Windows versions. For consumers and small businesses, updates are managed through Windows Update, while enterprises can use various tools like Windows Autopatch and WSUS. Hotpatch updates, which focus on security fixes, can be installed without a restart, unlike quarterly baseline updates that require one. Optional non-security preview updates are released in the fourth week of each month for testing upcoming fixes and new features, available only for the latest supported Windows versions. Unmanaged devices can access these updates through Windows Update settings, while IT-managed devices depend on organizational policies. Microsoft also issues out-of-band updates to address urgent issues, which can be deployed through enterprise management tools. New features for Windows 11 are rolled out throughout the year via various channels, with a gradual rollout strategy to monitor quality and compatibility, using the Controlled Feature Rollout approach.
Релиз BATorrent 4.0 — BitTorrent-клиента, созданного на C++, Qt 6 и libtorrent-rasterbar
TrendTechie
July 12, 2026

Релиз BATorrent 4.0 — BitTorrent-клиента, созданного на C++, Qt 6 и libtorrent-rasterbar

In mid-June 2026, BATorrent released version 4.0, a lightweight BitTorrent client developed with C++, Qt 6, and libtorrent-rasterbar. The source code is available on GitHub under the MIT license, with builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Key features include support for magnet links, resumable downloads, sequential downloading, customizable file priorities, and an automatic RSS download feature. The client prioritizes user privacy with no telemetry or analytics, and the only outgoing request is a release check on GitHub. The user interface includes three themes, a real-time speed graph, a detailed tabbed panel, drag-and-drop support, and multilingual options. Privacy features include a PT mode for anonymous connections and a one-click Tor proxy setup. Notifications are integrated with Telegram and Discord, and key improvements in versions 4.0 and 4.1 include an interactive tour, automatic launch after updates, refined protection against automatic updates, and the ability to add torrents via URL.
What Is Serverless PostgreSQL?
Tech Optimizer
July 12, 2026

What Is Serverless PostgreSQL?

Serverless PostgreSQL is a fully managed cloud database model that separates compute and storage, allowing them to scale independently and automatically based on demand. It eliminates the need for manual infrastructure provisioning and capacity planning, charging only for active usage. Unlike traditional PostgreSQL setups, which require continuous resource allocation and manual scaling, serverless PostgreSQL provisions resources on demand and can scale down to zero during idle periods. Serverless PostgreSQL integrates with serverless compute platforms, enabling analytical queries to access the same data within a unified architecture. Key differences between traditional and serverless PostgreSQL include manual versus automatic provisioning and scaling, fixed versus usage-based billing, and high versus reduced operational overhead. Lakebase architecture is an emerging model that combines transactional databases with lakehouse foundations, allowing operational and analytical workloads to coexist on a single platform. This architecture minimizes data duplication and simplifies access, enhancing data management and analysis. Serverless PostgreSQL operates on a cloud-native architecture that enhances efficiency by allowing compute and storage to scale autonomously. It features scale-to-zero behavior, where compute resources are suspended when inactive and reactivated upon new queries. Major providers include Databricks Lakebase, Amazon Aurora Serverless v2, and Neon, each offering varying capabilities and integrations. Pricing for serverless PostgreSQL typically includes charges for compute resources, storage, and data transfer, with costs fluctuating based on workload activity. Cold start latency is a performance consideration, as reactivating compute resources can introduce delays. Strategies to mitigate this include keeping resources partially active or selecting providers with minimal cold start impacts. Serverless PostgreSQL is well-suited for OLTP workloads, while lakebase architecture is better for AI development, variable workloads, and environments requiring rapid iteration. Setting up serverless PostgreSQL involves choosing a provider, creating a database instance, and configuring access settings. It can also be used alongside serverless compute platforms for analytics, further extending its capabilities.
Microsoft's new Windows 11 recovery tool is the ultimate Undo button
Winsage
July 10, 2026

Microsoft’s new Windows 11 recovery tool is the ultimate Undo button

On July 19, 2024, at 12:09 AM EDT, 8.5 million Windows PCs, including devices from half of the Fortune 500 companies and the leading U.S. cybersecurity agency, experienced a catastrophic failure due to the Blue Screen of Death, leading to reboot loops. IT teams had to physically access each machine to resolve the issue by removing a problematic CrowdStrike file. CrowdStrike released an automated remediation tool three days later, on July 22. Microsoft pledged to improve Windows' resilience, introducing Quick Machine Recovery nearly a year later. Microsoft unveiled a new recovery feature called Point-in-time Restore, which allows users to revert their PCs to a previous state when functioning correctly. This feature generates daily snapshots of the entire system using the Volume Shadow Copy Service, retaining the three most recent snapshots and consuming minimal disk space (typically 2% of the system drive). Users can access the restore point through the Windows Recovery Environment after three failed startups, with the restoration process taking 30 to 45 minutes. Point-in-time Restore differs from System Restore, which creates less comprehensive snapshots and preserves document files. Point-in-time Restore is automatically enabled for systems with at least 200 GB drives in retail or OEM editions of Windows Home or Pro, while it must be manually activated for smaller drives. In Windows 11 Enterprise edition, it is disabled by default and may require administrative approval to activate. The feature intelligently manages disk usage, discarding older snapshots as needed, but users must enter a BitLocker recovery key if their system drive is encrypted. Users are warned about the risk of losing unsaved work when applying a restore snapshot, and reversing the operation is not straightforward.
GigaWiper: Anatomy of a destructive backdoor assembled from multiple malware
Tech Optimizer
July 10, 2026

GigaWiper: Anatomy of a destructive backdoor assembled from multiple malware

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has identified the GigaWiper malware, which has been detected in compromised environments since October 2025. This malware has destructive capabilities and comes in two forms: standalone wiper binaries and larger binaries with backdoor functionalities, both developed in Golang. The standalone wiper operates at the physical disk level, overwriting disk content and removing partition references. The backdoor variant includes the same wiper functionality and adds persistence through a registry key and scheduled tasks, along with command and control communication via RabbitMQ and Redis. GigaWiper can execute various commands, including wiping drives, triggering a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), file encryption that mimics ransomware behavior, and managing system elements. The malware integrates components from multiple malware families, including wipers and ransomware mechanisms, and has been linked to a previous malware known as FlockWiper. To defend against GigaWiper, organizations are advised to implement security measures such as tamper protection, blocking access to known C2 infrastructure, and utilizing endpoint detection and response solutions. Microsoft Defender provides detections for GigaWiper and related malware, and threat intelligence reports are available for customers to stay informed about threats. Indicators of compromise include specific SHA-256 hashes and IP addresses associated with GigaWiper.
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