search engine Archives

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

EU hits Google with another $1B fine as Search and Play Store face fresh antitrust crackdown

The European Commission has fined Google €890 million under the Digital Markets Act, with €460 million for allegedly favoring its own services in search results and €430 million for restricting developers in the Google Play ecosystem. Google must revise its Search ranking algorithms and Play Store policies within 60 days to avoid further fines based on global revenue. The company is expected to appeal the decision and discuss compliance strategies with regulators.

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

Google Fined $1 Billion by EU Over Search, Android Practices

European Union regulators fined Google €890 million for unlawfully leveraging its dominance in search and Android to promote its own services. The European Commission found that Google violated the Digital Markets Act by prioritizing its offerings in search results and restricting Android app developers from directing users to alternative payment methods. Google has 60 days to comply with the ruling or face additional penalties of up to 5% of its global annual revenue. Since 2017, Google has faced fines exceeding €10 billion from EU regulators. The ruling reflects the EU's ongoing efforts to regulate Big Tech and ensure fair competition in digital markets.

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

EU hits Google with $1 billion fine over its Play app store and search

The European Union imposed a fine of 890 million euros on Google for violations of digital antitrust regulations, alleging that Google manipulated its Play platform and search engine to favor its own services over competitors. This action is part of the EU's broader efforts to regulate major technology firms and protect consumer interests. Google has faced previous legal challenges, including an unsuccessful appeal of a 4.3 billion euro antitrust fine related to its Android operating system. The EU has identified major tech companies as "gatekeepers" that must ensure fair competition. Google's President of Global Affairs criticized the fine, claiming it would harm European businesses and consumers.

Winsage

July 15, 2026

Microsoft: Some Dell PCs shut down after recent Windows updates

Microsoft has temporarily halted the rollout of the Windows 11 security updates for certain Dell devices due to reports of shutdowns and performance issues linked to the KB5101650 cumulative update. The issues began after the installation of the June 23, 2026, preview update (KB5095093), which caused a conflict with the Intel Innovation Platform Framework Processor Participant driver. Affected Dell systems are showing a yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager and may experience unexpected shutdowns, poor performance, increased heat, and battery drain. Microsoft is working with Dell to resolve the issue and will not distribute the KB5101650 update to impacted systems until a fix is implemented.

Tech Optimizer

July 15, 2026

Can Chromebooks Get Viruses? How to Protect Your Device

Chromebooks are designed with robust security features, including sandboxing, Verified Boot, automatic updates, data encryption, and Recovery Mode, which collectively reduce the risk of malware infections. However, they are still vulnerable to threats such as malicious Chrome extensions, scam Android apps from third-party stores, phishing attacks, and risks associated with using Developer Mode and cloud storage. Users can identify potential malware through signs like slow performance, unexpected pop-ups, and unusual battery drain. To remove malware, users should eliminate suspicious extensions, uninstall dubious apps, run antivirus scans, enable Google Play Protect, or perform a Powerwash to reset the device. To protect their Chromebooks, users should avoid Developer Mode, check app permissions, use two-factor authentication, verify website URLs, and use a VPN on public Wi-Fi.

TrendTechie

July 10, 2026

Выпуск qBittorrent 5.2.3

qBittorrent 5.2.3 was released on July 7, 2026. It is an open-source torrent client developed using the Qt toolkit, available for Linux, Windows, and macOS under the GPLv2+ license. The project began with version 4.0 in November 2017, followed by versions 5.0 in September 2024, 5.1 in April 2025, and 5.2 in May 2026. Notable features include an integrated search engine, RSS feed subscriptions, remote management, sequential downloading, and advanced settings for torrents. The 5.2.3 update focuses on bug fixes and improvements, including corrections to plugin counting, file renaming issues in Windows, RSS feed intervals, HTML link parsing, peer address input analysis, web seed encoding, torrent tracker conversion, database transaction failures, transfer filter clearing, MIME header encoding, and updated libraries for performance enhancement.

Winsage

July 1, 2026

Microsoft fixes GIF functionality in the Windows Emoji Panel

Microsoft has restored GIF functionality in the Emoji Panel for Windows 11 users after the retirement of the Tenor GIF search engine's API, which caused disruptions starting June 30. The company has transitioned to GIPHY as the new GIF provider, implemented in the preview cumulative update KB5095093 released on June 23 for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. Users are advised to install the latest updates to restore GIF functionality. Microsoft is also working on a solution for users on Windows 11 23H2 and Windows Server 2025. The KB5095093 update includes the Point-in-Time Restore feature and addresses various bugs and known issues.

Winsage

July 1, 2026

I love the PC, but I’m no longer a fan of Windows

Installing Windows 11 involves a complex setup process that emphasizes Microsoft accounts, OneDrive, and personalized advertising, making it feel more like an advertising campaign than a straightforward installation. Users are encouraged to create Microsoft accounts, with local accounts being less accessible. The installation prompts users to enable various services, which can be frustrating and intrusive. The Start menu has transformed to include recommendations and promotional content, cluttering its functionality. Microsoft makes it challenging to switch default applications, reinforcing reliance on its ecosystem. Windows 11 collects significant diagnostic data, raising privacy concerns, and users must actively seek to disable data collection features. Public institutions in Europe are considering alternatives to Microsoft due to these concerns. The trend towards subscription models, such as Microsoft 365, can feel burdensome for home users. Hardware requirements for Windows 11, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, have rendered many older PCs obsolete. Despite criticisms, Windows remains a powerful operating system essential for many workflows. Linux is gaining popularity, especially among gamers, as a viable alternative. Users desire a less intrusive and more user-friendly version of Windows that restores their control over devices without constant interruptions.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

Google swears (again) that data-sharing rules will help scammers, threaten your search history

Google is opposing the European Union's proposed amendments to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), warning that these changes could jeopardize user privacy and security. The DMA aims to reduce the dominance of major tech platforms by requiring gatekeepers like Google to share more data with competitors. Google is particularly concerned about the implications of sharing search data and granting third-party AI services access to sensitive Android features, fearing that this could lead to increased fraud and cyberattacks. The European Commission is pushing for Google to provide rival search engines with access to anonymized search data to enhance competition, but Google argues that once this data leaves its infrastructure, it becomes difficult to protect. DuckDuckGo and some researchers believe the Commission's proposals adequately address privacy risks, while others acknowledge the risks but suggest they should be balanced against technical protections. Additionally, EU regulators are advocating for deeper integration of competing AI assistants with Android, which Google warns could compromise existing security measures. Apple has shown support for some of Google's concerns regarding access to operating systems.

Tech Optimizer

June 24, 2026

Norton 360 Advanced gets 77% discount, drops price to £2.92/mo — top-rated antivirus, 200GB cloud backup, VPN, parental controls and more

Norton 360 Advanced is currently available at a 77% discount, reducing the monthly cost to £2.92 for protection of up to ten devices. It includes antivirus technology, 200GB Cloud Backup, a Password Manager, a VPN for secure browsing, a Parental Control App, Dark Web Monitoring, Identity Restoration Support, Social Media Monitoring, and Financial Monitoring services.