software issues Archives

Tech Optimizer

November 26, 2025

We’ve tested the best antivirus software to protect your computer and these are the 6 we recommend

Norton 360 Deluxe is recognized as the best overall antivirus software, offering a user-friendly interface, minimal performance impact, and robust malware protection. Bitdefender Total Security is noted for its comprehensive features, while McAfee+ Ultimate is recommended for families with multiple devices. Other notable antivirus solutions include Microsoft Defender as the best free option, Avast Premium for banking security, and Malwarebytes Plus as a budget-friendly choice. When selecting antivirus software, consider effectiveness, system impact, compatibility with devices, desired features, and budget. Free antivirus options like Microsoft Defender provide basic protection, while paid versions offer advanced features and support. Antivirus software works by scanning for malicious code and blocking threats, and it is essential for safeguarding against evolving cyber threats.

AppWizard

November 24, 2025

Looks like OnePlus phones and smartwatches are experiencing some bad weather

Many OnePlus smartphone and smartwatch users are experiencing issues with the native weather application, which is displaying outdated or no weather data. Reports indicate that this problem affects a range of devices, including the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 13. Some users in Europe and India have noted that their weather app is still functioning, suggesting the issue may be device or region-specific. The problems may be linked to Oxygen OS 16, but users on older versions (Oxygen OS 15 and 14) are also facing similar issues. Additionally, OnePlus Watch 3 users are encountering errors like "location not found" and "network error." Despite attempts to resolve the issues through various troubleshooting methods, users have had no success. The built-in weather app is critical for many users, and the ongoing issues are likely to prompt a software update or server fix from OnePlus.

Winsage

August 6, 2025

Confused about why you can’t upgrade to Windows 11? Microsoft has some new advice that might help… including a trick I wasn’t aware of

Microsoft has released support documents to assist users upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, particularly after hardware upgrades. A key point is that users may experience delays in receiving the Windows 11 upgrade notification after upgrading components like the CPU or adding a TPM 2.0 module, with it taking up to 24 hours for the system to refresh eligibility information. To expedite this process, users can manually refresh their eligibility through Task Scheduler or use the PC Health Check app, which quickly recognizes upgraded hardware. Another document addresses the 'What needs your attention' notification that may appear during the upgrade, indicating potential issues such as incompatible privacy settings or software problems. In some cases, users may see a message stating 'no action is needed,' suggesting the issue could be resolved in a future update. The PC Health Check app is highlighted as a crucial tool for confirming compatibility and facilitating the upgrade.

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

Lloyds bank app ‘not working and ‘keeps crashing’ as users can’t open it

Users expressed frustration on social media about outages affecting banking applications, particularly on payday. Lloyds Bank acknowledged the issues and asked customers to be patient while they worked on a fix. Outages were also reported by HSBC, Halifax, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. A Treasury Committee report revealed that nine of the UK's largest banks had experienced over a month of unplanned technical outages in the past two years, with 158 incidents of IT failures reported between January 2023 and February 2025. Common causes of these outages included problems with third-party suppliers, system changes, and internal software issues. Downdetector is a platform that tracks service disruptions across various services, allowing users to report issues.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

Microsoft Windows Security, Resiliency Updates: 5 Things To Know

David Weston, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Enterprise and OS Security, stated that Microsoft is preparing to enhance the resilience and security of its Windows operating system. The company will offer limited access to a Windows endpoint security platform for third-party vendors as part of its Microsoft Virus Initiative (MVI), aimed at improving safe deployment practices. The platform will enter a private preview phase in July for select MVI partners, allowing them to provide feedback. Key features include collaboration with third-party vendors, services running outside the Windows kernel, and development driven by partner feedback. The Windows endpoint security platform will enable partners to develop products that operate in user mode, preventing disruptions like the previous CrowdStrike incident. Weston emphasized the importance of customer trust and transparency in the development process. Microsoft is also introducing a simplified user interface and a quick machine recovery service for Windows 11 version 24H2, along with a Connected Cache service launching on July 9 to enhance bandwidth efficiency. Support for Microsoft’s initiatives has come from various third-party security vendors involved in the MVI, with positive feedback from Microsoft solution providers regarding enhanced protection against third-party software issues.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

RedMagic 10S Pro plays full PC games natively with built-in Windows emulator

The RedMagic 10S Pro features a built-in Windows emulator, allowing users to play full-fledged Steam or Epic Games titles on a smartphone. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version chip, achieving over 3 million benchmark points. The device has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate and 2,000 nits peak brightness. It includes an active cooling system, LPDDR5T RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage for optimal performance. The shoulder buttons operate at 520 Hz for responsive controls, and the battery capacity is 7,050 mAh for the Pro variant and 7,500 mAh for the Pro+ with 120 W fast charging. The RedMagic 10S Pro is priced at approximately 4,000 CNY in China, while the Pro+ variant is around 3,000 CNY.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Been hiding from Windows 11 24H2 due to the fuss about all the bugs? There’s nowhere to run now as Microsoft’s made the update compulsory

Windows 11's 24H2 update has entered the final phase of its rollout and is now broadly available to all users. Microsoft has stated that the update will be pushed via Windows Update, but some users may experience delays due to compatibility holds for devices with known issues. Devices running Windows 11 Home and Pro editions will receive the update automatically unless managed by IT departments. Users can check for updates in Windows Update, and while some may receive the update automatically, not all will experience immediate installation. Microsoft emphasizes the importance of updates for device security and states that they cannot be completely stopped. Users on Windows 11 Home have limited options for delaying updates but can temporarily pause them when available.

Winsage

April 9, 2025

Patch Tuesday fixes an exploited bug, but not for Windows 10

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday updates addressed over 120 vulnerabilities, including one actively exploited flaw (CVE-2025-29824) and 11 critical issues. CVE-2025-29824 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System Driver, targeted by the group Storm-2460 to deploy ransomware called PipeMagic, affecting victims in the US, Spain, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia. This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and allows attackers to escalate privileges due to a use-after-free flaw. Patches for Windows Server and Windows 11 have been released, but Windows 10 users are still awaiting a fix, with Microsoft promising updates soon. Among the critical vulnerabilities addressed, all allow for remote code execution (RCE). Notable vulnerabilities include: - CVE-2025-26670: LDAP Client RCE, Critical, CVSS 8.1 - CVE-2025-27752: Microsoft Excel RCE, Critical, CVSS 7.8 - CVE-2025-29791: Microsoft Excel RCE, Critical, CVSS 7.8 - CVE-2025-27745: Microsoft Office RCE, Critical, CVSS 7.8 - CVE-2025-27748: Microsoft Office RCE, Critical, CVSS 7.8 - CVE-2025-27749: Microsoft Office RCE, Critical, CVSS 7.8 - CVE-2025-27491: Windows Hyper-V RCE, Critical, CVSS 7.1 - CVE-2025-26663: Windows LDAP RCE, Critical, CVSS 8.1 - CVE-2025-27480: Windows RDP RCE, Critical, CVSS 8.1 - CVE-2025-27482: Windows RDP RCE, Critical, CVSS 8.1 - CVE-2025-26686: Windows TCP/IP RCE, Critical, CVSS 7.5 - CVE-2025-29809: Windows Kerberos Security Feature Bypass, Important, CVSS 7.1 Dustin Childs from ZDI noted that CVE-2025-29809 requires additional measures beyond standard patching. CVE-2025-26663 and CVE-2025-26670 are considered wormable, necessitating prompt updates, especially for networks exposing LDAP services. Adobe released over 50 fixes for vulnerabilities in products like Cold Fusion, After Effects, and Photoshop, with some issues in Cold Fusion classified as critical. AMD updated advisories regarding GPU access and various Ryzen AI software vulnerabilities.

Winsage

March 11, 2025

Microsoft Intensifies Push for Windows 11 Adoption Amid Looming Windows 10 End-of-Support

Microsoft is encouraging users to transition to Windows 11, highlighting its advantages as the end-of-support date for Windows 10 approaches on October 14, 2025. As of August 2024, Windows 11 accounts for nearly 32% of global Windows installations, up from 23% in July 2023, while Windows 10 holds about 64% market share. Windows 11 has become the preferred operating system for PC gamers on Steam, with 49% of users choosing it over 47% for Windows 10. Key features of Windows 11 include mandatory TPM 2.0 for enhanced security, a redesigned Start menu, improved multitasking with Snap Layouts, integration with Microsoft Teams, and a more efficient Windows Update process. However, some users are hesitant to upgrade due to hardware compatibility issues and a preference for Windows 10's interface. Microsoft may increase efforts to promote the transition to Windows 11 as the support deadline nears, and users remaining on Windows 10 will face security risks without official support.

Winsage

February 15, 2025

Microsoft Patent Suggests AI Could Be the Key to Fixing Bugs in Windows 11

On February 6, Microsoft filed a patent in the United States for a Generative AI system that automatically detects and rectifies software issues within Windows operating systems. The system analyzes user-submitted error reports, identifies the source code responsible for the error, and generates prompts to resolve the bug. It produces a comprehensive response that may include a solution for the user, a natural language explanation, a code fix for the developer, or a pull request. This technology aims to enhance the user experience on Windows by expediting the resolution of software problems and allowing developers to focus more on innovation.