software suite Archives

Tech Optimizer

April 2, 2025

Shield up to 5 devices from the evil internet with McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection offers a two-year subscription for less than , covering up to five Apple devices, significantly reduced from the regular price of 9. The subscription includes AI-powered antivirus protection, a virtual private network, web protection, identity theft protection, and personalized safety education. It also features a password manager, personal data exposure protection, and credit monitoring. This limited-time offer allows stacking of codes for up to ten years of coverage, but the software can only be added to a maximum of five devices at once.

Tech Optimizer

March 31, 2025

Watch Out for This Info-Stealing Malware on Windows

A new malware strain called CoffeeLoader has been identified, posing a significant risk to gamers by masquerading as a legitimate ASUS utility, specifically the Armoury Crate software. Once it infiltrates a system, it deploys the Rhadamanthys infostealer, which can extract sensitive information such as credentials from web browsers, email clients, cryptocurrency wallets, and password managers. CoffeeLoader evades detection by most security tools by operating on the GPU instead of the CPU and using advanced techniques like call stack spoofing, sleep obfuscation, and exploiting Windows fibers. To protect against CoffeeLoader, users should exercise caution when downloading software, navigate directly to official websites, avoid suspicious links, and adhere to basic cybersecurity practices. If infection is suspected, users should disconnect from the internet, reboot in safe mode, delete temporary files, and check Task Manager for unusual activity. Employing a reliable malware scanner can help identify and eliminate infections.

Winsage

March 13, 2025

Windows Notepad to get AI text summarization in Windows 11

Microsoft is piloting an AI-driven text summarization feature called "Summarize" in Notepad for Windows 11 Insiders using version 11.2501.29.0. Users can summarize selected text by right-clicking or using the shortcut Ctrl + M, with the option to adjust summary length. Access to this feature requires signing in with a Microsoft personal account linked to Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Additionally, Notepad has introduced a "Recent Files" option for reopening recently closed documents. The Snipping Tool has been updated with a "Draw & Hold" feature in version 11.2502.18.0, allowing for precise drawing. Microsoft is also integrating AI functionalities into Notepad, having previously introduced a text rewriting tool called "Rewrite" and other enhancements like a character counter and spell check.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

Zero Day Initiative — The March 2025 Security Update Review

In March 2025, Adobe released seven bulletins addressing 37 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) across its software products, including Acrobat Reader, Illustrator, InDesign, and Substance 3D applications. Six vulnerabilities were reported through the Zero Day Initiative program. The Acrobat Reader patch resolves multiple Critical-rated code execution vulnerabilities, while Illustrator and InDesign patches also address critical issues. The Substance 3D Sampler patch fixes seven vulnerabilities, with some classified as Critical, and the other Substance 3D applications also received updates for code execution vulnerabilities. None of the vulnerabilities were publicly known or under active attack at the time of release. Microsoft released an update addressing 56 new CVEs across its products, totaling 67 when including third-party vulnerabilities. Six are rated as Critical, and 50 as Important. Notable vulnerabilities include CVE-2025-26633, a security feature bypass in the Microsoft Management Console, and critical remote code execution vulnerabilities CVE-2025-24993 and CVE-2025-24985 linked to Windows NTFS and Fast FAT file systems. CVE-2025-24984 and CVE-2025-24991 involve information disclosure vulnerabilities, with one requiring physical access and the other needing a specially crafted VHD. Immediate attention and deployment of patches for these vulnerabilities are essential.

Winsage

March 4, 2025

I couldn’t take my eyes off this laptop’s premium 4K, 120Hz OLED display for the entire review period

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 (Gen 10) is priced at ,899.99 and features a 14-inch PureSight Pro OLED display with a 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,400), 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600 support. It is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU (8 cores, 8 threads, up to 3.7GHz) and an Intel Arc Graphics 140V GPU with 16GB of memory. The laptop includes 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD, and a 75Whr battery with a 65W USB Type-C charger. It weighs 1.25kg (2.76lbs) and has a unique glass lid design, though it offers limited port options with only two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. The display is noted for its exceptional color accuracy and vibrancy, with a peak brightness of 750 nits. The laptop runs on Windows 11 and has a battery life averaging around six hours. The keyboard is redesigned for comfort, but the touchpad is small. It features quad speakers, a microphone array, and an under-display webcam that lacks quality. The base model starts at ,759.99 with an Intel Core Ultra 256V, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, with upgrade options available.

Tech Optimizer

December 20, 2024

Norton’s making it easy to stay secure this Christmas with up to AU$160 off its award-winning antivirus suites

Norton has reduced the first-year price of its Norton 360 suites by up to AU0 during the holiday season, offering discounts on both one-year and two-year subscriptions. Norton 360 provides comprehensive protection against online threats, including features like cloud backups, dark web monitoring, and VPN access. The Norton 360 Deluxe suite includes a VPN, parental controls, a powerful firewall, and customer support. The discounts are temporary and will return to standard pricing after the holiday season.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

New AI experiences make their way into Windows 11’s Paint, Notepad

Microsoft has introduced new features in Paint and Notepad as part of its October AI roadmap for Windows 11. Notable additions include the Generative Fill and Generative Erase tools in Paint, currently being tested in the Canary and Dev Channels. The Generative Erase function allows users to erase parts of an image while intelligently filling in the background, similar to a feature in the Photos app. Generative Fill enables users to outline a region in an image and fill it with AI-generated art that integrates with the existing scene. Notepad is receiving an upgrade for AI-assisted text editing, allowing users to modify the tone and length of selected text. These updates are available in Paint version 11.2410.28.0 and Notepad version 11.2410.15.0.

Winsage

November 3, 2024

Upgrade to Microsoft Office Pro and Windows 11 Pro with this bundle for 87% off

A lifetime license for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro is available through Stack Social at an 87% discount. The Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 suite includes applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and Teams. An alternative option, Microsoft Office 2019, is also available without Teams. Windows 11 Pro features include biometric login, Smart App Control, Windows Studio Effects, DirectX 12 Ultimate, Snap layouts, advanced voice typing, and Microsoft Copilot. Stack Social is an authorized Microsoft partner, but there is a possibility that Microsoft could revoke the license in the future. Users must have Windows 10 or 11 to access these deals. The offer may expire without notice.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Get scary good deals on Microsoft Windows and Office in CdkeySales Halloween Sale

CdkeySales.com is offering discounted Windows 11 CD keys, with an additional 30% off using the promo code CULT. Purchasing a Windows 10 key includes a free upgrade to Windows 11. The site is currently running a Halloween Sale with significant savings on Microsoft software, including Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, and Microsoft Office. Windows 11 Pro is priced at .99 on Microsoft's website but is available for .71 on CdkeySales.com. The process for purchasing and activating software keys is straightforward, and customer support is available via email.

Winsage

October 18, 2024

Ditch subscriptions and get a Office 2021 standalone license in this deal

A lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 is available for .97 until October 27. The suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access, and is compatible with Windows. It offers features like advanced data types in Excel, new design tools in PowerPoint, and improved editing tools in Word. Users can install it on one device and have offline access without recurring fees.