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Tech Optimizer

September 4, 2026

NordVPN’s Next-Gen Antivirus scores 94% in independent phishing and malware testing

NordVPN's next-generation antivirus achieved a 94% phishing detection rate in an anti-phishing test by AV-Comparatives, ranking third among nine products, behind Avast One Free Antivirus and Norton Antivirus Plus, both at 96%. The evaluation tested 250 live phishing URLs and recorded zero false positives for NordVPN, unlike competitors such as Malwarebytes Premium and Webroot SecureAnywhere. The two-percentage-point difference between NordVPN and the leaders corresponds to five URLs. Other products like Dr. Web Security Space and K7 Total Security had lower detection rates of 57% and 70%, respectively. Previously, NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro had an 83.42% detection rate across 3,209 links, outperforming IPVanish. In June 2024, NordVPN became the first VPN provider to earn AV-Comparatives' anti-phishing protection badge, requiring a minimum detection rate of 85% with zero false alarms. The antivirus feature is available on Plus plans and higher, previously known as Threat Protection Pro, and is included in Plus, Complete, and Prime tiers.

Tech Optimizer

September 3, 2026

Bitdefender vs Norton 2026: Which Antivirus Wins?

Norton and Bitdefender both have a malware detection rate of 99.8%. Norton excels in phishing protection, blocking 95% of phishing attempts compared to Bitdefender's 89%. In terms of system impact, Bitdefender uses 11% CPU and 183 MB RAM during scans, while Norton uses 23% CPU and 384 MB RAM. Norton offers features such as cloud backup, parental controls, and unlimited VPN, whereas Bitdefender lacks cloud backup and has a limited VPN. Pricing for both is competitive, but Bitdefender generally has cheaper renewal costs. Norton provides faster customer support response times. In a comparison of nine categories, Norton won five and Bitdefender won three. For users needing backup and parental controls, Norton is preferred; for those with older laptops, Bitdefender is recommended.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

Google Maps for Android Auto could soon offer new colors that won’t burn your retinas

Google is enhancing Android Auto with updates, including a new icon and revamped Google Maps interface. The beta version 17.6.663424 introduces a new weather animation and support for Quick Settings tiles. A significant change is the testing of a darker map surface and a dark-gray turn indicator for Google Maps, aimed at reducing distraction on larger screens and improving nighttime visibility. This darker color scheme does not appear on connected Android phones, indicating it may be exclusive to Android Auto. Google frequently conducts A/B tests, and the current situation may be a test or a glitch in the beta version. An APK teardown can predict potential future features, but not all may be included in public releases.

Tech Optimizer

September 2, 2026

Connecting My LangGraph AI Agent to Postgres

A stateful LangGraph agent was developed to streamline a 15-minute booking process, mimicking a customer service representative. It features a user-friendly Streamlit UI and a backend powered by a Postgres database. The agent can respond to customer queries, calculate service prices, manage acceptance or rejection of services, propose appointment time slots, and confirm booking details. The agent operates in two persistence modes: in-memory for quick testing and Postgres for durability. Testing can be conducted locally with Streamlit or using Docker to simulate a production environment. Docker allows the application to interact with a PostgreSQL server without local installation, enhancing reproducibility. The project includes a docker-compose.yml file to initiate a PostgreSQL container, and users can also utilize a cloud-based Postgres solution. The application behavior remains consistent regardless of the database setup. The complete source code is available on GitHub for testing and further enhancements.

TrendTechie

September 2, 2026

Sony и Warner подают в суд на Anthropic из‑за обучения Claude на пиратских песенниках

Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, claiming that the company used pirated songbooks and song lyrics from "shadow libraries" to train its AI model, Claude. The lawsuit cites approximately 7 million books obtained through torrent downloads and web scraping, including unauthorized sheet music and songbooks. The plaintiffs are seeking statutory damages of up to 0,000 for each work that is found to have been willfully infringed. The lawsuit was filed on August 28, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, naming Anthropic and its co-founders as defendants. The plaintiffs allege that the data sources used for training included 5 million books downloaded from Library Genesis and 2 million from Pirate Library Mirror, as well as scraped song lyrics from licensed platforms Musixmatch and LyricFind. The use of BitTorrent for downloads introduces legal risks due to the simultaneous distribution of files. The lawsuit emphasizes the distinction between legally purchased and pirated materials, with prior cases indicating that downloads from pirate libraries constitute significant copyright infringement.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Fully Playable Scream Game Found in Steam Leak [2026]

A horror game based on the Scream film franchise was discovered in the Steam data leak that occurred from August 29 to 31, 2026. The game, an unfinished multiplayer prototype created by Fatshark, was found by a Twitter user named Roly Poly Reaper, who managed to run it on their computer and enable online multiplayer. The prototype included several unfinished builds, with one featuring operational networking code that allowed players to take on the roles of survivors evading a player-controlled Ghostface. The project appears to have been a pitch build, never fully greenlit for production, and was stored in Valve’s old Steam2 backend for approximately 15 years before the leak. Roly Poly Reaper used the Goldberg Steam emulator and Radmin VPN to run the game, circumventing the need for a live connection to Valve’s servers. Fatshark, known for cooperative shooters, had reportedly built the Scream prototype around 2011, coinciding with the release of Scream 4. The prototype's existence predates the popularization of the asymmetric horror genre by several years. The Steam2 leak itself involved approximately 12 to 13 terabytes of data, including various internal builds and beta versions from Valve and third-party developers. Valve has not publicly commented on the leak.

Tech Optimizer

September 1, 2026

What a smart firewall does and why it matters on home Wi-Fi

Home Wi-Fi connects various devices and presents security risks, making firewalls important for network protection. A router firewall is built into the home router and protects all connected devices, while a software firewall operates on individual devices for additional security. Inbound traffic is data coming to a device, while outbound traffic is data leaving it; firewalls analyze this traffic to manage connections. Network security is critical as sensitive information is often accessed on devices used for leisure, and remote work increases data overlap. Firewalls can control network connections and filter unwanted traffic but cannot replace weak passwords or antivirus protection. To enhance home network security, users should secure router settings, keep routers updated, strengthen Wi-Fi access, check connected devices, and replace outdated routers. A comprehensive security strategy includes keeping software updated, using multifactor authentication, being cautious with links, and strengthening firewalls with antivirus protection. Protecting valuable data is essential, and understanding ransomware risks is crucial. The 3-2-1 backup strategy involves maintaining three copies of data on two different storage types, with one copy offsite. Regularly testing backups and knowing how to respond to ransomware incidents are also important.

Winsage

September 1, 2026

Windows could lock you out of your PC. Save your recovery key now!

Device encryption can lead to being locked out of a computer, making it crucial to back up the recovery key in advance. Users with local accounts must ensure they have this key, while those with Microsoft accounts can retrieve it later. Windows 10 and 11 Home editions may automatically encrypt the hard drive. To access the recovery key, users should sign in to their Microsoft account online and note the key ID and recovery key. Multiple devices linked to the same account will be listed online, complicating key retrieval. Each encrypted partition requires a separate recovery key. The OSV refers to the system drive, and FDV refers to other data drives. Without a Microsoft account, users cannot access an online backup of the recovery key, and the Home Edition lacks options for saving the key compared to the Pro version.

Tech Optimizer

September 1, 2026

NordVPN’s antivirus tool blocks 94% of phishing sites in latest independent test

NordVPN's next-generation antivirus achieved a 94% detection rate for phishing threats in an evaluation by AV-Comparatives, tested against 250 active phishing URLs and recording zero false positives. The antivirus also demonstrated a 92% block rate in similar independent testing and ranked third overall in speed and malware protection behind Avast and Norton. It is included in NordVPN's Complete subscription tier and operates alongside the standard VPN tunnel to block trackers, ads, and malicious sites in real-time. Users are advised to maintain vigilance and practice strong digital hygiene, including scrutinizing URLs and enabling two-factor authentication for added security.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Review: Crumbl And Minecraft Came Together For A Cookie Collab So Good Even Creepers Will Dig It

Crumbl has launched a collaboration with Minecraft, featuring a selection of unique cookie flavors available from August 31 through September 5, 2026. The collection includes: 1. Minecraft Lemon Poppyseed Cookie: A cookie with a poppyseed base, lemon buttercream, and lemon curd, balancing sweet and tart flavors. 2. Minecraft Cookies & Cream Sandwich: Two chocolate cookies with a purple marshmallow mousse filling, brownie bits, and cookies and cream pieces, though the cookies were slightly dry. 3. Minecraft Creeper Key Lime Sandwich: Lime cookies with a zesty lime filling, decorated with sprinkles, offering refreshing tartness but slightly dry. 4. Minecraft Grass Block Cake: A cube-shaped cake resembling a grass block, made with cinnamon brown sugar, cream cheese, and chocolate, noted for its moist texture and exceptional flavor. 5. Minecraft Cherry Blossom Cookie: A soft cookie with a cherry flavor and cherry cream cheese frosting, reminiscent of cherry cheesecake. 6. Minecraft Cookie Butter Cookie: A spiced cookie topped with cookie butter flavors, though less exciting than others. Pricing for the cookies is set at .69 for a single cookie, .49 for a four-pack, .29 for six, and .49 for a dozen. The Grass Block Cake costs an additional [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Crumbl has recently unveiled a delightful collaboration with the beloved game Minecraft, offering a unique selection of cookie flavors that promise to capture the hearts of both gamers and cookie enthusiasts alike. To assess the potential fan-favorites among these creations, a box of the new cookies was delivered for a taste test, allowing for an evaluation of their flavors, textures, and overall enjoyment. Methodology The tasting began with the Minecraft Lemon Poppyseed Cookie, a visually appealing treat featuring a poppyseed-speckled base topped with lemon buttercream and lemon curd. This cookie struck a harmonious balance between sweet and tart, reminiscent of a lemon tart but in a softer cookie format. Its savory undertones complemented the bright flavors, making it a standout choice for lemon lovers. Minecraft Cookies & Cream Sandwich Next up was the Minecraft Cookies & Cream Sandwich, which featured two chocolate cookies encasing a purple marshmallow mousse filling. The addition of brownie bits and cookies and cream pieces added texture and intrigue, elevating this classic flavor to something more unique. While the chocolate cookies were slightly dry, the overall combination provided a delightful twist on the traditional cookies and cream experience. Minecraft Creeper Key Lime Sandwich The Creeper Key Lime Sandwich showcased two layers of lime cookies with a zesty lime filling, adorned with sprinkles to represent the pixelated character. The key lime flavor offered a refreshing tartness, although the cookie sandwich format could have benefited from a more open-faced design. Despite being a bit drier than desired, the visual appeal and flavor made it a worthy contender. Minecraft Grass Block Cake Among the offerings, the Minecraft Grass Block Cake emerged as a favorite. This cube-shaped cake, designed to resemble a grass block from the game, featured layers of cinnamon brown sugar, cream cheese, and chocolate. Its moist texture and exceptional flavor combination made it a highlight of the collection, proving that Crumbl's cakes can rival their cookies in deliciousness. Minecraft Cherry Blossom Cookie The Cherry Blossom Cookie presented a delightful cherry flavor that avoided the typical artificial taste often associated with cherry-flavored treats. This soft cookie, topped with cherry cream cheese frosting, evoked the essence of a cherry cheesecake, providing a refreshing contrast to the sweeter options in the lineup. Minecraft Cookie Butter Cookie Lastly, the Minecraft Cookie Butter Cookie featured a spiced base topped with cookie butter flavors and crumbs. While it may have seemed less exciting compared to its counterparts, it still delivered a pleasant experience for fans of cookie butter. However, the nonedible chicken topper felt somewhat disconnected from the overall theme. Price and Availability Crumbl's Minecraft cookie collection is available from August 31 through September 5, 2026. Unlike typical weeks, this collaboration offers only large cookies, with pricing set at .69 for a single cookie, .49 for a four-pack, .29 for six, and .49 for a dozen. An additional 99 cents applies for the Grass Block Cake, a worthy investment for its unique flavor and presentation. With six cookies in the collection, opting for the six-pack allows for a complete tasting experience, with some cookies requiring refrigeration while others can be stored at room temperature." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99. Some cookies require refrigeration, while others can be stored at room temperature.