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Tech Optimizer

June 12, 2026

NordVPN’s next-gen antivirus aces independent testing with a 96% phishing block rate

NordVPN's next-generation antivirus blocked 96% of phishing sites in the 2026 Anti-Phishing Comparative Test by AV-Comparatives, improving by 6% from May 2025. The test involved 275 active phishing URLs targeting personal data across various platforms. NordVPN was the first VPN provider to receive the AV-Comparatives anti-phishing protection badge in June 2024, requiring detection and blocking of at least 85% of phishing URLs without false alarms. Users are advised to verify URLs, read messages carefully, enable two-factor authentication, and check for secure HTTPS connections to avoid phishing attempts.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Facebook, Instagram and Messenger suffer widespread outage

Users globally experienced significant disruptions on Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger on Friday, with over 80,000 reports related to Facebook logged by approximately 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time, as per Downdetector. The issues affected all three platforms, indicating a broader disruption within Meta's ecosystem. The specific cause of the disruption is unclear, and Meta has acknowledged the situation, with a representative stating they are working on resolving the issues.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Facebook, Instagram and Facebook Messenger face massive outage reports

A significant disruption has affected Meta's social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger, with over 100,000 users reporting issues. Users are experiencing problems such as being unable to send messages or switch accounts on Instagram and automatic logouts from Facebook. Many have turned to alternative platforms like X and Threads to express their frustrations. As of Friday morning, Meta has not provided an official statement regarding the outages, which are being felt globally.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Are Facebook and Instagram down? What to know about the Meta outage

On Friday morning, users experienced significant disruptions across several Meta-owned applications, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, beginning around 10:15 AM ET. Downdetector reported over 80,000 complaints for Facebook alone, with similar issues noted for Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The desktop version of Facebook encountered errors while the mobile app remained functional. Instagram users faced an endless loading screen, and Messenger experienced sluggish message delivery. The affected services share underlying infrastructure, leading to cascading failures during outages. Users reported varied experiences, including login issues, slow loading times, and error messages. Meta has not provided an explanation for the outages, and there is currently no evidence linking the incident to any security issue.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Meta faces major outage as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp goes down for thousands of users globally

Meta's social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger—are experiencing a significant outage affecting users primarily in India and the United States. Facebook saw peak outage reports of 109,365 in the US, with 56% of users reporting app issues, 27% facing login problems, and 10% having website access issues. In India, Facebook peaked at 1,093 reports, with 49% citing app problems, 30% login troubles, and 12% server connection issues. Instagram in India peaked at 8,582 reports, with 51% experiencing app issues, 36% login problems, and 7% server issues. In the US, Instagram peaked at 8,868, with 57% reporting app issues, 22% login challenges, and 11% server problems. Messenger in the US peaked at 15,403 reports, with 54% related to login problems and 31% to app issues, while in India, it had 91 reports. WhatsApp was less affected, peaking at 216 reports in India, with 37% reporting app issues and 32% login problems, and in the US, it peaked at 153. Meta has not provided a public statement on the disruption, and reports on Downdetector have started to decline.

Tech Optimizer

June 12, 2026

Fake verification pages are stealing Steam accounts from players

Online gamers are being warned about a scam targeting Steam accounts through counterfeit FACEIT verification pages that look authentic. These fraudulent sites feature official branding and functional links, tricking users into entering their passwords. The scam is particularly aimed at FACEIT players, as it exploits the connection between FACEIT and Steam, where players link their accounts. The scam starts with a website mimicking an official FACEIT page, claiming to offer free identity verification. Scammers use lookalike URLs, such as faceit-discord.com and faceit-clubs-verify.com, to deceive users. The site may display subtle errors, like conflicting copyright dates, and encourages users to click a “Sign in through Steam” button, which leads to a fake login window designed to steal user credentials. To protect against this scam, users should verify the website address, be cautious of blurry QR codes, treat urgent messages as suspicious, navigate directly to official sites, and consider using tools like Malwarebytes Browser Guard. If users have already entered their details, they should change their Steam password, enable Steam Guard, and check for unauthorized activity. The scam's effectiveness lies in its convincing presentation and the use of Browser-in-the-Browser attacks, which manipulate the perceived address bar.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Indie Game Festival ‘BIC 2026’ Signs MOU with RedForce PC Arena

On June 12, the Busan Indie Connect Festival Organizing Committee and RedForce PC Arena signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026 (BIC 2026). The partnership includes the creation of a dedicated 'FGT (Focus Group Test) Zone' at the festival, allowing gamers to provide feedback on exhibition titles. RedForce PC Arena will supply high-performance PCs and monitors and manage technical support for the testing environment. The organization will also promote BIC 2026 through its network of PC cafes. BIC 2026 will take place as a hybrid festival from August 7 to 28 online and from August 14 to 16 offline at BEXCO Exhibition Center 1, Hall 2, in Busan.

Winsage

June 12, 2026

Popular Windows 11 file manager Files gets improved tags, layouts, and new OneDrive icon

Files, a third-party file manager for Windows 11, has been updated to version 4.1.3, introducing several enhancements: - A "View size" button for each folder allows users to calculate folder sizes easily without changing settings. - File selection is retained when switching between different layouts. - Tag management has been streamlined, allowing users to remove tags via the context menu, toolbar, or Command Palette. - The OneDrive icon has been updated to reflect the current version from the OneDrive executable. - Bug fixes include resolving issues with tar archive extraction, crashes on the Signatures page, ensuring the Play action for single media files, correcting Smart Extract functions, addressing tag search issues, refreshing thumbnails, and displaying previously hidden BitLocker-locked drives. - A new Tree View sidebar feature is planned for future updates, enabling navigation of folders in an expandable hierarchy. Files can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store (paid version) or accessed through its official website (free version).

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2026

Avast One: Security and privacy suite under the microscope

Avast One is the flagship consumer security suite from Avast (Gen Digital), combining antivirus, firewall, VPN, and privacy utilities into a single subscription for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It offers four primary areas: device security, online privacy, identity protection, and performance tools. Device security includes real-time antivirus, Web Shield, Mail Shield, and Ransomware Shield. The online privacy component features a full VPN service with bank-grade encryption and a no-logs policy. Identity protection includes data breach monitoring and, in some markets, credit monitoring. Performance tools assist with disk cleanup and system optimization. Avast One has three plan tiers: Avast One Essential (free), Avast One Individual (paid, supports multiple devices), and Avast One Family (paid, supports up to 30 devices). Pricing varies based on promotions, with Avast One Individual typically around per year and Avast One Family ranging from to 0 per year. The suite can be downloaded directly from Avast's website, with installers available for various platforms. Avast One includes automatic updates and is designed to operate lightly on modern hardware, with options to minimize system impact during scans. Customer support includes self-help documentation, community forums, and direct support for paying customers. Avast One aims to appeal to both non-technical users and power users, providing a user-friendly interface while allowing for advanced configurations. The product is positioned as a comprehensive solution for households looking to secure multiple devices with a single subscription.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2026

As the Agentic Era Reshapes the Data Layer, Enterprises Build Their Sovereign Foundation on EDB Postgres® AI

EnterpriseDB (EDB) has reported a significant increase in global adoption of its EDB Postgres® AI (EDB PG AI) platform, indicating a trend among enterprises to standardize operations on a robust platform for managing mission-critical workloads. Research by MIT Technology Review Insights, in collaboration with EDB, shows that AI and data sovereignty are critical predictors of success in AI initiatives, with organizations prioritizing control over their data achieving a fivefold return on investment. The Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) transitioned 15 core systems to EDB PG AI for greater operational flexibility and cost efficiency, reducing licensing costs compared to Oracle. Shinhan EZ Insurance migrated its entire core system to the public cloud to ensure uninterrupted service. Other enterprises leveraging EDB PG AI include MNTN, Euronext FX, and Kyobo Book Centre, which have benefited from enhanced stability, reduced vendor risk, and improved compliance. EDB is recognized as a leader in the field and will host a global digital event titled "The Era of Agentic AI Data" on June 25. EDB Postgres® AI is positioned as an open, enterprise-grade sovereign data and AI platform, supporting secure, compliant, and scalable solutions across various environments.