Windows users Archives

Winsage

June 17, 2026

NVIDIA’s RTX Spark launch is huge, but Qualcomm and Microsoft built the Windows ARM foundation

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon X Elite in 2023, an ARM-based processor that outperformed traditional x86 processors. The Snapdragon X Series featured a custom Oryon core design and was optimized for Windows through collaboration with Microsoft, including the introduction of the Prism emulation layer, which allows x86/x64 applications to run on ARM. Many applications, such as Adobe Illustrator and Discord, now run natively on ARM, showing significant performance improvements. By 2026, NVIDIA unveiled the RTX Spark, an ARM-powered system on a chip, developed with MediaTek, featuring an ARM Cortex CPU and a Blackwell RTX GPU. NVIDIA also announced improvements to Windows for better workload scheduling and support for kernel-level anti-cheat software on Windows ARM.

Winsage

June 16, 2026

A Brief History Of Unix Commands On Windows: CoreUtils (Again)

The interaction between Unix/Linux and Windows has historically been marked by significant differences in their architectures and philosophies. Unix uses a fork() function for process management, while Windows employs CreateProcess(), complicating the implementation of Unix-like tools on Windows. Early solutions to bridge this gap included the MKS Toolkit, which provided Unix-like commands for Windows, and UWIN from AT&T Bell Labs, which aimed to create a Unix interface layer on Windows. Cygwin offered a compatibility DLL to run Unix software on Windows, but required rebuilding from source. Microsoft's initiatives included POSIX, Interix, and later Services for UNIX. The introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allowed users to run a Linux userland directly on Windows, with WSL 2 incorporating a real Linux kernel. Recently, Microsoft released Coreutils for Windows, providing native builds of Unix-style tools to enhance cross-platform consistency.

Winsage

June 16, 2026

Get the full Office Pro 2021 suite for a one-time $33 payment

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 is available for a price of .97, representing a discount of 7.02 from its regular price of 9.99. This suite includes essential applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, Publisher, and Access, and offers lifetime access without recurring costs. It functions offline, is not tied to any Microsoft account, and allows users to store data locally on their devices.

Tech Optimizer

June 16, 2026

Subscription twist: Norton 360 Deluxe adds more than just antivirus

Norton 360 Deluxe is a mid-tier security subscription from Gen Digital that offers antivirus protection, a VPN, a password manager, dark web monitoring, and parental controls for up to five devices. It includes real-time threat protection, a firewall, ransomware shielding, and cloud backup of up to 50 GB for Windows users. The parental controls, known as Norton Family, allow monitoring of children's online activities. The Secure VPN encrypts internet traffic on public Wi-Fi and masks IP addresses. The package also features PC SafeCam for webcam security and a smart firewall. Norton 360 Deluxe is marketed with a promotional first-year rate, with higher renewal prices, and is available through digital subscriptions, app stores, and major retailers. The product is designed for households and individuals seeking comprehensive security solutions.

Winsage

June 13, 2026

Windows 11’s Low Latency Profile Is Available Now. Here’s How to Use it

Microsoft has rolled out its Low Latency Profile to all Windows 11 users, optimizing CPU performance for quicker frequency ramp-up when using Windows features. This update enhances responsiveness, particularly in tasks like opening the Start menu and other native elements. To access the feature, users need to download the June 2026 Patch KB5094126 for specific OS builds and reboot their systems. The update also includes improvements such as better Shared Audio capabilities, multi-app camera support, and refinements to Windows Search.

Winsage

June 13, 2026

WhatsApp is eating 1.2GB RAM on Windows 11, even as Microsoft kills web app slop

WhatsApp for Windows, despite having a large user base of 3 billion globally and 1.6 billion on Windows, suffers from significant performance issues, including high RAM usage (400 MB before logging in and up to 1.2 GB while idling), slow message delivery, and a choppy scrolling experience. The app operates as a web wrapper using the WebView2 framework, which leads to inefficient resource consumption compared to native applications. Users across various hardware configurations report freezing, delayed messages, and instability. Microsoft’s Teams app also faces similar performance challenges due to its reliance on the same framework. There is a growing concern about the trend of developers opting for web applications over native ones, driven by a lack of trust in native frameworks. Despite Microsoft's push for native app development through WinUI, there is currently no native version of WhatsApp for Windows, while Meta has developed optimized versions for other platforms.

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.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

Microsoft’s biggest-ever Patch Tuesday fixes 206 bugs, including 3 zero-days

Microsoft's recent Patch Tuesday release addressed 206 security vulnerabilities, marking the largest update since the program began in October 2003. Among these, 32 vulnerabilities are classified as critical, including three zero-day vulnerabilities that were disclosed before patches were available, though none are reported to be actively exploited. Notable vulnerabilities include: - CVE-2026-50507 in Windows BitLocker, with a CVSS score of 6.8, allowing unauthorized bypass of security features through physical attacks. - CVE-2026-49160 in HTTP.sys, with a CVSS score of 7.5, which can be exploited for remote denial-of-service attacks. - CVE-2026-45586 in the Windows Collaborative Translation Framework (CTFMON), with a CVSS score of 7.8, which could grant SYSTEM privileges to attackers.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

Microsoft patches record 198 Windows bugs in June update – and 3 are zero days

Microsoft's latest Patch Tuesday addressed 198 security vulnerabilities, the most extensive update in recent memory. Among these, 32 flaws are classified as critical, and three are zero-day vulnerabilities. The updates are detailed in KB articles: KB5094126 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, KB5093998 for version 23H2, and KB5094127 for Windows 10. The updates will automatically download and install, but users must verify their installation status and reboot their computers for changes to take effect. The vulnerabilities addressed this month are attributed to advancements in artificial intelligence, with companies like Microsoft leveraging AI models to expedite the identification and resolution of security flaws. The three zero-day vulnerabilities include one that allows an attacker to gain Windows System privileges through a flaw in file link resolution, another that could facilitate a denial-of-service attack via an HTTP vulnerability, and a third related to a flaw in Windows BitLocker that could enable data capture from an unpatched PC. Additionally, the update introduces new features to Windows 11, including new Secure Boot certificates, a Low Latency Profile for enhanced performance, support for shared audio devices for multiple Bluetooth connections, webcam functionality across multiple applications, and the ability to assign a custom name to the user folder during setup.

Tech Optimizer

June 9, 2026

Fake ChatGPT download site infects Windows and Mac users with malware

A counterfeit website, openew[.]app, is impersonating OpenAI's official ChatGPT download page and distributing malware. Windows users who download from this site receive a credential-stealing malware loader, while macOS users are infected with Odyssey Stealer, a variant associated with cryptocurrency theft. The fake site mimics the legitimate ChatGPT interface and uses HTTPS to appear trustworthy. The Windows malware, Chat_GPT.exe, creates a back channel to an attacker-controlled server, while the macOS malware captures sensitive data and attempts to replace legitimate cryptocurrency wallet applications with compromised versions. Users who download from official sources remain safe, but those who click on ads or unfamiliar links risk compromising their online accounts and sensitive information. Malwarebytes offers protection against this malware. Indicators of compromise include specific file hashes and network indicators associated with the malicious site.