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If Windows Defender flags ‘WinRing0’ on your gaming PC, pay attention‎

If Microsoft Defender has begun issuing warnings on your gaming PC for a “Winring0 vulnerable driver,” you have a major choice to make: you can set an exception and exempt popular RGB and fan control applications, but you’ll run the risk of malware exploiting it to attack your PC. As identified by Microsoft, Defender might issue a warning identifying that “VulnerableDriver:WinNT/Winring0” has been detected on your PC. And it’s a valid concern, because it ties back to a known vulnerablilty in two drivers, WinRing0.sys and WinRing0x64.sys, as recorded by the NIST, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The problem is that those drivers are the foundation for many, many third-party applications that take advantage of the drivers for controlling functions like fan speed and RGB lighting, “including tools like CapFrameX, EVGA Precision X1 (older versions), FanCtrl, HWiNFO, Libre Hardware Monitor, MSI Afterburner, Open Hardware Monitor, OpenRGB, OmenMon, Panorama9, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries Engine, ZenTimings, and others,” Microsoft says. They’re the tools and utilities used by gamers and enthusiasts alike, and they’re all subject to the same vulnerability. As Gamers Nexus pointed out in an in-depth video on the subject, the WinRing0.sys library was written ages ago. In 2010, Hiyohiyo (Noriyuki Miyazaki,) a developer known for CrystalDiskMark, a key benchmark which tracks the read and write speeds used to evaluate the best SSDs, created it. But when it came time for an update, the developer removed almost all functionality and called the project a failure. Unfortunately, WinRing0.sys was still a convenient entry point into low-level access into the hardware itself. Without a maintainer, it couldn’t and can’t be patched. At that point, however, the vulnerable library had been incorporated into the many utilities that Microsoft identified. In the meantime, Gamers Nexus found evidence of malware that has been actively using the vulnerability, basically equating the presence of the driver to the presence of powerful gaming hardware and sneakily loading cryptocurrency miners onto the PC to sap its resources. Right now, however, Microsoft is playing both sides. In its security document, Microsoft states plainly that the “VulnerableDriver:WinNT/Winring0” alert isn’t a mistake: “This detection is valid,” it says. (Note that the driver itself isn’t malware, but it’s vulnerable to other malware applications atacking it.) Yet just a few lines down, it offers users the option to add an exclusion within Microsoft Defender Antivirus, allowing the user to choose the affected file or application and essentially whitelist it within Defender. That’s risky. Choosing to ignore a known vulnerability opens your PC up to malware, more of which may be in circulation as the issue comes to light. Without Miyazaki’s active particiaption, it’s up to the app developers themselves to come up with their own solutions. EVGA patched their drivers, leaving just older, deprecated drivers vulnerable. But other apps still contain the vulnberability. As Wendell Wilson of Level1 Techs noted in the Gamer Nexus video, Microsoft is actively developing the Dynamic Lighting feature within Windows to allow Windows itself to control RGB lighting. That could theoretically lead to a future where Microsoft steps in to replace the functionality of the WinRing0.sys driver with something up-to-date and secure. But Wilson also noted that Microsoft has yet to do that with fan controls. That puts an application like Razer Synapse or MSI Overdrive right back in the same place it began: dependent upon a vulnerable piece of code. There are alternatives, as Windows Forum notes: “Software vendors must adapt by using secure driver frameworks or operate in user space, employing techniques such as Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs), or other sandboxed environments,” it wrote. “Collaboration between ISVs and Microsoft is critical here.” Until that day comes, enthusiasts are in a difficult place: Roll the dice and enjoy all the controls and functionality that you always have, or allow Defender to essentially quarantine key applications that control their gaming PCs’ fans and lighting. We urge you to play it safe, regardless of how blinged-out you’d like your PC to be.

22:28
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PCWorld

The best free VPNs: 5 no-cost top picks‎

VPNs, or virtual private networks, are one of the most effective ways to stay safe online. Not only do they allow you to stay anonymous, but they can help safeguard your data and keep intrusive trackers at bay. Plus, they allow you to get around region blocks on streaming services and avoid ISP throttling. However, you usually have to pay for a VPN subscription and adding an extra monthly expense might not be an option. That’s where a free VPN can come in handy, providing you with much needed security for no cost at all. While I advise that you opt for a premium VPN, such as those in our roundup of the best VPNs, I understand that sometimes you just don’t want to pay for yet another service. Therefore I’ve curated a list of the best and most trustworthy free VPNs around. I detail what restrictions they may impose and what activities they’re best used for — streaming, torrenting, browsing, etc. Check out my my top picks below. Proton VPN – Best free VPN overall Pros Unrivaled free plan Great privacy tools Reliable and transparent no-logs policy Cons Premium plan is expensive Some minor unblocking issues Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Proton VPN 2,99 € View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should use Proton VPN? If you’re looking for speed and excellent privacy in a free VPN then Proton VPN is your best choice. The only real limitation to this service is that you can only connect with one device at a time. Other than that, it’s practically a premium VPN. The service comes from a trustworthy, privacy-focused company that has undergone multiple successful audits of its no-logs policy. The free version is also mercifully free of ads — a rarity among no-cost VPNs. You’ll be able to choose from five servers located all over the world including Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the U.S. Plus, the real kicker is that there are no data limits, meaning you can surf and stream to your heart’s content. This feature alone — no data limits — is reason enough to use Proton VPN; add in everything else and the competition for top spot isn’t even close. Proton VPN’s free version even showed decent speeds in my tests, just going to show that this is the VPN to get if you don’t want to spend any money. Proton VPN: Further considerations The VPN is from the same company behind Proton Mail, a privacy-focused email service, so it’s very easy to integrate the VPN into the whole Proton ecosystem if you so wish. The company has undergone multiple independent audits confirming its no-logs policy — that includes the free VPN, as well. If you decide to upgrade to the premium version the monthly price does come in at the expensive side, so make sure you try out the free version first before upgrading. Read our full ProtonVPN review PrivadoVPN – Best free VPN runner-up Pros Excellent free version Unblocks streaming services Based in privacy-friendly Switzerland Cons No independent audit Smaller server network Feature set not as robust as some competitors Best Prices Today: Retailer Price PrivadoVPN 1,48 € View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should use PrivadoVPN? PrivadoVPN is a good option for just about anyone looking to use a free VPN. The good amount of global servers to choose from and ability to unblock streaming services means you can use it to stream while traveling for free. The free version comes with 13 global servers to choose from, a generous 10 simultaneous device-connection limit, and up to 10GB per month of high-speed data. Most of the other free VPNs only match one of these features, but PrivadoVPN provides them all. PrivadoVPN: Further considerations While the PrivadoVPN does work to unblock streaming services, just be aware that streaming in HD will hit that 10GB data limit pretty fast. The 10GB-per-month data cap only applies to high speeds though, after you reach the cap you’ll still be able to use the free VPN but with throttled speeds. Privacy-conscious users should also be aware that the company has not yet completed an independent audit, but it does promise to abide by its no-logs policy for both the paid and free versions. The only reason Proton VPN came out on top in this list is because it offers a truly unlimited free version. That doesn’t take away from PrivadoVPN though, as it’s about as close as you’re going to get otherwise. Read our full PrivadoVPN review CyberGhost VPN – Best free VPN browser extension Pros Independently verified no-log policy No data limit on free browser extension Generous 45-day money-back guarantee Cons Server speeds can be hit-or-miss Lacks some extra security features offered by competitors Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CyberGhost 2,11 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should use CyberGhost VPN? CyberGhost VPN provides an excellent VPN with plenty of servers optimized for different tasks such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting. While you do need to pay for the premium service, with access to all of its 9,000-plus servers and additional security features, CyberGhost also has a great browser extension that it offers for free. If you have either Chrome or Firefox you can download the extension without having to pay anything and enjoy access to a limited number of the VPN servers — currently sitting at eight servers in four countries. Additionally, you are able to connect and use these VPN servers without having to worry about bandwidth limits or data capping. CyberGhost’s free version is ideal for users who don’t want to pay for a premium VPN service but also don’t want to worry about a monthly data cap. Plus, the fact that CyberGhost VPN’s free version is browser-based means that users who don’t want to bother downloading and setting up a new application can have the VPN simply based in either their Firefox or Chrome browser. CyberGhost VPN: Further considerations While being a browser-based VPN is certainly convenient, it does come with the drawback of being overly simplistic. You lose access to all of the robust features and tools included in the standalone VPN app. Also, in my tests I found that the servers I used in the browser extension were not able to successfully unblock streaming servers. However, if you start using the free browser extension and decide you like CyberGhost, you can always opt for a premium membership, which can be as low as $3 a month for a long-term plan and even comes with a generous 45-day money back guarantee. Read our full CyberGhost review Windscribe – Best free VPN for speed Pros Good free plan Fast speeds Unlimited device connections Cons Streaming unblocking is inconsistent Smaller server network than some competitors Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Windscribe $5.75 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should use Windscribe VPN? Those who want a free VPN with fast speeds and a generous helping of extra perks will find that Windscribe is the go-to option. In my testing, I noticed no discernible speed differences between the paid and free versions, and considering that the paid version already had great average speeds, that is a huge bonus. Most free VPNs are only good for location spoofing with no real added features, and that’s why Windscribe is so good. It offers way more for users and the fact that it gives you up to 10GB of bandwidth means you can use it multiple times throughout the month before hitting the data cap. The free service offers 10 regional connections including the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania. Plus, Windscribe does not use any virtual servers at all, meaning everything is a real physical server located in that region—a nice bonus for those concerned about server security and location spoofing. It also has a ton of privacy features such as blockers for site notifications and “we use cookies” banners, WebRTC leak protection, user agent rotation, and more. The service is extremely easy to use with a simple setup and solid performance for a free VPN. Windscribe VPN: Further considerations While Windscribe’s free version does offer up to 10GB of data per month, to get that bandwidth you’ll need to confirm via email address — if not, you’re stuck at 2GB per month. Additionally, some users might be turned off of the interface which seems a bit over-designed and not as intuitive as it could be. Still, Windscribe is a great free option with very few downsides. I not only recommend the Windscribe free service on its own, but also as an easy way to get to know the service before committing to a paid tier with premium features. Read our full Windscribe Pro review TunnelBear – Best free VPN for get-in, get-out tasks Pros Fun and easy-to-use interface Reliable security features Unlimited simultaneous device connections Cons Lacks some advanced features for power users Customer support not the most helpful Not a good option for torrenting Who should use TunnelBear VPN? I’ve always liked TunnelBear. It’s simple to use, affordable, and the speeds are fine. TunnelBear’s free VPN is best suited for those who need a one-and-done VPN experience. The 500MB data cap is quite restrictive, but you have access to all of the premium features from an excellent VPN service. This includes split-tunneling, a unique HTTPS masking feature, and your choice of multiple VPN protocols. The idea is to provide a trial for testing out the service before making a bigger commitment. Thankfully, beyond the data limit, the free version of TunnelBear puts no restrictions on what features are available so you’re able to experience the full application for no charge. TunnelBear VPN: Further considerations TunnelBear’s data limit won’t allow you to stream or play games for the most part, but it’s enough for quick hits when you’re on the road for checking email, or some basic web browsing. Plus, TunnelBear keeps track of your bandwidth usage so you can see when you’re getting too close to the limit. Also, while TunnelBear’s free version provides you with its full premium feature set, these features are rather minimal compared to other top services. TunnelBear is all about simplicity and fun and that will appeal to a lot of people, but not everyone. Read our full TunnelBear review Other free VPNs we liked While we believe that the above VPNs are currently the best and most trustworthy, there are a few other services that deserve attention: Hide.me is a well-rounded service that ticks almost every box and the fantastic array of configurable settings make it a power-user’s dream. Hotspot Shield is another decent free option if you’re fine with only U.S.-based servers and a few ads. IPVanish nails all of the basics: good speeds, a large server network, and privacy promises backed up with independent audits. I’m continuously evaluating new VPNs and reevaluating services I’ve already tested on a regular basis, so be sure to come back for more recommendations and to see what else we’ve put through their paces. Can I get a better VPN deal? Here at PCWorld, we are regularly hunting down the best VPN deals to help you get the most bang for your buck. VPN services are frequently running deals throughout the year, so if you decide to upgrade from a free to premium tier, you should have a few chances to snag your favorite VPN on a steep discount if you can time it right. While the prices for all VPNs on this list are updated daily, they do not account for special deals or offers. It’s best to keep checking our deals article to see what new limited-time discounts are on offer each week. Additionally, sales events such as Amazon Prime Day in mid-July and Black Friday at the end of November provide excellent opportunities to find even cheaper VPN deals. How we test VPNs We judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional features, and cost. For a more detailed guide on our evaluation process, check out PCWorld’s comprehensive guide on how we test VPN services. Speed tests are kept as simple as possible. We average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to our baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. We thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues. Experience and ease-of-use are subjective, but we try our best to give an accurate representation of how it feels to work with the VPN. And finally, we compare the value of the service based upon its price and additional features to the industry average to help you gain an accurate picture of what you’ll get for your money. Why you should trust PCWorld for VPN reviews and buying advice Here at PCWorld we’ve been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. As reviewers and users of PC hardware and software, we put every product through its paces using rigorous benchmarking and hands-on evaluation. We’d never recommend something we wouldn’t want for ourselves. Who curated this article? Sam Singleton is PCWorld’s VPN beat reporter and jack of all trades. When he’s not on the hunt for the best computer deals he’s covering VPNs, productivity software, laptops, and a wide gamut of consumer-grade hardware and software. How to choose the best free VPN Choosing a free VPN is a question of weighing the trade-offs with each service. Do you want unlimited bandwidth but a restriction on devices? Or is it preferable to have more devices but deal with a bandwidth limit? Server network One of the first things you should look for in a free VPN is the number of servers and locations. It’s difficult to judge any VPN by just one feature, but a semi-reliable way to tell if a VPN is even worth your time is to look at the server network. While premium services should have 1,000 or more total servers, free VPNs will provide a lot less. Look for something in the range of 8 to 10 total servers, preferably located in different countries around the world. Speed The next thing to consider is a VPN’s speed. This may be tricky to do since you aren’t likely to be able to test connection speeds without paying to use the service. Reading reviews online will give you a general estimate. Look for reviews, like ours, that give you a relative average of connection speeds rather than direct Mbps speed comparisons, for a more accurate picture. Also, be sure to check if the free version comes with any speed restrictions. Privacy You’ll also want to read up on a VPN’s privacy protections. Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Where is the VPN company located? All of these will give you an idea of whether or not a VPN is transparent with its data collection policies and if it’s subject to government data sharing requirements. Other factors to consider One thing you definitely want to avoid is a VPN that is ad supported. Ads expose you to tracking by the company delivering said ads, which is something you don’t want. Also, stay away from any deal that suggests you can get a VPN by “sharing” your bandwidth like we saw with the Hola VPN scandal back in 2015. You also want to watch out for any VPNs with no name recognition, or that don’t have any official reviews by third-parties. FAQ 1. What is the best free VPN? Proton VPN is our pick for best free VPN overall. With the free version, you’ll get all of the same privacy and security benefits of the premium version, plus no monthly data limits and good speeds.  The only major drawback is that you’ll be limited to a few global servers, but there should be enough variety to access what you want. 2. Are free VPNs safe? Free VPNs have a bit of a bad rap as some have been used to exploit users with targeted ads and dubious privacy policies. Figuring out which services are reputable and which you should steer clear of can be challenging. When we review VPNs here at PCWorld, we look closely at each service’s privacy policy and do in-depth research to determine if there’ve been any historical data sharing issues associated with the company. The best free VPNs, such as those listed above, will have strict no-logs policies and back them up with third-party audits. Many of these details aren’t widely known, so if you’re unsure about a service’s track record or privacy policy commitments, be sure to check out our detailed reviews, or do a bit of research on your own before using a free VPN. 3. Do free VPNs work with Netflix? Netflix has a reputation for strongly combating VPN usage on its site. Sometimes, even with premium VPNs, it can be difficult to find servers that can unblock these types of streaming sites. Free VPNs in particular can struggle to access streaming services such as Netflix due in part to their limited number of servers—more servers means more potential options to bypass blocks. Additionally, free VPNs often limit connection speeds or the amount of data for users, meaning streaming isn’t a viable option. I recommend that if your main goal with a VPN is to access location-restricted content, then you opt for a premium VPN such as those in our list of best VPNs for Netflix. Otherwise, you might find it difficult with any free VPN to access streaming content. 4. Is a free VPN any good? If you’re looking to increase your privacy and security while surfing the web, then the right free VPN can be a perfectly viable solution. You may run into some performance issues with free VPNs due to their imposed limitations, though. That being said, all of the free VPNs above are more than worth trying out, especially if your VPN needs are basic. Just make sure that you stick with a reputable provider such as those above, with strong privacy practices. 5. What is a VPN? VPNs create a secure tunnel between your PC and the internet. When you connect to a VPN your web traffic is routed through the chosen VPN server to make it appear as though you’re browsing from that server’s location, and not from your actual location. The VPN app will also encrypt your data so that any third parties such as your ISP can’t see your specific online activities. A VPN can be a great response to a variety of concerns, such as online privacy, anonymity, greater security on public Wi-Fi, and, of course, spoofing locations. 6. Can I be tracked with a free VPN? While a trustworthy free VPN will certainly offer you better privacy and security, neither it nor any other premium VPN can make you completely anonymous or keep you from being tracked entirely. A VPN will keep your ISP from seeing your traffic, but there are a mind-boggling number of ways that other companies or sites track you across the internet. For example, when you sign into a website, your identity is still revealed to that website, VPN or not. Or when you log into your Gmail account while using a VPN, Google can now collect personalized cookies based on your browsing. Related content PCWorld software reviews Should you use a VPN browser extension: What you gain, what you give up How much should you pay for a VPN? VPNs and the law: How often does law enforcement actually request VPN logs? 5 VPN features you need to start using today 14 VPN terms and features everyone should know NortonVPN vs. Proton VPN: Which VPN is better in 2025? Best VPN Best VPN for streaming Netflix Fastest VPN Best VPN for Android Best free VPN for Android Best VPN for torrenting Best VPN deals

21:45
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PCWorld

Acer’s Intel Core i7 laptop with 16GB RAM is a steal for only $394‎

Finding an affordable laptop that can actually handle Windows these days isn’t easy, especially if your definition of “affordable” dips down below the $500 mark. But today, Acer is offering a refurbished model—by way of eBay—with an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM for just $393.99. That’s over $300 off its retail price! The Acer Aspire Vero is pretty typical for a budget-to-mid-range design, omitting such niceties as a touchscreen or a face-scanning webcam. But with a 13th-gen 10-core Intel processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM (the minimum I would recommend for Windows 11), and 512GB of storage, it’s got more than enough juice to power through standard student and office tasks. You can upgrade that RAM and storage fairly easily, by the way, which is great to see. With integrated Iris Xe graphics, it can handle some light gaming, too, but don’t throw anything Randy Pitchford made at it. While 15.6 inches for the 1080p screen is on the larger side, that extra space means you have room for plenty of ports, including double USB-C, double USB-A, and full-sized HDMI (handy for using the TV in a hotel room). It also has a full-sized keyboard with a number pad and a fingerprint reader. But I think the most appealing thing about this thing is the color—the recycled plastic shell comes in a speckled dark green that looks really distinctive for a budget design. The 50-watt-hour battery should last through a cross-country flight, though probably not a full 12-hour day of work and doomscrolling. Acer is selling this Aspire Vero as refurbished from the factory, which means a nearly-new condition verified by techs who know what they’re doing. The two-year warranty period is great… the fact that it’s serviced by Allstate, less so. Hey, it beats the 90 days you usually get with a refurb. You can take an extra five bucks off the $398.99 price with coupon code YUSFSIB7D68DY7CM at checkout, and UPS shipping should be free anywhere in the continental US. Don’t sleep on this one if you’ve been waiting for a great deal on a budget design! If it’s not quite what you’re looking for, then check out PCWorld’s picks for the best laptops. Get an Acer Aspire Vero laptop with Core i7 power for under $400Buy now on eBay

21:45
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PCWorld

Unlock this AI feature in Firefox and never fall for a scam link again‎

Starting with version 138 (released back in April), Firefox has had a new-yet-still-deactivated option that uses “artificial intelligence” to display a mini preview of the destination page for a link. The feature determines the content of the page in question and displays a pop-up, and this preview can help to avoid potential scams and malware when navigating unsolicited links. The AI feature works locally on your PC and, according to Mozilla, doesn’t use a cloud service. Firefox’s AI-powered link preview feature shows a preview of the link’s destination as well as an AI-generated summary of it. It’s a good measure for avoiding scams and malware.Joel Lee / Foundry To activate the feature, open the Firefox configuration by navigating to about:config in the address bar. Confirm the security prompt with the blue “Accept the Risk and Continue” button. Then, search for the flag labeled browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled using the search field, then click on the button to the right (with the two arrows) to enable the feature if it isn’t set to “true.” Lastly, restart Firefox. To use the AI link preview feature, try one of two methods: either hold the Shift key while you hover over a link, or click and hold the link you want to preview. It may take a few seconds, but Firefox will then display a preview of the destination as well as an AI-generated summary of the content on that page.

21:26
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PCWorld

Bad hair day? Zoom is adding photorealistic avatars to its roadmap‎

If you’ve ever wanted to call in sick and let an AI take over on your next Zoom meeting — well, that future isn’t quite here yet. But Zoom is adding “photorealistic avatars” to Zoom Workplace in addition to smoother video and live voice translation. That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to play hooky — although a version of you will appear on the screen, moving in time to your motions. This will make it appear as if you are present and engaged, even if you didn’t have time to make yourself presentable for the camera. Unfortunately, the simple Zoom app that connected people during the epidemic has evolved into a full-fledged workspace like Microsoft Teams. It now includes multiple levels of AI (say hello to Zoomie!) with agentic services, whiteboards, chat, and more. But the core experience, now known as Workplace, is also improving in measurable ways, the company said at its Zoomtopia developer conference. It didn’t provide examples of how each feature will work. However, company’s Workspace roadmap looks intriguing. For years, users have been able to turn their cameras off, which doesn’t necessarily indicate that the user is paying attention. Its solution is a “photorealistic avatar” that will “track and mimic their live video feed,” described as a “lifelike AI-generated avatar.” Since that feature is scheduled to roll out in December, we won’t know whether that avatar is simply an animated photo of you or something different. Zoom is also adding a feature that rivals are adding: real-time voice translations, which Microsoft has demonstrated (as announced for Microsoft Edge, and then later demonstrated) as has Google with real-time voice translations for Google Meet. The problem here has been the difficulty in doing so. Microsoft’s demos have only been in English, Spanish, and Korean, while Google Meet has been limited to just Spanish. Zoom isn’t saying how many languages it’ll deliver, though the feature is expected to roll out in December. How Zoom’s real-time voice translation will work.Zoom And yes, the basic Zoom Meetings app is getting an upgrade, too. One of the challenges in buying a top-notch webcam is that some of the basic 1080p webcams attached to a laptop don’t quite deliver the visual quality you’re used to seeing on YouTube. Zoom doesn’t support streaming in 1440p, let alone 4K, and it still won’t. However, you’ll now be able to share content in 4K, and Zoom is upgrading its infrastructure to allow 1080p cameras at 60Hz. Most webcams stream at just 30Hz, which can look a little jittery; 60Hz is the refresh rate of TV and most streaming services, so using a 60Hz webcam will subconsciously deliver a “TV-like” experience. This, too, is expected in December. Zoom is also using AI to help users find and book meetings. A new “Zoomie” group assistant can be used to check into a room, check on action items or updates, and more. Zoomie appears to be one part of the AI Companion, which helps track down free meeting times by examining participants’ schedules and digs up relevant documents so you’re prepared. These features will be available in the coming months, Zoom said. Zoom’s AI Companion on the Web.Zoom One of the features some IT managers worry about is Zoom’s ability to “sit in” on a meeting and record and take notes. Zoom is branching out: soon users will be able to bring the AI Companion to Microsoft Teams and Google Meet later this month, with support for WebEx at a later date. And, of course, there’s more traditional AI, too: this November, Zoom will add “writing assistance” that’s tuned to a user’s style, along with “deep research” that will be added the month before. All that will be enabled in a new work “surface” that Zoom will launch in November for the Web.

20:08
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PCWorld

Turn your laptop’s USB-C port into 7 ports with this $18 Acer gadget‎

If your laptop is like mine, it’s lacking a bunch of useful ports. Once you plug in the charger, you probably don’t have much connectivity left—especially if your charger plugs into USB-C. And what if you want to connect an external monitor or two but don’t have any HDMI ports? Yeah, it sucks that ports are disappearing on modern laptops. But no worries because you can solve this with a simple accessory like this Anker 7-in-1 USB-C hub that’s now just $17.99 (was $24.99) on Amazon with a smooth 28 percent discount. With this nifty gadget, you can expand your laptop’s potential by quite a bit. Acer’s USB-C hub features a USB-C port with 100W of power delivery, allowing you to keep charging your laptop even while this hub is plugged in. Then, while charging, this hub also provides a separate USB-C data port, two USB-A ports, both SD and microSD card slots, and an HDMI port that supports a monitor up to 4K at 30Hz. It’s the ultimate accessory for turning a laptop into a proper workstation. Grab this Acer USB-C hub for just $17.99 while you still can because this limited-time deal won’t last forever! This matches the lowest price it’s ever been, so now’s as good a time as ever. Save 28% on this awesome 7-port USB-C hub with 4K HDMIBuy now at Amazon

19:43
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PCWorld

ChatGPT might ask adults for ID after teen suicides‎

Cases of “AI psychosis” are apparently on the rise, and multiple people have committed suicide after conversing with the ChatGPT large language model. That’s pretty horrible. Representatives of ChatGPT maker OpenAI are testifying before the US congress in response, and the company is announcing new methods of detecting users’ age. According to the CEO, that may include ID verification. New age detection systems are being implemented in ChatGPT, and where the automated system can’t verify (to itself, at least) that a user is an adult, it will default to the more locked-down “under 18” experience that blocks sexual content and, “potentially involving law enforcement to ensure safety.” In a separate blog post spotted by Ars Technica, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that in some countries the system may also ask for an ID to verify the user’s age. “We know this is a privacy compromise for adults but believe it is a worthy tradeoff,” Altman wrote. ChatGPT’s official policy is that users under the age of 13 are not allowed, but OpenAI claims that it’s building an experience that’s appropriate for children aged 13 to 17. Altman also talked up the privacy angle, a serious concern in countries and states that are now requiring ID verification before adults can access pornography or other controversial content. “We are developing advanced security features to ensure your data is private, even from OpenAI employees,” Altman wrote. But exceptions will be made, apparently at the discretion of ChatGPT’s systems and OpenAI. “Potential serious misuse,” including threats to someone’s life or plans to harm others, or “a potential massive cybersecurity incident,” could be viewed and reviewed by human moderators. As ChatGPT and other large language model services become more ubiquitous, their use has become more scrutinized from just about every angle. “AI psychosis” appears to be a phenomenon where users communicate with an LLM like a person, and the generally obliging nature of LLM design indulges them into a repeating, digressing cycle of delusion and potential harm. Last month parents of a California 16-year-old who committed suicide filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI. The teen had conversed with ChatGPT, and logs of the conversations that have been confirmed as genuine include instructions for tying a noose and what appear to be encouragement and support for the decision to kill himself. It’s only the latest in a continuing series of mental health crises and suicides, which appear to be either directly inspired or aggravated by chatting with “artificial intelligence” products like ChatGPT and Character.AI. Both the parents in the case above and OpenAI representatives testified before the United States Senate earlier this week in an inquiry into chat systems, and the Federal Trade Commission is looking into OpenAI, Character.AI, Meta, Google, and xAI (now the official owner of X, formerly Twitter, under Elon Musk) for potential dangers of AI chatbots. As more than a trillion US dollars are invested into various AI industries, and countries strive to make sure they have a piece of that pie, questions keep emerging about the dangers of LLM systems. But with all that money flying around, a “move fast and break things” approach seems to have been the default position up to now. Safeguards are emerging, but balancing them with user privacy won’t be easy. “We realize that these principles are in conflict and not everyone will agree with how we are resolving that conflict,” wrote Altman.

19:23
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PCWorld

Get this fast USB-C wall plug with 3 ports for a crazy 45% off today‎

It sucks that new phones and tablets don’t come with charger blocks anymore, but the silver lining is you get to choose your own—and there are some really good ones that don’t cost much. Right now, this Baseus Picogo USB-C wall plug is down to $22 (was $40) on Amazon with the on-page 35% coupon and promo code TFQB2BAL at checkout. The Baseus Picogo power adapter is perfect for smartphones, tablets, and other accessories that charge using either USB-C or USB-A. With 67 watts of charging power, it’s even fast enough for some laptops. (Baseus claims it can restore a MacBook Air to 42% in half an hour, which is pretty good for such a tiny device.) Just remember you’ll also need fast USB cables that can handle the power provided by this block. And this is actually a 3-port charger, so you can charge multiple devices at once. With two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, it’s widely compatible with almost any device you’d need to charge. Each USB-C port is capable of the 67 watts when used alone, while the USB-A maxes out at 33 watts. But keep in mind that when two or three ports are used at once, the 67-watt total gets split between them. What are you waiting for? Get this Baseus Picogo for only $22 with the special on-page coupon and promo code TFQB2BAL at checkout! Save 45% on this awesome 3-port USB-C charger blockBuy now at Amazon

19:08
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PCWorld

Best laptops for college students: 7 picks for every budget‎

Picking out a laptop for college doesn’t have to be annoyingly complicated. Whether you’re stuck in lectures all day or working on a big paper all night, having a reliable laptop is a total game changer. The trick? Figuring out what really matters in a laptop so you don’t end up spending on stuff you won’t even need. That’s where we come in. We break things down without all the technical word vomit so you can quickly find the best machine for your lifestyle. From featherlight models that disappear in your bag to laptops with marathon battery life, we’ve got you covered. Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – Best overall Pros Robust build quality Attractive OLED touchscreen Good CPU and integrated GPU performance Amazing battery life Cons Uninspired design Keyboard isn’t memorable Mediocre connectivity Price When Reviewed: 1199 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Kaufland 2.339,00 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED? If you want a laptop that’s quick, lasts all day, and has a screen that actually looks great, this one’s a solid pick. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED really hits the sweet spot. It’s packing an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a speedy 512GB SSD, so it can handle everything from essays and Zoom calls to those dozen tabs you’ve always got open. The 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen really steals the show, though. Movies, photos, and even spreadsheets look sharp and colorful. And with a 75 watt-hour battery, you’ll easily get a full day (approx. 16 hours) of use without hunting for an outlet in the library. Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: Further considerations This laptop isn’t built for heavy gaming or 3D work, but does great with pretty much everything else. The keyboard is fine, but not mind-blowing. It doesn’t have tons of ports, but covers what you really need — USB-C with DisplayPort and power delivery, HDMI, and a headphone jack. The real win here is the balance. Long battery life, gorgeous screen, decent build quality, and smooth performance — all wrapped up neatly in a portable package. At around $850, it’s tough to beat, which is why it’s our best overall laptop for students this year. Read our full Asus ZenBook 14 OLED UM3402YA-KM452W review Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best budget laptop for students Pros Affordable Decent battery life Good display visibility Cons Big and bulky Cheap build Limited performance Price When Reviewed: 499 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Playox 458,00 € View Deal Easy Notebook 488,39 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15? If you’re on a tight budget and just need a laptop for research and writing essay’s, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is a good pick. It’s nothing fancy, but it handles stuff like streaming lectures and writing papers just fine. It comes with solid basics for the price — an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage — which is enough to handle most of your school work without any problems. Battery lasts around 12 hours, so you don’t have to constantly look for a charger. The 15.6-inch 1080p screen is pretty big, which is nice for both work and Netflix binges. Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations This laptop keeps it simple — no touchscreen, no backlit keys. But it runs smoothly, the battery holds up, and it gets through college tasks without a fuss. Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-31P-3957 review Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition – Best battery life Pros Over 24 hours of battery life (in our standard test) Solid build quality Snappy desktop performance 2-in-1 experience with pen Cons On the expensive side Lunar Lake’s low multithreaded performance is an issue for some workflows Price When Reviewed: 2.679 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Lenovo 2.679,00 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1? If you’re looking for a laptop that can actually last all day, this one’s pretty crazy. We got around 25 hours on a single charge, which is seriously impressive. At under three pounds, this laptop is pretty darn easy to carry around. The 360-degree hinge allows the screen to flip all the way back, making it simple to use like a tablet for handwritten notes. And the keyboard? Super comfy, so typing up essays won’t cause your fingers to tire or cramp up. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1: Further considerations It’s definitely on the expensive side — our review model was over $2,000, though the price varies depending on the configuration. The laptop features high-quality materials and modern extras like Wi-Fi 7. It doesn’t include a built-in SD card reader, so photography students will need a dongle. For everyday tasks such as essay writing and streaming, performance is smooth, though you may want to avoid running too many heavy programs at once. Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition review MacBook Air (M4) – Best MacBook for students Pros Can drive two external displays at 6K/60Hz M4 provides a performance boost New 12MP Center Stage camera Cons No more Space Gray option Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the MacBook Air? If you want a MacBook that’s quick and easy to take anywhere, the new MacBook Air M4 is tough to beat. It’s got a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, a beefed-up Neural Engine, and faster memory, so it can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. Plus, Apple finally fixed a big limitation from past Airs–you can now run two external 6K displays with the lid open, which is perfect if you like a multi-monitor setup. Add the upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera for sharper video calls, and you’ve got a laptop that’s ready for work, school, or whatever else. By the way, it lasted nearly 18 hours in our battery tests, so longevity is king here. MacBook Air: Further considerations A few more things to know. This MacBook Air is crazy light–3.3 pounds–and super thin at 0.45 inches, so tossing it in your bag is a breeze. The new Sky Blue color is a nice touch, and prices start at $999 for the 13-inch or $1,199 for the 15-inch. Even better, the base model now comes with 16GB of RAM, so you don’t have to worry about upgrading right away. The only minor tradeoff? Battery life is about an hour shorter than the M3 in video loop tests, but honestly, it’s still more than enough for a full day without scrambling for an outlet. Read our full MacBook Air (M4) review Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – Best Chromebook for students Pros Zippy processor performance Nice keyboard A wide array of connectivity options Chic design Cons Battery life isn’t competitive The display’s 16:9 aspect ratio feels a little cramped Price When Reviewed: 699 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Notebook.de 698,00 € View Deal €741.27 View Deal €763.49 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34? If you’re heading to college and want a Chromebook that looks good and runs well (as long as you don’t mind Google’s ecosystem), this one’s it. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is fast enough to keep up with your daily activities — think Zoom, Google Docs, Spotify — and it won’t freeze up when you’ve got a bunch of tabs open. (I see you, serial tab opener.) It’s got a 14-inch 1080p screen that looks pretty clear. The webcam’s actually really solid too, so you won’t look like a blurry mess on video calls. And yeah, the whole laptop looks great. It’s got that clean, modern vibe that doesn’t scream budget. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Further considerations The battery lasts around 13 hours, which is fine (no complaints on my end), but I’ve seen other laptops that go much longer. Also, no touchscreen — not a deal-breaker for most, but if you’re someone who loves tapping around, that might be a bummer. And if you’re trying to do anything like video editing or heavy design work? This probably isn’t the machine for you. But for school notes, research, and lectures? It’s exactly what you need at a nice price. Read our full Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review Microsoft Surface Pro (2025) – Best ultraportable for students Pros Compact and well-built Good office performance All Copilot Plus features available Good battery life Cons Narrow screen to work on No HDR support No charger included Price When Reviewed: 979 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price €829 View Deal €849 View Deal €889 View Deal €929 View Deal 979,00 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro (2025)? If you’re always on the move — rushing between classes or just hanging out at a coffee shop — the Surface Pro 2025 is pretty sweet. It’s crazy light, like just over a pound, so tossing it in your bag is no big deal. It also handles all the usual stuff without breaking a sweat — Zoom calls, notes, emails, and yeah, binge-watching your favorite shows too. Honestly, the Snapdragon chip does a great job keeping things snappy day-to-day. Microsoft Surface Pro (2025): Further considerations There are a couple of things you should know. The 12-inch screen can feel cramped if a lot of tabs are open at once, especially given the 3:2 aspect ratio. There are also only two USB-C ports, so anyone relying on multiple peripherals or external storage might need a small dongle or dock. Battery life’s kind of a mixed bag. If you’re just typing or watching stuff with the brightness turned down, it’ll last a good while. But if you’re cranking everything up and bouncing between heavy apps, it could drain faster than you might expect. Still, if most of your school stuff is in the cloud and you just want something super light that gets the job done, this laptop totally delivers. Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 2025 review Acer Nitro V 16 – Best gaming laptop for students Pros Solid performance Competitive price Dedicated button for quick performance mode switching Fast 165Hz display with good colors Cons Fully plastic build Mushy keyboard Weak battery life Price When Reviewed: 1199 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price 999,99 € View Deal 1.299,00 € View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 16? If you’re after a gaming laptop that can handle those late night gaming marathons (schoolwork, too!), the Acer Nitro V 16 is an excellent pick. The 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS display is colorful, and the 165Hz refresh rate makes gameplay look buttery smooth. 4060 graphics also means you can run most games on Medium or High graphics. Battery life isn’t great though, you’ll get around four hours unplugged. That’s normal for gaming laptops, but just something to remember if you’re going to be using it away from a charger. Acer Nitro V 16: Further considerations This laptop is perfect if you want affordable gaming power and don’t mind the plastic build. It’s also good for heavy work stuff thanks to that GPU. Just know it’s not the lightest or fanciest-feeling laptop out there. Read our full Acer Nitro V 16 ANV16-41-R961 review Other notable laptops we’ve tested A few laptops didn’t make the above list, but they’re still pretty cool and worth considering. The Dell Plus 14 2-in-1 is a nice cheap pick ($599.99) with a touchscreen and decent hardware. The Asus ZenBook A14, on the other hand, boasts a featherlight build (2.16 pounds) as well as incredible battery life (24 hours!). Finally, the Framework Laptop 2025 is all about being easy to fix and upgrade, which is awesome if you don’t want to buy a new laptop every couple years. How we test laptops The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops. Why you should trust PCWorld for laptop reviews and buying advice It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget. Who curated this article? Hi, I’m Ashley Biancuzzo, and I oversee all laptop and Chromebook coverage at PCWorld. While you’ll see me review Chromebooks on occasion, I’m also deeply immersed in the broader world of consumer tech. I spend a lot of time writing and thinking about where laptops are headed — from AI and sustainable designs to long-term trends. When I’m not deep in the world of tech, you’ll probably find me gaming, getting lost in a good book, or chilling with my rescue greyhound, Allen. How to choose the best laptop for college First off, think about your budget. What’s your actual limit here? If you don’t have much wiggle room, a Chromebook might be the way to go. They’re pretty cheap and can handle everyday tasks like writing papers, working on a Google Sheet, casual browsing, that sort of thing. You can find them anywhere from $200 to about a grand, it just depends on what you’re going for. If you’ve got a little more to spend, 2-in-1 touchscreen laptops are great because they’re so versatile. You can turn the screen all the way back and use it like a tablet or stand it up like a little movie screen. That’s great for Netflix or just zoning out with YouTube. The flexibility’s nice, especially if you’re cramped in a dorm or carrying it around all the time. As far as performance goes, if you’re doing stuff like email, streaming, or having a bunch of tabs open, more RAM helps. 8GB is what I’d recommend. Your laptop will run smoother and it won’t feel like it’s constantly lagging. 4GB is fine if you’re just browsing or writing papers, but it can feel restrictive if you’re prone to multitasking and working with lots of open windows. Chrome and Spotify are memory hogs as well, and they’ll slow things down if you don’t have enough memory to work with. Last thing, the keyboard. You’ll be typing a lot in college, so this actually matters. Some people like keys that are clickier and have a little more bounce to them. Well, that’s mechanical keyboards for you. They’re louder, but they help you avoid accidental keystrokes, and they feel kind of satisfying to type on. Totally up to you, but don’t ignore it. A bad keyboard gets old real fast. FAQ 1. What’s the best laptop for college students? If you just want something that’s fast, lasts all day, and has a screen that actually makes Netflix look good, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is probably your best bet. It’s light, powerful enough for school stuff (and then some), and the battery life is awesome. 2. What’s the best budget laptop for college students? If you’re trying to keep it cheap and just want something that works, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is pretty much a perfect fit. It’s got a big screen, decent battery, and handles all the basics like a champ. Nothing fancy, but it gets your school stuff done without drama. 3. What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop? Chromebooks are super simple and fast, perfect for stuff like browsing, writing papers, and streaming. The do everything within the Chrome OS. They usually don’t cost much, either. Windows laptops can do a lot more like gaming or editing videos. They also support locally installed programs as opposed to being internet-based. So if you just need a basic laptop for school stuff, a Chromebook is cool, but if you want something that can handle more, go with Windows. Related content PCWorld laptop reviews What’s new when shopping for a laptop in 2025? 8 things to keep in mind When PC vendors tell you what’s going on with tariffs, pay attention Can AI be used ethically for school work? Here’s what teachers say 14 back-to-school gadgets you didn’t know you needed 15 practical free apps for your college laptop Tested! The best Chromebooks you can buy in 2025 — from budget to premium Best gaming laptops under $1,000: Expert picks that won’t break the bank

19:01
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PCWorld

Firefox 143 gets Microsoft Copilot AI and Google Lens support‎

The latest update to Firefox brings the browser up to version 143 with various new features and improvements, including some that other browsers already offer. However, some of these features—like Google Lens—are only being introduced gradually. The update also fixes some security vulnerabilities as usual. Mozilla plans to release Firefox 144 on October 14th, 2025. What’s new in Firefox 143? The biggest addition with this update is that Microsoft Copilot has been added to the AI chatbots available in the sidebar, joining ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, and Le Chat Mistral. Firefox 143 also adds the ability to use Google Lens to search for information on images, but this feature requires Google to be set as the browser’s default search engine. It’s currently rolling out gradually to users. (Lens is already available in Chrome and Opera One, and Edge has a similar function that accesses Bing.) To manually enable reverse image searches with Google Lens, navigate to the internal configuration page by typing about:config into the address bar, then search for the browser.search.visualSearch.featureGate flag. If the value of the flag is set to “false,” double-click it and change it to “true.” The change should take effect immediately. On Windows, Firefox 143 can run websites as web apps that can be pinned directly to the Windows taskbar. There’s a new icon on the right-hand side of the address bar for pinning. However, this doesn’t work with Firefox installed from the Microsoft Store. Linux and macOS versions of Firefox will get a similar feature later on. Other improvements include: the ability to pin tabs by dragging a tab to the designated area at the top of the tab bar; a camera preview when websites request access to the camera; and important dates and events displayed in the address bar (such as Mother’s Day or Easter). For accessibility applications—like Windows Voice Access, Text Cursor Indicator, and Narrator—Firefox offers the option of using Microsoft UI Automation, allowing such tools to use this interface to interact with the user interfaces of apps. Mozilla also plans to gradually roll out this functionality in the coming weeks. Security updates in Firefox 143 Mozilla’s Security Advisory 2025-73 for Firefox 143 lists at least 11 eliminated security vulnerabilities. Mozilla categorizes two of the externally reported vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-10527 and CVE-2025-10528) as high risk. These vulnerabilities in the Canvas2D graphics component allow malicious code to break out of the browser sandbox. The remaining vulnerabilities are considered medium or low risk, with one exception: the last entry concerns an unspecified number of internally discovered memory safety bugs, summarized under identifier CVE-2025-10537. These are also considered high risk.

18:49
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