Latest Software News
SEE SOFTWARE STORIES BY CATEGORY
News
These smart vacuums and mowers can be hacked to spy on you
Security researchers have discovered several alarming security vulnerabilities in Ecovacs smart vacuums and lawn mowers.
News
Several high-risk security flaws patched in Foxit's PDF tools
Foxit Software has released new updates that close several high-risk security vulnerabilities in Foxit PDF Reader and Foxit PDF Editor.
News
Google is killing one of Chrome's biggest ad blockers
uBlock Origin will soon stop functioning in Chrome as Google transitions to new browser extension rules.
Feature
How to protect your college laptop: A student's guide to cybersecurity
Here's everything you need to know about keeping your laptop safe, secure, and protected against hackers, viruses, and data loss.
News
Microsoft Clipchamp is getting some pretty incredible AI powers
Microsoft is revealing new AI updates to the Windows Clipchamp app, with a big one on the horizon: video packages generated by AI prompts.
News
Windows 'downgrade' attack unpatches your PC to open old security flaws
Hackers can revert a secured version of Windows to an older version to make it susceptible to previously fixed vulnerabilities.
News
ProtonVPN unveils new anti-censorship features, and more
VPN provider Proton rolls out new updates such as a Stealth protocol and discreet app icons that aim to keep you safe while protecting privacy and free speech.
News
Firefox 129 release fixes security flaws and improves Reader View
Mozilla has patched numerous security vulnerabilities in Firefox version 129 alongside a few other improvements.
Deal
Get my favorite giant robot game for just $3 on Steam
Titanfall 2 has become a sleeper hit since it released in 2016, especially its single-player campaign. Go pick it up if you haven't played it yet.
News
Beware of this new phishing scam that could arrive in your mailbox
Phishing scams don't just happen on the internet anymore. Here's a deceptive new kind that strikes where you'd least expect it.
Feature
5 devious ways malware can sneak past your PC's antivirus
Although your antivirus software is up to date, some computer systems are repeatedly attacked by malware. We'll go over why this happens and what measures you can take to protect yourself.
Updated
Google's search business officially ruled as illegal monopoly
A US District Court has ruled Google's search business—and even some aspects of its advertising business—to be an illegal monopoly.
News
OpenAI's unreleased ChatGPT detector could catch cheating students
OpenAI said Sunday that it can detect text generated by ChatGPT using two different methods. But it's considering how useful they might be, and how easily they could be hacked.
News
New report shows the truth of how people actually use AI chatbots
A recent analysis by The Washington Post shows how AI chatbots are actually used by everyday people.
Feature
Surfshark VPN: The first 5 settings you need to change
Surfshark VPN comes with a ton of great features and changing these five settings will help ensure an optimal experience.
News
Even Google isn’t safe from malicious Google ads
Google's sponsored search ads promoted malware for the company's own products.
News
Chrome adds new AI search features for images and site history
Desktop versions of Chrome are getting AI-powered features for searching images and videos, finding sites in history, and comparing products online.
News
Skype goes completely ad-free while getting new AI features
Microsoft's messaging app is getting a comprehensive overhaul that makes it more appealing.
News
The cause of Microsoft's global cloud services outage revealed
Yesterday, Microsoft services connected to Azure experienced disruptions worldwide. We now know why: a targeted DDoS attack.
News
Why you should never connect a Windows XP PC to the internet
A recent experiment showed what happens when a computer running Windows XP goes online today.
News
Chrome's password manager recently swallowed over 15 million passwords
A recent issue in the Chrome web browser meant millions of users were unable to access their saved passwords.
Feature
10 simple security actions that keep you much safer online
These everyday online security tips are simple, fast, easy, and free.
Feature
Don't take your antivirus software for granted
Sometimes your antivirus is all that stands between you and security failures caused by other people.
News
Windows 11 now lets you access Android phones via File Explorer
Soon it'll be much easier to move files between Android phones and Windows 11 PCs thanks to this change.
Deal
Get the superb Acronis True Image 2025 Advanced for $29 (45% off)
Back up and restore your local drives, clone or mirror your PCs, and get 50GB of cloud storage for your most important files—all for nearly half off retail price.
News
Secure Boot is busted on hundreds of PCs from Dell, Acer, Intel, and others
One of the pillars of modern PC security is looking pretty shaky after a cryptographic key was leaked on GitHub.
News
Chrome now warns of resource-hogging tabs — here's how to enable it
The new feature is currently hidden in the latest beta version of the Google Chrome browser.
News
Google is now ditching its plan to replace cookies in Chrome
Years after announcing Privacy Sandbox, Google says it will be optional instead of a complete replacement for user-tracking cookies.
News
How Windows 95 saved companies from the global IT meltdown
During the CrowdStrike disaster over the weekend, it was an outdated Windows version that prevented even greater damage.
News
Microsoft wants you to pay $300 per year for AI art in Word
Microsoft said this week that it's going to embed the AI art capabilities of Microsoft Designer into Word and PowerPoint. That's great, but have you considered how much it will cost?
Feature
Should you use free antivirus software? The pros and cons
Here are the pros and cons of free antivirus software and whether you should consider upgrading to paid antivirus suites.
Feature
The dangers of malvertising — and how to protect yourself against it
When online advertising becomes dangerous…
News
Best VPN for Nebraska: Pornhub workarounds
Pornhub is set to begin blocking access to residents of Nebraska following new age verification laws—but a VPN can be a viable workaround. These are the best VPNs to continue viewing the site while protecting your privacy.
News
AT&T leaked your wireless data. Here's what to watch out for
Call and text message logs for AT&T’s over 100 million wireless customers were stolen by a hacker—which includes data about non-subscribers, too.
Feature
Surfshark vs. NordVPN: Which VPN is better in 2024?
These two feature-packed VPNs go head-to-head to see which is better in 2024.
News
Dangerous security flaw found in Microsoft Outlook – go patch right now!
Security researchers have discovered a serious issue in Outlook that puts you at risk even without you doing anything wrong.
Feature
Browser speed showdown: Chrome vs. Edge vs. Firefox and more
The most popular browsers in a speed duel: Who will win the race?
News
Google's excellent dark web monitoring service will soon be free
Previously only available to paid Google One subscribers, this feature is going to become available to all Google accounts.
Feature
Top 9 phishing scams to watch out for in 2024
Phishing scams have been around since 1995, but they're always evolving. Here's what you need to know about the different types and how to spot them.
News
Beware of fake Amazon site scams as Prime Day approaches
Fake websites claiming to be Amazon-related are luring shoppers into traps—and it's only going to get worse with Prime Day coming up.
Feature
What is split tunneling and do you need it in a VPN?
Split tunneling is an oft-highlighted feature of VPNs that lets you pick and choose when you want anonymity.
Opinion
I got sick of Chrome's BS and switched to Vivaldi. Here's what happened
After more than a decade I've broken my Google browser habit, on Windows and mobile.
Feature
Is Windows 11's built-in antivirus enough for normal people?
See where Windows Security stands tall and where it falls short for regular, daily use.
News
A hacker just leaked 10 billion passwords. Here’s what to do now
A new compilation of leaked passwords called “RockYou2024” just surfaced on a forum—and it drives up the risk of account takeovers dramatically. Here's how to respond.
News
FreeDOS turns 30 and may soon get full support for Windows 3.x
Want to explore what MS-DOS was like back in the day? You can still do so with FreeDOS.
Feature
Norton 360 antivirus: 5 settings to change first
Make the most of PCWorld’s top-rated antivirus software with these quick tweaks.
Deal
Steam Summer Sale: 11 incredible deals on games worth playing
The Summer Sale is packed with great games. Overwhelmed? Check out these hand-picked winners for frugal PC gamers.
Feature
Best VPN for Indiana, Idaho, and Kansas: Pornhub workarounds
Pornhub will soon add Indiana, Idaho, and Kansas to its list of blocked states following new age verification laws—but a VPN can be a viable workaround. These are the best VPNs to continue viewing the site while protecting your privacy.
Feature
How PCWorld tests cloud backup services
Fom Carbonite to iDrive, PCWorld has tested all the online backup services out there. This is our evaluation process.
Feature