The best new laptop might be an old one
The smartest laptop to buy in 2026 may not be a 2026 laptop. That’s why PCWorld’s laptop deals roundup has become one of the most useful things we publish. Now, more than ever, I’m convinced…
GodDamn Ransomware Uses PoisonX Driver to Disable Endpoint Defenses
Ravie LakshmananJul 09, 2026Malware / Endpoint Security Cybersecurity researchers have flagged a new ransomware family called GodDamn that employs the PoisonX kernel driver to neutralize security software as part of its defense evasion strategy. According…
I argued with a security expert about guest Wi-Fi… and won
You should set up a guest Wi-Fi network at home—or so says common advice. Putting visitors and even internet-capable devices (e.g., smart TV, baby monitors, cameras, etc.) keeps their security weaknesses isolated. But not all…
Apple hiked Mac prices at exactly the wrong time
Apple is a premium company, and that means its prices are tied strongly to its own self-image. High prices make products “aspirational,” or so the crack marketing team would have you believe, and that’s something…
Microsoft Patches RoguePlanet Defender Flaw That Can Grant SYSTEM Privileges
Ravie LakshmananJul 09, 2026Vulnerability / Endpoint Security Microsoft has released security updates for a Defender vulnerability known as RoguePlanet, nearly a month after details of the flaw became public. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-50656 (CVSS…
This antivirus doesn’t slow your PC down — it quietly keeps it safe for $19.99
TL;DR: Protect your Windows PC from malware, phishing, and ransomware without performance slowdown — ESET NOD32 Antivirus is available for $19.99. Most antivirus software falls into one of two categories: heavy enough to slow your PC…
Meta’s New AI Image Tool Lets Others Use Your Public Instagram Photos in AI Images
Meta has announced that its new artificial intelligence (AI) model Muse Image lets people use public Instagram posts and reels to generate AI content, and it’s enabled by default. “You can also @-mention Instagram accounts…
Top AI Agents Built to Catch Malicious Code Can Be Tricked Into Running It
Ask an AI coding agent to scan open-source code for security holes, and it might run the attacker’s code on your own machine instead. That is the finding in a proof-of-concept published Wednesday by the AI Now…
GhostApproval Symlink Flaws Could Let Malicious Repos Run Code in AI Coding Agents
Researchers at Wiz found that a flaw in six popular AI coding assistants lets a booby-trapped code project quietly take control of a developer’s computer. The assistant asks permission to edit one harmless-looking file, but the write…
Fake 7-Zip Installers Turn Devices Into Residential Proxy Nodes
Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a new threat actor dubbed Lurking Lizard that has been operating an end-to-end malicious residential proxy business using an infrastructure comprising more than 230 lookalike domains. The activity dates…