From ZDNET · 40 stories
Microsoft Releases Key Windows Security Updates and Support Changes
Microsoft has rolled out security updates KB5101650 and KB5099414 for Windows 11 versions 25H2/24H2 and 23H2, fixing 571 vulnerabilities. Simultaneously, Windows 10 received its KB5099539 update addressing 570 vulnerabilities, with extended support until 2027. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions will no longer receive updates after October 13, 2026, urging users to upgrade.
Apple Details Usage Limits and Paid Access for Apple Intelligence Features
Apple has released a support article outlining usage limits for Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models, confirming that increased access will be available for a fee. This clarifies previous announcements about certain AI functionalities having usage restrictions, impacting how users will interact with these new capabilities.
Microsoft September Updates Cause USB Audio Device Failures on Windows 11 24H2
Microsoft confirmed that the September 2026 security updates, KB5124008 and KB5124012, are causing USB Audio Class 1.0 devices to fail on Windows 11, version 24H2 systems. This issue prevents audio output and displays "Code 10" errors, impacting users who rely on these specific USB audio devices.
Swiss Federal Government Pilots Open Source Replacement for Microsoft 365 on 3,000 Workstations
Switzerland's federal government is piloting the replacement of Microsoft 365 with open-source alternatives on 3,000 workstations, representing 7% of its workforce, with a target completion by late 2027. This initiative follows a successful proof-of-concept and a new digital sovereignty law, aiming to mitigate risks associated with foreign data access, vendor lock-in, and rising proprietary software costs.
Linus Torvalds' Initial Linux Announcement Marks 35th Anniversary
Linus Torvalds announced his hobby operating system, which became Linux, 35 years ago on August 25, 1991, on the Usenet group comp.os.minix. Originally a kernel with about 10,000 lines of code, Linux has grown to over 40 million lines and now powers diverse systems from smartphones to supercomputers, despite Torvalds' initial modest expectations.
China Orders State Agencies to Uninstall Government-Specific Windows 10 Edition
China's Ministry of State Security has reportedly instructed some state-linked organizations to remove a customized Windows 10 version, accelerating its planned retirement due to data security concerns. This directive led to a surge in shares for Chinese OS vendors, indicating a push towards domestic software alternatives.
Microsoft tests faster File Explorer and customizable context menu in Windows 11 preview
Microsoft is testing a faster File Explorer and a redesigned, customizable context menu in Windows 11 preview builds. These updates aim to improve performance, reliability, and user experience by reducing clutter and offering more control over menu options.
Linux Desktop Market Share Reaches Over 10% in North America, Data Suggests
Statcounter reported that Linux desktop usage in North America reached 10.65% in July 2026, marking its first time in double digits for the region. This increase is partly attributed to a reduction in Statcounter's "Unknown" category, suggesting improved classification rather than a mass migration of users. Other data sources, including the US federal government's Digital Analytics Program and Cloudflare, also indicate significant Linux desktop usage, with Cloudflare observing a peak of 22% on a specific workday.
Google Maps Rolls Out 3D 'Immersive Navigation' for Android Auto
Google Maps has launched its 3D 'Immersive Navigation' feature for Android Auto, enhancing visual clarity and navigation. The update provides detailed 3D visuals of buildings and lanes, coupled with AI-guided voice navigation. It aims to improve navigation experiences, particularly in urban areas.
Flock Cameras Expand Surveillance Across U.S., Sparking Privacy Concerns
Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are using Flock cameras, initially for vehicle tracking, to search for individuals through detailed descriptions. This usage extends beyond license plate recognition, incorporating AI to track people based on physical characteristics or affiliations. The widespread deployment of 90,000 cameras has raised significant privacy concerns due to lack of public consent.
Firefox 153 Introduces Native Containers for Better Privacy Management
Firefox 153 introduces a native Containers feature, allowing users to separate online activities by context within the same browser. This integration enhances user privacy by isolating cookies and ad tracking across different accounts and workflows.
Microsoft Tests Cloud Rebuild for Remote Windows 11 Recovery
Microsoft is testing Cloud Rebuild for Windows 11, allowing remote OS reinstalls from the cloud. This feature, in Insider Preview, provides a clean reinstall, handling device drivers and updates automatically without USB media, even if the OS won't boot. It enhances recovery options beyond 'Reset this PC', crucial for fixing persistent system issues.
openSUSE Leap 16.1 Introduces Immutable Mode for Enhanced Security
openSUSE Leap 16.1 will include an immutable mode, making its root filesystem read-only and enabling transactional updates. This feature, previously seen in Leap Micro, aims to improve security and system stability for desktop users and specialized deployments.
Pearson to Acquire AI Skills Platform Workera in H2 2026
Pearson will acquire Workera, an AI-native skills platform, in the second half of 2026. This acquisition aims to strengthen Pearson's enterprise offerings in adaptive skills training and assessments to address the growing demand for AI workforce upskilling.
Comcast Activates Wi-Fi Motion Sensing on Xfinity Routers for Home Activity Monitoring
Comcast has launched Xfinity Shield, a new home security platform that includes Wi-Fi Motion, a feature enabling compatible Xfinity routers to detect movement by analyzing disruptions in Wi-Fi signals. This update, available through the Xfinity Internet app, allows customers to monitor home activity without additional hardware, providing an added layer of awareness for Xfinity Internet users.
Google Images Revamps Homepage with Personalized Gallery and AI Features
Google Images is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a redesigned homepage. The update introduces a dynamic, personalized image gallery and includes AI features like image generation via Nano Banana 2 Lite. These changes aim to enhance user engagement and improve the visual search experience.
Perplexity's Personal Computer AI Agent Now Available on Windows
Perplexity has expanded its Personal Computer feature, an agentic AI designed for multi-step tasks, to Windows 10 and 11. This feature, previously Mac-exclusive, allows the AI to access local files, native applications, and cloud services like OneDrive and Google Drive, requiring a paid Perplexity subscription.
Google Wallet adds order tracking, TSA PreCheck integration, and allowance features in 2026
Google Wallet introduced several new features in 2026, including online order tracking, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID compatibility, and a child allowance function. These additions expand the app's utility beyond payment and card storage, making it a more comprehensive digital wallet.
Apple releases watchOS 27.0.1 to fix random restart bug on Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4
Apple released watchOS 27.0.1 to address a bug causing random restarts on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. The issue was linked to a Neural Engine timeout, and the update provides a fix for affected users.
Seagate Report: 62% of Organizations Unprepared for AI-Driven Storage Demands
A Seagate Technology report indicates that 62% of organizations are not prepared for the increased data storage demands driven by AI, despite 99% of IT leaders expecting storage needs to rise. This highlights a growing gap between AI adoption rates and the necessary data infrastructure to support it, with data quality and storage infrastructure being primary challenges.
Fake Calendar Invite Malware Attacks Surge by Over 1,200% in August
Cybersecurity firm Sublime reports a significant increase in calendar-based malware attacks, with a 1,216% rise in August and a projected 2,852% increase for September. These attacks exploit default settings in email programs like Outlook and Gmail, which automatically add malicious invites to users' calendars, bypassing typical email security measures.
Ransomware Victim Claims Reached Year-to-Date High in July 2026, NCC Group Reports
Ransomware activity recorded a year-to-date high of 894 victim organization listings in July 2026, according to NCC Group research. This increase is attributed to new ransomware groups, the emergence of agentic AI in attacks, and potentially inflated claims by cybercriminals. The rise in activity impacts various sectors globally, with a significant portion of incidents occurring in the US.
Google's "Googlebook" Laptop with Aluminum OS and Gemini Integration Expected in September
Google is reportedly preparing to launch a new laptop line called "Googlebook" in September, featuring a converged operating system named Aluminum OS that combines Android and ChromeOS. This initiative aims to integrate Android applications and phone functionalities directly into a laptop experience, with Gemini serving as a system-level interaction layer.
Survey: 80% of Developers Find AI Coding Tools More Addictive Than Helpful
A survey by Coddy Tech found that 80% of developers perceive AI coding tools as fostering dependence rather than providing a clear advantage, leading to workaholism and burnout. This indicates a potential negative impact of AI tools on developer well-being and productivity, despite their utility in tasks like boilerplate generation and code refactoring.
AWS Marketplace Sees Significant Growth in AI Agent Offerings and Usage
AWS Marketplace reports a substantial increase in AI agent offerings, growing from 1,000 to over 4,000 in one year, and AI agents are now the third most searched keyword. This growth reflects a broader trend of AI agents automating administrative and due diligence tasks within software acquisition and deployment processes.
Incogni Ranks 13 AI Platforms by Privacy Risk in New Report
Incogni's "Gen AI and LLM Data Privacy Ranking 2026" report analyzes 13 AI platforms, scoring them based on privacy risks, data handling, and user control over data. The study indicates that larger AI platforms generally pose higher privacy risks, with one exception, providing users with information to assess privacy implications before using these services.
Linux kernel 7.2 released with cache-aware scheduling and AI-assisted fixes
Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux kernel 7.2, which includes a new cache-aware scheduling program and numerous fixes identified with the help of AI tools. The cache-aware scheduling feature improves data access efficiency by reducing cache bouncing, while AI tools primarily assisted in discovering and patching security vulnerabilities.
Tor Project Releases Snowflake Volunteer Android App to Combat Censorship
The Tor Project, in collaboration with Bloco and Guardian Project, released the Snowflake Volunteer Android app on the Google Play Store. This app allows users to turn their smartphones into Snowflake proxies, enabling others in censored regions to access the Tor Network.
Microsoft Details Windows 11 Performance and Reliability Improvements
Microsoft has released a progress report outlining improvements to Windows 11 focusing on reliability, performance, stability, and usability. This initiative follows an open letter from Windows boss Pavan Davuluri earlier this year, addressing user feedback regarding the operating system's experience over the past five years. Fixes are planned for components like File Explorer, Search, and Start.
Wi-Fi 7 Adoption Quadruples in US, Driven by Cable and Fiber Providers
Wi-Fi 7 adoption in the US quadrupled year-over-year between Q1 2025 and Q2 2026, reaching 7.2% of deployed routers, according to Ookla's Speedtest data. This growth is largely due to aggressive bundling of Wi-Fi 7 gateways by cable operators like Charter and Comcast, and significant upgrades by fiber providers such as CenturyLink and Frontier.
75% of European Businesses Fear US Tech 'Kill Switch', Proton Survey Reveals
A Proton survey of 1,500 European business decision-makers found that 75% fear a "kill switch" scenario where access to US tech services is revoked, with over half estimating they could operate for only one day or less without these services. This concern highlights growing anxieties about digital sovereignty and geopolitical risks associated with reliance on a few major US tech providers. The survey indicates a potential shift in strategy for businesses globally, including those in the US, to mitigate such risks.
CrowdStrike Report Warns AI is Both a Cyber Weapon and a Target for Attackers
CrowdStrike's 2026 Threat Hunting Report states that AI models and tools are being weaponized by cybercriminals, making AI both a target and a weapon in cyberattacks. This development forces businesses to re-evaluate defensive strategies as AI-driven attack signals outpace manual handling capabilities.
AI Shopping Searches Increased 200% Annually, Becoming Top Priority for Commerce Leaders
Salesforce's State of Commerce report indicates that agentic AI use in online shopping grew 200% year-over-year, making AI implementation and expansion the top priority for commerce leaders. This surge in AI adoption is raising customer expectations and presents both opportunities and challenges for businesses in the e-commerce sector.
CDW Survey: 43% of Companies Experienced AI-Enhanced Phishing Attacks
A new CDW survey reveals that 43% of organizations have experienced AI-enhanced or AI-generated phishing attacks, and 37% encountered AI-augmented malware. This indicates an increasing use of AI in cyberattacks, prompting 41% of companies to plan investments in AI-driven threat detection systems.
International Standards Bodies Propose JPEG Trust Additions to Combat AI Image Fraud
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced two additions to their JPEG Trust standards to help verify image authenticity. These standards aim to provide tools for distinguishing real images from AI-generated content, addressing a growing credibility crisis and potential financial fraud losses estimated to reach $40 billion by 2027.
AI Boosts Evolution of Software Models, Leading to Hybrid Services
The emergence of AI is transforming the software landscape, leading to a shift towards hybrid models that combine software and services. Experts argue that while the traditional SaaS model is evolving, businesses continue to seek solutions that seamlessly integrate AI capabilities without abandoning SaaS frameworks.
Ookla ranks T-Mobile as best mobile carrier and AT&T Fiber as top internet provider
Ookla's latest Speedtest Connectivity Report ranks T-Mobile as the best mobile carrier and AT&T Fiber as the top internet provider in the US for the first half of 2026. T-Mobile achieved the highest speeds, including median download speeds of 275.55 Mbps and the best 5G performance, highlighting significant advantages in both speed and connection consistency over AT&T and Verizon.
Android 17 introduces Intrusion Logging to monitor suspicious activity
Android 17 has introduced Intrusion Logging, a feature that logs and stores security events on devices. This feature helps users diagnose issues related to security and app activity, ensuring greater transparency and control over device behavior.
Survey reveals tech workers fear more workload due to AI, not job loss
A survey of 6,000 tech professionals shows that their primary concern is increased workload without pay increase due to AI advancements. The sentiments indicate rising burnout and declining optimism among tech workers, who report feeling squeezed by higher expectations as AI capabilities grow.
Fitbit Air Shows Less Accuracy Compared to Polar H10 in Heart Rate Tests
A comparison test reveals that the Fitbit Air is less accurate than the Polar H10 chest strap when measuring heart rates during workouts. This finding highlights ongoing challenges in the accuracy of consumer wearable heart rate monitors, which generally prioritize general fitness tracking over clinical precision.