Microsoft's DirectX update could slash ray tracing memory by up to 90 percent
It works on current GPUs, no new hardware needed
Microsoft Edge gets up to 33% faster launches on Windows 11
Microsoft has made Edge quicker to launch, with startup times improving by 15% on average and up to 33% during heavy multitasking. The optimization lets Windows communicate directly with Edge when the browser is already running, cutting unnecessary overhead. It's a welcome performance boost for a browser that continues to compete with Chrome.
Anthropic manager stops coding interviews because Claude beats most candidates
Watching candidates solve a problem once predicted how they'd do on job, but AI has made the exercise nearly meaningless
Gamers hunting for PS5 emulators on GitHub are downloading malware instead
PSA: Fake PlayStation 5 emulators hosted on GitHub are delivering malware that alters Microsoft Defender settings before launching a suspected data-stealing program. The campaign exploits gamers' willingness to experiment with unofficial software, making malicious downloads look like a normal part of the process. It highlights how familiar project names can earn users' trust before they verify who is behind the files.
Hackers leak details of 41,000 Homeland Security employees, exposing undercover operations and surveillance tools
Hacked login records disclose wiretap, undercover and face-recognition programs
Amazon tells engineers to stop tokenmaxxing and judge AI tools by what they ship
Employees were using agents to inflate token counts and game an internal AI leaderboard which was later shut down
Grand Theft Auto VI will be a huge 210 GB download on PS5
There's no physical release, and it's unclear whether a day-one patch will add to the download
Kali Linux 2026.3 adds six security tools, updated KDE Plasma and Linux kernel
Kali Linux 2026.3 introduces six new security tools, including RustScan for port scanning, Dalfox for XSS testing, and Katana for web crawling. The update also brings KDE Plasma 6.7 with per-screen virtual desktops, Linux kernel 7.1.5, 126 updated packages, and refreshed build scripts with Docker and Podman support.
Discord will make some channels and messages searchable on Google
The platform's private-chat reputation meets the open web
A new report accuses Microsoft of using 10 "dark patterns" to keep you on Edge
From forced links to manipulative prompts, Microsoft isn't making browser choice easy
Tiny11 developer squeezes Windows 11 onto a 700MB CD
NTDEV, the creator of tiny11, has pushed Windows 11 slimming to the extreme with pico11, an experimental build that fits on a standard CD while retaining a working desktop and basic apps. It uses just 883MB of RAM in testing, but sacrifices Windows Update and servicing. The developer plans to bring pico11's aggressive trimming capabilities to tiny11 builder.
Windows is preparing for Intel's biggest x86 change in years, but only Xeon chips will use it at first
APX doubles x86-64's general-purpose registers from 16 to 32, so compilers can keep more values close to the CPU
SteamOS 3.9.5 updates KDE Plasma, improves compatibility and device support
SteamOS 3.9.5 brings an updated Arch Linux base, KDE Plasma 6.7.3, and Linux kernel 7.2. The update also improves compatibility with handheld gaming devices, introduces preliminary hibernation support, and reduces idle power consumption on Steam Deck.
Unreal Engine 5.8 adds support for Microsoft's Advanced Shader Delivery to remedy stuttering issues
A new built-in solution which might finally solve one of UE's most annoying problems
Nvidia's AI chips already make billions, now Jensen Huang wants $2,000 per GPU in annual software fees
Selling the chips is only the beginning of Nvidia's plans to cash in on AI
Denmark gives up on replacing Microsoft Office, for now
The pilot hit a snag nobody planned for, an election
The Best Tools to Redo the Windows Taskbar
Whether you miss the classic Windows taskbar or want a complete makeover, these tools restore old favorites, unlock deeper customization, and bring macOS-style docks and retro designs to Windows.
AI will keep uncovering critical software flaws for years, says Cloudflare CEO
The EFF says 3% of all known software vulnerabilities were found in October alone
Big quote: Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince says the PHP flaws that forced websites offline last week are only the beginning. His company already knows of other severe vulnerabilities in critical software, and he expects AI tools to keep turning up new ones for years. Because these models have sharply cut the time and skill needed to find and exploit serious bugs, defenders and everyday users face a long stretch of disruption before the internet's core software ends up safer.
Microsoft's Windows Insider wallpapers were apparently made on a Mac
Microsoft wiped that detail once people noticed
What the canceled Mass Effect 5 would have been: a sci-fi spy thriller built around player choice
Mass Effect Universe would have been set 600 years after Mass Effect 3
PowerToys adds smarter mouse controls and more Windows customization
Microsoft's latest PowerToys update introduces Mouse Button Lock, which lets you drag and select without holding down a button, and CursorHide, which automatically hides the pointer while typing. The release also adds a quick-access shelf to Command Palette, more keyboard remapping options, and offline voice dictation for ZoomIt screenshots.
Canva launches Craft, its first AI image generator, available to free users
Canva has launched Craft, its first in-house AI image generation model, available to free and paid users. Unlike conventional image generators, Craft plans the composition before rendering, aiming to improve text accuracy and object placement. It supports 2K resolution, more than 30 aspect ratios, and text generation in 55 languages.
Super Smash Bros. creator thinks AI will make a lot of games, most won't make money
Masahiro Sakurai argues AI can produce endless copycats, but not a single original idea
Nintendo Switch 2 jailbreaking is here, with homebrew, modding, and reverse engineering
Codex AI did the heavy lifting, but the jailbreak itself still took about two weeks
The big picture: AI coding has unleashed a new wave of decompilations and jailbreaks, largely centered on video games. Modders cracked almost every PlayStation 5 firmware version a few weeks ago, and the Nintendo Switch 2 is next. The phenomenon could lead to a repeat of the original Switch's piracy problem, but Nintendo has already responded.
1Password now lets AI agents sign in to websites without seeing your passwords
1Password is expanding its AI integrations beyond Claude, allowing agents like ChatGPT Work, Dots, Meta Muse, and Grok Bot to securely sign in to websites on your behalf. 1Password for Agents feature requires user approval before filling in credentials, keeping passwords and authentication codes hidden from AI models.