IObit releases Malware Fighter 13 with pre-boot scanning and behavior-based detection
Software company IObit has released Malware Fighter 13, adding new scanning capabilities and expanding its threat-detection methods. The company says the update is designed to improve protection against a wider range of cyber threats, including spyware, ransomware, and so-called fileless attacks.
The update introduces a pre-boot analysis module that scans the system during startup. This will allow the software to detect and remove malicious items before Windows loads, preventing them from reappearing after a reboot. The company says this may help systems start faster and run more reliably, but it hasn't released independent performance data to support that claim and your mileage may vary.
Job automation -- could AI replace your CEO? [Q&A]
Many people worry that AI and automation will lead to people losing their jobs and that this could be true even at senior levels.
We spoke to Alex Walsh, CEO and co-founder of agentic AI platform Oraion, who believes that, instead of destroying jobs, AI can actually enhance them.
Instagram adds Watch History so you can find Reels again
Instagram is borrowing an idea from TikTok, introducing a Watch History section that will be welcomed by many users.
While undeniably useful, pretty much the only thing that is surprising about this particular feature is that it has taken so long to appear in the app. It solves the problem of viewing a Reel within the app – and then never being able to find it again.
Microsoft trials new Copy & Search feature in latest Windows 11 builds
In the most recent Windows Insider builds of Windows 11, Microsoft is testing a new feature that will make it quicker and easier to perform search based on text copied from other documents. The new Copy & Search feature is currently available in the new Dev and Beta channels, and it could be a real time-saver.
While it may not seem like much, Copy & Search reduced a three-step process to a two-step process. In the big scheme of things, it is not much, but it is something that feel significantly faster, even if the difference is quite small in reality. But this is not just a change that is about speed.
Update PowerToys to kill the annoying theme changing bug
When Microsoft released PowerToys 0.95.0 recently there was excitement that it included a new module – Light Switch. But the excitement quickly turned to disappointed and confusion because of a bug that has managed to slip through the net.
Microsoft was fairly quick to acknowledge that when it added the new Light Switch module to PowerToys, it should not have been enabled by default. But as it was enabled by default, many people wondered what on Earth was happening when their computer started randomly changing between Light and Dark Mode.
AI-powered malware surges as cybercriminals exploit automation and geopolitical tensions
Trellix has published its latest CyberThreat Report: October 2025, highlighting a clear rise in the use of AI-powered tools and malware by cybercriminals.
Drawing on global threat intelligence gathered between April and September 2025, the report explores how automation, geopolitics, and AI are reshaping modern attack methods.
Google updates Gboard with ability to hide comma and period keys
Android users have a message range of keyboards to choose from, Gboard among them. The beauty of the level of choice is the selection of options and degree of personalization that is made possible.
And it is with personalization in mind that Google has updated Gboard, introducing the option to hide the period and comma keys.
Confidence in ransomware recovery is high but actual success rates remain low
A new study from OpenText of nearly 1,800 global IT and security leaders shows a false sense of confidence in ransomware readiness.
The report shows that 95 percent of respondents say they’re confident in their ransomware recovery -- yet only 15 percent of those attacked have fully recovered their data.
Instagram rolls out drawing and sticker options for DMs
Having someone sliding into your DMs on Instagram could be about to look a little different. The social media platform is rolling out the ability to adorn direct messages with stickers as well as freehand drawing.
As this has been in testing for a reasonable amount of time already, these options may already be familiar to subsets of Instagram users – but now they are rolling out to everyone. If you are yet to experience these new messaging tools, they may not be quite what you expect them to be.
Microsoft reincarnates Clippy for the AI age with Copilot Mico
You may have tried to forget Clippy, but Microsoft is still hanging doggedly on to the idea of character-based assistants. Having thrown everything at its AI assistant Copilot, the company is now giving it a friendly face – Mico.
As part of what it refers to as the Copilot Fall Release, Microsoft is trying to soften its artificial intelligence powered digital assistant and, by extension, people’s attitudes to it. This is the company moving towards making AI more personal, useful, and human-centered, and there is a lot of attention given to relationship.
Generalist teams vs specialist tools -- the enterprise IT paradox [Q&A]
With hyperscalers better able to attract the best talent and headcount tight across the board, most enterprises are leaning heavily on generalist IT teams to manage their environments.
But in many cases the tools they’re expected to use were designed for specialists. Legacy tools like ConnectWise, Device42, or ServiceNow often require deep expertise, complex integrations, or expensive customization making them unsuitable for generalist teams.
Surfshark introduces web content blocker for home users
Cybersecurity and privacy firm Surfshark has launched a new web content blocker aimed at home users who want to filter online material without the tracking aspect often found in parental control software.
The new feature lets users choose the content categories they want to restrict and then lock them with two-factor authentication. The same settings can be applied across all devices tied to the same account.
Red Hat introduces Developer Lightspeed, an AI-driven assistant to streamline workflows
Red Hat has announced a brand new suite of generative AI tools designed to slot directly into the company’s development ecosystem. The Red Hat Developer Lightspeed platform will allow developers to work more efficiently via context-aware assistance from within Red Hat’s existing toolsets. This includes the Red Hat Developer Hub and the migration toolkit for applications.
The company describes Developer Lightspeed as a response to the growing need for reliable, domain-specific AI tools rather than everyday, general-purpose models.
Wyze expands its smart home lineup with a new battery-powered video doorbell
Wyze has added a new video doorbell to its expanding line of home security devices. The Wyze Battery Video Doorbell enters a market already dominated by products such as Amazon’s ubiquitous Ring range (with its maddening ding-ding-dong chime), but it aims to be a budget wire-free alternative that’s simple to set up while providing a wide, head-to-toe view of the front door area.
The doorbell records in a 1:1 aspect ratio at 1536 x 1536 HD+ resolution, capturing a square frame that covers both visitors and packages placed near the door.
Google Earth's new AI tools let users ask questions about the planet
While Google Earth isn’t as massively popular as it once was, it now has some new AI capabilities that could give it fresh purpose. The platform lets users ask questions about the planet and get answers in seconds, using natural language to uncover patterns once buried in data.
The new tools combine satellite imagery, environmental models and Google Gemini’s reasoning to help people better understand what’s happening on the planet we call home.
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