Google is making it easier to switch your default browser to Chrome

Chrome logo

Every company with a web browser wants you to choose it as your default. Google is no different with Chrome than Microsoft is with Edge or Mozilla is with Firefox.

Microsoft has received a lot of flak for the heavy-handed way in which it has prompted Edge and attempted to get users to switch to it. More than this the company has made it more difficult to set other browsers as default, although this has changed in recent times. Now Google is taking steps to promote Chrome, pushing a one-click-to-switch capability.

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Linux Foundation warns Europe risks falling behind without stronger open source strategy

Open Source in Europe

The Linux Foundation has released the 2025 World of Open Source Europe Report, describing open source as a strategic advantage for Europe but warning that a lack of cohesive strategy, leadership buy-in, and policy alignment could hold the continent back. The report, presented at the Open Source Summit Europe, draws on insights from more than 300 IT leaders.

The report found that open source is not just widely adopted but has become essential to Europe’s digital sovereignty. Despite this, the study warns that without deeper investment, stronger executive commitment, and policy frameworks that encourage innovation, Europe risks falling short of its potential to lead in global open innovation.

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UK Online Safety Act sparks greater privacy awareness

Privacy text on keyboard button. Internet privacy concept.

The UK’s Online Safety Act has already led to controversy in a number of areas, but it seems that, on a positive note, it may have helped drive a growing level of privacy awareness among internet users.

New research from AstrillVPN shows a surge in searches related to privacy tools. Data breach checker ‘Have I Been Pwned’ has topped the list of the UK’s most searched online privacy tools, receiving an average of 67,542 monthly searches.

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New Rokform magnetic power banks offer 10,000mAh and 5,000mAh capacities

Rokform magnetic power banks

Rokform has launched two upgraded magnetic power banks with stands, both designed for users who need reliable charging solutions when on the go. These next-generation charging solutions represent significant improvements over previous models, according to the company.

"Rokform's upgraded power banks represent our commitment to solving real-world problems for active users," said Jeff Whitten, CEO of Rokform. "Whether you're navigating a mountain bike trail using GPS, managing a construction site without power, or creating content on the go, dead batteries can't be an option. Our upgraded power banks deliver the reliability and performance our customers demand."

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Off-the-shelf tools make life easier for phishing attackers

Phishing key

New research from Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs highlights a recently identified phishing campaign that uses carefully crafted emails to deliver malicious URLs linked to convincing phishing pages.

These pages are designed to entice recipients into downloading JavaScript files that act as droppers for UpCrypter, malware that ultimately deploys various remote access tools (RATs).

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CachyOS Linux update delivers speed, security and reliability improvements

CachyOS Linux

CachyOS, a Linux distribution based on Arch Linux, has released its sixth update of the year. The OS focuses on speed and stability while offering a wide choice of desktop environments and window managers.

This update introduces a new package dashboard, a fallback kernel for stability, and a range of improvements to its gaming and installer tools, making it a strong option for users looking to switch from Windows 10 in light of the Microsoft OS's impending end of life.

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Maximizing value from Microsoft 365 [Q&A]

Enterprise technology

Many organizations have now adopted Microsoft 365 as a central part of their office service provision. But are they getting the most out of the software that they’re paying for?

We spoke to Vadim Vladimirskiy, CEO of Nerdio, about how businesses can use more than just the big services and why it’s important to understand sizing and bolt-ons in order to extract maximum value from their M365 investment.

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Microsoft slowly rolls out a button allowing Windows 10 users to refuse Windows 11

Windows 10 laptop

It is a drum that has almost been beaten to death, but the impending end of support for Windows 10 is not a story that is going to go away any time soon. Even when mid-October rolls around – the cut-off date – this is far from going to be the end of news, reminders, and more.

For now, however, there is some form of respite for Windows 10 users. Microsoft is rolling out a way to halt the constant pestering to upgrade to Windows 11. There is, of course, a catch.

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Sam Altman wants to give everyone in the UK free access to ChatGPT Plus

ChatGPT and OpenAI logos

The head and co-founder of OpenAI, Sam Altman, entered into discussions aimed at striking a deal to bring ChatGPT Plus to everyone in the UK at no cost to end users.

In a meeting between the UK’s technology secretary Peter Kyle and Altman, there was talk of granting UK residents access to a more advanced tier of ChatGPT as standard. The deal – while not definitely dead in the water – appears to have stalled, but the idea is an extremely interesting one.

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WhatsApp is working on Instagram profile verification

WhatsApp Instgram verification

WhatsApp beta testers have access to a new option that allows them to link to a verified Instagram profile, complete with a special icon that others should recognize.

This ability is not necessarily something that will appeal to or interest all WhatsApp users, but it is certainly something that has value for some types of user. Creators are among those who are likely to welcome this addition, as are companies and brands looking to build trust and drive engagement.

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xAI makes Grok 2.5 open source and plans the same for Grok 3

Grok AI

Many of the concerns about artificial intelligence can be overcome through transparency. And it is in the name of transparency that Elon Musk has announced the open sourcing of its Grok 2.5 model.

More than this, the AI firm will also make the Grok 3 model open source is around six months.

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Snipping Tool gets a handy window recording mode

Snipping Tool window

What started off as a simple screen-grabbing tool has evolved into something powerful and impressive. The Snipping Tool goes from strength to strength, and for Windows Insiders Microsoft has a new option to play with.

The feature is an expansion of Snipping Tool’s screen recording capabilities, this time making it possible to limit recording to a specific window.

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Microsoft adds ability to resume apps from Android phone on Windows 11

Windows 11 Android app

Microsoft has been slowly showing more and more love towards Android and its interoperability with Windows 11. This is something that is abundantly clear in the latest builds of Windows 11 released to Insiders on the Dev and Beta channels.

The latest feature to start rolling out is the ability to seamlessly resume apps from Android phones on PC. This is not something that works with all apps – indeed, it is not something you would want or need to work with all apps – but it is an interesting feature which has a lot of potential. For now, however, it is starting small.

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Google Drive simplifies video editing

Googe Drive video editing

Google Drive is home to every type of file imaginable, and a decent proportion of those files are videos. It is with this in mind that Google has decided to make it easier to edit videos which have been uploaded to its cloud storage service.

Rather than adding video editing tools directly into Google Drive, the company is instead making it easier to access the option to do so using Google Vids.

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WhatsApp is testing an 'answerphone' for missed calls

WhatsApp answerphone

WhatsApp would like you to leave a message after the beep. In what feels like a blast from the past, Meta is testing what equates to an answerphone service in WhatsApp.

Currently undergoing beta testing with a limited number of users, the feature seeks to encourage conversation and connectivity. You have almost certainly been notified of a missed WhatsApp call on your phone, but how many times has the person who called followed up with a text message? Probably not often, and this is something WhatsApps is looking to address.

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