Winhance 4 transforms Microsoft Windows 11 (and Windows 10) into the bloat-free, faster operating system you need
The lukewarm reception to Windows 11 is clear from the wave of third-party tools built to fix it. One of the most recent is Crapfixer Rebirth Version, a utility that’s been around for about seven years (although it looks older), which has now been given a full refresh.
Winhance is another tool you’ll definitely be interested in. It can debloat and optimize Windows -- and keep it that way. Although it’s been designed for Windows 11 it works just fine on Windows 10. Winhance was originally a PowerShell GUI application, but version 4 is a standalone app that can be installed or uninstalled easily, and it also comes in a portable version, so there's no reason not to get started with it today.
The new role of behavioral biometrics in fraud prevention
Digital security is undergoing profound transformations catalyzed by the shortcomings of traditional authentication methods. Security strategies often force businesses to choose between robust defenses that frustrate users and seamless experiences that heighten vulnerability. Recently, behavioral biometrics -- using unique users’ digital interaction patterns -- has emerged to offer a compelling resolution to this longstanding challenge by providing continuous, invisible authentication based on unique human behaviors.
Behavioral biometrics can best be understood as digital body language. Like physical mannerisms, such as walking gait or vocal tone, users exhibit distinctive digital behaviors in interacting with their devices -- from typing rhythms and mouse trajectories to touchscreen pressures and even how devices are held. Behavioral biometrics captures and analyses these subtle distinctions to establish a unique digital fingerprint that fraudsters -- and their machinations -- find nearly impossible to replicate. By integrating behavioral biometrics into security and anti-fraud frameworks, organizations can attain a sophisticated balance between strong, proactive fraud postures and the frictionless user experiences that modern consumers expect.
Cloud waste -- why it's a problem and how to tackle it [Q&A]
In recent years, businesses have stampeded to move systems to the cloud. But in doing so they often unwittingly introduce multiple layers of virtualization which means they can be paying to run the same processes multiple times.
Can optimization techniques help to improve performance and cut cloud costs? We spoke to Dr. Ignacio M Llorente, CEO and founder of OpenNebula Systems to find out more.
Knock Windows 11 into shape with Crapfixer
It is only too easy to dismiss something that is less than perfect, that does not meet your every need or desire, as crap. It is an accusation that is frequently leveled at Windows 11, and now there is something you can do about it.
The bluntly named Crapfixer does exactly what the name suggests -- fixes those niggling issues, the crap, that makes Windows 11 annoying. It’s not entirely dissimilar to CCleaner, and that’s something the developer points to as a source of inspiration. So let’s take a look at Crapfixer Rebirth Version and see what it can do for you.
Microsoft releases KB5055627 update to start the rollout of Recall to Windows 11
Ahead of next month’s Patch Tuesday release, Microsoft has released a preview, non-security update for Windows 11. The KB5055627 update is an interesting one, largely because it sees the launch of a preview version of the controversial Recall feature.
But there is more to this update than the feature that sparked so many privacy concerns. While there are changes and fixes for all Windows 11 PCs, the vast majority of the KB5055627 update -- or at least the most exciting elements of it -- are for Copilot+ PCs only. This is the start of a two-tier Windows 11 user experience.
Windows 11 stops being prudish about cursing
Using Windows 11 can be enough to make anyone turn the air blue, but being irritated by aspects of the operating system is not the only reason for swearing at your computer.
Profanity is a part of everyday language, but Microsoft has been very prudish about it -- to the extent that the Voice Typing feature censored curse words. But this is changing. An update to Windows 11 means that it is possible to dictate swearwords and have them converted into text.
Brave open sources Cookiecrumbler to make cookie consent blocking smarter
Brave just made a move that should make privacy enthusiasts pretty happy. The company has officially open sourced Cookiecrumbler, a tool designed to automatically detect and help block those obnoxious cookie consent banners you see across the Web. These pop-ups are not only annoying but, according to research, often track users even when they click reject. Cookiecrumbler aims to stop that nonsense while avoiding the headaches that can come with sloppy blocking rules.
Lately, Brave has been my go-to web browser. It’s open source, cross-platform, and runs beautifully on Linux, which I appreciate as a Linux fan. Even better, it handles ad-blocking on iOS -- something many other browsers don’t offer. And perhaps most importantly, it does all of this without relying on Google.
Never mind Windows 11, Commodore OS Vision 3.0 is the retro-inspired OS you didn't know you needed -- download it now!
We regularly suggest operating systems to consider if you’re feeling disillusioned by Windows 11, and judging by their popularity, Microsoft should be concerned by just how many people are looking to jump ship.
Commodore OS Vision has just been updated to version 3.0, and it’s a major overhaul. The Linux-based operating system offers the modern features you’d expect, but with a retro twist. It’s also packed with classic Commodore content that will appeal to anyone who owned one of those systems in the past.
Here’s why I reserved the affordable and customizable Slate electric pickup truck
The electric truck market is loaded with options these days, but most of them feel like they are designed for people who want to show off rather than actually get things done. Between all the oversized touchscreens, fancy features, and prices that could make your head spin, I found myself turned off by a lot of the choices out there. That is why the Slate Truck caught my eye -- and why I did not hesitate to put down my $50 to reserve one.
This unique truck takes a very different approach from the big names in the industry. It is all about simplicity and affordability. No giant infotainment screen. No powered seats or overly complicated tech to get in the way. Instead, you get steel wheels, crank windows, real knobs for the HVAC, and the freedom to bring your own phone or tablet to handle navigation and music. I actually respect that. It puts control back where it belongs -- with the driver.
Silicon Power launches Inspire microSDXC card
When it comes to capturing high-res video or running games on portable devices, storage performance can often be the deciding factor between smooth success and frustrating failure. Silicon Power is looking to give creators and gamers a reliable solution with the launch of its all-new Inspire microSDXC card.
The Inspire card is available in four capacities -- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The company says this card can hit maximum read speeds of up to 170MB/s. Write speeds will vary by model, with the 1TB version reaching up to 160MB/s and the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities topping out at 150MB/s.
5 reasons your company could be dealing with a data quality issue
Data is a window into understanding not just how your business operates, but how consumers engage with, and select, your solutions. But according to this annual analyst report from Precisely and Drexel University, 67 percent of organizations don’t trust the data they are using for decision making. That means that your organization could also be dealing with unreliable data. When poor data leads to incorrect decisions, it can mean lost opportunities and wasted resources -- which costs your organization money. In uncertain times, a business's livelihood could even be on the line.
Data quality -- especially when it comes to Marketing, Advertising and Sales data -- impacts how teams assess and move forward in the marketplace. These teams lean on datasets to adjust outreach activities and awareness campaigns. The insights used from data are often the underpinning foundation for how a business not just orients itself for short-term quarterly goals, but also how an organization pivots to gain an edge on competition in the long term.
Enterprises struggle with serious gaps in cyber response plans
A new survey of 1,000 businesses across the UK, UK, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region reveals a worrying disconnect between organizations' perceived readiness and actual performance in cyber crisis response.
The study for Semperis, with research from Censuswide, finds 90 percent of enterprises surveyed struggle with serious blockers to effective cyber response. Top issues include cross-team communication gaps (48 percent), out-of-date response plans (45 percent) and unclear roles and responsibilities (41 percent).
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-forty-four in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Microsoft announced the deprecation and removal of the Maps app by July 2025 from the Microsoft Store. The app won't be uninstalled on user machines, but it won't receive updates anymore and can't be installed again if it is removed by the user after July 2025.
From compliance to culture: Making security part of our daily routines
Every organization, sooner or later, writes itself a policy. It gets stapled into onboarding packs and waved about during training, and then quietly forgotten. It’s not that people mean to ignore it. It’s just that rules don’t always make themselves felt when the Wi-Fi’s down or the finance team’s in a rush. But culture -- that’s different. Culture settles into the way people think and work and react. It turns guidelines into instincts. That’s when you know security has taken root.
Understanding this shift often begins with a question: what, exactly, are we securing -- and how do we keep track of it all? Which is where you'll find DSPM explained in any sensible conversation. Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) refers to the ongoing process of identifying, monitoring, and reducing risks across sensitive data. It’s less about locking everything up and more about seeing clearly -- knowing where the data is, who can access it, and what it’s doing. The benefit isn’t just technical; it’s cultural.
Navigating data privacy and security challenges in AI [Q&A]
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, data privacy and security concerns are escalating. The rapid growth of AI applications presents new challenges for companies in safeguarding sensitive information.
Emerging advanced AI models like Deepseek, developed outside the US, underscore the risks of handling critical data. We spoke to Amar Kanagaraj, CEO of Protecto -- a data guardrail company focused on AI security and privacy -- to get his insights on the most pressing AI data protection challenges.
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