Social media has recently been lit up with claims that a recent Windows update is killing SSDs. According to Microsoft, Windows isn’t at fault. In fact, recent reports show that this problem only occurs on drives with pre-release firmware updates from storage manufacturer Phison. (Pre-release firmware updates are internal builds that never should’ve seen the light of day in actual consumer hardware.) The good news is, the latest Windows update won’t kill your SSD. Even if you’re affected, you can restore your drive with a firmware update. The bad news is, your SSD can still fail for a number of other reasons. Putting Windows Update aside, let’s talk about some of the other real threats to your SSD and what you can do to protect it. Check for SSD firmware updates SSD manufacturers provide utilities that check for firmware updates and monitor your drive’s health. They’re worth installing—and it’s especially true since this recent issue is related to pre-release firmware updates. It’s a good idea to check if your drive has the latest stable firmware installed. Firmware updates may fix bugs and prevent other problems with your SSD. Avoid any beta firmware update files you may see for download on your SSD manufacturer’s website. First, you’ll need to figure out what SSD you have in your PC. One easy way to check is to open File Explorer, right-click your “C:” drive, click “Properties,” and then look under the “Hardware” tab. Or you could just download and launch CrystalDiskInfo. (It’s one of our favorite Windows apps for checking the health of your PC.) Pick the right utility based on your SSD manufacturer: Samsung Magician, SanDisk Dashboard, and Crucial Storage Executive are some big ones. (Despite the name, SanDisk’s utility also handles firmware updates for Western Digital drives.) Perform a web search for the name of your laptop manufacturer and “SSD utility” to find the right utility app. If you have a laptop, your laptop manufacturer’s software may handle firmware updates for the built-in drive, too. This isn’t guaranteed, though. You may need to run a utility created by the company that manufactured the laptop’s built-in SSD instead. Chris Hoffman / Foundry Since I have a Samsung SSD in my desktop PC, I downloaded Samsung Magician. Look for an “Update” option in the app and check if there are any available firmware updates for your drive. If so, make sure you get them installed sooner than later. Ensure your SSD is properly cooled SSDs can generate a lot of heat—especially PCIe 4.0 SSDs and PCIe 5.0 SSDs! Some SSDs come with heatsinks and some don’t, and you can also install an aftermarket heatsink on a standard M.2 SSD. But whether you need a cooler for your SSD really depends on the particular drive you have and the general thermal profile of your case. CrystalDiskInfo is a great way to check your SSD’s temperature, health, and other statistics. If you’re curious about how well it’s cooling, you might also want to run a benchmark using CrystalDiskMark (a synthetic benchmark we use to test SSDs here at PCWorld), which can stress test your drive and monitor it during real-world operations like file transfers. But make sure you check its temperature while writing a lot of data to the drive, not just while reading data from it. Chris Hoffman / Foundry As a rule of thumb, it’s best to keep your SSD below 70 degrees Celsius. If you see the SSD getting hotter than that, that’s a sign it may be throttling itself and not performing at max potential in an effort to stay cool. The exact temperature you need to watch out for depends on your drive—look up its specs in the manual to find its rated operating temperatures. If it’s too hot, look into improving the airflow in your PC’s case and/or installing a heatsink on your SSD. Don’t completely fill the drive Solid-state drives wear down faster when they’re near maximum capacity. That means if your SSD has been at 95% capacity for a long time without much breathing space, it has likely worn down more than necessary. This is less of an issue these days thanks to overprovisioning—many SSDs have a good chunk of “extra” storage—but it’s still a good idea to keep a decent amount of free space on your SSD. Nor Gal / Shutterstock.com For utmost longevity, you should aim to keep your SSD below 80% capacity whenever you can. One added bonus here is that SSD write operations are also faster when the drive is less full, so keeping a lot of free space can help boost your drive’s overall performance. Don’t cheap out on your SSD Not all SSDs are made equal. They differ in capacities and write speeds, and some SSDs are rated for more intensive write cycles, which means some drives wear out faster than others. For consumer-grade SSDs, the biggest difference is TLC (Triple-Level Cell) vs. QLC (Quad-Level Cell) flash memory. Drives with TLC storage have a higher TBW (terabytes written) rating, meaning they can perform more writes before the flash memory cells wear out. The trade-off is that QLC drives tend to be cheaper, for obvious reasons. Mark Hachman / IDG A QLC drive is fine for light PC use, but a TLC drive will hold up better if you’re doing a lot of writing to the drive. For example, a 1TB QLC drive may have a 220 TBW rating while a 1TB TLC drive might have a 600 TBW rating. The exact numbers will depend on the individual drives. If you’re a high-demand PC user—whether you’re downloading huge PC games, editing big media files, or performing any other kind of work that involves regularly writing a lot of data to the drive—you’ll get more mileage out of a TLC drive. The next time you buy a drive, check out our recommendations for the best SSDs for all budgets. Just in case: Back up your files Everything breaks eventually. While a modern SSD doesn’t have the fragile moving parts that made traditional mechanical hard drives vulnerable to failure, it can still break down. You may turn on your PC one day only to find your SSD has failed due to a hardware problem or electrical issue, even if its firmware is problem-free. Aiseesoft The only way to truly protect your data is to maintain backups. Back up locally, back up to the cloud, or both. But whatever you do, make regular backups so you aren’t caught off guard when your SSD fails. One final ‘smart’ warning Windows Update isn’t the main threat to your SSD. Firmware bugs, excessive heat, and write-related wear and tear are all problems you can avoid. Electrical issues and hardware failures are also possibilities. Keep on top of those and your SSD should last a while. Note that some SSDs show a “health status” via something called a SMART early warning system, and you can view this using tools like your SSD manufacturer’s utility app or CrystalDiskInfo. But SMART isn’t foolproof. There’s no guarantee you’ll get an early warning when your SSD is on the brink of failure. An SSD could be showing “in good health” and still end up bricked and unbootable the next day. Here’s the takeaway: a software bug probably won’t take out your SSD, and most SSD risks are things you can see coming and adequately protect yourself against. Ensure you’re using current stable firmware, keeping your drive cool, not filling it to the brim with data, and regularly backing up your files just in case. If you do all that, there’s a good chance your SSD will outlast most of your PC’s other components. Subscribe to Chris Hoffman’s newsletter, The Windows Readme, for more real-world PC advice from a real human. Read...

We always knew that consumers preferred Windows PCs over Macs, but the numbers now back it up. HP topped Apple as the most preferred PC maker in the 2025 iteration of the American Customer Satisfaction Survey — though general consumer satisfaction with PCs fell slightly compared with 2024 sentiments. Big names, like Microsoft, suffered in the eyes of their consumer critics. Customers polled by the survey, however, said that the overall design of computers has improved, and that they marked that aspect as the best of the computing experience. The worst? The agony of calling and then navigating through a call center to receive customer support. ACSI, which runs the study, said that it sent out thousands of email surveys to random customers, and the 16,205 completed surveys it received were used as the foundation for its 2025 report. Customers were asked about their experiences with the largest customers as well as an “all other” category. The ACSI received customer inputs on expectations, quality perceptions, and perceptions of value and used them as inputs to generate a score. The biggest slips in perceived quality were Apple, Microsoft, and Acer, all of which lost three points in the ACSI rankings. Last year, Apple topped the charts with a score of 85. Yet its score of 82 placed Apple second; Dell’s ACSI score also decreased by a point compared to 2024. However, ACSI assigned Dell a score of 83, making it the most popular computer company for 2025. ACSI Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2025 / American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. The ACSI also included tablets in this category, and added Amazon to its list of manufacturers. Tablet satisfaction scores plunged, from 81 in 2024 to 77 in 2025. In general, computer satisfaction declined across every PC maker save Dell, which saw an increase in the satisfaction score from 2024’s 80 score to its 2025 score of 82. ACSI measured several aspects of the computing experience — design, availability of software, ease of operation, graphics and sound quality, and more — and generally found that customers ranked them essentially the same as in 2024. Customers expressed the least satisfaction with a computer’s ability to prevent crashing, the general state of “features” like the OS or preloaded software, and call-center satisfaction. (They apparently hadn’t moved past our first review of Windows 11.) ACSI Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2025 / American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. “The service experience may be a factor in the deviating levels of satisfaction between desktops and tablets,” the ACSI found. “Manufacturers continue to expand their repair networks to connect users with convenient outlets for service, but high repair costs and inconsistent parts availability continue to hinder the service experience for some.” Interestingly, customers ranked the desktop experience higher than that using a laptop, though aspects like “website satisfaction” should have been mostly thee same for both. ACSI Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2025 / American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. Still, the category with the most need for improvement isn’t PCs, but tablets. Amazon clearly has its work cut out for it. Read...

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Jim Johnson has been named head of Intel’s Client Computing Group, headlining a list of changes Intel made Monday to its leadership team. As part of the moves, Intel announced the departure of Michelle Johnston Holthaus, the former co-chief executive and head of Intel Products. Johnson had served as the interim head of Intel’s CCG as Holthaus took on senior roles. Now, his official title will be senior vice president and general manager, responsible for the PC and edge ecosystems, Intel said. Johnson has worked at Intel for 40 years, including in the Technology and Manufacturing Group and the Networking and Communications Group. Intel also has named a new head of its Data Center Group: Kevork Kechichian who joins as executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group (DCG). Kechichian formerly was the executive vice president of engineering at Arm. Intel also said that Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and chief technology and operations officer of Intel Foundry, will expand his role to include Foundry Services. The promotions and new hires come at the tail end of management shakeups dating back to last year, when Intel chief executive Pat Gelsinger was forced out of his role as chief executive and replaced with Lip-Bu Tan, a prominent leader in the EDA industry. After Gelsinger left, Michelle Johnston Holthaus and chief financial officer David Zinsner were named co-CEOs. Former Intel exec Michelle Johnston Holthaus.Mark Hachman / IDG After Tan joined, Holthaus — formerly the executive vice president and general manager of Intel CCG — was then asked to lead Intel’s products team, which also included the Client Computing Group. Holthaus served more than 30 years at Intel, and will remain a strategic adviser to the company over the coming months, Intel said. Johnson will oversee the fall launch of Panther Lake, the company’s next CPU architecture, as well as the Intel 18A manufacturing process that will form its foundation. Tan, meanwhile, is looking for customers for both Intel’s 18A and the subsquent 14A manufacturing process, which may decide whether Intel remains in silicon manufacturing or not. Read...

I think even non-techy people can tell the difference between Microsoft’s Surface line and the omnipresent iPad at this point, even as both product lines get more features that cross the line between consumption tablet and laptop alternative. Maybe that’s why a Microsoft promo showed a Surface device running Apple’s software. Whoops. Over the weekend, a post on the official Surface brand Twitter/X account proclaimed: “Read, highlight, summarize, repeat… all on Surface Pro, the ultimate research buddy.” And the photo does indeed show someone using a Surface Pro… with what’s clearly the iPadOS version of Microsoft Word on screen. Presumably it was done with the help of Photoshop. If the general interface of the app isn’t a dead giveaway, clock the wide swipe-up gesture bar on the bottom that iPads use instead of a home button. On Windows 11, that would be either a full taskbar or a hidden one. As someone who’s been begging for a top-aligned taskbar ever since Windows 11 arrived, this hurts. Perhaps rubbing it in a bit, Twitter users employed the platform to “add context” to the post, a tool normally used to combat deliberate misinformation. “This is an iPad screenshot on a Surface,” says the additional info, with a link to Apple’s iPad promo page. The tweet has since been deleted, but the screenshots will live in infamy. Hey, at least it’s not quite as bad as CNN presenters using your branded product placement Surface tablets as iPad stands. Read...

A recent data theft at PayPal caused a huge stir when a hacker was found wanting to sell access data to around 15.8 million accounts online—including user passwords in plain text. This type of data breach can be a nightmare for affected users. This is because criminals can not only steal funds via a compromised PayPal account, but can also gain direct access to bank accounts or credit cards. A few days later, things got even worse for PayPal customers when certain banks stopped payments via the service totaling billions, particularly in Germany. But don’t panic: If you react quickly, you can limit the damage. We show you what you should do immediately and how you can best secure your PayPal account in the future. Immediate measures: What you need to do now The first step is to change your PayPal password.Sam Singleton If you suspect that your PayPal account has been hacked, or if you are already seeing unauthorized transactions, then every minute counts. Go through these steps immediately: Change your passwordLog in to PayPal immediately and assign a new, strong password. To do this, on the top right of the homepage click on the cogwheel icon -> Security -> Password -> Update. Important: If you’ve also used the same password for your e-mail account or other services, change it there immediately too. It’s always best to use a good password manager. Activate two-factor authenticationSet up 2FA in the Paypal security settings. The most secure way to log in is via an Authenticator app, not just via SMS. This prevents attackers from gaining access to your account with your password alone. You can also find “Two-step verification” under the “Security” options menu as well. Check paymentsGo through your most recent transactions with PayPal and on the linked bank account or your credit card carefully. The earlier you discover irregularities, the faster you can react. You can find your payment history under “Activities”. Report unauthorized paymentsUse Paypal’s dispute resolution to complain about suspicious debits. PayPal will check the case and refund the money in many cases. Deregister unauthorized devicesIf you suspect that someone has accessed your PayPal account without authorization, you should end all unauthorized sessions immediately. To do this, go to the security settings of your account: Under Security -> Manage logins you will see a list of all active logins. Check the devices listed and log out anything you don’t recognize. Click on “Remove“ to immediately cut off hackers’ access. Report the incident to PayPal and contact supportIf you discover unauthorized activity on your PayPal account, you should report the incident immediately. To do this, go to the Activities menu, select the suspicious transaction and then click on “Report problem“. Follow the steps shown—PayPal will check the incident and can refund unauthorized payments. At the same time, it’s worth contacting PayPal support directly: they can also secure your account or temporarily block it in an emergency. The quicker you react, the better your account is protected and possible losses can be avoided. Inform your bank and credit card providerIf money has already been withdrawn, also inform your bank or credit card provider. If necessary, have cards blocked or new access data issued. How do I protect my PayPal account properly? A hacked account is the worst-case scenario, but with a few precautions, you can make it extremely difficult for fraudsters to get their hands on your money. These protective measures are essential for all PayPal users: Create a strong password: Your password is the key to your money. Use a long combination of letters, numbers, and special characters—and use the password exclusively for PayPal. Password managers are a great way to help you to keep track of those complicated passwords. Switch on two-factor authentication: With 2FA, you put a second lock on your account. It’s best to use an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Authy. The SMS code is better than nothing, but less secure. Recognize phishing: The greatest danger often comes via email or SMS. Remember: PayPal never asks for your password or asks you to log in via a link. Tip: If in doubt, enter the PayPal address into the browser window yourself instead of clicking on links. Only log in on secure devices: Public WLAN or other people’s computers are a gateway for hackers. Only log in on your own devices and always keep them up to date with updates. Activate notifications: Switch on email or push notifications for payments. This will let you know immediately if someone who is not authorized tries to use your account. General tips for Paypal More secure than the browser: With the Paypal app (Android | iOS), users are better protected against phishing.Dall-E/Petter Ahrnstedt In addition to the pure security settings, it is also worth paying attention to a few things during daily use. This not only protects you better from hackers, but also from typical online fraud traps. Use buyer protection: Paypal offers buyer protection—you should use it. Also, only pay merchants who officially accept PayPal. If something goes wrong (e.g. goods do not arrive or are completely different to what was described), you can get your money back via the dispute resolution center. Only transfer money to trustworthy recipients: Sending money “to friends” sounds practical, but offers no protection. Only use this option with people you know personally—never with online sellers or strangers. Keep your email address up to date: Security warnings or confirmation links are sent to the address stored with PayPal. Check regularly whether this is still up to date—and also protect your email account with a strong password and 2FA. Use an app instead of a browser: The official PayPal app is often more secure than logging in with a browser. It supports modern security mechanisms, sends push notifications, and makes phishing attacks less likely. Keep an eye on account transactions: A quick look at the app or your online account in between can save you a lot of trouble. You can recognize suspicious activity before it gets expensive. Conclusion A hacked Papal account can feel like having your home broken into. But with the right steps, you can quickly lock the door again—and upgrade your digital lock to keep burglars out in the future. Our final tip: Stay vigilant and act immediately if something is wrong. This way, you not only keep your money, but also the safe feeling of having your account under control at all times. By the way: Security on your devices not only protects your data, but also your PayPal account. An up-to-date antivirus program and regular updates make hacker attacks much more difficult—find out more in our guide to the best antivirus software. Read...

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