It’s high time you upgrade that tech drawer of yours, and the first thing you should replace in there are those old USB cables you’re stockpiling but not using. Why? Because they’re slow! Charging tech has evolved a lot, and that means you need fast cables for fast charging and fast data transfers. Toss those old cables. They’ll just frustrate you. Then replace them with this 2-pack of 100W USB-C cables from Ugreen. Now’s the best time to grab them because they’re on sale with a massive 42% discount, bringing the price down to just $7.49. That amounts to just $3.75 per cable. It doesn’t get cheaper than that! View this Amazon deal These 100W cables are going to help recharge your tech in no time. That’s fast enough to work with all kinds of fast chargers, including wall plugs, charging stations, and power banks. They work just as well with phones, tablets, and laptops as they do with other smaller accessories like wireless earbuds. Indeed, they’re ultra-fast. They’re also good for data transfers! These cables support up to 480 MB/s, so file transfers will take seconds, not minutes. These Ugreen cables are covered with a durable braided nylon that prevents them from getting damaged when they accidentally get knotted around in your bag, tangled in your pocket, or bent when your Roomba unknowingly sweeps right over it. If you haven’t bought fast cables in the past few years, you need these cables. You won’t regret it. Go ahead and replace your old cables with this 2-pack of Ugreen USB-C cables for $7.49. Get two high-speed fast-charging USB-C cables for 42% offBuy now at Amazon Read...

Microsoft has released the first Windows 10 update of 2026, an important security patch called update KB5073724. This update is available for users of Windows 10 21H2, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, and Windows 10 22H2 who have signed up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Since Windows 10 no longer receives new features—only security-related fixes—update KB5073724 doesn’t bring any new features with it. KB5073724 is purely a security update that addresses newly discovered flaws in the Windows 10 operating system. What’s in update KB5073724? Update KB5073724 includes security fixes that Microsoft previously pushed in December 2025 as part of KB5071546 and KB5074976: [Drivers] This update removes the following modem drivers: agrsm64.sys (x64), agrsm.sys (x86), smserl64.sys (x64) and smserial.sys (x86). Modem hardware that depends on these specific drivers will no longer work in Windows 10. [Secure Boot] Starting with this update, Windows quality updates include a subset of high-confidence device target data that identifies devices that can automatically receive new certificates for Secure Boot. Devices will only receive the new certificates after enough successful update signals have been verified to ensure a secure and phased rollout. [WinSqlite3.dll] Fixed: The Windows core component WinSqlite3.dll has been updated. Previously, some security software may have identified this component as vulnerable. As of this writing, Microsoft doesn’t mention any issues relevant to private users that could cause problems when installing update KB5073724 on Windows 10 computers. The update might cause problems with Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365. How to install this update You can easily obtain update KB5073724 as part of the updates that Microsoft released on Patch Tuesday for January 2026. In this case, you don’t need to take any action—update KB5073724 will automatically be installed on your computer. If necessary, start a search for new updates in the Windows Update settings. Or you can also get it directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Outstanding performance & low latency Feather-light & stable Comfortable shape & coating Two sets of PTFE skates Optional 8,000 Hz via dongle Attractive price Cons Only 5 buttons No Bluetooth Open base design attracts dust 8K dongle costs extra & shortens battery life Our Verdict The Hitscan Hyperlight impresses as an ultra-light gaming mouse for performance fans. FPS gamers in particular benefit from the strong combination of low weight, precise sensor, and robust workmanship. The mouse is also a solid choice for many other genres. The only limitations are for MMO players and convenience functions for everyday use, such as the lack of Bluetooth. So, for around $90, it’s definitely worth recommending, even if availability is a little poor. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Hitscan Hyperlight Retailer Price MaxGaming €89.90 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Hitscan Hyperlight is a brand-new wireless gaming mouse from a newcomer manufacturer, and its name says it all: weighing just 39 grams, it’s one of the lightest mice on the market. Despite its flyweight, Hitscan promises outstanding performance thanks to the Pixart sensor and Omron optical switches, paired with high-quality workmanship. For enthusiasts, there is an optional wireless dongle that increases the sampling rate from the usual 1,000Hz to an impressive 8,000Hz. In our test report, we check whether the Hyperlight delivers what it promises. We also assess the 8K dongle in terms of benefits and value for money. Check out our list of the best wireless gaming mice for even more options. Friedrich Stiemer Hitscan Hyperlight: Features The Hitscan Hyperlight uses the Pixart PAW3395 sensor with up to 26,000 DPI, 50G acceleration and 650 IPS tracking speed. The sensor is positioned slightly forwards, which supports fast, direct movements and offers particular advantages for precise aiming techniques. Despite the closed upper shell, the mouse only weighs around 39 grams and measures approximately 118 x 61 x 38 millimeters. The low weight is the result of intelligent material cut-outs on the inside without compromising stability. Friedrich Stiemer Optical Omron switches are used as the main buttons, which provide a crisp, delay-free click feel and do not suffer from the typical double-click wear and tear of classic mechanical models. The two side buttons are based on tactile switches from TTC and the mouse wheel works with a precise TTC gold encoder. The battery life is around 75 hours in 2.4 GHz mode with a polling rate of 1,000Hz, but drops noticeably when the optional 8K dongle with increased sampling rate is used. Friedrich Stiemer The connection is exclusively via 2.4 GHz radio, Bluetooth is not included. Settings such as DPI levels, lift-off distance, and polling rate are made in the Hitscan utility under Windows. In addition to the USB-C charging cable, two different sets of PTFE glide feet (skates) and the 1 kHz wireless dongle are included in the box. Friedrich Stiemer Hitscan Hyperlight: Design, shape, and workmanship The Hitscan Hyperlight is a small, symmetrical gaming mouse with a gentle center hump. This makes it ideal for claw and fingertip grip, especially for small to medium-sized hands. Even larger hands can guide it precisely in fingertip grip, while a classic palm grip is less comfortable. The sides are relatively straight without a pronounced taper. The weight is evenly distributed, despite the internal recesses for the low weight. Friedrich Stiemer Even with the lightweight construction, the workmanship is of high quality. Neither the lid nor the side panels give way under normal pressure. The coating is matt, slightly rubberized and non-slip. Control is maintained even with sweaty hands. However, we still found the material to be less solid than that of more expensive models, which is due to the design. Friedrich Stiemer As already mentioned, two sets of PTFE glide feet are included. Both variants glide smoothly and can be mounted without air bubbles. RGB has been omitted in favour of the low weight. Friedrich Stiemer Hitscan Hyperlight: Performance The Hitscan Hyperlight shows its strengths in fast-paced shooters. Aiming accuracy and response time are outstanding. The combination of low weight and precise PAW3395 sensor enables lightning-fast flick shots. No noticeable delay spoils this responsiveness either. The sensor also remains stable during repositioning. The LOD (lift-off distance) is low so that the cursor remains steady when lifting. Friedrich Stiemer The mouse is also suitable for MOBAs. The movements are precise, clicks are fast, and the shape is comfortable. The extended number of buttons is missing for MMOs so players who place a lot of actions on the mouse are limited here. However, the Hyperlight is sufficient for occasional MMO sessions or ARPGs. Friedrich Stiemer The mouse also works well in everyday office use. However, comfort functions such as Bluetooth or a free-running scroll wheel are missing. The open base design can attract some dust in the long term. Occasional cleaning is therefore recommended. Friedrich Stiemer Hitscan Hyperlight: 8K dongle The optional 8K dongle increases the polling rate from 1,000 to 8,000 Hz at an additional cost of around $25. Tests show a slightly more direct mouse feel, especially during fast movements. The latency decreases measurably, but the advantage is small for the average gamer. Enthusiasts and professionals with fast monitors will benefit more. Friedrich Stiemer However, the dongle significantly reduces the battery life of the Hitscan Hyperlight: from around 75 to an estimated 15 to 20 hours. The system load also increases. However, installation is simple and the software is extended by new polling levels. The extra charge is therefore only worthwhile for gamers who really want to save every ounce of latency. Friedrich Stiemer Read...

On January 13th, Microsoft released a comprehensive update for Windows 11, known as the first Patch Tuesday of the year. However, after installing update KB5073455, some PCs may experience problems that prevent them from shutting down. Microsoft has already documented this as a known issue. According to the note, affected PCs simply restart instead of shutting down. Hibernation mode is also affected. There’s currently no solution. Who’s affected? According to Microsoft, devices running Windows 11 23H2 that use System Guard Secure Launch are affected. This tool is meant to protect Windows systems from potential threats during the startup process, similar to Secure Boot. It’s worth noting that Windows 11 23H2 has been officially unsupported since November 2025, with the exception of Enterprise and IoT editions of the operating system. However, there are apparently still enough PCs using this version for reports of the error to surface. What can you do about it? Microsoft says it’s already working on a solution to the problem. However, there’s currently no official patch available. However, you can at least use a workaround if you want (or need) to shut down your Windows 11 23H2 PC completely. There are various shutdown commands for Windows that still work. For example, you can type shutdown /s /t 0 in the Command Prompt and your PC will shut down as usual. You can also create a shortcut on the desktop for this purpose as long as the problem persists. Read...

Beware of text messages with promises to win or a call to action! Because it is precisely messages like these that repeatedly lead to unexpected costs on your mobile phone bill. If you reply carelessly or contact a specified number, you can quickly fall into an expensive trap. We explain below which types of text messages are particularly risky and how you can protect yourself against them. These text messages are aimed at your money Not every text message is for information purposes. In particular, messages with alleged prizes, vouchers, or urgent instructions often have a clear aim: to trigger a quick response. A short reply or a callback is often enough to trigger costs. Formulations that create time pressure or suggest urgency are typical. Examples include messages such as “Last chance to confirm,” “Your prize expires today,” “Please reply immediately,” or “Act now to avoid costs.” Such statements are intended to tempt recipients to respond quickly without checking the content or possible costs. It is precisely this pattern that makes such text messages particularly dangerous. Promises of prizes are the most common lure Travel vouchers, special prizes, or exclusive benefits are among the most popular lures. The text messages appear serious, mention well-known brands or suggest a benefit that has already been won. To receive the alleged prize, recipients are asked to contact a specific number or reply by text message. These are often special numbers or premium services for which a charge is made. Numbers with the dialing codes 0900, 0137, or 0180 in particular are often associated with high per-minute charges. The costs are incurred immediately and only appear later on the mobile phone bill. Many people only realize that they have been ripped off when they receive their bill. Is SMS advertising even allowed? Unsolicited advertising text messages are generally not permitted, under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Electronic mail includes not only SMS, but also MMS, emails, and RCS messages. Advertising messages via messenger services such as Whatsapp are also covered by this regulation. If advertising is sent without consent, this constitutes unreasonable harassment of consumers and is illegal. If there is no consent, those affected can demand that the sender refrain from sending further messages. In many cases, consumer centers and courts see this as a clear breach of competition law. The provisions of the Telecommunications Act also apply. If such a text message mentions telephone numbers or requests recipients to call back, the costs incurred must be clearly stated. What you should do if you are affected If you have received a suspicious text message, you should not reply under any circumstances and should not contact any of the numbers provided. Keep the message and document the sender and content. You should report violations to your mobile carrier. These measures protect against SMS cost traps Ignore text messages with promises to win or urgent requests. Never click on links contained in such messages and do not download any files from them. Before responding, check that the costs are clearly and unambiguously stated. Set up a block for premium text messages with your mobile phone provider. Use spam filters or the blocking functions for unknown numbers on your smartphone. Related content How to avoid being scammed by a toll-collection SMS and similar smishing attempts This ethical hacker’s one tip changed how I think about digital scams Be careful! That legit PayPal email might be a phishing scam Read...

With all the stuff you have to keep charged these days, your desk and nightstand are probably cluttered with all kinds of cables and power adapters. Juggling all of that can be a nightmare. That’s why I love wireless charging stations, like Acer’s all-in-one wireless charging stand. Normally priced at $80, it’s now 29% off and down to $57! View this Acer deal This charging station has everything you could want, including multiple charging pads, extra ports, and a digital clock display. This charging hub has 7 total charging options: two wireless pads for phones (one angled up to serve as a stand), a pad on top of the clock for earbud cases, and another pad on the side for your Apple Watch. Around the back, you get two USB-C and one USB-A for wired charging of other gadgets. Note that this charging station is generally platform-agnostic, but the watch pad is only compatible with Apple Watches. The phone pads work with iPhones and all Android phones, and the USB-C/USB-A ports work with all USB-compatible devices. There are buttons on the back for adjusting the clock display and switching between Celsius and Fahrenheit. This charging hub also comes with various safeguards to keep your tech safe, including protections against overcurrent, overvoltage, and extreme temperatures. Your desk needs this wireless charging station! It’s so convenient—no need to fumble with cables most of the time—plus it’s organized, clutter-free, and complete with a handy clock display. Perfect for home offices. Get it now for 29% off while you still can! Save 29% on this all-in-one wireless charging stationBuy this wireless charging station Read...

The parent company of X and Grok, xAI, launched a counter-suit saying she had violated its terms of service. Read...

These days, your home office could do better than a wimpy laptop or a towering desktop PC. If you care about getting the most performance for the least amount of money, you’re better off with a mini PC. “But what if I’m a gamer?” you ask. No worries! Today, this GMKtec M8 mini PC is on sale for just $371 on Amazon (that’s 30% off its MSRP) and it has just the right features to serve as a passable gaming machine. View this Amazon deal Despite the freakishly low price, the GMKtec M8 has a surprisingly decent configuration: a Ryzen 5 Pro 6650H processor, 16GB of ultra-fast LPDDR5 memory, and a spacious 1TB SSD. That’s a great combo for the price, providing enough hardware to smoothly handle Windows 11 (we don’t recommend less than 16GB of RAM) as well as your apps and browser tabs without slowing to a crawl. You can also user-upgrade later up to a total of 8TB of storage. But let’s talk about the gaming bits. Right out of the box, you get AMD Radeon 660M integrated graphics with 16 cores, which itself is powerful enough to handle 4K video editing and modest gaming frame rates. It’s also powerful enough to support triple 8K/60Hz displays, which you can connect via HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB4 ports. But there’s also an OCuLink port for attaching a high-speed external GPU, allowing you to unlock ultra-high gaming performance if you wish. All of this for just $371, down from $530? That’s an insane deal, so don’t pass this opportunity up. Grab the GMKtec M8 on sale while you can! Save 30% on this Ryzen mini PC with external GPU supportBuy now on Amazon Read...

Corporations don’t have feelings. And yet, they want others to think they do—and that we’re being too rough on them. Twice this past week, major tech companies appealed to empathy. One bid bubbled up in a Wccftech interview with Micron, when the memory producer was asked if it and other suppliers were abandoning consumers. The response: “Our viewpoint is that we are trying to help consumers around the world. We’re just doing it through different channels. […] What’s going on right now is that the TAM [ed: Total Addressable Market] and data center is growing just absolutely tremendously. And we want to make sure that, as a company, we help fulfill that TAM as well.” Welcome to The Full Nerd newsletter—your weekly dose of hardware talk from the enthusiasts at PCWorld. Missed the surprising topics on our YouTube show or latest news from across the web? You’re in the right place.  Want this newsletter to come directly to your inbox? Sign up on our website!  The other came from Nvidia, with CEO Jensen Huang calling gloomy views of AI “extremely hurtful” during a discussion on the No Priors podcast. Huang’s take: “I think we’ve done a lot of damage lately with very well-respected people who have painted a doomer narrative, end of the world narrative, science fiction narrative. […] It’s not helpful to people, it’s not helpful to the industry, it’s not helpful to society, it’s not helpful to the governments.”  I was struck by the argument Huang went on to present in that same podcast segment, which suggests AI is going through growing pains while reaching the goal of functionality, and such negativity hinders and slows that progress—as well as that of the podcast hosts, who seeded the idea of self-interest as the motivator for regulatory action. That those seeking regulation may be trying to freeze out new startups, not save humanity. So expensive. And not going to drop in price anytime soon, either, no matter how you buy it as a consumer.Foundry There’s a lesson here for those of us in the stands—everyone is looking out for their own interests, including consumers. And we should be smart about appeals to emotion, because they’re not always in the interest of the listener. Micron reported a revenue of $37.38 billion for fiscal year 2025. Nvidia reported a revenue of $57 billion for just its latest quarter. AI is hot. Meanwhile, inflation and interest rates continue to depress consumer spending power here in the U.S., which is reflected abroad as well. AI has also torched jobs—it’s fueled thousands of layoffs already. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, the fevered pace of tech often has led to good outcomes in the end. But that doesn’t change the individual impact of incomes lost, plans destroyed, security evaporated. So when a company makes a play for my agreement through emotion, I always wonder: Who benefits from this vision? In this case, consumers not being completely shut out isn’t the win Micron delicately posited. RAM now costs triple what it did just bare months ago—many will still be effectively shut out from upgrades and replacement PCs. For Nvidia’s part, the hints that zero regulation benefits progress ignores the human element: As the saying goes, regulations are often written in blood. How much regulation is warranted is a different conversation, and a reasonable one to have. But you can’t have a reasonable discussion without some critique or outright criticism. When companies appeal to emotion, I wonder why it doesn’t cut both ways. I wonder who benefits. In the case of technology right now, certainly not individuals. This approach isn’t a fair tactic. None of us should accept it as such. In this episode of The Full Nerd  In this episode of The Full Nerd, Will Smith, Adam Patrick Murray, Alaina Yee, and Michael Crider give CES 2026 a final send-off with a look at the smaller things we liked at the show. I’m still considering building my own E-Ink picture display now. If technology can save me from my sad bachelor-esque habits, I’m for it.  Also, Will did make me feel better that I’m not as bad as I thought, regarding home decor. I have a couch, sir. And even a coffee table! I was not in the majority on my opinion of the show floor robots, though. Willis Lai / Foundry Missed our live show? Subscribe now to The Full Nerd Network YouTube channel, and activate notifications. We also answer viewer questions in real-time! Don’t miss out on our NEW shows too—you can catch episodes of Dual Boot Diaries and The Full Nerd: Extra Edition now! And if you need more hardware talk during the rest of the week, come join our Discord community—it’s full of cool, laid-back nerds. This week’s quieter nerd news I can’t say I’m mad about the slow flow of news this week—I guess everyone’s still wrung out from CES 2026…or just tired from counting all the mentions of AI from the keynotes. (I would like to note that Will and I got our count through pure, old-fashioned grit.)  Still, there’s plenty to eye with speculation. Or outright suspicion. (I’m giving that supposed Steam Machine pricing some side-eye.) I guess my old Sandy Bridge system could get revived again… kingston.com Digging deep into the archives: Apparently, Chinese DIY builders are now recommissioning DDR3 motherboards for use. I never thought I could justify my continued use of my Sandy Bridge system, but here we are. Necessity is the mother of invention: Or at least, the precipitator of modding laptop RAM to work as desktop RAM, because it works out to be cheaper. I am not all-in: Google Gemini can now connect with Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube to provide more personalized answers to an individual’s questions. It’s currently set as opt-out, and Google pinky-swears it’s not training the model on any accessible data…but the company also is reminding everyone that, you know, your data is living already on its servers. Yeah. On the inside: I like me a good factory tour. I was very pleased when I saw a notification for this Gamers Nexus video, which gives a cool peek into production of Intel Arc cards at Sparkle. Uh, congrats, Linux? Security researchers have uncovered a new, previously unknown—and more advanced—malware targeting Linux cloud servers. An unwanted (but I guess predictable) reminder that bad actors go after people, not platforms. ICYMI: Nvidia DLSS 4.5 (at least, the super resolution part) is live—if you have a compatible card, you can try it out right now. Valve I’m dubious: Buried deep in a Czech retailer’s website were two possible indicators of the upcoming Steam Machine’s price, with both the entry-level and upgrade versions circling the $1,000 mark. Placeholder, or a sign of the times? My vote’s for the former. More chip tariffs inbound: These will focus on “advanced” processors, according to reports. Oooooh: Is AMD taking a page out of Nvidia’s playbook? Rumor has it that Team Red will drop its new Gorgon Point CPUs just days ahead of Panther Lake’s imminent launch. (Shhh, don’t tell Brad I’m spreading scuttlebutt.) Cool…but I don’t have a problem, Brad: Brad raved about this particular software demo among those he saw at CES 2026. I admit it’s interesting, but I want to stress I have no issues with how many tabs I keep open. I live a comfortable life. I winced: Those deep in the memory trenches predict years of RAM shortages, given the current climate—the best estimate came from Micron, with things beginning to ease in mid-2027. Yeah. Thanks, I hate it: Verizon made a deal to allow its users to unlock phones after 60 days. A new FCC ruling says it no longer has to. I guess it’s back to unlocked phones only for me… Gosh, what a banger of a start to the new year. I thought I’d spend most of this week sneaking in complaints about crowded gyms. Yes, it’s absolutely other people’s fault I ate too much and drank a ton of Will’s excellent eggnog. (Thanks again for sharing that with us!) Catch you all next week! Alaina This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and executive editor of hardware at PCWorld. Read...

I uninstall a lot of programs and apps these days and if you’re like me and do that too, one thing you have to look out for is the ghostly remnants of apps being left on your system. What many people don’t know is that when you uninstall an app most apps leave registry files on your PC in case you decide you want to install them again and so the app pick back up where it left off. The thing is, though, that makes for a messy registry and can contribute to quirks like your memory being utilized and your PC slowing down.  That’s counterintuitive if you’re trying to extend the lifespan of your PC because it’s already feeling slow or obsolete That’s why I now use Revo Uninstaller to wipe out remnants of apps. Revo Uninstaller is a powerful free utility that uninstalls apps on your PC but also uninstalls remnants of those apps to keep your PC in tip-top shape. You can use it to scan for leftovers after a standard uninstall and then remove the leftovers at your whim. Revo uninstaller removes remnants of apps. Dominic Bayley / Foundry That’s all for this Try This. For more app recommendations, or PC tips and tricks be sure to subscribe to our PCWorld Try This newsletter. Read...