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Your PC is capable of running not one, but two Windows apps designed to protect you and your system against online threats: Windows Security and Microsoft Defender. Telling them apart can be tricky, though. Thanks to a few name changes, what’s old sounds new and what’s new sounds old. If you haven’t kept up with the updates, it may not be clear which one you want — or if you actually prefer to run both.  To help you decide, I’ve broken down what each app does. Let’s dig in. What is Windows Security? PCWorld PCWorld PCWorld Previously known as Windows Defender, Windows Security is the most current name for the app that ties Microsoft’s basic antivirus and network protections together. Similar to third-party antivirus software, you get a unified interface to make changes to the app and access manual scans. Separate tabs break out various settings: Virus & threat protection: From this tab, you can run manual scans (Quick, Full, Custom, or Offline), change how your system screens for threats, and set up more stringent ransomware defenses. Account protection: Guard the Microsoft account tied to your PC, as well as strengthen Windows’ login process. Firewall & network protection: Refine your settings in order to tailor screening of incoming and outgoing traffic. App & browser control: Adjust how Windows screens apps for suspicious behavior, and if Edge runs in an isolated, sandboxed environment. Device security: Get information about your PC’s deeper security protections in Windows — core virtualization, security processor (TPM), and secure boot. Device performance & health: See a quick overview of the general “health” of your PC with regard to software issues or storage drive issues. Family options: Filter viewable content for users on the PC, as well as see breakdowns of device usage. You can manage your family group through the web portal. Click on the arrows (desktop) or swipe (mobile) to see each tab in the Windows Security app. What is Microsoft Defender? PCWorld PCWorld PCWorld Confusingly, the Microsoft Defender app shares its name with the antivirus engine powering Windows Security’s malware protection — but they’re not directly tied. Instead, the Defender app offers additional defenses against online threats for Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscribers. It works equally with either Windows Security (including the Microsoft Defender Antivirus engine) or third-party antivirus software. Privacy protection: You can funnel your online traffic through Microsoft’s encrypted VPN service whenever you’re on a network connection, like public Wi-Fi you don’t trust. You get up to 50GB of data per month. Microsoft Defender also can now detect unsecure Wi-Fi connections, and not just alert you to them, but automatically turn on the VPN too. Privacy Protection is available on all supported platforms, including Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. Identity theft monitoring: Through a partnership with Experian, Microsoft Defender will alert you to data breaches and any fraudulent activity on your credit reports. The service also provides up to $1 million in restoration costs and $100,000 in lost funds if you are a victim of identity theft. Device protection: You can watch to see if your devices (up to four) or those linked through your Microsoft Family Group have any suspicious activity occurring and be notified through this app. Notifications will be sent through Windows’ notification system, and you can also view them through the Defender app. Click on the arrows (desktop) or swipe (mobile) to see the different sections of the Microsoft Defender app. Windows Security vs. Microsoft Defender Windows Security and Microsoft Defender are complimentary apps, rather than competing.  Windows Security defends against online threats, including ransomware, and it’s included for free with a Windows license. (Heads-up: If you ever see a popup notification telling you to call a phone number or pay to renew, you’ve either visited a compromised website or your PC has been directly compromised — time to run an antivirus scan ASAP.) Microsoft Defender then rounds out those protections by letting you shield your online activity from other users on the same network, keeping you informed of data leaks and credit fraud, and monitoring your devices for vulnerabilities.  Should you use Microsoft Defender? Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions. Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions.Alaina Yee / Foundry Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions.Alaina Yee / Foundry Alaina Yee / Foundry If you’re already a Microsoft 365 subscriber, having both Windows Security and Microsoft Defender set up and active is comparable to a very simple third-party antivirus suite subscription — and you don’t have to pay extra. However, if you’re not yet a paid Microsoft 365 user, want additional integrated features (like a password manager), or prefer a different interface, independent antivirus software will be a better fit for your needs. You can check out our top recommendations in our best antivirus software roundup, which covers all types of plans. Read...

Competitive gaming can feel like an Olympic-sized endeavor for many. It demands time, dedication, practice, grit, and mental fortitude. You have to cultivate success from many angles — and part of that involves making sure your network isn’t impeding your performance. The best online esports gamer in the world with a top-tier gaming rig is still at the mercy of one vital bottleneck: network latency. When playing competitively online, ping or lag or latency (whatever you want to call it) can turn a winning move into a disaster. You need every millisecond you can get for your reaction time and cat-like reflexes, otherwise your opponents will have an advantage over you. As a competitive PC gamer myself, I know this all too well. Here are my best tips for how to lower your latency in online games, whether you’re a casual gamer or have dreams of an esports future. Tip #1: Kill network-hogging apps One thing you need to be mindful of when playing online games is that the game isn’t the only thing sending and receiving data. Most of the other apps on your system — and the operating system itself — are likely dealing with their own network data. Of course, a lot of those apps aren’t hogging your network. They’re probably using a few megabytes here and there, so nothing to be concerned about. But there are a few heavy-hitting apps to be aware of, and you’ll want to exit them before you game. Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG For example, game launchers like Steam, Epic Games Store, and even Microsoft Store might end up downloading games and updates in the background. (Nothing will tank your in-game network performance faster than an active download!) Look in the settings for a way to disable downloads during gameplay. Streaming services like YouTube and Netflix are also common culprits. It takes a lot of data to serve streaming video, especially if you’re watching in 1080p or 4K. Yeah, you might prefer to have something playing in the background, but just know that it’s affecting your bandwidth. Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Torrenting is the third common major culprit as far as reasons why your ping might be laggy in online games. Always make sure you haven’t accidentally left your torrents on in the background. And, of course, you also want to make sure that no one else on the network is doing any of these things. Your partner who’s streaming 4K episodes and your sibling who’s torrenting are affecting the network all the same. (You can kind of mitigate this with a properly configured router. More on this below in Tip #3.) Tip #2: Benchmark your network speeds Ping and latency are recorded in milliseconds (ms). For best performance, you want to have less than 20 ms of latency in online games, but that may not be possible due to server distance or network equipment limits. You can have close-to-ideal performance under 50 ms, while 100 ms is about the limit of playability. Above 100 ms, lag and network artifacts are increasingly more likely to impact gameplay. Readily-available internet speed tests are a quick, easy, and free way to test your download and upload speeds while also seeing your ping and latency to the test server. This is good for establishing a reference point before you make adjustments to your home network. Related: How to test your home internet speed A few terms worth knowing: Round Trip Time (RTT) is how fast a network data packet can be sent from your network to a server and then back. Jitter is how much variation there is in RTT, based on an averaging of results. This gives a more accurate picture of latency. Packet loss refers to how many network data packets never reach their destination, requiring them to be resent. This can drastically affect jitter if it’s frequent. You basically want the lowest numbers for latency, else you’ll run into lag and disruptions while gaming (and while doing anything else that’s network-intensive, like video chatting, streaming, etc.). Cloudflare network speed test results on a wireless office network. Cloudflare network speed test results on a wireless office network.Thiago Trevisan / IDG Cloudflare network speed test results on a wireless office network.Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG In-game tools are also commonly available to let you know what your ping is. You can test with a wireless connection and then switch to Ethernet to more scientifically calculate any differences. Every connection is different, so this can be a good way to see how your specific connection behaves in your environment. Tip #3: Tweak your router settings For the most part, network latency is mostly influenced by your ISP, your internet connection type, your network equipment, and your distance to game servers. It’s important to make sure your network equipment (e.g., router) isn’t causing a bottleneck somehow. If you’re gaming on a Wi-Fi connection, stick to 5GHz bands instead of 2.4GHz bands. 5GHz is generally faster and has less interference. (If you can get a router with 6GHz bands, that’ll be even better.) You may have to manually enable 5GHz for your router, so make sure it’s on (and make sure you’re connected to the 5GHz network.) Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Your router may also have a setting called Nagle’s Algorithm, which basically bundles together network data packets before sending them out (as opposed to sending them out individually as they’re ready). This has its benefits, but it can increase your latency. If it’s enabled in your router, try disabling it to see if it has a measurable impact on your gaming. Related: Why Nagle’s Algorithm is bad for PC gamers Quality of Service (QoS) is another router feature that can aid with connection quality. In a nutshell, QoS lets you prioritize the most important activities on your network (e.g., gaming) so that those data packets are always processed first. For example, if you’re playing a game and someone else is downloading a large file, your router’s QoS can prioritize your gaming traffic over their download traffic. Related: What is Quality of Service? Explained You can further push network priority to devices on wired connections over wireless connections to ensure best latency. (See below Tip #6 for more on why you should use a wired connection.) Some gaming routers have “gaming modes” that handle all of this for you automatically, making it easier to optimize network latency without being an expert yourself. Gaming modes can typically be found in the router’s admin panel or BIOS settings. Related: The best router settings for gaming And speaking of the BIOS, make sure your router firmware is updated to maximize stability and benefit from improvements. Tip #4: Optimize your network routing Network packets travel at the speed of light, which means your latency is limited by the laws of physics. The farther your data packets have to travel, the higher the latency — no way around that. Which means the physical distance between your machine and the game server is very important. If the game lets you choose between multiple servers, always choose the one that’s closest to you. My ping level in Quake Champions on a moderately distant server. My ping level in Quake Champions on a moderately distant server.Thiago Trevisan / IDG My ping level in Quake Champions on a moderately distant server.Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG The amount of servers available to you will depend on a lot of factors, though. Popular games may run a lot of servers all over the world while lesser-known indie games may only have a couple. If you’re in the US, you’ll have more options than someone in Australia. (Sad but true.) All of this is beyond your control. However, if you have high latency on a relatively close server or if you don’t have any server options near you, what can you do? There are some VPN services out there that promise to reduce gaming lag by providing a special networks with optimized routing. For example, WTFast uses machine learning to find optimized paths between your network and gaming servers, which might help in some cases to reduce latency, reduce packet loss, and improve stability. Your gaming rig won’t save you if your network isn’t robust! Your gaming rig won’t save you if your network isn’t robust!Thiago Trevisan / IDG Your gaming rig won’t save you if your network isn’t robust!Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG If you already have good network routing, these kinds of services probably won’t do much for you. They’re mainly for extreme situations, like if you live in a remote area with underdeveloped broadband. Your mileage may vary. Tip #5: Improve your Wi-Fi network Wi-Fi performance has improved tremendously over the last several years. With the newer Wi-Fi 7 standard hitting the market, you can get unprecedented speed and latency. Many routers also support multiple bands, helping to mitigate issues with interference in busy areas. Good wireless gaming performance is possible, but you’ll need a solid router. Good wireless gaming performance is possible, but you’ll need a solid router.Thiago Trevisan / IDG Good wireless gaming performance is possible, but you’ll need a solid router.Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG But if you can’t afford to get a fancy router, there are some other optimizations worth trying. Tweaking your wireless network channel can mitigate interference and congestion, while elevating your router and moving it to a central spot can reduce interference further. Proximity to your wireless router matters a lot, too, and you should be able to secure a stronger signal just by moving closer to it. If your main issue with Wi-Fi has to do with spotty connections and inconsistent performance, you might consider something like a Wi-Fi extender or even going with a wireless mesh system. However, there’s a trade-off: in exchange for a more stable connection, you might experience slightly higher latency. That might be worth it if your ping is constantly spiking due to shoddy signal. Tip #6: Use a wired Ethernet connection While I’m a huge fan of Wi-Fi for everyday use because it’s just so convenient, it has its flaws and quirks — and if you need every last bit of network performance in your competitive games, then you should reconsider using Wi-Fi while gaming online. Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Switching to a wired Ethernet connection is the best way to eliminate potential issues with Wi-Fi and get faster internet speeds. Plus, it’s cost effective and cheaper than a pricey gaming wireless router. With wired Ethernet, you don’t have to worry about wireless signal drops or interference from other wireless devices cluttering up the space. Sure, cable interference is also a thing, but it’s way less common and can be mitigated with high-quality Ethernet cables. Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG More importantly, Ethernet is faster than Wi-Fi in most cases. As of this writing, a CAT 8 Ethernet cable can theoretically deliver up to 40Gbps while Wi-Fi 6 can theoretically deliver up to 9.6Gbps. In real-world usage, Wi-Fi transmissions rarely operate anywhere close to max speed; meanwhile, Ethernet connections are more stable. There are even specialized fiber-optic cables on the market for the most serious of esports gamers, and these cables allow for faster data transmission compared to typical copper cables. But they’re more expensive and have diminishing benefits. For most gamers, a standard Ethernet cable is more than enough. Tip #7: Upgrade your ISP plan The latest and greatest Wi-Fi and Ethernet technologies mean nothing if the internet service to your house is poor OR if your network router is too weak to process that much data quickly enough. If you’re paying peanuts to your ISP for the budget-tier 150Mbps plan, then you don’t have much to work with. And same goes if you’re still on a cheap, years-old “Fast Ethernet” router that maxes out at 100Mbps. Your internet speed is limited by the slowest bottleneck in your network — and in this example, you’d be stuck with 100Mbps on either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. To be fair, 100Mbps could be enough for online gaming. But if you have a lot of devices connected to your router, they could be clogging up network traffic and causing slowdowns. That’s when it’s worth paying for a higher ISP plan and/or upgrading to a better router. Your internet service type can also affect latency. For example, satellite internet is terrible for gaming because of the way the technology works: your data has to bounce off satellites in space to reach its destination, then bounce back off those satellites to return to you. That’s why satellite connections have much higher latency. If possible, switch to an ISP with a dedicated fiber-optic line. Cable internet is the next best thing. DSL internet can be a last resort. Tip #8: Upgrade your router Now, if you have a high-speed multi-gig ISP plan, make sure you also have an advanced router that’s capable of delivering those speeds to all the devices on your network. (No point paying for 1Gbps internet if your network traffic is just going to be throttled by a dumpy router.) This Asus ROG wireless router has a dedicated gaming port. This Asus ROG wireless router has a dedicated gaming port.Asus This Asus ROG wireless router has a dedicated gaming port.Asus Asus Some high-end routers, such as the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, even have a dedicated 10Gbps LAN port with a “Game Boost” feature that prioritizes your gaming connection and helps ensure the fastest speeds and minimal latency, especially when network traffic is congested. Advanced wireless routers, such as the Asus ROG AX11000, also typically have more antennas. These extra antennas allow the router to more easily split Wi-Fi bands between 2.4GHz and 5GHz. They also tend to include more gaming-focused settings to tweak within their admin panels, too. A wireless gaming router with branded Call of Duty packaging. A wireless gaming router with branded Call of Duty packaging.Thiago Trevisan / IDG A wireless gaming router with branded Call of Duty packaging.Thiago Trevisan / IDG Thiago Trevisan / IDG The quality of your router matters a lot more for wireless connections than it does for Ethernet connections, so consider splurging on the best router your budget allows — one that at least has Wi-Fi 6, supports multiple bands, and can handle your ISP plan’s speeds. Further reading: Wi-Fi 5 vs. Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 6E, explained Read...

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When it comes to home security, video quality is more than just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Clear, detailed footage can make all the difference in identifying potential threats and ensuring your home is well-protected. Ring offers a range of customizable video settings designed to enhance the clarity, usability, and effectiveness of its cameras. Whether you’re a seasoned Ring user or just getting started, understanding these settings can help you get the most out of your system. We’ll explain the key video settings currently available on Ring devices. Each feature plays a critical role in improving your security footage, and we’ll guide you on when and how to use them for the best results. Additionally, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to find and enable each setting. Enable High Dynamic Range (HDR) One of the most significant improvements you can make to the quality of your security video is to enable High Dynamic Range (HDR). If you’ve ever struggled with footage that’s too dark in some areas and too bright in others, HDR could be the solution you’ve been looking for. HDR works by balancing the contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of the image, making it easier to see important details that might otherwise be lost. For example, if your camera is pointed towards a bright street, HDR can help ensure that both the brightly lit area and any shadows are clearly visible. Several Ring devices support HDR, including the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 and the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro. (You can find a complete list of HDR-supported cameras at the preceding link.) If you own one of these devices, enabling HDR can significantly improve the quality of your recordings, especially in challenging lighting conditions. However, HDR isn’t always necessary. In some cases, such as in evenly lit environments, turning off HDR can save battery life without sacrificing video quality. It’s all about finding the right balance based on your specific setup. How to access and enable HDR: Open the Ring app on your mobile device. Select the device you want to adjust from the Dashboard. Tap on “Device Settings.” Choose “Video Settings.” Toggle the HDR option to “On.” Opt in to Color Night Vision Night vision is a staple of home security cameras, but traditional night vision often leaves much to be desired when it comes to detail. Color Night Vision takes nighttime footage to the next level by capturing images in full color, rather than the usual black and white. This feature is particularly useful in situations where color details matter, such as identifying the color of a car or a person’s clothing. By using ambient light from sources like street lamps, porch lights, or integrated spotlights/floodlights on the device itself, Ring’s Color Night Vision provides more context to what’s happening after dark. Devices like the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro and the Ring Video Doorbell Elite include Color Night Vision, making them ideal for users who want more than just basic night-time surveillance. (You can find a complete list of Color Night Vision-supported cameras at the preceding link.) While it’s important to note that this feature relies on some level of external lighting, the difference in detail can be substantial compared to standard night vision. Color Night Vision helps in situations where color details matter, such as identifying the color of a car or a person’s clothing. Color Night Vision helps in situations where color details matter, such as identifying the color of a car or a person’s clothing. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Color Night Vision helps in situations where color details matter, such as identifying the color of a car or a person’s clothing. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Michael Ansaldo/Foundry How to access and enable Color Night Vision: Open the Ring app on your mobile device. Select your Ring camera from the Dashboard. Tap on “Device Settings.” Go to “Video Settings.” Toggle the “Color Night Vision” option to “On.” TechHive has in-depth reviews of all the best home security cameras and the best video doorbells. Configure Standard Night Vision Michael Brown/Foundry Michael Brown/Foundry Michael Brown/Foundry While Color Night Vision is a compelling upgrade, it’s important not to overlook the tried-and-true standard night vision that most Ring devices still offer. This feature uses infrared light to illuminate the scene in black and white, providing visibility even in complete darkness. One of the main advantages of standard night vision is its consistency. Since it doesn’t rely on external light sources, it can be effective in any dark environment, whether you’re monitoring a dimly lit hallway or an unlit backyard. Additionally, because it’s less power-intensive than Color Night Vision, it’s often the preferred choice for battery-powered devices. Standard night vision is available on almost all Ring cameras, including older and budget-friendly models like the Ring Stick Up Cam and Ring Indoor Cam. How to access and enable standard Night Vision: Standard night vision is the default night vision setting for Ring video doorbells and cameras. To ensure it’s enabled on Ring devices that support Color Night Vision, simply follow the instructions detailed above and toggle the Color Night Vision option to “Off.” Tap Camera Preview for Live View In a potential security incident, every second counts. Ring’s Tap Camera Preview for Live View feature is designed with this in mind, allowing users to jump directly into a live feed with a single tap on the camera preview. This can be particularly handy when you receive a motion alert and want to quickly assess the situation. Most of Ring’s newer models come equipped with this feature, making it easier than ever to keep an eye on your property in real time. It streamlines the user experience, ensuring you’re always just a tap away from seeing what’s happening at your front door or in your backyard. The Tap Camera Preview for Live View feature  allows you to jump directly into a live feed with a single tap on you camera’s preview tile. The Tap Camera Preview for Live View feature  allows you to jump directly into a live feed with a single tap on you camera’s preview tile. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The Tap Camera Preview for Live View feature  allows you to jump directly into a live feed with a single tap on you camera’s preview tile. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Michael Ansaldo/Foundry How to access and enable Tap Camera Preview for Live View: Open the Ring app on your mobile device. Select your Ring camera from the Dashboard. Tap on “Device Settings.” Go to “Video Settings.” Toggle the “Tap Camera Preview for Live View” option to “On.” Set up Pre-Roll or Advanced Pre-Roll Typically, motion-triggered cameras begin recording the moment movement is detected, but that often means you miss the crucial few seconds leading up to the event. Pre-Roll changes this by capturing a few seconds of footage before the main recording begins. This feature is particularly useful for those times when you want a complete picture of what’s happening around your property. Whether it’s a delivery person approaching your door or an unexpected visitor lurking in the shadows, Pre-Roll ensures you’re not left guessing about the moments leading up to the alert. Michael Brown/Foundry Michael Brown/Foundry Michael Brown/Foundry There are two types of Pre-Roll available on some Ring devices: Pre-Roll and Advanced Pre-Roll. While both provide valuable context by recording footage before motion is detected, they differ in terms of video quality and functionality. The standard Pre-Roll feature captures four seconds of low-definition black-and-white video without sound before the motion event. Notably, it does not work in low light. It’s available on Video Doorbell 3 Plus, Video Doorbell 4, Battery Video Doorbell Pro, Spotlight Cam Pro Battery/Solar, and Stick Up Cam Pro Battery/Solar models. Advanced Pre-Roll expands on that basic functionality by capturing six seconds of pre-motion footage in full color and high resolution and functioning in all lighting environments, making it easier to identify key details even before the main recording starts. It’s only available on Ring’s wired devices. How to access and enable pre-roll: Open the Ring app on your mobile device. Select the device that supports Pre-Roll from the Dashboard. Tap on “Device Settings.” Go to “Video Settings.” Toggle the “Pre-Roll” option to “On.” Use Picture-in-Picture mode Some Ring cameras have a picture-in-picture mode that can display either camera pre-roll or–if the camera supports it as well–Bird’s Eye View in a small window overlaid on the larger one. This smaller window can be repositioned by dragging it with your fingertip. You can also swap the two video streams by tapping on the picture-in-picture window. Michael Brown/Foundry Michael Brown/Foundry Michael Brown/Foundry How to access and enable Picture-in-Picture: Open the Ring app on your mobile device. Select the device that supports picture-in-picture from the Dashboard. Tap Device Settings. Tap Video Settings. Tap Picture in Picture. Toggle picture-in-picture mode on and then select either Bird’s Eye View or Pre-roll (you can’t choose both). Set Recording Length Another critical aspect of Ring’s video settings is the ability to customize the recording length for each motion event. This feature, which requires a Ring Protect subscription, lets you choose how long your Ring camera will continue recording after detecting motion, which can be crucial for capturing all the necessary details. Adjusting the recording length is particularly important for users with battery-powered devices. Longer recordings can provide more context and ensure you don’t miss anything important, but they also drain the battery more quickly. Conversely, shorter recordings help conserve battery life but might cut off before the entire event has unfolded. Wired devices receive a continuous power supply, so recording length won’t impact battery life. When deciding on the optimal recording length, consider the typical activity in the area your camera monitors. For high-traffic areas, shorter clips might suffice, whereas quieter zones might benefit from longer recordings to capture any unexpected activity fully. It’s also important to remember that longer recordings require more storage, whether saved locally or in the cloud. You should regularly review your storage options and adjust recording lengths accordingly to avoid running out of space. Most Ring devices allow for adjustable recording lengths, but the availability and flexibility of this feature can depend on whether you have a Ring Protect subscription. Without a subscription, you may be limited to shorter recording times, while subscribers can customize recordings to last up to several minutes. The Recording Length setting lets you choose how long your Ring camera will continue recording after detecting motion to ensure you capture all the necessary details. The Recording Length setting lets you choose how long your Ring camera will continue recording after detecting motion to ensure you capture all the necessary details. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The Recording Length setting lets you choose how long your Ring camera will continue recording after detecting motion to ensure you capture all the necessary details. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Michael Ansaldo/Foundry How to access and adjust recording length: Open the Ring app on your mobile device. Select the camera you want to adjust from the Dashboard. Tap on “Device Settings.” Choose “Video Settings” “ Choose “Recording Length” and select the duration of the recording based on your preference. Your home, your security Ring’s video settings offer a powerful toolkit for enhancing home security, but the real power lies in how you use them. Whether you’re monitoring a busy front porch, a secluded backyard, or an entire property, these settings provide the flexibility and control needed to keep your home safe. With a little experimentation and attention to detail, you’ll be able to maximize the effectiveness of your Ring devices and enjoy greater peace of mind knowing your home is well-protected. Read...

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I swear to you that I’m not pirating software, movies, or TV shows. Nor am I downloading anything “adult” while I’m working. But I’m still an unabashed fan of Windows Sandbox, which remains the killer selling point of Windows 11 Pro. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro You probably don’t even know whether you have a laptop with Windows 11 Home or Pro on it. Both versions look exactly the same, and it’s been years since Microsoft released any new Pro-specific features. It’s not even clear whether Microsoft intends to retain the Pro version of the software, for which Microsoft charges $100 more per copy (unless you can find Windows licenses cheaper elsewhere). Our article on the best features of Windows 10 (and now 11) Pro continues to molder, primarily because nothing ever changes. But Windows Sandbox still justifies the upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, because it’s a big, simple airbag to prevent you from colliding with the bad parts of the web. Sandbox, as the name suggests, creates a sandbox, a walled-off version of Windows within Windows. Even if you introduce malware into Sandbox, it will remain there, sequestered from your system, and not infect your PC. And you can eliminate Sandbox (and everything inside of it) with just a click. Windows Sandbox is an optional feature that, even with Windows 11 Pro, you must manually install. The easiest way to do it is to tap the Windows key, to open the search menu, then search for “Windows features.” You’ll see the Control Panel app to “turn Windows features on and off.” Click it, then scroll down the list of checkboxes until you hit the “Windows Sandbox” checkbox and toggle it on. If you don’t have Windows 11 Pro, you may see features like Sandbox grayed-out. Otherwise, toggle it on. If you don’t have Windows 11 Pro, you may see features like Sandbox grayed-out. Otherwise, toggle it on.PCWorld If you don’t have Windows 11 Pro, you may see features like Sandbox grayed-out. Otherwise, toggle it on.PCWorld PCWorld (If you don’t see the Windows Sandbox checkbox, you may not have Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro. Open the Windows Search menu again, then type “winver.” The small winver (Windows Version) box should report that you have Windows 10 Pro or 11 Pro.) If you’ve enabled Sandbox, Windows may need to download some files and then restart, so make sure you’ve saved your work beforehand. Once Windows reboots, the OS will have enabled Sandbox. Windows is testing out a feature where Sandbox will be considered an app, moving along on its own development cycle. For now, I find it the easiest to simply open Windows Search and search for Sandbox itself. Sandbox is essentially a virtual machine, dedicated to Windows. Launching it will likely take a few seconds or longer. When Sandbox launches, you’ll see a small window with a generic Windows desktop inside of it, like the image at the top of this page. This is important, since it’s essentially a new installation of Windows. You can personalize it, but the strength of Sandbox is that you don’t: It’s just an anonymous version of Windows, without any specific ties to you. So why use Sandbox? Because from here, you can do pretty much anything you can on Windows: surf the web, download apps, and more. If you subscribe to a VPN, you can download the VPN, install it, and gain yet another layer of anonymity. Sandbox is essentially a floating window with Windows inside of it. Here, you can add apps like this VPN for added security. Sandbox is essentially a floating window with Windows inside of it. Here, you can add apps like this VPN for added security.Mark Hachman / IDG Sandbox is essentially a floating window with Windows inside of it. Here, you can add apps like this VPN for added security.Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG Sandbox isn’t particularly useful for something that’s usually safe and secure, like opening Microsoft 365 and writing an email. If you do have an untrusted attachment within an email, however, you can open Outlook, download the email, and then check it out within Sandbox. Say you receive a suspicious link, too: If it does harbor malware or a rootkit, Sandbox is designed to keep it within its walls, rather than spreading to your actual Windows install. That malware can theoretically attack anything within Sandbox, however, which is another reason for maintaining anonymity within Sandbox. Sandbox isn’t 100 percent secure; nothing is, really. But to attack your “main” version of Windows, a hacker would have to break out of your VPN (assuming you’re running one), break out of a sandboxed browser like Chrome or Edge, then break out of Sandbox itself to attack Windows. Possible, of course, but unlikely. And Windows’ own security mechanisms will work within Sandbox. One risk that you do run, however, is when you move a file from within Sandbox to the primary version of Windows. Sandbox allows you to do this. However, if there’s malware attached to that file, such as a PDF, you do run the risk of infecting your PC. I always think of Sandbox as a infectious disease laboratory, where scientists work with waldos and other mechanisms to interact with diseases inside of a secure environment. to get windows sandbox, you need win11 pro. get it cheap here! Windows 11 Pro You’ll probably find that it takes a bit of time and effort to set up a Sandbox environment with whatever protections you wish to add, so a persistent instance of Sandbox might make sense at times. Closing Sandbox, however, is as easy as closing the Sandbox window. You’ll receive a warning: Closing Sandbox erases everything inside of it, including downloaded files and apps. But if a virus starts playing havoc with your Sandbox, you can also shut it down and it will/should all disappear, too. The only thing I don’t like about Sandbox is that most PCs these days ship with a Windows 11 Home license, which makes a Windows 11 Pro machine so much more valuable. It’s basically worth the price of the upgrade itself! Read...

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