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| PC World - 19 Dec (PC World)If you’re an avid gamer, the best way to assess your PC’s gaming performance is to use an FPS counter. An FPS counter allows you to see the number of frames per second your computer is rendering. This is good for identifying performance issues like bottlenecking and low frame rates. Luckily, Steam and Nvidia offer FPS counters that are free to use. Let’s get into it.
Further reading: Best gaming laptops 2024: What to look for and highest-rated models
To activate the FPS counter on Steam, open Steam, go to the settings and select the position of the FPS counter from the drop-down menu. You’ll find the In-game FPS display option under In-game. This counter will then be displayed in the corner of the screen you have selected. It’s small and unobtrusive, but may occasionally be positioned above a game element.
If this is the case, move it to another corner. Note that this method is mainly intended for Steam games. It’s possible to add games that are not available on Steam to the library and use the overlay. However, this depends on the game in question.
If you are on the hunt for the highest possible frame rates (FPS), you first have to log them in games. There are several quick methods for this.
IDG
If you have an Nvidia graphics card, you can activate the FPS counter using the free GeForce Experience tool. Open the program, go to the settings, and make sure that the In-game overlay option is activated under General.
The position of the FPS counter can also be defined there under Settings and HUD Layout. This method is more universal than the Steam solution, but the counter occasionally displays incorrect values or does not appear at all. Switching between full screen and windowed mode can help if problems occur.
The free GeForce Experience tool for owners of Nvidia graphics cards offers an overlay that can also be used to display the FPS.IDG
If you are using an AMD Radeon graphics card, you can activate the FPS display via the AMD software. To do this, open the software, go to the Performance tab and activate the Overlay in the Metrics tab.
Here you can view not only the FPS, but also other performance data such as frame time and CPU and GPU utilization. The overlay can be activated or deactivated in games using a key combination (Ctrl-Shift-O by default). It can also be customized to display only the FPS.
The Steam games launcher offers the option of displaying the FPS in real time in any corner of the screen.
IDG
Many games now also offer integrated FPS counters. Depending on the game, the function can be activated under the graphics options via a key combination or using console commands.
An internet search for the respective game with the addition Show FPS will take you to the respective method. Some games also require special start parameters that can be set via the desktop or the start menu shortcut.
With the additional tool “Riva Statistics Tuner” of the MSI Afterburner program, you can also display the FPS – and much more.IDG
The free MSI Afterburner program is also recommended for monitoring frames per second. Originally developed for graphics cards from the manufacturer MSI, it is one of the most popular tools for monitoring and overclocking graphics cards.
During installation, make sure that you activate the Rivatuner Statistics Server, as this is responsible for the FPS display. After installation, you can activate the Frame rate option in the settings under Monitoring.
There are other methods for activating the FPS display in games such as the integrated Game Bar in Windows. However, it can have a negative impact on performance so it is not recommended for this case. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 18 Dec (PC World)Every year since 1955, the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) simulates the path of Santa Claus as he leaves the North Pole and delivers gifts to children around the world.
For Christmas 2024, NORAD has added an AI chatbot to its tracking site, although its AI capabilities are quite limited in scope, according to an initial test. NORAD Tracks Santa officially started on December 1, but the actual simulation starts at midnight on December 24.
Check out the NORAD Tracks Santa site in advance to play web games, watch videos about Santa and NORAD, listen to Santa’s favorite holiday songs, learn more about Santa and his traditions, discover what NORAD does, and chat with Radar (the AI chatbot).
The real-time simulation can take on martial proportions, as this video from Christmas 2013 shows. In the video, Santa’s reindeer sleigh is referred to as “The Big Red One” (which is also the name of the famous 1st Infantry Division of the US Army):
NORAD is a joint command of the United States of America and Canada that monitors the airspace over North America and provides “early warning of missile, air, and spacecraft attacks on North America.” Back in 1955, NORAD’s predecessor organization was the first to launch the gag of tracking Santa’s flight on Christmas Eve — back then, without the internet or YouTube, of course.
The NORAD Tracks Santa site has a big time tracker that’s counting down to the start of Santa’s famous sleigh ride. Go check it out and don’t forget to tune in on December 24 to watch him do his thing! Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 18 Dec (PC World)Is there a better time than the holiday season to splurge a bit? Maybe your birthday. Otherwise, now’s the time to treat yourself to something nice, especially if you can score it at a big discount.
Right now, you can get this gorgeous 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor for $280 on Amazon. That’s a significant discount of 35 percent off its original $430 price tag!
This large monitor features a 32-inch IPS display that delivers a crisp 2560×1440 resolution. That’s pretty much the sweet spot for gaming, productivity, and general web browsing, and the IPS panel is what you want if color accuracy is important to you. Add in the VESA DisplayHDR 400 specs and you get vivid colors and deeper contrast.
The Odyssey G5 is particularly great for gamers for its 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, providing smooth frame rates and minimal lag at an affordable price. And with AMD FreeSync compatibility, it helps to eliminate screen tearing as well.
Are you going to jump on this deal and upgrade your monitor to this Samsung Odyssey G5 for just $280? It also serves well as a second or third monitor for a massive productivity boost!
This fabulous monitor is 35% off and fits under the Xmas treeBuy now at Amazon Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 18 Dec (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
Pros
Large display
Spacious keyboard
Solid productivity performance
Cons
Flimsy plastic build
No support for Copilot+ features
Poor battery life
Our Verdict
The bargain-priced Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 has enough oomph to knock out spreadsheets and video meetings, but it may not hold up to the rigors of travel.
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Today’s most capable laptops have the powerful AI-accelerated chipsets, pixel-perfect OLED screens, and incredible graphics processors—the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 doesn’t have any of those things, but there’s one more thing it doesn’t have: a high price. It runs a last-gen Intel Core Ultra 5 125U and a 16-inch IPS display with up to 32GB of RAM. You even get some unexpected extras in this price range, like Thunderbolt 4 and an IR webcam for biometric logins.
This business-oriented machine starts under $800, and while I don’t suggest the cheapest version of the ThinkBook 16, this laptop can be a great value. The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 definitely cut some corners to keep the price that low, but does it cut the right ones?
Further reading: Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7: Specs and features
Lenovo has released several different models of the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7, but you should ignore the base model. Priced under $800, this machine only has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. For about $100 more (when not on sale), you can get the version I’ve been testing, with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of space, and a Core Ultra 5 CPU.
The two cheaper models run the Core Ultra 5 125U, but you can upgrade to the Core Ultra 7 155U for $200 more. The ThinkBook is also available in an AMD flavor. The laptop is available with up to 1TB of storage and 32GB of RAM. Even fully decked out, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 costs just over $1,000.
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
Graphics: Intel Arc
Display: 16-inch 1920 x 1080 LCD
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
Webcam: 1080p IR Webcam
Connectivity: 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps), 1x USB-C (10Gbps) 2x USB-A (5Gbps), 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, SD card reader
Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Battery capacity: 45Whr
Dimensions: 356 x 253.5 x 17.5 mm (14.01 x 9.98 x 0.69 inches)
Weight: 1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)
MSRP as tested: $829
Lenovo’s ThinkBook lineup isn’t supposed to blow you away with raw power—these machines target value, and the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is the truest expression of that tradition.
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7: Design and build quality
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 makes a good first impression with its sleek metal lid, featuring the trademark two-tone finish of most current ThinkBooks. This line sits below Lenovo’s ThinkPad computers. So, the rest of the materials aren’t as impressive. Most of the body is composed of plastic, but the lid does add some much needed rigidity when the machine is closed.
You’ll find most of the ports on the left edge, including both USB-C ports, one of which supports Thunderbolt 4. There’s also a USB-A, HDMI, and the 3.5mm jack. Opposite, the ThinkBook has another USB-A, Ethernet, the SD card slot, and a Kensington lock.
The bezel around the display is relatively narrow but not what you’d see on a high-end laptop. There’s plenty of room at the top for a webcam that doesn’t extend too far into the trademark Lenovo lid handle. The 1080p camera has solid video quality for meetings, and it supports IR for Windows Hello biometric login. I also appreciate the inclusion of a privacy shutter for the camera.
At 16 inches, this is the largest footprint you’ll see for a ThinkBook. That means you get an expansive display and plenty of room for the keyboard. The hinge is a bit on the stiff side, which makes it hard to open the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 with one hand. However, the screen stays in place even if you move the machine around during use.
The bottom half of the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is plastic, and there’s not a lot of internal structure to support it. The case flexes noticeably when you push on the plastic chassis, and it sags when you pick it up by one side. That said, there are no creaks or cracks, and the body should hold up fine as long as you’re not wedging it into a cluttered bag all day. The construction seems about right for a computer that comes in significantly under $1,000.
In spite of all that plastic, the ThinkBook is no lightweight. It clocks in at 3.75 pounds, which is around the same as more premium laptops in the same size range.
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7: Display and speakers
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
Having a 16-inch screen on a laptop can be refreshing if you’re used to a smaller device. The ThinkBook 16’s touchscreen is expansive enough that you can split-screen apps without feeling too cramped. Those with visual impairments can also increase the text size and still have plenty of screen real estate.
The display is only 1080p, which is on the low end for a 16-inch laptop. However, it won’t consume as much power as a higher resolution display, and the sharpness is acceptable at normal viewing distances.
The brightness is similarly unimpressive, topping out at 300 nits. That’s bright enough for most indoor conditions, aided by the screen’s matte finish. Reflections won’t be a major issue, but bright ambient light in some offices or outdoors will make the screen hard to read. However, you will notice uneven dimming if looking at the LCD from an angle.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 has speakers tucked under the left and right edge of the laptop, similar to most other 2024 notebooks. Some machines manage solid audio despite firing sound downward, but the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is on one of them. It’s fine for the occasional YouTube video, but music gets muddy before you even hit 50 percent volume. It also causes the plastic enclosure to vibrate even at lower volumes.
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7: Keyboard and trackpad
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
Some 16-inch laptops leave wide swaths of potential keyboard space unused, but the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 doesn’t leave anything on the table. It sports a full keyboard layout, featuring bit arrows, page up/down keys, and a number pad. The number pad is squeezed in off to the right, with keys that are roughly half as wide as the rest of the keyboard. Still, it’s nice to have that on a laptop at all.
The keyboard itself gets the job done, but the keys aren’t very tactile, and there’s a lot of mushiness at the bottom of each press. You can feel and see the laptop’s plastic deck flexing as you type, making for a mediocre typing experience despite the good layout.
The trackpad is shifted to the left to be aligned with the keyboard’s spacebar. I prefer trackpads to be centered on the laptop’s frame, but that’s a minor quibble. The trackpad is plastic, offering average sensitivity and responsiveness. The click mechanism is rather loud, almost echoey, and the trackpad could stand to be larger, considering the ample real estate on a 16-inch notebook.
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7: Performance
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
PCMark 10 is designed to test a machine across a variety of metrics like web browsing, video chat, and photo editing. The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 brings up the rear in this test but not by much. Its general productivity performance is solid, even though machines with newer chips can manage much higher scores in this test.
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
Cinebench is a CPU-focused test that shows how a PC handles heavy but brief multi-core workloads. More CPU cores grant higher scores in Cinebench and cooling doesn’t matter very much. Cinebench shows another trailing score for the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7. This is a result that would have been in the middle of the pack just a year ago, but the latest Intel and AMD designs have emphasized multi-threaded performance.
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
The Handbrake test is similar to Cinebench in that it shows how a computer handles multithreaded tasks, but this is a longer-duration test where thermals matter more. Here, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 picks up a little steam, besting several machines with similar specs. Lenovo’s cooling setup seems to work well, keeping the Core 5 Ultra chip running faster under load.
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
Our first gaming test is 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. This is not a gaming machine by any means, and this benchmark proves it. AMD processors, as well as newer Intel chips, have much more capable integrated GPUs. Intel’s latest CPUs are getting close to the performance of discrete GPUs from a few generations ago. The Core 5 Ultra, however, struggles even with simple games.
The laptop is fast enough for the tasks you’re likely to ask of it in a work setting. However, it’s not great for creating and editing content or gaming. A faster machine will pay off if you plan for heavier workloads.
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7: Battery life
The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 has two USB-C ports, and either one can be used to charge the laptop. The machine comes with a bulky 65W charger, but you don’t have to use that one. It also charges at full speed with any third-party USB-PD charger with a 65W or higher capacity.
IDG / Ryan Whitwam
With a 45Whr cell, this machine was never going to set any longevity records. Our battery rundown test consists of playing a 4K video on a loop at set brightness until the machine dies. The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 managed almost nine hours (532 minutes) in this test, which is not an impressive showing. However, it makes a lot of sense given the meager 45Whr battery—that’s tiny by 2024 standards.
Actually, this makes a bit more sense with the plastic build. This laptop is intended to remain plugged in stationary on a desk most of the time. Sure, you can take it to a meeting, but it won’t withstand as much abuse as a more sturdy and expensive laptop.
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7: Conclusion
Lenovo’s ThinkBook lineup isn’t supposed to blow you away with raw power—these machines target value, and the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is the truest expression of that tradition. It would be easy to dismiss Lenovo’s new ThinkBook on the basis of its middling performance and build quality, but the price makes this notebook worth thinking about. This is a solid productivity machine for well under a grand.
You should keep its shortcomings in mind, though. It’s running a last-gen processor, and the base model doesn’t have enough RAM. The small battery and iffy build quality are also sticking points.
Lenovo’s pricing is constantly changing, and its “estimated value” discounts are plainly misleading. However, the pricing is still aggressive, especially if you’re buying in bulk for enterprise. I don’t recommend the base model or the fully specced out version. With 8GB of RAM, the cheapest ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 isn’t powerful enough outside of basic office work.
The version with 16GB of RAM is currently on sale for $749, which is a fantastic deal. Meanwhile, the upgraded version still has the same middling display and build quality—there are better options if you’re going to spend $1,000 on a laptop. The middle tier I’ve tested is the sweet spot. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 18 Dec (PC World)Want to go down a tech rabbit hole that’ll leave you utterly confused? Try understanding what processor you’re getting in a Windows laptop.
In their zeal to push AI as a selling point, Intel and AMD are renaming their laptop processors and tossing out the naming schemes we’ve come to know over the years. This new branding collides with the previous branding that already exists on older laptops still available today, along with an entirely new breed of laptop chips from Qualcomm.
It’s a lot to wrap your head around, but I’ve done my best to sort through it all — if not for your benefit, than at least for mine. I’m tired of feeling lost by what these companies are offering, and every explanation I’ve seen online gets overly mired in technical complexity.
Whether you’re shopping for a laptop or just curious what these companies are up to, here’s my own attempt to simplify everything down and make it all digestible in cheat sheet format.
This column first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s weekly tech advice newsletter. Sign up to get tech advice like this every Tuesday.
The extra-short version in a nutshell
If you just want a regular Windows laptop with the best possible processor, here’s what to seek out right now:
Intel: Core Ultra Series 2 with a model name that starts with a “2” and ends with a “V,” such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V (Series 2). UltrabookReview has a helpful list of laptops.
AMD: Ryzen AI 300 Series, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360. UltrabookReview has a list of these as well.
Qualcomm: Snapdragon X in either Plus or Elite variants. Qualcomm’s website has a list of those.
All three of these processors aim to better compete with the M-series processors in Apple’s MacBooks, both in performance and battery life. Still, there’s a lot more to look for in a laptop than just the processor, and you’ll likely encounter other CPU options that may still be worth considering, too. Read on for a more thorough rundown.
Intel’s processors, explained
Intel’s latest processors fall into a few buckets:
Intel Core Ultra denotes premium chips with dedicated processors for on-device AI applications (e.g., Intel Core Ultra 7 155U).
Intel Core is a step below the Core Ultra and is mainly used in mainstream machines (e.g., Intel Core 7 150U).
Intel Processor is the new name for budget PC chips that previously used Pentium and Celeron branding (e.g., Intel Processor N200).
With Core and Core Ultra, Intel further separates its processors into performance tiers, counted as odd numbers from 3 through 9. Higher numbers (i.e., Core Ultra 9) generally indicate more cores, which can speed up things like video exports and image processing, but Core 5 and Core Ultra 5 chips are perfectly fine for web browsing and office use.
Intel
The last letter in the model name is also important, indicating how the processor is optimized. Intel maintains a long list of these suffixes, but the main ones to know are “U” (which prioritizes battery life) and “H” (which prioritizes performance). The processors I mentioned earlier use a “V” suffix, which is unique to the Core Ultra product line.
Older options: If you see a processor with an “i” or a “generation” in the name, such as the Intel 12th-generation Core i5 1235U, that’s an older chip. After reaching the 14th generation, Intel reset everything and is now counting from “Series 1” onward. If you’re looking at model names, the Series number is the first digit (as in “155U”), which means newer Intel chips have shorter names than older ones. Older models can still be worth considering, but only if the price is right.
AMD’s processors, explained
AMD isn’t as far along in its branding makeover as Intel. While it has the aforementioned AI 300 Series chips to compete with Apple and Qualcomm, the rest of its processors follow a lengthier and more chaotic naming scheme that was rolled out in 2023.
AMD
Consider AMD’s Ryzen 5 8640HS as an example:
The first digit in 8640HS indicates the generation, with “8” indicating chips released in the year 2024. (If you see something like 7735HS, that’s from 2023.)
The “5” in Ryzen 5 indicates the performance tier, counted in odd numbers similar to Intel’s Core 5 and Core 7 scheme.
As with Intel, the letter at the end indicates how the processor is optimized. For instance, “U” prioritizes battery life while “H” prioritizes performance.
The chips that follow this naming scheme use AMD’s older Zen 4 architecture, while newer AI 300 Series chips are built on Zen 5. As AMD moves more of its processor line to the newer architecture, I suspect we’ll see some new branding to match.
Qualcomm’s processors, explained
Qualcomm joined the PC CPU wars earlier this year with a big emphasis on power efficiency. Its Snapdragon X chips use the same Arm-based architecture found in phones, tablets, and Apple’s M-series processors, and they offer both solid PC performance and long battery life.
But the real breath of fresh air might be their straightforward branding: Snapdragon X Elite represents Qualcomm’s best, with Snapdragon X Plus one step down. I spent a few weeks with Microsoft’s Snapdragon X Plus-powered Surface Laptop over the summer and it seemed sufficiently snappy while easily offering all-day battery life.
The trade-off is that a lot of Windows software isn’t built for Arm-based processors, and compatibility issues can arise even with Microsoft’s emulation engine that runs non-Arm apps on Snapdragon PCs. The situation is gradually improving, both with emulation improvements and more developers releasing Arm versions of their software, but it’s still a potential headache that Intel and AMD laptops don’t have to deal with.
Three cheers for CPU competition
Though it can be maddening to sift through these options, and the emphasis on AI is a bit overblown, I’m glad to see some three-headed competition among PC processors.
Apple has spent the past four years trouncing Windows chip makers on power efficiency in particular, and this new wave of processors at least puts them somewhere in the same ballpark. If the trade-off is a period of more confusing branding, I’ll take it.
This column first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s weekly tech advice newsletter. Sign up to get tech advice like this every Tuesday. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 17 Dec (PC World)At a GlanceExpert`s Rating
Pros
Imaging, backup, and disaster recovery
Actively protects against viruses and ransomware
Integrated cloud storage available
Cons
Heavy installation footprint
Subscription only
Lots of telemetry
Our Verdict
Acronis True Image (nee Cyber Protect Home Office, nee True Image) is a comprehensive backup and security solution with no peer. If you want everything tied up in a neat package, this is it. However, if your needs are more mundane, it’s a might bit of overkill. It’s also subscription only.
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Acronis True Image (2024), nee Cyber Protect Home Office, nee True Image, is without question the most comprehensive suite of utilities for keeping your computer backed up and secure. It’s not even particularly close in fact.
Marrying anti-malware and backup, as True Image does, might seem an odd choice at first. However, the ability to fire off a backup or shut off access to previous backups when malware is detected makes a whole lot of sense.
I was a bit skeptical when the company first started down this path, now I’m completely on board with the concept, if perhaps not the heavy system footprint and copious telemetry.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best Windows backup software to learn about competing products.
What are Acronis True Image’s features?
There’s a lot to cover in a program as comprehensive as True Image. I’ll get to the malware protection in a bit, but first let’s talk about backup. The program creates image files from drives or partitions, as well as selected files and folders. These can be full (everything), incremental (everything since the last backup), or differential (everything since the initial backup).
You can also back up files from your phone or files from remote shared-network locations, and employ Blockchain to notarize backed-up files (premium version).
True Image offers just about every backup feature known.
True Image lets you save backup jobs and schedule them, automatically (or manually) cull older backups when space runs low, split backups, copy sector-by-sector or data-only, validate backups post facto, run commands pre- and post-operation, and a lot more. In short, just about every option invented by the backup community has been implemented.
The program also backs up to nearly any type of media or location: local drives, network destinations, the 1TB of cloud storage provided by Acronis with some subscriptions, and even optical — remember CDs and DVDs? They’re still in use! If you’re super old-school, sorry, tape is not supported.
True Image will optionally place a version of the program on removable media for use during restore (Acronis calls it “recovery”) operations — i.e. create a disaster recovery boot disk. A favorite feature of the recovery disk, other than being able to make additional emergency backups (some disks don’t) is the system report facility.
In short, just about every option invented by the backup community has been implemented.
True Image offers a variety of pre-cooked backup schemes including the hybrid chain. The explanatory image is actually animated. Sweet.
Many people conflate sync with backup, and while they have similarities, they’re not the same operation. Backups are meant to be immutable, remaining available well into the future so you can retreat to older versions and data. Syncs evolve and generally reflect the current state of your data.
You can futz sync into backup with some programs by implementing versioning — i.e., saving older versions of files rather than deleting them, and not mirroring deletions from the source.
Acronis’s sync is two-way with the only option being whether it’s synced to Acronis Cloud first (if you opted for the service), rather than the destination, assuming the destination isn’t Acronis Cloud to begin with.
True Image will sync as well as back up. This is file-based, not imaging.
The reason I discussed the difference between sync and backup is because True Image features sync jobs as a separate function — as it should be. This allows you to synchronize data between your local PC, Acronis Cloud, and your mobile devices. Yes, as mentioned, True Image offers Android and iOS clients as well. See below.
Screen captures of the Acronis Android app.
Other related and tangential features include hardware-independent WinRE recovery media (USB/optical), disk cloning, an OEM-like recovery partition (boot time restore of your original OS state from your internal drive) creator, a system cleanup tool (think CCleaner), and a secure-erase utility.
True Image offers a number of image and backup related utilities.
Acronis True Image sports a clean, attractive interface, and is easy to use — once you’re accustomed to it. It’s not amazingly intuitive when it comes to organization and operation, but a half-hour kicking the tires and you should be good to go. Assuming you’re familiar with basic backup concepts.
How effective is Acronis True Image’s malware protection?
A few years ago Acronis recognized an opening in the market due to a spate of ransomware attacks, and added ransomware protection to its flagship software’s bag of tricks.
Don’t pooh-pooh ransomware as something that happens to someone else. It happened to me. It’s out there and without backups, I would’ve been royally hosed.
Acronis subsequently expanded anti-malware capabilities to protect against general threats, malicious websites, and other bad behavior such as code injection into apps. This obviously requires real-time intervention — a big addition back in 2021.
True Image’s Protection settings page.
To test True Image’s anti-malware abilities I ran the tests on the WICAR.ORG site and surfed some known bad areas of the web. True Image caught everything. As effective as it proved, real-time protection is optional and may be turned off.
True Image warning you of a dangerous web page.
How much does Acronis True Image cost?
Acronis thoughtfully provides a 30-day trial that you can use to test out the program. Beyond that, it’s $50 for a one-year subscription sans online storage (Essentials), $58 per year for Advanced with 50GB of storage (enough for most essential, non-media data) and more malware features, and $125 for Premium with 1TB of storage, which should be enough for most of your stuff excluding video. A full comparison is a available here.
Acronis True Image is available as standalone, or with storage.
You’re basically paying $75 per year for 1TB of storage with True Image, which is only a bit more than OneDrive’s 1TB plan. However, OneDrive includes Microsoft Office, both local and online. Note that if the subscription lapses, you’ll be limited to restoring data from the recovery disk after 30 days. You’ll also need to grab your online data within that period.
Which brings me to cloud storage managers such as CloudMounter and Mountain Duck. These will integrate any number of online storage services, including cheaper S3-compatible services, into Windows Explorer as pseudo local drives. You can then use the $50 version of True Image (or any other backup software) to back up to them and save some coin.
Note that there are Enterprise-level versions of True Image available as well, though these still sport the Cyber Protect title.
How fast is Acronis True Image?
Generally speaking, True Image is as quick as it gets. I ran backup jobs to external and internal SSDs, a NAS box (2.5Gbps), wrote folders to optical (single BD-R/M-Disc), and to Acronis Cloud. All proceeded as quickly as you could ask given each bandwidth, and without incident. I hate incidents and tend not to trust backup software that suffers them.
On the other hand, I did have some slight issues with the Linux boot disc, although the Windows PE version was A-OK.
My only real performance gripe is that the main interface is rather slow to launch. No doubt due the large number of processes spawned by the various components, not to mention connecting to Acronis Cloud.
12 processes running in the background is a lot, even for a program as comprehensive as True Image.
As to processes… True Image has a sprawling system footprint that spawns a whopping 12 of them (shown above). I noticed little impact on system performance other than the program boot time, and modern PCs such as my AMD Ryzen test bed should be able to handle it, but for older legacy hardware it might be a strain. True Image also takes up a substantial 1GB of disk space.
One thing that disturbed me a bit was spotting the Google analytics report sender running alongside True Image. While comprehensive, True Image is also singularly intrusive.
One thing that disturbed me a bit was spotting the Google analytics report sender running alongside True Image (see above). While comprehensive, True Image is also singularly intrusive.
Should you buy Acronis True Image?
Given its broad capabilities, True Image is a pretty good deal. You might opt for another vendor with cheaper online storage, but Acronis Cloud is integrated and I will admit, I found it very handy. Bottom line: If you’re looking for a comprehensive, set-it-and-forget-it data-safety solution, I know of nothing better, or comparable for that matter.
However, it’s overkill for the average user, there’s a ton of telemetry going on, and it’s subscription software — albeit with 30-day grace period for restore functionality (perpetual from recovery media). If you’re confident in your anti-malware setup, check out our favorite: R-Drive Image.
Note: This review originally sported the Cyber Protect Home Office moniker in its title. The review has been lightly edited to reflect the product’s new name and our most recent experience with it as of December 2024. Our software testing is necessarily limited due to time and equipment constraints. We report any issue experienced historically or during testing for the article; however, you should research user forums for information on issues other users may have experienced. This applies to all software. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | BBCWorld - 14 Dec (BBCWorld)The killing of a health insurance boss has divided America Read...Newslink ©2025 to BBCWorld |  |
|  | | PC World - 14 Dec (PC World)Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are one of the most effective ways to keep your data private and secure while online. They encrypt and hide our confidential web activity and are a key component in helping us to navigate safely while connected to the internet.
As VPN usage continues to increase globally these apps are quickly becoming a cornerstone of our online security. Due to this importance, it’s worth looking at what’s in store for the next-gen VPNs to see how they’ll continue to provide us privacy and security into the future.
From VPNs utilizing blockchain to new encryption standards even quantum computers can’t break—and maybe even anonymity for your smart appliances—here are the coming advancements in VPN tech I’m most excited for.
Further reading: Best VPN services 2024: Top picks for speed, price, privacy, and more
Blockchain technology is coming to VPNs
The decentralized node structure of a dVPN may be the way of the future.NordVPN
Decentralized VPNs, or dVPNs, offer a new twist on VPN technology and they are quickly growing in popularity. By distributing network functions across many nodes rather than routing traffic through one company’s centralized servers, they can theoretically afford better privacy and security to users.
A dVPN runs on a peer-to-peer network that leverages blockchain technology. Decentralized nodes, operated by volunteer hosts, eliminate single points of failure and ensure that no single entity has control over every user’s data. Due to a dVPN’s more democratic functioning, they are also seen as being more resistant to censorship and government data sharing.
Just over the last year or two, decentralized VPNs have started to gain traction in the global market. So does this mean crypto bros are about to take over your VPNs? Not likely. While dVPNs certainly seem like an attractive offer, more so with all of the hype surrounding everything crypto and blockchain nowadays, this decentralization doesn’t inherently mean a better experience.
With a traditional VPN, you have to put your trust in just one company. But this company, assuming you choose wisely, will run regular audits to prove it’s trustworthy, has a vested interest in keeping its network secure, and has the financial backing to continually make improvements to its applications.
Using a dVPN on the other hand means that you have to trust each volunteer node host. Depending on how the dVPN company operates, these hosts may not be required to prove their trustworthiness or the privacy of their nodes.
So, while dVPNs are sure to become a popular choice for those seeking decentralized privacy, there will still be a place for traditional VPNs in the future. What is most likely is that you’ll see two separate markets develop, one for dVPN services and another for traditional centralized VPN services. It will then be up to you as the user to choose which you believe is best suited to protect your data.
The post-quantum encryption revolution is upon us
Post-quantum encryption will become the new standard for VPNs in the near future.Pixabay
In August of this year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) made history by releasing the first quantum-resistant encryption standards. Outside of a few overly enthusiastic cryptographers, this news might not have made a splash but it’s set to have huge implications for the future of online privacy and security.
Researchers and tech companies are racing to build quantum computers that will have the capability to crush the encryption standards of today’s machines in mere minutes—something currently impossible.
So, how does this relate to VPNs? Well, VPNs are heavily reliant on cryptographic protocols for securing communication on their networks. When you connect to a VPN, it encrypts your traffic by scrambling the data into an unreadable form, thereby preventing third parties from viewing and understanding that data. If a quantum computer with vastly greater computational power were to get ahold of this same encrypted data, it could decipher it with ease.
These new ‘post-quantum’ encryption standards will not only set the bar for VPN providers in the coming years, but also provide a roadmap to help them become more secure. “Post-quantum” encryption will become a selling point that VPNs will advertise and market to consumers.
For users, it might seem like a boutique feature now, but once quantum computers are up and running—most experts believe it could be within the next decade—you’ll absolutely want your VPN to be using these new standards.
We’re already seeing some VPN providers offer ‘post-quantum’ encryption. Just recently NordVPN took the initiative and launched an app with post-quantum support. Others such as ExpressVPN and Surfshark have also implemented their own versions as well. It’s only a matter of time before this becomes the new norm for all VPNs.
VPNs will soon protect your refrigerator, too
The all encompassing internet of things, or IoT, refers to a network of connected devices that communicate and share data with each other. For most people, this takes the form of smart home devices such as thermostats, TVs, lights, refrigerators, and home security systems. Thanks to IoT devices we now have more control over our environment than ever before.
When it comes to cybersecurity however, smart devices are generally some of the most vulnerable and least protected pieces on your home network. Cybercriminals love to exploit IoT devices and in many cases, simply hacking one device will give them access to everything else.
VPNs are out to change this in the near future. By providing fully integrated home network security, a VPN can encrypt and protect communications for all of your devices. Unlike the typical personal VPN that requires you to connect each individual device, IoT VPNs extend across an entire network to safeguard all devices. At home this can already be done via a router VPN.
Unfortunately, there are still a few drawbacks to using a router method. Many VPN providers still impose simultaneous device connection limits that can be taken up quickly by all of your IoT devices. Router VPNs also create a single point of failure meaning you need to make sure failsafes, such as an automatic killswitch, are set up correctly. This all requires a bit of technical know-how which the average layperson may not have.
Routers with built-in VPNs, like Aircove from ExpressVPN, are just one of the ways that next-gen VPNs will protect all of the devices on your home network.
ExpressVPN
VPN companies are working on new and innovative solutions for at-home IoT coverage. More and more services are switching over to unlimited device connection models. Others such as ExpressVPN have even started selling their own routers, ready to go right out of the box, with the VPN built into them.
VPNs are likely to begin offering configurable IoT options in their mobile apps as well. This will allow users to easily control which devices on their home network are connected through the VPN, all in a centralized hub. So in the future, even the AI-generated grocery list from your smart fridge will be encrypted and secure from prying eyes. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 13 Dec (PC World)TL;DR: This Dropbox alternative offers 10TB of space and offers end-to-end encryption for $279.99 (reg. $2,999}.
While cloud storage options like Google Drive and Dropbox are easy solutions for storage expansion, there are risks of security breaches. If you’re tired of paying monthly fees for cloud storage that isn’t truly secure or doesn’t have enough room for all your content, look no further than Internxt.
Internxt is a trailblazing cloud storage platform that offers impressive levels of protection. Now, a 10TB lifetime subscription is now $279.99 (reg. $2,999} for two more days.
Internxt is accessible from any device via a web browser or through mobile and desktop apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Its interface is incredibly intuitive, making it easy to navigate and organize your files, find photos, and share content with friends or family.
Thanks to Internxt’s zero-knowledge file storage and GDPR-compliant end-to-end encryption, all your files, photos, and other data are secure. Their code is completely open-source, meaning users and developers can see how Internxt works and ensure security vulnerabilities don’t exist.
10TB of storage might just satisfy your storage needs for life—to put it in perspective, that could hold 2.5 million photos or 65 million document pages. This amount may be excessive, but keep in mind that your one-time payment eliminates the need to pay subscription fees or worry about running out of space again!
Drop your Dropbox subscription when you have 10TB of Internxt Cloud Storage, now $279.99 for life. This offer ends December 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan
Only $279.99 at PCWorld
StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | ITBrief - 13 Dec (ITBrief) Thoughtworks has teamed up with Amazon Web Services to boost generative AI solutions for industries across the Asia Pacific, enhancing customer engagement and productivity. Read...Newslink ©2025 to ITBrief |  |
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