Software
SEE SOFTWARE STORIES BY CATEGORY
Reviews
Hotspot Shield review: This speedster VPN’s still got it
Hotspot Shield is still one of the fastest VPNs on the market, but competitors are starting to catch up.
News
Photoshop took my favorite feature and massively boosted it with AI
Adobe Photoshop has taken a simple but powerful tool, Generative Fill, and beefed up its AI capabilities in a big way alongside a new Firefly AI art tool.
Reviews
Aomei Backupper 7.3 review: Easy, all-in-one backup
As of version 7, Aomei Backupper Professional can compete with the best imaging, backup, and sync programs out there in terms of specs and features. It's also a solid performer — with some rough edges.
Feature
Atlas VPN is shutting down: Here's why all VPN users should care
Atlas VPN is set to close up shop on April 24 and merge with NordVPN. It's just one of many regrettable such VPN consolidations in recent years.
Sponsored
Take Zoom meetings to the next level with ONLYOFFICE DocSpace for Zoom
Turn boring Zoom meetings into productivity powerhouses by real-time collaboration on MS Office documents and PDFs.
Tip
Outlook: How to set up breaks between your meetings
By default, Outlook assumes that appointments in the calendar follow each other directly if you enter them one after the other. We will show you how Outlook automatically schedules breaks between consecutive appointments.
News
If you get a phone call from LastPass, it's a scam
A new breed of sophisticated phishing scammers are targetting LastPass users with phone calls and emails.
Opinion
Roku's massive hack is why you shouldn't reuse passwords
Over half a million people were affected—and they won’t be the last victims of this kind of attack. But you don’t have to be next.
News
The new Meta.ai website can draw amazing AI art instantly
Meta's new Meta.ai site creates AI art almost instantly, even animating the resulting images, as well as serving as an LLM or AI chatbot. But you'll also see these tools on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more.
News
Scraper spies on 600 million Discord users and sells the data
A publicly-accessible site is selling data on Discord users and their messages to anyone, for as little as $5.
Feature
Why pay? One of Photoshop's best features is free in Windows
Have you tried the Windows Photos Generative Erase feature within Windows 10 and Windows 11? It's just like Photoshop — and we even put it to the test to prove it.
News
Microsoft Office 2016 and 2019 get an execution date (and it's soon)
Support for Office 2016 and 2019 will end soon. After that, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates. This is what users can do.
Tip
This free, ancient Windows app will watch over your laptop battery
Do you want to know how much battery your laptop has left? Or how long it will take to charge? This old free Windows utility gives you all the information you need about your laptop battery.
Feature
5 outdated security practices you shouldn’t use anymore
Don't blindly follow these old security tips.
How-To
How to digitize VHS tapes the cheap way
A guide to digitizing VHS tapes using a USB capture card and OBS.
News
DuckDuckGo launches Privacy Pro bundle with VPN included
DuckDuckGo adds to its privacy-focused search engine and browser with a new subscription service called Privacy Pro including a VPN, personal data removal service, and identity theft restoration.
News
Forget AI images, AI video is heading to Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe showed off a teaser for an upcoming version of Premiere Pro, featuring AI video editing, text-to-video, and integration of third-party AI-generated video clips.
Sponsored
Recover corrupt Word file with the text recovery converter
A text recovery converter will let you recover corrupt Word files. We have step-by-step instructions to follow.
How-To
Windows includes built-in ransomware protections. Here's how to turn it on
Did you know Windows includes ransomware protection built right in? Microsoft Defender can safeguard your PC, but the feature isn’t automatically enabled. Here's how to do it yourself.
News
Google One VPN is the Google Graveyard's newest victim
Google's home-grown VPN service is the latest victim of the company's infamous "Graveyard" of abandoned apps and tools.
Feature
Are free VPNs any good?
Free VPNs can seem like a convenient and cost-effective option to keep you safe online, but there are a few things everyone should know before using them.
How-To
Multiboot vs. virtual PC vs. live DVD: Which is best for multiple OSes?
Do you want to use two or more operating systems on your desktop computer? Then there are three options: a parallel installation, a virtual PC, and booting from a live DVD or USB stick.
Updated
Udio's AI music is my new obsession
Udio has launched as an AI music generator, custom-generating music, lyrics, even vocals. It won't replace Radiohead, but it's incredibly fun to mess around with.
News
Apocalypse, now streaming: Elgato debuts SPECIAL edition Fallout gear
Elgato's Stream Deck controller, Wave DX microphone, Wave XLR mixer, and Wave Mic Arm now come with Vault-Tec branding.
Feature
Devious 'man in the middle' hacks on the rise: How to stay safe
Attackers can break into your online accounts by tricking you—even if you have two-factor authentication enabled. But you can still protect yourself.
News
Google's best AI editing tools are coming to Chromebooks, not PCs
Google is making available to Chromebooks users some of its best AI editing tools within Google Photos, but PC users are being left out.
News
Broadband 'nutrition labels' kick in, revealing hidden fees for ISPs
The Biden administration and the Federal Communications Commission have begun rolling out a "nutrition label" for broadband ISPs, promising to accurately state what you'll be charged for and the speeds an ISP will provide.
News
Microsoft plugs a record-breaking 147 security holes on Patch Tuesday
On Patch Tuesday in April, Microsoft fixed a total of 147 security vulnerabilities. These include three vulnerabilities that Microsoft classifies as critical.
Reviews
Mullvad VPN review: Still our favorite ultra-private VPN
Mullvad VPN might not have a ton of flashy features but it provides rock-solid security and unrivaled privacy.
News
Meet Vids, Google's new AI-powered editor for the videos you hate to make
Google Vids, an AI video editor, will be the latest app in the Google Workspace collection of business apps alongside Sheets and Docs.
Feature
Windows blocks apps from changing your default browser
Microsoft is barring tweaks to this default app setting through the registry.
News
Got an older D-Link NAS? 92,000 of them are at high risk of getting hacked
Two new vulnerabilities combine to allow attackers to take over vulnerable devices—and they’re already being exploited.
Feature
These 10 Windows features will disappear soon
Lots of Windows 10 and 11 features are getting the axe in upcoming patches. Here's a rundown of everything on its last legs, from Windows Mail to WordPad and more.
Tip
How to take screenshots of complete web pages
To capture the content of an entire web page, you can either take several screenshots and combine them later — or you can use a special screenshot add-on such as Fireshot.
How-To
LocalSend: A free, super fast way to transfer files over Wi-Fi
LocalSend: Fast local file transfers over Wi-Fi with a free, open-source app
Tip
Google's dark web monitoring is actually pretty helpful
I didn’t know the depth of this feature until my family got an early alert about the recent AT&T data leak.
Deal
Get Outer Worlds for free, and every Fallout game for just $25
Today the Epic Games Store is offering The Outer Worlds for free, and every good Fallout game (plus Fallout 76) is in a super-cheap bundle at Fanatical.
Tip
Should I disconnect my PC from the internet when I have a virus?
It is often recommended to disconnect the internet connection in the event of a virus attack. But is it really sensible or even necessary to disconnect the computer from the internet?
How-To
The fastest way to install your apps on a new PC
Winget, the built-in Windows tool, will install all of your favorite applications in a snap.
News
Chrome’s latest feature blocks cookie-stealing hackers
Google's Device Bound Session Credentials API is being developed as an open-source tool, and could become a standard web security feature in the future.
Feature
What is a dedicated IP address for a VPN and do you need one?
Most VPNs offer a dedicated IP address as an additional subscription option nowadays and under the right circumstances it could be worth the extra expense.
News
Ads are coming to Discord, and gamers are already planning to block them
Discord's "Sponsored Quests" will give you digital goodies for streaming game sessions to your friends…but it's still targeted advertising.
News
AT&T breach may have leaked 70 million Social Security numbers to the dark web
Data breach occurred two weeks ago.
Opinion
Happy 20th birthday to Gmail, the email client that changed our lives
Twenty years ago today Google launched Gmail, which does this one thing better than anyone.
News
Microsoft Teams and Office 365 are breaking up
Following the latest antitrust investigation from Europe, Microsoft now offers Office and Teams as separate products worldwide.
Feature
5 easy tasks that supercharge your digital security
Protect your PC and your online accounts with these 5 simple tasks that supercharge your security.
Reviews
R-Drive Image review: Our favorite backup gets even better
R-Drive Image continues to impress with the addition of OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google drive as backup destinations, as well as replication of an image across multiple targets. Our favorite image backup program already just cemented its hold on the top spot.
Tip
How to fight the new Windows Outlook app and keep Mail…for now
Microsoft is trying to kidnap Mail users and put them into the new Outlook app! Here's how to fight back and resist.![How to record screen Windows 10 with audio [4 free ways]](https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/easeus_screen_record_hero.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=300&h=200&crop=1)
Sponsored
How to record screen Windows 10 with audio [4 free ways]
Want to record your Windows screen? Here are four free ways – with step-by-step guides to follow.
Sponsored