Online multiplayer shooter Call of Duty might not be the 800-pound gorilla of the gaming industry that it once was, now that games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox have more players than the populations of most countries. But it’s still a pretty big deal, so when hackers manage to take down an entire game, it raises some eyebrows. Such is the case with Call of Duty: WWII. The multiplayer portion of the game has been going strong since its release way back in 2017, or at least it was until last week. TechCrunch reports that the version of the game available on Game Pass and the Microsoft Store, a fresh release distinct from the console and Steam versions of the games, has been offline for days. An anonymous tipster tells the site that the game had been hacked, though the precise nature and severity of the problem isn’t known. The Game Pass version of COD: WWII had been suffering from online cheaters since its release to the service. Which would be a problem in and of itself…but cheating in online games is hardly unprecedented, just ask anyone who’s tried to play Team Fortress 2 lately. The twist here is players on Reddit have been complaining about a remote code execution issue for online matches — essentially, playing the game could get your actual computer compromised and give attackers control of it. That, too, is unconfirmed at the moment. Right now the Game Pass and Microsoft Store versions of the game remain closed for online play, while the Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation versions are still up and running. That’s something of a black eye for Microsoft, which owns Activision-Blizzard and has been bolstering its Game Pass subscription service with that massive back catalog of games. It probably doesn’t help that tensions are high across the Microsoft corporate empire following thousands of layoffs, its fourth major round of firings in a year, allegedly to free up funds for yet more AI-focused spending. Read...

For some time now, Microsoft has also required users to log in to their computer with an online account in the home editions of Windows 10 and 11. Although it’s relatively easy to avoid this requirement, many users are likely to have selected the online option when installing the operating system in order to quickly set up their PC. However, you can also delete the online shortcut at a later date and instead switch your computer to a local user account. The following instructions show the steps with Windows 11, however they’re practically the same with Windows 10. This is how it works: Open the “Settings” app and click on “Accounts” and further down on the right-hand side on “More users” -> “Add account”. In the next step, Microsoft will again ask you to set up an online account, but you can prevent this by clicking on “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” -> “Add a user without a Microsoft account”. Then enter a user name and optionally a password. These steps also allow Windows to accept local user accounts. A previously set up Microsoft account can then be deleted again. Sam Singleton Because Windows initially sets up the new account without extended rights, you must now convert it into an administrator account. To do this, click on the small arrow on the far right behind the local account you have just created in the “Other users” window that is still open, click on “Change account type”, switch from “Standard user” to “Administrator” and confirm with “OK”. Important: Before you delete the existing Microsoft account, you should back up all the data belonging to this old account – otherwise it will all be deleted! This applies in particular to the libraries stored locally on the hard drive: i.e. the “Pictures”, “Documents” and “Downloads”, “Music” and “Videos” as well as the “Desktop” that appear as separate folders in Windows Explorer. To copy the contents from the Microsoft account to the local account, open the subfolder of the online account user in Windows Explorer on the system partition or hard drive (c:) under “Users”, the name is often abbreviated here. Copy the entire contents of the first folder, such as the images, into the corresponding directory of the local account. Proceed in the same way with the other folders. Once you’ve transferred all the important files, you can delete the Microsoft account. To do this, log out of the Windows Start menu by clicking on the account followed by “Log out” and log back in using the new local user account you created previously. Open the Windows settings again and click on “Accounts” and on the right under “Account settings” on “Other users”. In Windows 10, the option is called “Family and other users”. Here too, click on the arrow to the right of the account and then click on “Remove” next to “Account and data”. Important: Only confirm the security prompt with “Delete account and data” after you have backed up everything important from the previous Microsoft account as described. It will take a moment for the process to complete. Before finalizing the deletion, you should transfer and back up all important data from your previous Microsoft account to the new local account.Sam Singleton Note: Please do not be alarmed if one or the other installed programs is initially “missing” from the desktop. The software is not gone; you can quickly restore it with a shortcut to the respective Echse executable file in the “Programs” or “Programs (x86)” directories. Tip: The online account requirement can be bypassed during the installation of Windows 10 and 11. To do this, either use the command oobe\bypassnro in the command prompt or use the Rufus tool to modify an installation stick so that the operating system is installed and set up automatically. Both methods are fairly easy to implement. Read...

Mini PCs are all the rage these days, and if you’d rather have one neatly tucked under your monitor than deal with a bulky desktop, we’ve found a great deal for you. The Acemagician Kron K1 is down to $236.55 right now, a 26 percent discount off its MSRP. As tiny as this thing is, you’d never guess it can handle your daily workload and connect to three screens. But that’s exactly what it does. Unlike most laptops, which need a hub to connect to extra displays, this mini PC boasts an HDMI, a USB Type-C, and a DisplayPort. That’s perfect for building a multitasking setup. The Acemagician Kron K1 packs an AMD Ryzen 5 7430U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s more than capable of running your browser and streaming apps without issue. Throw in the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and connectivity won’t be an issue. At just $236.55, this mini PC is a fantastic Prime Day deal. Be sure to check out other great tech deals we’ve spotted as well. Get a mini PC for 26% offBuy now at Amazon Read...

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GE Lighting, a division of the high-end smart home developer Savant, offers a number of sophisticated smart lighting products, including these terrific under-cabinet lights that banish the shadows from working spaces in the kitchen and elsewhere. During Prime Day, you can pick up the 12-inch-wide set for $30.37, a 25% discount. Not wide enough for you? You can link up to 10 of them together and operate them as a single unit. These are dimmable, full-color lights—including tunable white color temperatures—and they’re Matter certified to boot (which means they also work in the Apple Home ecosystem). Being smart lights, you can control them with any smart speaker or with the GE Lighting app. I reviewed the 18-inch-wide model in May and awarded it a TechHive Editors’ Choice Award (they’re also available in a 24-inch-wide SKU, but only the 12-inch model is on sale). You can either plug them into a regular wall outlet or—if you don’t mind dealing with the wiring in your wall, or if you’re replacing an existing fixture—you can hardwire them. I installed them under an invisible shelf to cast light on my kitchen counters, but you can also mount them to the top of your cabinets to cast light on your ceiling. Installing them is super easy, thanks to captive self-tapping screws that eliminate the need to first drill pilot holes. And as I’ve already mentioned, you can daisy-chain up to 10 lights together and control them as a single unit using either the buttons on any of the light bars, the GE Cync smartphone app, or a smart speaker (once you’ve connected them to your Wi-Fi network). The 12-inch version that’s on sale produces maximum brightness of 750 lumens, or 630 lumens if you use GE Lighting’s Reveal setting. Get a 12-inch GE Cync Reveal under-cabinet light bar for 25% off But it on amazon For great Prime Day discounts on other tech products, check out the best of PCWorld’s Prime Day deals. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lighting. Read...

Need a light, portable laptop for everyday use? The Asus Vivobook Go is a standout Prime Day deal at just $329.99–that’s $100 off the original $429.99 price. It’s a great pick for students, remote workers, or anyone who needs a reliable machine for email and browsing. Just a heads-up, you’ll need a Prime membership to grab the deal–here’s how to get it for free.   It’s running AMD’s Ryzen 5 7520U processor, which performs much better than you’d expect at this price point. It also has 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, which is more than enough for watching videos or knocking out an assignment in the wee hours of the night.  The 15.6-inch 1080p display has slim bezels, so you’re getting plenty of screen to work with–it shouldn’t feel cramped or uncomfortable at all. And, at just 3.59 pounds, it’s light enough to toss in a bag and take pretty much anywhere. Look, this isn’t a gaming powerhouse, but it handles the basics more than fine and doesn’t skimp out on display resolution despite its ultra-low sale price. If that’s what you need, then you better scoop up this deal sooner rather than later. It definitely punches above its weight. Get the Asus Vivobook Go for $329.99 at AmazonView Deal Read...

A complete home security system protects your entry points (doors and windows), detects motion inside your home while you’re away, and includes a keypad for arming and disarming the system. Ring makes some of our favorite systems, and you can pick up one during Amazon’s Prime Day sale for as much as 50% off. The Ring Alarm 5-piece kit is a good place to start, and it might be all you need if you have a small home, condo, or apartment. It includes the central hub with battery backup, a keypad, a single door/window sensor, an indoor motion detector, and one range extender. Amazon has cut the price of this system in half, bringing its price down to $100. Ring’s keypad has large, easy-to-read buttons for arming and disarming the system and–if you’re paying for professional monitoring–for summoning help in an emergency. Wes Davis / IDG If you need to protect more doors and windows, the Ring Alarm 8-piece kit comes with four of them (they cost $20 each if purchased separately), plus the other components listed above.  Amazon has knocked 40% off the price of this system, bringing its price down to $150. For larger homes, consider the Ring Alarm 14-piece kit. It comes with two keypads, so you can mount one at your front door and another at your back, garage, or side door; two motion sensors, and 8 door/window sensors, plus the range extender. This system also gets a 40% discount for Prime Day, for a final price of $199. Ring Alarm Pro is on sale, too The Ring Alarm Pro system, pictured up top, uses all the same components as the Ring Alarm, but with a higher-end hub that includes an integrated Eero Wi-Fi 6 router and a microSD card slot for local storage of video recordings from Ring security cameras. I personally use this system and swear by it. Amazon’s discount isn’t as generous—its 20% off the usual price—but you get a lot for $400: The hub with an integrated mesh Wi-Fi router, an Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh Wi-Fi node, two motion sensors, eight door/window sensors, and a Z-Wave range extender for the sensors for $400. Ring Alarm systems are (of course) compatible with the rest of the Ring product line, including its video doorbells, indoor and outdoor security cameras, floodlight cameras, smart lighting devices, and Alexa smart speakers and displays. You can also integrate certified third-party devices, including smart locks, smoke detectors, plug-in and in-wall lighting controls, and more (check out the Works With Ring page for the entire list). Monitoring options You can either self-monitor these systems—receiving alerts on your smartphone and triggering a local siren—or pay for 24/7 professional monitoring that will summon first- responders in the event of a police, fire, or medical emergency. You can choose between two Ring Home subscription plans to service a Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro system. The Standard plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year, plus $10 per month for professional monitoring. It provides remote viewing for all your Ring security cameras and video doorbells and cellular backup for the Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro base station. In case your broadband connection fails, the system will automatically switch over to a cellular network. If you opt for the more powerful Ring Alarm Pro system, I’d recommend going with the Premium plan. It costs $20 per month or $200 per year, plus $10 per month for professional monitoring, but in addition to everything you get in the Standard plan, you get 24/7 recording for your Ring security cameras and video doorbells; AI video descriptions for the same; Ring Edge, to take advantage of the microSD storage on the Ring Alarm Pro base station; and—perhaps most importantly—24/7 internet backup for the Eero Wi-Fi router in that base station. Get a Ring Alarm system for up to 50% offBuy it on Amazon For great Prime Day discounts on other tech products, check out the best of PCWorld’s Prime Day deals. Read...

We love a powerful power bank that doesn’t bankrupt us, and this Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh model checks all the boxes, especially now that it’s 30 percent off for Prime Day. Usually available for $100, this powerful battery is on sale for $70 right now. This power bank’s massive 20K capacity is certainly noteworthy, but it also comes with a built-in retractable USB-C cable, making charging on the go so much easier. Fully extended, that cable is 2.1 feet long, which is more than enough to use your phone while charging if, for instance, you’re keeping it on the desk. The USB-C cable can deliver 100W charging, so your device will be back to full battery in no time. There are also two ports on top of the cable (one USB-C and one USB-A), which allows you to charge multiple devices at once. At only $70, the Ugreen Nexode power bank is truly a great travel companion. Get a 20K power bank for $70Buy now at Amazon Read...