PCWorld notes that Windows XP is celebrating its 25th anniversary, having officially launched on October 25, 2001, and it remains a legendary piece of software history. Built on the stable Windows NT architecture, XP delivered fewer crashes than Windows 98 or ME, transforming computing through reliability and lasting popularity. Remarkably, Statcounter shows 0.09 percent of users still run Windows XP today, meaning it still edges out Windows 8 in market share. This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of Windows XP, an event worthy of commemoration. Computer manufacturers gained access to this classic operating system on August 24, 2001, but it wasn't available for purchase until October 25th of that same year. Unlike its predecessors Windows 95, 98, and ME, Windows XP was based on Windows NT, which meant fewer system crashes and greater security. Microsoft called Windows XP " the most important version of Windows ever," and in retrospect, that was no exaggeration. Windows XP proved so popular that support for it was repeatedly extended, and even today there are some users who stubbornly cling to this iconic version. According to the latest data from Statcounter, 0.09 percent of the population still uses Windows XP, compared to 0.02 percent for Windows 8, which was released 11 years later.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Why did the Windows 95 CD have a Weezer music video on it? Windows 95's installation CD included music videos, a movie trailer, and cartoons that had nothing to do with the OS. Windows 95 just turned 31 years old and we're revisiting that iconic operating system with a question: Ever wondered why the Windows 95 installation CD also contained a Weezer music video, a trailer for the film, and cartoons by Bill Plympton? You know, stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with the Windows operating system?

PCWorld recalls how Windows 95, launched on August 24, 1995, became a cultural phenomenon, selling 7 million copies in just seven weeks. The OS introduced the iconic Start menu, taskbar, Plug and Play, and multitasking, transforming how everyday users interacted with computers. Despite issues like the Blue Screen of Death, its massive marketing campaign featuring the Rolling Stones and boost to 32-bit app development made it a landmark commercial success. Just over 31 years ago, on August 24th, 1995, Microsoft began selling Windows 95 in the US. At midnight, many computer shops across the US opened their doors to sell the first Windows 95 floppy discs at "Midnight Madness" events.

Australia's eSafety commissioner says the pressure on Roblox is about ensuring the gaming platform is a safe place for children. Australia's eSafety commissioner says the pressure on Roblox is about ensuring the gaming platform is a safe place for children. Regulator says verifiable safety measures are'critical' to the online service's viability Roblox has committed to making changes to its online gaming platform after Australia's eSafety commissioner discovered adults were still able to see child accounts and send connection requests without parental consent. The company has provided a legal agreement to the online safety regulator after testing earlier this year also revealed children and adults could view and respond to one another's posts on forums outside game environments without parental consent. Additionally, the regulator found children's connections and profiles - including account names and interests - were visible to anyone on Roblox.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Microsoft 365 Apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will stop getting new features on Windows 10 as early as this month. Microsoft is stepping up the pressure on Windows 10 users by winding down support for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. After August 2026, Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 will no longer receive new features, and only receive security updates for customers with an active Office subscription. Devices running Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 will receive feature updates and Copilot support (where eligible) until Version 2608 is released.

PCWorld reports that Microsoft's Windows 10 patch KB5120249 focuses on security rather than new features, addressing outdated Secure Boot certificates and fixing critical vulnerabilities in versions 22H2 and 21H2. The roughly 1GB update also resolves File History errors, improves Microsoft Defender, and includes fixes for the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. Since standard Windows 10 support ended in October 2025, users must enroll in the ESU program to receive continued protection through 2027. Earlier this week, Microsoft released KB5120249, a critical security update for Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2, as well as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021. This is the next entry in Windows 10's Extended Security Updates program, so don't expect any new features. Rather, this patch includes fixes for various security vulnerabilities still present in Windows 10.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Microsoft's Edge team has posted a timeline for migrating away from Manifest Version 2, the extensions foundation upon which uBlock's superb uBlock Origin adblocker lives. Remember how one of the best adblockers, uBlock Origin, was effectively killed by Google Chrome? Throughout 2024 and 2025, Google said that it was migrating its extension support from what is called Manifest, from version 2 to version 3. Now Microsoft says that it is following Google's lead, and beginning that transition as well. Ads stink, and anyone who says that they don't affect productivity has never turned off an adblocker and tried to surf a major media site, including our own.

If you like putting Claude's AI agents to work on personal chores but are concerned about giving them access to your credentials, there's a new solution available. Users can now authorize Claude to complete real-world tasks like booking travel and managing accounts securely with credentials injected directly to the target system on their behalf, 1Password explains. Security has emerged as a big issue when using agents to complete tasks on your behalf. Sharing credentials directly with an agent exposes them to the model, its memory and the systems behind it, which can pose a risk if the model gets hacked . To solve that problem, 1Password built a zero-exposure security framework that allows agents to use stored credentials from your 1Password vault without them reaching the model.

Microsoft extended Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) until October 12, 2027, providing an additional year beyond the previously announced October 2026 end date. PCWorld reports that many users might miss the official notification email since it often lands in Outlook's'Other' folder rather than the main inbox. This extension applies only to existing ESU program participants, while non-ESU Windows 10 users face increasing security vulnerabilities and should consider enrolling for continued protection. Microsoft just sent out an email to Windows 10 users informing them that the company is extending Windows 10 support by another year . In other words, you can rest assured that Windows 10 is one of the many apps and services that Microsoft is discontinuing this year . The email, which you might have missed, begins with the subject "Stay secure for another year."

Foundation models demand advanced data processing for their vast, multimodal datasets.