Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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iPhone users discover hack to save 21GB of storage, which also works on Android
Apple iPhone users found that turning off on-device AI features and clearing photo indexes can free up more than 20 gigabytes of storage, and the same trick works on many Android phones. The steps involve digging into your phone's settings to disable AI tools you may not even use. For Portage County: If your phone keeps saying storage is full, this is worth trying before you pay anyone to fix it.
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Microsoft is enabling a Windows 11 security feature that can hurt gaming performance
Microsoft is turning on a Windows 11 security feature called memory integrity for more computers next month, and it is designed to block harmful programs from sneaking into the core of your system. The catch is that Microsoft has warned it can slow down PC gaming on some machines. For Portage County: If your Windows 11 computer feels slower after a future update, this feature may be the reason, and Bill can help you check.
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I changed one Android developer option and stopped apps wasting battery in the background
Turning off a hidden Android developer setting can stop apps from running in the background all night and draining your battery. The person who tried it said their overnight battery drain disappeared completely after the change. For Portage County: If your Android phone is nearly dead every morning even though you charged it, ask Bill about this setting at your next visit.
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Acer's Vero 16 laptop is built to be easily repaired
Acer's new Vero 16 laptop is designed so that everyday people can repair it themselves, with removable port covers, a detachable hinge, and a bottom latch that opens without any tools. Most laptops require a repair shop for even simple fixes, so this is a meaningful difference. For Portage County: If you are shopping for a new laptop and want one that is easier to maintain, this is worth keeping on your radar.
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Researchers Use Claude to Port Pre-Auth RCE Exploit From One PLC Model to Another
Security researchers used an AI tool called Claude to take a known hacking method and adapt it to attack a different brand of industrial control equipment, and it worked on live hardware. This shows that AI can help criminals move faster when targeting equipment that runs factories and utilities. For Portage County: You are unlikely to be directly affected, but this is a reminder that AI is being used for harm as well as help, and staying skeptical online matters.
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GeoNetwork Fixes Unauthenticated RCE Chain Affecting Government Geoportal Backends
Two security flaws in a program called GeoNetwork, used by government websites to share maps and location data, can be combined to let an attacker take control of those systems without a password. Fixes were released on July 8, 2026, and the details were made public on August 31. For Portage County: This affects government computer systems, not home users, but it is a good reminder that even official websites can have security problems.
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Extradited Russian Hacker Faces Charges Over Excel Malware Campaign That Infected Thousands
A Russian man was extradited from Cyprus and charged in the United States for sending fake Excel files loaded with malware to about 80,000 people on a freelance work website back in 2016 and 2017. He used around 255 fake accounts to spread the infected attachments. For Portage County: Never open an Excel or Word file sent by someone you do not know personally, even if it looks like a normal work document.
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Apple Launching Eight New Products This Month
Apple is planning to launch eight new products in September, including new iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods, a Mac mini, and a Mac Studio. The company's fall event is set for September 9, with some products shipping as soon as September 22. For Portage County: If you have been thinking about buying any Apple device, it is worth waiting until after September 9 to see the new models and whether prices drop on older ones.
This digest is auto-generated daily at 6 AM ET from leading tech news sources.
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— Bill's Home Tech, Atwater, OH