Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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watchOS 27: 12 New Things To Check Out on Your Apple Watch
Apple released a free software update called watchOS 27 for many existing Apple Watch models, adding 12 new features including a dedicated Siri app with better awareness of your questions and habits. To install it, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap General, then Software Update, and keep your watch on its charger during the process. For Portage County: If you own an Apple Watch, this free update is worth installing this week, and the improved Siri may make it easier to ask health and reminder questions hands-free.
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Elementor CSRF Flaw Lets Attackers Take Over Sites After Admin Clicks Crafted Link
A serious security flaw was found in a popular WordPress website-building tool called Elementor, and attackers can exploit it to quietly take over a website by tricking an administrator into clicking a bad link. The flaw has not yet received an official patch number but is rated 8.8 out of 10 in severity. For Portage County: If you or your church, club, or small business uses a WordPress website, ask your web person today whether Elementor is installed and whether it has been updated.
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SharePoint RCE and MikroTik RouterOS Flaws Actively Exploited in the Wild
The U.S. government's cybersecurity agency added two newly confirmed security flaws to its official watch list, one affecting Microsoft SharePoint and one affecting MikroTik routers, because both are already being actively attacked by hackers. The Microsoft SharePoint flaw is rated 8.8 out of 10 in severity and involves code that can be injected remotely. For Portage County: Make sure Windows and Microsoft Office updates are set to install automatically on your computer, and if Bill set up your router, give him a call to confirm it is not a MikroTik model.
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Kiteworks Urges Customers to Shut Down Systems for 9 Hours Over Possible Cyber Attack
A company called Kiteworks, which businesses and government agencies use to share sensitive files securely, told its customers to shut their systems down for nine hours after federal intelligence authorities warned of a credible, imminent cyberattack. Kiteworks was formerly known as Accellion, which suffered a major breach in 2021. For Portage County: You likely do not use Kiteworks directly, but this is a good reminder that even secure file-sharing services can be targeted, so never open unexpected file links sent by email, even from people you know.
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3 reasons your Windows PC randomly wakes up at night
Your Windows PC may be waking itself up in the middle of the night because apps you installed have been quietly granted permission to run tasks, download updates, or check in with their servers on a schedule. This is common with third-party software that adds itself to Windows startup or scheduled tasks without asking. For Portage County: If your computer is making noise or showing a lit screen at night, call Bill to check which apps have wake permissions, and consider simply shutting the PC fully off each evening.
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How to get a "This PC" shortcut on the desktop in Windows 11
If you miss the old My Computer icon on your Windows desktop, Windows 11 lets you bring it back under a new name, This PC, with just a few clicks in Settings. It gives you quick access to your drives, folders, and connected devices without digging through menus. For Portage County: Go to Settings, then Personalization, then Themes, then Desktop Icon Settings, check the box next to This PC, and click OK to put it right back where it belongs.
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U.S. Soldier Gets 70 Months in Prison for AT&T, Verizon Extortions
A U.S. Army soldier was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for hacking into AT&T and Verizon and stealing call and text records for more than 100 million AT&T customers in 2024, and was ordered to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution. The stolen data included who customers called and texted, though the full details of how it was used are still emerging. For Portage County: If you are an AT&T customer, watch for any unusual account activity or unexpected password reset messages, and call AT&T directly at the number on your bill if something seems off.
This digest is auto-generated daily at 6 AM ET from leading tech news sources.
Notice something off? Reply or text Bill at (330) 200-8042.
— Bill's Home Tech, Atwater, OH