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MSI’s refreshed Prestige series laptops are now available to buy

MSI’s refreshed Prestige series laptops are now available to buy

The latest lineup of MSI's Prestige laptops is now available to buy. The company unveiled its next-generation business laptop at CES earlier this month, all of them powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Available in configurations that include up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 , the updated Prestige series are equipped with chunky 91Wh batteries and, depending on the model, offer over 30 hours of 1080p video playback. In more real-world terms, if you’re on a work trip and know you won’t always have a power supply to hand, you can trust one of these to get you through a day of heavy multi-tasking. The new Prestige models are encased in full aluminum and are slimmer than their predecessors. They feature vapor chamber cooling and dual-fan architecture to ensure they stay cool and quiet while you work. If you pick up one of the convertible 2-in-1 Flip models, you can work with a stylus too. There’s a 2.8K OLED display option for the Prestige 16 and 16 Flip, with support for VRR and DisplayHDR True Black 1000. The Flip 14 keeps the OLED, but the resolution drops to FHD+ and you lose the VRR. The full lineup is now available in the US, with prices starting at $1,299. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/msis-refreshed-prestige-series-laptops-are-now-available-to-buy-165234479.html?src=rss

Latest Windows update kills dial-up modems… intentionally

Latest Windows update kills dial-up modems… intentionally

Did you know there are still people in the US who are connected to the internet via classic dial-up modems? They’re mostly older folks in remote areas without easy or affordable access to broadband, but they’re out there. And with the recent January 2026 update for Windows, Microsoft has played a nasty trick on such users. After installing the January Windows 11 patch, dial-up modems may no longer work. As reported by Windows Central , the KB5074109 update has broken numerous modems in one fell swoop. The most surprising thing about this, however, is that it isn’t a bug or a random error ( as is the case with many other problems in this particular update ). This move is entirely intentional. As Microsoft explains in the official release notes , the January update removes certain driver packages that the company considers “unsafe.” Allegedly, these packages contain unpatched security vulnerabilities and anyone who has such a modem should replace it with a new one. Unfortunately, some old modems rely on these driver packages to continue functioning. Furthermore, this can also affect newly purchased modems, including those still available in the United States. Which modems are affected? Complaints about malfunctioning modems are piling up on Microsoft forums and other sites like Tom’s Hardware. Many of these modems are apparently used in smaller companies, for example to answer phone calls or log systems. No specific modem manufacturer stands out as especially affected. However, what is known is that the following driver packages were present before the update got rid of them: agrsm.sys (x86) agrsm64.sys (x64) smserial.sys (x86) smserl64.sys (x64) To make matters even worse, the modems’ manufacturers apparently weren’t even informed that this would happen nor given enough of a heads-up to provide workarounds or fixes for users. What can you do about it? If you’re affected and you need to restore modem functionality, the only thing you can do right now is uninstall the KB5074109 update. Learn more about how to roll back a Windows update . If you take this route, make sure you also disable automatic updates afterwards. However, please note that KB5074109 is a security update, which means you won’t be protected against current threats.

Google DeepMind researchers unveil AlphaGenome, an AI model trained on molecular data to predict 11 different genomic processes, such as gene splicing (Carl Zimmer/New York Times)

Google DeepMind researchers unveil AlphaGenome, an AI model trained on molecular data to predict 11 different genomic processes, such as gene splicing (Carl Zimmer/New York Times)

Carl Zimmer / New York Times : Google DeepMind researchers unveil AlphaGenome, an AI model trained on molecular data to predict 11 different genomic processes, such as gene splicing —  AlphaGenome is a leap forward in the ability to study the human blueprint.  But the fine workings of our DNA are still largely a mystery.

WinRAR under attack by state-level hackers, according to Google

WinRAR under attack by state-level hackers, according to Google

WinRAR, a tool for unpacking compressed files , is one of those pillars of everyday PC use that’s kind of faded into the background. I used to install it on every computer setup, like VLC and Irfanview. But according to a report from security researchers at Google, a long-known vulnerability in WinRAR is being actively attacked by hackers allegedly aligned with Russia and China. Google’s Threat Intelligence Group says that WinRAR vulnerability CVE-2025-8088 can be used to write malicious files to a system when opened by an older version of the software. The exploit was discovered last year and patched quickly in July of 2025, but plenty of older versions of WinRAR are still in use, and still being targeted. Google reports that four different hacker groups are working to target Ukrainian military and civilian systems, ostensibly in service of Russia’s ongoing invasion. A fifth group, based in the People’s Republic of China, is attempting to use the vulnerability to deliver remote access trojans. The issue is broad enough that state-level hackers aren’t the only ones exploiting it. According to the researchers, attacks from others have been directed at conventional financial gain in Brazil and broader Latin America, Indonesia, and elsewhere. Software that uses this exploit is even being sold commercially on the black market, with malware developers advertising packages from between $80,000 and $300,000 USD, attacking targets like Windows, Microsoft Office, VPNs, and antivirus programs. Google’s research team is sharing data that can help with the detection of known threats exploiting this WinRAR flaw. But the best way to protect yourself is simply to update the software if you’re using it — the vulnerability has been patched for almost six months now. (WinRAR and other archive programs are also a lot less crucial now, as the proprietary RAR file format has become less popular, and Windows can now natively unpack ZIP, 7-Zip, and RAR files .

Deals: AirPods Max $119 off, AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch SE 3 $173, Trail Loop 50% off, more

Deals: AirPods Max $119 off, AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch SE 3 $173, Trail Loop 50% off, more

Your mid-week 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are ready to roll. Alongside the ongoing Amazon low on AirPods Pro 3 and the 35% price drop on AirPods 4 with ANC at $119 , we also spotted the Midnight AirPods Max at $119 off via Amazon as well. Those deals also join a giant 50% price drop on the official Apple Blue/Bright Blue Trail Loop (it is now even lower) as well new lows on the Anchor Blue and Neon Ocean Bands that debuted in September. The black USB-C Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is seeing a rare price drop today and we also have Apple Watch SE 3 as low as $173 . Hit the jump for a closer look. more…