Every week we read the tech world so you don't have to, then boil it down to what actually matters for your home or business computer. Here's the wrap for the week of 11 August 2026.
🛡️ Security & scams — read this bit
Ransomware gang is breaking in through a popular business VPN
The "Qilin" ransomware crew is exploiting a critical bug in Palo Alto GlobalProtect VPNs to get into company networks. If your business uses a Palo Alto firewall or VPN, make sure it's fully patched — this is being actively used in real attacks right now.
Source: BleepingComputer ↗A single click could turn Microsoft 365 Copilot into a data thief
Researchers found a way to trick Microsoft 365 Copilot into leaking company data with one click. Microsoft has addressed it, but it's a reminder: AI assistants now handle your files and email, so keep everything updated and be wary of unexpected links.
Source: BleepingComputer ↗"Clop" gang targeting engineering software for data theft
The Clop group is exploiting a flaw in PTC's Windchill and FlexPLM product-management software to steal company data. If your business runs these tools, patch urgently and check with your IT support.
Source: BleepingComputer ↗Cisco warns of flaws in ClamAV antivirus engine
Cisco flagged high-severity bugs in the widely used open-source ClamAV scanner that can crash the scanning process. Public exploits exist, so anyone relying on ClamAV should update to the latest version.
Source: BleepingComputer ↗💻 Hardware & laptops
Surface Laptop 8 leaks: Snapdragon X2, OLED and a new colour
A detailed leak points to Microsoft's next Surface Laptop running Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 chips, with strong battery life, an OLED option and — good news — user-replaceable storage. One to watch if you're eyeing a new machine.
Source: Notebookcheck ↗RAM and SSD shortages are pushing prices up
An AI-driven memory shortage is making RAM and SSDs more expensive, which is dragging laptop prices up too — expect 256GB/512GB to become the "standard" again. Translation: it's often smarter to upgrade the machine you already have than to buy new right now.
Source: PCWorld ↗Nvidia's "RTX Spark" pushes AI deeper into Windows PCs
Nvidia unveiled an Arm-based "RTX Spark" platform (CPU + Blackwell GPU + 128GB memory) aimed at turning Windows into a more AI-driven, "agentic" system, launching in laptops from Dell, Lenovo, HP and others. Interesting long-term, not something you need today.
Source: Tom's Hardware ↗🎮 Graphics & gaming
A quiet year for new graphics cards
Reports suggest Nvidia may not launch any new gaming GPUs in 2026 — the same memory shortage is to blame — with the RTX 50 "Super" refresh rumoured to slip to 2027. If your current card still runs your games, there's little reason to rush an upgrade.
Source: PC Gamer ↗Best value cards right now
For most gamers, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 remains the sweet spot, with the RX 9060 XT 16GB and Intel Arc B580 leading the budget picks. If you're building or upgrading, these are the ones to look at this month.
Source: TechRadar ↗The Virtual Fix take: two things stand out this week — patch everything (those VPN and Copilot attacks are real), and with RAM/SSD prices climbing, a quick SSD or RAM upgrade is a much better value than a pricey new laptop. We can do both, on-site or remotely. Message us on WhatsApp if you want a hand.
Summaries are written by Virtual Fix in our own words, with links to the original reporting. Some items are based on leaks or rumours and may change. Not affiliated with the sources listed.