I’ve recommended several OLED gaming monitors to readers over the years, and I’ve finally taken my own advice to buy one. Alienware’s new 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED has all the features that I want and a low $350 price that was too tempting to ignore.

The AW2726DM model has five things that make it stand out for the price: a 1440p QD-OLED screen with lush contrast, a fast 240Hz refresh rate, a semi-glossy screen coating to enhance details, a low-profile design without flashy RGB LEDs, and a great warranty (three years with coverage for burn-in).

I’ve been using Alienware’s new monitor for a couple days, and I’ve already spent hours with it playing Marathon. It was my first opportunity to see Bungie’s new first-person extraction shooter in its full HDR glory, and I can never go back. Switching on HDR wasn’t automatic, though it already looked so much better than my IPS panel without being activated.

Enabling it transformed how Marathon looked for the better, but made everything else about the OS look pretty washed-out. It’s a Windows issue, not an Alienware issue. It’s easy to enable HDR every time I launch a game and disable it afterward with the Windows + Alt + B keyboard shortcut, but unfortunately triggers HDR for all connected displays. This includes my IPS monitor that imbues everything with a terrible gray hue when HDR is on. So, using the system settings is the best way to adjust HDR for just the QD-OLED.

I landed on this QD-OLED after having spent a ton of time researching pricier models. The unanimous takeaway from reviewers was that LG’s Tandem RGB WOLED panels are some of the brightest out there, but also tend to exhibit lousy gray uniformity in dark scenes. QD-OLED monitors, on the other hand, offer slightly better contrast than WOLED and don’t suffer from those same uniformity issues. However, blacks sometimes appear as dark purple in bright rooms on QD-OLED panels, meaning they’re ideal for rooms that don’t have a bunch of light bouncing around.

There’s no perfect choice, and honestly I got tired of doing research, so I jumped in with the cheapest OLED. I’m glad that I did. Shopping for an OLED gaming monitor can be hard, but it can also be this easy. AOC makes a model that’s discounted to $339.99 at the time of publishing, and its specs are comparable.

As expected, the AW2726DM isn’t a cutting-edge monitor. Its QD-OLED panel isn’t as fast or as bright as some other pricier options, and it doesn’t have USB ports for connecting accessories. Considering its low price, it’s easy for me to overlook those omissions. I’d have a much harder time accepting them in a pricier display.

The fact that I mostly use my computer for text-based work at The Verge is what prevented me from upgrading to an OLED monitor. My 1440p IPS monitor is bright, it’s good at showing text clearly, and it has a fast refresh rate for gaming. Alienware’s QD-OLED is less bright, and some might be bothered by how text looks (I have to really squint to see the slight fringing from this QD-OLED’s subpixel layout). But I have a life outside of work, which includes playing a lot of PC games. That’s the slice of myself I bought this monitor for, and I’m so happy I did.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

SpaceX and Cursor are now working closely together to create the world’s best coding and knowledge work AI.

The combination of Cursor’s leading product and distribution to expert software engineers with SpaceX’s million H100 equivalent Colossus training supercomputer will allow us to build the world’s most useful models.

Cursor has also given SpaceX the right to acquire Cursor later this year for $60 billion or pay $10 billion for our work together.

If you’ve ever clicked “Check for updates” and trusted what you saw, you’re not alone. That’s exactly what this latest scam is counting on.

The page mimics official branding, includes a believable knowledge base number and presents a big blue download button that feels familiar.

The catch? The download installs malware designed to steal passwords, payment details and account access.

According to researchers at Malwarebytes Labs, a cybersecurity research and threat intelligence team inside Malwarebytes, the site uses a typosquatted domain that looks close enough to a real Microsoft URL to fool a quick glance. That small trick is often all it takes.

APPLE APP PASSWORD SCAM EMAIL WARNING
 

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Why this fake Windows update malware slips past detection

At first glance, nothing seems off. The file looks like a standard Windows installer. It even lists “Microsoft” in its properties. That’s where this attack gets clever. Instead of using obvious malicious code, the attackers built the installer with legitimate tools and layered the attack in stages. Each piece looks harmless on its own.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

• The installer launches what appears to be a normal app
• That app quietly runs hidden scripts
• A disguised process loads a full Python environment
• Data theft tools activate in the background

Because each step looks routine, many security tools fail to flag it right away. Researchers also noted that antivirus engines initially showed zero detections for key parts of the attack. That does not mean the file is safe. It means the malicious behavior is well hidden.

What this fake Windows update malware is stealing

Once installed, the malware gets to work fast. It collects details about the infected device, including location and IP address. Then it reaches out to remote servers to receive instructions and upload stolen data.

The targets include:

• Saved browser passwords
• Login sessions and cookies
• Payment details
• Discord account tokens

It even tries to shut down other processes on your system to avoid interference while it works. In some cases, it modifies apps like Discord to intercept account activity in real time.

How the fake Windows update malware stays on your system

This malware is designed to stick around. It creates entries that look like normal system processes, so they blend in. One registry entry mimics Windows Security Health, which most users would ignore. It also drops a shortcut in your startup folder with a familiar name like Spotify. That makes it easy to overlook. Two different persistence tricks mean it can survive a reboot and keep running.

FAKE WINDOWS UPDATE PUSHES MALWARE IN NEW CLICKFIX ATTACK
 

Why this fake Windows update scam feels so real

There’s a bigger trend behind this. Researchers say campaigns like this often target regions where large data breaches have already exposed personal information. When attackers already know your name, provider or habits, they can build scams that feel tailored to you. That makes a fake Windows update page far more believable than a generic phishing email.

It also highlights something important. Today’s malware often hides inside legitimate tools and trusted frameworks. That makes it harder to detect and easier to trust. This campaign shows how far scammers have come. They are no longer relying on sloppy emails or obvious fake links. Instead, they are building layered attacks that look and behave like trusted software.

Even experienced users can get caught off guard when everything appears normal. The biggest takeaway is simple. A clean scan result or a familiar interface does not guarantee safety.

Microsoft says it’s aware of the threat

Microsoft confirmed it is tracking this type of activity and urges users to be cautious when downloading updates from unfamiliar sources. 

“We are aware of reports of fraudulent websites impersonating Microsoft, and we actively work to detect and disrupt malicious activity across the internet,” A Microsoft spokesperson told CyberGuy. “We encourage customers to be cautious of unexpected prompts or downloads and to verify that they are interacting with legitimate Microsoft domains. As a best practice, we recommend users verify the legitimacy of a link by going directly to our website from your own saved favorite, from a web search, or by typing the domain name yourself.”

For more guidance on how to protect against online phishing scams, you can refer to Microsoft’s official support page at support.microsoft.com.

MICROSOFT CROSSES PRIVACY LINE FEW EXPECTED
 

Ways to stay safe from fake Windows update malware

You don’t need to be a security expert to avoid this. A few habits make a big difference.

1) Only update Windows from your settings

Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for updates there. Avoid downloading updates from websites. 

2) Double-check the URL

Real Microsoft pages use microsoft.com. Anything else, even if it looks close, should raise a red flag.

3) Be cautious with urgent update prompts

If a site or message pressures you to install an update, stop and verify it manually. 

4) Use strong antivirus software with behavior detection

Traditional antivirus software, which often comes built into your device or as basic security software, mainly looks for known threats using signature matching, which means it can miss new or well-hidden attacks like this one. Strong antivirus software uses behavior detection to monitor what programs are doing in real time, helping flag suspicious activity even if the malware hasn’t been seen before.  Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

5) Use a data removal service to limit your exposure

If your personal information is already circulating online from past breaches, it can make scams like this more convincing. A data removal service helps reduce how much of your information is publicly available, making it harder for attackers to target you with tailored phishing attempts. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

6) Turn on two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second layer of protection if your passwords are stolen.

7) Avoid downloading installer files from unknown sites

Legitimate updates rarely require manual downloads. 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Fake updates are one of the most effective tricks because they tap into something we all trust. Keeping your system secure should not put you at risk, yet that’s exactly what attackers are exploiting here. The safest move is to slow down, verify where updates come from and stick to built-in tools whenever possible.

Are tech companies doing enough to keep fake updates from putting your data at risk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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