close 'CyberGuy': Protecting yourself from Microsoft tech support scams Tech expert Kurt Knutsson says scammers exploit fears, falsely claim computer issues to access your personal data. Before there was Zoom, Skype was the dominant internet-based phone and video service for the masses. After 22 years of service (14 years under Microsoft), customers were shocked to learn that Microsoft has decided to discontinue Skype in May 2025.Thats why "Pats" email prompted us to explore alternatives to Skype."Hello, apparently Microsoft is getting rid of Skype. We use Skype every weekend to communicate with our family in Ireland. Do you have recommendations for an alternative? Thanks." Pat, Commerce Township, MichiganThough a bit unnerving for long-time Skype users, Microsoft is actually discontinuing Skype because of steep competition for the same type of service from the likes of Zoom and WhatsApp. While the change may be unwelcome, there are many options to choose from once Skype bows out.STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS SIGN UP FOR KURTS THE CYBERGUY REPORT NOWThe company states on its website that"Your Skype data will be available until January 2026 for you to export or delete. If you log in toMicrosoft Teams Free by then, your Skype call and chat history will be available to you. If you take no action, your Skype data will be deleted in January 2026."Below are the top alternatives to Skype, which will help you stay connected with people you care about personally and professionally, as well as how to export your contacts and other vital information off Skype. A woman using Skype on a laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Top 6 Skype alternativesWhile change can be challenging, it doesn't have to be difficult with the following Skype alternatives listed below.With Microsoft discontinuing Skype to invest its attention and resources in Microsoft Teams, it is an easy transition from Skype.Microsoft Teams will allow you to sign in with your existing Skype credentials, making the transition easier. There is a free version of Microsoft Teams that Microsoft is encouraging its Skype users to utilize. Like Skype, it includes video calls and messaging. The benefit of signing up for Microsoft Teams is that your Skype contacts and message history will be automatically migrated to Microsoft Teams.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? A man using Skype on his laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that has been around since 2009. It offers free voice and video calls with end-to-end encryption, giving your communication an added layer of protection. It also allows you to message with other users. Additionally, because it is used worldwide, WhatsApp is a great international communication tool.If you already use Google services such as Gmail and Google Calendar, Google Meet can be a seamless alternative to Skype. Google Meet is a free video-conferencing service that integrates Gmail and Google Calendar. With free plans available, you can include up to 100 participants on a video call.Zoom has become a regular fixture in the modern professional world. With a user-friendly interface and rich features, Zoom has been the top choice for video calls. Zoom offers free plans that allow for 40-minute video calls per call for up to 100 participants.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREFor those with concerns about privacy, Signal is a great alternative to Skype. It boasts end-to-end encryption on messages and video calls, which keeps your communications secure. Signal is an open-source service that allows users to send instant messages as well as voice and video calls.While well-known among gamers, Discord has become a versatile communication tool. With free voice channels, screen sharing and low-latency audio (better audio quality), it has begun to stand out as a good group call option.How to export contacts and messages from SkypeThough Microsoft will give you until January 2026 to export or delete your Skype contacts, chat and file history, it is best to log in and start the process now, as it can take a while for the company to fulfill your request.To export contacts, follow these steps:On your web browser, go to https://secure.skype.com/ andlog into your Skype account using your username and passwordOn the main page, under Account detail, go toSetting and preferencesClickExport contactsA dialog box will appear, then select where you want to save the file and clickSave Steps to export Skype contacts (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)To export conversations and files, follow these steps:On your web browser, go to https://secure.skype.com/ andlog into your Skype account using your username and passwordOn the main page, under Account detail, go to Setting and preferencesClick Export files and chat historyUnder "Request a copy of your files and chat history,"check the boxes you want to download and click Submit requestOnce the request has been processed, it willshow up at the very top of the same pageTo save, clickDownload Steps to export Skype conversations and files (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How to export your Skype data and import it into other video platformsBefore Skype officially shuts downMay 27, 2025, it's a smart move to save your data and prepare for a transition to another platform. Heres how to do it:Step 1: Export your Skype dataYou can request a full download of your Skype chat history, call logs and other personal data.Go to theSkype Export page:https://go.skype.com/exportSign in with your Skype (Microsoft) account.Choose what you'd like to download:Conversations: Chat logs, SMS and call recordsFiles: Photos, videos and documents shared via SkypeConversations: Chat logs, SMS and call recordsFiles: Photos, videos and documents shared via SkypeClickSubmit Request and wait for an email or download link to appear (may take hours or a few days depending on the volume).Download the .ZIP file when ready and extract the contents to your device.The exported messages are typically in a .tar or .json format, which can be opened with apps like Notepad, Excel or dedicated viewers.Step 2: Import your info to a new platformWhile Skype doesnt offer a direct import tool for other platforms, here are a few ways to carry your info over:Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Slack or WhatsApp:Contacts: You can manually add contacts from your Skype export by copying their email addresses or phone numbers.Chat History: Most platforms wont allow direct import, but you can:Save your Skype conversations as PDF or text files for reference.Upload important conversations to cloud services likeGoogle Drive,Dropbox orOneDrive to keep them searchable and accessible.Save your Skype conversations as PDF or text files for reference.Upload important conversations to cloud services likeGoogle Drive,Dropbox orOneDrive to keep them searchable and accessible.Using Skype Data on Microsoft Teams:Since Teams is Microsoft's recommended replacement for Skype, it's the most seamless switch.If your account is tied to Microsoft 365, your contacts may already sync to Teams.Chat history doesnt automatically migrate, but you can reference exported chats when setting up new Teams channels or chats.Kurt's key takeawaysWhile Skypes end on May 5, 2025, is sobering, the time to transition to an alternative platform is imperative so you can get set up and adjusted to continue communicating with others professionally and personally. Though the friendly and familiar sky-blue interface will be missed, there are several options that fill those big empty shoes that Skype will leave. Whether you prefer the ease of being able to migrate contacts and messages from Skype directly to Microsoft Teams or prefer the security of Signal, there is a bounty of options to keep you connected to loved ones across the globe.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAre you a Skype user? Are you planning on switching to one of the top Skype alternatives? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

When is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025?Amazon's Spring Sale runs through Monday, March 31.Are laptops really cheaper during Amazon sales?Absolutely. Retailers and manufacturers have plenty of reasons to discount their laptops: new models coming out, overstock in a particular configuration, etc. Now, many of these discounted events align with Amazon's sales, allowing retailers to clear inventory as part of the sale events.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- laptops we actually have tested and would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?ZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon's Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:And the best deals from other retailers this week:Best anti-Amazon Spring Sale dealsLooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends.

When is Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025?The e-commerce giant's latest sales event will run from Tuesday, March 25, to Monday, March 31. However, several deals will go live before and after that time frame.Are deals really better during Amazon sales?While there are no guarantees that the prices you see are the lowest ever, Amazon -- and the various retailers and sellers it works with -- tends to keep promotions as competitive as possible. That's why you can expect discounts that match all-time-lows -- or at least somewhere near them.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?While it's always helpful when products are discounted significantly (we usually cover ones that are at least 20% off), ZDNET experts also prioritize promotions on products we've personally tested and can vouch for. Since the products you purchase are considerable investments, we ensure that our recommendations are grounded by thorough research, testing, and value.We also source reviews from actual customers, whether through Best Buy and Amazon testimonials (with hands-on images) or online forums like Reddit.Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends.What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?ZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:And the best deals from other retailers this week:Best anti-Amazon Spring Sale deals

CoffeeLoader attack uses GPU to execute password-stealing code.gettyNever underestimate hackers ingenuity. I learned this very early on in my hacking career, and its as accurate now as it was in the late 1980s. Whats more, this mantra unfortunately applies to hackers of the criminal variety as well as those who do so much good work. Remember, hacking is not a crime until it is. A case in point is when it comes to the deployment of infostealer malware. You know, the software that is being used by so many cybercriminals to compromise credentials, leading to account theft as well as vast quantities of stolen passwords being traded on the dark web. The latest example can be found by hackers using the CoffeeLoader family that executes code using the system GPU in order to evade detection.How CoffeeLoader Hackers Steal Your Password Via Your GPUGraphics cards and the software surrounding them are not a new target for cybercriminals. Whether its security vulnerabilities in GPU display drivers, or virtual GPU software, you can bet your bottom dollar that hackers are looking out for ways to exploit this powerful part of your system. Infostealer malware attacks that use the GPU are not something I have come across before, at least not to my failing old-man memory. However, CoffeeLoader hackers seem to be employing just this methodology to launch attacks.In a March 26 posting, Brett Stone-Gross, the senior director of threat intelligence at Zscaler, detailed precisely how the CoffeeLoader malware family is being deployed with the help of your graphics card.The whole purpose of the CoffeeLoader malware is to evade detection and bypass security protections in order to download and execute second-stage payloads, the infostealers in question. CoffeeLoader achieves this by employing a sophisticated packer utilizing the GPU as well as call stack spoofing and sleep obfuscation. The loader leverages a packer, which we named Armoury, Stone-Gross said, that executes code on a systems GPU to hinder analysis in virtual environments.The use of packers is a typical behavior of malware families, but the unpacking of the samples contained is rarely mentioned in security reports because, well, its pretty boring and largely of little importance in the broader scheme of things. This is not the case with CoffeeLoader thanks to the clearly distinguishable packer used that can leverage the GPU in such a way as to execute initial malware code to complicate the threat analysis process. Zscaler ThreatLabz has named this packer Armoury because it impersonates the legitimate Armoury Crate utility created by ASUS.Zscaler has said that CoffeeLoader has been observed being deployed with SmokeLoader, sold as a crimewave kit that includes password-stealing as part of the package. Smoke was subject to law enforcement disruption in 2024, having been active for many years, but apparently, that hasnt killed it off.

Daredevil: Born AgainDisneyIve previously said that I have never seen a show attempting to spoil itself ahead of time as much as Daredevil: Born Again, whether that be through its own trailers or cast interviews, at least one of which telegraphed a big death outright at the start of the series.Now, of course, there are more spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again season 2, now that its filming in New York, this time through set shots that Disney does not seem to be trying to prevent. Its somewhat unavoidable when shooting in a big city, I suppose.These are plastered all over my timeline given that I enjoy the current season of Born Again, so the algorithm wants to just show me all these season 2 images I could have done without. Plus, there are other supposed leaks we know about.So, if you want the spoilers, read on, as I might as well talk about them since I couldnt avoid them in the first place.The main thing shown here is Matts new suit, which is not only pitch black, unlike his others and pulling from one of his comic suit variants, but perhaps most importantly, he finally has the interlocked DD logo, which he will have gone four seasons without, even if maybe he gets it in the Born Again season 1 finale. The suit does look very cool, and these set shots are so clear they may as well be production stills.There are other spoilers we know about already, some cast-driven, some insider-driven. I love Deborah Ann Woll but wow, she sure loves talking about things she shouldnt be talking about. First, she said that she would be in season 2, both revealing she wouldnt be killed off in season 1, but also would be a big part of that story. Second, she said her and Foggy would be back. This has lent some weight to the idea that Foggy may have faked his death like in a comic run, or he may just show up in some flashbacks, which does seem more likely at this point.Daredevils own showrunner, Dario Scardapane, said that despite being a main season 1 villain, Muse will return for season 2. Given that we just had our first real Muse feature this week, and there are only a couple episodes left this season, it stands to reason that yes, his story may not be wrapped up that quickly. Still, why say that now?Daredevil Born AgainDisneyThis isnt confirmed but it seems exceedingly likely that after season 1, Jon Bernthals Punisher wont be back. He has a feature mini-movie planned on Disney Plus later, but Bernthal is exceptionally busy with a number of projects, most pressingly Christopher Nolans The Odyssey, which of course would no doubt take precedent over anything else.Thats what we think we know for now, and sure, I will look forward to seeing that suit in action, even if we have a pretty clear shot of it now.Follow me , and .Pick up my sci-fi novels the and

A hot potato: With the current demand for graphics cards combined with the low stock levels, it seems people will pay almost anything for an RTX 5000-series GPU. There appears to be no limit to what consumers will accept, as illustrated by the $3,719 Asus RTX 5090 cards that came into stock at Micro Center but were sold out just hours later. Third-party manufacturers have been pushing the prices of their Blackwell cards higher and higher recently, making a mockery of Nvidia's MSRPs.Earlier this month, Asus, which is already well-known for its expensive models, raised the prices of its RTX 5090 and AMD RX 9070 cards. The cost of a ROG Astra LC (Liquid Cooled) RTX 5090 was raised to $3,409 on the company's online store.That amount of money is quite ridiculous, more so when you consider the RTX 5090's $1,999 MSRP.A redditor called pagusas posted an image of a display at Micro Center Dallas filled with RTX 5090 Astral LC cards, explaining that "tons" had arrived that day. It initially seemed that with a selling price of $3,720, people just weren't willing to pay that much money. One commentator confirmed that the cards were also in stock at Houston Micro Center at the same price.Pagusas writes that there were also "tons" of RTX 5080s in stock at Dallas Micro Center.Microcenter Dallas got tons of 5090 Astral Liquid's in todaybyu/pagusas innvidiaHowever, a quick search of the stock levels at the Dallas and Houston stores shows all the cards are now sold out. The only RTX 5090 GPU at Dallas is inside a $4,899 laptop, while Houston also has a $5,499 pre-built PC with one of the cards. It's a similar situation with the RTX 5080s. // Related StoriesDespite coming close to $4,000 at the store, the RTX 5090 Astral LC is still obviously more expensive on eBay. The auction site's listings range from around $4,300 to a ridiculous $6,250. It's these prices, and the fact some people must be buying them from resellers, that are exacerbating the problem, making the cards all the more appealing to scalpers.Asus isn't the only company guilty of pushing up the prices of its Blackwell cards. MSI did the same thing earlier this year, adding hundreds of dollars to the prices in some cases.Earlier this week, Zotac joined the others in hiking its RTX 5090 prices, with two of its models increasing a whopping $500. The company no longer lists any cards at MSRP, either.While companies are quick to point at tariffs on Chinese imports, increased manufacturing costs, and other reasons out of their control for why the cards are so expensive, many argue they are charging these prices simply because they know people will pay them.

Big quote: Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has cast doubt on the effectiveness of TSMC's $100 billion investment in U.S. chip manufacturing, claiming that it will not restore American leadership in the semiconductor industry. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Gelsinger emphasized the critical role of research and development in maintaining semiconductor leadership. "If you don't have R&D in the U.S., you will not have semiconductor leadership in the U.S.," he told the publication. Gelsinger pointed out that TSMC's core research and development activities remain concentrated in Taiwan, with no announced plans to relocate these operations to the United States.While acknowledging that TSMC's investment will increase U.S. semiconductor production capacity, Gelsinger argued that manufacturing alone is insufficient to regain technological leadership. "Unless you're designing the next-generation transistor technology in the U.S., you do not have leadership in the U.S.," he said.Gelsinger conceded that President Donald Trump's tariff threats had been "incrementally beneficial" in incentivizing companies like TSMC to establish facilities on American soil. However, he maintained that this alone would not address the fundamental issue of technological leadership.The former Intel chief's comments come in the wake of TSMC's plans to invest an additional $100 billion in the United States, bringing the total planned U.S. investment to $165 billion. This expansion includes constructing three new fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a major R&D center in Arizona. According to TSMC CEO C.C. Wei, the investment is expected to create tens of thousands of high-paying, high-tech jobs and drive more than $200 billion in indirect economic output across the United States over the next decade.Despite the massive scale of TSMC's investment, Gelsinger's critique highlights a crucial distinction between manufacturing capacity and technological innovation. TSMC has indicated that its U.S. development will focus on refining existing processes while its core research and development will remain in Taiwan. This arrangement, according to Gelsinger, perpetuates U.S. dependence on foreign-developed technologies. // Related StoriesGelsinger's remarks reflect broader concerns about the U.S. semiconductor industry's ability to compete globally. Despite massive investments and government support through initiatives like the CHIPS Act, questions persist over whether these efforts will be sufficient to close the gap with industry leaders.In addition to his critique of TSMC's investment, Gelsinger touched on other industry developments. He dismissed the achievements of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek as "good engineering" but lacking "major breakthroughs."He also emphasized the need for new technologies to drastically reduce the cost of AI inference, arguing that current AI solutions are "much too expensive" for widespread deployment.Gelsinger's comments come as he transitions to a new role as a general partner at Playground Global, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm specializing in deep tech investments. His departure from Intel in December 2024 marked the end of a tenure characterized by ambitious plans to revitalize the company's manufacturing capabilities and challenge TSMC's market dominance.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsAtomfallBatman: Arkham KnightTunicXbox isnt letting March run out without giving Game Pass subscribers one last batch of titles fresh to the service. April will be a huge month for upcoming Xbox Series X games, kicking things off with South of Midnight early andClair Obscur: Expedition 33 both arriving on Game Pass day one. But before we get too caught up in the future, lets focus on the here and now. We have one big day one addition that will be of interest to Falloutfans, plus two other games arriving in Core that everyone should play. Dont let this weekend go to waste and check out these Game Pass hits.Atomfall has more differences to a Falloutgame than it might look, but bugs arent one of them. Thats an annoyance for certain, but not enough to pass on the entire experience. You are let loose in a quarantine zone in an alternate history version of 1957 where the real-life Windscale fire was far worse than it was in reality. This game is brutal in almost every way, but also incredibly flexible. Quests are referred to as Investigations, meaning you have to do a lot of the legwork figuring out where to go and how you want to solve them. It has moments of brilliance with its almost immersive sim-like design, but dont expect a polished shooter or RPG.Recommended VideosAtomfallis available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.RelatedThe Batman universe has been in a rough spot for almost a decade. Arkham Knightswas mediocre at best, and the less said aboutSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, the better. With nothing to look forward to in the near future, why not give the Caped Crusaders last truly great game another shot? Batman: Arkham Knight got some flak when it came out for how often it asks the player to use the Batmobile, but it isnt nearly as bad as some would have you believe. This version of Gotham is oozing with atmosphere, with plenty of action and detective work, and a captivating main plot even if the twist is a little obvious. Despite turning 10 years old this year, Batman: Arkham Knight still holds up as the best Batman game ever made.Batman: Arkham Knight is available now on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.Not everyone has an entire weekend to sink into a huge open-world game or hardcore RPG, so lets round out our selection with Tunic.Now also part of Core, this isometric indie game is the best Zelda-like you can find on Xbox. You play as a little fox character exploring a world, collecting weapons and items, and exploring dungeons. Besides being just a solid game, what is interesting about Tunic is that one of the main collectibles is instruction manual pages for the game itself, only they are in a fake language you cant read. This gives you just enough clues to know that there are mechanics in the game that exist, but leave it to you to fully experiment to figure out how to use them.Tunicis available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.Editors Recommendations

A striking new image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows a rare object called an Einstein ring. This shows what appears to be a ring-shaped object in the sky, but is actually created by two separate galaxies and the epic forces of gravity.Theres a useful astronomical phenomenon called gravitational lensing, in which a large object like a galaxy or a cluster of galaxies has so much mass that it actually bends spacetime. If a massive object sits in front of a more distant object, as seen from Earth, the massive object can act like a magnifying glass, letting us see the very distant object in more detail than would normally be possible. This is a relatively common finding in astronomical images, and is one way that scientists are able to study extremely distant galaxies.Recommended VideosMost often, these lensed objects appear curved or distorted by the gravitational forces acting on spacetime. But occasionally, the objects line up in such a way that the distant object appears as an almost perfect circle: this is then called an Einstein ring.Please enable Javascript to view this contentWhen the lensed object and the lensing object line up just so, the result is the distinctive Einstein ring shape, which appears as a full circle (as seen here) or a partial circle of light around the lensing object, depending on the precision of the alignment, Webb scientists explain. Objects like these are the ideal laboratory in which to research galaxies too faint and distant to otherwise see.The galaxy which is close to us and is seen the center of this image is an elliptical galaxy (meaning it is smooth with a bright core) that is part of a cluster called SMACSJ0028.2-7537, while the more distant background galaxy that is stretched into the ring shape is a spiral galaxy (like our Milky Way). Even though this galaxy has been tugged into what looks like a circle shape, you can still see the hints of its spiral arms at the top and bottom of the image.The image was created using data from both James Webbs NIRCam instrument and also the Hubble Space Telescopes Wide Field Camera 3 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys instruments, showing how effective these two telescopes can be when they work together.Editors Recommendations

Science Fiction & Fantasy: The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi