Laptops

Fake ASUS update installs viruses on laptop, ‘1 million’ affected

On the bright side: It’s already patched

Published

March 27, 2019

Luigi Leonardo

Yesterday, Kaspersky Lab discovered “one of the biggest supply-chain incidents ever.” According to the report, a malicious party hacked into the official ASUS server. The trojan-based attack — named Shadowhammer — installed backdoors into “about 1 million people,” disguising itself as a sanctioned update.

The attack also affected “more than 57,000 users of Kaspersky Lab’s products,” prompting the company to detect the attack. To the worried, Kaspersky asserts that the hackers only sought after “600 specific MAC addresses.” Regardless, the attack’s wide scope is a huge concern for all those affected.

According to Kaspersky, three other vendors were affected. However, the company hasn’t named any of them. Regardless, ASUS’s blunder seems to be the most critical.

Today, ASUS has issued an official statement addressing the problem. According to the official press release, the company has already released an official patch coursed through the ecosystem’s ASUS Live Update. The patch — named ver. 3.6.8 — is available now for ASUS users. It increases the amount of verification measures, preventing fake patches from installing. Additionally, ASUS has also released a small diagnostic tool specifically made for the attack.

In their defense, ASUS has claimed that “only a very small number of [a] specific user group were found to have been targeted.” Additionally, “it is extremely unlikely that your device has been targeted.”

On the back end, ASUS has improved its server-to-end-user software to prevent any further attacks from happening.

The company’s solution leaves the three other vendors in a state of uncertainty. Likewise, ASUS’ assurances do not offer a lot of comfort. Check your laptop’s status as soon as you can!

Buyer's Guide

2026 MacBook Neo vs Air vs Pro: Buyer’s Guide

Which MacBook Should You Buy in 2026?

Published

May 14, 2026

GadgetMatch

Apple’s MacBook lineup has never offered more choice.

From the $599 MacBook Neo to the ultra-powerful MacBook Pro, there’s now a MacBook for almost every kind of user.

But, are you overwhelmed and torn buying between the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and the all-new MacBook Neo?

Watch our 2026 MacBook Buyer’s Guide to find your GadgetMatch!

Laptops

The Googlebook is the next evolution of the Chromebook

Notebooks are coming later this year.

Published

May 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Chromebooks did not become the go-to alternative for laptop users on a budget. Given how the market looks today, it could have been a matter of “right place, wrong time.” Today, Google is trying again with the new Googlebook lineup.

The Googlebook is different from the Chromebook. Though both platforms allow Android apps to run natively, the Googlebook will focus more on building a foundation on Gemini Intelligence.

Of course, the Android ecosystem is still a focal point. The Googlebook can run apps from the ecosystem and can connect seamlessly with Android phones. Specifically, users can access their phone’s apps and files directly from the notebook without waiting for transfers.

As for the Gemini part, the Googlebook starts by reinventing the cursor. The new Magic Pointer brings the wonder of Gemini to your mouse. A wiggle of the cursor wakes the software, which contextualizes anything it’s pointed to. For example, pointing at a date will ask you if you want to schedule a meeting. Pointing at two photos might merge the two into an AI-generated mashup.

Additionally, Create a Widget will allow you to customize software to perfectly tailor to your needs. Using Gemini, the Googlebook can collate everything you need on your dashboard.

Currently, there are no official models set to come out just yet. However, Google has confirmed that Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo have committed to bringing out the Googlebook this fall. Naturally, each of these brands will have their own take on lineup, but the one thing uniting them will be a unique glowbar to set them apart from other notebooks.

Laptops

Spotlight: ASUS Zenbook A16

The first Windows laptop that feels different

Published

May 7, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

The ASUS Zenbook A16 is one of the most interesting Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops right now, but how does it actually perform?

After two weeks of traveling to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Manila, Los Angeles and back to New York, here’s THE Michael Josh covering the Zenbook A16’s battery life, performance, OLED display, and real-world use.

This is the first Windows laptop that feels different.

Check further:

> Zenbook A16

> Zenbook A14