The Best Laptop 2017: Our pick of the 10 best laptops you can buy this year

Update: It isn’t the thinnest or most stylish laptop you can buy, but the Acer Swift 3 is one of the best laptops today. Offering a whole lot of bang for the buck in terms of performance and inputs, read on to number 11 to find out more about the Acer Swift 3!

If you're looking to discover what is the best laptop to buy before the end of 2017, you've come to the right place. We've tested hundreds of the latest laptops, including all of the best models from the most popular and trusted brands, so that you can be sure you're getting the best laptop for you at a price that makes sense.

So whether you're after a thin and light laptop to throw in a bag every day, a desktop replacement to stay at home, a gaming laptop to have fun with in the evenings, a 2-in-1 laptop that doubles as a touchscreen tablet or a cheapo Chromebook - we've got lots of recommendations for you!

Rest assured, while there are 15 laptops in this list, the order they're placed in doesn't particularly matter. We've included something for everyone, starting with the Dell XPS 13 which we think is the out-and-out best laptop in the world right now. And underneath that you'll find a whole range of our top recommendations - so whether the one you like the look of is at number 1 or number 15 - rest assured every laptop in this list is worth buying and gets a solid recommendation from us.

What's more, our funky price comparison tools will show you where you can buy each one for the absolute cheapest price, so you won't have to trawl through the web comparing prices. If you want to see a more comprehensive list of prices and retailers, simply click the 'view all prices' link on each widget!

The best laptops of 2017:

Slim, light, powerful and majestic - Dell’s 2017 flagship XPS 13 is the best laptop in the world. If you're after a brilliant all-rounder with powerful performance, a superb screen and extremely slim dimensions it simply cannot be beaten. This laptop squeezes a 13.3-inch 'Infinity Edge' screen into an 11-inch frame- that means it's the smallest/slimmest 13-inch laptop out there, with the screen stretching almost all the way to the edge of the device. Couple that with Intel’s latest Kaby Lake Core i7 and Core i5 processors, plus the availability of a multi-use USB-C port, standard USB 3.0 and SD slots, and what you end up with is the worlds' most popular Windows laptop. You can buy this one in many flavours too - the most expensive versions have super high-res multi-touch screens plus Core i7 processors and loads of memory and storage, but you can save money in several steps which include opting for a non-touch full HD screen, Core i5 processor and less memory/storage etc. But rest assured, whichever version of the Dell XPS 13 you go for, it'll be best in class and well worth the money.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

If you love the look of the Dell XPS 13 but you don't want to pay the steep asking price, the Asus Zenbook UX310UQ is the best alternative. It costs substantially less - in fact it's usually about half the price - while retaining a fabulous screen, excellent build quality and looks, plus top performance for everyday tasks. Because of this, it's also a viable alternative to the 2017 Macbook if you want something super slim that's not a Mac and doesn't cost as much. Like most laptops of this kind, it comes in various specifications so the cheaper versions have Intel Core i3 CPUs and full HD screens while the most expensive options come with a super high res display and Intel Core i5. Whichever one you go for, though, you're getting a fantastic laptop. Asus has long been a great brand for offering great value on these kinds of laptops so it's not much of a surprise that in 2017 we find ourselves recommending another Asus laptop in this price bracket.

Read the full review: Asus Zenbook UX310UA
See more like this: The best Ultrabooks 2017 

If you're after a cheap laptop that offers something a bit special, look no further than the Lenovo Yoga Book 2017. As with all Yoga devices, the screen folds flat so you can use it either as a tablet or a laptop. To add more versatility, Lenovo has now added the option to buy it with either Windows 10 or Android 6.0 onboard - which one you choose will depend how you're more likely to use the device. The screen on this thing defies the cheap asking price and the keyboard and capacitive touch-keyboard are both fantastic too. This is a great option if you want something cheap for basic computing tasks, for creating art using the built-in Wacom digitizer or a train device for watching movies. But for more heavy lifting you'd be better off choosing one of the options above as the Intel Atom CPU in this thing is great at saving power and making the battery last for ages but not so good at super speedy processing.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017

If you're after the latest and greatest laptop from Apple, welcome to the 13-inch Macbook Pro with touchbar. It's the best laptop Apple has ever made, and builds new features into the classic design. Of course the headline feature is the touchbar - it's a thin OLED display at the top of the keyboard which can be used for any number of things, whether that be auto-suggesting words as you type or offering Touch ID so you can log in with just your fingerprint. If you're a massive fan of the Macbook Pro 2017 you'll be happy with this model but there are some serious reasons why you should consider one of the Windows alternatives. For a start, this laptop is very expensive for what is is, especially considering the better value alternatives. On top of this, it's not as powerful, the screen is lower-res versus the competition and isn't touchscreen friendly, plus the battery is a bit disappointing too. So if you're open to switching to a PC, definitely consider the XPS 13 as a more modern, cheaper alternative. But if you're a steadfast Apple die hard, this is definitely the best laptop for you!

Read the full review: Apple Macbook with touchbar (2017)
See more like this: The best Macs and Macbooks 2017

Part of a new generation of Max-Q gaming laptops in 2017, the  Asus ROG Zephyrus is both ridiculously powerful and astonishingly thin and light. Make no mistake, this thing is large compared to a Macbook Pro or Dell XPS 13, but compared to gaming laptops of the past this effort from Asus is something of a holy grail achievement. Your expectations of a 15-inch gaming laptop will never be the same after seeing the Zephyrus in action. It's expensive of course, but with powerful Core i7 CPU and GTX 1080 graphics it'll be easily powerful enough to play the best games for many years to come on the built-in 1080p screen. It's an ideal top-end desktop replacement that is, possibly for the first time ever, also extremely portable.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501
See more like this: The best gaming laptops 2017

If you're after a new gaming laptop and you don't have the kind of money that you need for the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 above, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop is your best option. It comes in at well under half the price and offers absolutely fantastic value for money. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics chip is easily powerful enough to lubricate the best games on the built-in 1080p display while general performance in Windows is super slick thanks to the Core i5 CPU. If you're going to be moving around a bit, you'll be pleased to know that the battery life on this laptop is also superb - we got nearly 8 hours out of it while watching HD video. A gaming session with Tom Clancy's The Division on medium settings for two hours only dropped the battery to 66%. This is far better than similarly priced rivals. So in the reasonably-priced category, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is definitely the best laptop around at the moment.

Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming
See more like this: The best gaming laptops 2017 

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is 2017's best laptop for you if you're looking for the perfect cross between a nimble Windows tablet and a fully functional laptop. The base version of the Surface Pro 4 is just a tablet - you get the main unit itself with kickstand but if you want the Surface Pen or the fantastic Type Cover keyboard you'll need to pay extra for a bundle or buy it separately. Often the best value option is a bundle but even the tablet on its own represents pretty good value. The Surface Pro, alongside the also-excellent Surface Book laptop, is to Windows what the Pixel is to Google's Android. It's the benchmark Windows device, with software and hardware working together in perfect harmony. So if you need a new laptop and a tablet, the Surface Pro is the best does-it-all 2-in-1 option. If you want this but need something a little cheaper, check out the Acer Switch 3 below!

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

If you want the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 but you want to spend a lot less, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 is definitely the your best option. It's designed around essentially the same concept as the Surface Pro and it's a less capable thanks to slightly lower power innards, but for most tasks it's a brilliant little machine. What's more, to add further value this 2-in-1 laptop/tablet comes with the keyboard upgrade which means no little extras to pay for. As usual it comes in several different versions, with USB Type-C, 8GB RAM, an IPS display and Intel Core i3 7100U CPU coming with the more expensive option.

Read the full review: Acer Switch Alpha 12
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

If you love the look of the XPS 13 at the top of this list but need something a little bigger with more graphics power, the Dell XPS 15 2017 could be the best laptop for you. Packing the same InfinityEdge technology, the screen extends right to the edge of the machine which means it's as small as it's possible to make a 15-inch laptop in 2017. It's quite pricey though, depending on which version you get. The very top end version has a 4K colour-accurate display which makes it perfect for graphic design, and gaming performance is decent as long as you play at either a lower resolution or on medium settings.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15

And finally - HP's best 2-in-1 laptop is a really stunner. It's super thin and light while packing in fantastic performance and a fast charging battery. It's expensive, but for the money what you're getting is the best ultra portable laptop available in 2017. As with many laptops on the list, this laptop comes in a number of different builds - with the bottom end one starting with a full HD screen while the top end model packs in a 4K one. Whichever one you go for though, you're getting a fabulous laptop that you'll love carrying around with you.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

Which type of laptop is best for you?

General laptops: Where the best cheap laptops are found, devices that focus more on practicality than style, portability or power. That’s not to say they can’t be fast, but you’ll typically find a non-Ultrabook clamshell laptop with an HD screen and spinning drive-based storage for less than $600 or £400.

Ultrabooks: Where you’ll find thin-and-light notebooks sporting SSD storage and display resolutions that exceed 1080p. Paired with powerful, albeit mobile-centric components and especially long battery life, the best Ultrabooks will cost a pretty penny – $700 or £500 to $2,000 or £1,800.

2-in-1 laptops: Where notebooks that double as tablets are located. The Surface Book 2 might be a ways off, but many of the best 2-in-1 laptops are available right now. Outfitted with both detachable and 360-degree rotating hinges, these hybrids are the most versatile way to experience Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) on a touchscreen.

Gaming laptops: Need a laptop to play games (almost) just like a shiny desktop PC can? Then you’ll want one of the best gaming laptops. These machines generally cost from $800 or £600 to upwards of $3,000 or £2,800 and they’ll likely be the ones to take advantage of AMD’s laptop-grade Ryzen processors first.

Laptop-tablet hybrids: Designed from the tablet-first approach to laptop-tablet hybrids, the best Windows tablets pack beyond-HD touchscreens, sometimes with kickstands in their frames or provided via keyboard covers. These generally shine with a stylus, and range from the budget to the premium price ranges.

October 02, 2017 at 04:40PM
Abbas Jaffar Ali,Joe Osborne,Kevin Lee,Matt Hanson

FIFA 18 review

FIFA has sat atop the football sim mountain for what seems like an age, but the gap between itself and the ever-improving PES has been rapidly shortening every year as Konami’s entry continues to double down on the pure, clinical fluidity of its on-field mechanics.

Modern FIFA still has plenty going for it. All those licences; the immersive, match day pomp of its presentation; the grand, moreish longevity of Ultimate Team. There have been notable improvements on the field too, but these elements have often felt disconnected from one another. Until now, that is.

Even after less than a week in its company, it’s just starting to hit me how cohesive the long-running series finally feels. Changes to animations on the field make the minutia of dribbling, tackling, passing and striking so much more responsive than FIFA 17 and every other entry that’s come before, offering a player agency that’s been lacking for years. 

Ultimate Team (FUT) – the bread and butter mode of the FIFA brand – has been tweaked in subtle yet effective ways, such as adding in rolling challenges and rewards to make the time and money it requires you to invest feel more beneficial. 

Even The Journey, the returning story mode that debuted last year, feels like a player finally finding their place in a top flight club. It’s not a perfect experience, but it’s one that’s by the most comprehensive football-adoring package EA Canada has ever produced.

Wild Hunt(er) 

So let’s talk Alex Hunter. Last year, The Journey was a risky attempt to bring a more human side to the world of pro football. Back then, it was hard to miss how hard the developer was trying to emulate the narrative success of the NBA 2K series, but it still ended up offering an enjoyable (albeit short lived) experience. 

For The Journey: Hunter Returns, we finally get to see something that manages to weave an engaging story with the ups and downs of life at the top of English football.

With a good 13+ hours of play, Hunter Returns expands in all the right places. You get to play in up to three different countries (including a rad opening in Rio de Janeiro that doffs its cap at FIFA Street of old), form bonds (and rivalries) with real-life pros and customize your version of Alex Hunter. Yes, the boy wonder has become an RPG-lite avatar, complete with hairstyles and tattoos aplenty. 

Many of the aesthetic alterations are unlocked by specific narrative choices too, offering a cute, if slightly bizarre, extra dimension as you carve a fiery or cool career in pro football. 

Having extra challenges to complete during each chapter also keeps things engaging, offering more ways to unlock new boots, clothes, ink and more. It certainly doesn’t match NBA 2K18 for the seamless integration with the rest of the game, but nevertheless it offers an experience you simply won’t find in Konami’s rival offering.

Moyes the pity 

Much like Hunter’s deeper journey into the realities of life in football’s highest echelon, FIFA 18’s other modes finally feel like they’re coming together into a unified whole as well. 

For years it felt like EA Canada would improve one facet of the simulation while every other suffered in the mire of archaic mechanics. Here and now, the in-house EA developer has brought together its repertoire of improvements to create something that’s as fun to play as it is spectacular to watch.

Animations, once overlong and painfully slow, have now been unlocked, enabling you to react on the fly, changing your tactics regardless of whether you have possession or not. 

Finally, FIFA is starting to feel more like a simulation of the beautiful game, rather than its own gamified rules that would often break that match day immersion. You feel in control of every developing moment of the game, creating a sense of player agency that permeates everything from FUT to Pro Clubs.

Players also feel like their real-life namesakes. Take pinup cover star Ronaldo, for instance. The preened wonder now feels like the gilded blade that he really is, slicing through defenses with a precision and athleticism he simply didn’t possess in digital form before. Whether you’re playing a simple friendly or fighting for glory in FUT, these individual stats and styles of play make using key players that bit more special.  

Coding in these unique skills, attributes and AI makes FIFA feel more like a simulation than ever. Sure, it certainly makes playing your favorite minor league team a David and Goliath match up when you line up against a Premier League leviathan, but it’s exactly how it should be. Now certain playmaker subs can actually transform the game because of their innate attributes, rather than simply because they're more fresh than others on the field.

Attack pattern 

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how good FIFA 18 looks? We all thought Ignite would help FIFA shine when it debuted on current-gen tech four years ago and looked dated at best.

Two years into the use of DICE’s ever-reliable Frostbite engine and digital footy land has never looked better. The fact FIFA 18 manages to capture that warm glow of a summer Saturday afternoon fixture, with shadows and gleam in all the right places, is simply staggering.

Likenesses have transcended uncanny, and when you marry that to the tangible match day magic that FIFA has managed to capture in recent years you get something that’ll easily stand the test over the next 12 months. And, as usual, being able to play as Arsenal instead of North London is the licensed gift that keeps on giving.

Of course, this being FIFA, there are problems. 

For all those improvements, EA Canada has chosen to focus on beefing up offensive play. In the new setup, strikers are effectively unbeatable gods that’ll carve through most defenders like butter. It certainly makes for entertaining set pieces and breakaways, but it feels oddly imbalanced. 

You have all this extra dexterity in how you control each player, but your keeper now acts half asleep and virtually nonexistent at times.

It’s turned FIFA 18 into a goal fest – expect plenty of multi-goal thrillers over the next 12 months – but it often makes playing defense a fool’s errand as you watch your opponent smash a screamer into the net before you do the same the other way a few moments after. It’s fun – and the kind of thing PES devotees will smirk smugly/blow a gasket over – but it ultimately works against the sim improvements the developer has tried to hard to employ with this entry.

Verdict: Play it Now

While its focus on aggressive and showy attack does dilute the welcome changes to AI and player behavior, FIFA 18 still offers the most complete football experience you can buy right now. 

Its on the field football might not be as pure in mechanics as PES 2018, but the sheer beauty of its presentation, the depth of its modes and the extra dimension The Journey 2 brings make this another glorious title defense.

FIFA 18 was reviewed on the PS4. 

TechRadar's review system scores games as 'Don't Play It', 'Play It' and 'Play It Now', the last of which is the highest score we can give. A 'Play It' score suggests a solid game with some flaws, but the written review will reveal the exact justifications.

• Don't miss our FIFA 18 tips and tricks guide

October 02, 2017 at 04:15PM
Dom Reseigh-Lincoln

Sony is now selling a PlayStation-branded credit card

Sony has introduced a new PlayStation-branded Credit Card in the US which will offer reward points on PlayStation store purchases as well as discounts on a variety of PlayStation subscriptions. 

You'll get Sony Reward points on any purchases you make on the card. These are tripled if you use the card to pay for mobile phone bills, and multiplied by five if you use the card to buy PlayStation or Sony products, or games on the PlayStation Store. 

The PlayStation Plus discount is the most impressive of the bunch. You'll get 50% off your annual membership so long as you spend $3,000 on the card in total within a year. 

Discounts aplenty

A smaller 10% discount is offered on PlayStation Vue, PlayStation Music and PlayStation Now. 

Finally, everyone who signs up for the card gets $50 credit on the PlayStation Store. 

Although there is no annual fee for the card, APR is set to be between 14.99% and 24.99% depending on your credit-worthiness after it raises from 0% APR after March 2018. 

It's not got the lowest interest rates around, but if you spend a lot of money on PlayStation products and you pay off your card in full each month then this might be a good way of saving some money. Sony as a brand may have to tread carefully as it enters into the finance sector, given the fact its PlayStation audience skews younger, and may have less experience handling credit debt.

• These are the best PlayStation Plus deals

October 02, 2017 at 04:03PM
Jon Porter

The best DualShock 4 deals in October 2017: find a cheap PS4 controller

Picked up a sweet PS4 deal recently? Then you'll be on the lookout for a super cheap DualShock 4 deal as you'll want to always have one charged or be ready for a bit of local multiplayer.

The PlayStation and the DualShock controller have been best buds for most of the PlayStation brand's lifespan. Sony has changed little since the introduction of the dual analog design in 1997, instead pushing the iconic controller closer to perfection with each console generation.

Over 60 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold so far (the Black Friday deals were insane last year), but most bundles only come with one DualShock 4 controller. If you want to play local multiplayer games, you're going to need a second, third or even fourth pad. Having a spare to keep charged when the battery drains on another is super handy too.

Don't bother looking on the high street for controller deals - seriously those prices are not cool. Online is where the action's at and we've tracked down all the cheapest PS4 controller deals. We've picked out the best deals for the various different colors too.

Cheapest PS4 controller deals by color:

We've hand picked out a few more tempting deals for the various color variations below too. Naturally, these cheap PS4 controller prices are correct at time of writing.

More of the best DualShock 4 deals - USA

Gray/Blue DualShock 4: This looks like the same color controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4. This has shot up in price in recent weeks and you can save money by opting for a different color. If you've gotta have it though, Amazon is the cheapest today at $64.99.

Urban Camo DualShock 4: This model is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today's best price for the Urban Camo DualShock 4 is $49.50 at Amazon.

Crystal DualShock 4: The clear Crystal DualShock 4 finally has an official US release. We've searched around for the best price and that'll be $64.99 @ GameStop.

Blue Crystal DualShock 4:This new see through blue DualShock 4 controller is a Walmart-exclusive in the US. So you won't find any other retailers officially selling it outside of places like eBay or Amazon Marketplace. Today though, it's cheapest at $59.86 @ Walmart.

Red Crystal DualShock 4: Like the blue crystal model above, this one's a specific retailer exclusive in the US too. It's more expensive though at $64.99 from Best Buy.

More of the best DualShock 4 deals - UK

Urban Camo DualShock 4: This one is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today's best Urban Camo price is £51.51 @ Amazon

Crystal DualShock 4: Crystal? Well, it's see through. It's also an Amazon exclusive apparently. Your new Crystal DualShock 4 is now £49.94@ Amazon

Grey/Blue DualShock 4: This looks like the same colour controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4. We've seen this for as low as £45, but sadly the best deal today is a rather untouchable £68 @ Amazon

What's the difference between the original and new V2 DualShock 4 controller?

If you've seen mention of a 'New' or 'V2' DualShock 4 controller while looking for a new pad, let us tell you about the differences. The new/V2 DualShock 4 was released alongside the PS4 Slim and features a few improvements over the original.

Some listings are a bit vague, but the clearest visual indicator to look out for is the new light bar on the DualShock's 4 trackpad. This thin slit wasn't on the original, so just look out for the dimly illuminated blue line on the product listing's image gallery. The original blue/red/gold controllers had black plastic on the back half of the controller, but the V2 versions feature matching colours, albeit a shade darker.

Other improvements include USB functionality, allowing gamers to plug the controller in for lag-free gaming (it simply charged the original), which could give you the edge in online shooters or games like Street Fighter V. You'll also be able to use this enhanced connectivity to use the DualShock 4 on a PC without paying for the bluetooth adapter. The rubber on the analogues has been improved (again) to prevent it wearing away so much too.

October 01, 2017 at 09:12AM
Brendan Griffiths

Game gifting is coming to the Xbox One store

Update: As promised, game gifting has arrived on the Xbox Store for members of the Xbox Insider Program. As a result, it's now possible to purchase an Xbox One title and send it directly to one of your Xbox Live friends or to an email address. Once they've received the game, the gift recipient only has to redeem a code to download and play it. 

It's not clear if this is exactly how the feature will work when it's eventually rolled out to the wider public, but it does seem likely. We'll update when the feature leaves the Xbox Insider Program and becomes more widely available. 

Original article continues below...

Gamers will soon be able to buy games as gifts for their friends through the Xbox One store according to Xbox Vice President, Mike Ybarra. 

On Twitter a fan asked Ybarra when we could expect to see the gift purchases feature added to the store and he replied that it’s “not far” off. At the moment this isn’t possible on the PlayStation or Xbox stores, though Valve offers it through Steam.

Give a gift

Digitally gifting games is a popular feature on Steam and it’s been highly requested on the Xbox store – take, for example, this post on the Xbox feedback site which has garnered more than 5000 votes.

Ybarra didn’t explicitly say when the feature would be introduced or even when it would be announced. 

However, it would make sense for it to be introduced before the run up to Christmas when there’s a large rush of new releases and most people would likely be feeling generous enough to pay the price of a digital game for someone else. At least you’ll save on wrapping!

• Check our list of the best Xbox One games and start planning which games you'll gift

October 02, 2017 at 03:14PM
Emma Boyle

App code hints Google Assistant is finally on its way to Chromebooks

It was always a pretty safe bet that Google would eventually get around to adding Google Assistant to its Chromebook devices, but new code hidden away in the Google Home app for Android suggests the integration will be happening sooner rather than later.

Inside the Home app there's a list of devices that Google Assistant works with, and as well as Android and iOS phones, plus Google Home itself and the Allo app, we now have Chromebooks listed, together with a Chromebook icon.

With no official word from Google yet we'll have to wait and see when the smart app makes its way to Google-powered laptops, but an educated guess would be next Wednesday - that's when Google is expected to show off its brand new Pixelbook.

A long time coming

There's still some debate about whether the Pixelbook is actually a Chromebook or a Chrome OS and Android hybrid, but whatever the truth of the matter, Google is definitely holding a hardware event on October 4 that would be the perfect opportunity to announce some Google Assistant updates.

Rumors have been floating around about Google Assistant making it to Chromebooks for some time of course. Given how much promotion the company has given Assistant, it will no doubt make it into all of Google's products eventually, including the Chrome browser.

With the Google Home app now prepped for Assistant on Chromebooks, it shouldn't be too much longer before Google makes the integration official, though it might not roll out to all models right away. As always, we'll keep you posted on developments.

• Google Chromebooks may soon get to send and receive text messages

Via 9to5Google

October 01, 2017 at 04:30PM
David Nield

Here's the latest security bug your computer could be exposed by

A newly discovered firmware vulnerability could leave countless Windows and Mac computers at risk from a hack, according to security researchers from Duo Labs. The vulnerability could be used by malware to gain deep access to systems.

The bug involves the extensible firmware interface, or EFI, which is the first bit of code that runs when you hit the power button - part of its responsibilities include validating the software that's running on the machine.

Based on tests on 74,000 Apple Macs, the Duo Labs team found that the EFI firmware was not always being updated at the same time as the operating system, leaving a security hole that could potentially be exploited. The vulnerability could also affect Windows PCs, the researchers say.

Risk assessment

The good news is that a hack taking advantage of the EFI vulnerability would need to be quite a complex one, and it's only really worth the trouble if you've got some pretty important data locked away on your machine.

What's more, Duo Labs says it hasn't spotted anyone actively making use of this security loophole yet - it's working with Apple and other computer makers to get the bug patched. "For most people in most situations, the risk is currently not severe," the researchers say.

If you're on a Mac machine, updating to the latest version of the software (macOS High Sierra) is enough to squash the vulnerability. For more details about how the security vulnerability works and how to guard against an attack, see the Duo Labs blog.

• After some security software? Here are our picks

September 30, 2017 at 04:30PM
David Nield