Microsoft's latest SNAFU sees July security update throwing Windows users into BitLocker recovery mode
Microsoft has managed to do it yet again. With the security update released earlier this month for Windows, the company has delivered a buggy patch which is causing problems for a lot of users.
The problem has hit users of not only Windows 10 and Windows 11, but also various editions of Windows Server. As the update in question is a security update, it was automatically installed on a large number of systems; the unwanted payload is being dumped into a BitLocker recovery screen. Microsoft says that it is aware of the issue but does not currently have a fix.
Windows 11 users are finally getting back more control over mouse settings
For some strange reason, Microsoft made Windows 11 less useful in various ways. One such backwards step was removing some of the settings relating to mouse controls, specifically the option to reverse scroll wheel direction, and enhance pointer precision.
Quite why it was deemed sensible to remove the options from Settings is anyone's guess, particularly as it remained possible to tweak the registry to implement them. Now Microsoft has seen the error of its ways and is placing control back in the hands of Windows 11 users.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-five in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Microsoft confirmed a new issue this week that affects Windows 10 and 11 PCs that have the July security updates installed. These may boot into BitLocker Recovery where the BitLocker Recovery Key needs to be provided to proceed.
Microsoft-owned GitHub is haunted by ghost accounts spreading malware
Check Point Research has uncovered a network of GitHub accounts, dubbed the "Stargazers Ghost Network," that distributes malware via phishing repositories. This sophisticated operation, tracked under the name "Stargazer Goblin," acts as a Distribution as a Service (DaaS) model, allowing threat actors to share malicious links and software.
The network consists of over 3,000 active accounts that perform activities such as starring, forking, and subscribing to malicious repositories to make them appear legitimate. This tactic helps lure victims into downloading malware. The types of malware distributed include Atlantida Stealer, Rhadamanthys, RisePro, Lumma Stealer, and RedLine.
If you're sticking with Windows 10, use this trick to make it look a bit more like Windows 11 for free
For many people a new version of Windows is about little more than a slightly updated look and feel. With the average user hardly scratching the surface of the operating system's features, looks can be one of the most important things.
You may be one of the many people who see little reason to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, or it may be that hardware requirements make it impossible. Whatever your reason for continuing to use Windows 10, you can treat your eyes to some of the Windows 11 aesthetics using a neat trick.
Get 'Excel Formulas & Functions For Dummies, 6th Edition' (worth $25) for FREE
There's a Swiss Army knife in your digital toolbox that can multiply your productivity and make you the smartest guy or gal in almost any room. It's called Microsoft Excel.
If you're like most people, you've barely scratched the surface of what this powerful tool's hundreds of built-in functions can do. But with a little help from Excel Formulas & Functions For Dummies, you'll soon be organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data like a pro.
Lessons learned from the Microsoft-CrowdStrike outage
The tech world is still reeling from the recent widespread system outages caused by a CrowdStrike update last week. These outages are a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of our digital ecosystem and how far-reaching the consequences of a single update can be.
Let's address the global impact of the recent incident -- thousands of Windows machines worldwide experienced the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSoD). And this wasn't just a minor hiccup; we saw major disruptions across the banking, aviation, broadcasting, and retail sectors. It really drives home how interconnected our digital world has become and how a single update can have far-reaching consequences.
Everything you need to fully transform Windows 10 into Windows 7
Six months ago, we showed you how it was possible to transform Windows 10 or 11 into Windows 7 or Vista with a single command, an article which -- it has to be said -- proved rather divisive.
Now YouTube channel Come on Windows has released a video showing Windows 10 being fully transformed into Windows 7, and has provided links to the software you need should you wish to try this idea out for yourself.
Amusing BSoDs from around the world following CrowdStrike's disastrous Windows outage
When CrowdStrike issued a faulty security update on Friday, the impact was nothing less than catastrophic, causing a global IT outage that made Windows computers crash, impacting an estimated 8.5 million systems around the world.
"We understand the profound impact this has had on everyone. We know our customers, partners, and their IT teams are working tirelessly, and we’re profoundly grateful. We apologize for the disruption this has created,” CrowdStrike said on LinkedIn.
Make your Windows PC run cooler and more energy efficient with this free app [Update]
Outbyte has launched a new app designed to improve energy efficiency for systems running Windows 10 and 11. The free application optimizes CPU performance, reducing power consumption by up to 34 percent and decreasing carbon emissions to support environmental sustainability.
The Camomile app works by adjusting CPU voltage and frequency to prevent unnecessary spikes in power usage, which are common with default chipset configurations. These spikes often cause CPUs to overheat and fans to work harder, increasing noise and decreasing system efficiency. By keeping CPU operations within manufacturer-recommended speeds, Camomile reportedly helps mitigate these issues, extending battery life, and improving the overall user experience.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-four in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Windows 11 version 23H2 is now broadly available according to Microsoft. This means that everyone with an eligible device should get it when searching for the update under Windows Update in Settings. Non-managed devices with Windows 11 version 22H2 will be updated automatically in the coming months.
Bad CrowdStrike update causes major outages of Microsoft systems worldwide
You'll doubtless be aware already of the major outages of Microsoft systems today causing problems for airports, rail operators, banks, retailers, broadcasters and more.
Among the disruption stores found themselves unable to accept payments and in the UK Sky News’s breakfast show was taken off air. Some airports were forced to use whiteboards to show flight departure information.
Microsoft cobbles together a short-term fix for Photos app not opening in Windows 11
Last month, Microsoft acknowledged an issue with the Photos app that is included with Windows 11. Anyone installing updates for the app from June 4 onwards may have found themselves unable to launch Photos.
Having already announced that it was working on producing a fix, Microsoft has now provided details of a temporary workaround.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-three in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Microsoft started to push out the new Copilot app to Windows 10 devices as part of the July 2024 cumulative update for the operating system. It removes the Copilot button and integration, and replaces it with a Microsoft Store app. The same Copilot experience is also launching on Windows 11 devices.
Understanding the threats lurking in Microsoft Office documents
Microsoft Office stands as a pillar in the landscape of modern productivity tools. Its suite of programs -- from Word for crafting documents to Excel for data analysis - allows for versatility in both personal and professional environments. Used from everything like notetaking, resumes, essays, and business reports, in today’s digital age, these documents are indispensable and trusted tools.
This versatility, however, presents a double-edged sword. While they enhance efficiency and functionality, they simultaneously create potential security risks. This duality makes Microsoft Office documents an attractive target for threat actors, who exploit their widespread use and familiar interface to deliver phishing and malware with alarming ease.
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