The Internet Archive suffers massive data breach affecting tens of millions of users
The Wayback Machine has suffered a colossal security incident after the Internet Archive fell victim to a huge data breach.
Data breach notification service Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) says that a 6.4GB SQL file containing registered users’ authentication information has been shared. In all, 31 million email addresses have been found to be part of the database, and tests have shown the the data is genuine.
Still running Windows 11 22H2? No more security fixes from Microsoft for you!
Following the launch of Windows 11 24H2, this week marks the release of the final updates for various other versions of Windows. This means that anyone who has yet to upgrade from Windows 11 22H2 will not receive any more security updates.
There are numerous editions of Windows 11 affected by the end-of-service, specifically Windows 11 Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations and SE. The same is true for Windows 11 21H2 Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise, none of which will receive further updates. So, what does this mean for users?
How to bypass Microsoft’s TPM 2.0 requirements when upgrading to Windows 11 24H2
With the release of Windows 11 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, many people eager to try out the latest version of the operating system are encountering a roadblock. With this feature update Microsoft tightens the restriction on the hardware it can be installed on.
It has been some time since the company introduced a system requirement for TPM 2.0 support, but there have been numerous workarounds that allowed for installation on hardware that was technically incompatible. Now Microsoft has cracked down on the various methods of bypassing the requirement, so a new approach is needed.
Microsoft confirms weird Word bug that deletes files if you name them incorrectly
Microsoft has acknowledged a peculiar issue with Word that can cause files to be deleted immediately after they are saved. Users of the word processor are being warned to avoid naming their files in a certain way to avoid data loss while the company investigates the problem.
While having to meet specific criteria when saving files is not unusual, using an illegal name would usually simply result in an error message and a prompt to choose a different name. With this bug, however, the file appears to be saved when in reality it has been deleted.
Google removes Kaspersky apps from its store
Google has unceremoniously evicted Kaspersky’s apps from the Play Store. While the Russian security firm insists that the removal is temporary, it comes after the company’s software was banded from being sold in the US.
The move not only means that it is no longer possible to download Kaspersky apps from Google store, but also that existing users are unable to obtain updates. Google did announce the removals ahead of time.
Microsoft confirms numerous bugs in the Windows 11 2024 Update and blocks rollout to many
It is just a few days since Microsoft unleashed Windows 11 24H2 (or the Windows 11 2024 Update). But the release of the eagerly awaited update has been more than a little problematic.
We’ve already seen various issues with the controversial Recall feature, but Microsoft has also confirmed a number of known issues with the update. So significant are some of the issues that some users are being denied the opportunity to perform the upgrade. Gamers are among those hit by the problems.
Spotify adds Offline Backup feature that automatically creates offline playlists
With mobiles connected to the internet on a near-permanent basis, it is easy to take for granted. This means that whenever a connection is not available, it is very apparent. Now Spotify is taking steps to help reduce the impact of a loss of connection.
While it is already possible to create offline playlists, this is something that needs to be done manually and it’s all too easy to find yourself on a flight with the sudden realization that you forgot to set it up. And this is precisely where the new Offline Backup mode helps, creating offline playlists automatically, based on your recent listening.
Microsoft is killing off HoloLens 2 with no successor planned
Anyone who wants a HoloLens 2 will need to act fast if they are to get their hands on one. Microsoft has confirmed that production of the augmented reality headset has ended in what will be seen by many as something of a mercy killing.
After eight years and two models, Microsoft has seemingly given up on HoloLens. Once current stocks run out, the second-hand market will be the only way to get hold of one, and there are no plans for a follow-up device.
Google is making your inbox more useful with vastly improved summary cards in Gmail
The “summary cards” feature of Gmail is not new; it is Google’s way of helping to make your emails easier to manage, consolidating information about, for instance, purchases you’ve made. Now things are being updated with live updates and “action buttons”.
Across four categories -- purchases, events, bills and travel -- summary cards provide at-a-glance information at the top of your emails. The new actions buttons make it possible to quickly add entries to Google Calendar or Google Tasks so you don’t forget important events, but there is much more to the update, including a Happening Soon section.
Windows 11 users hit with yet another update so problematic that Microsoft has been forced to withdraw it
Updates for Windows, at least the ones that are released on a monthly basis, are not as eagerly anticipated by users as they used to be. This could be because they are rarely packed with new and exciting features, but a more likely reason for the decreased interest is the astonishing number of problematic updates Microsoft has released.
The KB5043145 update for Windows 11 released this week is a case in point. Reports of blue screens, green screens, reboot loops and more has forced Microsoft to withdraw the update while it works out what is going wrong.
Intel finally diagnoses the root cause of Core 13th and 14th Gen CPU instability issues
Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors have been plagued with instability issues, problems Intel seemed incapable of properly addressing -- until now.
The company says that it has finally been able to determine the root cause of the issue. In fact, there are no fewer than four possible scenarios that can cause what has been dubbed the Vmin Shift Instability issue. There’s also a new microcode update to add to the growing pile of patches that have already been released.
Winamp source code now available on GitHub
There can be few computer enthusiasts of a certain age who do not remember with some fondness Winamp -- one of the first popular MP3 applications, and one famed for “whippin’ the llama’s ass”.
Having been open sourced earlier in the year, the source code for the iconic software has now been published to GitHub. The team behind the player is looking for help from developers to, “improve and modernize the player to meet current user needs”.
Kaspersky users in the US find themselves forcibly migrated to the mysterious UltraAV
It is not unusual for software to update itself without user interaction; when it comes to delivering security patches and new features this is entirely desirable. But to have an app uninstall itself and replace itself with a different product? That’s not only highly unusually, it’s also worrying.
And yet this is what is happening for users of Kaspersky antivirus software in the US. Having been deemed a threat to national security, the sale of software from the Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky was banned in the US. Having promised that its customers would be taken care of, Kaspersky is now keeping its promise but forcibly replacing its security software with the largely unknown UltraAV on US customers’ computers
Elon Musk risks privacy backlash by permitting accounts you’ve blocked on X to see your posts
If you’ve decided to stick with X after Elon Musk took over Twitter and started to systematically destroy anything good that was left there (which, admittedly was not much) you’ve probably made extensive use of the Block function to filter out some of the crap that flows through the social media sewer. Now the value of blocking is about to be diminished.
Musk has confirmed that the functionality of the block button is changing. The change means that while an account you have blocked will not be able to interact with you or your posts, they will be able to see any posts that you’ve written. It’s an idea that has already been met with criticism, with many voicing concerns about privacy implications.
Microsoft will let Windows 11 users remap the stupid Copilot key on their keyboard
If you’ve bought a computer or a keyboard recently, you may have spotted an extra key near the spacebar. The Copilot key is Microsoft’s attempt to push, prompt and encourage use of its AI-powered digital assistant, but not everyone is convinced.
Even if you are someone who sees the value in Copilot as a tool, you may well not feel the need to have a dedicated physical key to access it. Thankfully, Microsoft understands that the latest addition to keyboards is not something that everyone needs. As such, the company is testing the ability to remap the Copilot key.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. She is currently training to be an LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapist. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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