YouTube toughens its stance on blocking ad blockers
Ad blockers tend to make the internet a more palatable place to explore, but in recent times there has been an increase in ad block detection. Coupled with this has been the introduction of nag screens or content being rendered inaccessible until ad blocking is disabled.
YouTube is one of many big-name sites to have ramped up its efforts to discourage -- and ultimately stamp out -- the use of ad blockers. Now the company is expanding its attack on users who try to avoid ads, and is using the effort to simultaneously promote YouTube Premium.
Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.75.0 with new Environment Variables module, Settings Dashboard and more
It is always an exciting time when a PowerToys release cycle is described as being "focused on new features, stability and improvements". And the release of PowerToys v0.75.0 does not disappoint.
To start with, there is a new arrival in the form of the Environment Variables module, and there's also a completely new Dashboard home page for Settings. Additionally, there is the usual raft of tweaks and bug fixes as well as a new previewer for the Peek module.
Microsoft is making Skype marginally less ugly
In a world saturated with messaging apps, there are few companies without something to offer; many, like Microsoft, have more than one app to choose from. Microsoft Teams is a popular choice in work environments, but stalwart Skype endures.
There are many words that are associated with Skype. Beautiful is not one of them. But this is changing. With its latest beta version released to Insiders, Microsoft is introducing a number of important aesthetic improvements -- as well as bug fixes -- which will eventually filter down to all users.
Demands grow for Microsoft to extend the life of Windows 10 and offer security updates for longer
Citing concerns about making millions of Windows 10 PCs unsupported and obsolete, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is calling on Microsoft to extend support for the operating system. Environmental concerns are also highlighted.
Windows 10 is set to be dropped from Microsoft's support list in 2025, meaning there will be no more security updates for the millions of people still using this version of Windows. PIRG points out that many PCs simply cannot be upgraded to Window 11, and large numbers of people cannot afford to upgrade their hardware. This is why the network of organizations is petitioning Microsoft to rethink its decision.
Like Microsoft, Google wants your help to fix AI and make it more secure
It is only a couple of weeks since the debut of the Microsoft AI Bounty Program, and now Google has launched its own bug bounty program specific to generative AI.
Google has announced the expansion of its existing Vulnerability Rewards Program to reward for attack scenarios that relates to generative AI. The company says that it wants to incentivize research around AI safety and security, highlight potential issues, and make artificial intelligence safer for everyone.
Microsoft releases huge KB5031455 update preview for Windows 11, enabling new Moment 4 features
The time has finally come for Microsoft to unleash all of the new features of the Moment 4 update for Windows 11 to a wider audience with the release of the KB5031455 update.
Users are being treated to what is the biggest and most significant upgrade to Windows 11 since it was launched. Available for Windows 11 22H2, the KB5031455 update is a preview of the update that will be released for everyone next month and it includes all of the Moment 4 features -- such as Copilot, the new System Components section of Settings, and more -- enabled by default. There are also numerous bug fixes.
Microsoft boosts Windows 11 security with encrypted DNS server discovery and SMB encryption for outbound connections
With the release of the latest Canary build of Windows 11, Microsoft has introduced welcome new security options. The first gives administrators the option of requiring encryption of all outbound SMB client connections.
The second is the arrival of support for Discovery of Network-designated Resolvers (DNR) which allows for the automatic discovery of encrypted DNA servers. Eliminating the need for manual configuration is an ease-of-use move that makes adoption more likely.
Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and Apple News+ all get massive price increases
Following the lead of Netflix, Apple is set to increase its subscription prices. Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and Apple News+ are all affected, with existing subscribers having 30 days before the price jump; new subscribers will have to pay the higher price immediately.
The increases are significant, with Apple TV+ subscriptions going up by a colossal 43 percent per month. Apple One also jumps in price across the three tiers -- Individual, Family and Premier. The new pricing will apply in the US as well as "select international markets".
Twitter alternative Pebble -- previously known as T2 -- announces shock closure
When Elon Musk took over at Twitter and set about implementing sweeping and controversial changes -- including renaming it to X -- there was a surge in rivals vying for attention. The likes of Mastodon and Bluesky dominated, and continue to do so, but there were also newcomers seeking to offer an alternative and a safe refuge for Twitter exiles.
One such option was T2, a social platform set up by two former Twitter employees. T2 recently rebranded to Pebble, but after initially enjoying a period of success the announcement has come that the service is closing down in a matter of days.
Windows 11 23H2 ISO spotted online as Microsoft prepares to launch major Windows 11 update
Microsoft is preparing to launch the final significant update to Windows 11 before the release of Windows 12. We already know a fair amount about the upcoming Windows 11 23H2, but the release date has not really pinned down to anything more specific than Q4 of 2023.
But ISO images for Windows 11 23H2 have now been spotted online, strongly suggesting that testing is now over and Microsoft is ready to unleash this hugely important update to Windows 11 users.
Google Chrome will soon offer to hide your IP address for added privacy and security
Google is preparing to launch a new Chrome feature which will give users the ability to hide their IP address. Previously known as Gnatcatcher, the feature is now called IP Protection and makes use of proxies to help prevent online tracking.
IP Protection is described as "a privacy proxy that anonymizes IP addresses for qualifying traffic". One of its primary aims is to limit the possibility for fingerprinting as a means of tracking users online, which is something that has become increasingly common as steps are taken to block, and even kill off, third-party cookies.
Microsoft Edge may be using your browsing history to inform Bing Chat AI -- here's how to stop it
AI is just about everywhere now. Its ubiquity makes it nearly impossible to avoid, and Microsoft is just one of the big tech firms to have thrown everything at artificial intelligence.
As well as adding AI to Windows 11 with Copilot, Microsoft has also brought a generous dose of it to its Edge browser courtesy of Bing Chat. What users of this feature may not be aware of is that their browsing data is being used to personalize Copilot, meaning that a huge amount of potentially revealing information is being shared with the artificial intelligence tool.
Photoshop Elements 2024 gives access to Adobe Photoshop's AI tools without a subscription
Adobe has released Photoshop Elements 2024, the latest version of what amounts to a cheap (ish), lightweight version of its Photoshop image editor. Some of the changes to be found in this latest release are AI-powered tools, much like many of the most exciting changes in its big sibling.
There are many reasons some people are put off by Photoshop, including its complexity and steep learning curve. But the fact that modern editions are only available on a subscription basis is turn-off for many. Not so with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2024. Here, you get the best of all worlds -- a powerful yet accessible image editor, incredible new tools powered by artificial intelligence, and an old-fashioned pay-once price tag.
BitLocker could be cutting the performance of SSDs almost in half in Windows 11
A new report goes some way to showing that the BitLocker security feature of Windows 11 could be massively reducing the performance of SSDs.
An investigation found that the data encryption tool, which is enabled by default in Windows 11 Pro, can slow solid state drives by as much as 45 percent. While it would be reasonable to expect a bit of a performance drop overall as the software works away encrypting and decrypting files, few people would expect the hit to be quite so significant.
Microsoft launches Azure AI Content Safety to filter harmful content from users and AI
Microsoft has announced the general availability of its Azure AI Content Safety service. The system is designed to help platform operators to detect and filter harmful user-generated content and that generated by artificial intelligence in their services and apps.
Azure AI Content Safety can be used to scan and block text and image-based content, and Microsoft has made it highly customizable so it can be tailored for various modalities. The company says that the service can be used to weed out content that is offensive, risky, or undesirable, such as profanity, adult content, gore, violence, hate speech, and so on.
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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