Microsoft releases PowerToys update to fix issues with the new Command Palette
There is another update available for Microsoft’s delightful PowerToys utility collection. Hot on the heels of the recent release that saw the addition of a new tool, comes PowerToys v0.90.1.
Coming so soon after version 0.90.0, it shows the pace at which those developing PowerToys are working and in this instance it sees important improvements to the brand-new Command Palette module. There is a lot that could be learned by the Windows 11 development team from the speed at which issues have been fixed in PowerToys.
SparkyLinux 7.7 is the free Windows 11 alternative you didn’t know you needed
Are you tired of the constant updates, ads, and restrictions in Windows 11? Well, folks, you’re certainly not alone. Thankfully, SparkyLinux 7.7 “Orion Belt” just dropped, and this open source operating system might be the escape hatch you’ve been looking for. Built on Debian 12 “Bookworm,” this is exactly the kind of no-nonsense Linux distro that gives users freedom, speed, and stability without all the Microsoft bloat.
Unlike Windows 11, SparkyLinux doesn’t shove AI assistants in your face or lock you into a Microsoft account. Instead, it quietly gets the job done. Quite frankly, that’s what makes it a solid choice for folks who just want their computers to work.
Pixel 9a now available -- buy before Trump’s tariffs push the price higher
Google’s Pixel 9a is officially available starting today, and if you’ve been waiting for a solid Android phone that won’t break the bank, now’s your chance. But with President Trump’s tariff policies bouncing between on and off like a light switch, you might want to buy sooner rather than later.
Priced at $499, the Pixel 9a brings a new design and meaningful upgrades to Google’s A-series. It features the brightest display ever in a Pixel A phone and comes in four colors: Iris, Peony, Porcelain, and Obsidian. Photography gets a boost too, thanks to a 48MP main camera paired with a 13MP ultrawide lens. You can read more about it here.
PNY PRO Elite High Endurance microSD cards offer 15 years of nonstop video recording
PNY is targeting consumers who need serious reliability from their storage media. You see, the company just rolled out its new PRO Elite High Endurance microSD cards, and these things are designed for folks using dash cams, security cameras, body cams, and more.
Unlike regular microSD cards that can wear out over relatively quickly, these are designed for the long haul. The top-tier 512GB model is rated for up to 137,600 hours of Full HD recording. That’s more than 15 years of writing and rewriting video -- assuming you’re pushing it to the limit. Even the smaller capacities can handle thousands of hours of use.
Network-based malware detections increase 94 percent
A new report from WatchGuard Technologies shows a 94 percent increase in network-based malware detections in the last quarter of 2024.
There’s also been an increase in overall malware detections including a six percent increase in Gateway AntiVirus (GAV) detections and a 74 percent increase in Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Blocker detections, the most significant rises came from proactive machine learning detection offered by IntelligentAV (IAV) at 315 percent.
Number of ransomware victims increases 102 percent
Ransomware attacks reached a historic high in the first quarter of this year, with 2,063 victims reported, a 102 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The report from GuidePoint Security also records a record high number of active threat groups, with 70 identified in Q1, reflecting a 55.5 percent year-on-year rise.
What is the inetpub folder that’s suddenly appeared on Windows 11 systems?
If you’ve installed the updates for Windows 11 released by Microsoft earlier this week, you may have noticed several things. Firstly, you likely found that several bugs have been fixed but, secondly, new problems have been introduced.
Thirdly, you may be one of many people to install the KB5055523 update for Windows 11 and then found that a strange folder called “inetpub” has appeared. What’s the story here?
Whoops! Microsoft just broke Windows Hello with the latest Windows 11 update
There can’t be a silver lining without a cloud, and for all of the problems Microsoft managed to fix with the KB5055523 update for Windows 11, there is the small issue of it causing Windows Hello authentication to stop working for some.
While the problem is limited to users who meet fairly narrow criteria, the impact for those affected is significant. If you’re running System Guard Secure Launch or Dynamic Root of Trust for Measurement on Windows 11 and Server 2025, caution is advised.
WhatsApp shares details of a laundry list of new features and options for chatting and calling
The development of WhatsApp continues to be rapid and surprisingly exciting for a messaging app. It seems that hardly a week goes by without something new and interesting being added, and this can actually work against the app sometimes.
It is with this in mind that the developers acknowledge that their pace of work means it “can be easy to miss out on useful and exciting ways you can use WhatsApp”. So the team has put together a lengthy roundup of the new features that have been added, including document scanning on iPhone, video call zooming, and voice message transcripts on Channels.
Microsoft Windows 95 reboot chime and Minecraft soundtrack inducted into National Recording Registry
In a move that is sure to make longtime PC users do a double take, the Library of Congress has added two very unexpected sounds to its National Recording Registry. No, it’s not another classic rock album or jazz staple. Believe it or not, it’s actually the “Reboot Chime” from Windows 95 (that played when the operating system started) and the soundtrack from Minecraft! I kid you not, folks. Both of these are linked to Microsoft, a company more known for software than symphonies.
If you ever booted up a Windows 95 machine, chances are you’ve heard that memorable chime. That short, ambient tone was composed by a man named Brian Eno. Microsoft asked him to create something brief, and he delivered a now-legendary 3.25-second sound that played every time the operating system came to life. And now, it’s being preserved forever as part of the nation’s sonic history -- how wild is that?
Linux Mint Debian Edition 7 gets OEM support -- does that signal the impending death of Ubuntu-based Mint?
Umm… something very strange is happening in the world of Linux Mint, folks.
You see, the developers are adding OEM support to Linux Mint Debian Edition 7 (LMDE 7) -- a version of the operating system that’s allegedly nothing more than an emergency fallback. Based on the upcoming Debian Stable release, LMDE 7 will soon be able to be pre-installed on machines sold or donated around the world. That might not sound like a big deal on the surface, but let’s cut through the bull crap -- this could be a sign of something much bigger.
First quarter of 2025 sees record numbers of ransomware attacks
New findings from threat protection platform BlackFog show the first quarter of 2025 has seen record-breaking numbers of publicly disclosed ransomware attacks, marking a 45 percent increase compared to Q1 of 2024.
Analysis of ransomware activity in the period from January to March saw records set each month. Both January and February set new monthly records for disclosed attacks, with increases from 2024 of 22 percent and 36 percent, respectively while March recorded the largest number of disclosed attacks since BlackFog began tracking in 2020, with 107 attacks -- an 81 percent increase compared with March 2024.
Immutable backup storage is the best defense against ransomware
New research from Object First shows 81 percent of IT professionals say immutable backup storage built on Zero Trust principles is the best defense against ransomware, and 54 percent view target backup appliances as more secure than integrated appliances.
The report, produced with Informa TechTarget's Enterprise Strategy Group, finds two-thirds of organizations have suffered an attack, and 45 percent experienced multiple attacks. Moreover, 49 percent of affected organizations took up to five business days to recover, and most could not recover all of their data.
The devices that are exposing enterprises to risk
The enterprise device landscape is becoming much more complex and more dangerous, with the average device risk per industry increasing by 15 percent year-on-year.
A new report from Forescout highlights that network-connected devices, from traditional IT operating systems to specialized healthcare systems and OT machinery, are exposing organizations to damaging threats such as ransomware attacks and data exfiltration.
Is AI adoption the next great risk to data resilience?
With cyberattacks surging across every sector from critical national infrastructure to commercial businesses, it’s never been more vital for organizations to get control of their digital footprint and restrict access to their most sensitive data. Instead, organizations are being pulled in the opposite direction by AI, which is demanding access to as much data as possible to deliver much-hyped business solutions.
Organizations worldwide are pouring resources into AI innovation, with spending set to hit an astronomical $632 billion by 2028, according to Gartner. Some are even redesigning their organizational structure, introducing new AI-focused roles and even rerouting workflows as they deploy generative AI into day-to-day operations. At the same time, AI organizations are generating unthinkable amounts of investment with OpenAI raising another $40 billion already this year. It’s clear that AI is here to stay, but have organizations lost sight of their data resilience in a bid to keep up with the AI race?
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