Microsoft urges PowerShell users to upgrade to protect against critical vulnerability
Microsoft has issued a warning to users of PowerShell 7.0 and 7.1 to update their software to protect against a .NET Core remote code execution vulnerability.
Tracked as CVE-2021-26701, the vulnerability is described as critical and could affect Windows, macOS and Linux. The security issue has been known about for a little while, but Microsoft is only now urging users to install updates to ensure that they are protected.
0patch comes to the rescue with free micropatches for Windows PrintNightmare vulnerability
Micropatching specialist 0patch has stepped into help out with a fix for the PrintNightmare vulnerability that was recently accidentally leaked by security researchers.
While Microsoft has acknowledged that there is a security flaw in Windows Print Spooler that could lead to remotely compromised systems, the company has only offered workarounds rather than a patch. And so 0patch -- no stranger to helping out in such situations -- has stepped up to the plate and issued free micropatches of its own.
Microsoft suggests workarounds for critical, unpatched PrintNightmare exploit
When security researchers inadvertently published technical details of a remote execution vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler thinking (wrongly) that it had been patched, there was concern about the implications.
And rightly so. Microsoft has confirmed people's worst fears, saying that the PrintNightmare security flaw is already being exploited. There is a little good news, however. The company also suggests some workarounds that can be used to protect systems until a patch is produced.
Microsoft pushes out yet another PowerToys update with important fixes and changes
As if the arrival of an entirely new utility was not enough, Microsoft developers have now released yet another build of PowerToys.
In addition to making important changes to the new Awake tool, PowerToys v0.41.4 is the third release from the PowerToys team in less than a week. It also addresses a number of other key problems and includes a handful of changes.
Windows 11 could spell the end of the Blue Screen of Death
The Blue Screen of Death is iconic among Windows users -- although not necessarily in a good way. Indicative of something having gone terribly wrong, a BSoD (as it is often called) is not something you particularly want to see when you're using your computer.
And with the arrival of Windows 11, the Blue Screen of Death may indeed be no more. But before you get too excited, this is not quite the good news you're hoping for. Sadly, Microsoft has not found a way to stop Windows crashing.
Windows 11 Home will need a Microsoft account, but Pro won't
The release of Windows 11 is still a number of months away, and we're still learning a lot about Microsoft's latest operating system update. In addition to the confusion about hardware requirements, there have been questions about other necessities.
According to sources close to Microsoft, anyone opting for Windows 11 Home will be required to have a Microsoft account. The same is not true for Windows 11 Pro; users will be able to use local accounts if they want.
Windows 11 is making important changes to the way system updates work
When Microsoft announced Windows 11, the company made a few references to the process of updating the operating system. Windows Updates will work in much the same way as for Windows 10, but steps have been taken to not only reduce the size of downloads to helps speed things up, but also to ensure they will cause less disruption thanks to background installation.
But this does not mean that you'll never need to restart Windows 11 after downloading an update, but Microsoft has made an important change that will help you to decide whether to restart immediately or save the reboot for later.
Surprise, surprise! Microsoft exec says the government is spying on you
Intelligence agencies may have begun life as a good idea -- a way to keep their respective countries safe -- and in the beginning we mostly trusted them. But their overt secrecy soon became apparent with things like the famous Roswell incident and the best known "secret" location in the world -- Area 51.
But there’s much more to the secretiveness than just speculation of little green men. If we didn’t already suspect as much, Edward Snowden showed us a lot of what went on behind-the-scenes in these clandestine agencies.
The Windows 11 release date is almost certainly in October
Microsoft may have announced Windows 11, and even released the first preview build, but the company has been somewhat vague about the release date. So far, all that has been said officially is that the operating system will be released in time for the holiday season -- although it seems that this is only for new systems, and upgrades from Windows 10 are due next year.
But hints, rumors and leaks suggest that the launch date for Windows 11 will be in October this year, specifically October 20. Of course, Microsoft has not yet confirmed this, but all evidence is pointing towards this date being correct.
Microsoft releases KB5004760 update to fix PDF problems in Windows 10
Microsoft has released an out-of-band update for Windows 10 that remedies a PDF opening issue.
Available for Windows 10 version 2004, 20H2 and 21H1, the KB5004760 update may not seem like particularly important one, but Microsoft deemed it of enough import to release it off schedule. You will, however, have to go out of your way to find it if you need it.
Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.41.3 with lots of improvements and a new utility
Microsoft has pushed out two new PowerToys builds in very quick succession, fixing lots of issues, making numerous improvements, and adding a brand new utility.
The bulk of the changes came in PowerToys v0.41.2, but this was followed mere hours later by PowerToys v0.41.3 because of a compatibility issue with BitDefender. The latest build is interesting not just because of the number of changes it includes, but also the arrival of the new tool called Awake.
Microsoft removes its PC Health Check tool because it didn't say why you couldn’t have Windows 11
Microsoft announced Windows 11 last week, and introduced a new set of hardware requirements for the updated operating system.
If you wanted to find out if your Windows PC was compatible, then you could use the official PC Health Check app for the task. Unfortunately, lots of Windows 10 users found their systems weren't suitable for an upgrade, but weren't given a reason why.
First Windows 11 preview available to download now -- this is what's new, and what's missing
When Microsoft announced Windows 11 last week it promised we would see the first builds of the new OS become available for Insiders this week, and true to its word, the first such flight -- Build 22000.51 -- is available now.
You will need to be an Insider in the Dev Channel to install it, but assuming you are, the update will be available to you shortly. This preview comes with the main features you’d expect to see, including the new look, widgets, and a preview of the new Microsoft Store.
Does Windows 11 really need TPM? Perhaps not...
While there was undoubted excitement at the announcement of Windows 11's impending launch, there was also a great deal of confusion about system requirements. Concern built up around not only Microsoft setting the bar fairly high in terms of CPU generations, making many processors that are far from old essentially obsolete, but also TPM requirements.
Communication about Windows 11's reliance on Trusted Platform Module (TPM) has been poor. Is it TPM 1.2 that's needed, or TPM 2.0? It depends on who you listen to, and which documentations you read -- even official Microsoft documentation. But it turns out that TPM may not be required at all... only in certain circumstances though.
You're not going to get a Windows 11 upgrade until next year
You've probably noticed that there has been an absolute glut of Windows 11 news in recent days. After Microsoft officially announced the upcoming version of its operating system, there has been excitement, analysis, disappointment, leaks, and much more.
And today, Microsoft has delivered some bad news. While Windows 11 is being released later this year, if you're currently running Windows 10, you're going to have to wait until 2022 to get your free upgrade.
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