Security News

Microsoft calls time on ancient TLS in Windows, breaking own stuff in the process
2023-09-04 14:15

Microsoft has reminded users that TLS 1.0 and 1.1 will soon be disabled by default in Windows. SQL Server 2008 R2 finally dropped out of Extended Security Updates in July, although Microsoft has published instructions for adding TLS 1.2 support.

Windows 11 23H2: Top three new features
2023-09-03 21:01

The highly anticipated Windows 11 23H2 update is around the corner, and Microsoft has released its best features to testers in the Beta Channel. Windows Copilot: The AI Assistant Unified in PC. Taking a step forward in the integration of artificial intelligence, Windows 11 is set to debut Windows Copilot, an AI assistant that unifies Bing Chat and additional plugins.

Microsoft reminds users Windows will disable insecure TLS soon
2023-09-03 14:20

Microsoft reminded users that insecure Transport Layer Security 1.0 and 1.1 protocols will be disabled soon in future Windows releases. The original TLS 1.0 specification and its TLS 1.1 successor have been used for nearly two decades, with TLS 1.0 initially introduced in 1999 and TLS 1.1 in 2006).

Microsoft is killing WordPad in Windows after 28 years
2023-09-01 21:47

Microsoft announced today that it will deprecate WordPad with a future Windows update as it's no longer under active development, though the company did not specify the precise timing of this change. "We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like.doc and.rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like.txt."

Microsoft reminds of Windows 11 21H2 forced updates before end of service
2023-09-01 18:55

Microsoft has reminded customers that systems running Windows 11 21H2 will be force-updated before the end of servicing next month. Since Windows 11 21H2 devices will no longer receive security updates starting October 10, 2023, they will be updated to Windows 11 22H2 to continue receiving the latest updates, security updates, and improvements.

Windows 11 browser change: Europe applauds, outrage everywhere else
2023-08-30 21:08

Microsoft will soon allow users in the European Union, as well as from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, to once again open all links in Windows using their default web browser rather than forcing the use of Microsoft Edge. As the company said when it released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23531 to the Dev Channel on Friday, links in Windows systems apps will no longer open using Microsoft Edge, ignoring the users' browser of choice.

Hackers Can Exploit Windows Container Isolation Framework to Bypass Endpoint Security
2023-08-30 17:04

New findings show that malicious actors could leverage a sneaky malware detection evasion technique and bypass endpoint security solutions by manipulating the Windows Container Isolation Framework. Microsoft's container architecture uses what's called a dynamically generated image to separate the file system from each container to the host and at the same time avoid duplication of system files.

How the FBI nuked Qakbot malware from infected Windows PCs
2023-08-29 20:45

The FBI announced today the disruption of the Qakbot botnet in an international law enforcement operation that not only seized infrastructure but also uninstalled the malware from infected devices. Before we learn how the FBI uninstalled Qakbot from computers, it is essential to understand how the malware was distributed, what malicious behavior it performed, and who utilized it.

Microsoft wants you to learn more about new features in Windows 11
2023-08-27 22:16

Microsoft is experimenting with different approaches to introduce new users to Windows 11's features as soon as they complete the initial setup, also known as the "Out of Box Experience". This app serves as a personal guide through the new features in Windows 11, showcasing Dev Home for those who've opted for the 'Development Intent'.

MSI: Recent wave of Windows blue screens linked to MSI motherboards
2023-08-25 16:36

MSI has officially confirmed the recent surge of blue screens of death encountered by Windows users after installing this week's optional preview updates is linked to some of its motherboard models. "MSI has received several reports of users encountering a Blue Screen of Death that has an error message that reads 'UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR' with MSI's 600/700 series motherboards after installing the Windows 11 update, KB5029351 Preview," the company said.