In a document discovered by Windows Latest, Microsoft has previously talked about its efforts to improve the driver update experience in Windows Update. The company says it will improve its mechanisms for assessing driver update quality. Specifically, Microsoft says it will target cohorts (specified telemetry data) to gauge the compatibility of a driver with the receiving hardware. This assessment will include checking the cohorts, which a system groups for devices that have the same targeting attributes....

With the soon to launch Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, Microsoft will push some costs onto consumers. Aligning the new version to systems will increase, and consumers will also pay more. In a report by ZDNet, it is suggested the company will change the way it licenses the platform. Pricing will be based on which processor is in the PC. Currently, Microsoft decides cost by letting OEMs choose which SKUs get which version....

Though Microsoft didn’t officially name the software, it’s widely known to be BattlEye. Due to blue screens, the update was first delayed for all users, then only for those with games using the software. Even so, users with Fortnite, PUBG, Rainbow Six: Siege, ARK, Planetside 2, and H1Z1 won’t have received an insider update for many months. A large number of gamers own at least one of those titles, leading to unfortunate delays....

Specifically, the vulnerability was introduced with Windows 10 1903 (May 2019 Update). In a blog post, Google explains the flaw in excruitiating detail. However, the problem boils down to a single line change in the OS code of Windows 10 and how it relates to a security token. NewToken->ParentTokenId = OldToken->TokenId; was changed to NewToken->ParentTokenId = OldToken->ParentTokenId. Google’s Project Zero blog title, “You Won’t Believe what this One Line Change Did to the Chrome Sandbox” is apt because that line change caused some significant problems for Chromium sandboxes....

This is a sizeable agreement for Microsoft. Sure, HoloLens has not yet transformed how we consume entertainment, but it is making a splash for business use. The Army plans to leverage its power and has tabbed Microsoft in a $480 million contract. Such an outlay suggests the Army will buy thousands of Microsoft HoloLens devices. According to the report, the headsets will be used in both training and combat scenarios....

With Minecraft Realms, users are given a safe online experience. It was launched way back in April 2016 on Windows, Android, and iOS. It is the simplest way to make the game a community title which can be played with friends and family. With Realms Clubs, Mojang has created online meeting groups designed for members of a Realm. Each member are able to socialize and share with other members. This includes sharing posts, videos, photos, and of course comments....

Users have often argued creating clips on the web has been complicated. Microsoft has now made this process more efficient. Now when a viewer starts to create a clip, they will be able to cut specific sections and preview clips. Elsewhere, Mixer now provides more control over who is able to create a clip on a channel. People who are Mixer Partners can broaden the ability to create a clip to all viewers....

One tool is the integration of anti-fingerprinting support. If you are unfamiliar with fingerprinting, it is a solution for tracking users as they browse. Unlike cookies, fingerprinting gives companies the ability to create a profile of the user through tracking their machine’s configuration, time zone, HTTP headers, and other factors. Fingerprinting is much more covert than cookies, which are often blockable when visiting a site for the first time. Of course, advertisers are embracing fingerprinting as a way to follow users and target ads to them....

The flaws are embedded in the kernel operations within a system. When a command is sent to perform any task, the CPU passes control to the kernel, which stays below the surface in processes even once the CPU takes back control. This is to ensure smoother and faster performance, but also means systems are potentially at risk at kernel level. Attackers can make use of JavaScript code in the browser to potentially read memory in a user’s machine....

Access to Microsoft’s device is limited, however, and so is its functionality. You can only get hold of a developer version, and then you’ll be stuck with an ugly field of view. The current VR headsets have none of those issues, and Google is clearly aware of this. Blocks gives users a simple set of shapes and tools to build 3D models with the Rift and Vive. The simplicity of the shapes lends itself well to the hardware constraints of VR, and also means any user can pick it up....

If you are running Apple’s iOS on an iPhone, you now get support for opening web link through Microsoft Edge in Outlook. Basically, this means Outlook will open links into Edge instead of Safari, which is the iOS default. It is worth noting that it does not change the iPhone defaults. Other apps will still open links to Safari, but Outlook will open to Edge. Of course, that’s only if you want it to....

You may remember we discussed this problem back at the end of February. It is a cross-OS problem that was affecting both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Specifically, versions Windows 11 21H2, Windows 10 version 21H2, Windows 10 version 21H1, and Windows 10 version 20H2. The issue stems from a Windows reset. When the OS starts up again, files and folders would still be present even though the reset should delete them....

US company Nvidia is one of the largest developers of GPUs in the world. It is a 100% legitimate organization and is common/popular in the crypto space because Nvidia GPUs power many mining operations. According to a report from cybersecurity giant Kaspersky, scammers have been using Nvidia’s 30th anniversary – which falls in 2023 – to trick users into thinking they could receive a cryptocurrency reward from a giveaway. It is a simple but effective ploy that involves creating a fake website that appears to be official to celebrate Nvidia’s anniversary....

If the term data breach is enough to send shudders down your spine, you’re not alone. Information infringement events are particularly destructive and can amount to much damage for companies. Perhaps the biggest problem is the damage to your brand’s reputation which can often be quite difficult to get back from. If your company gets negative publicity as a place where data protection isn’t taken seriously, it can take you years to recover....

When installing Avast nowadays, users are asked to agree to its terms of service and privacy policy. They are then asked if they would like to share some additional data with Avast, with the following message: “If you allow it, we’ll provide our subsidary Jumpshot Inc. with a stripped and de-identified data set derived from your browsing history for the purpose of enabling Jumpshot to analyze markets and business trends and gather other valuable insights,” it reads....

According to Thurrott’s Brad Sams, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. The console will reportedly launch with Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass bundles, with the ability to pay for them at front. That will be a relief for those who don’t like monthly payment models or simply want to buy it as a gift. “Imagine you go on Microsoft.com, select the disc-less console, then pick two years of Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass, pay the fee, and when the console arrives, it’s all set up with the service ready to go,” explained Sams....

Speaking to Reuters, Nadella says LinkedIn data is integral to the company’s plans for creating business software. The enterprise social network has over 500 million profile information that can be a valuable resource for Microsoft services. Salesforce is the runaway leader in the sales software market, while Microsoft is fourth-placed. The company lags behind Oracle and SAP and has just 4.3 percent of the market. Satya Nadella wants LinkedIn to be the driving force to push Microsoft’s sales services....

Of course, it helps that the deal is not centered on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Instead, Microsoft and Sony will work together to develop AI solutions and semi-conductors. The only game-related part of the deal is Sony using Microsoft Azure for gaming and entertainment platforms. In an interview with Fortune, Satya Nadella says Sony made the first approach in negotiating the partnership. “First of all, it’s all driven by Sony....

The company says it is important to be able to stay in contact with family and friends. Often, schedules do not meet or time zones can be conflicting. Using a Microsoft Account, Skype users can now unlock the Microsoft Family feature. Once the feature is set up, there are several tools available for smoother communication. For example, it introduces parental controls, shared calendars, and other features. Family members attached to a Microsoft Account are automatically set as Skype contact under a “My Family” group....

For example, it’s now possible to share files directly from the File Explorer. To do this, users can right click and choose the share options. Also added to Skype Preview with build 8.59 is an improvement for call controls. Microsoft says users can send calls directly from the Recent Chat list. Call duration I snow located in the Recent Chat list. You can check out the full changelog, including an improved contact deletions tool, below:...