Wednesday Newsbytes: More Windows Users Avoiding Windows 11; Scammers Use Worms to Sell Roof Repair; Microsoft Puts the Brakes on Copilot (AI); Microsoft Pushing Passkeys over Passwords… and more
Every day we scan the tech world for interesting news in the world of technology and sometimes from outside the world of technology. Every Wednesday, we feature news articles that grabbed our attention over the past week. We hope you find this week’s ‘Wednesday Newsbytes’ informative and interesting!
Due to the popularity of Windows 10, Microsoft has confirmed plans to extend its Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription to everyday users for the first time. Previously reserved for enterprise customers, the annual plan could cost as much as £330 ($440) to unlock an extra three years of important security updates.
Many assumed the fast-approaching deadline — not to mention, the threat of having to spend hundreds on software updates — would spur millions of PC users still relying on Windows 10 to finally make the switch to its successor, Windows 11.
But the number of people using Windows 10 every day is increasing, according to the latest figures from Statcounter. The popular website, which monitors and analyses global web traffic to calculate the popularity of devices, web browsers, and operating system, has recorded a rise in the number of people using Windows 10.
PCs powered by this almost decade-old operating system topped 70% for the first time since late 2023…
Scammers plant worms on shingles of Denver home to sell unneeded roofing work
A group of alleged scammers have left at least three families in Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood in need of a new roof after the victims say worms were planted in their shingles and presented as termite infestations. Homeowners tell CBS News Colorado’s Dillon Thomas the scammers were aggressive, created damage of their own to shingles, planted worms and at times even took money for work that was never completed.
Those who spoke with CBS News Colorado said the scam first arrived in their neighborhood in late April. Both John Prout and Jim Ford said their individual experiences started with people claiming to be roofers approaching their homes and saying they noticed issues with the shingles while driving by.
“I saw this guy standing in the yard,” Prout said.
Prout said he walked out of his home to see what the man needed. When he did, the man handed him a flyer for a company that read Uptown Remodelling LLC.
While Prout talked with the man in his yard, he said others suddenly swarmed his home.
“These guys spilled out of his truck with a ladder and clapped the ladder against the house and immediately started tearing shingles off. I said, ‘What are you guys doing?'” Prout recalled.
Prout said he never gave anyone permission to be in his home…
Microsoft has been fully focused on integrating AI advances across its services and products after making a multi-billion dollar investment in OpenAI. The Windows operating system is a significant beneficiary of the extended partnership with the ChatGPT maker.
As you might already know, Windows 11 and 10 ships with a dedicated AI-powered assistant dubbed Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat). Copilot AI is also consistent across Microsoft Edge and Bing. In Microsoft’s recent earnings call, CEO Satya Nadella indicated Bing has surpassed over 140 million daily active users, further attributing the impressive feat partly to the platform’s new AI advances and capabilities.
The tech giant’s AI advances have seemingly been received with mixed feelings. Interestingly, in a poll featured on Windows Central seeking to understand how helpful Copilot is to people, the vast majority, more than half of the polled readers, indicated they never use Copilot on Windows 11…
Microsoft to make signing in easier with passkeys – here’s how it works
Microsoft is on a crusade against passwords and they’ve scored a huge victory this week with the introduction of Passkeys for Microsoft consumer accounts.
In the hopes that they can encourage users to abandon passwords, which are vulnerable, Microsoft has been working hard to make it easier to use alternative forms of sign-on credentials.
According to the blog post announcing the launch, Microsoft has been introducing alternatives to passwords since the launch of Windows Hello in 2015. They claim that their monitoring has seen a 3,378% increase in password attacks since then.
Windows users have also been able to use the Microsoft Authenticator app or FIDO security keys (small physical devices) alongside Windows Hello to access Microsoft websites and apps for some time, and in 2021 they introduced the option to delete your password altogether and switch permanently to an alternative sign-in method.
What are Passkeys?
Passkeys are a relatively new, more secure method of signing into a site or app.
Microsoft’s blog post states that “Passkey access uses two unique keys, known as a cryptographic key pair. One key is stored safely on your device…
Russian hackers target Windows users: Microsoft issues warning
The number of cyber crime is increasing day after day after the advancement of AI technologies in today’s time. Microsoft, the most famous IT giant, has also warned its customers.
Microsoft Threat Intelligence researchers have issued a warning about Russian state-sponsored hackers targeting Windows users with a special tool.
These hackers, known as APT28 or Fancy Bear, but tracked by Microsoft as Forest Blizzard, are associated with Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency.
It is also said that they are employing a tool called GooseEgg in order to get the data and install backdoors on computer systems…
Thanks for reading this week’s Wednesday Newbytes. We hope these articles were informative, interesting, fun, and helpful. Darcy & TC
