Wednesday Newsbytes: Microsoft’s January Patch Fixes 49 Flaws; Windows XP 2024- What Windows 11 Should Be: Google Starts Disabling Cookies for Chrome Users; Wi-Fi 7 Is Here… 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!
Microsoft January 2024 Patch Tuesday fixes 49 flaws, 12 RCE bugs
Today (1/9/24) is Microsoft’s January 2024 Patch Tuesday, which includes security updates for a total of 49 flaws and 12 remote code execution vulnerabilities.
Only two vulnerabilities were classified as critical, with one being a Windows Kerberos Security Feature Bypass and the other a Hyper-V RCE.
The number of bugs in each vulnerability category is listed below:
10 Elevation of Privilege Vulnerabilities
7 Security Feature Bypass Vulnerabilities
12 Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities
11 Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities
6 Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
3 Spoofing VulnerabilitiesThe total count of 49 flaws does not include 4 Microsoft Edge flaws fixed on January 5th.
To learn more about the non-security updates released today, you can review our dedicated articles on the new Windows 11 KB5034123 cumulative update and Windows 10 KB5034122 update.
This month’s interesting flaws
While there were no actively exploited or publicly disclosed vulnerabilities this month, some flaws are more interesting than others…
Read more at Bleeping Computer.
Windows XP 2024 Edition is everything Windows 11 should be
It’s the start of 2024, the year when — if the rumors are to be believed — Microsoft is set to deliver Windows 12. However, this year also marks an important milestone for one of the software giant’s most beloved operating systems.
Microsoft ceased support for Windows XP ten years ago. If you’ve ever wondered how that OS would look if was released today, we have the answer.
Prolific concept creator AR 4789, who previously imagined a Windows alternative called MiracleOS and most recently showed us his take on Windows 12, has channeled his creative abilities into envisioning what a modern version of XP might look like.
As with his other concepts, rather than just showing off the sort of features we might see in the alternative OS, AR 4789’s video steps us through the entire installation and set-up process.
This modern version of the OS maintains the look and color scheme of XP, along with the iconic Bliss wallpaper, but the reimagining also incorporates a number of Windows 11 features, such as quick settings, and a dark mode…
Google has started disabling third-party cookies for Chrome users
Tracking Protection has rolled out to one percent of Chrome users.
Google has just disabled third-party cookies for one percent of Chrome users, years after it first introduced its Privacy Sandbox project. The company announced late last year that it will kick things off by disabling cookies for a random one percent of Chrome users globally on January 4. Chrome owns more than half of the worldwide browser market share, and according to Gizmodo, that means Google has killed cookies for 30 million users.
People included in this rollout will see a notification when they launch their browser telling them they’re one of the first to experience Tracking Protection. It also explains that Tracking Protection limits sites from using third-party cookies to track them as they browse. Since this rollout is bound to break a few websites that have yet to adapt to a change that will affect most people who go on the internet, Google will allow users to temporary re-enable third-party cookies. They can do so by clicking on the eye icon that’s now on their browser bar to toggle off the new feature.
Google’s Privacy Sandbox initiative…
Wi-Fi’s next big upgrade is officially here
The Wi-Fi Alliance has started certifying Wi-Fi 7 devices to make sure they’re up to snuff and work well together.
The Wi-Fi Alliance is now officially certifying devices that support Wi-Fi 7, the next generation of wireless home internet. With certification, Wi-Fi 7 devices are guaranteed to interoperate, and in 2024, we will see new tech products like phones, laptops, and routers endowed with the standard, which could represent huge speed and efficiency gains compared to even Wi-Fi 6E.
The alliance says in its announcement that Wi-Fi 7 will be better than existing standards for things like high-bandwidth streaming and low-latency wireless gaming, and that’s crucial as virtual reality gains popularity and people continue commuting to their kitchen tables or home offices to commune with co-workers over Zoom. Kevin Robinson, CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance, told The Verge that Wi-Fi 7 is the “first generation built from the ground up” for the 6GHz band — the faster, broader swath of wireless spectrum first used by Wi-Fi 6E devices.
You might be tempted to point out that Wi-Fi 7 routers already exist…
A Dyson Sphere Could Bring Humans Back From the Dead, Researchers Say
Immortality is something that humans have wondered about since the beginning of time. Is it possible, and of course, the debate over whether or not it would actually be a good thing. Russian life extensionist Alexey Turchin has been searching for the secret to immortality for years. He believes the key might be the Dyson Sphere.
What Is A Dyson Sphere?
A Dyson Sphere is a megastructure first explored by astronomer Freeman J. Dyson. It is a shell or rings of solar collectors around a star that collects the star’s energy, a sort-of biosphere, if you will. The original interest in whether or not these existed was to meet energy demands here on Earth or perhaps provide a capacity for extraterrestrial life.
Some people believe that we may actually be able to build Dyson spheres ourselves, however, it is highly debated.
According to Turchin, however, these spheres may serve another purpose: Immortality.
Turchin’s desire to unlock the secret to immortality began when a school friend died when he was young. (1) He has been working on his “roadmap to immortality” nearly his entire life, and his latest version points to the Dyson sphere as being a key component…
Read more at The Premier Daily.
Thanks for reading this week’s Wednesday Newbytes. We hope these articles were informative, interesting, fun, and helpful. Darcy & TC
