Wednesday Newsbytes – News for You – 032322
Every day we scan the tech world for news that affects all of us who use Windows computers. Today, we’re featuring some of the news articles that grabbed our attention over the past week. We hope you find this week’s “Wednesday Newsbytes” informative and interesting!
This sneaky type of phishing is growing fast because hackers are seeing big paydays
Researchers warn about an increase in conversation hijacking emails, where hackers abuse accounts of people you trust to send you phishing links and malware.
There’s been a steep rise in phishing attacks that hijack legitimate, ongoing conversations between users to steal passwords, steal money, deliver malware and more.
Phishing attacks have been a cybersecurity issue for a long time, with criminals sending out waves of emails in an attempt to dupe victims into clicking on malicious links, downloading malware or handing over their passwords via fake login portals.
They range from basic, generic attacks claiming that the victim has won a prize and they just need to click a link to retrieve it, to more targeted campaigns that send corporate emails designed to look legitimate for the intended target. For example, it’s common for cyber criminals to send emails posing as the company’s CEO to that company’s employees in an attempt to trick the user into following orders from their ‘boss’.
But increasingly, cyber criminals are looking to exploit the actual email accounts of real users by hacking into accounts and hijacking ongoing conversations in order to send phishing emails.
Chrome OS: “A better Linux than Linux” so you can forget about Windows About a month ago, I decided to get rid of my trusty old laptop I had been using for years for writing articles. Since I wanted to play it safe and not spend too much in case the experiment failed, I switched from Windows 10 to the cheapest Chromebook I could find, the Asus C523NA.
Weeks later, my Windows computer sits in a drawer and I’m typing on a Chromebook, which I intend to use for writing, editing images, and tinkering. Can we say goodbye to Windows? If so, at what cost? Follow along to hear my story.
Advantages and disadvantages of Chromebooks
Almost eleven years after Chromebooks were introduced, Google has expanded the concept of Chrome OS far beyond its original vision: “it’s the web or nothing.” and has added support for Android apps as well as Linux apps with a container-based approach.
Upcoming Windows update will kill Internet Explorer for good
Internet Explorer is set to have its final end-of-life update on June 15. The Windows 10 update will be sent out to PCs after that date, disabling the browser and wiping it from devices.
While Microsoft has detailed its plans to retire Internet Explorer since May 2021, the Redmond, Washington company says the upcoming end-of-life update will disable the browser in a fashion that will redirect users to the Microsoft Edge browser when they try to access the feature.
Microsoft Edge has been Microsoft’s primary browser since early 2020 and comes default on new Windows devices. Microsoft Edge includes an Internet Explorer mode, which allows websites and applications based on legacy scripts and code to be viewed in a more compatible fashion.
The platforms that will be affected by the Internet Explorer 11 end-of-life update include the Windows 10 client and IoT versions 20H2 and later.
Read the rest at Digital Trends
Windows 10 build 19044.1620 is out with an actual new feature
We’re at that halfway point between Patch Tuesdays, and that means it’s time for the ‘C’ and ‘D’ week updates for Windows 10 and 11. Today, Windows 10 is getting its optional update, and as usual, it’s available for versions 20H2, 21H1, and 21H2. Interestingly, this one actually comes with a new feature, a rarity in cumulative updates, especially with Windows 10 when all of the focus is on Windows 11.
The update, specifically, is KB5011543, and it brings the build number to 19042.1620, 19043.1620, or 19044.1620, depending on if you’re on Windows 10 version 20H2, 21H1, or 21H2, respectively. The new feature is called Search Highlights (previous announced for Insiders), and it’s yet another revamp of the search experience.
Here’s how Search Highlights will work. If you’re a regular consumer, it’s going to show you things like holidays, anniversaries, and other important things that can be either regional or global. For enterprise customers, you’re going to see highlights from your business Microsoft 365 account, based on Microsoft Search.
How to Browse the Dark Web If You’re Shady (or Just Curious)
It’s surprisingly easy to access the internet’s darkest corners
For all the mystery surrounding the “dark web,” it’s actually pretty easy to access if you have the right software, and we can show you how. But before we get to the walkthrough, a word of warning to curious minds looking into the dark web for the first time: The place can be dangerous.
Unlike the normal internet you use every day, the dark web (not to be confused with the “deep web”) is entirely unregulated, teeming with illegal activity, and illicit—and potentially disturbing—content. And it can also open you up to scrutiny by law enforcement, even if you aren’t doing anything illegal—while accessing the dark web is technically above the law in most countries, the U.S. government sometimes treats the simple use of browsers that access the dark web as grounds for search and seizure of personal property. It’s also much easier to spread malware that can hijack your device, collect your personal data, or help someone steal your identity. Do not go into this lightly.