Nightlife

Microsoft Windows is a common OS shipped with many PCs by default. The following guides aim to provide some ways to improve privacy and reduce the default telemetry and information stored by disabling some unnecessary features. Over time, Microsoft adds features to the OS which can sometimes rely on cloud-based services. These features will often require certain types of optional information that is sometimes sent to remote servers for processing.

One of the newest examples was called Recall, a part of the Copilot AI feature set. Recall periodically screenshots anything you’ve seen on your PC in order to show it to you at a later date. These “helpful” features create considerable metadata which can be forensically analyzed. In most cases browsing history is sufficient and this feature can be safely disabled. The main concerns with Recall was that the information is stored in a local database that is decrypted when your device is powered on, meaning it is an easy tujuan for hackers if the device ever becomes infected with malware. Recall will not redact sensitive information like copied passwords or financial information from the database, but it does protect against making screenshots of any copyrighted content protected by digital rights management (DRM) systems.

Unfortunately, this feature was added without too much thought about the privacy implications of having such a feature enabled by default (which it now nomer longer is). It is not an isolated example, however. Another example was Microsoft automatically enabling folder backups to OneDrive on new Windows 11 installations without asking for permission.

Privacy Notes
Microsoft Windows, particularly those versions aimed at consumers like the Home version often don’t prioritize privacy-friendly features by default. As a result we often see more information collection than necessary, without any real warnings that this is the default behavior. In an attempt to compete with Google in the advertising space, Cortana has included unique identifiers such as an “advertising ID” in order to correlate usage and assist advertisers in targeted advertising. At launch, telemetry could not be disabled in non-enterprise editions of Windows 10. It still cannot be disabled, but Microsoft added the ability to reduce the information that is sent to them.

With Windows 11 there are a number of restrictions or defaults such as:

Requiring the use of a Microsoft account instead of a local account.
Making it more difficult to find local account options for Windows Pro and Enterprise.
Enabling all information collection options by default, requiring users to “opt out”.
Heavily integrating Microsoft services like Bing, OneDrive, and Teams in ways which are difficult to remove and presented as the only option to users.
Setting the default browser always to Edge, or reverting to Edge if it’s changed.
Adding cloud-based AI features to many areas in Windows and various Microsoft Apps.
Unnecessarily storing sensitive data. Even information which is stored locally and not sent to Microsoft is still a tujuan for hackers or malware on your device.
Microsoft often uses the automatic updates feature to add new functionality to your device and make changes that collect your information and are enabled by default. Some privacy features such as the option to opt out of syncing an online Microsoft account with Windows, require you to select a country in the EEA (European Economic Area) during installation. It can be changed to your real country after Windows is installed.

The first version of Windows, released in 1985, was simply a GUI offered as an extension of Microsoft’s existing disk operating system, or MS-DOS. Based in part on licensed concepts that Apple Inc. had used for its Macintosh System Software, Windows for the first time allowed DOS users to visually navigate a virtual desktop, opening graphical “windows” displaying the contents of electronic folders and files with the click of a mouse button, rather than typing commands and directory paths at a text prompt.

Subsequent versions introduced greater functionality, including native Windows File Manager, Program Manager, and Print Manager programs, and a more dynamic interface. Microsoft also developed specialized Windows packages, including the networkable Windows for Workgroups and the high-powered Windows NT, aimed at businesses. The 1995 consumer release Windows 95 fully integrated Windows and DOS and offered built-in Internet support, including the Web browser Internet Explorer.

With the 2001 release of Windows XP, Microsoft united its various Windows packages under a single banner, offering multiple editions for consumers, businesses, multimedia developers, and others. Windows XP abandoned the long-used Windows 95 kernel (core software code) for a more powerful code base and offered a more practical interface and improved application and memory management. The highly successful XP standard was succeeded in late 2006 by Windows Vista, which experienced a troubled rollout and was met with considerable marketplace resistance, quickly acquiring a reputation for being a large, slow, and resource-consuming system. Responding to Vista’s disappointing adoption rate, Microsoft in 2009 released Windows 7, an OS whose interface was similar to that of Vista but was met with enthusiasm for its noticeable speed improvement and its modest system requirements.

Windows 8 in 2012 offered a start screen with applications appearing as tiles on a grid and the ability to synchronize settings so users could log on to another Windows 8 machine and use their preferred settings. In 2015 Microsoft released Windows 10, which came with Cortana, a digital personal assistant like Apple’s Siri, and the Web browser Microsoft Edge, which replaced Internet Explorer.

Definition of Windows OS
Windows operating system is a pc program that manages all pc resources and provides services to applications that run on top of it. This operating system was developed by Microsoft and released in 1985 under the name Windows 1.0. Since then, the Windows operating system has continued to evolve and become one of the most disukai banyak orang operating systems in the world. The Windows operating system is designed to run on various types of hardware, including desktops, laptops, servers, and mobile devices. Windows uses a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to interact with the pc through icons, buttons, and visual menus, rather than using text commands like other operating systems. Windows also has many features such as multitasking capability, which allows several applications to run simultaneously, as well as plug-and-play capability that makes it easy for users to connect additional devices such as printers, scanners, and cameras.

History of Windows OS
This OS was first introduced by Microsoft in 1985 and has since undergone many developments and evolutions.

Windows 1.0, the first version of this OS, was released in November 1985. This OS was the first graphical operating system designed for commercial use and could be used on PCs using Intel 8086 or 8088 processors. Windows 1.0 had a sederhana interface and offered support for several applications, such as Paintbrush, Write, and Calculator.

In 1987, Microsoft released Windows 2.0. This OS offered several improvements and enhancements compared to the previous version, including support for more applications, the ability to run multiple programs simultaneously, and the introduction of drag-and-drop functionality.

Windows 3.0, released in 1990, was the first truly disukai banyak orang Windows operating system. Windows 3.0 offered a more moderen and user-friendly interface, support for more programs, and the ability to run multiple programs simultaneously. In addition, Windows 3.0 also included the introduction of features such as File Manager and Program Manager.

Windows 95, released in 1995, was a very disukai banyak orang Windows operating system and a milestone for moderen operating systems. Windows 95 offered a completely new interface, which included the Start button and Taskbar, as well as support for plug-and-play hardware. Windows 95 also added support for 32-bit programs and introduced features such as Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Office software.

After Windows 95, Microsoft released several other versions of Windows, including Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. Each version of this OS offered different improvements and fixes, including performance improvements, enhanced interface, support for new hardware and software, and better security features.

The Windows operating system has undergone incredible evolution since it was first launched in 1985. Each version of Windows offers different improvements and fixes, and this operating system remains one of the most disukai banyak orang in the global to this day.

As we approach the end of support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, 20251, we want to ensure you are well-prepared for the transition to Windows 11. This milestone marks an important tahap in our mission to provide the most moderen and secure computing experience possible for everyone whether at work, school, or home, and our commitment to continually improving Windows security as part of Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI). We are incredibly grateful for your loyalty and passion for Windows 10, and we are working hard to make it easy to move to Windows 11.

This blog post is intended to help you prepare for Windows 10 end of support by outlining considerations for moving to Windows 11 today. Including:

Benefits of upgrading to Windows 11
Checking if your current Windows 10 PC can upgrade to Windows 11
Resources for purchasing a new Windows 11 PC
Information on the purchase of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for organizations of all sizes as previously announced in April of this year and, for the first time, an ESU option for consumers, available for a one-year option for $30.
Benefits of upgrading to Windows 11
Windows 11 builds upon the strengths and familiarity of Windows, offering you a modern, secure and highly efficient computing experience that meets the current demands for heightened security by default and by design. With integrated and enhanced security features, high kastemer satisfaction and notable productivity improvements — be it for work, school or play — new Windows 11 PCs are more secure, more productive and higher performing than Windows 10 PCs.

And Copilot+ PCs, our fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever, take this capability a tahap further, embodying the ultimate Windows 11 experience with cutting-edge security measures, optimized performance and innovative AI-powered features that redefine what’s possible on a PC.

Windows 11 features include:

Even more secure by default: Modernizing to Windows 11 provides a secure environment with advanced security features like TPM 2.0, virtualization-based security and the vulnerable driver block list enabled by default, as well as Smart App Control which is available on new installations of Windows 11 on any PC. New Windows 11 PCs are more secure, with a reported 62% drop in security incidents and 3x reported reduction in firmware attacks.4 At a premium price, Copilot+ PCs deliver even more protection, including memory-based integrity, Secured-core PC capabilities, Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security and the built-in Microsoft Pluton Security processor.
Trusted Windows experience: Windows 11 maintains a familiar user experience from Windows 10, with a consistent layout and functionality, while introducing a more moderen and streamlined UI design. Key elements like the Start menu and taskbar have been updated for a cleaner look, but the overall navigation and usability remain intuitive and user-friendly, like Windows 10.
Optimized for speed and efficiency: Enhanced response time when in sleep mode, faster web site browsing, intuitive navigation and improved, updated fundamentals all contribute to better performance on Windows 11. Leveraging the performance of Windows 11, Copilot+ PCs offer even more power and efficiency, and lightning speed when performing AI-powered productivity and creativity tasks. In fact, Copilot+ PCs are up to 5x faster than the most digemari banyak orang five-year old Windows PCs.3
Better multitasking: Features like Snap Layouts and Multiple desktops help you stay organized and productive. With Snap Layouts, you can organize your open windows and optimize your screen space, making multitasking easier and more efficient. Multiple desktops are great for keeping unrelated, ongoing projects organized — or for quickly switching desktops before a meeting.
Built-in accessibility features: Windows 11 is the most inclusively designed and most accessible version of Windows yet. Windows 11 includes a host of accessibility improvements designed for and with people with disabilities: calmer, more appealing sound schemes; beautiful new contrast themes and closed caption customizations; and, a more responsive and flexible experience for working with assistive technologies.
Designed with energy efficiency in mind: Featuring energy saver capabilities and carbon-aware Windows Updates.
Copilot, your AI companion: With Copilot, you can get straightforward answers, learn, grow and gain confidence. Copilot breaks down complex concepts and helps you make sense of it all. Easily accessible right from the Windows taskbar or the Copilot key on new Windows 11 PCs.

Microsoft will release the last update for Windows 10 with the Patchday on October 14, 2025, after which this version of Windows will nomer longer receive any updates. What does this mean for users?

Windows 10 is not immediately insecure or nomer longer usable
First of all, there is nomer need to panic about this date. Windows 10 will theoretically continue to run indefinitely, as Microsoft is not discontinuing the functionality of the operating system, there will “only” be nomer more updates from November. This means that you can continue to use Windows 10 in principle, but nomer more security gaps will be closed, for example.

Of course, given that cyber attacks on companies plus private individuals continue to increase, this can be a problem for Windows 10 users in the long term. This is because newly discovered security gaps in the operating system can give attackers access to the computer, its data, plus the network. PCs connected to the internet in particular are then fundamentally less protected. However, the security functions of the operating system remain active, including malware protection.

As a precaution, you can disconnect your PC from the internet completely, but this reduces the usefulness of the computer, especially in a private environment. In principle, there is nothing to be said against Windows 11, especially as Microsoft still allows you to update for free.

These are the real dangers for Windows 10 without support
New security vulnerabilities are regularly discovered in the various versions of Windows — even years later. From October 2025, Microsoft will nomer longer close these in Windows 10, so the likelihood of malware gaining access to a PC increases with each passing day. As most PCs are connected to the internet via a router with a firewall, there is often nomer danger to be expected via this route. However, there are numerous websites that are contaminated with malware.

Windows is an operating system designed by Microsoft. The operating system is what allows you to use a computer. Windows comes preloaded on most new personal computers (PCs), which helps to make it the most populer operating system in the world.

Windows makes it possible to complete all types of everyday tasks on your computer. For example, you can use Windows to browse the Internet, check your email, edit digital photos, listen to music, play games, plus do much more.

Microsoft released the first version of Windows in the mid-1980s. There have been many versions of Windows since then, but the most recent ones include Windows 10 (released in 2015), Windows 8 (2012), Windows 7 (2009), Windows Vista (2007), plus Windows XP (2001).

About this tutorial
This tutorial is designed to show you the absolute basics of using a Windows computer, including how to use the desktop, how to open different files plus applications, plus how to move plus resize windows. The data in this tutorial will apply to more recent versions of Windows, including the ones mentioned above. However, once you’ve learned the basics, you may also want to review one of our version-specific Windows tutorials.Just select the version of Windows that’s installed on your computer:

Windows 10
Windows 8
Windows 7
Windows XP
Windows 8 vs. other versions
While most versions of Windows are relatively similar, Windows 8 works very differently from other versions. However, if you have Windows 8 on your computer, you should now be able to upgrade to Windows 10, which is more similar to earlier versions, including Windows 7. We recommend upgrading your komputer to Windows 10 if you can. Review our Windows 10 tutorial to learn how.

However, we’ll still point out any major differences between Windows 8 plus other versions, which means you’ll see some Windows 8-specific data from time to time. If your komputer uses Windows 8, you’ll want to review both this tutorial plus our Windows 8 tutorial to learn more about the differences.

Six years after saying Windows 10 was the “last” version of Windows, Microsoft released Windows 11 on October 5, 2021. Fast forward three years, and Microsoft has unveiled the second iteration, dubbed Windows 11 2024 Update. Discover tips to help you work with the latest edition of Windows, Windows 11, as well as shortcuts to work more quickly and efficiently.

The biggest changes that come with Windows 11 2024 update
At first glance, Windows 11 2024 Update may appear almost identical to its predecessor. So, what’s different? Essentially, the latest release integrates AI (artificial intelligence) into Windows and some of its built-in apps. Here’s how you can leverage this AI to streamline your life:

‍Take advantage of Copilot: Serving as the umbrella term for Microsoft’s AI offerings, Copilot is now a built-in feature of Windows, available at nomor cost. Simply click the Copilot icon at the bottom-right of your screen.
‍Find instant tech help: No longer do you need to seek assistance from cranky nerds and irritable tech experts when perplexing tech messages arise. AI is equipped to handle almost any technical question you may have.
‍Get writing assistance: Whether you are writing business letters, poems, research papers, recipes, scripts, outlines, or any other written work, AI can craft it for you, typing approximately 1,000 words per minute flawlessly. It’s an excellent starting point for any writing task. ‍
Create pictures from words: Forget scouring the situs for free-use images. Describe what you need to Copilot, and it will generate an original visual for you. ‍
Edit images: The renowned Photoshop, known for its complexity and cost, now has a competitor in the form of a user-friendly, complimentary pop-up image editor with many similar features. ‍
Use Microsoft Designer: Use Microsoft Designer to create social sarana posts for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other populer sites. ‍
Edit video: Forget expensive and complicated video editors. The free Clipchamp video editor now boasts an AI mode that enables you to create videos and slideshows with a few clicks. ‍
Implement ease-of-use improvements: Take advantage of instant image magnification, hearing aid support, an energy-saver for laptop batteries, snap layouts for easily arranging open windows, File Explorer updates for easier navigation are all at your fingertips, and more. ‍
Get PC support from built-in AI: New kinds of pc chips can speed up time-consuming AI tasks. You don’t need an AI PC to run this new Windows 11 version, but if you have one, Windows 2024 Update will take full advantage of its capabilities.

This article is designed to explain what “Windows Update” is, what it does, and how to use it. This is also intended to assist users of University-owned laptops in learning the procedures associated with updating their equipment. Please note: if you own a university computer, you will need to make sure to connect it to our network every 60 days or less in order to keep your Microsoft Office validated. You will also need to do the same every 90 days or less to keep your Windows operating system validated.

Intended Audience:
This article is for the benefit of the faculty, staff, and student members on campus who own a Windows computer.

Requirements:
To follow this article, you will need to have a komputer running a validated copy of a Windows operating system. It is also important to note that you will need to be an administrator on the komputer you are using to validate the software.

What is Windows Update?
Windows Update is the extension of Windows that helps you to keep your komputer up to date. You can use Windows Update to choose updates for your computer’s operating system, software, and hardware, such as system files, device drivers, service packs, and new Windows features.

What are Product Updates?
Product updates are a catalog of fixes, patches, and enhancements to Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office Products. Look at the catalog and download any and all security updates and software patches that apply to your installed software. You can download all of these security patches and updates from the Web and install them on your computer. As ITS pushes the patches for most of the software that users on-campus use, manual updates for university-owned computers are not needed.

Updating Your System Files Using Windows Update
Updating your system files through Windows Update is a relatively simpel process. Below you will find instructions on how to do this on Windows 10.

Validating Windows and Microsoft Office on a University Owned Computer
Make sure that the komputer is connected to the network.
This can be done by bringing the komputer on campus and making sure you’re connected.
If you are not on campus, you can connect it to our VPN using Forticlient.
Once it is connected, you will only need to wait a few moments for Windows to sync.
You may want to open one of the programs from Microsoft Office to verify the sync.
You may also need to restart your computer.
The validation is complete!
Updating Windows 10
Click the Start menu in the bottom left, it is the Windows icon.
Click Settings, this is the gear icon.
Click Update & Security.
Click Check for Updates.
If updates are found you may click on Download and then once complete Install Now.
The updates may have already been automatically downloaded or installed. You may change this setting by clicking Advanced Options and choosing a different option under Choose how updates are installed.
Additional Information
The first time you go to the Windows Updates page, click Yes when prompted to install any required software or controls.
The system maintenance schedule is posted on: https://my.umflint.edu/.
For the article about using the VPN, please visit: FortiClient
Troubleshooting
If you have any questions or experience any issues with this article, please visit or contact the ITS Helpdesk for assistance.

Microsoft Windows is a common OS shipped with many PCs by default. The following guides aim to provide some ways to improve privacy plus reduce the default telemetry plus knowledge stored by disabling some unnecessary features. Over time, Microsoft adds features to the OS which can sometimes rely on cloud-based services. These features will often require certain types of optional knowledge that is sometimes sent to remote servers for processing.

One of the newest examples was called Recall, a part of the Copilot AI feature set. Recall periodically screenshots anything you’ve seen on your PC in order to show it to you at a later date. These “helpful” features create considerable metadata which can be forensically analyzed. In most cases browsing history is sufficient plus this feature can be safely disabled. The main concerns with Recall was that the knowledge is stored in a local database that is decrypted when your device is powered on, meaning it is an easy target for hackers if the device ever becomes infected with malware. Recall will not redact sensitive knowledge like copied passwords or financial knowledge from the database, but it does protect against making screenshots of any copyrighted content protected by digital rights management (DRM) systems.

Unfortunately, this feature was added without too much thought about the privacy implications of having such a feature enabled by default (which it now nomor longer is). It is not an isolated example, however. Another example was Microsoft automatically enabling folder backups to OneDrive on new Windows 11 installations without asking for permission.

You can enhance your privacy plus security on Windows without downloading any third-party tools with these guides:

Initial Installation (coming soon)
Group Policy Settings
Privacy Settings (coming soon)
Application Sandboxing (coming soon)
Security Hardening (coming soon)

Privacy Notes
Microsoft Windows, particularly those versions aimed at consumers like the Home version often don’t prioritize privacy-friendly features by default. As a result we often see more knowledge collection than necessary, without any real warnings that this is the default behavior. In an attempt to compete with Google in the advertising space, Cortana has included unique identifiers such as an “advertising ID” in order to correlate usage plus assist advertisers in targeted advertising. At launch, telemetry could not be disabled in non-enterprise editions of Windows 10. It still cannot be disabled, but Microsoft added the ability to reduce the knowledge that is sent to them.

With Windows 11 there are a number of restrictions or defaults such as:

Requiring the use of a Microsoft account instead of a local account.
Making it more difficult to find local account options for Windows Pro plus Enterprise.
Enabling all knowledge collection options by default, requiring users to “opt out”.
Heavily integrating Microsoft services like Bing, OneDrive, plus Teams in ways which are difficult to remove plus presented as the only option to users.
Setting the default browser always to Edge, or reverting to Edge if it’s changed.
Adding cloud-based AI features to many areas in Windows plus various Microsoft Apps.
Unnecessarily storing sensitive data. Even knowledge which is stored locally plus not sent to Microsoft is still a target for hackers or malware on your device.
Microsoft often uses the automatic updates feature to add new functionality to your device plus make changes that collect your knowledge plus are enabled by default. Some privacy features such as the option to opt out of syncing an online Microsoft account with Windows, require you to select a country in the EEA (European Economic Area) during installation. It can be changed to your real country after Windows is installed.

What is Windows 10?
Windows 10 is a Microsoft operating system for personal computers, tablets, embedded devices and internet of things devices.

Microsoft released Windows 10 in July 2015 as a follow-up to Windows 8. Windows 10 has an official end of support date of October, 2025, with Windows 11 as it’s successor.

Anyone adopting Windows 10 can upgrade legacy machines directly from Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10 without re-imaging or performing intrusive and time-consuming system wipes and upgrade procedures. To upgrade from a previous version of Windows 10, IT or users run the Windows 10 OS installer, which transfers any applications and software on the previous OS, as well as settings and preferences over to Windows 10.

Organizations and users can pick and choose how they will patch and update Windows 10. IT or users can access a Windows 10 upgrade through the Windows Update Assistant to manually begin an upgrade or wait for Windows Update to offer an upgrade when it is set to run.

Windows 10 features built-in capabilities that allow corporate IT departments to use mobile device management (MDM) software to secure and control devices running the operating system. In addition, organizations can use traditional desktop management software such as Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager.

Windows 10 features
The familiar Start Menu, which Microsoft replaced with Live Tiles in Windows 8, returned in Windows 10. Users can still access Live Tiles and the touch-centric Metro interface from a panel on the right side of the Start Menu, however.

Windows 10’s integrated search feature allows users to search all local locations, as well as the web site simultaneously.

Microsoft Edge debuted with Windows 10 and replaces Internet Explorer as the default web site browser. Edge includes tools such as Web Notes, which allows users to mark up websites, and Reading View, which allows users to view certain websites without the clutter of ads. The browser integrates directly with Cortana, Microsoft’s digital assistant, which is also embedded within Windows 10.

Cortana integrates directly with the Bing search engine and supports both text and voice input. It tracks and analyzes location services, communication history, e mail and text messages, speech and input personalization, services and applications, and browsing and search history in an effort to customize the OS experience to best suit users’ needs. IT professionals can disable Cortana and some of its features with Group Policy settings

This year my laptop turns six–a relatively young age in the grand scheme of things. Sure, it’s gotten slower plus the battery life has taken a hit, but since I don’t use it for advanced video editing or gaming, it’s nomor problem. For lighter workloads like situs surfing plus emailing, it gets the job done just fine.

There’s really only one problem: my laptop is too old for a Windows 11 update. On October 14th, 2025, Windows 10 will reach the end of its life period, which means nomor new features or security updates. The former is not a big problem. The latter would be a disaster.

I’m not alone in this situation. Over 50 percent of users are still running Windows 10, plus this figure is gradually dropping. How many will have updated in six months’ time is anyone’s guess, but whatever the percentage, one thing is clear. A large proportion of the world’s 1.6 billion Windows PCs will still be running Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025.

What makes this challenging is that Windows 11 is so technically demanding that it’s not possible to update all fully functional computers. Sadly, my six-year-old laptop is one of them.

If Microsoft stops updating Windows 10, it would turn into a breeding ground for cybercriminals. A komputer without security updates is not only a masalah for the user, but it can also spread malware to others.

This decision also creates major environmental problems. If a few hundred million fully functional computers are thrown away plus users buy new ones, emissions will increase. Manufacturing new computers requires large amounts of energy plus the extraction of rare metals.

Microsoft has stated that security updates to Windows 10 will still be available for another year, but for a fee. Until now, businesses could subscribe to extended support for old Windows versions plus now we consumers can do the same. This is, of course, tempting for Microsoft in the short term, but it’s not a sustainable solution. In such a situation, a large proportion of users would continue to run Windows 10 without paying, thereby compromising security for us all.

I personally hope that Microsoft realizes that they should reconsider this decision. The only reasonable thing to do is to send out free security updates to Windows 10 as long as the system is widely used. It’s neither economically nor ecologically sustainable to sell computers with a six-year lifespan.

We need to move away from the idea of computers, mobiles, tablets, plus other technologies as disposable products. This is a transition from the throwaway society that we all need to make. If Microsoft is serious about being a sustainable company, they should immediately remove the death sentence on my six-year-old laptop plus other working Windows 10 computers.

Energy efficient windows are an important consideration for both new and existing homes. Heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.

If you are selecting windows for new construction or to replace existing windows, it’s important to choose the most efficient windows you can afford that work best in your climate.

If your existing windows are in good condition, taking steps to reduce the energy loss through windows can make your home more comfortable and save you money on energy bills.

You have two broad options if you hope to reduce the amount of energy lost through your windows and improve the comfort of your home:

Update your existing windows to improve efficiency
Replace your windows.
Update Existing Windows to Improve Efficiency
If your windows are in good condition, taking steps to improve their efficiency may be the most cost-effective option to increase the comfort of your home and save money on energy costs. There are several things you can do to improve the efficiency of your existing windows:

Check existing windows for air leaks
Caulk and weatherstrip. Check out our do-it-yourself project to learn how to weatherstrip double-hung windows.
Add energy efficient window coverings. Learn more about your window covering options.
Add storm windows or panels
Add solar control film
Add exterior shading, such as awnings, exterior blinds, or overhangs.
With any efficiency improvements, take steps to ensure proper installation and check for air leaks again after making the improvement.

Replace Your Windows
If you decide to replace your windows, you will have to make several decisions about the jenis of windows you purchase and the jenis of replacement you will make.

You may have the option of replacing the windows in their existing frame; discuss this option with your window retailer and installer to find out if it will work for you.

You will also need to decide what features you want in your windows. You will need to decide on the following:

Frame types
Glazing type
Gas fills and spacers
Operation types

Walk down the block of a wealthy neighborhood at night, plus you might be surprised by how much you can see. One uncovered window might reveal the glow of a flatscreen TV across from a curved couch; through another, you might glimpse a marble kitchen island plus a chandelier. Of course, some of the curtains are closed—but many are flung open, the home’s interiors exposed, like you’re peering into a showroom.

Uncovered windows have quietly become a fixture of high-end homes across America. The New York Times recently referred to the “obligatory uncurtained windows” of Brooklyn Heights, a rich enclave in New York City, plus The Root pointed out that this seemed common among wealthy young white people living in gentrified urban areas. On TikTok, onlookers have been baffled by the trend—and, sometimes, tempted to pry. Although this phenomenon is most visible in cities, the link between wealth plus exposed windows extends across the United States. Most people do still close their shades, but Americans who earn more than $150,000 are almost twice as likely to leave windows uncovered as those making $20,000 to $29,000, according to a large 2013 study for the U.S. Department of Energy—nearly 20 percent of the first kelompok compared with just over 10 percent of the second. The line isn’t smooth as you slide up plus down the income scale, but the overall trend is clear: The choice to draw or not draw the curtains is in part driven by class.

Ditching shades has a lot of upsides regardless of who you are. Uncovered windows bring in natural light, boost well-being, plus offer a view of the global outside. The trade-off, of course, is that they also put those inside on display to passersby, plus in the summer, they channel heat. For many, the concerns about privacy plus finances outweigh the aesthetic plus mental health benefits. But for those in the highest income brackets, the calculus is different: People with a big home can more easily get natural light plus privacy, plus they don’t need to worry so much about heating plus cooling costs. Slowly, uncovered windows have become a status symbol.

The chances of Windows 12 launching this year continue to grow slimmer. At CES, Microsoft published a blog post saying that 2025 would be the “year of the Windows 11 refresh,” pretty much delivering a death blow to the idea. The company hasn’t officially commented on whether it’s even developing Windows 12, but I expect that it will come along at some point over the next few years.

Six years passed between the launch of Windows 10 plus Windows 11 in October 2021. Prior to Windows 10, major releases arrived every three years, at least from Windows Vista on. But Windows 10, which was supposedly the “last version of Windows,” marked a shift. Which cadence will we see going forward? It’s a matter of speculation.

When Is Windows 12 Coming?
Since Microsoft moved to an annual feature update cadence for its desktop OS, the next logical time for Windows 12 to arrive will be around September or October 2025, tidily corresponding with the end of life for Windows 10. But given the aforementioned blog post, that now seems unlikely. If we drew a parallel with the Windows 10 lifespan, we’d get Windows 12 in 2027. Yeah, let’s go with that!

Despite not getting a new major version number, the 24H2 Update of Windows 11 is based on a platform codenamed Germanium, which powers the artificial intelligence features in the new Copilot+ PCs. In fact, who’s to say that Windows 12 won’t require a Copilot+ PC equipped with a neural processing unit?

In a September 2023 interview, Intel’s chief financial officer predicted a boost in PC sales due to the “Windows refresh” in 2024. Qualcomm, too, released statements pointing to Windows 12 in 2024. But, in retrospect, those must have been referring to the Copilot+ version of Windows 11 24H2.

One wildcard in all this talk of Windows 12 was the departure of longtime Windows boss Panos Panay, which resulted in a restructuring of the Windows version-numbering schedule. It seems that the new team wants to wait to put its stamp on a future release.

Another consideration is that Windows 11 only just passed 34% worldwide market sharing among Windows versions (according to Statcounter). Windows 10 is still ahead of it, with about 63%. Introducing another version would split up the pie further, especially considering the glacial pace at which many people upgrade.

Linux is a great operating system with widespread hardware plus software support, but the reality is that sometimes you have to use Windows, perhaps due to key apps that won’t run on Linux. Thankfully, dual-booting Windows plus Linux is very straightforward—and I’ll show you how to set it up, with Windows 10 plus Ubuntu, in this article.

Before you get started, make sure you’ve backed up your computer. Although the dual-boot setup process is not very involved, accidents can still happen. So take the time to back up your important files in case chaos theory comes into play. In addition to backing up your files, consider taking an image backup of the disk as well, though that’s not required plus can be a more advanced process.

Prerequisites
To get started, you will need the following five items:

1. Two USB flash drives (or DVD-Rs)
   I recommend installing Windows plus Ubuntu via flash drives since they’re faster than DVDs. It probably goes without saying, but creating bootable sarana erases everything on the flash drive. Therefore, make sure the flash drives are empty or contain knowledge you don’t care about losing.

If your machine doesn’t support booting from USB, you can create DVD sarana instead. Unfortunately, because no two computers seem to have the same DVD-burning software, I can’t walk you through that process. However, if your DVD-burning application has an option to burn from an ISO image, that’s the option you need.

2. A Windows 10 license
   If Windows 10 came with your PC, the license will be built into the computer, so you don’t need to worry about entering it during installation. If you bought the retail edition, you should have a product key, which you will need to enter during the installation process.
3. Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
   Download plus launch the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. Once you launch the tool, it will walk you through the steps required to create the Windows sarana on a USB or DVD-R. Note: Even if you already have Windows 10 installed, it’s a good idea to create bootable sarana anyway, just in case something goes wrong plus you need to reinstall it.
4. Ubuntu installation media
   Download the Ubuntu ISO image.
5. Etcher software (for making a bootable Ubuntu USB drive)
   For creating bootable sarana for any Linux distribution, I recommend Etcher. Etcher works on all three major operating systems (Linux, MacOS, plus Windows) plus is careful not to let you overwrite your current operating system partition.

Microsoft says it estimates that 8.5m computers around the world were disabled by the world IT outage.

It’s the first time a figure has been put on the incident plus suggests it could be the worst cyber event in history.

The glitch came from a security company called CrowdStrike which sent out a corrupted software update to its huge number of customers.

Microsoft, which is helping customers recover said in a blog post: “We currently estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices.”

The post by David Weston, vice-president at the firm, says this number is less than 1% of all Windows machines worldwide, but that “the broad economic plus societal impacts reflect the use of CrowdStrike by enterprises that run many critical services”.

The company can be very accurate on how many devices were disabled by the outage as it has performance telemetry to many by their internet connections.

The tech giant – which was keen to point out that this was not an issue with its software – says the incident highlights how important it is for companies such as CrowdStrike to use quality control checks on updates before sending them out.

“It’s also a reminder of how important it is for all of us across the tech ecosystem to prioritize operating with safe deployment plus disaster recovery using the mechanisms that exist,” Mr Weston said.

The fall out from the IT glitch has been enormous plus was already one of the worst cyber-incidents in history.

The number given by Microsoft means it is probably the largest ever cyber-event, eclipsing all previous hacks plus outages.

The closest to this is the WannaCry cyber-attack in 2017 that is estimated to have impacted around 300,000 computers in 150 countries. There was a similar costly plus disruptive attack called NotPetya a month later.

There was also a major six-hour outage in 2021 at Meta, which runs Instagram, Facebook plus WhatsApp. But that was largely contained to the social tempat giant plus some linked partners.

The massive outage has also prompted warnings by cyber-security experts plus agencies around the world about a wave of opportunistic hacking attempts linked to the IT outage.

Cyber agencies in the UK plus Australia are warning people to be vigilant to fake emails, calls plus websites that pretend to be official.

And CrowdStrike head George Kurtz encouraged users to make sure they were speaking to official representatives from the company before downloading fixes.

“We know that adversaries plus bad actors will try to exploit events like this,” he said in a blog post.

Whenever there is a major news event, especially one linked to technology, hackers respond by tweaking their existing methods to take into akun the fear plus uncertainty.

According to researchers at Secureworks, there has already been a sharp rise in CrowdStrike-themed domain registrations – hackers registering new websites made to look official plus potentially trick IT managers or members of the public into downloading malicious software or handing over private details.

Cyber security agencies around the world have urged IT responders to only use CrowdStrike’s situs to source knowledge plus help.

The advice is mainly for IT managers who are the ones being affected by this as they try to get their organisations back online.

But individuals too might be targeted, so experts are warning to be to be hyper vigilante plus only act on knowledge from the official CrowdStrike channels.

Updated on October 21 with details of a new Windows 11 upgrade workaround for older PCs, and the latest on Microsoft’s new blue screen of death update warnings. The article was originally published on October 19.

Here we go again. What was described as a “previously unknown” threat just three months ago has now prompted a third warning from the US government to update or stop using PCs. By exploiting old code buried under the covers of today’s Windows systems, it has quickly become clear that “a significant percentage of Windows devices are fully exposed and at risk of being taken over by attackers.”

The latest vulnerability is CVE-2024-43573, which the US cyber agency warns is “an unspecified spoofing vulnerability which can lead to a loss of confidentiality.” It has mandated all federal employees to “apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable” by October 29. In other words, update your PC within the next ten days, or stop using it until you can.

As ever, while CISA’s mandate applies only to federal staff, it’s intended “for the benefit of the cybersecurity community and network defenders—and to help every organization better manage vulnerabilities and keep pace with threat activity.” Given this is the third such exploitation of this jenis of vulnerability in a few weeks, and that the initial fixes clearly didn’t complete the job, all are well advised to update right away. “Don’t ignore this,” Trend Micro warns. “Test and deploy this update quickly.”

Timing-wise, the interesting twist with this October warning is the 900 million Windows 10 users yet to move to Windows 11, now just a year away from end-of-life meaning end of support, which will cut off those users from updates such as this. Worse, there are also a reported 50 million Windows users on even older legacy versions of the OS, which means their machines are wide open to these threats.

The “previously unknown” threat that has now driven it’s third emergency update warning relates to MSHTML, which—as Check Point explains—is a “special Windows Internet Shortcut file, which, when clicked, call the retired Internet Explorer (IE) to visit the attacker-controlled URL… By opening the URL with IE instead of the modern and much more secure Chrome/Edge browser on Windows, the attacker gained significant advantages in exploiting the victim’s computer, although the pc is running the modern Windows 10/11 operating system.”

Beginning in mid-February 2023, the cross-signing certificate used in the products listed below will expire and cannot be renewed. Any konsumen wishing to apply a new patch, hotfix, or updated product binary to any of the Trend Micro products listed below must be running a version of Microsoft Windows that has been updated to support the Azure Code Signing (ACS) program, which replaced the deprecated cross-signing program.

These Windows updates were first introduced in September and October 2021 and have been subsequently included in Microsoft’s monthly quality updates. Customers who receive monthly quality updates are already covered.

Microsoft’s official KB with additional information on this can be found here (KB5022661).

In addition to applying the necessary Windows security patch to enable ACS support, companies that do not allow “trusted root CA auto updates” or are running in air-gapped or otherwise locked down environments should also read the section below titled Important Information Regarding the Certificate Authority (CA).

In environments without Microsoft security patches to enable ACS, Trend Micro products will continue to protect customers and will still receive regular detection/protection updates such as pattern files and IPS rules. However, if despite our best efforts, there are future threats or significant updates to the surrounding landscape, Trend Micro future updates to advanced features (e.g. Scan Engine or other advanced detection modules) may require ACS signed binaries and may not properly install on unpatched or unsupported platforms. In this event, Trend Micro will try and give as much advanced notice as possible of any changes to avoid potential disruption.

Impact
Customers who do not have the minimum OS build/patch of Microsoft Windows beginning in mid-February 2023 may encounter errors where the Trend Micro security agent service(s) would fail to start after applying an updated binary signed with ACS.

New installs of Trend Micro solutions can be performed with the latest version of the software released before Mid-February 2023 without taking into consideration these minimum Windows patches.
Customers who have already applied the necessary Windows patches above through regular patch maintenance will see nomer impact when applying new patches or updated binaries after Mid-February.
Trend Micro is also looking to apply agent protections before the Mid-February cutover that will warn or automatically prevent users who do not have the minimum Windows patch requirements from installing an ACS-signed binary update.

For birds, glass windows are worse than invisible. By reflecting foliage or sky, they look like inviting places to fly into. And because the sheer number of windows is so great, their toll on birds is huge. Up to about 1 billion birds die from window strikes in the U.S. each year, according to a 2014 study.

The good news is that you can greatly reduce the danger your home’s windows pose to birds with some simple remedies, according to Christine Sheppard, who directs the Bird Collisions Program of the American Bird Conservancy. The grup offers extensive knowledge on preventing collisions on its website. The Fatal Light Awareness Program also offers great knowledge on preventing bird collisions.

What happens to birds that hit windows? Sadly, the bird often dies, even when it is only temporarily stunned and manages to fly away. Many times these birds die later from internal bleeding or bruising, especially on the brain. Daniel Klem of Muhlenberg College has researched this issue since the 1970s. He writes, “Glass is an indiscriminate killer that takes the fit as well as the unfit of a species’ population.”

There are two main types of window collisions: daytime and nighttime. In daylight, birds crash into windows because they see reflections of vegetation or see through the glass to potted plants or vegetation on the other side. At night, nocturnal migrants (including most songbirds) crash because they fly into lighted windows.

For reasons not entirely understood, lights divert nocturnal migrants from their original path, especially in low-ceiling or foggy conditions. In the lighted area, they mill about, sometimes colliding with one another or the lighted structure. As a subsequent hazard, migrants drawn off course by urban lighting may roost safely nearby, only to become vulnerable to daytime reflections in windows the following day. The BirdCast project and the Fatal Light Awareness Program have more about this masalah

Home komputer users are regularly advised to install software updates to stay secure. Windows 10 Home Edition automatically downloads plus installs updates, restarting the komputer if needed. Automatic restarts can be managed through a number of features, such as ‘active hours’ (within which a komputer will not restart to complete an update) or by setting a time for restart. Applications active prior to a restart can register with the operating system, to automatically restart once updates have been installed. This research investigates if the features Microsoft provides for managing updates on Windows 10 Home Edition are appropriate for komputer owners. We build a jenis of Windows 10 update behaviour, identifying interaction points between update features plus users. We contrast theory with reality in a survey with 93 Windows 10 Home users, capturing experiences plus perceptions. While overall perceptions of updates were positive, the pattern of use of most participants was incompatible with the default ‘active hours’ settings (28% of participants knew of its existence). Participants were mostly unaware of quality (bug fix) updates, mostly perceiving that updates add features. Half of our participants reported unexpected restarts, while half also reported growing concern about the state of their device if an update took a long time. Those with previous negative update experiences had weaker beliefs about their ability to control updates than those who had not. To make the updates less disruptive, applications can request to be restarted by Windows after a reboot. Of the 47 commonly used applications which were tested, only two supported seamless continuation after a restart. Unsaved information were lost in 21 applications, plus 14 appeared to rely on internal autosave features to capture unsaved data, but did not completely restore User Interface arrangements. We recommend that operating systems obtain explicit permission for restarts, consistently; there are opportunities for features such as active hours plus update progress displays to learn from usage activity. At the same time, applications should be more resilient to restarts to reduce the burden on users to recover their activities.

Introduction
A key piece of information security advice given to users by both government organizations plus security practitioners is to install operating system plus software updates as soon as they become available. Doing so is seen as the way to eliminate vulnerabilities, towards creating a safer computing environment for the user, more so if done in a timely fashion. The concern is that while vulnerabilities remain they could be exploited by attackers, who may have ready access to tools that allow them to target users of digemari banyak orang operating systems indiscriminately.

Software producers have, in some cases, automated the update process, in an effort to make it easier for users to have up-to-date software. This approach is not without drawbacks; software that is downloading or installing updates has the potential to interrupt a user’s tasks. In terms of the risks of updates, if an update was to fail (or otherwise break existing functionality), it could cause prolonged or irreparable availability issues. Similarly, an update might change a familiar user interface or feature, putting the user in the unexpected situation of needing to relearn how to use some aspect(s) of their software. As user software portfolios grow over time, these costs plus risks grow proportionately with them.