31 Aug, 2026

Microsoft Entra ID gets passkeys default authentication starting September

Microsoft has announced that passkeys will become the default authentication method for the Entra ID enterprise identity service starting September 2026. Passkeys will be enabled automatically for Entra ID users now using phone-based SMS and voice authentication, which will be retired in February 2027 across all tenants. However, users who are already signing into their […]

2 mins read

Microsoft starts testing cleaner Windows Search without ads

Microsoft is now testing a cleaner and faster version of Windows Search that should prioritize relevant results over ads and promotional content. These changes are part of a broader effort to improve Windows search, announced by Windows president Pavan Davuluri in March and aimed at delivering a more consistent experience across the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, […]

3 mins read

Microsoft expects more Windows security updates from AI-discovered flaws

Microsoft says Windows users should expect to see an increase in security updates as the company increasingly relies on artificial intelligence to discover vulnerabilities in its codebase. In a blog post published today, Microsoft said advances in AI have significantly accelerated vulnerability discovery, allowing engineers to identify more security issues before they can be exploited […]

2 mins read

Microsoft patches RoguePlanet Defender zero-day vulnerability

Microsoft has released a security patch to address a Defender zero-day vulnerability known as “RoguePlanet,” disclosed after the June 2026 Patch Tuesday. The flaw (tracked as CVE-2026-50656) was disclosed by a security researcher using the “Nightmare Eclipse” handle as part of an ongoing dispute with Microsoft over the company’s bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure practices. They […]

2 mins read

Microsoft to enable Windows settings backup by default for orgs

Microsoft says the Windows settings backup and restore tool will be enabled by default on Microsoft Entra-joined or Microsoft Entra hybrid-joined enterprise systems after upgrading to Windows 11 26H2. Formerly known as Windows Backup for Organizations, this backup tool helps back up and restore enterprise users’ Windows settings after a device is reset, replaced, upgraded, or […]

2 mins read

Microsoft testing new Cloud Rebuild Windows 11 recovery feature

Microsoft has begun testing the Cloud Rebuild recovery feature in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview builds released for users in the Experimental channel. First introduced at the Ignite developer conference in November 2025, Cloud Rebuild is a tool that can remotely trigger a complete system reinstall from the cloud for Windows 11 devices experiencing persistent […]

2 mins read

Microsoft fixes GIF functionality in the Windows Emoji Panel

Microsoft has fixed the GIF functionality in the Emoji Panel for Windows 11 users after the provider shut down its service. According to Microsoft, the GIF feature stopped working suddenly on June 30 for some users after Google’s Tenor GIF search engine retired its application programming interface (API). “Starting on June 30, 2026, you might […]

2 mins read

Microsoft extends Windows Server 2022 hotpatching until October 2027

Microsoft has extended Windows Server 2022 hotpatching until October 2027, one year after the mainstream end date of October 2026. This comes with the following caveat: extended support is only available for systems running Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition that are enrolled in hotpatch updates. This change is effective immediately, and the existing hotpatch cadence will remain […]

2 mins read

Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027

Microsoft has quietly extended its free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers by an additional year, allowing enrolled devices to continue receiving security updates until October 12, 2027. The change was made without a formal announcement and instead appeared in updates to Microsoft’s Windows 10 ESU documentation and as an “Editor’s note” to a Windows […]

3 mins read

Windows 11 KB5095093 update rolls out new Point-in-Time restore feature

Microsoft has released the KB5095093 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, which fixes numerous bugs and begins rolling out new features, including the new Point-in-Time restore feature. The KB5095093 update is part of the company’s optional non-security preview update schedule, which releases updates at the end of each month to test new fixes and features coming in […]

15 mins read