microsoft
Windows 11 KB5044284 and KB5044285 cumulative updates released
Microsoft has released the KB5044284 and KB5044285 Windows 11 cumulative updates for versions 24H2 and 22H2/23H2 to fix security vulnerabilities and resolve 27 bugs and performance issues. Both are mandatory cumulative updates containing the October 2024 Patch Tuesday security updates for vulnerabilities discovered in previous months. Windows 11 users can install them by going to Start > Settings > Windows […]
Windows 10 KB5044273 update released with 9 fixes, security updates
Microsoft has released the KB5044273 cumulative update for Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 10 21H2, which includes nine changes and fixes, including a new Windows Update opt-in notification shown when you log in to the operating system. The Windows 10 KB5044273 update is mandatory as it contains Microsoft’s October 2024 Patch Tuesday security updates. Windows users […]
Microsoft Office 2024 now available for Windows and macOS users
Microsoft has released Office 2024 for small businesses and consumers who want a standalone version without a Microsoft 365 subscription. Office 2024 includes updated, locked-in-time versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook for Windows and macOS systems. It also requires a Microsoft account and an internet connection (likely needed during the installation and for […]
Windows 11 24H2 now rolling out, here are the new features
Today, Microsoft announced the release of Windows 11, version 24H2, the next feature update for its operating system (also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update). Windows 11 24H2 started rolling out in May to enterprise customers enrolled in the Release Preview Channel of the Windows Insider Program for Business. It has also been available on Copilot+ […]
Embargo ransomware escalates attacks to cloud environments
Microsoft warns that ransomware threat actor Storm-0501 has recently switched tactics and now targets hybrid cloud environments, expanding its strategy to compromise all victim assets. The threat actor first emerged in 2021 as a ransomware affiliate for the Sabbath ransomware operation. Later they started to deploy file-encrypting malware from Hive, BlackCat, LockBit, and Hunters International gangs. […]
Windows 10 KB5043131 update released with 9 changes and fixes
Microsoft has released the September 2024 non-security preview update for Windows 10, version 22H2, with fixes for bugs causing Edge web browser freezes and media playback issues. Today’s optional cumulative update (KB5043131) is a maintenance release designed to allow Windows administrators to test fixes and improvements. This will ensure a more reliable user experience when […]
Windows vulnerability abused braille “spaces” in zero-day attacks
A recently fixed “Windows MSHTML spoofing vulnerability” tracked under CVE-2024-43461 is now marked as previously exploited after it was used in attacks by the Void Banshee APT hacking group. When first disclosed as part of the September 2024 Patch Tuesday, Microsoft had not marked the vulnerability as previously exploited. However, on Friday, Microsoft updated the CVE-2024-43461 advisory to indicate it […]
Windows Downdate tool lets you ‘unpatch’ Windows systems
SafeBreach security researcher Alon Leviev has released his Windows Downdate tool, which can be used for downgrade attacks that reintroduce old vulnerabilities in up-to-date Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server systems. In such attacks, threat actors force up-to-date targeted devices to revert to older software versions, thus reintroducing security vulnerabilities that can be exploited to compromise […]
Microsoft Sway abused in massive QR code phishing campaign
A massive QR code phishing campaign abused Microsoft Sway, a cloud-based tool for creating online presentations, to host landing pages to trick Microsoft 365 users into handing over their credentials. The attacks were spotted by Netskope Threat Labs in July 2024 after detecting a dramatic 2,000-fold increase in attacks exploiting Microsoft Sway to host phishing […]
Microsoft confirms August updates break Linux boot in dual-boot systems
Microsoft has confirmed the August 2024 Windows security updates are causing Linux booting issues on dual-boot systems with Secure Boot enabled. The issue is caused by a Secure Boot Advanced Targeting (SBAT) update applied to block Linux boot loaders unpatched against the CVE-2022-2601 GRUB2 Secure Boot bypass vulnerability. “Resulting from this issue, your device might fail to boot […]