windows 11
Microsoft announces new mobile-style Windows security controls
Microsoft wants to introduce smartphone-style app permission prompts in Windows 11 to request user consent before apps can access sensitive resources such as files, cameras, and microphones. The “Windows Baseline Security Mode” and “User Transparency and Consent” initiatives represent a major shift for the operating system that now powers more than 1 billion devices. Windows Platform engineer […]
Microsoft rolls out native Sysmon monitoring in Windows 11
Microsoft has started rolling out built-in Sysmon functionality to some Windows 11 systems enrolled in the Windows Insider program. Microsoft first revealed plans to integrate Sysmon natively into Windows 11 and Windows Server in November, when it also confirmed that it will soon release detailed documentation. Sysmon (short for System Monitor) is a free Microsoft Sysinternals tool […]
Microsoft: January update shutdown bug affects more Windows PCs
Microsoft has confirmed that a known issue preventing some Windows 11 devices from shutting down also affects Windows 10 systems with Virtual Secure Mode (VSM) enabled. VSM is a Windows security feature that creates an isolated, protected memory region separate from the normal operating system (known as the “secure kernel”), using hardware virtualization that is extremely […]
Microsoft fixes bug causing password sign-in option to disappear
Microsoft has fixed a known issue that was causing the password sign-in option to disappear from the lock screen options after installing Windows 11 updates released since August 2025. The password icon appears on the lock screen only if multiple sign-in options (e.g., PIN, password, security key, fingerprint) are available. However, if you use only […]
Microsoft to disable NTLM by default in future Windows releases
Microsoft announced that it will disable the 30-year-old NTLM authentication protocol by default in upcoming Windows releases due to security vulnerabilities that expose organizations to cyberattacks. NTLM (short for New Technology LAN Manager) is a challenge-response authentication protocol introduced in 1993 with Windows NT 3.1 and is the successor to the LAN Manager (LM) protocol. Kerberos has superseded NTLM and […]
Windows 11 KB5074105 update fixes boot, sign-in, and activation issues
Microsoft has released the KB5074105 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 systems, which includes 32 changes, including fixes for sign-in, boot, and activation issues. KB5074105 is an optional update that delivers updates at the end of each month, allowing admins to test Windows bug fixes, new features, and improvements that will be generally available during next month’s Patch […]
Microsoft links Windows 11 boot failures to failed December 2025 update
Microsoft has linked recent reports of Windows 11 boot failures after installing the January 2026 updates to previously failed attempts to install the December 2025 security update, which left systems in an “improper state.” The boot failures were first reported earlier this month after users installed the January 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative update, KB5074109, on Windows 11 […]
Microsoft investigates Windows 11 boot failures after January updates
Microsoft is investigating reports that some Windows 11 devices are failing to boot with “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME” errors after installing the January 2026 Patch Tuesday security updates. The issue affects Windows 11 version 25H2 and all editions of Windows 11 version 24H2 after installing the KB5074109 cumulative update released as part of this month’s updates. According to Microsoft, some customers have […]
Microsoft releases emergency OOB update to fix Outlook freezes
Microsoft has released emergency, out-of-band updates on Saturday for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server to fix an issue that prevented Microsoft Outlook classic from opening when using PSTs stored in cloud storage. Since Microsoft released the January 2026 Patch Tuesday updates, Outlook app users have been encountering freezes when opening the application if a PST […]
Microsoft updates Notepad and Paint with more AI features
Microsoft is rolling out new artificial intelligence features with the latest updates to the Notepad and Paint apps for Windows 11 Insiders. These changes are rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels, who have upgraded to the latest versions. Notepad version 11.2512.10.0 now streams AI-generated results for Write, Rewrite, and Summarize […]