All articles tagged with #windows
Microsoft introduced a PowerShell-based CLI for the Microsoft Store, enabling search, installation, and updates of Store apps directly from the command line, including bulk updates; however, it only works with Store-listed apps and may not include popular programs like Chrome or Paint.NET.
Microsoft reveals a new DNS-based variant of the ClickFix social-engineering tactic that tricks users into running commands via the Windows Run dialog to perform a DNS lookup with a hard-coded external server. The output’s Name: field becomes the second-stage payload, followed by a ZIP download from azwsappdev[.]com that leads to a Python script, a VBScript launcher for ModeloRAT, and persistence through a startup LNK. The campaign Fos’s broader ecosystem includes loaders and stealers (CastleLoader, Lumma Stealer, RenEngine Loader, Hijack Loader) across Windows and macOS, leveraging fake CAPTCHA pages, social-engineering lures, and aged domains to blend into normal traffic and evade detections.}
ZDNet highlights 10 free, open-source Windows apps—LibreOffice, Flow Launcher, Duplicati, Nextcloud, Franz, YAZB, File Converter, Bitwarden, AutoHotKey, and Ollama—showcasing local-first tools for office work, fast app search, encrypted backups, private cloud, unified messaging, system widgets, file conversion, password management, automation, and local AI hosting.
The next Xbox is expected to be a Windows PC with a TV-first, controller-focused interface and support for third‑party stores, but delivering a polished gaming experience without Windows’ legacy quirks remains challenging—evidenced by Windows 11 updates that briefly broke the Xbox Ally and the looming late‑2027 launch timeline.
Microsoft is deploying a “swarm” of engineers in 2026 to fix Windows 11’s core performance and reliability problems, modernize neglected features (like dark mode and File Explorer), address update-related boot issues, and curb intrusive Edge/Bing prompts and AI clutter, in a bid to rebuild user trust after a string of bugs and frustrating prompts—even as Windows 11 has surpassed 1 billion users.
Windows Central frames a discussion on growing user distrust of Microsoft’s Windows direction, highlighting a reader poll that asks readers to pick the biggest reason for trust loss—forced UI changes (like taskbar/Start menu), ads in the OS, privacy/telemetry concerns, and unclear Insider feedback—while noting the editorial stance that the issue isn’t Windows itself, but Microsoft’s direction.
The January Patch Tuesday Windows update, designed to fix security flaws, also introduced several fresh bugs: Outlook freezing/not responding (with PSTs on OneDrive), app errors when opening cloud-saved files, and licensing/Store issues for some apps. Microsoft released at least one out-of-band fix for Remote Desktop and Secure Launch, but many problems remain unresolved. Workarounds include using Outlook on the web, moving PST files off OneDrive, or uninstalling the update while awaiting a fuller fix.
Microsoft released Windows App Development CLI (winapp) in public preview, an open-source command-line tool for Windows app developers designed to simplify work across different frameworks and toolchains and enable native Windows features for those targeting Windows.
Microsoft has advised Windows users to uninstall a recently installed Windows Update after widespread reports of system instability, guiding steps to remove the patch via Settings and noting that the company is investigating the issue while a fix is developed.
Microsoft’s latest Windows update reportedly caused widespread disruption, affecting millions of Windows PCs with outages and broken features. Microsoft acknowledged the issue and is racing to roll out a fix, while users are advised to delay applying the update or consider rollback options until a remediation is available.
Microsoft PowerToys 0.97 adds CursorWrap, a feature that teleports the mouse to the opposite edge on multi‑monitor setups, and heavily upgrades Command Palette with built‑in extensions, file previews, personalization options, and easier control of other PowerToys and remote desktop tools, aiming to streamline tasks across Windows displays. Availability via Microsoft Store or GitHub.
Microsoft issued out-of-band patches to fix bugs introduced by the January 2026 Windows update, including Remote Desktop sign-in failures and a Secure Launch restart issue affecting Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server; affected systems should install the updates via Windows Update or have IT push them in managed environments.
Microsoft has issued emergency security updates for a large number of Windows PCs to fix a critical vulnerability. The patches, delivered through Windows Update, are meant to prevent exploitation and potential remote-code execution, and users and organizations are urged to install them promptly and reboot to complete the update.
Samsung Internet for Windows, once restricted to Korea and the US, is now available to all users in beta; it supports cross-device syncing via Samsung Pass and lets you continue browsing across Android and Windows, suggesting a move toward a stable release though there’s no official announcement yet.
GOG’s new owner Michał Kiciński criticized Windows as poor-quality software in a PC Gamer interview and said Linux is on the radar as the storefront explores stronger Linux support, signaling a potential shift away from Windows for PC gaming.