Windows 10?

[rebel scum]

It still pops up when I scroll....I have turned it off repeatedly. it pops up to ask me what it can help me with but I can't ask it how it can kill itself until I turn it back on.....I can't believe that no one has had this........that installed 10 of course.....dammit. Turning it off does not stop the constant pop ups. At this point I really just want it gone. Completely.

[spicoli]

I really don't understand your problem with Cortana. I have 4 PC's with W-10 and all I did was take the Cortana box/icon off the task bar and I have never heard or seen any evidence of it.

I have never tried to use the thing - maybe that has something to do with it.

You can chat about W-10 with MS for free. They have actually been of help on a couple of issues that I have had with W-10.

[Isegrim]

Originally Posted by rebel scum

... cortana, who's window box pops up on my screen when I try to scroll with my touchpad on the laptop...

Since it seems to be connected some how with the use of the touchpad, how about deinstalling the drivers of this device, then (!) shutting down cortana and reinstalling the touchpad drivers?

[Rick Danger]

ZDNet

Every version of Windows hit by "critical" security flaw
An attacker can install malware on all affected systems.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day
July 12, 2016 -- 18:11 GMT (11:11 PDT) | Topic: Security

Microsoft has patched a security vulnerability found in every supported version of Windows, which if exploited could allow an attacker to take over a system.

The software giant said in a bulletin posted Tuesday as part of its monthly release of security fixes that the the "critical" flaw could let an attacker remotely install malware, which can be used to modify or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights.

The "critical"-rated flaw affects Windows Vista and later -- including Windows Server 2008 and later.

Those who are logged in as an administrator, such as some home accounts and server users, are at the greatest risk.

An attacker could exploit the flaw by conducting a man-in-the-middle attack on a system or print server and injecting malicious code. That's possible because the print spooler service doesn't properly validate print drivers when installing a printer.

Nicolas Beauchesne, a security researcher at Vectra Networks, who was credited with finding the flaw, explained in a blog post how the flaw works.

"Normally, User Account Controls are in place to warn or prevent a user from installing a new driver. To make printing easier, an exception was created to avoid this control," he said. "So in the end, we have a mechanism that allows downloading executables from a shared drive, and run them as system on a workstation without generating any warning on the user side. From an attacker perspective, this is almost too good to be true, and of course we had to give it a try."

The end result was turning a printer into a "drive-by exploit kit," said Beauchesne, "where we can just wait for people to come get infected without any warning."

Microsoft said that a patch has corrected the issue, and is available for download through the usual Windows Update channels.

[Rick Danger]

Again, the Mickey Mouse Microsoft Marketeers are pronouncing that Windows 10 is "The Most Secure Windows Ever". I remember the same statement being made when Vista was rolled out.

I understand that this is an obligatory statement that Redmond must make with each new version. But a close perusal of the latest list of security updates tells a different story. But you can read the accompanying details and make your own assessment.

As I pointed out sometime ago, the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows 10 by definition makes the new Windows less secure. While it has been pointed out that this was no doubt to assure compatibility with certain websites, making IE an optional download for Windows 10 users would have been preferable, IMHO.

I looked into the enhanced security features of Windows 10 that have attracted the attention of IT professionals. But they are only in certain versions of Windows 10 Enterprise. So users of Windows 10 Home and Professional won't see these enhancements. And (again), if you went the upgrade rout your older PC may not be able to make use of the biometric security features of Windows Hello.

Make your choice based on facts, not marketing hype.


Microsoft has announced their security updates for July 2016.

Executive Summary
Microsoft released 11 bulletins on the July 2016 Patch Day.

1. 6 bulletins are rated with a severity ranking of critical, the remaining 5 bulletins with a severity ranking of important.

2. All client and server versions of Microsoft Windows are affected by security issues that the released patches resolve.

Table of Releases

MS16-084
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (3169991)
Critical
Requires restart

IE 9
IE 10
IE 11
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage using Internet Explorer. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

MS16-085
Cumulative Security Update for Microsoft Edge (3169999)
Critical
Requires restart

Microsoft Edge Browser (Win10)
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage using Microsoft Edge. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could gain the same user rights as the current user. Customers whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users with administrative user rights.

MS16-086
Cumulative Security Update for JScript and VBScript (3169996)
Critical
May require restart

Windows Vista SP2
Server 2008 SP2
Server 2008 SP2 Core
This security update resolves a vulnerability in the JScript and VBScript scripting engines in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user visits a specially crafted website. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

MS16-087
Security Update for Windows Print Spooler Components (3170005)
Critical
May require restart

Windows Vista SP2
Server 2008 SP2
Windows 7 SP1
Server 2008 R2 SP1
Windows 8.1
Server 2012
Server 2012 R2
Windows RT 8.1
Windows 10
Server 20xx Core
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The more severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if an attacker is able to execute a man-in-the-middle (MiTM) attack on a workstation or print server, or set up a rogue print server on a target network.

MS16-088
Security Update for Microsoft Office (3170008)
Critical
May require restart

Office 2007 SP3
Office 2010 SP2
Office 2013 SP1
Office 2013 RT SP1
Office 2016
Office for Mac 2011
Office for Mac 2016
SharePoint Server 2010 SP2
SharePoint Server 2013 SP1
SharePoint Server 2016
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Microsoft Office file. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Customers whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

MS16-089
Security Update for Windows Secure Kernel Mode (3170050)
Important
Requires restart

Windows 10
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow information disclosure when Windows Secure Kernel Mode improperly handles objects in memory.

MS16-090
Security Update for Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers (3171481)
Important
Requires restart

Windows Vista SP2
Server 2008 SP2
Windows 7 SP1
Server 2008 R2 SP1
Windows 8.1
Server 2012
Server 2012 R2
Windows RT 8.1
Windows 10
Server 20xx Core
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The more severe of the vulnerabilities could allow elevation of privilege if an attacker logs on to an affected system and runs a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerabilities and take control of an affected system.

MS16-091
Security Update for .NET Framework (3170048)
Important
May require restart

.NET Framework 2.0 SP 2
.NET Framework 3.5
.NET Framework 3.5.1
.NET Framework 4.5.2
.NET Framework 4.6
.NET Framework 4.6.1
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft .NET Framework. The vulnerability could cause information disclosure if an attacker uploads a specially crafted XML file to a web-based application.

MS16-092
Security Update for Windows Kernel (3171910)
Important
Requires restart

Windows 8.1
Server 2012
Server 2012 R2
Windows RT 8.1
Windows 10
Server Core 2012 & 2012 R2
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow security feature bypass if the Windows kernel fails to determine how a low integrity application can use certain object manager features.

MS16-093
Security Update for Adobe Flash Player (3174060)
Critical
Requires restart

Windows 8.1
Server 2012
Server 2012 R2
Windows RT 8.1
Windows 10.
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player when installed on all supported editions of Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows 10.

MS16-094
Security Update for Secure Boot (3177404)
Important
Requires restart

Windows 8.1
Windows RT 8.1
Server 2012
Server 2012 R2
Windows 10
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow Secure Boot security features to be bypassed if an attacker installs an affected policy on a target device. An attacker must have either administrative privileges or physical access to install a policy and bypass Secure Boot.

Operating System Distribution
All client and server Windows operating systems are affected by at least one critical security vulnerability. In fact, all are affected by MS16-087, a vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler Components in a critical way.

Vista is the only client system affected by MS16-086, a cumulative security update for JScript and VBScript, and Windows Server 2008 the only server system affected by it but only with a moderate severity rating.

Windows 10 is the only client system affected by MS16-085, a cumulative security update for Microsoft Edge.

Windows 8.1 and newer systems are affected by MS16-093, another critically rated bulletin affecting Adobe Flash Player contained within IE10 and newer.

Last but not least, they receive updates described in MS16-092 and MS16-094. The updates fix secure boot and kernel security issues.

· Windows Vista: 3 critical, 2 important:
· Windows 7: 2 critical, 2 important
· Windows 8.1: 3 critical, 4 important
· Windows RT 8.1: 3 critical, 4 important
· Windows 10: 4 critical, 4 important
· Windows Server 2008: 1 critical, 2 important, 2 moderate
· Windows Server 2008 R2: 1 critical, 2 important, 1 moderate
· Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2: 1 critical, 4 important, 2 moderate
· Server core: 1 critical, 4 important, 1 moderate

Other Microsoft Products
· Microsoft Office 2007, 2010, 2013, 2013 RT, 2016: 1 critical
· Microsoft Office for Mac 2011, 2016: 1 critical
· Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3: 1 important
· Microsoft Excel Viewer: 1 important
· Microsoft Word Viewer: 1 important
· Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, 2013, 2016: 1 important
· Microsoft Office Web Apps 2010, 2013: 1 important
· Office Online Server: 1 important

Security Advisories and updates

MS16-083: Security Update for Adobe Flash Player for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Embedded 8 Standard, and Windows Server 2012 (KB3167685)

Non-security related updates
. KB2952664: Update for Windows 7 - Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7.
. KB2976978: Update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 - Compatibility update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.
. KB2977759: Update for Windows 7 - Compatibility update for Windows 7 RTM.
. KB3170735: Update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 - July 2016 Update for Windows Journal.
. KB3163589: Update for Windows 8 and Windows 7 - "Your PC is running an outdated version of Windows" notification.
. KB3173040: Update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 - Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1 end of free upgrade offer notification.
. KB3161606: Update for Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2 - June 2016 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2

Issues that the update fixes:

· KB3163232 Application crashes when you open an earlier version of an Office file in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3163974 "Sign in to your Microsoft account" wizard page has only one text box in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2

· KB3142535 Hard I/O failure with MPIO storage targets connected to Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3153887 Fine tuning failover cluster network thresholds in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3163306 AD FS 3.0 can't connect to native LDAP attribute stores over SSL in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3163192 NFS role takes a long time or fails to come online on a Windows Server 2012 R2 cluster
· KB3164088 Memory leak occurs when system calls a certain function to store and look for GUID records in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3164345 Stop error occurs when you recover a computer from sleep or restart it in Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1
· KB3135021 File server becomes unresponsive when data deduplication is running in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3159393 Memory Leak in IIS ADSI provider in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3159985 Crash dump file isn't generated in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3162159 Kerberos authentication policy causes requests to fail with a status of KDC_ERR_POLICY in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3162871 RD Gateway Manager console crashes with the latest .NET Framework 4.6.1 update on Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3163023 Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: June 2016
· KB3161579 "Access Denied" error when you run mpclaim.exe command to retrieve MPIO configuration reports in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3154769 "Error Cannot Process TPM Attestation" when you try to configure Key Attestation in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3163191 Group policies aren't applied during start up and logon in Windows
· KB3154437 Update to remove VPNIKE hardcoded dependency in Windows Server 2012 R2
· KB3153727 Windows Installer with certain actions can't be installed on Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
· KB3161639 Update to add new cipher suites to Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge in Windows
· KB3158626 "0xD1" Stop error when a virtual machine crashes on a Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V host
· KB3154228 32-bit icons can't be loaded in OleLoadPictureEx in Windows
. KB3161608: Update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 - June 2016 update rollup for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

Issues that the update fixes:

· KB3154228 32-bit icons can't be loaded in OleLoadPictureEx in Windows
· KB3153727 Windows Installer with certain actions can't be installed on Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
· KB3161647 Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: June 2016
· KB3161897 WDS deployment fails when UEFI clients are in routed environments in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
· KB3161639 Update to add new cipher suites to Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge in Windows
· KB3163644 Microsoft Office 2010 doesn't start when EMET is enabled in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
. KB3161609: Update for Windows Embedded 8 Standard and Windows Server 2012 - June 2016 update rollup for Windows Server 2012

Issues that the update fixes:

· KB3158626 "0xD1" Stop error when a virtual machine crashes on a Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V host
· KB3154228 32-bit icons can't be loaded in OleLoadPictureEx in Windows

[Rick Danger]

In previous major releases of Windows many users waited for the release of a Service Pack before upgrading. For those of you who have waited for the equivalent release under Windows 10, here are details of the forthcoming "Anniversary Update".

For me, this update does not address the key issues that prevented me from upgrading to Windows 10 since the "free" upgrade began one year ago. Sorry, it's still "NO SALE" for me and Windows 10.

TechRepublic

Windows 10 Anniversary Update: The new features heading your way
These are the wide-ranging changes due to hit Windows 10 when the Anniversary Update lands on August 2nd.

By Nick Heath
July 14, 2016, 5:22 AM PST

Microsoft is marking the first birthday of Windows 10 by giving the OS a major upgrade.

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update will add a variety of features to the OS, as well as extending and fixing what's already there.

The detail of what will be included in the free update — due to drop on August 2nd — is already known, as early versions have been available to testers for some time under the Windows Insider program.

Here are the major new additions to Windows 10 due in the Anniversary Update.

Everyday improvements

Microsoft Edge browser extensions and other improvements
Extensions are small programs that can be downloaded to add new functionality to a web browser, and are already found in Chrome and Firefox, among others.

Windows 10's Edge browser will gain support for extensions with the release of the Anniversary Update.

Supported extensions include AdBlock, Evernote, the LastPass password manager, Microsoft Translator, which automatically translates pages into more than 50 different languages, an extension to augment mouse gestures support, and the Reddit Enhancement Suite.

Another extension will allow users to create, edit and view Office files from inside the Edge browser, without having to install Microsoft Office.

Outside of extensions, the Edge browser will allow users to pin tabs for their favorite sites and web apps, so they always have a tab open in the browser.

That said, when using a test build of Windows 10 released to Windows Insiders, I still found Edge to be noticeably slower to load webpages than its competitors.

A new(ish) look for the Start Menu
The Start menu is also changing — whether for better or worse depends on your perspective.

The broad design of the Windows 10 Start Menu will stay the same, with the familiar list of application shortcuts on left and the menu of tiles on the right.

However, there are changes. The new look Start menu makes the 'All Apps' list visible by default on the left-hand side. At the top of this permanently visible 'All Apps' list, are a selection of the user's 'Most used' and 'Recently added' apps. Microsoft says the change should reduce the clicking and scrolling needed to access apps.

The menu's Power, Settings and File Explorer links have been squashed into the far left of the menu, and now appear as icons on a left-hand rail, rather than an icon and a label.

The look of the Start menu in tablet mode has also been overhauled, turning the 'All Apps' list into a fullscreen menu, reminiscent of the Windows 8.1 Start screen.

A change that is unlikely to be popular is the decision to put more adverts in the Start Menu. For new installs of Windows 10 following the Anniversary Update, the number of promoted apps — tiles that link to the Windows Store or to apps that have been automatically installed on your PC by Microsoft — will double, from five to 10.

Taskbar tweaks and lockscreen changes
Microsoft has also tinkered with the design of the Taskbar. Clicking the clock will now show upcoming events in your calendar. Similarly, click on the volume icon on the Taskbar, and you will be able to select multiple audio outputs you want to use.

When using Windows 10 in tablet mode you will now be able to hide the Taskbar.

In a nod to greater personalization, the lock screen will also allow you to set it to display the same image as the sign-in screen.

Cleverer Cortana
Microsoft's virtual assistant Cortana gets various upgrades, making it both more capable and easier to use.

The voice-controlled aide will be accessible from the Windows 10 lock screen, with users able to make a note, play music or set a reminder without unlocking their PC. Those concerned about security can restrict access to Cortana from the lock screen, however.

It looks likely that Cortana will be upgraded so users can ask questions or issue commands without spelling out every detail. Microsoft has demoed an unreleased version of Cortana that was able to respond to the command "send the PowerPoint that I worked on last night". Cortana was able to follow the command as it knew which PowerPoint document the user had worked on the previous evening, as well as understanding it should be sent to a colleague who had been mentioned earlier in the conversation with the user.

Windows Hello extended to apps and the web
Windows 10's Hello feature already lets you log into the OS using your face, iris or fingerprint.

This biometric log-in will be extended to Windows apps and websites accessed via Microsoft Edge.

Another new feature will allow users to unlock a PC running Windows 10 Enterprise Edition by tapping a Windows Hello-enabled phone, although Microsoft has said the feature will only be available on "select premium phones".

New hub for digital pens
Using digital pens to draw or to handwrite messages on a touchscreen computer is a niche use, so these features will likely appeal to a minority.

Nevertheless, the update will introduce a bevvy of new features designed to make it easier to use digital pens with Windows 10. Clicking the pen icon in the notification area of the Taskbar will bring up the Windows Ink Workspace, a sidebar that links to apps that allow you to write messages or draw by hand. These apps include Sticky Notes, Sketchpad and screen sketch — which lets you draw on a screengrab of your desktop. Reminders of upcoming events scrawled on Sticky Notes can be automatically placed in your calendar.

Within apps that support it, an on-screen ruler will also allow users to draw straight lines using their digital pen.

The update will make it easier to use digital pens in general apps, such as Microsoft Office, Maps and the Edge browser. For example, when using the pen to highlight text in documents in Office, Windows will tidy up your freehand highlighting so it neatly aligns with the text.

But while Microsoft's Surface line of tablets support hand written input and come with a digital pen, the demand for this feature is still unproven.

A customizable Action Center
Users will have more control over which PC and mobile app notifications pop up in the Action Center, how many notifications they see, which notifications are given priority and more.

Notification tiles within the Action Center will also be able to display larger images and animations.

The list of quick action buttons at the bottom of the Action Center can also be customized from the Settings app, adding or removing buttons and dragging them into preferred positions.

Notifications of missed calls, voicemail and from apps on Android devices will also be able to show on Windows 10 PCs.

Any notification on the Android notification panel can, via the Cortana Android app, also appear as a notification on a linked Windows 10 desktop.

In apps that support the feature, the number of unread notifications for each app will also show on the Taskbar, with a counter appearing next to the icon for each application you have running.

The Action Center button now sits at the far right of the Taskbar, next to the time. The button will show the total number of unread notifications, as well as rotating through the icons for apps with pending notifications. In general these new features can be disabled.

Security and maintenance

More control over when updates happen
Windows 10 Home users won't be able to defer updates but they will have more control over automatic reboots of their machine.

The Active Hours feature allows users to set the hours during the day when you typically use your machine. During this time Windows 10 won't automatically reboot to install an update.

The maximum period that Active Hours can be set to is 12 hours. Active Hours is found within the Update & security page within Settings app.

Improved Settings app
Windows 10 still splits its configuration options between the Settings app and Control Panel, an approach criticised as confusing.

But with the Anniversary Update more features have migrated from Control Panel to Settings, particularly under the Network & Internet category, which has a status page with a troubleshooter option for resolving connectivity problems. Similarly, the customization options for the Taskbar will get their own page in the Settings app.

The Settings app as a whole gets a cleaner, easier to navigate design — with the search box for finding settings now in the center of the page.

Quick Assist remote help
The Quick Assist app allows one Windows 10 user to request assistance from another, by allowing them to offer remote access to their system and screen. Designed as a replacement for the Remote Assistant found in earlier versions of Windows, it is designed to be easier to use and to offer better connection stability, although early versions available to testers in the Windows Insider program reportedly still suffer from connection issues.

Easier activation
Activating Windows is necessary to prove your copy of Windows is genuine.

However, there have been numerous reports of Windows 10 users struggling to Activate their copy of Windows.

With the Anniversary Update, resolving these difficulties should become easier, thanks to the addition of an Activation troubleshooter under the Update & security page of the Settings app.

One recurring complaint when it comes to Activation is from users who upgrade their PC hardware and are no longer able to validate their copy of Windows 10 as genuine.

To help resolve that issue, Microsoft is adding a new feature that allows users to link a Microsoft account to the Windows 10 digital license stored on the device, after upgrading their machine.

Better security
Enterprise customers will gain access to new security features. Subscribers to the Windows 10 Enterprise E5 edition, the more expensive of the two Enterprise editions, will have gain access to Windows 10 Defender Advanced Threat Protection (WDATP), a service for detecting online threats and attacks.

While Windows 10 already includes the Windows Defender antivirus, this new service will attempt to spot emerging threats by analysing large amounts of security data and suggest responses to breaches. WDATP has been tested by 300 enterprises ahead of launch.

Another long-awaited addition to Windows 10, Enterprise Data Protection, will be arrive in the update, having been renamed Windows Information Protection.

Designed to protect against accidental data leaks, the feature uses containerisation file techniques to keep personal and enterprise data separate, as well as imposing various controls over who can access which data.

Technical

Access to Linux command-line tools
The update will allow Windows 10 to run a variety of Ubuntu Linux software without the need to run a virtual machine or third-party tools.

A universal Windows app will provide access to the command-line interpreter Bash running on Ubuntu 14.04.

Having access to the Bash shell offers users a host of command line tools that allow power users to automate complex chains of commands.

The Bash shell can also be used to install and run other command line applications for Ubuntu. Some users have even hacked together ways of running Ubuntu apps with graphical interfaces, even the Unity desktop, although Microsoft only officially recommends running command-line apps.

Microsoft says Ubuntu software should run just about as fast in the Windows app as it does natively, thanks to a Windows 10 software subsystem for handling Linux system calls.

Native support for Hyper-V containers
Following the update, native support will be added to Windows 10 for containers running on the Hyper-V hypervisor.

Containers are a lighter-weight form of virtualisation, which package together an app and all of its software dependencies on top of a shared OS kernel. As well as the small resource footprint, they can be more easily deployed.

These Hyper-V containers on Windows 10 will support the Nano Server, which is Windows Server stripped down to its smallest footprint.

[Rick Danger]

I was on a blog where a user of Windows 10 was complaining of problems after each update of his third party anti-virus product. An individual who claimed to be a support tech suggested that he should stop using his third party anti-virus and rely on Windows Defender, backed by Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) instead.

I had used Microsoft Security Essentials, then it's successor, Windows Defender in years past. I found these products wanting. But to be objective, I decided to see if the newer version of Windows Defender is up to standard.

The independent test site AV-Test.org reviewed Window Defender version 4.8 running under Windows 10 64-bit. Their results showed that in "Detection of widespread and prevalent malware discovered in the last 4 weeks" Defender scored 99.7% in March, 99.8% in April. This is ABOVE AV-Test’s Industry Average of 99.0%. But in "Protection against 0-day malware attacks, inclusive of web and e-mail threats (Real-World Testing)" Defender scored 88.9% in March, 88.0% in April.This is BELOW AV-Test’s Industry of Average: 97.0%

Performance metrics for Defender were at or above Industry Averages.

https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus...er-4.8-161447/

In PCMag.com’s “The Best Antivirus Protection of 2016” published last month, the reviewers made the following statement:

“Almost all of these products are traditional, full-scale, antivirus tools, with the ability to scan files for malware on access, on demand, or on schedule. A couple are outliers, tools meant to enhance the protection of traditional antivirus. As for just relying on the antivirus built into Windows 8.x or Windows 10, that may not be the best idea. In the past, Windows Defender has performed poorly both in our tests and independent lab tests It did score several wins last year, and it earned decent scores in several more recent tests. Even so, our latest evaluation indicates that you’d still be better off with a third-party solution.”

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp

So, again, OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS refutes marketing hype.

Vive La France

[sandhunter]

Let me ad to what Rick said about Windows Defender , 3 months ago I reloaded my OS Win7 and for a lark I upgraded to Win10 Pro and use Win Defender as protection and have had no problems , but I do practice safe computer and close all windows after going to sites , my other computer runs Win10 home with MacAfee and this computer runs twice as fast with Defender , so I will keep defender on this computer .

[Supergerm]

Originally Posted by rebel scum

I really don't mean to interrupt...and maybe this has been posted.... I had 10 forced on me and now I have cortana, who's window box pops up on my screen when I try to scroll with my touchpad on the laptop...constantly! !... I don't need anything from cortana....I don't want it to be around quite honestly...
How in the fuck do I stop it? It's driving me insane....

Go into Settings/Privacy and go through the various options on the left column. Click each item on the left, moving down the list, and disable the things that annoy you or raise privacy concerns. I disable most all of them for my customers (I am a computer tech). It's the most intrusive version of Windows to date. Personally, I use Linux Mint on most of my machines, not Windows.

[Rick Danger]

Ran into this article, reprinted in my hometown Sunday newspaper from the San Jose Mercury.

To reiterate without being redundant, I think the troubles with Windows 10 have less to do with the technology and more to do with the business decisions Microsoft's management made in both the features of the product as well as the well published attempts to "push" Windows 10s adoption by the general public.

Interesting that all the people quoted in this article are over 50 years of age. Again I ask, does Windows 10 appeal to Millennials who are used to limited options, advertising on their technology platforms, and having to pay subscriptions for music, videos, and games?

San Jose Mercury News

Microsoft says Windows 10 is a hit, but many users disagree
By Troy Wolverton, @bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 07/06/2016 06:48:11 PM PDT
Updated: 07/06/2016 09:02:02 PM PDT

Microsoft says Windows 10 is a hit with its customers. But many Windows users beg to differ.

The company announced that less than a year after it launched, Windows 10 is already running on 350 million devices. Additionally, customer satisfaction with it is higher than for any previous version of the operating system, the software giant said.

That may be, but it's not hard to find customers who aren't happy with the new software. A Sausalito woman made headlines recently after she sued Microsoft and won a $10,000 judgment because an unauthorized Windows 10 upgrade basically made her PC unusable. Meanwhile, a simple Google search will turn up numerous other disgruntled users.

I've heard from plenty of upset Windows customers recently after writing several columns about Windows 10. Some lost crucial data or features when their computers made the jump to the new Windows version. Some paid hundreds of dollars to computer support companies to restore their computers to earlier versions of Windows.

Many were simply disgusted at the tactics Microsoft has used to push users to upgrade to Windows 10 or frustrated that their computers were updated without their consent. Chris Wood, 61, was among those upset with Microsoft after his 91-year-old father was "tricked" by the company into upgrading and couldn't figure out how to use his computer afterward.

"It is very disturbing Microsoft would treat paying customers with such disrespect and disregard for what they want," Wood, a software salesman who lives in Pleasanton, said in an email. "Not giving customers a way to say no is in fact deceitful and an inappropriate business practice."

Microsoft has said it would soon change the upgrade process, making it easier for Windows 7 and 8 users to opt out of Windows 10 permanently.

"Our most important priority for Windows 10 is for everyone to love Windows," Terry Myerson, executive vice president, Windows and Devices Group, said recently in a statement. "We'll continue to be led by your feedback and always, earning and maintaining your trust is our commitment and priority."

Microsoft released Windows 10 last summer. I gave it a positive review because it addresses many of the complaints that I and others had with Windows 8.

The operating system is available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users until July 29. Microsoft has been heavily promoting it as the most secure version of Windows ever. It has also aggressively attempted to get it installed on consumers' machines, making it difficult for them to decline the upgrade and even going so far as to upgrade their computers without their explicit permission.

But many users have been reluctant to make the jump to Windows 10 or have seen things in it they didn't like. For example, many Windows programs haven't been updated to support Windows 10. And drivers for many peripherals like printers aren't yet available for the new operating system -- and may never be.

That's what Hartmut Wiesenthal found when he decided to accept the upgrade offer. Although Microsoft told the 54-year-old engineer his computer was 100 percent compatible with Windows 10, he quickly found that some of his equipment wasn't.

Wiesenthal couldn't print documents on his several-year-old printer after he upgraded. And his Kensington docking station no longer worked with his computer. In both cases, the Fremont resident found there were no drivers -- the software used by the computer to communicate with particular peripherals -- for the devices and none were in development. What's more, when he returned his PC to Windows 7, he found that the old drivers had been wiped out in the upgrade and he needed to find and download them again.

"I searched (for) them online and was lucky to find them," Wiesenthal said in an email. "I share all of this as a warning."

Windows 10 also ditched some features that some users relied on. Most notably, it doesn't include Media Center. So Windows no longer has the built-in ability to play DVDs or tune in or record television programs. Microsoft is offering a separate app to play DVDs for free to some users who upgrade to Windows 10, but others have to pay $15 for it.

Being forced to pay for a feature previously included with his computer -- along with all the pop-up messages pushing him to upgrade -- irked Terry Grant, 74, who often watches DVDs on his computer.

"It just irritated me," said the Cupertino resident who retired from NASA after a long career there. "It seems to me, as per usual, I can expect Windows will not be putting their customers first."

Some people have faced even bigger problems after upgrading to Windows 10. After her company upgraded her computer to Windows 10, one reader said that some 600 files in her My Documents folder had been deleted. Unfortunately, her computer hadn't been set to back up the files and the tech support person at her company couldn't restore the files even after downloading a file recovery program.

Microsoft does offer a relatively easy way to restore PCs that have been upgraded to Windows 10 to the previous version they were running. But users have to take advantage of that method within 30 days of being upgraded or they lose that easy option.

When his computer was upgraded to Windows 10, Tony Daniels found that it no longer worked with his printer and had other, more minor glitches. The 65-year-old retired sales manager ended up paying $150 to a computer repair company to rid his machine of Windows 10.

"Microsoft was doing every underhanded trick possible to get me to accept (Windows) 10," the Antioch resident said in an email. "I don't remember where I screwed up and let these guys do this to me."

Daniels added: "If they get a class-action suit against them, count me in."

Vive La France!