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Windows 10 is getting a new update schedule

If you’ve ever had a problem with how Microsoft Windows updates are rolled out, we have some good news. In a recent announcement, the team behind the world’s most popular operating system promised to make updates more consistent and user friendly.

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11 May, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Windows category
Windows 10 is getting a new update schedule

If you’ve ever had a problem with how Microsoft Windows updates are rolled out, we have some good news. In a recent announcement, the team behind the world’s most popular operating system promised to make updates more consistent and user friendly. Read on to find out what that means for your business.

Windows 10 updates in 2017

In the summer of 2016, Microsoft announced that Windows would receive two large-scale feature updates in 2017. The first of these was released in April and is referred to as the Creators Update. Although many of the new features are far too advanced for the average user, the Creators Update included huge boosts to data security, user administration, and mobile device management integrations.

The next big update is due in September, and is rumored to come with several consumer-level features such as the People integration that was originally slated for the Creators Update. People would allow you to pin contact icons to your start bar to consolidate shared cloud storage, messaging platforms and calendars for individuals in one convenient location.

The future of Windows OS updates

From 2017 onward, Microsoft has committed to sticking to this “predictable twice-per-year” schedule. Along with more reliable releases, the Windows team is also committing to a more reliable support lifecycle. As long as you are running a version of Windows 10 that has been released sometime within the last 18 months, you can be sure that Microsoft engineers are keeping it current and secure.

This is great news for businesses that struggle to keep their servers and workstations updated. Out-of-date operating systems are one of the biggest risks to data security for small businesses, and promising this level of reliability makes it much easier for IT teams to plan ahead.

As trivial as it may seem, keeping all your software and hardware updated is a huge benefit of outsourced IT management. From productivity improvements to security patches, most businesses are missing out on vital features in a number of their services and platforms. To ensure that every solution you’ve invested in is working at its peak, call us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Watch out for this Microsoft Word bug

Feature updates can come and go, but when Microsoft releases a security update, you need to install it as soon as possible. This is because hackers are constantly looking for software bugs to exploit, and in Microsoft’s case, cybercriminals have found a serious vulnerability in Word.

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26 Apr, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Office, Security category
Watch out for this Microsoft Word bug

Feature updates can come and go, but when Microsoft releases a security update, you need to install it as soon as possible. This is because hackers are constantly looking for software bugs to exploit, and in Microsoft’s case, cybercriminals have found a serious vulnerability in Word.

The attack
On April 10, cybersecurity firm Proofpoint discovered scammers running email campaigns to trick people into clicking malware-ridden Word attachments. The fraudulent emails, simply titled “Scan Data,” included attached documents that were named “Scan,” followed by randomized digits.

Although the emails seem harmless, clicking on the documents triggers a download for Dridex malware, a Trojan virus designed to give hackers direct access to your banking information. From there, they can simply log in to your online account and make unauthorized transactions under your name.

In 2015, the distribution of Dridex allowed cybercriminals to steal approximately $25 million from European accounts. And if your business fell victim to this malware, there’s a possibility your company might not be able to recover from the loss.

The solution
Fortunately, two days after the discovery of the bug, Microsoft released a security update to disable the dangerous documents, urging users to install the patch as soon as possible. But even though Dridex was inoculated relatively quickly, employees continue to be the biggest problem.

Like most malware attacks, Dridex was distributed via phishing campaigns that preyed on a victim’s trust and curiosity. Hackers added barely any text to the email, yet people were still fooled into clicking on dangerous links.

To make sure Dridex never reaches your company, you must provide comprehensive security awareness training. In your sessions, encourage employees to practice safe computing habits, which include being cautious of online links, setting strong passwords, and avoiding downloads from untrusted and unknown sources.

Much like updating your software, keeping your staff’s security knowledge up to date on the latest threats is also imperative. Ultimately, your goal is to have employees with a security-focused mindset when browsing the web.

Of course, if security training and cybersecurity solutions are not your company’s specialties, you can always rely on a trusted managed services provider like us to protect your business. We can update and secure your systems regularly, and make sure your staff are actively doing their part to reduce security risks. Contact us today!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Windows 10’s useful new updates

In case you’re wondering what Creators Update is and how it differs from a regular update, it’s Microsoft’s name for Windows 10’s latest features. Microsoft no longer offers Windows 10 upgrades for free, but these latest updates are. Aside from notable design enhancements and user experience, Windows 10 users can anticipate the Creators Update for its system update improvements and new security features.

The post Windows 10’s useful new updates appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

25 Apr, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Windows category
Windows 10’s useful new updates

In case you’re wondering what Creators Update is and how it differs from a regular update, it’s Microsoft’s name for Windows 10’s latest features. Microsoft no longer offers Windows 10 upgrades for free, but these latest updates are. Aside from notable design enhancements and user experience, Windows 10 users can anticipate the Creators Update for its system update improvements and new security features.

Controlled updates

If you’ve been using Windows 10, you’re familiar with this scenario: While you’re on your computer, the system automatically reboots for automatic updates, interrupting your workflow. Although automatically having your system updated on time has advantages, it can also be a burden and a nuisance because it leaves you with no option to decline or delay an update -- which you might want to do especially when you’re in the middle of a critical task.

With the Creators Update, you can choose to pause updates for a week. It also lets you set Active Hours, an 18-hour window when Windows won’t install updates. It’s a minor enhancement that should be a welcome feature to users who like having better control over their system updates.

Improved privacy controls

When Windows 10 was launched, privacy was a big concern among users, mainly because of the amount and nature of data being collected. Users and certain regulatory bodies were alarmed that Microsoft, through Windows 10, didn’t have enough control over how it processes and collects data. Microsoft initially responded by announcing that setting up privacy protocols will be easier when it launches its new updates.

And now, Microsoft has taken steps to address these privacy issues. Creators Update introduces a Privacy Dashboard, which offers a more seamless and user-friendly way to control privacy settings, specifically in terms of location, speech recognition, diagnostics, tailored diagnostics data, and relevant ads.

Another privacy enhancement is in Windows Defender, which now features improved scanning options and better reporting of your PC’s performance and health.

Other small changes

Other interface enhancements and updates to the Windows 10 ecosystem also add a nice touch to the overall user experience. These updates include more vivid themes, a bluetooth-enabled lock function called Dynamic Lock, new display settings, videos and maps writing capabilities, and more.

Among the other new features, users might not immediately notice the upgraded storage settings. If you’re worried about all these new applications and programs taking up space in your PC, don’t fret. The new update also comes with a storage setting that auto-deletes unnecessary files when your storage space is about to run out.

All in all, businesses that use Windows 10 can expect better privacy, controlled updates, improved security, and a smoother user experience with the Creators Update. Microsoft is expected to introduce even more updates later this year, and if you want to know how you can make the most of these and other Microsoft features, we’re here to help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Microsoft’s docs.com: possible data breach

It was recently revealed that docs.com, Microsoft’s free document-sharing platform, was posting private documents to the public. Although there are Office 365 users who are perfectly aware of how the program works and have no qualms about publicly sharing their documents, hundreds of other users are not.

The post Microsoft’s docs.com: possible data breach appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

11 Apr, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Office, Office 365 category
Microsoft’s docs.com: possible data breach

It was recently revealed that docs.com, Microsoft’s free document-sharing platform, was posting private documents to the public. Although there are Office 365 users who are perfectly aware of how the program works and have no qualms about publicly sharing their documents, hundreds of other users are not. Since docs.com is essentially a document-sharing website, can Microsoft be held liable?

What’s the damage?

Usernames and passwords for various devices and applications; personal information such as home and email addresses, bank account details, social security numbers, and phone numbers; and medical info comprising patient treatment data and health insurance numbers -- all these were some of the supposedly leaked documents, which were clearly meant to be private. But, a security researcher discovered that these sensitive files were accessible using docs.com’s search function.

After being alerted to the ‘leak,’ Microsoft responded by removing the search bar. However, most of the documents were already indexed by search engines, Google and Bing, which is how these docs remained available to the public despite disabling the search function.

Recent updates

To alleviate the damage, Microsoft launched an update that limited what users can do to uploaded files, such as restricting files to a read-only status. Although buttons to ‘like,’ download, add to collections, and share in social media are enabled, only users who enter an email address, phone number, or sign in using their Office or Microsoft account can perform any of these functions. Since anyone can easily create a Microsoft account, docs.com users may not feel at ease.

Microsoft’s final word

Docs.com is easy-to-use and is valuable to those eager to publish their documents. The site’s user-friendliness also makes it a popular choice for Office 365 users who wish to ‘spread their work to the world.’ Office 365 users can easily upload from their own computer, OneDrive, or Sway account, and share away. Being a free service also adds a lot of incentive for users to upload their Word, Excel, or any other file onto the site.

In an effort to solve glaring privacy issues, Microsoft has issued some key updates, such as a warning message reminding users that the document to be uploaded will be publicly available on the web. While it may seem like Microsoft committed a blunder, a stricter privacy setting and a few stronger, more visible warnings to users can help make docs.com a useful productivity tool rather than a hacker’s hunting ground.

Discerning Office 365 users can make the most out of docs.com, but they should use the service with caution. If you’ve uploaded documents with sensitive information on docs.com, now is the best time to remove them from the site, or review your privacy settings here and in other document-sharing services.

If you’re not sure how to proceed, or want to learn more about this and other Microsoft products and services, call us now for advice.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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