Newsletter Archives

• MS-DEFCON 2: Closing out the year

  Posted on December 5, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.49.1 • 2024-12-05

  

  By Susan Bradley

  As we close the year of patching, I’m surprised to see that our vendors are facing many of the same issues they faced years ago — governments looking over their actions.

  But this time, instead of scrutinizing monopolies for on-premises software, they are looking at how Microsoft is making monopolizing cloud services as well as coercing governments to use more of their services. Recently, a ProPublica investigation questioned how much Microsoft’s free government outreach to enhance the security of its products was designed to lock government customers into these subscription services.

  Then the Department of Justice asked a judge to break up Google and force it to sell off the Chrome browser and restrict their use of artificial intelligence and the Android mobile operating system. I still remember the lengthy monopoly trials against Microsoft. It seems like the more things change, the more things in technology stay the same. We constantly have a push-pull relationship with our vendors.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.49.1, 2024-12-05).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AI, AirPods Pro 2, Alerts, Antitrust, Apple, Google, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Scanners, Windows 11 23H2, Windows 11 24H2

• MS-DEFCON 2: 24H2 is around the corner

  Posted on September 5, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.36.1 • 2024-09-05

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I can always tell when fall is in the air.

  No, it’s not a decrease in temperatures — we’re still very hot here in Central California. No, it’s not that pumpkin-spice aroma around coffee shops.

  It’s the technology headlines about imminent updates from Redmond and Cupertino. Naturally, that means I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2. Here are a few things you should consider.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.36.1, 2024-09-05).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Apple, CVE-2024-26248, CVE-2024-29056, InControl, KB5014754, KB5025885, KB5037754, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, RSA, TLS, Windows 11 23H2, Windows 11 24H2

• Time for 23H2

  Posted on April 29, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The Professional and Home editions of Windows 11 22H2 reach end of life on October 14, 2024.

  Between now and then, those of you on Windows 11 22H2 should begin the process of moving to 23H2. For users with Windows 11 Education and Enterprise editions, their demise arrives a year later, on October 14, 2025.

  If you run Windows 10 22H2, you don’t have to worry about upgrading — Windows 10 will no longer receive feature releases, even though Microsoft is still dribbling out changes to that platform.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.18.0, 2024-04-29).

  Patch Watch Enablement Package, Graphics Cards, Hardware drivers, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, tiny11builder, Windows 11 23H2

• Vendors force changes

  Posted on March 4, 2024 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Whether your operating system is Windows, Apple, Chromium, or even a variation of Linux, there comes a time when a vendor draws a line in the sand regarding support.

  How vendors handle this, and what you plan to do with that support mandate, depend on what sort of computer user you are.

  The loss of support can be obvious and overt, such as when a vendor bluntly tells you a device is no longer supported. Or it can be slow and silent, such as updates making a device slower over time. In both instances, you must decide what you plan to do. In addition, there are times when the vendor starts pushing you to upgrade to a new version, even when you may not be ready for it or do not wish to expend the effort and downtime to install the upgrade. Both Microsoft and Apple like to nudge you toward a newer version.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.10.0, 2024-03-04).

  Patch Watch CVE 2023-36871, Fluent UI, KB5014754, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2

• Making sense of Windows 11’s 2023 updates

  Posted on January 15, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.03 • 2024-01-15

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney • Comment about this article

  Not sure which features were added to Windows 11 last year?

  2023 was a busy year for Windows 11. Microsoft pushed out a series of updates to the OS, adding new features and revamping others. But because the update process was confusing and convoluted, you may not know exactly what changed throughout the year. To try to make sense of it all, I’ve compiled all the major 2023 updates and the most significant features, many of which you may not even know are now part of Windows 11.

  Here’s what you’ll ultimately find if you’ve installed all the major updates.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.03.0, 2024-01-15).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 Moment Updates, Newsletters, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2, Windows feature updates, Windows Update

• How to do a Windows 11 repair install

  Posted on December 4, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.49 • 2023-12-04

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Most of us install updates every month with no issues whatsoever. But then there are times when updates don’t install.

  Sometimes updates fail for obvious reasons. I’ve seen cases where one update will inadvertently trigger a reboot while a second update is in the works. This is an easy fix — just ignore the reboot message and wait for the machine to kick a reboot later on in the day or evening.

  Other errors may point to corruption in the operating system.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.49.0, 2023-12-04).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Patch Watch Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Repair Install, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2

• A serving of zero days

  Posted on November 20, 2023 at 02:43 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  In a lighter-than-usual November release, Microsoft is patching 63 vulnerabilities, including three already under targeted and limited attacks and three deemed critical.

  Even though you and I will see the same number of patch installs, the number of underlying vulnerabilities for the month is down compared to past years. But that doesn’t mean you should change how you install updates — wait to see what side effects may occur, my usual recommended practice.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.47.0, 2023-11-20).

  Patch Watch CVE-2023-23583, CVE-2023-36025, CVE-2023-36033, CVE-2023-36036, CVE-2023-38545, Exchange, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Remote Desktop Connection, VMWare, Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11 23H2

• Windows 11 23H2 is around the corner

  Posted on October 23, 2023 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The 23H2 release of Windows 11 is coming soon. Don’t panic — you can defer. But before its release, you should be prepared.

  First, make sure you are on Windows 11 22H2 if you are using the Home or Professional Windows 11 editions. Second, I recommend downloading and keeping a copy of the Windows 11 22H2 ISO from Microsoft’s download site.

  You can also use the Rufus tool to download past versions of Windows 11. However, I feel that Microsoft download is the easiest way to ensure you have all the necessary media should you need to do a repair install at a later date.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.43.0, 2023-10-23).

  Patch Watch Backup, Newsletters, Passkeys, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 11, Windows 11 23H2, Windows backup

• MS-DEFCON 1: Pushing off Copilot

  Posted on October 5, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.40.1 • 2023-10-05

  

  By Susan Bradley

  This week offers a perfect example of why I don’t rush to update.

  Ultimately, I want to understand the changes coming to my desktop and ensure that I know exactly what they do.

  A little over a week ago, Microsoft announced Copilot for Windows. What that means is complicated, and we don’t really know all the details; it seems we will learn more, based upon what Microsoft dribbles out.

  That’s reason enough to elevate MS-DEFCON to 1, its highest level.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.40.1, 2023-10-05).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Copilot, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 1, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 11 23H2, Windows Copilot

• MS-DEFCON 4: Is Windows 11 really a disaster?

  Posted on September 26, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.39.1 • 2023-09-26

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Every month, I read headlines claiming that the latest patches for Windows 11 22H2 are causing major issues and impacting gazillions of users.

  Every month, I also note that the deployments of Windows 11 in my home and office are well behaved. Some of that is surely the result of my tender ministrations, such as using an alternate menu system. But for the rest, Windows 11 is not some sort of monster stomping through neighborhoods and ruining lives.

  I consider the current updates safe, so I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.39.1, 2023-09-26).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Copilot, iOS 17, KB5002457, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2, Windows Explorer