Microsoft has moved a step closer to a password-free future by making passkeys the default authentication method for all new Microsoft accounts. This change aims to enhance security and streamline the user experience across its services like Outlook, Xbox, and Microsoft 365.
The endless stream of AI stories continues. This month, Microsoft have released an updated version of their Copilot tool which can now effectively look at what's open in your web browser and provide advice and feedback without you having to explain what you're seeing on-screen.
A new defence tool against scammers is being added to Microsoft's Edge web browser. While their "Defender" security suite does already have the ability to warn about website scams, that assumes it's something they already know about. What if you're the first to see it?
As we have been flagging for some time, Microsoft will no longer be supporting their Windows 10 operating system from October. They've now announced that the other 365 apps (Word, Outlook etc) will be subject to the same fate. Support for these will be withdrawn on the same day.
As we have highlighted before, and will no doubt highlight again, support for Microsoft's aging Windows 10 operating system ends in October. In preparation for this, Microsoft have now outlined pricing for optional "extended" support beyond this date.
Microsoft have been quietly making significant to the Windows screenshot app for a while now. Most recently, they've added the ability to record a portion of your screen as a video file, and the ability to copy text straight out of images. They now going to add another clever string to its bow.
Although Microsoft would prefer you forget that a permanently licenced version of Office exists in favour of an ongoing 365 subscription, the 2024 edition of the somewhat stripped-down suite is sneaking out now.
Microsoft have had a data encryption service called Bitlocker for some time. Historically, this has allowed any users of the Pro version of Windows to encrypt all their data if they opt in. Once the next Windows feature update is released, this will be available to all, and will be the default for new installs.
Microsoft is getting close to finalising the list of new features being added to Windows 11. In the next couple of months or so, they will be releasing what's technically known as the "24H2" update. So what can we expect to find once we've installed it?
Microsoft will soon be making some security changes to their first party email accounts (Outlook, Hotmail and Live addresses). These changes may impact anyone that use a 3rd party app like Apple Mail or Thunderbird to view their email on these accounts, or old versions of Microsoft's own apps.
