Daily Archives: November 13, 2023

• The Windows 10/11 Hello PIN works, but change is coming

  Posted on November 13, 2023 at 02:45 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.46 • 2023-11-13

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  A new Microsoft sign-in method — designed to replace today’s relatively insecure usernames and passwords — was introduced to Windows 10 in July 2015.

  The technology is called Windows Hello. It involves your entering a PIN, which can be up to 127 characters long including numbers, letters, and symbols. This PIN is associated with a device of yours: a smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer, etc. Once you use your PIN with a Microsoft Account, an Active Directory, or other services that recognize the technique, you never have to enter a username or password on that connection again.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.46.0, 2023-11-13).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Public Defender KB5030310, Newsletters, Passkeys, Passwords, PINs, Windows Hello

• Over to you, Congress

  Posted on November 13, 2023 at 02:44 CST by Max Stul Oppenheimer • Comment in the Forums

  LEGAL BRIEF

  

  By Max Stul Oppenheimer, Esq.

  Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 was a calculated political decision on the part of Congress.

  The idea was to grant immunity to the then-fledgling Internet industry in order to enlist its help in fighting the specific problem of obscenity on the Internet. I wrote about this in Legal Brief over two years ago.

  It’s time for an update.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.46.0, 2023-11-13).

  Legal Brief Communications Decency Act, Newsletters, Section 230

• Outlook mobile is an awful app for iPhone or Android

  Posted on November 13, 2023 at 02:43 CST by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  SOFTWARE

  

  By Peter Deegan

  Outlook mobile is pushed relentlessly by Microsoft, giving the impression that it’s the best or only way to link with email, calendar, and contacts on mobile devices such as phones.

  I do not recommend Outlook mobile, mostly because of privacy concerns and the clumsy interface — especially when there are perfectly good apps already on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.46.0, 2023-11-13).

  Software Newsletters, Outlook, Outlook Lite, Outlook Mobile

• Keeping your devices up to date

  Posted on November 13, 2023 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Are you monitoring your devices?

  Just the other day, I tried to update an app on my dad’s iPad. That didn’t work, instead messaging that the device itself needed to be upgraded first. Apparently, the iPad had not been left on continuously long enough for it to get the word from Apple that an update was needed.

  A simple solution is to connect to power and leave it on for an extended period, such as 24 hours. That should be enough time for the device to be notified about updates. It’s not different from Windows PCs in this respect — keep them offline long enough, and they will miss the notification, too.

  Of course, you can be proactive and check the device every so often to see whether the O/S is current. That’s my recommendation.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.46.0, 2023-11-13).

  Patch Watch Android, Apple, Backup, iCloud, Jamf, MaaS360, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, updates