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Windows 10 Redstone 4 Feature Update Review, Part Two
In this issue
- SECURITY BASELINE: How to Secure Your Microsoft Account
- ASK @WINOBS: Windows 10 Redstone 4 Feature Update Review, Part Two
How to Secure Your Microsoft Account
You likely depend on your Microsoft account so you want to make sure it’s safe and secure.
You probably use your Microsoft Account for a variety of tasks. You may use it to sign into your Windows 10 PCs and other devices. You might use it to access Microsoft Office, Skype, and other Microsoft products and subscriptions. You can use it to sign into various Microsoft services such as Xbox Live. And you may use it to establish your payment options with Microsoft.
For all those reasons and more, you want to make sure your Microsoft Account credentials don’t fall into the wrong hands. How can you secure and protect your account? We will walk you through these security fundamentals:
- First, you need to ensure that you’re using a strong and complex password. (Make sure it’s not one of these.)
- Then you can secure your account and verify your identity by using backup email addresses or a phone number and a code sent via text message.
- You can set up two-factor authentication to further protect your account.
- And you can verify your identity on your mobile phone via the Microsoft Authenticator app.
I’ll assume you already have a Microsoft Account to at least sign into Windows 10 or access different Microsoft services. If you don’t, you can register for one at the Microsoft Account page.
Now, let’s say you want to change the password for your Microsoft Account to make it stronger. Sign into your account at the Microsoft Account page. At the Hello! page, click on the link to change password.
Choose the option to verify your identity by receiving a code via text or email. Type the code and then click on Verify. At the page to change your password, type your current password and then your new password.
You should already know the drill for creating a strong password. Make sure it contains a combination of characters – lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Make sure it’s different than the one you use at other websites.
(If you use a password manager such as LastPass or RoboForm, turn to that program to generate a secure password.)
Click Save. Then sign in with your new password. Remember that password as you’ll need it to resign into Windows 10, Office, Skype, and other programs for which you use your Microsoft Account.
Next, you can review and change the aliases you use to sign in with your Microsoft Account.
At your account page, click on the link for Your Info. Next to your username, click on the link to manage your sign-in email or phone number. You can now review your existing account aliases or add new aliases, meaning the different email addresses or phone numbers that you can use sign in to your Microsoft Account.
For example, to be able to sign in with your mobile phone number, click on the link to Add Phone number and type your number. Enter the code texted to your mobile phone.
If you wish to restrict the aliases that you (or someone else) can use to sign into your account, click on the link to Change sign-in preferences and then uncheck the aliases you want to jettison.
Next, you should review other security settings.
At your account page, click on the link for Security. Here, you can change your password to strengthen it if you haven’t already done so.
Click on the button to Update Info. This page lists any email addresses or phone numbers through which Microsoft can contact you to confirm your identify or verify a change to your account. Remove any addresses or numbers that you don’t want to use for this purpose.
To add an address or phone number, click on the link to Add security info and then enter the email address or mobile phone number on which you want to receive alerts. To change the status of an existing address or phone number, click on the link to Change alert options and check the address or number that you want to use to receive alerts. Microsoft will now send alerts to those addresses or phone number.
Next, you can set up two-step verification to require a code each time you sign into your Microsoft Account. At the Security settings page, click on the “more options” link in the sentence: “Explore more options to keep your account secure.” At the Additional security options page, click on the link to Set up two-step verification.
At the page to Set up two-step verification, read the steps listed and then click on Next. Click on the dropdown menu under Verify my identity with.
To use a code sent to your phone or email address to verify your sign ins, select phone number or alternative email address. Type the phone number or email address and then click on Next. Type the code and then click on Next. Save or print the code that Microsoft generates if you ever need to recover your account. From now on, you’ll receive a code to enter when you try to sign into a new device with your Microsoft Account.
You can also use an authenticator app on your smartphone to verify your account. Through this app, you use your phone instead of your password to sign into your Microsoft account. On your phone, you would use a passcode, fingerprint, or facial recognition to secure your sign in process. At the Additional security options page, click on the link to Set up identity verification app.
Choose your type of mobile device. Download the Microsoft Authenticator app on your iPhone, Android phone, or Windows Phone. Set up your Microsoft account in the app. Return to the webpage to Set up the Microsoft Authenticator app. Save or print the code that Microsoft generates if you ever need to recover your account.
If you need to set up a password on Microsoft apps or services for which you can’t enter a security code, such as an Xbox 360 or an older version of Office, click on the link to Create a new app password and follow the steps.
Finally, what if you ever lose a trusted device on which you sign in with a Microsoft Account?
Click on the link to “Remove all of the trusted devices associated with my account.” Doing so ensures that anyone who tries sign in with your Microsoft Account on the lost trusted device will have to enter a security code to access any personal information. You can also review your account activity. Click on the Security link to return to the Security basics. Click on the link to Review Activity. Click on each entry to review past activity, especially unsuccessful sign-ins.
Windows 10 Redstone 4 Feature Update Review, Part Two
Welcome back to our examination of the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (also be known under its official name of Windows 10 Version 1803 (OS Build 17134.1). In part one of the review, I suggested it be called the Productivity Update. I’ll keep calling it that in this examination of some other highly useful features: Cortana, Startup Apps Control, Accessibility, Microsoft Edge and Security.
Cortana
Cortana has received a slight makeover with new information cards for both her Notebook and Skills areas when you click on the Cortana icon on the Windows 10 Taskbar. This makes these settings faster to access because they are just one level away when you open Cortana.
There is also an edit icon next to your name so that you can adjust the Places which Cortana knows about such as Home and Work.
The Cortana Show Me App is new to the Redstone 4 feature update and will show you how to accomplish various tasks on Windows 10.
This app shows and talks you through those processes using your system so that once you reach the point you’re ready to take over it will be right there on the screen ready for you. The collection of walkthroughs is limited at launch but are expected to grow over the ensuing months.
Startup Apps Control
You can now go to Windows Settings > Apps > Startup and select which UWP apps/services you want to start up when Windows 10 is starting.
In Windows 10 and previous versions of Windows, you could use MSCONFIG to adjust what programs and other helpers started with the system but not apps. This new option in Windows Settings gives you full control over those items now.
Accessibility
Microsoft makes it a priority to add new abilities to Windows 10 so that it can be used by a broader audience. The Redstone 4 feature update continues that work with a handful of new options.
The entire main settings page at Windows Settings > Ease of Access has received a makeover that categorizes the various accessibility settings into like areas. You will now see Vision, Hearing, and Interaction categories along the left sidebar with individual items nested under each category for quick access.
Updates in this area include:
- Cursor, Pointer, and Touch Feedback
- Narrator Settings
- Sound Settings
Note: The Eye Control tools that were added to the Ease of Access capabilities in the Fall Creators Update last year are still in beta.
Localization Packs
Another element of the Windows 10 operating system that will now be maintained and delivered through the Microsoft Store are language localization packs.
These custom packages enable Windows 10 to display elements of the OS in your local language.
Initial download and installation will now happen through the Microsoft Store and any updates will be pushed to your device just like an app update.
App Execution Aliases
If you are an advanced user and like to open your apps via the command line, then app execution aliases are going to be quite helpful. Since app developers can declare an execution alias in their app manifests those will be available to you automatically.
If you prefer to not use these aliases, then you can toggle them off at Windows Settings > Apps & features > Manage app execution aliases.
The big benefit derived from these is that you will be able to use these app names in the Command Prompt to start the app. This can be beneficial for manual and scripted uses.
Microsoft Edge
One of the limitations to the development of Microsoft Edge, the company’s new browser in Windows 10, is that updates are only delivered to the public alongside the feature update releases.
That means since Windows 10 was released in July 2015 there have only been five updates released, including this Redstone 4 feature update, for the browser in almost three years. In comparison to its competitors like Chrome, FireFox, and even Opera that is a glacial pace of updates for Microsoft Edge.
So, when a feature update is released there tends to be a long list of new features for Edge and this Redstone 4 update is no exception.
Ready – here we go:
- Pin Sites to Start Screen and Taskbar
- Web Cards/Form Fill
- Updated Hub for Favorites, Reading List, Books, History, and Downloads
- Clutter-free Printing of Web pages
- Improved Reading Experience for Books
- Grammar Tools for ePub Books
- Full-Screen Reading Mode
- Roaming Progress and Annotations in eBooks
- Option to never save passwords for specific domains
- Extensions and AutoFill Passwords for InPrivate Browsing
- Mute Tabs
Progressive Wep Applications
I wrote about Microsoft’s support for Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) on ITPro Today a few weeks ago so I will not repeat all those details here. However, let me hit the highlights on why this is very important to Windows 10.
In a nutshell, PWAs are wrapped inside of an app framework so they can be published in the Microsoft Store. These apps provide the delivery vehicle for the server-side version of that company’s service. If you have been checking out Redstone 4 and use Twitter, then you have likely already seen their Twitter PWA app on your device.
By including various Service Worker support in the browser/operating system, these companies can push updates to their service by applying changes on the back end instead of app updates to the Microsoft Store.
Service Workers include abilities to manage:
- Offline Access
- Background Wake/Refresh
- Instant Loading (Caching)
- Push Notifications
Microsoft is already scanning the web for high-quality PWAs and adding them to the Microsoft Store, so they are available to Windows 10 users. Right now, there are less than 25 apps in there so far but that is expected to grow over time. Developers will have the ability to claim PWAs scanned in by Microsoft and take over their maintenance or of course, submit their own to the Microsoft store.
The progression of the Twitter PWA App on Windows 10 Redstone 4 in just a few weeks has surpassed its Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app by leaps and bounds. This shows a lot of promise for PWAs as now Microsoft, Google, and Apple all support them on their platforms.
Security Questions for Local Accounts
Prior to the Redstone 4 feature update, local accounts had no capabilities relating to recovering the account in the case of a lost password. In this update, you can select three questions to help you recover a locked out local account on Windows 10.
While Microsoft would like to see everyone using their Microsoft Account on Windows 10 because of the benefits it brings across the ecosystem of services they provide, local accounts have a use for many situations. Enabling this type of recovery process is a huge plus for those types of accounts and means not having to start from scratch because a password is forgotten.
Of course, don’t forget the answers to your question either!
Windows Mixed Reality
This is the second feature update since Windows Mixed Reality was added to Windows 10.
Beyond performance improvements and small tweaks to the overall interface, the big addition to Windows Mixed Reality is a new location to hang out. The Skyloft joins the original Cliff House and it is massive in comparison. Lots of open space to move around, put up apps, and customize any way they want.
I have the Acer HMD which was one of the early devices released for pre-purchase during BUILD 2017. Microsoft also sent along their $100 Motion Controllers as a thank you for being an early adopter and they make a lot of differences maneuvering around the mixed reality locations on Windows 10.
As for the headset, I still experience a little motion sickness when using the device. If I am very deliberate about my head movements I can minimize that experience. I am told the higher end HMD’s with increased refresh rates help with that effect.
There are some very good deals these days to get a new Windows Mixed Reality HMD and the Microsoft Motion Controllers if you are looking to get started using this part of Windows 10.
The Microsoft Store Library of mixed reality content has also grown quite a bit since the Fall Creators Update. So, if you tried things out shortly after the Fall Creators last year, then it is time to dive back in and see what is new and improved.
—–
Stay tuned to future editions of the Windows Secrets Newsletter and we will be getting into a little more detail with many of these new capabilities in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update.
Publisher: AskWoody LLC (woody@askwoody.com); editor: Tracey Capen (editor@askwoody.com).
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