Newsletter Archives
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MS-DEFCON 4: Got 22H2?
ISSUE 20.30.1 • 2023-07-25 By Susan Bradley
If you haven’t updated to Windows 10/11 22H2, now is a good time because I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.
This month’s updates have now settled down to the point that I don’t anticipate any issues for the vast majority of readers, nor have I seen any surprises in my testing on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
22H2 is now my recommended version of Windows for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 for all editions and all types of users — with the single exception of gamers.
Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.30.1, 2023-07-25).
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MS-DEFCON 4: Major April issue, but not from updates
ISSUE 20.17.1 • 2023-04-25 By Susan Bradley
I’m ready to approve the April updates.
Accordingly, I’ve lowered the MS-DEFCON level to 4. This is not to say there are not a few oddities out there, but they will not affect many users.
Most of the unusual behavior in updates this month is due to slow changes that will lead to future enforcement changes.
Microsoft has also pushed off the implementation of the mandatory, number-based, multifactor authentication for Microsoft 365 applications.
Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.17.1, 2023-04-25).
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Freeware Spotlight — Staying at home edition
BEST UTILITIES
By Deanna McElveen
We’re certainly living in a different world right now — social-distancing with friends, co-workers, and others; social-bonding with family.
Those of us still working are in many cases doing so from home — some with the added complication of kids. And then there’s the drain on our bank accounts. All of which make the community of open-source and freeware software development more important than ever.
To help you get through the current trials and tribulations, here’s a compendium of utilities and apps, for both adults and kids, that might make your stay-at-home experience a bit easier.
Here we go …
Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.16.0 (2020-04-27).
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Freeware Spotlight — Win7 Games for Windows 10 and 8
BEST UTILITIES
By Deanna McElveen
Moving from Win7 to Win10 is somewhat like moving to a new town. Sure, many of the big stores are in both places, but what about that favorite coffee shop?
For Windows 7 users, migrating up can mean leaving behind some familiar versions of treasured games — good ol’ FreeCell, Hearts, Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, Mahjong, Minesweeper, and others — and wandering through the MS Store maze or the silliness of Win10’s “Solitaire Collection.”
Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.35.0 (2019-09-30).
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Freeware Spotlight — AppleWin
By Deanna McElveen
In every Freeware Spotlight column, I write about useful and free utilities that can help you work a little faster or make your work a little easier.
But as this is Memorial Day, we’re not gonna focus on work! Today, it’s a bit of fun.
Read the full story in the May 27, 2019, AskWoody Plus Newsletter (Issue 16.19.0).