Newsletter Archives

• January’s patching cyclone

  Posted on January 16, 2023 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  We’re a bit soggy and wet at the AskWoody Tech LLC Global Headquarters here in central California.

  We’ve had nearly a week of rain, and more is coming. I shouldn’t complain — severe drought has brought our state’s water supply down to historically low levels, so the water is needed and much appreciated. But when Microsoft rains down upon us at the same time, the total deluge is a bit much.

  For January, Microsoft fixed 98 security vulnerabilities, said goodbye (for the final time) to the much-beloved Windows 7, also said goodbye to the less used (but popular among its buffs) Windows 8.1, and actually released updates to Microsoft’s on-premises mail server, Exchange.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.03.0, 2023-01-16).

  Patch Watch Exchange Server, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Patch Watch, windows 7, Windows 8

• Welcome to our twentieth year

  Posted on January 9, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.02 • 2023-01-09

  FROM THE PUBLISHER

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Time flies.

  It seems like only yesterday. Out of the blue, I got an email from Brian Livingston, asking to meet with him while I was in Seattle attending a Microsoft event. Over dinner, he explained that he wanted me to write a column in the Windows Secrets Newsletter that would track issues with Microsoft patches and analyze their impact on PCs and their users.

  It was the dawn of “The Patch Lady.”

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.02.0, 2023-01-09).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  From the Publisher AskWoody, History, Industry, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows Secrets

• Make Windows 11 as cool as your phone with Android apps

  Posted on January 9, 2023 at 02:44 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  After many, many requests, Microsoft finally added the capability to run Android apps when it released Windows 11.

  Every iPhone and Android phone user knows how convenient it is to carry in your pocket or purse any number of apps that bring you weather, traffic, emails, texts, games — even rocket science, if that’s your thing.

  However, unlike the ease of use of a smartphone — where you can install virtually any app with just a few clicks — Windows 11 presents you with a series of “gotchas” that can discourage even the biggest Microsoft fanatic from adding an Android app.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.02.0, 2023-01-09).

  Public Defender Android, Android on Windows, Apps, Newsletters, Windows 11

• Note to Congress: Please try to keep up

  Posted on January 9, 2023 at 02:43 CST by Max Stul Oppenheimer • Comment in the Forums

  LEGAL BRIEF

  

  By Max Stul Oppenheimer, Esq.

  That’s a big ask.

  In a previous column, I explained why law always lags technology.

  To summarize, case law is by definition reactive. Courts don’t go out and look for cases; they wait for someone to be upset enough to bring one to them. Legislatures can be proactive, but they can’t act until they realize there’s a problem to be acted upon. So it is not surprising that new issues will arise, and we will need to be patient while solutions are agreed upon.

  But …

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.02.0, 2023-01-09).

  Legal Brief Artificial intelligence, Copyright, Fair Use, Legal, Newsletters, Patents

• Dymo declines

  Posted on January 9, 2023 at 02:42 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  HARDWARE

  

  By Will Fastie

  One of my favorite brands is headed for extinction.

  I don’t think I’ve ever been as dismayed with a Christmas gift as I was a year ago. I just didn’t know it at the time. My wife gave me the gift because I asked for it, but even my reason for wanting it was askew.

  The gift? A Dymo LabelWriter 550 Turbo. Faster than a speeding bullet. Able to leap buildings in a single bound. And, designed to disappoint.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.02.0, 2023-01-09).

  Hardware Dymo, hardware, Newsletters, printers, Quality

• MS-DEFCON 2: Getting ready for 2023

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

  

  ISSUE 20.01.1 • 2023-01-05

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Once again, we are preparing for another year of patching.

  And to start out the year auspiciously, I must raise the MS-DEFCON level to 2. That’s because I’m recommending that updates to Windows be deferred until later in the month. Although Microsoft takes a long Christmas vacation, and the resulting January is usually limited to just security updates, it’s best to be very cautious until the issues that cropped up in December are resolved.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.01.1, 2023-01-05).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, BSOD, Microsoft Lifecycle, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows Servers EoL

• Let your PC start the new year right!

  Posted on January 2, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.01 • 2023-01-02

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ben Myers

  Taking a little time now to check and proactively service your Windows PC thoroughly can pay off big time in the coming year.

  Whether you’re planning to move to Windows 11 or stick with Windows 10, this easy-to-follow annual checkup is the preventive medicine that can help ensure that your PC begins 2023 in the best shape possible.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.01.0, 2023-01-02).

  Hardware Backups, Drive maintenance, hardware, Networking, Newsletters, PC maintenance, security

• MS-DEFCON 3: Windows 10 22H2 may leave you blue

  Posted on December 27, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.52.1 • 2022-12-27

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I have a favorite Christmas song titled “We need a little Christmas,” from the Broadway musical “Mame.”

  The uplifting tone of the song expresses the pleasure and happiness we experience during the holiday. We don’t usually associate “blue” feelings with the season (except Elvis).

  Windows 10 could use a little of that holiday spirit. Unfortunately, two different patches for 22H2 appear to be throwing off blue screens of death for some — but not all — users. As much as I’d like to lower the MS-DEFCON level to the more serene level 4, so you can enjoy the holiday while applying updates, out of caution I am dropping it only one notch.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.52.1, 2022-12-27).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, BSOD, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 3, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10

• The best tech secrets of 2022: AirTags, TikTok, Twitter, oh my

  Posted on December 26, 2022 at 02:45 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.52 • 2022-12-26

  Look for our BONUS issue on January 2, 2023!

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  Amid my efforts to help you protect yourself against some rather aggressive technologies, I’m glad to report that there’s been at least some progress this year on the worst aspects of our “labor-saving” devices.

  Please note: I’m not claiming that my columns by themselves caused any of the changes I describe below. I just report the problems. We can all celebrate when bad tech is improved, whoever may have developed a particular solution.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.52.0, 2022-12-26).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Public Defender AirTags, Cryptocurrency, Newsletters, NFT, privacy, security, Surveillance, TikTok, Twitter

• Microsoft 365: Year in review

  Posted on December 26, 2022 at 02:44 CST by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT 365

  

  By Peter Deegan

  Let’s take a minute to check the rearview mirror and review what’s happened this year with Microsoft Office. We’ll also peer over the horizon to speculate about 2023.

  There were obvious (and not-so-obvious) changes to Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365. I’ll look at just some of the changes. They might not be the most hyped changes coming from the never-ending road that is Microsoft marketing, and some of them might be overlooked but yet interesting.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.52.0, 2022-12-26).

  Microsoft 365 Clipchamp, Designer, Excel, Microsoft 365, Newsletters, Office 365, PowerPoint, Sketchup, Teams, Word

• Firewall App Blocker — Make the Windows firewall usable

  Posted on December 26, 2022 at 02:43 CST by Deanna McElveen • Comment in the Forums

  FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT

  

  By Deanna McElveen

  Microsoft did a pretty decent job when it added an improved software firewall to Windows XP SP2, and it has gotten even better over the years.

  That said, the ease of adding a program to be allowed or blocked by Windows Firewall has not improved much at all.

  But that’s okay. Along with its other great programs, Sordum.org has created Firewall App Blocker.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.52.0, 2022-12-26).

  Freeware Spotlight Deanna's Freeware Spotlight, Firewalls, Newsletters

• Finding good security information

  Posted on December 26, 2022 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I do this so you don’t have to.

  And I’ve been doing it for a long time, learning and cultivating sources of knowledge to allow me to make informed decisions about the stability and security of my computing environments, both at home and for my business. The latter has been extremely important to me; as a CPA, I am entrusted with the private financial information from the firm’s clients, which must be dealt with carefully.

  Thus, I have been on a decades-long journey through the landscape of NNTP newsgroups, Listservs, email groups, chat rooms — you name it. Today the available resources are much broader, including all the social networks including YouTube; specialty websites dealing with security, privacy, and operating environments; governmental websites regarding regulation, especially with regard to privacy; and the many personal acquaintances I’ve developed over the years.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.52.0, 2022-12-26).

  On Security Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, security, Sources
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