Linux, Open Source, & anti Microsoft news

Less than a month ago, Microsoft announced that it would keep users logged in to their Microsoft account from February 2025. This move sparked a lot of controversy, especially since it posed a significant cybersecurity threat to those using public PCs or shared devices. Fortunately, the Redmond tech firm has decided to walk back on this change, for now.

Microsoft has published its latest Windows 11 processor support lists for new OEM systems. The latest version of the OS, Windows 11 version 24H2, now includes official support for some of the newest Intel chips such as Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200 parts. However, we are surprised to see that Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen processors are no longer officially supported on the list for new OEM systems. The decision may be related to Intel’s move of 7th-10th Gen iGPUs to a legacy support model in December.

Microsoft has released the KB5051974 cumulative update for Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 10 21H2, which automatically installs the new Outlook for Windows app and fixes a memory leak bug. The Windows 10 KB5051974 update is mandatory as it contains Microsoft’s January 2025 Patch Tuesday security updates.

Artificial intelligence may one day make humans obsolete—just not in the way that you’re thinking. Instead of AI getting so good at completing tasks that it takes the place of a person, we may just become so reliant on imperfect tools that our own abilities atrophy. A new study published by researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that the more humans lean on AI tools to complete their tasks, the less critical thinking they do, making it more difficult to call upon the skills when they are needed.

Today is Microsoft’s February 2025 Patch Tuesday, which includes security updates for 55 flaws, including four zero-day vulnerabilities, with two actively exploited in attacks. This Patch Tuesday also fixes three “Critical” vulnerabilities, all remote code execution vulnerabilities.

Microsoft has offered to widen the price differential between its Office product sold with its chat and video app Teams and its software sold without the app in a bid to avert a possible EU antitrust fine, according to three sources.

Microsoft Teams users can expect a slew of new features in an upcoming update that is currently in full testing, including Storyline, a Facebook-like feed where users can share messages, news, or congratulations. Users can also follow people via Storyline, much as they would on Facebook.

France’s antitrust agency is investigating Microsoft over concerns that it is degrading the quality of results when smaller rivals pay to use Bing technology in their own search-engine products.

Microsoft has shared a workaround for users affected by a known issue that blocks Windows security updates from deploying on some Windows 11 24H2 systems. As the company explained when it acknowledged the bug in December, it only occurs when installing Windows 11 from CDs and USB flash drives that also install the October 2024 or November 2024 cumulative updates. “When using media to install Windows 11, version 24H2, the device might remain in a state where it cannot accept further Windows security updates,” Microsoft says.

If you’re not a huge fan of Microsoft Edge, you may have looked up ways to get rid of it. Sure enough, if you use a search engine to look for a way to remove the browser, you’ll find an official Microsoft webpage that claims to tell you everything you know. Except, the webpage doesn’t actually tell you anything about uninstalling it, making it a pretty sneaky bait-and-switch.