Why Windows 10 Users Have Better Anti Virus Protection?

Ever wondered why PC users using various versions of windows never trust its operating system with anti-virus issues? Well, the reason dates back a long way and is really insignificant in this case. The significant fact is that as per reports of the Microsoft Security Intelligence, the use of anti-virus software has increased manifold with the introduction of Microsoft Defender. It also goes to show that Windows 10 has improved a lot on the security advancements and can now be trusted wholeheartedly for anti-virus protection.

A bit of History

The scenario now shows rapid development in the security department for Windows 10. In fact, almost all its users are having anti-virus software thanks to the in-built Windows Defender which turns on automatically in the absence of any alternative program. Among all the PCs that Microsoft updates only a meager volume of 3 percent PCs are termed “unprotected” with all of them having up-to-date Windows 10 versions. But such was not the case a few years ago.

As per the history books Microsoft has a reluctance to protect its users partly owing to the anti-trust threats that various anti-virus software providers have issued. Companies like McAfee and Symantec threatened anti-trust lawsuits in 2006 on Microsoft over their impeccable plan which included Kernel PatchGuard in Windows Vista. Its aftermath is quite visible in most of today’s PCs where about 20 percent users of Windows 7 and 28 percent of that of Vista have an unprotected PC.

Why are they unprotected? 

Firstly, above 60 percent users do not have any anti-virus installed in their PCs. Secondly, an added 20 percent have it installed but are reluctant to turn it on. Thirdly, in few cases the anti-virus is turned on yet the signatures and definitions are not updated due to expired subscriptions. In case of Windows 10 most users fail to update the PCs and many turnoff their anti-virus.

What has improved in Windows 10? 

With the huge burden of protecting PCs falling on its shoulders Microsoft has been trying to increase the capability of Microsoft Defender. Better scores in all the group anti-virus tests confirm the positive outcome. Apart from Defender, many other approaches have been used by Microsoft such as Windows 10 SmartScreen which is the filter for “safe browsing” blocks much of the malware.

Added features included from Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit or EMET brings in the following standard features:-

• Data Execution Prevention or DEP 
• Address Space Layout Randomization or ASLR 
• Structured Exception Handler Overwrite Protection or SEHOP 

Enterprise users have the additional access to Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) providing them feedback after any breach.

Moreover, cloud-based protection included in Windows 10 is automatically turned on in the Anniversary updated version and it works in a fascinating manner. If a unrecognized file carrying suspicion is noticed by the Defender it is referred to the cloud service which takes a decision on whether or not to block it based on automated file analysis, heuristics and machine learning. This process is reported to save the response time to a great extent.

All these improvements have resulted in lesser infection rates in case of Windows 10 users.

Windows Update Knocks Out Internet Connections

Just a few years back, users used to eagerly wait for the updates which will help them in unlocking the new features on their existing devices or software or programs. However things have changed drastically in the past year because a number of updates and upgrades have resulted in driving people nuts with making some serious affects on the devices as a whole. This has resulted in poor user experience and this ugly trend creeps into Microsoft’s popular operating system called Windows with the latest update.

ISP reports internet connectivity difficulties in European region

A recent update to the Windows OS has brought painful and unwanted internet connectivity issues on a number of devices. This has been widely reported by innumerable internet service providers in European region who has stated that they customers were unable to connect to the internet. This isn’t affecting any particular kind of router box rather its is rampant. On other hand Virgin Media has come with a detailed solution which allows users to connect with the internet and it has been provided to the customers. Microsoft also came into action after this and it issued a guidance to the users in effectively connecting to the internet.

Microsoft comes into action

Microsoft has well noted this development and brought some crucial guidance at dealing with it though it has only affected a certain number of users with Windows 10 OS. At first users are required to restart their system and if it doesn’t help then they can get more detailed alternatives by visiting Microsoft’s website from other device. Microsoft has zeroed out the problem in the system’s inability to connect with the network by automatically picking up addressing system in the broadband routers.

Steps compiled by Virgin Media to get connected with Internet

Here is complete set of guidelines issued by the Virgin Media which will help all the affected users in connecting with the internet in a swift fashion. At first users are requested to restart their system by going to the Start followed by Power and Restart. Once the system is booted up again then try to connect to the internet, if it doesn’t work then you will be required to reset the IP address and here are the necessary steps.

1.  Click on Start button. 
2.  Click on Run or press Windows Key along with letter ‘R’ 
3.  Type ‘CMD’ and press enter 
4.  A command prompt will appear on the screen. Now type in ‘ipconfig/release’ and press enter. 
5.  Now users can try to connect with the internet and hopefully this set get them connected.

In case this trick doesn’t work for you then the below mentioned steps which will help in clearing up the DNS settings.

1.  Click on the Start button 
2.  Click on the Run or press Windows key along with letter ‘R’ 
3.  Once again command prompt on the screen. Now type in ‘ipconfig/flushdns’ and press enter. 
4.  Now hopefully your connection will start working and you will be able to connect with the internet.

Later KB3206632 update was released to fix the fault.

Microsoft Attacks Google's Windows Hack Alert

Google leaves Microsoft red faced by revealing a potent security flaw found right in its popular Windows operating system. Google has published a report which gives insight and remarkable details into the security flaw which has yet to be fixed by the Microsoft. It should be noted that Google has already given a deadline of seven days to Microsoft for fixing up the flaw but Microsoft simply failed to play by the rules. Google has stated that it was necessary to reveal the flaw to public as it was being actively abused. Microsoft reiterated by stating that alert which only ends up in causing more harm because it will still need more time come with a suitable security patch.

The flaw revealed by Google

Google has revealed a major flaw in the file named Win32k.sys which is utilized by the Microsoft’s Windows operating system to display graphics. Any kind of alteration or moderation to this file can create havoc for the users which leaves the display system is jeopardy. Deleting or altering this file results in system errors with the notorious blue screen of death. This has been known by all the major security experts and operating system users as well as technicians but the flaw revealed by Google brings showcase a vulnerability which can utilized by the hackers for their own personal gains.

Google has quite frankly laid down the roadmap for any hacker to exploit this vulnerability through using a ‘security sandbox escape. This simply means that if a hackers gets acess of any Windows operating system the he will get the ability to alter other computer function sin order to cause more problems for the end users.

Why Google chose to reveal the vulnerability? 

Google has a policy which has been active since 2013 and it states that Google will offer 60 days to the developers to fix up the flaw identified by it, only in the case if no one making active use of the flaw. But if it’s found that the vulnerability is being utilized by hackers or other then Google will offer just 7 days before making the flaw public.

Similarly Google has given seven days to the Microsoft to come up with a fix for this vulnerability but they failed to do so. Microsoft has stated in its defense that it isn’t feasible to come with right solution and fixing parameter with an imposing aggressive timeline. It has also been stated by Google that users can safeguard themselves from this flaw through limiting the exposure by the using the Chrome which is not effectively exposed to the vulnerability.

Tech community is divided in this debacle

Cyber security experts are left scratching their whether the decision taken by Google is right or wrong given the fact that revealing the flaw will still require a security patch from Microsoft and Microsoft requires time to develop it. A security expert has stated that bringing flaw public without knowing who are the attackers and targets can aggravate the situation further.

Get Sharper Text on Your Windows Screen

ClearType – Text Sharper/Easier to Read on Screen

We tend to spend long hours of our time in reading on the computer each day though our computers are probably not enhanced for reading and the text on the monitors may not be adequately sharp or could be too small, particularly in the case of high-resolution monitors.

Generally, websites are not augmented for reading long-form articles and are mixed-up with several navigation components, with advertisements popping up and tends to use texts which are too small. Windows 7 comprises of a built-in service for configuring `ClearType’ that tends to make text easier to be read on LCD monitors. Since the days of Windows XP, Microsoft used a system wide technology – ClearType which made the text sharper and easier to be read on the screen.

ClearType has been designed to improve LCD display. It may be likely to appear a bit hazyon standard desktop monitors as well as on some of the LCD displays. In some cases, seeing haziness could be due to manufacturing irregularity on LCD displays wherein the normal striping of red-green-blue tends to get reversed with blue-green-red.

No Support in Windows XP ClearType

Presently there seems to be no support in Windows XP ClearType to reimburse for this irregularity which could be the problem in cases wherein no ClearType contrast setting inclines to look good on a specific LCD display.In this type of situation, the best thing to be done is to turn off `ClearType’.Windows 10 also has the ClearType support which by default, is generally turned on.

 If the user tends to find the text on a screen hazy, you could ensure that the ClearType setting is turned on and fine tune the same. To get it organized one could go to Windows 10 search box towards the bottom left area of the screen and type `ClearType’. Then you select `Adjust ClearType text’ in the result list’, to open the control panel.

 When the ClearType Text Tuner control panel is opened, you could ensure that the box near the `turn on ClearType’ is checked and thereafter you could click the Next button. Windows 10 thereafter tends to check the monitor resolution ensure that it is set properly Then you could click the Next button once again.

Advanced Sizing of Text & Other Items

The next five screens present you with many text blocks prompting the user to select the one which seems best to their choices and once the choice of click the Finish button is done, your ClearType setting gets consequently tuned in.

If the user desires additional adjustments, you could go to the Start menu and select `Settings and open System’. On selecting `Display’ from the list of system settings from the left side of the box you could adjust the size of the text seen on the screen which can be changed to brightness level. Opt for `Advanced Display Setting’ link towards the bottom of the box and select `Colour Calibration’ for fine-tuning the colours on the display.

The choice of `Advanced sizing of text and other items’ could also be considered as an alternative choice, to bump the size of the text in window title bars, other screen elements as well as menus.

Microsoft's latest Windows 10 Insider preview build could be RTM

Microsoft is likely to sign off on the Windows 10 Anniversary Update code very soon and the recent test build No. 14393 for PCs and phone could be the one which may end up as release to manufacturing - RTM.Several Microsoft viewers for the past week have been wondering on which of the latest Window 10 Anniversary Update test builds could be the right choice.

Microsoft executives are not in favouring of using release to manufacturing – RTM or RTW – release to Web, anymore since Windows 10 is a constantly updated service though several of the users still tend to use the RTM convention in referring to the build which eventually will go to `normal’ who are not in the Windows Insider program. Few have been wondering that the present Windows 10 Anniversary Update test build for PCs and mobile could be the RTM release.

The officials of Microsoft would no longer be calling any of these test builds `RTM’ nor would they likely let anyone know which of these near-final test builds are `soup’. In the case of the update of Windows 10 of November, Microsoft had released the RTM build on November 5 and that release, the first major update to Windows 10 had been commonly available on November 12.

RTM On Windows 10 PCs

Sources have informed that the internal goal of Microsoft is to sign off on an Insider preview test build by July 20to have the second main update to Windows 10, the Anniversary Update and ready to be made available on August 2 on PCs, phones, tablets together with other device as intended. The 14393 preview build has no new features though has some remaining resolutions for both phones and PCs.

Windows Insider chief Dona Sarkar, in the notes regarding the new build, states that those having problems with their cameras on Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book while running the new Insider builds need to see a driver update in order to fix this soon through Windows Update.

Being part of the Windows Insider program provides the user with early access to Windows 10 updates through its different phases of its growth much after its release. Most of this analysis is based on the build 10240 which had been available on July 15 and is a Release to Manufacturing – RTM version. RTM would also be on Windows 10 PCs and could be purchased online or in-store.

RTM – No `Windows 10 Insider Preview’ Text on Desktop

RTM does not seem to have the typical `Windows 10 Insider Preview’ text on the desktop and also tends to have been released to all in the Windows Insider program even those who did not want the new updates. Even when Windows 10 is released, the Windows Insider program tends to continue and Microsoft will release Windows 10 updates, first to the members of the program.

Though it seems natural that Windows 10 is well-thought-out as `finished’ by reviewers and consumers. Microsoft does not subscribe to this point of view and states that it would carry on developing the OS with additional tweaks.