UpdatedMicrosoft has released cumulative security update KB4483214 (Build 18305.1003) for Internet Explorerwhich fixes a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2018-8653) in Windows 10 Insider build 18305 (19H1)
Windows 10 Insider Preview build 18305.1000 (rs_prerelease) is a build of a version codenamed 19H1, which is available to members of the Windows Insider program with priority for early access updates.
This assembly belongs to the RS_PRERELEASE development branch of the next major Windows 10 update, which is expected in spring (March-April) 2019.
New in Windows 10 build 18305 (19H1)
The new build of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18305 has received a large number of new features: Windows Sandbox, support for symbols and kaomoji, Automatic Restart and Authentication (ARSO) feature for corporate users. Also improvements were made to the Start menu, Windows Security app, cloud clipboard, user authentication mechanisms, Task Manager, troubleshooting function, Settings app and Windows explorer.
This build simplifies the default Start menu layout for new devices, new user accounts, and clean installations of Windows 10. The main differences are: a new one-column design, smaller top-level tiles, and a separate customized version for corporate and educational users. If you upgrade to the new build, you will not see the layout changes because Windows updates do not change your current view of the Start menu.
Windows Sandbox
Microsoft describes the new Windows Sandbox feature as "a new lightweight desktop environment for running applications in an isolated space." You will be able to run executable files without worrying about the consequences or work with a clean installing Windowswithout even setting up virtual machine... Any software installed in the Windows Sandbox can only affect the Sandbox and after closing the Windows Sandbox session, all files will be deleted. The feature will ship with Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise.
Windows Security
Continuing the discussion of security features, the Protection Log feature, formerly known as the Threat Log, has been updated in Windows Security. It still shows Windows Defender detections, but now also includes Windows Defender Offline scan results and more detailed information about malware and available actions on them.
In addition, a new anti-tampering feature has been added that provides additional protection against changes to key security features, including limiting changes not made through the Windows Security application.
Character support
When you press Windows +. or Windows +; the pop-up menu that opens allows you not only to select ordinary emoticons, but also various symbols: punctuation, currency signs, geometric and mathematical symbols, Latin letters and Japanese kaomoji. This feature was first introduced in Build 18252, but is now available to all Windows Insiders.
Cloud buffer
The cloud clipboard (Windows key + V) received an updated, more compact interface. Since 90 percent of the buffer objects are regular text, the design of the function has been optimized for text fragments. Now user can see more text entries at once without scrolling.
Microsoft continues to adhere to its long-term strategy of eliminating passwords altogether, and this time the company has added support for setting up phone number authorization using the appropriate account. You can now receive SMS codes to set up your account for the first time and then use Windows Hello biometric authentication or PIN to sign in.
In addition, the Windows Hello PIN Reset Wizard now has a redesigned web interface.
Troubleshooting
In addition to the critical troubleshooter, which starts automatically but can be disabled, Windows 10 will now also offer recommendations for fixing other issues. One scenario is Windows suggests disabling a feature that sometimes crashes an application or feature. If the issue was fixed by an update, Windows will advise you to re-enable the setting.
The new Automatic Restart and Sign On (ARSO) feature for corporate users allows automatic authentication when performing a system update to complete the setup, and then locks the PC. This function is available in the app Settings\u003e Accounts\u003e Sign-in Options\u003e Privacy and can only be activated for accounts that are connected to a cloud domain and meet certain requirements: BitLocker is enabled and not suspended during the upgrade, TPM 2.0 and SecureBoot support.
If you want the Task Manager to always open in a specific tab, you can now configure this by going to the menu Options\u003e Set Tab as Default... Now, on startup, the tab you selected will open.
The Settings app home page has a new area at the top for quick access to your account settings and login options. It also displays the current status of the system, in particular information about the availability of updates.
Windows explorer
In Build 18272, Windows Explorer got a new date format called friendly dates. Just right-click on the Date column header and disable the Use Friendly Dates option in the context menu.
Other changes
- Returned Japanese IME that was disabled a few weeks ago. The Japanese input method has received new customization options and reliability improvements.
- New Office application introduced.
- Improved Cortana voice assistant integration with Microsoft To-Do app.
A complete list of improvements, changes and known bugs is available in the official announcement on the Microsoft website.
Go to Settings\u003e Update & Security and click Check for Updates. A computer restart is required to complete the installation.
Smartphone theft - a big problem... Its scale is so great that the governments of many states and interstate entities have adopted a number of laws aimed at drastically reducing the attractiveness of phones in the eyes of thieves. This is how the kill switch mechanism appeared in smartphones for remote blocking and destruction of data, and later linking the smartphone to the user's account, which should make the theft meaningless. But how effective are these measures actually, and are they easy to get around?
The state of California passed the first law to protect user data in 2014. The law spells out a new requirement for all smartphone manufacturers wishing to sell their devices in the state. According to this requirement, from July 1, 2015, manufacturers are required to build in the so-called kill switch, which will allow the owner to remotely lock the phone or destroy data.
It should be noted here that remote data wiping has already been used in practice by manufacturers such as Apple (Find My iPhone), BlackBerry (Protect) and Android (via Android Device Manager). In fact, the law made the use and activation of these functions mandatory. In particular, Microsoft smartphones have tightened up: now all new devices sold in the United States have a Find My Phone item.
However, it quickly became clear that the thieves were completely uninterested in user data, which were destroyed by the remote command. All the thief had to do was reset the phone to factory settings as soon as possible and then configure it to work with or without a new account.
Manufacturers tried to improve the existing systemby adding the binding of devices to the user account and protection that would not allow such binding to be bypassed. According to statistics, these measures worked: after their widespread introduction, theft of smartphones decreased by a very noticeable 40%. How effective these measures actually are and how to get around them is the topic of today's article.
Apple iOS
- Factory reset protection: yes, on all relatively modern devices
- Remote Lock: Starting with iOS 4.2 (November 2010)
- Reset Protection Date: iOS 6 (September 2012)
- Geography: worldwide
- Downgrade protection: yes, and works great
- To remove protection: unlock device (requires PIN or fingerprint), disable Find My iPhone (requires password to Apple ID)
- Current status: protection is working
iOS is a closed system, the code of which is completely controlled by Apple. In all relatively recent versions of iOS (and this is about 98% of devices in the hands of users), it is impossible to bypass the moment of device activation. IPhone Activation is impossible without a "signal" from the server controlled by Apple. Accordingly, if the device is tied to a specific account, then this binding cannot be bypassed without access to the server - at least in theory.
The remote lock function is active by default. This function can be controlled in the iCloud → Find My iPhone menu:
What happens if a phone with Find My iPhone enabled gets stolen? Even if an intruder immediately turns off the phone and then resets it to factory settings or flashes it clean (no problem - it can be done easily via iTunes), the first thing he will see when turned on is the activation wizard. The phone will need to be activated, for which it is necessary to connect to the Internet. As soon as the phone establishes a connection to the Apple server, the activation wizard will ask for the password from the Apple ID that was used before the hard reset.
In older versions of iOS (prior to iOS 6), it was possible to bypass activation. But where did you see the iPhone with iOS 6? Such, most likely, will never fall into the hands of the average thief, and if it does, its material value tends to zero. You won't be able to roll back to the old version of iOS either: for modern devices, vulnerable versions simply do not exist in nature, and for old devices, a very effective protection against downgrading will work. However, even bypassing activation on vulnerable iOS versions did not allow using the device as a phone; in fact, instead of an iPhone, it was an iPod Touch.
What if you're just going to sell a boring phone and don't want the buyer to have problems? Everything is simple here, but you will have to do it before you reset the device to factory settings:
- Unlock your phone (with fingerprint sensor or password).
- Disable Find My iPhone in iCloud settings.
- Enter your Apple ID password.
Everything can be discarded. Protection is disabled. However, an attacker will not be able to disable protection. To do this, he will have to overcome two levels of protection: a screen lock and an Apple ID password.
Protection against reset and unauthorized activation in Apple smartphones works great around the world. It is not possible to bypass it programmatically. Forgot Apple ID password or deleted account? Go to the Apple Store or call support, get ready to show a receipt or other proof of the legitimacy of ownership of the device. Because protection is activated on the server side, Apple employees can help with this evidence.
There are hardware ways to bypass protection. For very old devices, it was enough to rewire a single capacitor. Modern ones require disassembly, direct access to the memory chip and manual work with a programmer to change the device identifier. After changing the identifier, the device can be activated, but there is not the slightest guarantee that it will continue to do so after the system is updated. In any case, this method of circumvention is too complicated for an ordinary thief, so they try not to mess with the iPhone - it will be possible to sell the stolen device only for parts.
Android
- Factory reset protection: on some devices (if Android 5.1 or higher is installed, and the device was released with factory firmware on Android 5.0 or higher) via Google Services
- Remote Lock: Optional via Android Device Manager (Dec 2013), all Android 2.2 and above
- Reset Protection Date: Android 5.1 (February 2015)
- Geography: Worldwide, except China
- Protection against downgrading of the firmware version: depending on the manufacturer and model of the device; does not work more often than works
- To remove protection: unlock device, delete Google Account (no password required)
- Actual status: on most devices without any problems
Let's agree: we are now talking exclusively about devices with Google android, that is, with GMS services installed out of the box. The author is aware of the existence of Mi Protect and similar systems in Chinese smartphones and knows how to bypass them. With an unlocked bootloader, it is so easy that it is of no interest (and no, no response from the Xiaomi server is required in the case of Mi Protect).
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As part of the move to Windows 10, Microsoft announced that older Lumia smartphones can also receive an update to the latest Windows 10 Mobile system. Since the update is already available for these smartphones, we will be demonstrating smartphone cleaning using Windows 10 Mobile as an example.
Freeing up memory
For information on memory usage, in the shortcut menu, tap Settings and go to the System | Storage ". It displays the amount of occupied internal memory device and SD card (if available).
In the Save Locations section, you need to specify that new downloads, music, pictures and videos should be saved to the SD card in order to free up internal storage for applications. You can also define the SD card as the default storage for applications, however this rule is canceled when you install the first application that cannot be saved to the SD card.
To move an app to your SD card, tap This Device in the Storage menu and then tap Apps & Games. For a better overview, select Sort by Size from the drop-down menu. Then tap an app to see if it can be moved or uninstalled. For system applications that cannot be uninstalled, these options are not available.
Additional feature freeing up memory consists in deleting the motion data that is saved by default. If you don't use fitness apps, their data only clogs up your device's memory. To remove them, go to the "Settings | Privacy | Move ”and then tap“ Clear Log ”.
Blocking background apps
If the application is running in the background, it means that it consumes energy and processor time (as well as Internet traffic) even when you do not see it, and it is likely that this is not necessary for you.
To speed up your smartphone, you need to block all applications that do not have to constantly send and receive data, such as games.
In the menu "Settings | Privacy | Background Applications ”specify which applications can run in the background. By default, the permission is turned on for all apps, but you can change it - just tap the switch on the right.
Extending battery life
To ensure that the GPS module does not “mindlessly” consume battery resources, it should be accessed only by those applications for which this function is really needed, for example, the “Maps” application.
The corresponding menu is located in the section "Settings | Privacy | Location ". Then scroll down a little to see a list of apps accessing the location service and set their permissions.
In order to determine which of the applications are using the most energy, go to the category "Settings | System | Saving charge ”. In the Overview menu, touching Battery Usage will display a list of apps sorted by energy usage. It is recommended to uninstall the most "gluttonous" applications that you no longer need.
If you want to set at what battery level your smartphone should automatically turn off background applications and dim the display to save energy, select "Battery saving options". If necessary, you can manually activate the power saving mode using the shortcut menu at any time.
", We talked about the security level of Android devices. Today in this short article we will talk about the security of the Windows 10 Mobile operating system.
First of all, we are interested, of course, the flagships produced by Microsoft itself - these are Lumia 950 and 950 XL. The fact is that these devices were originally developed specifically for the needs of corporate consumers.
The most interesting feature of Windows 10 Mobile is that it is the only mobile OS that is not based on one version of UNIX or another. Its own approach to designing the kernel and the system itself, excellent optimization of the OS and all software for a limited list of supported chipsets put Windows 10 Mobile somewhere in the middle between a completely closed iOS and a completely open Android.
Microsoft's OS has the option of full-disk encryption (but, unlike Apple iOS, there is no multilevel data protection here), which, however, can be enabled and disabled at the request of the user (or network administrator). Can also be configured on external media (microSD cards, if used).
The phone can be unlocked using both a traditional PIN code and a biometric sensor - an iris scanner (only for Lumia 950 and 950 XL models). In terms of speed and usability, the iris scanner is noticeably inferior to the fingerprint scanner in iOS devices, and even in modern Android. Security, however, is at the level. Unlike Android, Windows 10 Mobile does not provide or accept insecure authentication methods.
Windows 10 Mobile security. Iris authentication is enabled in settings
Windows 10 Mobile security. Iris authentication is enabled in the settings. Granular control over application permissions is present: it is possible to restrict application access to the user's location and the ability to prohibit working in the background.
Windows 10 Mobile security. Left: applications with access to geodata, right: toggle for telephony accessSandbox application isolation is present. The ability to install applications from third-party sources is disabled by default and can be further strengthened with a corporate security policy that prevents a user from enabling the ability to install unsigned applications.
By the way, for Windows 10 Mobile there is an analogue of jailbreak, which allows you to get escalation of privileges, access to editing the registry (by the way, it practically does not differ from the registry of "large" Windows 10) and the file system. It is not very easy to install it, but everything is done with the help of completely standard tools from the mode for developers: there is no question of any question, the method has been known for a long time and remains operational in all windows versions 10 Mobile, including the Creators Update.
It is difficult to say whether this is plus or minus in terms of security; after all, such a “jailbreak” does not affect the unlocking of the phone or access to encrypted data in any way (unlike the jailbreak in iOS, which successfully bypasses the security mechanisms built into the system).
Just like Apple, Microsoft collects information about users of its devices. In terms of the amount of data and the scale of surveillance, the company is again in the middle between Apple and Google. In the Microsoft OneDrive cloud, phones create backups (including app data), sync calls and SMS (but iOS syncs only calls, not messages). Passwords and browser history are also synchronized.
Windows 10 Mobile security. The backup function can be disabled for individual applications.There is a service for protection against theft and remote locking of the Find My Phone device, but a service similar to iCloud Lock (Apple) or Factory Reset Protection (Google) is available exclusively in models released for the American market.
As in the case of iOS, all these features can be easily disabled both in the device settings and through corporate security policy.
Microsoft, just like Apple, regularly updates its devices and quickly fixes found vulnerabilities. The update situation is much better here than in Android. However, the low prevalence of the system and the weak interest of Microsoft itself in the future of the platform negate many of its advantages.
Gabriel Aul walked out from outside coding yesterday to talk about Windows 10 Mobile and the next insider build. Windows 10 Mobile build 10240 obviously needs a lot of work, as it is still not available to Windows Insiders and they are still forced to use build 10166. The good news is that the next build will be released soon, most likely in a few days - at the end this week or early next.
This beginning leads to what many people, myself included, have noticed using the latest mobile OS: do a hard reboot and everything will work much better.
I understand that this is quite inconvenient, especially if you have a lot of additional settings and saves in games. However, if you want to improve the performance of your device, the best solution for you is to do a clean install or hard reset after every update. Erasing everything old and helping the OS keep up with fresh software is a great experience.
You certainly don't have to do this, most insiders do well. So this is 100% your wish, like the whole insider program.
But even from my personal experience, I can say that I noticed a huge difference. For example, my Lumia 1520 and Icon have Windows 10 Mobile installed, but only the Lumia 1520 has been reset. The difference between them is like day and night, Lumia 1520 suits me as a device for everyday use, and Icon, for example, I was afraid to do any reset.
Of course, I didn't expect from this update to the state of the final build this fall. However, at the moment it is your best opportunity for an authentic using windows 10 Mobile.
Are you interested? Let's talk about how to make a backup, after which you will reset all settings.
Backup to cloud (optional) - Windows 8.1
1. Go to Options
2. System backup
3. Apps + settings
Backup to cloud (optional) - Windows 10 Mobile
1. Go to Options
2. System backup
3. Other settings
4. Create backup
1. Go to Options
2. Go to About device
4. Click ‘Yes’
Hard reset on Windows 10 Mobile
1. Go to Options
2. Go to About device
3. Scroll to 'Reset phone'
4. Click ‘Yes’
You can also leave your SD card on to keep all your music, photos and videos.
How to Hard Reset - Tips (Lumia)
This method is good for non-flashed OS
1. Turn off your phone
2. Press the power button to turn on the phone
3. When the phone vibrates, immediately press and hold the volume down key.
4. Release the key when (“!”) Appears on the display
All the thief had to do was to reset the phone to factory settings as soon as possible, then configure it to work with the new account. Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 build 8.10.15127.
Factory reset on Windows Phone is the same for all Lumia 520, 620, 625, 630, 720, 730, 800, 825, 920, 925, 1020 phones, it doesn't even matter Lumia or HTC. You open the menu to reset the lumium settings to the right looking for the settings. All the thief had to do was to reset the phone to factory settings as soon as possible, then configure it to work with the new account Date of appearance of protection against reset: Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 build 8.10.15127. And then put on a new 10.
Users have repeatedly encountered problems in the operating room windows systemand the first correct way for them to fix them was reinstalling Windows. However, in such a situation, simply resetting Windows 10 to factory settings (initial state) can get rid of the problem.
In this case, a reset to its original state may be necessary if, for example, you sell or give your PC to someone else. It is unlikely that you have a desire to transfer any personal information and data into the wrong hands.
In Windows 10, the factory reset procedure has been simplified and now does not require any additional programs, disks, or anything else. You won't be able to launch it accidentally either.
How to reset Windows 10 to factory settings?
Go to "Options" - "Update and Security" - "Recovery". There, in the "Return the computer to its original state" section, click "Start".
"Save my files"
In this case, all parameters will be restored to standard, but your files will be saved. Before starting the procedure, you will see which applications will be erased. When everything is completed, a file will appear on the desktop with a list of all applications that have been removed. To proceed further after selecting this item, click "Next" and then "Continue". The computer will restart.
"Delete everything"
When you select this item, you will be prompted to erase data on a separate disk or all at once. Note that this item will appear only if you have multiple disks installed in your system.
Next, you will be offered the type of data deletion - "Fast", which is not recommended if in the future someone else will use the PC. "Deep cleaning" - in this case, data deletion will take several hours, but it will be almost impossible to recover deleted files. Click "Next" on the desired item and confirm your choice. It will reboot and start recovery.
When the operation is completed, you will get a "clean" OS, as if you just installed a new Windows.
Reset windows settings 10 can also be done if the OS does not start. This can be done using the manufacturer's built-in tools or using a bootable disk.
Launch the boot disk and select the item "Troubleshooting", and then "Return the computer to its original state." After that, the items already described above will be offered - to restore only the system, or to erase all files and reset the settings to the original ones.
Windows 10 is stable across all devices, but problems can still happen occasionally. What to do if a Windows 10 tablet freezes - this is the question that worries many owners, because from the first time it is not clear how to restart the tablet when it does not respond to commands.
The tablet does not respond to commands
The situation that the tablet does not react to your commands in any way can happen at any time. Suppose you watched a movie in, or even in a regular one. Or you just read the news at, or studied documents at. At any time, the tablet may freeze, it will be characterized by the following indicators:- The tablet stops responding to commands;
- The backlight of the screen does not go out even after the allotted time;
- Within 2-3 minutes the tablet does not change the picture on the screen;
How to restart your tablet
In a situation when a tablet on Windows 10 freezes, first of all, you need to give the device 2-3 minutes to solve the problem on its own. Sometimes the device just takes a while to process all the data. This can be the case if you are working with serious and heavy programs. For example, running on a tablet or, you must be initially prepared for the fact that the tablet may sometimes freeze. After 2-3 minutes, the problems, most often, are eliminated by themselves, and you can work further again.If 2-3 minutes did not help, then you need to restart the tablet. There are two ways to do this, soft, and the so-called Hard Reset. Of course, the first thing we do is act as gently as possible. To do this, press the shutdown button and hold it for 20 seconds. In this case, even a frozen tablet should turn off. In 99% of cases, this happens, after which you can reboot the tablet and continue working.
How to Hard Reset on Windows 10
If a soft reset does not help, then there is nothing left but to conduct Hard reset... There are a lot of bad reviews about this method, and they are not unfounded. Having decided to carry out a Hard Reset, you need to be prepared for the fact that some of your data will be lost. During a hard reboot, the system is rolled back to factory settings, so no one can guarantee the safety of the data. Hard Reset is carried out in one of the following ways:- At the same time, the power button and the volume down button are clamped;
- A small hole with the inscription Hard Reset is looked for on the case and pressed with a toothpick;
In the event of a hard reboot, be sure to remove any removable memory cards and disconnect any peripheral devices.
There used to be a third way - to remove the battery, but now most tablets are made without a removable battery, so this method has become obsolete. Alternatively, you can wait until the battery is completely discharged, but it is much easier to reboot the device.
Instructions for resetting Windows 10 settings to their initial state. Among windows users there is a stereotype that says: "Reinstalling Windows is a universal solution to all problems." However, you can bring Windows back to its original state in a different, easier way.
Why dumpWindows to factory settings?
You need to return the operating system to its original state if you sell / give away your PC and want to permanently delete all data and applications. In case of a factory reset, even hacker utilities will not help intruders recover your deleted data. It is also worth performing a factory reset in case of bugs and system instability.
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The factory reset procedure has become a lot easier in recent years. Now you can "rollback" the settings in a few clicks:
Open up Options - Update & Security - Recovery... In chapter Reset the computer to its original state click on the “ To begin".
Next, you are offered 2 options for rolling back the system: 1.reset system parameters only or 2.Completely clear the drive (will save the computer from the traces of your work on it: delete all data, applications, histories, etc.)
Resetting only parametersWindows 10.
With this "rollback" method, the system will return the parameters to the standard ones, remove applications, but will not affect your personal files. Before starting the factory reset, you will be shown a list of applications that will be removed. After completing the procedure, a document with the names of all applications removed by the system will appear on the desktop so that you can use it and download the programs again.
- All you need to do after reviewing the list of applications to be removed is to click on the buttons "Further"and "Proceed"... That's it, the system rollback process has begun, now just wait for it to end.
Reset everything, including user data.
In this method of resetting the settings, you will need to do a few clicks more than the previous one.
- Now, as in the first case, we press the buttons "Next", "Continue" and we wait. The computer will automatically reboot and begin recovery.
