Why does Spotify crash on iPhone 8 when you open Discover Weekly (iOS 16.7.12 fix checklist)?

Why did I just get a second T-Mobile breach payout on Venmo? The Resurgence of T-Mobile Data Breach Payments Valid claimants are currently receiving unexpected Venmo notifications regarding the T-Mobile data breach settlement. These “second chance” payouts stem from the August 2021 security incident that compromised the data of over 76 million individuals. While the …

Is the new Microsoft Rewards Gold tier update actually worth it for Canadian users? Analysis of the January 2026 Microsoft Rewards Tier Rollout Microsoft Rewards users in Canada experienced an immediate structural change to their dashboard this past Friday. This update aligns Canada with Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, all of which recently received …

Is it safe to use Rufus for installing Linux on my PC without a CD drive? Modern computing rarely relies on physical optical media. If you need to install an operating system or run low-level diagnostics, a bootable USB drive is essential. Rufus stands out as the most efficient tool for this task. It formats …

Is there a way to add the battery number next to the icon in Windows 11? Precise power management is essential for mobile productivity. While the standard battery icon offers a visual estimate, professional workflows often require granular data. In recent updates to Windows 11 (specifically version 25H2 and later), Microsoft introduced a native feature …

Is Microsoft Safety Scanner the Best Free Tool for a Second Opinion on Malware? The Microsoft Safety Scanner, technically referred to as the Microsoft Support Emergency Response Tool (MSERT), is a free, standalone security utility. It provides on-demand scanning to identify and neutralize viruses, spyware, and other malicious threats. Unlike standard antivirus programs, this tool …

Can I enable the new hidden translate popup in Opera? Opera One R3 integrates native translation capabilities directly into the browser interface. When you visit a webpage written in a foreign language, the system detects this and prompts you to translate the content into your default language. While useful for international research, frequent popups distract …

Is there a quick way to disable the AI Copilot button in Windows 10 and 11 browsers? For users prioritizing a minimalist digital workspace, the introduction of the “Copilot Chat” button in Microsoft Edge often represents unnecessary clutter. Microsoft frequently updates this toolbar feature, rebranding it from “Bing Discover” to “Ask Copilot” and now simply …

Ready to ditch Activity Monitor for a faster Mac terminal tool? The Command Line Power User’s Guide to btop for macOS As a technical advisor, I strongly recommend incorporating btop into your workflow if you require precise system monitoring without the overhead of a graphical interface. While macOS provides the native Activity Monitor, it often …

Is the Liquid Glass UI on iOS 26 Too Hard to Read? The release of iPadOS 26 and iOS 26 introduced the “Liquid Glass” design language, a visually striking but often functionally difficult aesthetic. While the translucent layers and blurred backgrounds look modern, they frequently sacrifice contrast for style. This creates significant friction for users …

What Are the 5 Hidden Microsoft 365 Features Professionals Use Every Day (But Most People Miss)? If you already work in Microsoft 365 every day, you probably feel quite comfortable with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. You write documents, build spreadsheets, send email, and create presentations. Over time, you learn the most obvious tools …

Where is the Wi‑Fi Developer Options menu on Samsung Galaxy phones, and what does Link Speed (TX/RX) mean? Enable Samsung hidden Wi‑Fi Developer Options (no root) Samsung includes a hidden Wi‑Fi diagnostics suite inside One UI. It surfaces deeper network stats, testing tools, and service actions that normal Settings screens do not show. Use it …

Which Microsoft 365 Shortcuts Should I Learn First for Faster Email, Formatting, and Excel Data Cleanup? Microsoft 365 can feel fast or slow. The difference often comes down to small habits that remove tiny delays. Use the shortcuts below to cut clicks, keep formatting clean, and move through email and spreadsheets with less effort. Change …

Summary Introduction of Advanced Review Set Explorer for Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Premium), supporting both KeyQL and KQL query options. KQL allows advanced data exploration, aggregation, and visualization within review sets. Users can apply complex filters and visualize results through charts without altering existing workflows. Feature is enabled by default for users with eDiscovery review permissions. …

Summary Microsoft Entra ID will introduce passkey profiles and synced passkeys as a new feature, enhancing the passkey configuration experience. Administrators can choose between device-bound passkeys, synced passkeys, or both using the new passkeyType property. Existing FIDO2 authentication configurations will automatically transition to a Default passkey profile if tenants do not opt in during the …

Summary A new policy setting allows organizations to add visual or audio watermarks to video and audio content generated or altered by AI in Microsoft 365. The policy is titled “Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI” and is accessible through the Cloud Policy service. Watermarks are not …

Summary A new preconfigured quick policy template in Insider Risk Management will help detect potential data theft from Microsoft Fabric and other cloud storage services. The template enables admins to create scenario-specific policies with minimal configuration, enhancing onboarding speed and consistency. It will assist in monitoring potential data theft by users leaving the organization or …

Summary Tenant isolation feature in Power Platform will be enabled by default. Cross-tenant connections will be blocked; connections within the same tenant remain unaffected. Guest user access will not be impacted by this change. Administrators can prepare by configuring tenant isolation or disabling it before enforcement. Documentation available for further guidance on configuring tenant isolation …

Summary A Data Privacy message is available in Message Center for your organization. Accessible by Global Administrators or designated Message Center Privacy Readers. Categorized as GDPR, indicating a focus on data privacy compliance. Classified under ‘PreventOrFixIssue,’ highlighting the need for potential administrative action. Relevant for understanding changes that may impact service continuity. Admin Impact: High …

Summary The Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) API and XDR API are being retired and will transition to the Microsoft Graph Security API. Existing automation, integration, and custom workflows using the MDE and XDR APIs will fail after retirement if not updated. Manual updates will be necessary to migrate workflows to the Microsoft Graph Security …

Summary Admins can control MTA-STS and SMTP DANE validations for outbound emails in Exchange Online with three modes: Opportunistic, None, and Mandatory. Default setting for outbound connectors will be Opportunistic Mode, which allows sending emails even if the destination doesn’t support MTA-STS or SMTP DANE. Selecting None disables both validations, potentially reducing email security against …

Summary Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management will include new ready-to-use risk indicators for Fabric lakehouse activities. These indicators will enhance detection of potential data theft or leakage involving Fabric lakehouse assets. Insider Risk Management admins can opt in to use these indicators in the Microsoft Purview portal, but they are not enabled by default. Organizations …

Summary “Require approved client app” grant control will be retired in Microsoft Entra ID and Intune. Organizations must update Conditional Access policies to use “Require application protection policy” grant control instead. This change will affect any existing Conditional Access policies using the retired control. Users will no longer have the ability to enforce the retired …

Summary Updates have been released for the Current Channel of Microsoft 365 Apps. Clients set to auto-update through the Office Content Delivery Network will not need to take action. Administrators managing updates directly can download and deploy the latest version. Release notes with more details are available online. Admin Impact: Medium User Impact: Low Release …

Summary The Custom greetings feature in Voice call authentication will be retired. Voice call authentication will default to Microsoft’s recordings after the retirement. Organizations should prepare users for the transition from custom greetings. Review multifactor authentication settings and inform users about the change. Admin Impact: Low User Impact: Medium Release Start: 28 Feb 2026 Release …

Summary Microsoft 365 Copilot users can set custom calendar instructions for automatic meeting responses and cancellation removals. Copilot will proactively monitor calendar events and notify users of actions taken based on their instructions. This feature will be available exclusively in the new Outlook and Outlook for web. No admin configuration is needed, and the feature …

Summary Introduction of the External domains anomalies report in Microsoft Teams for detecting unusual interactions with external organizations. Admins will have access to insights on external domains with abnormal communication activity through the Teams admin center. A Block option will be available in the report for managing external domains directly. No action is required to …

Summary Brand Impersonation Protection for Teams Calling will evaluate incoming calls for signs of impersonation and provide warnings for high-risk calls. Users can choose to accept, block, or end calls based on the risk alerts displayed. The feature will be enabled by default, enhancing tenant security without changing existing Teams Calling policies. No administrative action …

Summary Introduction of Agent Mode in PowerPoint for web, allowing users to edit presentations conversationally with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Users can refine layouts and content while preserving existing formatting, structure, and branding. Copilot Chat enables interaction for editing and enhancing presentations using enterprise data. Default access to Agent Mode for all eligible users; no administrative …

Summary Users with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 can report suspicious Teams messages for the first time. Reporting options include marking messages as security risks or not security risks (false positives). Reports will be accessible in the Defender portal and configured mailboxes. Teams admin center reporting features will be enabled automatically with existing …

Summary Data Loss Prevention (DLP) for Microsoft Fabric will extend to include support for Fabric warehouses, enhancing data security and compliance. Existing DLP policies will automatically start scanning and evaluating Fabric warehouse data in relevant workspaces. Admins will see warehouse objects reflected in the protected asset count on Microsoft Purview invoices. No changes will be …

Summary An out-of-band update was released to address issues from the January 2026 Windows security update. Connection and authentication failures affect multiple platforms, including Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Devices with Secure Launch may have shutdown or hibernation failures, specifically on Windows 11, version 23H2. Recommended to apply the out-of-band update if the January …

Summary New feature in Power Automate allows viewing property values inline in the cloud flow designer. Enables examination of property values from multiple steps during flow authoring or debugging. No action is required from users, as this message is for awareness. Change categorized as a new feature by Microsoft. Admin Impact: Low User Impact: Medium …

Is it safe to install the latest Windows 11 dynamic updates for recovery environments? Windows Recovery Ecosystem Update: January 2026 Analysis Microsoft deployed critical recovery updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 between January 13 and January 15, 2026. These updates target the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and the setup binaries used during feature upgrades. …

Why Won’t My Enterprise PC Shut Down After Installing KB5073455? Microsoft has released an emergency out-of-band update, KB5077797, to resolve a critical bug introduced in the January 2026 security patch (KB5073455). This bug prevented Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and Education devices using Secure Launch from shutting down or entering sleep mode properly. Administrators must manually …

Why is my Azure Virtual Desktop failing authentication and which KB patch solves it? Microsoft has released an emergency Out-of-Band (OOB) update to resolve severe connectivity and authentication failures caused by the January 13, 2026, security patch. If your organization utilizes Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, or third-party remote tools like Omnissa/VMware, you likely face …

Is Doctolib hiding costs behind its appointment filters? The Berlin Regional Court has ruled against Doctolib’s search filtering practices, deeming them misleading for patients with statutory health insurance. For years, the appointment scheduling giant Doctolib has dominated the European medical sector. While the platform offers undeniable convenience for booking appointments, its aggressive expansion often draws …

What is the safest way to deploy AppLocker policies on Windows 11 without complex configurations? Streamlining Windows Security: A Guide to Automated AppLocker Deployment Managing application control on Windows creates a robust defense against malware and unauthorized software. While effective, the manual configuration of AppLocker often deters administrators and power users. This guide examines a …

Will the June 2026 Secure Boot Expiration Break Your Windows PC? The industry is approaching a hard deadline for UEFI Secure Boot certificates. The 15-year lifespan of the original certificates—introduced with Windows 8—concludes in June 2026. If your device retains the old certificates past this date, it may fail to boot securely. Microsoft formally initiated …

Why does my Windows 11 PC keep restarting instead of shutting down? Advisory: Resolving Windows 11 Shutdown and Sleep Failures (KB5073455) Enterprise and Education users running Windows 11 version 23H2 are currently experiencing significant power management disruptions. The cumulative security update KB5073455, released on January 13, 2026, introduced a critical bug causing devices to restart …

Is using unattend.xml on network drives still safe for Windows deployment? Microsoft is fundamentally altering how Windows Deployment Services (WDS) handles automated installations. Starting January 2026, administrators must prepare for the deprecation of unattend.xml file support on network drives. This shift addresses critical security vulnerabilities inherent in unauthenticated network deployments. By April 2026, Microsoft will …

Why is Citrix Director Remote Assist failing after Windows 11 update KB5074109? Critical Advisory: Citrix Director Incompatibility with Windows 11 Update KB5074109 Administrators managing Citrix Virtual Desktop environments must exercise immediate caution regarding the Windows 11 cumulative update KB5074109, released on January 13, 2026. Deployment of this update on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 …

Does the AWS Sovereign Cloud Finally Solve GDPR Compliance for EU Firms? The core news is simple: AWS has officially launched its “European Sovereign Cloud.” On January 15, 2026, Amazon Web Services (AWS) formally released this new infrastructure. It promises strict data independence for European customers. This move follows similar “sovereignty” products from Microsoft and …