What vulnerabilities did Veeam fix in the January 2026 patch for Windows? You must prioritize updating your infrastructure to Veeam Backup & Replication version 13.0.1.1071 immediately. Released on January 6, 2026, this patch addresses severe security flaws found within the V13.x development branch. If you operate on version 13.0.1.180 or any earlier build of version …
Alex Lim
Do you need to register for NIS2 in Germany in 2026? A practical guide to the BSI portal and “Mein Unternehmenskonto” NIS2 registration in the BSI portal is now live (as of 6 Jan 2026) The EU NIS2 Directive has applied in Germany since 6 December 2025. Under the law, the Federal Office for Information …
Is switching to a Samba-based Domain Controller the right move for your digital sovereignty? Organizations often default to Microsoft Windows Server for Active Directory (AD) services. This standard practice organizes network resources like users, computers, and permissions. However, reliance on proprietary software limits digital sovereignty and increases costs. A robust alternative exists: deploying a Linux …
Why is my iPhone asking for a SIM PIN every morning after the iOS 26 update? iPhone users operating on iOS 26.x have reported a persistent connectivity failure where devices spontaneously lock the SIM card. This error severs cellular access until the user manually intervenes. The issue emerged following the October 2025 release cycle and …
Should Your Company Ditch Local Active Directory for the Cloud Right Now? For over two decades, Active Directory (AD) has served as the backbone of enterprise network management. Since its debut in Windows 2000, administrators have relied on it to structure networks, manage users, and control access to resources like servers, file shares, and printers. …
What should I do if my email was exposed in the Calumet data leak? Customers holding accounts with the camera retailer Calumet (calumet.de) must be aware of a recent security incident. The company recently confirmed unauthorized access to their data via a third-party service provider. While Calumet acted quickly to contain the threat, specific customer …
What should I use now that Gmail is stopping POP3 fetch for external accounts? Google has initiated a significant restructuring of Gmail operations for 2026. This update introduces a highly requested rebranding capability while simultaneously retiring legacy consolidation features. Users must understand these changes to maintain seamless communication workflows. Changing Your Primary Gmail Address For …
Bose will terminate cloud support for SoundTouch wireless speakers on February 18, 2026. Owners face limited functionality as cloud-dependent features become inaccessible. What Happens to Your SoundTouch System Your SoundTouch devices will lose these capabilities: Integrated streaming services (Spotify, Deezer, TuneIn) SoundTouch app control Multi-room audio synchronization Cloud-based playlist management The manufacturer cites infrastructure maintenance …
Is Proton Authenticator the best cross-platform 2FA app for secure logins? Digital security requires more than a strong password. You must implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all critical accounts. Security institutions, such as the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), explicitly recommend this layer of defense to neutralize phishing attacks and credential theft. When you …
Is Satya Nadella’s vision for 2026 ignoring the reality of AI slop? Microsoft currently faces a significant branding crisis driven by the trending term “Microslop.” This derogatory label highlights a growing disconnect between the company’s corporate narrative and the actual user experience. While CEO Satya Nadella attempts to position the company as a leader in …
Is NVIDIA releasing a native GeForce Now app for Linux users soon? NVIDIA has indicated plans to introduce a native Linux application for its cloud gaming service, GeForce NOW. This development emerged during the CES 2026 cycle. Reports from reliable tech outlets, including Videocardz and Neowin, confirm that the company is actively preparing this expansion. …
What Should I Do Now That Microsoft Stopped Phone Activation for Office and Windows? Microsoft recently discontinued phone-based activation for Windows and Office products globally. This change affects users who previously relied on telephone support to activate their software when internet connectivity was unavailable or when online activation failed. The End of Phone Activation Phone …
What are the best privacy-focused alternatives to Microsoft Office for business? Organizations and individuals relying on the Microsoft ecosystem face a significant financial shift. Effective July 2026, Microsoft 365 prices will increase by up to 16.7%, a surge largely attributed to the integration of AI capabilities. This cost adjustment forces a strategic re-evaluation of software …
Why is the HSBC app blocking my Bitwarden password manager on Android? Users of the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app are encountering access blocks when utilizing the Bitwarden password manager. This issue specifically affects Android users who install Bitwarden from sources other than the Google Play Store. The banking application employs strict app attestation protocols. …
What happens when a hospital emergency room system goes down—like Dessau Hospital’s IT outage on Jan 2, 2026? On Friday, January 2, 2026, the emergency room at Dessau Municipal Hospital was briefly unavailable to patients. A reader flagged the incident by email, and MDR reported it the same day in an article about temporary emergency-room …
Should I buy a new laptop now or wait for memory prices to drop in 2027? Recent market data indicates a severe contraction in the global personal computing and mobile sectors. The International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that consumers will face significantly higher prices and reduced availability for devices throughout 2026. This analysis breaks down …
Is upgrading to Windows 11 necessary for gaming performance in 2026? As we advance into 2026, the digital landscape presents a fragmented ecosystem. Despite Microsoft ending official support for Windows 10 in October 2025, user migration remains slower than anticipated. The following data, derived from Statcounter and Valve metrics, clarifies the current distribution of operating …
Is Satya Nadella’s 2026 AI strategy a massive risk for Microsoft stock? As we enter 2026, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shifted into what industry insiders call “founder mode.” Facing fierce competition from Alphabet, Amazon, and agile startups, Nadella is restructuring Microsoft’s leadership to align strictly with an aggressive artificial intelligence agenda. This strategy is …
Why do PDF redaction failures lead to major data leaks? Recent cybersecurity incidents across Europe highlight a disturbing trend of administrative negligence and targeted infrastructure attacks. From late December 2025 through early January 2026, threat actors exploited both human error in document handling and technical vulnerabilities in critical systems. The following analysis breaks down these …
What’s the best way to secure USB and UART service ports against hardware attacks in data centers? Dell’s tips for protecting against hardware attacks (human, practical guidance) Most security programs focus on software, identity, and networks. That focus makes sense, because most attacks arrive through email, web apps, or exposed services. Yet direct hardware attacks …
Why must CISOs integrate cyber-physical systems into their security strategy now? The year 2025 exposed significant vulnerabilities within global IT infrastructures, driven largely by rapid AI integration and successful cyberattacks. As we enter 2026, the focus shifts from managing hype to implementing rigorous defense structures. Security provider Claroty suggests that 2026 marks a fundamental upheaval …
What does the EU adequacy extension until 2031 mean for British businesses? The European Commission confirmed a vital regulatory update regarding cross-border data transfers in late December 2025. Regulators have extended the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) adequacy decision for the United Kingdom. This extension validates the UK data protection framework until 2031. Organizations managing …
What Happened to RustDesk Certificate in December 2025 and Can You Still Use It Safely? RustDesk remote desktop software stopped functioning properly on December 8, 2025, following an unexpected certificate revocation by Sectigo, the issuing Certificate Authority. This disruption affects both free and commercial versions of the software across multiple operating systems. Understanding the Technical …
Is it worth suing Big Tech for GDPR violations given the high legal costs? The Austrian Supreme Court (OGH) has issued a binding decision requiring Meta to provide European Union users with full access to their personal data within a strict 14-day window. This ruling concludes a legal battle initiated by privacy activist Max Schrems …
What changes in MC1200058 for blocking external Teams users in the Defender portal (rollout January 2026)? Microsoft is adding a new control for Microsoft Teams. Administrators will be able to block external Teams users and external domains from the Microsoft Defender for Office 365 portal. Microsoft announced this change in the Microsoft 365 Message Center …
What does the recent Vereinigte Stadtwerke cyberattack mean for customer privacy? In mid-November 2025, Vereinigte Stadtwerke GmbH (VS), a primary utility provider for the Ratzeburg and Bad Oldesloe regions, sustained a targeted cyberattack. This incident originated not within the utility’s internal perimeter, but through a compromised third-party IT service provider. Attackers utilized access gained from …
Are Postbank and Deutsche Bank currently down for maintenance or outage? We are currently monitoring widespread reports regarding technical failures across the German banking landscape. While services like Sparkasse appear stable, data from allestoerungen.de confirms a significant spike in outage reports starting shortly after 10:30 AM. This disruption primarily impacts institutions including Postbank, Deutsche Bank, …
Summary Preview automatic bank reconciliation matching results will be available in Finance and operations apps. Users can select rules for review and perform checks to ensure accurate matching. This feature aims to minimize errors during the automatic bank reconciliation process. The change is categorized as a new feature. No action is required from users; this …
Summary Auditing capabilities for entity routing configurations are being introduced in Dynamics 365 Contact Center and Customer Service. Administrators can create audit logs for various routing entities and configurations. Entities available for auditing include assignment rules, prioritization rules, and user groups, among others. This change is categorized as a new feature. Admin Impact: Low User …
Summary Microsoft Purview Customer Key support for Windows 365 Frontline in shared mode will be generally available, enhancing data protection. Newly provisioned Cloud PCs will be automatically encrypted using the tenant-specific Customer Key for organizations that have onboarded it. Existing Cloud PCs will not be affected by this change. There is no option to opt-out …
Summary Several legacy SharePoint Online features will be retired, including Information Management Policies and In-Place Records Management. These features will no longer be supported, may disappear from the user interface, and related configurations will not be available. Organizations are encouraged to migrate to Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management and Purview Records Management before the retirement …
Summary Power Pages will support the creation and deployment of modern single-page applications. Users can build fully customized web experiences using front-end frameworks like React. This feature leverages Power Pages’ security, data integration, and hosting capabilities. No action is required from users regarding this change. More information can be found at the provided link. Admin …
Summary New controls in the Power Platform admin center allow admins to select external identity providers for Power Pages sites. Admins can enforce identity provider governance at the environment level while allowing site-specific exceptions. Only approved identity providers will be displayed during authentication setup for users. This change is categorized as a new feature and …
Summary New debugging capability for automatic assignment in Dynamics 365 Contact Center with enhanced logging. Additional diagnostic information available in Application Insights for administrators. Key logged enhancements include presence, capacity changes, skill updates, queue membership, and assignment ruleset details. Logged information applies across voice, digital messaging, and record channels for transparency. No action required from …
Summary New debugging feature in Application Insights dashboard for Dynamics 365 Contact Center. Enables troubleshooting of routing delays and assignment issues. Visualizes conversation trends, assignment performance, and reasons for non-assignment. Provides detailed insights into representative capacity and skills during assignments. Allows self-serve troubleshooting directly within the Copilot Service workspace app. Admin Impact: Low User Impact: …
Summary The Dataverse SDK for Python allows developers to create intelligent, compliant, and scalable agentic flows integrating with Dataverse. Key capabilities include autonomous data agents, form prediction, and support for agentic primitives like Model Context Protocol and Agent-to-Agent collaboration. The SDK provides a streamlined developer experience with CRUD operations, bulk data processing, and observability tools. …
Summary Video Overviews in Copilot Notebooks will allow users to create narrated video summaries of their Notebook content. The feature will be enabled by default for eligible users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. No changes to existing admin policies are needed, and there will be no disruption to end-user workflows unless users choose to …
Summary Introduction of the SharePoint list agent powered by Microsoft 365 Copilot for simplified list creation. Users can create SharePoint lists using natural language and convert structured content into lists. Available during Frontier Public Preview as an opt-in feature; will be ON by default at General Availability for eligible tenants. Admins have the option to …
Summary Office for the web supports applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This feature enhances document access control for organizations. User experience aligns with the permissions dialog in Office desktop apps. No changes to existing admin policies; current configurations are respected. All users of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the …
Summary Ability to delay settlements from journal posting in Dynamics 365 Finance Valid payments post successfully, even if settlement fails Immediate reflection of payments for enhanced cash flow visibility Failed settlements can be isolated and managed independently No action required for users to prepare for this change Admin Impact: Low User Impact: Low Release Start: …
Does BitLocker slow down SSD performance on Windows 11 gaming PCs? Microsoft significantly updated BitLocker architecture in late 2025. Detailed in a December 19, 2025 TechCommunity post by Rafal Sosnowski, this update addresses performance bottlenecks inherent in modern storage. The new implementation shifts encryption tasks from the general CPU to dedicated hardware components. This change …
What Is the Save Button Supposed to Be if Not a Floppy Disk? Design relies on shared cultural knowledge. When users lack historical context, visual metaphors fail. The viral meme regarding the Microsoft Excel save icon illustrates a fascinating breakdown in semiotics. Younger generations, often termed “digital natives,” increasingly misidentify the 3.5-inch floppy disk icon …