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Alex Lim

I'm Alex Lim, an IT Technical expert passionate about exploring the complexities of computer systems and networks. My journey in this field is fueled by hands-on experience, collaborating with like-minded professionals to share knowledge, as well as my own continuous learning. I blend these insights to provide reliable and practical solutions for those facing technical challenges. The ever-evolving world of technology is my sanctuary, where I often find inspiration for my work. My goal is to offer guidance that resonates with the real-life challenges and joys of working in the IT industry. You can reach me at [email protected] or follow him on Website | Twitter | Facebook

Who owns TikTok now and what does the Oracle deal mean for your data? The Strategic Restructuring of TikTok US: An Analysis of the ByteDance Divestment The protracted regulatory conflict regarding TikTok’s operations in the United States reached a definitive turning point on December 18, 2025. ByteDance, the Beijing-based parent company, agreed to divest a …

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Is the Link to Windows app secure for remote computer access? New Security Controls for Android and Windows Integration Microsoft has introduced a critical security utility to the Link to Windows ecosystem, allowing Android users to manually lock their Windows 11 workstations from a mobile device. This update addresses a common physical security vulnerability: leaving …

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Why is the Microsoft Copilot chat icon visible after I blocked it? Executive Summary: Update MC1197289 Microsoft has scheduled a significant behavioral change for the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. Starting January 2026, the visibility of the Copilot chat interface will no longer strictly align with administrative blocking policies. This update, referenced as MC1197289, alters how …

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Why am I getting a 502 bad gateway error on websites today? Cloudflare Service Status: Analysis of December 19 Connectivity Issues Users attempting to access Bleeping Computer and various other web properties on December 19, 2025, around 12:56 PM, encountered intermittent connectivity failures. The primary symptom identified is a “502 Bad Gateway” error. This specific …

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Does the new Windows 11 native NVMe driver actually improve performance? Optimizing NVMe Performance in Windows 11 25H2 Microsoft recently introduced a native NVMe storage stack for Windows Server 2025. This technology removes legacy bottlenecks found in older storage architectures. While this feature targets servers, you can also enable it on the consumer version, Windows …

Read More about Can I boost SSD speed with the Windows 11 25H2 registry hack?

Why does my wallpaper look blurry on macOS Tahoe 26.2 and how can I stop it? Users who updated to macOS Tahoe 26.2 report distinct visual artifacts. These issues manifest primarily as a white line along the display bezel and unexpected wallpaper resolution drops. Data collected from community forums indicates these bugs affect Apple Silicon …

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What internet speed and hard drive size do I actually need for a 4K Plex server? Plex remains the premier choice for centralizing media, offering a polished interface for your personal collection of movies, TV shows, and music. While the software creates a seamless “Netflix-like” experience, the backend infrastructure requires careful architectural planning. A robust …

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Why Does the “au_uu_szh34yr2” Audio File Keep Appearing on My Phone? Understanding the “au_uu_szh34yr2” File Anomaly Android users, particularly those with Samsung devices, have increasingly reported the sudden appearance of a mysterious audio file named au_uu_szh34yr2. This file often persists despite deletion attempts, regenerating automatically after removal. In some instances, the operating system flags it …

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Summary Microsoft Purview will update role management by mapping certain admin roles to new roles in Microsoft Entra for enhanced security. Automatic synchronization of role assignments will occur between Purview and Entra without requiring customer action. New Purview-specific roles will appear in audit logs, and direct assignment of these roles in Entra is not permitted. …

Read More about MC1199765 Microsoft Purview: Role management update

Summary A new purge mitigation action will be introduced in Microsoft Purview Data Security Investigations, allowing admins to delete sensitive or overshared content during investigations. The feature is enabled by default, requiring no configuration changes from admins. Admins can delete content based on investigation search queries to address data exposure. Existing admin policies regarding data …

Read More about MC1199763 Microsoft Purview | Data Security Investigations: Introducing new purge mitigation action

Summary Learning Activities feature is now available to educators and students using Microsoft 365 for Education A1/A3/A5 licenses and Microsoft 365 Copilot license holders. Users can easily create interactive activities like flashcards from existing content, enhancing the learning experience. The feature is enabled by default for eligible licenses, with the option for admins to disable …

Read More about MC1199766: Learning Activities now available in Microsoft 365 Education and Copilot

Summary Introduction of a new People Hub in Outlook Web with a modern, multi-column layout and enhanced search functionalities. Automatic linking of duplicate contacts and addition of organizational profile information to enrich contact details. Migration to the “New Contacts” experience will occur automatically, with no option to revert to the old version. No administrative action …

Read More about MC1199768 Outlook: New and improved People Hub on Web

Summary An issue has been identified affecting Message Queuing (MSMQ) functionality in enterprise environments after a December 2025 Windows security update. Windows Home or Pro editions are unlikely to experience this issue; it primarily affects enterprise setups. An out-of-band update has been released to address this issue through the Microsoft Update Catalog. Affected Windows versions …

Read More about MC1199746: Out-of-band update to address MSMQ service issues leading to queue operations and resource-related errors

Summary Support for version (3) of the Polish JPK-V7 audit file schema in Dynamics 365 Finance will be introduced. Ensures compliance with Polish Ministry of Finance requirements for VAT declarations and e-invoicing. Updates include new reporting tags and handling for e-invoice numbers. Processing flow for VAT declaration remains unchanged; only schema and data elements are …

Read More about MC1199540 Dynamics 365 Finance: Regulatory update for JPK-V7(3) schema – VAT declaration for Poland

Summary Integration between Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 enables management of blocked external users through the Tenant Allow/Block List in the Defender portal. Security admins can add, delete, and view blocked users and domains for Teams; incoming communications from blocked users will be prevented and existing communications deleted. Audit logs will be …

Read More about MC1200058: Admins can block external users in Microsoft Teams from Defender Portal

Why are physical hard drives and smart devices becoming the biggest hidden security risks? The Evolving Landscape of Digital Threats Recent incidents underscore a critical shift in cybersecurity: attackers no longer discriminate by size or sector. From local car dealerships to municipal basements, data vulnerability exists wherever information is stored. This report analyzes the latest …

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Why is RC4 dangerous for Kerberos and how can administrators switch to AES? Microsoft Authentication Update: The End of RC4 Support Microsoft has officially scheduled the retirement of the Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) algorithm for Windows authentication. By mid-2026, Microsoft will disable RC4 support within the default settings of the Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC). …

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Is your network safe from the new Cisco AsyncOS zero-day vulnerability without a patch available? Critical Advisory: Active Exploitation of Cisco AsyncOS Zero-Day (CVE-2025-20393) Security administrators utilizing Cisco AsyncOS-based email solutions must immediately address a critical vulnerability currently under active exploitation. Cisco has confirmed a zero-day flaw, designated CVE-2025-20393, which carries the maximum severity CVSS …

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Why is my NVMe SSD performance capped on Windows Server and how do I fix it? Windows Server 2025: Optimizing Storage with Native NVMe Support Microsoft has introduced native NVMe support for Windows Server 2025, offering a direct path to significantly higher storage performance. This update addresses legacy bottlenecks within the Windows storage stack. While …

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Why is Message Queuing failing after the December 2025 Windows update? System administrators managing Windows Server environments may have recently observed critical failures within the Message Queuing Service (MSMQ). These disruptions, characterized by misleading storage errors and service inactivity, stem directly from the security updates released on December 9, 2025. Microsoft has acknowledged this regression …

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Is the mandatory MKS Goliath.Net subscription update safe for my business? Critical Update: MKS Goliath.Net End of Life Strategy Business leaders utilizing MKS Goliath.Net face a significant transition point regarding their ERP infrastructure. The developer, MKS Softwaremanagement GmbH, has announced that software development concludes with version 6.9.25.4004. This marks the definitive end of the product …

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Does the Windows 11 December patch actually fix the File Explorer white flash glitch? Windows 11 KB5072033 Advisory: Critical Analysis of December 2025 Patch Microsoft has deployed update KB5072033, the final Patch Tuesday release of 2025. While our analysis indicates superior stability compared to prior releases, specific technical conflicts persist. Users should be aware of …

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Why buy the standard Galaxy S25 over the Ultra to save hundreds this year? The Financial Breakdown You can currently acquire the standard Galaxy S25 for $350 through Mint Mobile. This significantly undercuts the typical $650 unlocked retail price. To secure this rate, you must bundle the device with a 12-month prepaid service plan. The …

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Will Windows 11 ever get a movable taskbar feature like Windows 10? The inability to move the taskbar in Windows 11 stems from a fundamental engineering decision. Microsoft did not simply update the Windows 10 taskbar; they rebuilt the Windows 11 taskbar from scratch. This rebuild meant previous functionalities did not carry over automatically. The …

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Is X’s new standalone chat site safe for private business messaging? X now isolates direct messaging on a dedicated site. This web-based platform operates independently from the main social feed. The interface prioritizes private communication by stripping away timelines, public posts, and algorithmic distractions. This separation transforms X from a purely social network into a …

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Summary Nine new Microsoft 365 Copilot connectors are now generally available, enhancing data integration from various third-party systems. Connectors include GitHub, Freshservice, Guru, Dropbox, Google Drive, Zendesk, and Amazon S3. Users can leverage Copilot for searching, retrieving, and interacting with enterprise data across connected services. Admins should review documentation and ensure proper authentication and permissions …

Read More about MC1198705: Nine new connectors now generally available

Summary SharePoint admins can customize emails sent from Data Access Governance reports to site owners/admins. The customization aims to enhance engagement and response rates during site access reviews. Existing policies will remain unchanged; customization of emails is optional. Notify SharePoint administrators and update internal documentation regarding this new feature. No compliance considerations have been identified …

Read More about MC1198704: Email customization for site access review from Data Access Governance reports

Summary New feature enables evaluation of closed conversations and generation of quality scores in Dynamics 365 Contact Center. Supervisors can create evaluation criteria with custom forms and scoring metrics for interaction assessments. Supervisors set up evaluation plans to define when interactions are evaluated based on specific conditions. Insights into overall contact center conversation quality will …

Read More about MC1198596 Dynamics 365 Contact Center: Evaluate closed conversations with Quality Evaluation Agent

Summary Admins will be able to view security role information in the Power Platform admin center. Description, applicable apps, and core table privileges of Microsoft Dataverse security roles can be accessed. Recommended to update custom security roles with specific fields (Description, Applies to, Summary of core table privileges). System predefined security roles may take up …

Read More about MC1197917 Power Platform admin center: Review security role descriptions and definitions

Summary A unified interface for cross-tenant migrations of Exchange mailboxes, OneDrive files, and Teams chats will be introduced. New PowerShell Graph commands will be available for migrating user data across tenants. Migration workflows will be consolidated into a single experience, simplifying the process. The feature is opt-in, requiring organization approval to enable. Admins will have …

Read More about MC1198079 Migrate User Data Across Tenants: Mailboxes, OneDrives, and Teams Chats

Summary Endpoint DLP policies can now be deployed to specific macOS devices or device groups. This feature allows for more granular control in managing data protection on Mac endpoints. Admins can configure device-based scoping without affecting existing policies. Available for tenants on version 101.25072 or higher. Communicate changes to security and compliance teams for better …

Read More about MC1198078 Microsoft Purview | Data Loss Prevention: Mac device and device group based policy scoping support for Endpoint DLP

Summary Introduction of cross-tenant group synchronization for security groups across Microsoft Entra tenants. Simplifies collaboration by allowing shared resource access while maintaining centralized group management. Affects admins managing Microsoft Entra tenants who wish to enable this synchronization. Requires alignment on attribute mappings and cross-tenant access policies for implementation. No compliance considerations identified, but organizations should …

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Summary The new site attestation policy requires site owners to regularly validate details like ownership and sharing settings. SharePoint administrators can enable this policy in the SharePoint Admin Center; it is off by default. Site owners will receive prompts to confirm site details periodically. Enforcement actions, such as restricting access, can be configured for incomplete …

Read More about MC1198075: Site attestation policy is now generally available

Summary Updates are releasing for the Current Channel of Microsoft 365 Apps. Automatic updates require no action from users managed through the Office CDN. Those managing updates directly can download and deploy the update now. Further details are available in the linked release notes for the Current Channel. Admin Impact: Low User Impact: Low Release …

Read More about MC1198067: Updates available for Microsoft 365 Apps for Current Channel

Why Is the CVE-2025-60718 Vulnerability Still Exploitable After the November Update? Critical Analysis: The Persistence of CVE-2025-60718 in Windows 11 Security professionals must address a recurring issue within the Windows 11 25H2 “Administrator Protection” feature. Despite Microsoft releasing a patch on November 11, 2025, security researchers indicate the fix is incomplete. The underlying Elevation of …

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Can AI Ruin Your Intellectual Property? Lessons from Germany’s State Secret Paradox? The Intersection of National Security and Artificial Intelligence A recent case from the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) offers a critical lesson for inventors and legal professionals. It demonstrates how quickly intellectual property strategies can collapse when modern AI tools interact …

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Why are files vanishing from Nextcloud 32 without error logs? Critical Advisory: Silent Data Deletion in Nextcloud 32.0.x System administrators managing Nextcloud instances must exercise extreme caution immediately. Verified reports indicate a critical bug in Nextcloud server version 32.0.x that causes irreversible data loss. This issue specifically impacts the “Group Folders” extension, deleting files without …

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What are the best ways to transfer files between Android and Windows 11? Microsoft Updates Link to Windows: Essential New Features Microsoft has released a significant update for the “Link to Windows” Android application (version 1.25102.140.0). This update fundamentally shifts how your mobile device interacts with Windows 11. Previously, the mobile app served primarily as …

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