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How to Disable Windows 10 Upgrade (Forever) With Just One Click

How to Disable Windows 10 Upgrade (Forever) With Just One Click

Mar 30, 2016
If you are a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 user, who don't want to upgrade to Windows 10 now or anytime soon, you might be sick of Microsoft constantly pestering you to upgrade your OS. Aren't you? With its goal to deploy Windows 10 on over 1 Billion devices worldwide, Microsoft is becoming more aggressive to convince Windows 7 and 8.1 users to upgrade to its newest operating system, and it is getting harder for users to prevent the OS being installed. But if you're worried that this out of control Windows 10 upgrade process will force you into downloading an unwanted OS; I have an easier solution to block Windows 10 upgrade on your PCs. A new free tool, dubbed Never10 , provides the user a one-click solution to disable Windows 10 upgrade until the user explicitly gives permission to install Windows 10 . Never10 has been developed by Steve Gibson, the well-known software developer and founder of Gibson Research, which is why the tool is also known as &quo
Windows 10 Started Showing Ads on LockScreen — Here's How to Turn It OFF

Windows 10 Started Showing Ads on LockScreen — Here's How to Turn It OFF

Feb 26, 2016
If you've upgraded your older version of Windows OS to an all new Windows 10 operating system then you may have noticed an advertisement appearing on your desktop or laptop's lock screen over the past couple of days. Yes, this is what Microsoft has chosen to generate revenue after offering Free Windows 10 Download to its users: Monetize the Lock Screen . Thanks to Windows 10's new Spotlight feature that usually shows you clean and beautiful photographs and fun facts on your lock screen, but now started displaying advertisements to over 200 Million devices running Windows 10. Some Windows 10 users have reported seeing ads for Rise of the Tomb Raider with links to Windows Store from where users can purchase the video game. Microsoft started selling the game last month. Although the ads are not as annoying as the Windows 10 privacy concerns related to the way Microsoft collects your personal data , the good news is that you can turn the ads OFF. Must
How to Accelerate Vendor Risk Assessments in the Age of SaaS Sprawl

How to Accelerate Vendor Risk Assessments in the Age of SaaS Sprawl

Mar 21, 2024SaaS Security / Endpoint Security
In today's digital-first business environment dominated by SaaS applications, organizations increasingly depend on third-party vendors for essential cloud services and software solutions. As more vendors and services are added to the mix, the complexity and potential vulnerabilities within the  SaaS supply chain  snowball quickly. That's why effective vendor risk management (VRM) is a critical strategy in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to protect organizational assets and data integrity. Meanwhile, common approaches to vendor risk assessments are too slow and static for the modern world of SaaS. Most organizations have simply adapted their legacy evaluation techniques for on-premise software to apply to SaaS providers. This not only creates massive bottlenecks, but also causes organizations to inadvertently accept far too much risk. To effectively adapt to the realities of modern work, two major aspects need to change: the timeline of initial assessment must shorte
Microsoft Starts automatically Pushing Windows 10 to all Windows 7 and 8.1 Users

Microsoft Starts automatically Pushing Windows 10 to all Windows 7 and 8.1 Users

Feb 02, 2016
As warned last year, Microsoft is pushing Windows 10 upgrades onto its user's PCs much harder by re-categorizing Windows 10 as a " Recommended Update " in Windows Update, instead of an " optional update. " Microsoft launched Windows 10 earlier last year and offered the free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 and 8.1 users. While the company has been successful in getting Windows 10 onto more than 200 Million devices , Microsoft wants to go a lot more aggressive this year. So, If you have enabled Automatic Windows Update on your Window 7, 8 or 8.1 to install critical updates, like Security Patches, you should watch your steps because… ...From Monday, Windows Update will start upgrading your PC to the newest Windows 10 as a recommended update, Microsoft confirmed. Must Read: How to Stop Windows 7 or 8 from Downloading Windows 10 Automatically . This means Windows 10 upgrade process will download and start on hundreds of millions of d
cyber security

Automated remediation solutions are crucial for security

websiteWing SecurityShadow IT / SaaS Security
Especially when it comes to securing employees' SaaS usage, don't settle for a longer to-do list. Auto-remediation is key to achieving SaaS security.
Microsoft Collecting More Data of Windows 10 Users than Initially Thought

Microsoft Collecting More Data of Windows 10 Users than Initially Thought

Jan 07, 2016
After several controversial data mining and privacy invasion features within Microsoft's newest operating system, Microsoft continued convincing its users that Windows 10 is not spying on anyone and that the company is not collecting more data than it needs. In addition, Microsoft also updated its privacy policy in order to clear how and when Windows 10 utilizes users' data. But wait, before you convinced yourself by this statement, just have a look on the milestones (listed below) that Microsoft recently announced, revealing that Windows 10 is now actively running on 200 Million devices . Also Read:   Microsoft WARNING — 'Use Windows 7 at Your Own Risk' Microsoft Tracks Your Every Move Here's the list of milestones that Microsoft just achieved: People spent over 11 Billion hours on Windows 10 in December 2015. More than 44.5 Billion minutes were spent in Microsoft Edge across Windows 10 devices in December alone. Windows 10 users aske
Microsoft Windows 10 is now Installed on over 200 Million Devices

Microsoft Windows 10 is now Installed on over 200 Million Devices

Jan 05, 2016
Windows 10 here, Windows 10 there, and it is everywhere. This is exactly what Microsoft dreamed of, and it seems like the company is actively working to reach its One Billion goal by the end of 2017 or mid-2018. Proudly announcing its first huge success, Microsoft reported that its newest Windows 10 operating system is now officially installed on more than 200 Million devices worldwide since its launch five months ago. Windows 10 is the latest as well as the greatest operating system from Microsoft that took less than six months to hit 200 Million milestone. The growth is really impressive, and Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Windows and Devices Yusuf Mehdi outlined other milestones for Windows 10 in a blog post on Monday. Here's the list: Windows 10's adoption is growing 140% faster than Windows 7 and over 400% faster than Windows 8. More than 40% of the new Windows 10 devices were activated since Black Friday. Over 11 Billion hours have b
Mission '1 Billion' — Microsoft will Automatically Offer Windows 10 Upgrade

Mission '1 Billion' — Microsoft will Automatically Offer Windows 10 Upgrade

Oct 30, 2015
Microsoft wholeheartedly wants you to upgrade your PCs to Windows 10, so much so that the company plans to automatically download its new operating system to Windows 7/8 computers next year. Just two weeks ago, Microsoft accidentally pushed Windows 10 installation to Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users through the Windows Update process, but next year the company will do it on purpose. MISSION '1 BILLION': It doesn't come as a surprise, as Microsoft mentioned many times that it wants to get Windows 10 into as many hands as possible to reach its goal of 1 Billion installations. Starting next year, Microsoft is planning to re-categorize Windows 10 as a " Recommended Update " in its Windows Update service. Also Read:  Here's How to Stop Windows 7 or 8 from Downloading Windows 10 Automatically . This means that the Windows 10 upgrade process will start downloading and initiating automatically on thousands of devices. Before:
Windows 10 Upgrade Become More Creepy, No Option to Opt-Out

Windows 10 Upgrade Become More Creepy, No Option to Opt-Out

Oct 16, 2015
If you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 and have no plans to switch to Windows 10, then Microsoft could force you to install Windows 10, making it harder for you to cancel or opt-out of upgrading. Note: Above image has been photoshopped, but the original screenshot taken by Windows users is given below. Reports are circulating that some Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users are claiming that the latest Windows 10 OS has begun to automatically install itself on their PCs. According to complaints by users, Windows Update screen is only offering them the option to either: Start the upgrade process, or Reschedule the upgrade for a later date Other users are finding that the dialog boxes they are presented display a message saying that the " Upgrade to Windows 10 is Ready ," and prompting users to " Restart your PC to begin the installation ." The issue actually resided in the Windows Update process. Microsoft has listed Windows 10 as an " Op
How to Activate GodMode in Windows 10

How to Activate GodMode in Windows 10

Oct 07, 2015
Microsoft's Windows 10 , the latest version of Windows Operating System, has been creating waves since it rolled out, and reached to 110 million devices within just 2 months. If you are a long-time Windows user, you may remember a trick called, ' God Mode '. God Mode is an inbuilt, but hidden feature of Windows that provides additional customization options for the operating system. With Windows 10, all the Settings of the operating system are kept under Settings App, and categorized between System, Devices, Network & Internet, Personalization, Update & Security, Privacy and more. Enabling God Mode, also known as 'Windows Master Control Panel Shortcut ', in Windows 10 essentially unlocks a backdoor of the OS to access 260+ additional settings from a single folder. How to Enable God Mode in Windows 10? Follow the steps given below to enable the God Mode in your Windows 10: Create a new folder on your Windows desktop (New > Folder) and save it with th
Here's How to Stop Windows 7 or 8 from Downloading Windows 10 Automatically

Here's How to Stop Windows 7 or 8 from Downloading Windows 10 Automatically

Sep 12, 2015
Yesterday we reported you that Microsoft is auto-downloading Windows 10 installation files — between 3.5GB and 6GB — onto users' PCs even if they have not opted into the upgrade. Microsoft plans to deploy Windows 10 on over 1 Billion devices worldwide, and this auto-downloading Windows 10 could be one of its many strategies to achieve its goal. The company has dropped and saved a hidden $Windows.~BT folder on your PC's main drive (C drive), if you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 . The bottom line is: Many Windows users are on limited or metered Internet connections. As Microsoft is not only consuming storage space but also using user's Internet bandwidth for large unrequested files, as the Windows 10 installer downloads up to 6 gigabytes. So, here are some methods that you can use to stop Microsoft from automatically downloading Windows 10 installation files. Method 1 This method is applicable for both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 us
Reminder! If You Haven't yet, Turn Off Windows 10 Keylogger Now

Reminder! If You Haven't yet, Turn Off Windows 10 Keylogger Now

Sep 08, 2015
Do you know? Microsoft has the power to track every single word you type or say to its digital assistant Cortana while using its newest operating system, Windows 10 . Last fall, we reported about a ' keylogger ' that Microsoft openly put into its Windows 10 Technical Preview saying the company 'may collect voice information' as well as 'typed characters.' It was thought that the company would include the keylogger only within the Technical Preview of Windows 10, just for testing purpose. But, the thought was Wrong! The keylogger made its ways to Windows 10 public release offered by Microsoft for free due to which Windows 10 gained millions of adoption in just a few days after its first roll out back in July – but the free upgrade is not always free. Also Read:   Tip — Installing Windows 10‬? Fix 35+ Privacy Issues With Just One Click Yes, besides various privacy issues , there is a software component that tracks your inputs using your k
Just Like Windows 10, Windows 7 and 8 Also Spy on You – Here’s How to Stop Them

Just Like Windows 10, Windows 7 and 8 Also Spy on You – Here's How to Stop Them

Sep 01, 2015
No plan to install Windows 10 due to Microsoft's controversial data mining and privacy invasions within the operating system? Well, Windows 7 and Windows 8 OS users should also be worried as Windows 10 spying is now headed their way too… Microsoft has been caught installing latest updates onto Windows 7 and Windows 8 computers that effectively introduce the same data collecting and user behavior tracking features used in Windows 10. Under the new updates, the operating systems indiscriminately upload data to Microsoft's servers, which might be a major privacy concern for many users. Creepy Updates The updates in question are: KB3068708 – This update introduces the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices. KB3022345 (replaced by KB3068708 ) – This update adds the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to in-market devices. KB3075249 – This update adds telemetry points to the User Account Control (UAC) feature in order to collect data on ele
Microsoft Launches Cortana App For Android Users

Microsoft Launches Cortana App For Android Users

Aug 25, 2015
Yes, she is here! Android users can now talk to Cortana – the first personal digital assistant – which is a patented product of Microsoft. She is available on all the devices running Windows 10 . Earlier in May, Microsoft said they will make Cortana available for Android and iOS users . Therefore, a beta version of Cortana has been rolled out by Microsoft for public. Yesterday, Microsoft made an announcement stating the availability of Cortana for the rival Android platform. This will enable the Android phone users to replace the Google Now shortcut by pressing and holding the home button in order to activate Cortana instead. Microsoft is Opening and Spreading its Wings Everywhere Cortana maintains the same user interface and functionalities as it has in Windows devices. Now the users will get choices between whom to choose, Cortana vs. Google Now . People might like the change, as Cortana is largely appreciated by Windows users. As it is the beta relea
Windows 10 Remotely Disables Pirated Games and illegal Hardware

Windows 10 Remotely Disables Pirated Games and illegal Hardware

Aug 18, 2015
If you are one of those 70 Million users who have upgraded their systems to the newest Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft could be scanning your PC for pirated games and unauthorized hardware . Almost three weeks have passed after the worldwide launch of Windows 10, Millions of users have upgraded their systems to the Microsoft's latest operating system.  However, we have seen many privacy concerns around the new OS, including: Turned ON bandwidth sharing to distribute updates to other Windows 10 users Default settings sending users' data to Microsoft servers Wi-Fi password sharing feature i.e. Windows Wi-Fi Sense enabled Forcing Automatic software updates for Windows 10 Also Read: How to Fix 35+ Windows 10 Privacy Issues With Just One Click Unlike at first glance, these changes made by Microsoft in its new Free Windows upgrade do not actually felt free to its users due to a lack of transparency from the company about the reality of the new
Windows 10 Doesn't Stop Spying You, Even After Disabling It's Creepy Features

Windows 10 Doesn't Stop Spying You, Even After Disabling It's Creepy Features

Aug 14, 2015
In our previous articles, we raised concern about Windows 10 privacy issues , including its controversial Wi-Fi Sense feature . Also, to cope up with these issues, I provided you a one-click solution to fix  all privacy compromising features that allow Microsoft to track users. But unfortunately, all those efforts got wasted because Microsoft still tracks you, even after you harden your Windows 10 privacy to an extreme level by disabling all privacy-infringing settings. This time the culprits are – Cortana and Bing search . Windows 10 features, including Cortana and Bing search, continue communicating with Microsoft's servers and sending it data, even after you turned the features off. A Technical Analysis done by Ars showed that even when you tell Microsoft to not to make any Internet-related inquiries by changing various privacy settings, it appears that Windows 10 still communicate with the software giant's servers for different information. Cortana
Despite Issues, 6 Reasons Why Windows 10 is Best Windows Ever

Despite Issues, 6 Reasons Why Windows 10 is Best Windows Ever

Aug 03, 2015
Windows 10 is built with the power features of Windows 7 and 8.1, which makes it a robust operating system. It gained 65 million users in the first three days after its release. Still counting and making Windows 10 as a universal platform for all the devices running the same operating system. By Introducing " Windows as a service " utility, The Microsoft is offering Windows 10 Free Upgrade to all the users running Windows 7 or 8.1 as a Windows update, and not as a separate product. From now on, the company will provide regular updates for Windows in the same manner Apple does with its Mac OS X operating system that gets regular updates on a yearly basis and has been known as OS X for over 15 years. Despite some privacy issues , including " Wi-Fi Sense " and " Bandwidth sharing for Windows Update ", and few more, Windows 10 offers a bevy of new and advanced features that makes the operating system unique from others. Also Read: How to Fix 35+ Windows 10 Privacy Iss
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