Microsoft Windows software
Microsoft Windows is the most successful and ubiquitous enterprise software product ever created, and its future developments affect nearly every IT manager in some way. Browse all the latest news and analysis about Microsoft Windows software and the issues around buying, implementing and delivering benefits from Windows.
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News
10 Apr 2024
Patch Tuesday: Windows Server 2008 receives emergency security patch
Support for the OS ended in 2020, but four years on and there's a live exploit of a security flaw that impacts all Windows users Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2024
March Patch Tuesday throws up two critical Hyper-V flaws
Two critical vulnerabilities in Windows Hyper-V stand out on an otherwise unremarkable Patch Tuesday Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2022
Admins warned that Exchange date fix will take time to roll out
At the start of the New Year, Exchange 2016 and 2019 email servers started queuing email messages due to a date bug Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Dec 2021
A trial relying on computer evidence should start with a trial of the computer evidence
Learning from the Post Office Horizon scandal - the most widespread miscarriage of justice in recent British legal history Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2021
After Log4j, December Patch Tuesday piles on the pressure
December’s Patch Tuesday update from Microsoft contains several critical CVEs, but this month all attention is focused on the fall-out from Log4Shell, and burn-out is becoming a real issue Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Nov 2021
system tray
The system tray (or "systray") is a section of the taskbars in the Microsoft Windows operating system user interface that provides easy access icons to the user's most commonly used apps and displays the clock. Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2021
November Patch Tuesday drop fixes bugs in Excel, Exchange Server
Another relatively light Patch Tuesday drop from Microsoft addresses 55 vulnerabilities, two of them already being exploited Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Nov 2021
How a cloud-first strategy helped save animals in the pandemic
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to the RSPCA about how its cloud-first strategy helped to save animals throughout the pandemic. Data warehouses have been part of the IT landscape for 30 years – but are they now old technology, and what’s next? And we assess how Brexit has affected risk and resilience in the datacentre. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2021
Microsoft’s latest results focus on combating inflation
With prices set to rise, CEO Satya Nadella used the Q1 2022 earnings call to discuss the deflationary effect of digitisation Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2021
What will the 2025 end of life mean for enterprise Windows 10?
Businesses have until 2025 to migrate to Windows 11, but older hardware may need updating and there’s a chip crisis Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2021
Microsoft warns of MysterySnail on October Patch Tuesday
Microsoft has fixed a zero-day that is being actively exploited to deliver a new remote access trojan dubbed MysterySnail to targets Continue Reading
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Blog Post
06 Oct 2021
Windows 11: this ‘feel good’ update could actually help IT pros
Much has been written about Windows 11, and many YouTube videos have been published. If you want a detailed walkthrough of the good, the bad, the confusing and the contentious, you’ll find no ... Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
Security boost in Windows 11 limits PC reuse
Microsoft has put a lot of emphasis on improving security in Windows 11, but this comes at a cost as old hardware is no longer supported Continue Reading
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Blog Post
29 Sep 2021
What is the real role of Windows 11?
In the context of Windows 11, the question is not necessarily whether it is better or worse than Windows 10 or whether it is worth upgrading. It’s about how useful it is. “What is the role of a ... Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2021
Microsoft patches 66 vulnerabilities in September update
Another lighter-than-usual Patch Tuesday update includes important fixes for recently disclosed vulnerabilities, including a dangerous zero-day, and an update in the PrintNightmare saga Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2021
Latest Microsoft zero-day being actively exploited
New Microsoft zero-day CVE-2021-40444 affects multiple versions of Windows and is probably being exploited through convincing phishing attacks Continue Reading
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Blog Post
01 Sep 2021
Windows 11: A booster jab for the PC industry?
Looking cynically at the fact that Windows 11 will be available as a free upgrade from October 5, the timing of the new operating system release coincides with the need for the PC industry to ... Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2021
Microsoft fixes seven critical bugs on light Patch Tuesday
All seven critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s August Patch Tuesday were related to remote code execution, and there was one zero-day related to Windows Update Medic Service Continue Reading
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Blog Post
03 Aug 2021
The logic of software defined
A recent conversation with Microsoft revealed a number of questions about where desktop IT could be heading. Logically, it makes sense for Microsoft to use the power of its public cloud to stream ... Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2021
Windows 365: Cloud PC pricing starts at £20
Will Microsoft change the way people buy PCs in much the same way that streaming services have revolutionised video subscription services? Continue Reading
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Photo Story
02 Aug 2021
Windows 11: A first look
We look at the next version of the Windows operating system and see how it improves productivity, IT management and security Continue Reading
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E-Zine
27 Jul 2021
Are we getting cyber security skills all wrong?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the chair of the new UK Cyber Security Council tells us how she plans to fundamentally reimagine what working in IT security means. Our latest buyer’s guide examines ERP modernisation and its role in digital transformation. And we take an in-depth look at the first preview version of Windows 11. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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25 Jul 2021
Windows 11: A first look at the first preview
Microsoft recently unveiled its plans for the next version of the Windows operating system. We give it a test drive. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Jul 2021
Windows 11: A first look at the first preview
Microsoft recently unveiled its plans for the next version of the Windows operating system. We give it a test drive Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
Windows 365: Microsoft unveils the era of the cloud PC
Expanding its cloud offerings, Microsoft has simplified Azure Virtual Desktops with a new way to access Windows on any device Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
Multiple Microsoft bugs being actively exploited
Microsoft’s July Patch Tuesday update fixes 117 vulnerabilities, 13 rated as critical and four already being actively exploited Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2021
PrintNightmare haunts Microsoft as patch may miss mark
Microsoft dropped an out-of-band patch to fix PrintNightmare, but there are concerns it may not be totally effective. This does not mean it shouldn’t be applied Continue Reading
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05 Jul 2021
Windows 11: More than a repositioned Start button
Microsoft has tried to grab the headlines with the latest incarnation of its desktop operating system, sporting a repositioned Start button and updated icons Continue Reading
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E-Zine
05 Jul 2021
Where to start with Windows 11
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at the new features on offer from Microsoft’s new version of its flagship operating system, Windows 11. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the trends in secure, agile app development. And we find out what you need to consider when buying a VPN. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
30 Jun 2021
Windows 11: Do we need another operating system
One can see the reason why Microsoft saw a need to update Windows 10. Apple has been updating MacOS and has now moved its hardware away from the Intel x86 processor family to focus on its M1 ... Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
Windows 11: It’s more than a repositioned Start button
Microsoft has tried to grab the headlines with the latest incarnation of its desktop operating system, sporting a repositioned Start button and updated icons Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2021
Microsoft fixes seven zero-days on its Patch Tuesday rounds
Fixes for six actively-exploited – and one yet-to-be-exploited – zero-day bugs are released in the June 2021 Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2021
Build 2021: Code abstraction and automatic code generation
Microsoft’s annual software developers’ event, Build, opened up with the company’s CEO painting a picture of opportunity for software developers Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2021
Microsoft fixes four critical bugs on lighter Patch Tuesday
Four critical RCE vulnerabilities put users of various Microsoft products at risk, and should be patched right away Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2021
End of support for Build 1909 leaves some Windows open to attack
Biannual Windows updates free IT staff from major updates, but some people prefer older builds of Windows, which leaves a gaping security hole Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2021
Microsoft results get a pandemic jab
Covid-19 has stimulated businesses to digitise more, and this is reflected in Microsoft’s latest results Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2021
Leaky Azure storage account puts software developer IP at risk
Source code for multiple products was left exposed in an unsecured Microsoft Azure cloud storage account, say researchers, but attributing responsibility for the error has proved difficult Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2021
How Windows patching leaves security exposed
Four years on since it devastated IT systems across the NHS, WannaCry remains a threat to organisations around the world Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
FBI accesses ProxyLogon target servers to disrupt cyber criminals
US Justice Department reveals successful court-authorised effort to clamp down on ProxyLogon exploitation Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
NSA unearths more MS Exchange vulnerabilities
Microsoft patches more critical vulnerabilities in Exchange Server a month after the ProxyLogon incident, after being warned by the US National Security Agency Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Apr 2021
12 Microsoft Exchange Server security best practices
Exchange security has come under increased scrutiny since the recent exploitation of critical vulnerabilities. Review this list of activities to best protect your enterprise. Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2021
Microsoft accused of stifling secondhand software market
In 2012, UsedSoft won a case for second user software, which has enabled the market to grow across Europe. But it is now under threat Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2021
Warning: AWS IAM behaves differently to directory services
IT admins use group policies to manage user access via Active Directory, but AWS takes a subtly different approach, which can be exploited Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2021
Coronavirus: How PCs in quarantine and intensive care units can be managed remotely
NHS IT staff generally have limited access to deployed devices, especially if that device is in an operating theatre or intensive care unit Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2021
Microsoft releases one-click ProxyLogon mitigation tool
Microsoft’s mitigation tool is designed to help customers without dedicated security or IT teams navigate fixing their vulnerable Exchange servers Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2021
Microsoft Exchange ProxyLogon attacks spike 10 times in four days
Exploitations of the Microsoft Exchange ProxyLogon vulnerabilities have increased tenfold in just four days Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2021
NCSC issues emergency alert on Microsoft Exchange patch
UK’s national cyber agency calls on organisations affected by the ProxyLogon vulnerabilities to patch their Microsoft Exchange Servers immediately Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2021
DearCry ransomware targets vulnerable Exchange servers
As predicted, ransomware gangs have started to target vulnerable instances of Microsoft Exchange Server, making patching an even greater priority Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2021
Norwegian government falls victim to Microsoft attacks
Norway’s parliament, the Storting, suffers second major cyber incident in a year as threat groups capitalise on vulnerable Microsoft Exchange Servers Continue Reading
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Blog Post
10 Mar 2021
The New Norm Still Means The Old Norm When It Comes To Exchange Vulnerabilities
Some things in IT never change and one is exposing vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s armoury, not least as has recently been reported, Microsoft Exchange. Oh, how the hackers love Exchange… So, at the ... Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2021
Patch Tuesday overshadowed by Microsoft Exchange attacks
Microsoft’s March Patch Tuesday update drops amid ongoing fall-out from widespread Exchange attacks Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2021
Mandiant: MS Exchange bugs first exploited in January
Analysis from technical teams at FireEye’s Mandiant tracked activity exploiting newly disclosed vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server more than a month ago Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2021
Microsoft Exchange CVEs more widely exploited than thought
US CISA issues emergency guidance as impact of four newly disclosed Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities becomes clearer Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2021
Emergency patch addresses MS Exchange Server zero-days
Microsoft releases an emergency patch to address multiple zero-day exploits directed at on-premise installations of Exchange Server Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Microsoft builds industry-specific clouds for financial services and manufacturing firms
Software giant follows up launch of industry-specific cloud offerings for retail and healthcare organisations with a commitment to do the same for non-profits, manufacturing and financial services firms Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
Windows 10, Server 2019 users must patch serious zero-day
Another dangerous zero-day exploit is among 56 vulnerabilities patched by Microsoft in February’s Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
SolarWinds chases multiple leads in breach investigation
Investigators at SolarWinds are exploring multiple theories as to how the company’s systems were compromised Continue Reading
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Blog Post
25 Jan 2021
Application modernisation cloud platform makes the impossible, possible
Around this time last year, I was in London to cover off an event on platform migration for Rimo3, which I duly covered in this blog back then. ... Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2021
Malwarebytes also hit by SolarWinds attackers
The nation state group that attacked SolarWinds in December got inside Malwarebytes by exploiting privileged access to its Microsoft Office 365 tenant, the firm reveals Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2021
Critical zero-day features in first Patch Tuesday of 2021
Microsoft releases fixes for 84 bugs on the first Patch Tuesday of 2021, including a critical zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Defender Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2020
Patching: Balancing technical requirements with business considerations
With an increasing reliance on subscription models alongside the regular patching of software, updates have become an essential part of modern business practices. However, care needs to be taken to ensure the optimum patching process is implemented Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2020
Patch Tuesday: Microsoft presents just 58 CVEs for Christmas
The final Patch Tuesday of 2020 contains 58 fixes, a minnow compared to some recent drops, but many are still of high importance Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Dec 2020
Where next for Windows?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, Windows is still the most-used operating system in enterprises – we look at where Microsoft aims to take it next. We examine some of the key questions for CIOs for their 2021 IT strategy. And we analyse the best practice in preventing distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2020
Robots taking jobs, but creating careers
Robotic process automation developers tell Computer Weekly about the job they never expected to be doing Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2020
Microsoft Windows’ future is all about users
We look at how Microsoft is evolving the Windows desktop operating system platform and providing developer flexibility Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2020
Microsoft drops fix for serious zero-day among 112 Patch Tuesday updates
November’s Patch Tuesday contains fixes for 112 bugs, including a potentially serious zero-day exploit that malicious actors are already taking advantage of Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2020
Microsoft fixes 87 bugs in October 2020 Patch Tuesday
Smaller October Patch Tuesday update includes fixes for critical bugs in Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2020
Organisations locked out by Azure AD crash
The Azure Active Directory was unavailable for a few hours in the evening of 28 September, preventing many from accessing MS online services Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2020
Race to patch as Microsoft confirms Zerologon attacks in the wild
Don’t be the organisation that made the headlines because it failed to patch. Microsoft says it is seeing cyber attacks ramping up around the Zerologon CVE-2020-1472 bug Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2020
September’s Patch Tuesday heavy on RCE vulnerabilities
Microsoft’s September update contains patches for 129 common vulnerabilities and exposures, including a high number of remote code execution issues Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2020
Microsoft patches two zero-days with active exploits
Microsoft drops another major Patch Tuesday update, including fixes for two zero-day exploits that are already being exploited by cyber criminals Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2020
CIO interview: DFS’s Russell Harte on the Google ecosystem
The furniture retailer has standardised on G Suite and has bought into the Google Cloud Platform and Chrome OS devices Continue Reading
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News
06 Aug 2020
Samsung and Microsoft extend Windows and Office 365 integration
Samsung fleshes out OneDrive, Outlook and OneNote integration. Microsoft offers Link to Windows, to extend phones to Windows 10 PCs Continue Reading
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News
04 Aug 2020
Nordic enterprises look for SAP price reductions as they navigate Covid-19
Businesses in the Nordics are using SAP Cloud Platform to address Covid-19 challenges and are also seeking price reductions Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2020
Serious BootHole vulnerability puts millions of systems at risk
BootHole is a GRUB2 bootloader vulnerability and puts millions of PCs, servers and other devices at risk of compromise Continue Reading
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News
23 Jul 2020
Microsoft results show impact of tech-driven business resilience
While economies are set to shrink, businesses are leaning on tech to support operations, says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2020
Patch Tuesday: Microsoft fixes 123 bugs in July 2020 update
The bugs start coming and they don’t stop coming; Microsoft has issued yet another bumper Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2020
HSBC chooses AWS for public cloud business operations
HSBC will use a cloud platform from Amazon Web Services across its business operations to accelerate its public cloud use Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2020
Check Point unearths critical SigRed bug in Windows DNS
SigRed vulnerability is highly dangerous, but is being fixed as part of the July 2020 Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2020
Locked-down Nationwide staff make 2.5 million video calls in June
Home-working technologies are no longer just a contingency for large companies, with future working practices set to change Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2020
CIO interview: David Allison, global head of IT, First Quantum Minerals
For his first global CIO role, the IT chief had to tackle unusual challenges such as reliable networking and IT use in inhospitable mining environments in developing countries Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2020
Decade-old vulnerability among 129 Patch Tuesday fixes
A 10 year-old bug in Windows Group Policies could easily enable attackers to gain highly privileged user status on target systems, opening the doors to a wave of cyber attacks Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2020
Why this is the right time for IT
The coronavirus has put the spotlight on IT capabilities, and people are now willing to embrace technology-driven change to working practices Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2020
How Teams and Office 365 connect NHS staff during the lockdown
NHS’s AGEM Commissioning Support Unit has migrated from on-premise SharePoint to Office 365 and is now using Teams Continue Reading
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E-Zine
02 Jun 2020
What will be the IT security priorities of the post-coronavirus world?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, with the working world after the pandemic set to be very different, we assess the IT security priorities for the ‘new normal’. Facial recognition firms are racing to identify people wearing face masks. And how did Europe’s telecoms networks cope with the switch to remote working? Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2020
The software innovation impact of coronavirus
Software developers can work remotely, but if workers are expected to work remotely in the long term, can organisations maintain a software innovation cycle? Continue Reading
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Blog Post
27 May 2020
Office productivity in a post Coronavirus world
One of the changes that has come out of the Coronavirus pandemic is that people are learning to work from home. This is more than IT providing remote and cloud-based access to business ... Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2020
MoD cuts through competition barriers to sign direct private cloud deal with Microsoft
The Ministry of Defence has justified its decision to directly award Microsoft a 23-month private cloud deal by stating the firm is the only one able to meet its precise technical and data protection needs Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2020
Microsoft Build 2020: Nadella praises developers for their work during pandemic
IT has played a key role in supporting people and businesses during the coronavirus lockdown Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2020
Build 2020: How Microsoft aims to build trust in artificial intelligence
Microsoft has outlined its toolset for making AI models explainable with the InterpretML and AboutML tools Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2020
Microsoft Build 2020: Focus on protecting data for AI development
Microsoft Build is always a vital event for developers across the IT industry. This year, Microsoft has expanded its AI emphasis Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2020
Microsoft fixes 16 critical vulnerabilities on Patch Tuesday
The trend towards mammoth Patch Tuesdays continues as Microsoft fixes 111 vulnerabilities Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2020
Centrica deploys Citrix Cloud services on Azure to manage demand
Utility firm Centrica turns to Citrix on the Azure cloud to deal with its seasonal peak in call centre usage, which affects its virtual desktop environment Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2020
Microsoft patches 19 critical bugs in another heavy Patch Tuesday
The volume of vulnerabilities being uncovered by Microsoft remains high, with more than 100 fixes pushed out in April’s Patch Tuesday Continue Reading
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News
02 Apr 2020
Jack Schofield, tech journalist and Computer Weekly contributor, dies
In his Computer Weekly articles, Schofield discussed the early success of the web, why the BlackBerry should be waterproof, and how Microsoft overtook IBM Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2020
Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board to focus on philanthropic efforts
The co-founder of Microsoft has decided to step down from Microsoft's board to spend his time ‘focusing on how to solve some of the world's biggest problems’ Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2020
Microsoft locks down new vulnerability with EternalBlue echoes
Microsoft has moved to get ahead of a serious remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft Server Message Block 3.1.1, which was accidentally disclosed then missed in its March Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2020
Microsoft fixes 26 critical vulnerabilities in another heavy Patch Tuesday
March’s Patch Tuesday is another big one for Microsoft, addressing 115 vulnerabilities, 26 of them critical Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2020
Questions raised over Office 365 shared content policy
Buried 300 words into Microsoft’s standard service level agreement is a clause that affects intellectual property and privacy Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2020
Internet Explorer zero day among 99 Patch Tuesday problems
After an eventful January Patch Tuesday that marked the end of support for Windows 7, the February 2020 update is another whopper, fixing close to 100 vulnerabilities Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2020
RobbinHood ransomware tricks Windows into deleting defences
By subverting kernel memory settings in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10, the RobbinHood ransomware can now delete cyber security defences from target systems Continue Reading
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Blog Post
03 Feb 2020
Be Prepared For Infrastructure Change...
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, the time for digital transformation to happen has started to hit crunch time, and then some. I recently reported on an IT event in Central Londinium, an ... Continue Reading