Microsoft Windows 10 now launched

Windows 10, which is the biggest update Microsoft has ever made to its software, has now landed in the UK.

Computer users across the country stayed awake last night waiting for the new operating system as Microsoft staggered its release – pre-registered customers got access before new ones. 

Microsoft Windows 10 will work on every Windows device including:

·         Smartphones

·         Tablets

·         Desktop PCs

·         Microsoft Xbox One

Microsoft Windows 10 Start Menu and new web browser

Microsoft has launched Edge - its new web browser - replacing Internet Explorer, and Cortana, the voice assistant, will also make the move to desktop PCs for the first time.

The well-loved start menu has come back – this was removed in Windows 8 in a move that was not popular.

Microsoft Windows 10 for Desktop PCs

Millions of Microsoft 10 users can upgrade for free as Microsoft is making the update available at no extra cost to those already using Windows 7 or 8 – however, this offer will expire next year.

Anyone who is not eligible for the free of charge update will have to pay £99 for Windows 10 home version; this will go on sale at the end of the month.

Although there are around 1.5 billion Windows users worldwide, competition from Apple's OS X, and mobile device usage, has seen the rest of the market struggle.

Are you making the move to Windows 10? Let us know your thoughts – we know it can be rather daunting for some to consider changing operating systems.

We are here to help any company or individual with their computing needs so if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 01902 375 304 or click here and we will get straight back to you!

Microsoft rolls out patch to secure Windows Server 2008, 2012, Windows Vista, 7 and 8

Microsoft has swiftly put out an out-of-band patch to secure a flaw exploited by Hacking Team, the hacked Italian surveillance software company.

The new out-of-band patch comes after a patch that was incorporated into its 14th July Patch, which patched an elevation of privilege flaw in Windows that Hacking Team had been using in order to help its customers propagate the company's malware.

This move is the latest zero-day security flaw to be uncovered by an analysis of the code that was released when Hacking Team was hacked just over a fortnight ago.

The Microsoft security bulletin explained;

"The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted document or visits an untrusted webpage that contains embedded OpenType fonts.”

The flaw is applicable to Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Microsoft continued;

"When this security bulletin was issued, Microsoft had information to indicate that this vulnerability was public but did not have any information to indicate this vulnerability had been used to attack customers.

Tod Beardsley, a security engineering manager at security services company Rapid7, said;

"Today's out-of-band patch, MS15-078 addresses CVE-2015-2426, a bug in the OpenType Font Driver that can lead to remote code execution on effectively all Windows client systems. While this driver, atmfd.dll, handles the font rendering in some Adobe products, it's shipped and signed by Microsoft, and has been for quite a while.

"Because this exposure is in a font renderer, the most common attack scenarios involve an attacker luring a victim to a malicious or compromised website, or enticing a victim to open a malicious attachment.

"Since Microsoft has stated that they have no indication that this vulnerability was used to attack customers, it begs the question, why release an out-of-band patch in the first place? This is an unusual move for Microsoft.

"In any case, users are encouraged to update their Windows clients as soon as practical, and failing a patch and restart, disabling this font rendering service entirely by following the detailed instructions in Microsoft's article, MS15-078."

Microsoft classed the vulnerability as "critical" – which is its highest threat level - as it could be used to hijack a targeted PC.

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Is Windows Server 2003 putting your business at risk?

If your business is still running Windows Server 2003, you could be putting your company at risk from hackers.

As there are now no longer any security patches being issued by Microsoft for the Windows Server 2003 operating system, hackers may well be looking to exploit any holes that may occur as a lack of security.

There are still around 11 million machines around the world are still running Windows Server 2003 - 400,000 UK businesses are also still using the now out of date Server 2003 operating system (OS).*

Without the security patches, zero-day attaches and regulatory compliance could become a problem for any Windows 2003 Server user. Where compliance is concerned, any business that accepts credit cards could find it in breach of PCI DSS 3.0.

Some businesses have opted to develop their own security tools to support their systems and carry on running Windows Server 2003 – the fees from Microsoft for a custom support contract are high.

If your business would like to discuss making the change from Windows Server 2003 to a more up-to-date and secure operating system, call ACE Computer Support today on 01902 375 304.

*Source with thanks: Application migration specialist Camwood.

Nearly three quarters of businesses set to install Windows 10 within 2 years

According to a report carried out by IT professional networking company, Spiceworks, 73% of North American and European companies are planning to upgrade to Windows 10 within the first two years of its launch.

The report states that from "over 500" IT professionals questioned, 35% intend to use Windows 10 within one year, 33% within one to two years, and 5% are planning to upgrade to Windows 10 on its actual day of release.

It is still unclear as to whether Microsoft's ‘free upgrade' service may be behind this strong and rather unusual corporate confidence in the new operating system, but it seems to be very good news for the company after some negative initial reactions over its announcement, whereby it was suggested that Microsoft may have announced it too early, being as some business had only just upgraded to Windows 8 or 8.1.

The research showed that laptops accounted for 85% of Windows 10 upgrades, but is that 83% per cent of businesses plan to place it on desktop machines.

50% of users intend to use Windows 10 on tablets, and 31% were interested in mobile phones for Windows 10; the latter demonstrates that Microsoft still have a long way to go to nail the mobile market.

64% of Windows 10 users are "most enticed" by the return of the Start button, and 55% are persuaded by the free upgrade from Windows 7 and 8, even if this is only for home use.

Windows 10 is released on 29 July 2015 – we will, of course keep you posted! Follow us on Twitter to keep up be the first to find out about all of the latest computer news @ACEComputerSup!

National Museum of Computing appeals for BBC Micro computer repairers

The National Museum of Computing – otherwise known as the TNMOC – has made an appeal for BBC Micro computer repairers to step forward in a bid to help it maintain its stock of BBC machines that are currently in use for exhibits and education programmes.

It is particularly looking for people who are familiar with the computer including disk drives and monitors.

The 8-bit BBC Micro was originally launched back in 1981, and the TNMOC currently has about 80 of the machines. Some of them are used for display purposes but most of them are part of an interactive exhibition that recreates a classroom in the 1980s.

Learning co-ordinator at the organisation, Chris Monk, said;

"We want to find out whether people have got skills out there that can keep the cluster alive as long as we can.

"A lot of the students are used to using Python and they know how fussy that can be when you do not put your indents in the right place. [The] BBC basic does not care as it was designed to be quite tolerant of spacing and it tries to give them sensible error messages."

A volunteer at the museum, Owen Grover, helps maintain the cluster of BBC Micro machines, said that despite their age, they held up well. He described the BBC Micro as being "pretty robust", with the power supply being "the main problem we need to sort out.

He continued;

"There are two capacitors that dry out and if we do not replace them they tend to explode and stink the place out. So we change them as a matter of course."

General maintenance on the machines includes replacing keys that stick and the occasional component that fails. Thankfully, he said, there were few custom-built components in the machine so getting spares is easy. Harder-to-obtain parts are cannibalised from broken or faulty machines the museum has in its stores.

Getting spare parts is easy as there were not many custom-built components in the machine, and general maintenance includes replacing occasional components and issues like sticking keys.

Mr Grover continued;

"The good thing about them is that they are repairable. We are not going to be repairing power supplies in modern equipment in 30 years' time because they are not designed to be opened up and replaced."

Anyone who may be able to help can apply via the museum’s website.

Hopefully we have helped to spread the word for this worthy cause – follow us on Twitter@AceComputerSup and Facebook to keep up to date with all of the latest technology and computing news!

In the meantime, if you need help with your business or home computers then please do not hesitate to contact us on 01902 375304!