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Microsoft has released Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 24H2, 23H2, and 22H2. The 24H2 update is provided via KB5051987, while the 23H2 and 22H2 updates are delivered via KB5051989. You will be on build versions 26100.3194, 22631.4890, and 22621.4890, respectively, after applying the update.

It's the second Tuesday of the month, which means it's Patch Tuesday time again. As such, today, Microsoft is rolling out the monthly security update (also called "B release") for February 2025 on Windows Server 20H2 and Windows 10 for the latest supported versions, 20H2, 21H2, and 22H2.

A guide that claimed to include steps to uninstall Microsoft Edge from a PC has since been taken down.

Windows 11 will turn four later this year, but one of its most controversial parts, the Start menu, remains mostly unchanged from the original release, leaving most of the most requested features and changes unaddressed. Luckily, it appears that Microsoft is working on fixing one annoying issue with the operating system's Start menu, and a future update will allow you to get to your apps with fewer clicks.

Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'Wolf Man' tops the chart, followed by 'Moana 2'. 'Nosferatu' completes the top three.
 
The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only.
 
Downloading content without permission is copyright infringement. These torrent download statistics are only meant to provide further insight into piracy trends. All data are gathered from public resources.

In this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we look at Xbox features arriving on PC, useful apps for debloating Windows 11, fresh preview builds, fixed known issues, gaming stories, browser updates, some hardware reviews, and more.

Windows 11 brought a lot of upgrades to the stock File Explorer, but the app still misses a lot of features and small conveniences, whose absence makes the user experience less enjoyable. As usual, third-party developers are to the rescue. Some offer entirely different apps with a truckload of advanced features, while others attempt to fix the stock File Explorer. Explorer Tab Utility belongs to the latter category.

Microsoft encourages users to use Edge over Chrome when searching for Google's Web Store with Bing.

Microsoft is seemingly getting more creative with its aggressive tactics designed to flip the odds in Bing and Edge's favor against Google.

By Susan Bradley
 
If your machine is eligible for Windows 11 — meaning it ticks all the boxes for hardware compatibility — Windows 11 24H2 will download in preparation for installation, with no way to stop it.
 
For right now, the only way to prevent this is to adjust Registry keys accordingly, and the simplest, fastest way to do so is with InControl.

You mean to tell me there's been this incredible tool sat there this whole time that could have made life much simpler and have spent much less on USB flash drives?!

Insiders can now customize which widgets appear on the Windows 11 lock screen.

Mozilla will release Firefox 135 to the stable channel today. The release is a big feature and security update that introduces improved protections and capabilities.

Back in April 2024, Microsoft revealed the pricing for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10. Later in the year at the end of October, the company added information related to volume licensing pricing of the 5-by-5 activation method.

Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'Moana 2' tops the chart, followed by 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. 'Nosferatu' completes the top three.
 
The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only.
 
Downloading content without permission is copyright infringement. These torrent download statistics are only meant to provide further insight into piracy trends. All data are gathered from public resources.

With the release of Windows 11 24H2 last year, and the super slow roll out of it to devices, one thing you may have missed, and also somewhat slipped under the radar, is that Microsoft have removed the AC-3 (Dolby Digital) codec, explaining in the support document that "many device manufacturers will pre-install an AC-3 codec". However, if you upgrade from an earlier edition on Windows 11 to 24H2, that codec will remain on the system.

Back in October 2021, when Microsoft made the original Windows 11, version 21H2, generally available, the company, perhaps unimaginably, had also provided a workaround that bypassed the system requirements which would allow users on unsupported PCs to upgrade too.

Microsoft this week lifted another upgrade block for Windows 11 24H2. Thus if you are looking to do an in-place upgrade from 23H2, you can check out our review to get an idea of what you could expect.

This year is very important for Microsoft. It is the year that the most popular Windows operating system, Windows 10, is reaching end of support. It is used by hundreds of millions of users worldwide and has a comfortable lead over its successor Windows 11.

Hackers hiding in plain sight, avatars being used in novel attacks, and even perpetual 2FA-bypass threats against Google users have been reported. What a time to be alive if you are a criminal hacker, although calling this latest scary hacker alive is a stretch: be warned, this malicious AI wants your Gmail credentials.

Following the release of non-security updates for Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows 10 version 22H2, Microsoft pushed this month's c-updates for those using Windows 11 version 22H2 and 23H2. The update is now available as an optional release in Windows Update under KB5050092.

Reviews show that Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 is less than 15% faster than RTX 4080 Super. Making it the worst performance uplift in xx80 graphics cards in years.

Microsoft has confirmed that more users can download Windows 11 24H2 feature update now. The company has lifted another upgrade block, also known as a safeguard hold, under the ID 55382406.

TorrentGalaxy was taken over by new owners last year and faced repeated difficulties in the months that followed. Official updates have been sparse, but according to a new message posted by the operators, they're having trouble paying the bills. Further details are lacking, but the call for help resulted in a healthy stream of crypto donations, which will be of interest to anti-piracy groups too.

Pirate site blocking orders are a step closer to becoming reality in the United States after Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act earlier today. Should it become law, FAPDA would allow rightsholders to obtain site blocking orders targeted at verified pirate sites, presumably run by foreign operators. The blocking orders would apply to both ISPs and DNS resolvers. The latter is a novelty.

A big day for short sellers after Nvidia loses $600 billion off its market value.