Encryption
The latest Encryption coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Windows 10 Free Upgrade Scam Unleashed Ransomware That Locked Files Until Bitcoin Paid
In late July 2015, as millions of users rushed to upgrade to Windows 10, attackers sent convincing phishing emails offering the free update that instead deployed a ransomware variant known as...
The 10 Open-Source Windows Apps ZDNET Says Every User Should Install Now
ZDNET recently published a curated list of ten open-source Windows applications, each free to download and use, that can replace expensive proprietary software while bolstering privacy and control....
Windows Backup app now transfers files and settings over local network in Windows 11 setup
Microsoft has quietly introduced a local PC-to-PC migration feature directly inside the Windows Backup app, letting users move files and personalization settings from an old computer to a new Windows...
From Obsidian to Joplin: One User’s Journey to a Truly Open-Source, Low-Maintenance Notes App
After years of painstakingly building a knowledge base in Obsidian, one user faced growing pains—sluggish performance, subscription costs for sync, and hours lost to maintenance. The solution? A...
Windows 11 Factory Reset: How to Avoid Data Loss, BitLocker Nightmares, and Licensing Headaches
A factory reset in Windows 11 can feel like a fresh start—a way to banish stubborn crashes, wipe out malware, or hand off a clean device to its next owner. But click ‘Reset this PC’ without a...
SMB Signing Defaults, AES-256 Encryption Arrive as Microsoft Retires CIFS
Microsoft has flipped the switch on mandatory SMB signing for all outbound connections, a quiet but decisive blow against the 30-year-old CIFS dialect that still haunts enterprise networks. Windows...
VLC 3.0.23 Adds Dark Mode and AV2 Decoder: Here Are 9 Open-Source Apps Every Windows Setup Needs
VideoLAN’s VLC media player just received its 24th update to the 3.0 branch, bringing a dark mode option for Windows and Linux, native ARM64 support for Windows, and a massive number of stability...
LibreOffice 25.8 Cuts Legacy Windows and 32-Bit, Adds PDF 2.0 with AES-256 and 30% Faster File Opens
LibreOffice 25.8, released August 20, 2025, marks a sharp modernisation turn for the open-source office suite, severing support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, deprecating 32‑bit Windows builds, and...
Microsoft's SQL Server 2025 RC0 Arrives: Ubuntu 24.04, TLS 1.3, and Docker Caveats
Microsoft has shipped the first public release candidate of SQL Server 2025, delivering two long-awaited changes for teams that mix Windows infrastructure with Linux development: official support for...
Ditch Subscriptions: 10 Open-Source Windows Apps That Put You Back in Control
Microsoft’s Windows ecosystem has long been defined by its vast library of third-party software, but for many power users, the real magic lies not in glossy subscription suites, but in the...
SparkyLinux 8.0 'Seven Sisters' Lands with Debian 13 Base to Rescue Windows 10 Users Facing End of Support
SparkyLinux 8.0, codenamed "Seven Sisters," is now available, arriving at a critical moment for millions of Windows 10 users staring down Microsoft's October 14, 2025 end-of-support deadline. Built...
Six Windows 11 Defaults That Are Robbing Your PC of Speed and Privacy
{ "title": "Six Windows 11 Defaults That Are Robbing Your PC of Speed and Privacy", "content": "After a brand-new Windows 11 machine boots up, the excitement of that fresh desktop often fades...