Category: News

EFS Network Management - Windows 10 Anniversary Update

Windows 10 Anniversary Update

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be available August 2, 2016. This is a large 3GB update with lots of new features and improvements as well as the depreciation of other low usage features. This update will be free to current Windows 10 users.

For home Windows 10 users the update will be automatically installed. For domain business users the update will be optional but is recommended by Microsoft.

If you need to delay the update Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, you can delay the upgrade by at least four months. In Windows 10 version, go to Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options and click the Defer Upgrades check box.

For Windows 7 users Microsoft is making its last big push to get the Windows 7 operating systems upgraded. On July 29, 2016 the Windows 10 upgrade will no longer be free and will cost $119 for home edition and $199 for Pro Edition.

Here is a brief summary of what’s new in Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

  • Cortana is getting a big update, and you will not be able to turn it off.
  • The Edge browser is getting a big update.
  • Windows Defender is getting a big update and new features.
  • New pen and ink features and updates for touch screens
  • Xbox Gaming Integration
  • New IT deployment for schools.
  • New Personal Logon Screen
  • New Dark Themes
  • Linux Friendly Bash Shell
  • Changes to the Start Menu
  • Action Center Update
  • New Fingerprint Sensor update

What is being removed?

  • Wifi Sense sharing
  • Kids Corner
  • Sleep / Hibernation
  • No more nags to upgrade

Should you update to Windows 10 from 7 or upgrade to Windows 10 Anniversary? It really depends upon if your business environment is ready. Are all your applications and hardware devices Windows 10 ready with drivers and stated that they will work under Windows 10? If so you can upgrade. If not, then it is simple, the applications and devices need to be updated before upgrading to Windows 10. Windows 7 Extended support will end 1/14/2020.

If you miss out on the free Windows 10 upgrade, your low cost option is when you are ready to replace the computer, then get it with Windows 10 (When you are ready!). The newer hardware will be better for Windows 10 anyway.

For further reading, please see these references below:

Windows 10 Anniversary Update

What is being removed from Window 10 Anniversary Update

More about Cortona

Arstechnica on Windows 10 Update

Windows 7 Support life-cycle

EFS Network Management - Security Now 570: Your Questions, Steve's Answers 238

Security Now 570: Your Questions, Steve’s Answers 238

EFS Network Management encourages administrators and users to check the latest video podcast of Security Now.

This week Steve Gibson of GRC discusses the latest is security issues with Apple’s stagefright, questions about Russia’s possible influence on the U.S. presidential election, Microsoft’s battle against U.S. privacy overreach, a bug fix to pfSense, a look at CUJO security appliance, and Steve’s answers to viewers questions.

If you need tech support with a security issue please open a EFS Network Management Support Request and we will take a look at the issue or you can contact us for help.

TWiT Security Now 569: Messenger, CryptoDrop & Riffle

TWiT Security Now 569: Messenger, CryptoDrop & Riffle

EFS Network Management encourages administrators and users to check the latest video podcast of Security Now.

This week Steve Gibson of GRC discusses the latest is security issues, update on the sharing of passwords, TOR issues, the future of AI, new freeware security monitoring, Windows architectural design flaw, issues with Juniper Routers, Facebook Messenger, anti-ransomware CryptoDrop and MIT’s anonymity enforcing network solution.

 

 

If you need tech support with a security issue please open a EFS Network Management Support Request and we will take a look at the issue or you can contact us for help.

EFS Network Management - TWiT Security Now 568: Questions & Answers

TWiT Security Now 568: Questions & Answers

EFS Network Management encourages administrators and users to check the latest video podcast of Security Now.

This week Steve Gibson of GRC talks about Facebook Messenger adds “Secret Conversations”, Putin vs. the Internet, the fate of Russian-based VPN endpoints, Russian hackers compromising iOS devices. Steve’s follow-up to the Lenovo SMM hack, is sharing your Netflix password illegal? He then talks about Post-quantum crypto testing in Chrome, reconsidering anti-virus add-ons, Pokemon Go woes, and a possible defense against CryptoMalware.

 

 

If you apply any of the updates mentioned in this podcast as with any software update there maybe issues. There are no known issues with the updates at this time of this posting.

If issues do arise, please reboot the system to see if it will self-heal and recover. If it does not recover please open a EFS Network Management Support Request and we will take a look at the issues or you can contact us for help.

EFS Network Management - TWiT Security Now 567: Hacking Certificates

TWiT Security Now 567: Hacking Certificates

EFS Network Management encourages administrators and users to check the latest video podcast of Security Now.

This week Steve Gibson of GRC talks about ransomware heading to a smartphone near you! He covers a security researcher successfully extracts Android’s FDE keys. He explains that Tavis @ Google’s Project Zero finds horrific problems in Symantec/Norton products.

He  also talks about that Brazilian judge is definitely NOT collecting Facebook “likes”. In other news he discusses what if you forget to re-register your router’s setup domain name? A new IoT Horror Story is upon us this week. Lastly he covers StartSSL/StartCom badly fumbles their Let’s Encrypt clone, and a detailed look at certificate hacking.

 

 

If you apply any of the updates mentioned in this podcast as with any software update there maybe issues. There are no known issues with the updates at this time of this posting.

If issues do arise, please reboot the system to see if it will self-heal and recover. If it does not recover please open a EFS Network Management Support Request and we will take a look at the issues or you can contact us for help.