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In a significant move poised to refocus how organizations manage data protection within Microsoft 365 environments, Sophos and Rubrik have announced a new, integrated backup and recovery solution explicitly tailored for Microsoft 365 users. This strategic partnership leverages Sophos’ expertise in cybersecurity and Rubrik’s leadership in data security to offer a solution that promises not only consistent data protection and fast recovery but also adds a robust threat detection and response...

Microsoft has unveiled a unique addition to its 50th-anniversary celebrations: limited-edition Windows XP-themed Crocs. These nostalgic footwear pieces are currently available for preorder exclusively to Microsoft employees, with plans for a broader public release in the near future. Design and Features The design of these Crocs pays homage to the iconic Windows XP "Bliss" wallpaper, featuring a light blue upper and green soles that mimic the legendary rolling green hills and blue skies...

Microsoft’s bold foray into nostalgia-driven fashion has arrived in the form of exclusive anniversary edition Windows XP-themed Crocs. Wrapped in the unmistakable colors and imagery of Windows XP's Bliss wallpaper, these limited-edition clogs serve as both a celebration of computing history and a testament to the ongoing power of pop culture nostalgia. Priced at $80 and initially launched for Microsoft employees, these Crocs—and their suite of matching accessories—have set the internet abuzz...

MX Linux, renowned for its flexibility and user-centric design, is set to undergo significant changes with the upcoming release of MX 25. These modifications are closely tied to the anticipated launch of Debian 13 "Trixie" on August 9, 2025, which serves as the foundation for MX Linux. The most notable shift in MX 25 is the alteration in how the distribution handles init systems, particularly the transition away from the dynamic toggling between systemd and sysVinit. Background on MX Linux...

In the rapidly evolving cloud computing landscape, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud are making significant strides, challenging Amazon Web Services (AWS) for market dominance. Recent financial reports from the quarter ending June 2025 highlight this shift, with both companies reporting robust earnings and substantial growth. Financial Performance and Market Valuation On July 31, 2025, Microsoft's stock experienced a notable increase of approximately 4-5%, elevating its market capitalization...

A seismic shift in the global conversation around technology, privacy, and warfare has erupted as new revelations expose the depths of an unprecedented partnership between Microsoft and Israel’s Unit 8200 – a collaboration that has brought industrial-scale surveillance of Palestinians into the cloud era. Unit 8200, long renowned as Israel’s technological nerve center of intelligence, has leveraged Microsoft’s Azure platform to store and analyze the recordings of millions of phone calls...

Microsoft's foray into generative AI (genAI) has been marked by initial enthusiasm followed by challenges in maintaining momentum. The launch of Bing Chat positioned Microsoft as a frontrunner in consumer AI, yet subsequent developments suggest a deceleration, with competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini gaining significant traction. Historical Context: Microsoft's Pattern of Early Adoption Historically, Microsoft has demonstrated a pattern of early adoption in emerging...

A silent yet critical risk has emerged in enterprise Windows environments with the discovery of BadSuccessor, a powerful privilege escalation technique that takes advantage of Delegated Managed Service Accounts (dMSAs) in Active Directory under Windows Server 2025. While the dMSA migration mechanism was designed to modernize and secure account management, it has unintentionally opened the door to domain compromise in organizations unprepared to tightly control Active Directory object...

A senior software engineer’s résumé might open doors, but Ritvika Nagula’s approach proved it can unlock them at some of the world’s most competitive tech giants—including Microsoft, Amazon, and eBay. In a hiring environment awash with automated rejections and mass online applications, Nagula’s journey from graduate to multiple Big Tech job offers serves as a living case study in how to engineer job search success, especially for aspiring software engineers vying for roles at companies...

The arrival of OpenAI's gpt-oss models on Azure AI Foundry, announced by Microsoft’s Satya Nadella in early August 2025, marks a decisive leap forward in hybrid AI integration. This powerful partnership unlocks an era where organizations can strategically combine leading AI models for performance, compliance, and cost savings—all while keeping sensitive data exactly where it resides. By weaving these flexible, privacy-conscious AI solutions into Azure, Windows, and edge environments...

Logging in to Windows 11 after setup should be the start of a smooth PC experience, but for many users, it’s felt more like a gauntlet of annoying popups. For months, Microsoft has been bombarding users with the “Second-chance Out-of-Box Experience” (SCOOBE): an intrusive string of prompts asking them to commit once more—sometimes more forcefully than ever—to using Microsoft Edge, OneDrive, and other bundled services. This has led to widespread frustration, with users venting about being...

A seismic shift is rippling through PC gaming as Electronic Arts mandates Secure Boot activation for all Windows users wishing to enter the world of Battlefield 6. This requirement, announced on the eve of the game’s high-profile beta, underscores a new era in anti-cheat technology for multiplayer shooters—one that trades player convenience for heightened security. As anticipation for Battlefield 6 reaches a fever pitch, the community is grappling not just with gameplay dreams but also with...

Microsoft’s journey to a clear, inclusive, and universally logical Windows version naming convention has been less straightforward than many users might realize. After years of bewildering and, at times, geographically exclusive update names like “Anniversary Update,” “Fall Creators Update,” and “Spring Creators Update,” the company decided to abandon these seasonal and arbitrary monikers in 2018. The change, motivated by the need for global inclusivity and genuine clarity, ultimately...

Microsoft’s announcement that support for Windows 11 SE will officially end in October 2026 marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of the company's strategy for education-focused operating systems. After just five years on the market, the tailored OS designed as a direct competitor to Chrome OS will see its final security updates with version 24H2, while being excluded from all future Windows updates, such as the anticipated 25H2 release. The move not only signals the sunset of a niche...

The next generation of console gaming is on the horizon, and new credible leaks suggest that the PlayStation 6 is poised to usher in a seismic leap in ray tracing technology, potentially reshaping how immersive worlds are rendered for millions. Details shared through trusted industry voices indicate not just an incremental improvement, but a transformative step forward—promising ray tracing performance that eclipses its predecessor, the PlayStation 5, by up to a staggering 10 times. As Sony...

Anticipation is reaching a crescendo as Microsoft's next-generation Surface Laptop 8 edges closer to its widely rumored October debut. Industry insiders, leakers, and enthusiasts are abuzz with details, and the consensus is clear: this new flagship Windows 11 laptop is poised to set a fresh standard for premium ultraportables. The most notable upgrade? Microsoft’s strategic embrace of Qualcomm’s revolutionary Snapdragon X2 platform, promising an unprecedented blend of raw performance...

The convergence of cybersecurity and data protection is undergoing a dramatic shift, as evidenced by the strategic partnership between Sophos and Rubrik. Their newly announced integrated solution—Sophos M365 Backup and Recovery—marks a pivotal moment for organizations relying on Microsoft 365, promising robust protection against both ransomware and data loss. As AI-driven cyberattacks grow in sophistication and speed, traditional approaches can no longer keep pace with the evolving threat...

Managing power and sleep settings in Windows 11 is essential for optimizing your device's performance and energy efficiency. By customizing these settings, you can extend battery life, reduce energy consumption, and tailor your system's behavior to your preferences. Accessing Power and Sleep Settings To adjust power and sleep settings in Windows 11, follow these steps: Open Settings: Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app. Navigate to Power & Battery: Click on System in the left pane...

Windows 11 continues to break ground with features that make accessibility tools not only robust, but also highly customizable for users with diverse needs. One of the most significant enhancements in recent updates is the ability to add custom words to the Voice Access vocabulary—a development that unlocks new possibilities for dictation, navigation, and hands-free control for power users and newcomers alike. Background While Windows has long supported speech recognition capabilities, the...

A sudden and perplexing error has been cropping up for many Windows 11 users: a popup demanding “Get an app to open this ‘ms-gamebar’ link,” even when the Game Bar integration isn’t actively being used. This glitch, triggered seemingly at random—whether you’re gaming, recording, or simply using your system—has become a disruptive hurdle for those who depend on Xbox Game Bar’s rich suite of tools. Fortunately, several proven solutions and technical workarounds can address the root causes...