account control Archives

Winsage

August 15, 2025

40 years of Windows: How Windows 7 cleansed the sins of Vista

In October 2009, Microsoft launched Windows 7, which was seen as a significant upgrade from Windows XP and a response to the shortcomings of Windows Vista. Windows Vista had faced performance issues and user frustration, leading to a negative reputation for Microsoft. Windows 7 addressed many of these issues, featuring a refined Aero Glass interface, improved stability, enhanced security, and a modern driver stack. It introduced new features such as the redesigned "Superbar" taskbar and "Aero Snap" for easier window management. Additionally, Windows 7 included "Windows XP Mode" for business users to facilitate the transition from Windows XP. Overall, Windows 7 was viewed as a polished iteration of Vista, restoring user confidence in Microsoft's operating system.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

40 years of Windows: How Windows 7 cleansed the sins of Vista

Microsoft released Windows 7 in October 2009 as a response to the negative reception of Windows Vista, which faced performance and compatibility issues. Windows 7 aimed to provide a smoother, more reliable experience and retained core features from Vista while enhancing them. It introduced a refined Aero Glass interface, improved User Account Control with fewer prompts, and a new taskbar called the "Superbar." Additional features included 'Aero Snap' for better window management and "Windows XP Mode" for running a virtualized version of XP. Windows 7 outperformed Vista on the same hardware, with reduced memory usage and faster boot times, leading to a favorable reception from users.

Winsage

August 12, 2025

Windows DoS Flaws Enable DDoS Attacks on Domain Controllers

Researchers from SafeBreach Labs have identified four denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s Windows operating system that could allow attackers to use publicly accessible Windows domain controllers in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These vulnerabilities exploit protocols such as Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), enabling the creation of stealthy botnets without authentication. The flaws arise from improper handling of RPC and LDAP requests in Windows Server environments, including versions up to 2025. One flaw allows unauthenticated users to trigger infinite loops, consuming system resources and facilitating reflection attacks. Microsoft released patches for these vulnerabilities in August 2025, but unpatched systems remain at risk. The vulnerabilities were disclosed at DEF CON 33, where proof-of-concept attacks were demonstrated. SafeBreach has labeled these flaws as “Win-DoS” due to their widespread applicability. Organizations are advised to audit network exposures and isolate domain controllers to mitigate risks. The increase in hyper-volumetric DDoS attacks highlights the urgency for proactive defenses, including automated mitigation tools and regular vulnerability scans. Experts recommend implementing stringent firewall rules to restrict RPC and LDAP exposure and using behavioral analytics to detect anomalous traffic.

Winsage

August 10, 2025

Windows UAC Bypassed via Character Editor, Allowing Local Privilege Escalation

A cybersecurity researcher, Matan Bahar, has developed a method to bypass User Account Control (UAC) in Windows using the Private Character Editor (eudcedit.exe), which is located in C:WindowsSystem32. This utility, intended for creating user-defined characters, can be manipulated to grant attackers elevated privileges without user consent. The exploit takes advantage of the application manifest configuration of eudcedit.exe, which includes directives that allow the program to run with full administrative rights and enables an elevated PowerShell session. This method poses a significant security risk as it exploits a trusted Windows utility, highlighting vulnerabilities in Windows security architecture. Security professionals are advised to monitor unusual execution patterns related to eudcedit.exe and reconsider UAC configuration policies to mitigate such risks.

Winsage

August 3, 2025

Fix: “Failed to Update the System Registry” Error in Windows 10/11

The error message “Failed to update the system registry. Please try using REGEDIT” indicates issues with the Windows Registry, which stores system settings and application information. This error often arises when running older programs on newer Windows versions due to factors such as lack of administrative permissions, incompatibility with current Windows versions, or interference from antivirus software. To resolve this error, users can take several steps: 1. Run the program as an administrator by right-clicking the application and selecting “Run as administrator,” or by setting this option permanently in the program's properties under the Compatibility tab. 2. Use the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, accessible through the Control Panel on Windows 10 or through Settings on Windows 11, to adjust settings for older programs. 3. Whitelist the program in antivirus settings to prevent it from blocking necessary registry modifications. 4. Reinstall the program with administrator rights by right-clicking the installer and selecting “Run as administrator.”

Winsage

July 26, 2025

How to Fix Windows 11 24H2 BSOD and Crashes

The Windows 11 24H2 update has caused complications, leading Microsoft to compile a list of affected hardware and software along with potential fixes. Users experiencing crashes can try the following solutions: 1. Remove Windows Hello: Users with laptops that have integrated cameras may experience system freezes. To fix this, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, expand the Facial Recognition section, and click Remove. Optionally, remove fingerprint and PIN settings and set up a password. 2. Change Registry Settings for SSDs: The update has made certain SSDs from Western Digital and SanDisk incompatible. A temporary fix involves modifying the registry. Open the Registry Editor, navigate to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorPort, locate or create the DWORD HmbAllocationPolicy, modify its value to 0 or 2, and restart the PC. 3. Perform Windows Updates Again: Subsequent updates may resolve existing issues. Check for updates in Windows Update, download all related to the 24H2 version, and restart the PC as necessary. 4. Reroll Windows 11: Users can revert to the previous version within 10 days of the update if the option is available. Go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Go back. If the option is greyed out, users can download Windows 11 23H2 from Microsoft’s website for a clean installation, ensuring to back up data first.

Winsage

July 18, 2025

Top 6 new features that landed on the Windows 11 Insider Program during the first half of July 2025

During the first half of July 2025, Microsoft released at least six preview builds for Windows 11, including four in the Canary and Beta Channels for version 24H2 and two in the Dev Channel for version 25H2. Notable features introduced include: 1. Quick Machine Recovery (QMR): A feature in build 27898 that minimizes downtime during boot failures by detecting and resolving issues via the Windows Recovery Environment and Windows Update. It is enabled by default on Windows 11 Home and can be configured on Windows 11 Pro. 2. Adaptive Energy Saver: An option in the Energy Saver mode that automatically activates based on system telemetry, available on devices with battery backup starting with build 27898. 3. App Permission Dialog: A redesigned modal that appears centrally on the screen when an app requests special permissions, introduced in build 27898. 4. Administrator Protection: A security feature that generates an authorization dialog for unsigned or untrusted applications seeking elevation, enabling it through Windows Security settings. 5. Passkeys with External Providers: Support for third-party passkey providers, starting with build 26200.5670, allowing users to create and use passkeys with 1Password. 6. Click to Do Image Description: An updated feature in build 26200.5702 that uses AI to describe images, available for Copilot+ PCs, with future support anticipated for Intel and AMD systems.

Winsage

June 22, 2025

I used Winaero to customize Windows, and here’s how it went

Winaero Tweaker is a free application that offers a suite of tools for customizing Windows 11, organized into sections for appearance, behavior, and more. It allows users to enable or disable features such as the Copilot and automatic updates, modify Windows Explorer options, and enhance visual settings. Users can enable the classic full context menu, modify the Windows Explorer Window, resize scroll bars, and prevent Windows themes from changing mouse pointers and desktop icons. The Context Menu Tweaker allows customization of right-click options, adding shortcuts for functions like the Control Panel and Snipping Tool. Winaero also provides tools for modifying support and maintenance settings, including automatic registry backups and creating multiple System Restore points. It offers features to restore classic Windows functionalities and install legacy applications. While Winaero presents many options to enhance the user experience, users should be cautious as some features may pose security risks or performance issues. The application includes a Recent Changes feature for reviewing modifications and reverting to default settings if necessary.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft silently fixes Start menu bug affecting Windows 10 PCs

Microsoft has resolved a problem that disrupted the functionality of Start Menu jump lists on Windows 10, version 22H2. The issue originated from a Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) initiated in March 2025, which aimed to enhance account control but led to complications. Microsoft paused the rollout in late April 2025 after receiving user feedback about the inability to view jump lists for apps. The problematic rollout was halted on April 25, 2025, preventing new devices from encountering the glitch. The issue mainly affected users of Windows 10 Home and Pro editions. Affected users are advised to ensure their devices are connected to the internet and to restart their systems to apply the fix.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft resolves a Windows 10 issue that broke Start menu jump lists

Following the February updates for Windows 10, users reported issues with jump lists and the Start menu, particularly after installing the KB5052077 update. Microsoft identified the problem as stemming from a feature rollout in the Windows 10 22H2 version aimed at enhancing account control. The company acknowledged the bug, stating that users were unable to view jump lists for apps after the updates released on February 25, 2025, and later. The problematic rollout has been paused since April 25, 2025, and a service change implemented at the end of last month is expected to resolve the issues. Microsoft advised affected users to ensure their devices are connected to the internet for an automatic resolution after rebooting.