communications Archives

Winsage

June 13, 2026

Windows Server is getting new network safety capabilities with DNS over HTTPS

Microsoft has introduced DNS over HTTPS (DoH) on Windows Server 2025, enhancing network security by encrypting DNS traffic for client-to-server communications. This feature, previously available only in Windows client editions, is now part of Microsoft's Zero Trust architecture. DoH routes DNS traffic through HTTPS secured with TLS certificates, preventing eavesdropping and safeguarding DNS data from tampering. It adheres to the IETF DNS over HTTPS standard (RFC 8484) and can integrate with existing infrastructure, allowing organizations to maintain unencrypted DNS traffic if needed. DoH is available for Windows Server 2025 systems updated to the latest Patch Tuesday release, and Microsoft has provided guidance on enabling this feature. However, DNS traffic exchanged between two DNS servers will not be encrypted by DoH.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Palworld 1.0 won’t wipe your data, ‘but you should’ says Pocketpair’s publishing boss

Palworld 1.0 is set to launch on July 10, with players able to retain their existing progress, although they may be encouraged to start anew. A significant new feature is the World Tree, located in the northwest corner of the map, which is tied to the game's narrative climax. The update will introduce more new Pals than any previous update, including a new character named Dupin.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Is Facebook down? Live updates as Messenger and Meta apps offline in major outage

Meta's communications chief, Andy Stone, has acknowledged ongoing issues with Facebook but assured users that the company is working to address these challenges. Anecdotal evidence suggests that service is gradually being restored, with some users able to access the platform while others continue to experience difficulties. Facebook outages, though infrequent, can significantly impact its 3.6 billion daily users, as seen in a notable seven-hour outage in 2021 caused by an erroneous command. The recent outage has been described as one of the most significant in recent history, affecting millions globally. Instagram and WhatsApp were also impacted, though they are functioning better than Facebook, with users encountering loading issues on their web versions. During the outage, Facebook displayed a retro-style error page, indicating the service's temporary unavailability.

Winsage

June 13, 2026

Windows Server 2025 Adds DNS Over HTTPS for Secure DNS Traffic

Microsoft has rolled out support for DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in Windows DNS Server as part of the Windows Server 2025 update. This feature enhances the security of DNS communications through encryption and server authentication, allowing encrypted client-to-resolver traffic in on-premises DNS environments. DoH encrypts DNS queries and responses using HTTPS, protecting sensitive information from interception or alteration. It also uses digital certificates for DNS server authentication to reduce spoofing and impersonation risks. The feature is compatible with existing Windows DNS Server configurations and supports both encrypted and traditional DNS. DoH support is available on Windows Server 2025 with the June 9, 2026 update or newer. Administrators must configure a trusted TLS certificate and enable DoH in the DNS Server service to deploy this feature. Microsoft plans to extend encryption capabilities to include communication between the Windows DNS Server and upstream DNS resolvers in the future.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Facebook, Instagram, Messenger Outages: What We Know So Far

At 2:45 PM UK time, users experienced disruptions across Facebook and Messenger, encountering error messages. Other Meta services, including Instagram and WhatsApp, also faced issues globally. Meta's communications chief, Andy Stone, acknowledged the problem on X, stating they were working on it. By 3:38 PM UK time, some users reported regaining access to Facebook, while Messenger saw a spike in outages around 2:22 PM, which later decreased. Instagram had increased outage reports, while WhatsApp appeared to function normally. The cause of the outages is unclear, and Meta has not yet responded to inquiries. Meta services share server infrastructure, meaning issues can affect multiple platforms. In the past, Meta experienced a significant outage in 2021 due to an erroneous command affecting its network. The cause of the 2026 outages remains undetermined.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Dole expands Minecraft campaign with pineapple focus

Dole is launching a 15-week campaign starting June 21 across North America and Europe, focusing on pineapples and targeting younger audiences. This campaign includes in-game rewards for Minecraft players, such as a branded ‘pineapple hoodie.’ The previous campaign resulted in a 20-fold increase in website visits from QR code scans, generating 2 million landing page views and significant social media impressions. Over 60% of participants expressed increased intent to purchase Dole’s fruit after engaging with the campaign. This year's campaign will feature new recipes, digital puzzles, and offline engagement activities, along with QR-enabled stickers in retail environments to connect purchases to digital rewards.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Instagram and Facebook hit with widespread outage

On Friday, a significant outage affected Meta's platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, impacting thousands of users. Reports of the disruption increased on social media and the outage-tracking site Downdetector, where complaints about Instagram rose sharply from 25 to several thousand. Users experienced issues such as being logged out, difficulties loading the app, and problems accessing their accounts. Meta's communications vice president, Andy Stone, acknowledged the issue on X and stated they were working on it. Users reported similar problems with Facebook and Messenger, encountering error messages when trying to log back in. Some users speculated that the outage was global.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Facebook and Instagram down worldwide: Meta outage affects Messenger and Apps

On Friday, Meta's products, including Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram, experienced a significant outage affecting thousands of users globally. Users reported issues primarily with logging in and difficulties with apps and feeds. Data from Downdetector.com indicated over 62,000 reports for Facebook and more than 8,000 for Instagram by 10:11 a.m. ET. Meta's communications director, Andy Stone, acknowledged the issues on X, stating they were aware of the problems and working to resolve them.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Facebook, Instagram and Messenger suffer widespread outage

Users globally experienced significant disruptions on Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger on Friday, with over 80,000 reports related to Facebook logged by approximately 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time, as per Downdetector. The issues affected all three platforms, indicating a broader disruption within Meta's ecosystem. The specific cause of the disruption is unclear, and Meta has acknowledged the situation, with a representative stating they are working on resolving the issues.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Facebook, Messenger, Instagram are down due to mass outage

An outage affecting Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram, is showing signs of resolution, with users gradually regaining access. Andy Stone, a communications representative for Meta, stated that the company is working to restore functionality as quickly as possible. DownDetector.com reported significant issues, with nearly 130,000 users affected on Facebook, about 20,000 on Messenger, and over 10,000 on Instagram. Smaller numbers of users also reported problems with WhatsApp and Threads. The actual number of affected users could be higher than those reported.