deployment Archives

Tech Optimizer

April 30, 2025

Malwarebytes Launches Global Strategic Partner Program Offering Organizations a One-stop Shop for Personal Security, Privacy, and Identity Solutions

Malwarebytes has launched a partnership initiative aimed at providing financial institutions, HR benefit providers, and internet service providers with personal security, privacy, and identity solutions in response to rising online fraud, which has led to financial losses of .5 billion over the past year for one in three individuals. The program offers AI-powered consumer security solutions to protect devices from various threats and allows partners to choose from a range of options or create custom solutions. Key features include a comprehensive cybersecurity platform, advanced mobile security, and flexible integration options. Eero is one of the first partners to integrate Malwarebytes Premium Security into its eero Plus subscription service, enhancing online security for its subscribers.

Winsage

April 30, 2025

Microsoft: Windows Server hotpatching to require subscription

Microsoft will transition hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 to a paid subscription model starting July 1, 2025, with a cost of [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Microsoft has made a significant announcement regarding the future of hotpatching for Windows Server 2025, a feature that allows administrators to apply security updates without the need for system restarts. As the company prepares for the general availability of this service, it will transition to a paid subscription model starting July 1, 2025. Subscription Details and Preview Phase In a proactive move, Microsoft is encouraging administrators to take advantage of the free preview of hotpatching before it becomes a subscription-based service. This opportunity will remain available until June 30, after which those currently testing the service will be automatically subscribed unless they opt out. “Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025, made available in preview in 2024, will become generally available as a subscription service on July 1st, 2025. With hotpatching, we are taking what was previously an Azure-only capability and now making it available to Windows Server machines outside of Azure through Azure Arc,” Microsoft stated. Upon the subscription launch, hotpatching will be priced at .50 USD per CPU core per month. To utilize this feature in multi-cloud environments or on-premises, users will need both a Hotpatch service subscription and an Azure Arc-connected server running Windows Server 2025 Standard or Datacenter. How to Enable Hotpatching Enabling hotpatching on your server is a straightforward process. First, connect your server to Azure Arc by following the specified steps. Next, navigate to Azure Update Manager within the Azure Portal, select your Azure Arc-enabled server, and check the hotpatching option as outlined in the provided documentation. A Brief History of Hotpatching Hotpatching has been a part of Microsoft's offerings since February 2022, initially available for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition. This feature allows for the deployment of security updates by patching the in-memory code of running processes, eliminating the need for reboots after each installation. However, it is important to note that servers still require reboots for updates delivered through the standard Windows update channel, which are not included in the Hotpatch program. This includes non-Windows updates, such as .NET patches, and Windows non-security updates. Microsoft began public testing of hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 in September 2024, with further expansions to Windows 11 24H2 and Windows 365 following in November 2024. By April 2025, hotpatch updates will be generally available for business customers using Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2 on x64 (AMD/Intel) systems." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].50 per CPU core per month. A free preview of the service is available until June 30, 2025, after which users testing the service will be automatically subscribed unless they opt out. Hotpatching allows administrators to apply security updates without system restarts and will be available for Windows Server machines outside of Azure through Azure Arc. To enable hotpatching, servers must be connected to Azure Arc and configured via the Azure Update Manager. Hotpatching was initially introduced in February 2022 for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition and allows for in-memory code updates, but standard Windows updates still require reboots. Public testing for Windows Server 2025 began in September 2024, with general availability for Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2 expected by April 2025.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

Millions of Android apps have disappeared from the Play Store this year, and for good reason

The Google Play Store's app count has decreased from approximately 3.4 million in early 2024 to around 1.8 million today, a 47% decline. This reduction is attributed to stricter quality control measures implemented by Google in July 2024, which targeted malfunctioning apps and those with limited functionality. Google reported blocking 2.36 million apps for policy violations and banning over 158,000 developer accounts linked to harmful activities. In contrast, the Apple App Store's app count rose from 1.6 million to 1.64 million during the same period. Additionally, a new EU regulation requires developers to disclose their names and addresses in app listings, with non-compliance risking delisting from EU markets. Despite the decline, 10,400 new applications were launched on the Play Store this year, indicating a 7.1% increase compared to last year.

Winsage

April 28, 2025

Microsoft to Launch Paid Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025

Microsoft will launch a subscription-based hotpatching service for Windows Server 2025 on July 1, 2025, priced at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Microsoft is set to transform the landscape of enterprise updates with the upcoming launch of its subscription-based hotpatching service for Windows Server 2025. This innovative approach marks a significant shift in how updates will be managed for businesses operating Windows Server outside of Azure. Beginning July 1, 2025, hotpatching will transition from a complimentary preview to a paid subscription model, priced at .50 per CPU core per month. This change extends a capability that was previously exclusive to Azure users, now making it accessible for on-premises servers and hybrid environments through Azure Arc integration. What Is Hotpatching? Hotpatching is a cutting-edge technology that enables the installation of security and critical updates without necessitating a system reboot. Instead of interrupting services or rebooting servers, hotpatching directly updates the in-memory code of running processes. This advancement brings Windows server deployments in line with similar technologies that Linux administrators have enjoyed for years, such as kpatch and ksplice. By allowing updates without reboots, organizations can significantly reduce disruptions while enhancing their security posture. How Does Hotpatching Work? The hotpatching mechanism follows a structured update cycle: Baseline months: In January, April, July, and October, a full cumulative update will be released, requiring a reboot to establish a new baseline. Hotpatch months: In the two months following each baseline month, critical patches will be deployed via hotpatches without requiring any server reboots. This means that servers will only need to reboot approximately four times a year, rather than monthly. On rare occasions, Microsoft may issue a critical security update that requires a reboot even during a hotpatch month, but the aim remains clear: to provide up to eight rebootless hotpatches annually. Why Is Microsoft Moving to a Paid Model? While hotpatching was available at no additional cost during its preview phase, Microsoft is now positioning it as a premium feature for customers seeking maximum uptime, operational simplicity, and rapid security response. According to the Windows Server team at Microsoft, the value of hotpatching encompasses: Reduced Downtime: Maintain operations without the need for scheduling late-night or weekend reboot windows. Faster Updates: Smaller patches facilitate quicker deployments. Enhanced Security: Address vulnerabilities swiftly without delays associated with reboot coordination. Operational Efficiency: Streamlined change management and patch orchestration. Internal teams at Microsoft, including the Xbox division, have already experienced notable efficiency improvements with hotpatching, completing tasks that previously took weeks in just days. Subscription Details Feature Details Launch Date July 1, 2025 Price .50 USD per CPU core per month Editions Supported Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter Deployment Requirement Must be connected to Azure Arc Included with Azure Editions Datacenter: Azure Edition (no extra charge) Patch Frequency 8 hotpatches/year + 4 reboot-required baseline patches Organizations currently utilizing the free preview must either opt out before June 30, 2025, or they will be automatically transitioned into the paid subscription starting in July. While hotpatching offers powerful capabilities, it does not entirely eliminate the need for traditional updates. Certain updates will still necessitate a reboot, including: Major non-security updates. .NET Framework patches. Driver and firmware updates. Emergency out-of-band security patches. As such, administrators should still anticipate occasional downtime, albeit significantly reduced. By incorporating hotpatching into their update strategies, organizations can bolster system availability and streamline their maintenance processes." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].50 per CPU core per month. Hotpatching allows security and critical updates to be installed without rebooting the system, reducing downtime and enhancing security. The update cycle includes four baseline months requiring reboots and eight hotpatches annually without reboots. The service is available for Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter editions and requires connection to Azure Arc. Organizations using the free preview must opt out by June 30, 2025, or will be transitioned to the paid model. Certain updates, such as major non-security updates and .NET Framework patches, will still require reboots.

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

Oblivion Remastered PC: impressive modernisation blighted by dire performance problems

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered utilizes an Unreal Engine 5 wrapper to enhance the original game, but it carries over some of the original's issues and suffers from significant performance challenges, including frequent stuttering. Digital Foundry analyzed the remaster against the original 2006 version, highlighting advancements in graphics but also noting that the remaster struggles with limited polygon budgets and basic effects. The remaster's performance is inconsistent, especially on mid-range CPUs, leading to poor experiences even on high-end hardware. Disabling hardware RT-based Lumen global illumination can improve performance by about 35%, but at the cost of visual quality. Lowering settings yields only marginal performance improvements, and the game fails to deliver an attractive experience compared to the original. A recent patch did not resolve the stuttering issues, indicating that fundamental CPU-related problems remain unaddressed.

Winsage

April 24, 2025

Microsoft fixes bug causing incorrect 0x80070643 WinRE errors

Microsoft has resolved a known issue causing 0x80070643 installation failure errors during the deployment of the April 2025 Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) updates. This issue affected the KB5057588 update for Windows Server 2022 and the KB5057589 update for Windows 10, versions 22H2 and 21H2. The error message was misleading, as it did not reflect the actual status of the update or the device's performance. The error typically occurred when a device attempted to install the WinRE update while another update was pending a reboot. Microsoft confirmed that users will no longer see the incorrect error message after installing the affected updates. Additionally, in August of the previous year, Microsoft retired the January 2024 Windows security updates that also triggered 0x80070643 errors during WinRE updates. During that time, fraudulent IT support websites promoted malicious PowerShell "fixes" for these errors, leading to malware infections among users.

Winsage

April 24, 2025

Download WampServer (free) for Windows

WampServer is a web development environment designed for Windows users, integrating MySQL, Apache, and PHP into a single package for local web application development. It simplifies the setup process, allowing novice developers to create functional development servers without affecting live websites. WampServer operates independently of an internet connection and provides a user-friendly control panel for managing server components. It supports both free-form PHP coding and content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. WampServer is free to use and compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, but not with macOS or Linux. Alternatives to WampServer include MAMP, XAMPP, and Apache HTTP Server, each offering different features and compatibility.

Tech Optimizer

April 24, 2025

Meet Xata Agent: An Open Source Agent for Proactive PostgreSQL Monitoring, Automated Troubleshooting, and Seamless DevOps Integration

Xata Agent is an open-source AI assistant designed for PostgreSQL database site reliability engineering. It monitors logs and performance metrics to identify issues like slow queries and unusual connection counts, helping to maintain database integrity and performance. The tool automates tasks such as vacuuming and indexing and provides actionable recommendations through diagnostic playbooks and read-only SQL routines. The architecture is built as a Next.js application using TypeScript, organized in a monorepo structure. Developers can set up their environment using Node, install dependencies, and configure a local PostgreSQL instance with Docker Compose. Production deployment involves using Docker images and configuring environment variables in a production file. Key functionalities include proactive monitoring, configuration tuning, performance troubleshooting, safe diagnostics, cloud integration, alerting, LLM flexibility, and playbook customization. Developers can create new tools and integrate them into playbooks for cohesive workflows. Future plans include custom playbooks, support for Model Context Protocol, evaluation harnesses, approval workflows, and a managed cloud edition. The architecture promotes extensibility and community contributions, standardizing incident response and reducing human error in database management.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

Critical Flaw in Windows Update Stack Enables Code Execution and Privilege Escalation

A newly identified vulnerability in the Windows Update Stack, designated as CVE-2025-21204, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges to SYSTEM level on affected machines. This critical security flaw arises from improper privilege separation and inadequate validation during the update orchestration process. Attackers can exploit it by creating harmful update packages or acting as man-in-the-middle on compromised networks. The vulnerability impacts any Windows system utilizing the vulnerable update mechanism, affecting both enterprise and consumer editions. Microsoft is working on a patch, and users are advised to monitor official channels for updates and apply patches promptly. Organizations should also restrict network access to update servers and monitor for suspicious update activities. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.8 (High), indicating significant risk.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

Google Photos now lets you spice up your pictures with Ultra HDR glow

Google Photos has introduced the Ultra HDR feature, replacing the previous HDR effect, allowing users to enhance the brightness and vibrancy of their photos. The rollout has begun, with select users already experiencing it, and it is part of version 7.24.0.747539053 found in the “Adjust” tab. When applied, images will have an “Ultra HDR” tag in the metadata, and the Ultra HDR version may take up less storage space than the original image due to a compact gain map. Each Ultra HDR file also includes a standard dynamic range (SDR) version for compatibility with non-HDR displays.