deployment process Archives

Winsage

February 13, 2026

Microsoft Store updated with a new CLI, analytics, and Web Installer improvements

Microsoft has introduced a suite of new developer tools and enhancements for app development on its platform, including: - A command-line interface (CLI) for the Microsoft Store, allowing developers to discover, install, and update applications directly from the terminal. - Enhanced developer analytics tools, including an upgraded Health Report with multiple filters and Anomaly Alerts for unusual crash or hang patterns. - A new Summary Dashboard that highlights key performance indicators and a redesigned Usage Dashboard with richer engagement signals. - Improvements to the Web Installer for Win32 applications, enabling auto-open capability post-installation and expanded support for enterprise devices to streamline installations.

Winsage

January 13, 2026

New Windows updates replace expiring Secure Boot certificates

Microsoft is enhancing security for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 users by automatically replacing expiring Secure Boot certificates on eligible devices. Secure Boot protects against malicious software by ensuring only trusted bootloaders are executed during startup. Many Secure Boot certificates are set to expire starting in June 2026, which could jeopardize secure booting capabilities if not updated. The update includes a mechanism to identify devices eligible for automatic receipt of new Secure Boot certificates. IT administrators are advised to install the new certificates to maintain Secure Boot functionality and prevent loss of security updates. Organizations can also deploy Secure Boot certificates through various methods. IT administrators should inventory their devices, verify Secure Boot status, and apply necessary firmware updates before installing Microsoft's certificate updates.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Sysmon – Go-to Tool for IT Admins, Security Pros, and Threat Hunters Coming to Windows

Microsoft will integrate native System Monitor (Sysmon) functionality into Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, enhancing security operations for IT teams. This integration will provide instant threat visibility, automate compliance through Windows Update, and include features such as process monitoring, network connection tracking, credential access detection, file system monitoring, process tampering detection, WMI persistence tracking, and custom configuration support. It will also offer official customer service support and allow seamless access to events through Windows Event Logs or Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems. Administrators can enable Sysmon using the command "sysmon -i." Future plans include expanding Sysmon’s capabilities with enterprise-scale management and AI-powered detection.

Winsage

November 5, 2025

Microsoft Warns October 2025 Updates May Trigger BitLocker Recovery on Some Windows Systems

Microsoft has acknowledged an issue affecting Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, as well as Windows 10 version 22H2, where users of specific Intel-based devices encounter unexpected BitLocker recovery screens after installing updates released on or after October 14, 2025. This problem is linked to devices with Connected Standby technology, which affects the startup process but does not indicate a continuous encryption issue. Entering the recovery key resolves the prompt, and subsequent boots do not trigger additional prompts. Microsoft has activated a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) to address the issue without requiring users to uninstall previous patches. Server editions of Windows are unaffected, and users are advised to monitor the Windows Release Health dashboard for updates.

Winsage

November 4, 2025

Russian Hackers Abuse Hyper-V to Hide Malware and Evade Endpoint Detection

A Russian-linked hacking group, Curly COMrades, is using Microsoft’s Hyper-V to conceal malware within compromised Windows systems. They install a small Alpine Linux virtual machine (VM) to run custom malware, evading endpoint detection and response (EDR) software since July. The group exploits Hyper-V's native features, enabling it on victim systems while disabling management clients to avoid detection. The VM, named “WSL,” hosts two C++ tools: ‘CurlyShell,’ a reverse shell, and ‘CurlCat,’ a reverse proxy, both designed to maintain persistence and obfuscate their activities. The VM occupies only 120MB of disk space and uses Hyper-V’s Default Switch for network traffic, making malicious communication appear to originate from the legitimate host. Additionally, Curly COMrades employs malicious PowerShell scripts for persistence and lateral movement, including creating local user accounts and using a modified TicketInjector for authentication across networks.

Tech Optimizer

September 25, 2025

Building a Video Game Recommender System with FastAPI, PostgreSQL, and Render: Part 2

The project involves deploying a board game recommendation system using FastAPI and PostgreSQL on Render. Key tasks include configuring a PostgreSQL database on Render, populating it with data, Dockerizing the FastAPI application, and deploying it as a Render Web Application. The PostgreSQL database is created on Render with the name “fastapi-database” using the free tier. The database connection is tested using the External Database URL, and tables are populated using a script. The FastAPI application is containerized with Docker, which involves creating a Dockerfile that specifies the base image, working directory, dependencies, and commands to run the application. The Docker image is built, tagged, and pushed to DockerHub. The image is then pulled into Render, where a personal access token is created for secure access. Environmental variables are configured for the FastAPI application, and upon successful deployment, the application can be accessed via a provided link, with Swagger documentation available for testing database connections. The project repository is available on GitHub, along with additional resources for FastAPI and Docker.

Winsage

September 10, 2025

Publishing Apps to the Microsoft Store is Now Free for All Developers

Microsoft has announced that developers worldwide can now publish their applications on the Microsoft Store without any registration fees. This change, which removes credit card requirements to start the app publishing process, aims to create a more inclusive platform for developers. The Microsoft Store has over 250 million monthly active users, offers easy app discovery through Windows Search, allows seamless app delivery via Microsoft Intune, and permits developers to use their own update mechanisms. Developers can also retain 100% of the revenue from in-app purchases if they implement their own payment systems.

Winsage

August 6, 2025

OpenAI open weight models now available on AWS

AWS has introduced two new OpenAI models with open weights, the gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b, available through Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMaker JumpStart. These models are designed for text generation and reasoning tasks, excelling in coding, scientific analysis, and mathematical reasoning, with performance comparable to leading alternatives. They support a context window of 128K and adjustable reasoning levels (low, medium, high). Users can access these models via an OpenAI-compatible endpoint in Bedrock, utilizing the OpenAI SDK or Bedrock APIs for integration. To access the models in Amazon Bedrock, users must request access through the console and can evaluate them using the Chat/Test playground. The process for using the OpenAI SDK involves configuring the API endpoint and authentication with an Amazon Bedrock API key. Users can build AI agents using frameworks that support the Amazon Bedrock API or OpenAI API, with deployment facilitated by Amazon Bedrock AgentCore. The OpenAI models are available in the US West (Oregon) region through Amazon Bedrock and in the US East (Ohio, N. Virginia) and Asia Pacific (Mumbai, Tokyo) regions via SageMaker JumpStart. Each model provides full chain-of-thought output capabilities for enhanced interpretability. They can be modified and customized to meet specific needs, and security measures are in place to ensure robust evaluation processes. Compatibility with the standard GPT-4 tokenizer is also included. For cost details, users can refer to the Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker AI pricing pages.

Winsage

July 21, 2025

Microsoft Enhances Windows 11 with Real-Time Performance Logging

Microsoft Corporation has introduced a new feature in Windows 11 that allows users to automatically submit real-time performance logs through the Feedback Hub to report slow or unresponsive behavior. This feature, released in a recent Insider test build, aims to streamline problem reporting for users in the Windows Insider Programme and enhance the collection of diagnostic information. Microsoft has faced criticism regarding inconsistent performance in Windows 11 since its launch in October 2021 and has implemented various updates to improve system performance. Additionally, the upcoming 25H2 update will require developers to conduct static analyses on their drivers before certification to enhance system stability and performance.

Winsage

July 21, 2025

Windows 11 update lets users submit real-time logs for sluggish performance: Report

Microsoft has introduced a new diagnostic data collection system in Windows 11 to address performance issues, allowing users to submit real-time performance logs through the Feedback Hub. This update is part of a broader strategy to improve the operating system's responsiveness and reliability, responding to user complaints about performance since the launch of Windows 11 in October 2021. Enhancements have been made throughout 2023, with the upcoming 24H2 release improving performance on older devices and the anticipated 25H2 update expected to continue this trend. Additionally, developers will now be required to conduct static analysis on drivers before certification to enhance system stability.