disruptions Archives

Winsage

August 1, 2026

Unexpected item in the bagging area as Windows Activation error pops up at check-in

A flight information display at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 showed a Microsoft activation watermark, which hindered its functionality. The issue was noted by a traveler, Mrs. Ethel Grapefruit. While the watermark may cause some annoyance, it is not expected to significantly impact the display's core functions, which still guide passengers to check-in. This incident is part of a series of IT-related issues faced by Heathrow and British Airways, raising questions about the airport's technology management.

Winsage

July 31, 2026

Windows quality: an update on the commitment we made in March

In March, a commitment was made to enhance the quality of Windows, with a focus on several immediate changes including enhanced taskbar customization, meaningful AI integration, minimizing disruptions from Windows Updates, faster and more reliable File Explorer, greater control over widgets and feed experiences, a more straightforward Windows Insider Program, and improving the Feedback Hub experience. The core areas of focus are performance, reliability, and well-crafted experiences, with improvements already being rolled out to Windows Insiders and set to expand across Windows 11 PCs this fall. Recent updates include enhancements to the Windows Search Box, improvements for developers at Build 2026, advancements in WinUI 3, updates to the Taskbar and Start menu, simplified AI integration, foundational architecture enhancements for File Explorer, updates to widgets and feed experiences, the launch of the Driver Quality Initiative (DQI), memory efficiency improvements, enhanced reliability for Windows Hello, changes to reduce disruptions from Windows Updates, and a simplified Windows Insider Program. Looking ahead, the team plans to bring enhancements to general availability while focusing on onboarding and setup, memory optimization for PCs with 8GB and above, family features, and improved voice interactions. Engaging with Windows Insiders has been a highlight, and the team remains committed to ongoing improvements based on user feedback.

Winsage

July 29, 2026

A Microsoft outage blocked Windows updates. Now a fix is being tested

On July 23rd, Microsoft experienced widespread outages affecting services such as Azure, Windows Update, and Microsoft 365 applications, which impeded users from installing important Windows 11 updates. In response, Microsoft is enhancing the Windows Update system, focusing on the Windows Update Orchestrator and Arbiter components. These changes are being tested in Windows Insider preview builds 26100.8968 and 26200.8968, which aim to improve update progress calculation and update clean-up logic for better system performance post-update.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

Ubisoft is giving out free PC copies of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Prince of Persia, and Tom Clancy games to people who own them on Xbox

Xbox has launched the "Xbox Console-to-PC Offer," allowing players to access 13 Ubisoft titles on PC at no extra cost if they already own the games on Xbox. The included games are: - Assassin’s Creed Mirage - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - Far Cry 6 - Immortals Fenyx Rising - Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - Riders Republic - Skull and Bones - The Crew 2 - The Crew Motorfest - Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction - Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege - Watch Dogs Legion Players can access these titles through the Ubisoft Connect app. The initiative does not support physical game transfers, highlighting challenges for disc-based gaming fans. Additionally, Xbox has faced service disruptions following a recent outage affecting game access.

Winsage

July 27, 2026

Hate the Copilot Key? Here’s How to Disable It Completely

In 2024, the introduction of the Copilot key on Windows PCs replaced the Right Control (Ctrl) key on many laptops, leading to user complaints about disrupted workflows and the loss of keyboard shortcuts. In response to the backlash, Microsoft is preparing to implement a "kill switch" for the Copilot key, allowing users to revert it back to its original function or disable it entirely. Users will soon be able to remap the key through Settings, and the option to disable it was not previously available. Microsoft acknowledged the challenges faced by users who relied on the Right Ctrl key and noted significant disruptions to workflows. While disabling the Copilot key may become straightforward, completely turning off Copilot is more complex, requiring users to avoid launching the Microsoft Copilot app for 28 days. Microsoft has also indicated a need to remove Copilot from applications where it does not perform well, following the removal of Copilot from several ineffective Windows 11 applications.

Winsage

July 25, 2026

BackupChain Expands Hyper-V Backup for Windows Server 2025 as a Veeam Alternative

BackupChain has released an update to its backup and disaster recovery platform for Windows Server and Windows 11 users, introducing features such as faster compression, improved Hyper-V protection, expedited restores, and comprehensive backup validation. The update includes a redesigned deduplication engine that accelerates backup speeds and reduces storage usage. It also features advanced Hyper-V change tracking for efficient incremental backups and is compatible with Windows Server 2016 and later, as well as Windows 10 and 11. Restoration processes have been simplified with single-pass restores, minimizing downtime. Additionally, Deep Verification for VM backups allows for ongoing verification of the backup chain without needing to restore the virtual machine. BackupChain aims to provide robust backup technology tailored for SMBs and IT professionals, positioning itself as an alternative to larger enterprise platforms like Veeam. The latest version is now available.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

Cockroaches using apps that send messages without internet? Here is tech behind it

Delhi police are investigating the methods used by protesters in Central Delhi, particularly those associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who are using specialized offline messaging applications to communicate despite internet restrictions and mobile network shutdowns. These apps utilize Bluetooth technology to create local networks, allowing communication without 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi. One example is Bitchat, an app that enables message exchange via Bluetooth without the need for accounts or central servers. The messages are relayed between devices to form a mesh network, which is effective during internet shutdowns. The police are reaching out to app service providers for user information and are employing various investigative methods, including analyzing internet protocol device records and using facial recognition technology. This use of offline messaging apps has been observed in protests globally and during natural disasters.

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

ThreatsDay: Android Spyware, PLC Attacks, AI Image Prompt Injection + 12 More Stories

GitHub will reject command-line support bundle uploads from outdated versions of GitHub Enterprise Server lacking security patches starting August 18, 2026. The npm package @copilot-mcp/apex has been identified as a post-install dropper that installs a macOS infostealer, phishing for sensitive information and maintaining a connection to an attacker's server. A rogue extension on the Microsoft Visual Studio Code marketplace, "Markdown All Pro," impersonates a legitimate tool and opens a backdoor after installation. A phishing campaign targeting Portuguese users delivers the Lampion banking malware, which has been active since 2019. DoubleVerify reports a rise in "AfterCall" apps that exploit user permissions for ad fraud. The GhostCommit attack method hides malicious instructions within PNG images in pull requests. The U.S. government has updated its advisory on Iranian-affiliated cyber activity targeting operational technology devices. An Android app posing as a civil defense alert system has been found to contain malware for data harvesting. An Iranian threat actor is distributing MarkiRAT malware through fake applications. An analysis of 28 AI-coded applications revealed 434 vulnerabilities, prompting Cisco to introduce Antares to identify vulnerabilities in codebases. A Russian-speaking threat actor is dismantling guardrails on AI models to create offensive tools.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Facebook Outage Today (July 22): Is Facebook & Messenger Down Today? Hundreds Report Login, Feed & Messaging Issues Across US & UK – Check Services Affected | Facebook & Messenger Downdetector Status

On July 22, Facebook and Messenger users reported accessibility issues starting around 7:50 a.m. Eastern Time, with a notable increase in complaints on Downdetector, indicating disruptions. Users experienced problems such as inability to log in, News Feed failing to load, issues with the app and website access, and Messenger messages not sending. The disruptions affected multiple Meta services, including the Facebook website, mobile application, and login services. Most reports came from the United States and the United Kingdom, with users from other countries also affected. Meta had not confirmed the cause of the outage or provided a restoration timeline. Users were advised to try troubleshooting steps and to wait for updates from Meta.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Is Facebook Messenger Down Right Now? Here’s the Latest on Today’s Wider Meta Outage Reports Across Platforms

Users are reporting access issues with Meta's platforms, particularly Facebook and Instagram, on Wednesday morning. However, Facebook Messenger appears to be functioning normally, with no significant increase in complaints noted in the past 24 hours and the last confirmed incident occurring about five weeks ago. The situation is fluid, and outage data may change rapidly. Users should consult live outage-tracking sites or try sending messages to determine Messenger's current status. Historically, Messenger has experienced outages independent of or coinciding with disruptions to Facebook and Instagram. There were significant outages reported on Sunday affecting users globally. As of Wednesday morning, Facebook and Instagram are confirmed to have elevated outage reports, while Messenger's status remains less clear.