Education

Winsage
January 16, 2026
Jen Easterly has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the RSA Conference. She is a cybersecurity expert and former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Palo Alto Networks has released security updates for a vulnerability (CVE-2026-0227) with a CVSS score of 7.7 affecting its GlobalProtect Gateway and Portal, which can cause a denial-of-service condition in PAN-OS software. The January 2026 security update from Microsoft has caused connection and authentication failures in Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, affecting users across various Windows versions. Microsoft is working on a resolution. The chief constable of West Midlands Police acknowledged an error by Microsoft’s Copilot AI in generating a fictional intelligence report. Microsoft has not confirmed Copilot's involvement. Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has collaborated with Five Eyes partners to provide guidance on securing industrial operational technology, highlighting risks associated with remotely monitored systems. Kyowon, a South Korean conglomerate, confirmed a ransomware attack on January 10 that may have compromised customer information, affecting approximately 5.5 million members. Researchers at Varonis have identified a new attack technique called "Reprompt" that allows data exfiltration from Microsoft Copilot via a malicious link, exploiting a Parameter 2 Prompt (P2P) injection technique. Central Maine Healthcare is notifying over 145,000 patients about a data breach that compromised personal, treatment, and health insurance information, discovered on June 1.
Winsage
January 12, 2026
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046) to the Dev and Beta Channels, focusing on accessibility enhancements and improvements for managing Copilot features. The update introduces Copilot-powered image descriptions via the Narrator feature, allowing users to generate detailed descriptions of images on all Windows 11 devices. This functionality is available on Copilot+ PCs without cloud data transmission and is also extended to non-Copilot+ systems, though it is currently unavailable in the European Economic Area. Additionally, a new Group Policy option titled Remove Microsoft Copilot App allows administrators to uninstall the Copilot app under specific conditions. The build also includes a refresh of the Windows Spotlight desktop icon and various bug fixes addressing issues in the Start menu, File Explorer, printing dialog, Snipping Tool, and Windows Update. Known issues remain, including interaction problems in the Start menu and crashes in Settings. The features in this build are being rolled out gradually and may change before general release.
Winsage
January 12, 2026
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046) for users in the Dev and Beta Channels, aligning both with Windows 11 version 25H2. The update includes accessibility enhancements, streamlined Copilot management, and various bug fixes. Notably, it integrates Copilot with Narrator, allowing users to generate descriptions of images and visual elements. This feature works on both Copilot+ and non-Copilot+ PCs, with image sharing initiated only upon user request, though it is unavailable in the European Economic Area. A new Group Policy option allows administrators to uninstall the Copilot app from managed devices under certain conditions. The update also refreshes the Windows Spotlight desktop icon and addresses several bugs, including issues in the Start menu and File Explorer. Some known issues remain, such as interaction difficulties in the Start menu and crashes in Settings. Features in this build are subject to controlled rollouts and may change before general release.
Winsage
January 11, 2026
Microsoft is testing a new policy that allows IT administrators to completely uninstall its Copilot AI assistant from managed Windows devices. This policy, named “RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp,” is being deployed through management tools like Intune and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and addresses concerns about data privacy, resource consumption, and unwanted software in commercial settings. The feature is currently available in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046) and reflects feedback from IT professionals who prefer controlled environments. While this option is exclusive to enterprise-tier Microsoft 365 subscribers, smaller businesses and individual users have limited options for removal. The policy aims to balance innovation with risk management, especially in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance, where data privacy is critical.
Winsage
January 5, 2026
Microsoft Support has introduced enhancements to improve user experience and operational efficiency, including a streamlined support interface for quicker access to troubleshooting resources and self-service options. Supermium, a platform that aggregates information from various sources, is gaining traction by providing comprehensive views of technology-related topics. TrigrZolt, a YouTube channel focused on technology reviews and tutorials, has received positive feedback for its recent series on Microsoft products.
Winsage
January 5, 2026
Microsoft will conclude support for Windows 11 SE in 2026, ceasing security updates and feature enhancements after October 2026. Launched in late 2021 for K-8 classrooms, Windows 11 SE struggled with adoption due to hardware limitations and competition from alternatives like Google’s Chrome OS. The final feature release for SE will be Windows 11 version 24H2. Schools will face challenges in transitioning to new systems, as devices running SE may become vulnerable to cyber threats without ongoing support. Microsoft is shifting its focus to integrating educational tools into its main operating system rather than maintaining a separate edition. The end of support for Windows 11 SE may accelerate hardware refresh cycles in schools, posing financial burdens on underfunded districts.
Winsage
January 5, 2026
Microsoft's latest Windows 25H2 builds have introduced AI features, but users cannot easily disable them through the interface, leading many to use third-party tools like the RemoveWindowsAI PowerShell script to eliminate components such as Copilot, Recall, and Input Insights. Windows Recall captures screenshots for AI-driven searches, raising privacy concerns due to the creation of a local database of full screenshots. Microsoft has also disabled phone activation for Windows 11, requiring internet connectivity for activation. The RemoveWindowsAI tool removes appx packages associated with AI, ensuring they cannot be reinstalled. Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of support for Windows 11 SE by October 13, 2026, impacting schools that rely on this version. Virtualization, such as using Proxmox, is recommended for users wary of telemetry practices. The RemoveWindowsAI project is evolving to enhance its capabilities in response to Microsoft's AI feature additions. Enterprise deployments are advised to test removal strategies in controlled environments, though some antivirus programs may flag the tool as malicious. Privacy advocates are concerned about the implications of Microsoft's changes on user control and data collection.
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