file extension Archives

Winsage

April 27, 2025

5 features I wish were enabled by default on Windows 11

Microsoft Windows 11 includes several features that are not enabled by default, which can hinder user experience: 1. System Restore: Allows users to create restore points for system recovery but is not enabled by default due to disk space concerns. 2. End Task Feature: Enables users to right-click on unresponsive apps in the taskbar to force quit them, but requires activation through Settings. 3. File Extension View in File Explorer: Users must manually enable the display of file extensions for better file management. 4. Hibernate Mode: A power-saving option that saves the system state to the hard drive, not readily accessible in power settings and requires enabling through Control Panel or command line. 5. Start Menu on the Left: The Start menu is centered by default, but users can adjust it to the left through Settings, which some long-time users prefer.

Winsage

February 8, 2025

Best tips I use to boost search efficiency on File Explorer for Windows 11

Searching for files on Windows 11 can be optimized using File Explorer's search feature, which includes advanced search filters, boolean operators, wildcards, and indexing settings. To search efficiently, open File Explorer (Windows key + E) and use the following filters: - Basic filters: - kind: Searches for file types (e.g., kind:document, kind:image). - ext: Searches by file extension (e.g., ext:.pdf). - date: Searches by modification date (e.g., date:today). - size: Searches by file size (e.g., size:>100MB). - Boolean operators: - AND: Finds files containing both terms. - OR: Finds files containing either term. - NOT: Excludes files with a specific term. - Wildcards: - asterisk (): Represents any sequence of characters (e.g., .txt). - question mark (?): Represents a single character (e.g., file?.txt). - File properties: Search by metadata (e.g., author:John, tag:important). - Advanced query syntax: Use specific syntaxes to refine searches (e.g., datemodified:last week). - Search options: Access additional filters through the "Search options" menu in File Explorer. - Save query: Save frequent searches for easy access. - Enhanced Indexing: Enable this option to broaden search capabilities across the entire system. - AI integration: Microsoft is incorporating AI features for natural language searches, currently available on Copilot+ PCs.

Winsage

December 5, 2024

WinRAR on Windows 11 gets faster, 7-Zip and NanaZip receive improvements too

WinRAR has released a beta update (version 7.10 Beta 2) that includes several enhancements and bug fixes. Key improvements include: - Accelerated response time for the Windows 11 context menu when right-clicking on multiple selected archives. - Increased compression speed due to the resolution of a performance bug. - Numerous dark mode improvements and fixes, with "Dark mode" options now referred to as "Color mode." - The "Export settings to file" command no longer triggers User Account Control prompts. - Command line mode now returns a "Bad archive" exit code 13 for non-RAR archives with a .rar file extension. - The "External viewer name" field now recognizes relative path specifications. Bug fixes include: - Compression speed improvements for specific data combinations in non-solid archives. - Resolved an infinite loop issue in console RAR on Windows 7. - Fixed an error preventing execution of files from archive subfolders. - Addressed a reset issue with WinRAR.ini contents when multiple archives were opened in the same window. 7-Zip has also updated to version 24.09, featuring increased default dictionary sizes for LZMA/LZMA2 compression and additional hash checksum calculations (SHA-512, SHA-384, SHA3-256, and MD5). NanaZip has addressed a Zstandard decompression vulnerability (CVE-2024-11477) and includes various updates and optimizations in its 5.0 Preview 0 release.

Winsage

November 1, 2024

7 things you need to do to make search better in Windows 11

The Windows search tool allows users to find applications, music, and settings, as well as perform web searches. Many users find it cluttered with Bing results, leading to a slow experience. To improve search functionality in Windows 11, users can employ several strategies: 1. PowerToys Run: A rapid system search tool activated by pressing Alt + Space, allowing customization for executing shell commands and adjusting settings. 2. Search by Category: Users can filter search results by categories such as Apps, Documents, Web, Settings, Folder, and Photos by clicking the category or typing the category name followed by a colon. 3. Tweak Indexing Options: Users can adjust indexing options to include specific folders and libraries, speeding up searches by ensuring relevant files are indexed. 4. Enable Cloud Content Search: This feature allows Windows search to pull results from OneDrive, Outlook, and SharePoint, which can be activated through the Windows search settings. 5. Filter Results Better: Within File Explorer, users can refine search results by using the "Search options" drop-down to filter by modification date, file type, or file size. 6. Disable Bing Search: Users can disable Bing search results by modifying the Registry Editor to create a new key and setting its value to disable search box suggestions. 7. Use Everything: A third-party tool that provides faster file and folder searches by focusing solely on file names and updating in real-time.

Winsage

September 18, 2024

Windows vulnerability abused braille “spaces” in zero-day attacks

A vulnerability in Windows, tracked as CVE-2024-43461, has been reclassified as previously exploited after being used in attacks by the Void Banshee APT group to deploy information-stealing malware. Initially disclosed in September 2024, it was confirmed to have been exploited before the fix was issued. The flaw was discovered by Peter Girnus from Trend Micro, who noted that it was used in zero-day attacks alongside another vulnerability, CVE-2024-38112. The attacks involved malicious HTA files disguised as PDFs, utilizing braille whitespace characters to hide the true file extension. Following the security update, Windows now accurately displays the .hta extension, although the presence of whitespace may still mislead users. Microsoft also addressed three other actively exploited zero-days during the September Patch Tuesday.

Winsage

September 18, 2024

CISA warns of Windows flaw used in infostealer malware attacks

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has directed U.S. federal agencies to strengthen their systems against the Windows MSHTML spoofing zero-day vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-43461. This vulnerability was initially deemed non-exploited by Microsoft but was later confirmed to have been exploited before its patch. Attackers, including the Void Banshee hacking group, used this vulnerability to install information-stealing malware by deceiving users into opening malicious files disguised as harmless documents. CISA has included this vulnerability in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has mandated that federal agencies secure their systems within three weeks, with a deadline of October 7. Additionally, Microsoft has addressed three other actively exploited zero-days in its September 2024 Patch Tuesday updates.

Winsage

August 23, 2024

How to change a file type or file extension in Windows 11

In Windows 11, users can change file extensions easily to correct mislabeling issues. File extensions, such as .png or .mp4, indicate how the operating system should handle files, while file types refer to the actual format of the file. To view file extensions in File Explorer, users can navigate to the folder, click on View, and select Show > File name extensions. To change a file extension, users highlight the file, rename it by deleting the old extension and adding a new one, and confirm the change. For changing multiple file extensions at once, users can use the Command Prompt by navigating to the folder, typing CMD in the address bar, and using the ren command. Changing file types or formats requires a conversion tool, such as iLoveIMG, where users can upload files and convert them to the desired format. It is advisable to review converted files before deleting the originals.