file system Archives

Winsage

July 24, 2025

Someone rebuilt Windows XP in the browser for pure nostalgia

Microsoft's Windows XP, launched in 2001, has a lifespan of over 17 years and has inspired a developer to create a web-based simulation called Win32.run. This project recreates a fictional instance of Windows XP using web technologies, allowing users to explore a simulated file system and interact with embedded programs. The developer originally created the simulation as a tribute to the operating system from his childhood, using the Svelte framework, SvelteKit, and Tailwind CSS. However, the project was halted due to significant breaking changes in SvelteKit that made the codebase difficult for other developers to understand. The simulation operates on a client-side architecture, enabling users to run it locally in their browsers. There are also ongoing efforts to transform various editions of Windows into web applications, with projects ranging from simple browser-based simulations to more complex emulation tools. For a more immersive experience, users can run legacy operating systems like Windows XP in dedicated virtual machines using modern desktop hypervisors such as VMware Workstation.

Winsage

July 20, 2025

Miss Windows XP? You Can Now Relive It Right In Your Browser

Windows XP was launched in 2001 and is known for its user-friendly interface and improved performance. A new project allows users to experience Windows XP in their web browsers through an interactive emulation hosted on win32.run. This version replicates the original boot animation and desktop layout, includes classic games like 3D Pinball Space Cadet, Solitaire, and Minesweeper, and allows navigation of a functional file system. Users can save files, install third-party applications, and use an updated version of Microsoft Word. The emulation also features media content from the original Windows XP launch. Flash games can be played by downloading them and running them within the emulated environment.

Winsage

July 18, 2025

This Windows XP recreation that runs in your browser really scratches my retro itch, and I think you’ll like it too

An online recreation of Windows XP has been developed, allowing users to experience the operating system in their browsers. This project replicates the iconic interface, pre-installed games, file system, programs, and classic dialogs of Windows XP. It was created to evoke nostalgia and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Windows XP's development. While it does not function as the original operating system, users can navigate through the interface, though some features, like the Internet Explorer icon, do not lead to actual web pages. The creator plans to enhance the project with additional features.

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

Konfety Android Malware on Google Play Uses ZIP Manipulation to Imitate Legitimate Apps

Zimperium’s zLabs security research team has identified a new variant of the Konfety Android malware, which employs advanced evasion techniques to bypass security analysis tools while executing fraudulent advertising operations globally. The Konfety malware family, first recognized during a mobile advertising fraud campaign in 2024, initially involved over 250 decoy applications on the Google Play Store and was responsible for 10 billion fraudulent ad requests daily. The malware uses sophisticated ZIP-level manipulation tactics to disrupt analysis tools, including misleading the General Purpose Flag within the APK’s ZIP structure to trigger password prompts and declaring an unsupported compression method in the AndroidManifest.xml file to crash analysis tools. Additionally, it utilizes dynamic code loading and obfuscation to hide malicious functionality, embedding executable code within encrypted assets and maintaining a benign appearance during installation. The malware has developed a command-and-control infrastructure that initiates contact through a sequence of network requests after user agreement acceptance. It also employs stealth techniques to conceal its application icon and name, complicating user identification and removal. Behavioral detection systems can identify malicious activity by monitoring application behavior patterns and network communications.

Winsage

June 29, 2025

Every Windows user should keep a live version of Linux handy

Many users experience frustration with operating system issues on Windows, often leading to time wasted on troubleshooting and rebooting. A live version of Linux, such as Linux Mint, can serve as a reliable alternative for diagnosing and fixing Windows-related problems. This live distribution runs from a USB drive and provides essential troubleshooting tools without the complications of Windows recovery environments. Utilities like GParted, Memtester, Foxclone, and Clonezilla are available for managing file systems, testing memory, and recovering data. Setting up a live version of Linux is straightforward, involving formatting a USB drive and flashing a live ISO. Linux Mint Xfce Edition is noted for its user-friendliness, while tools like Ventoy allow multiple ISOs on a single drive for versatility. A live Linux setup offers a familiar desktop experience and a suite of recovery tools, making it a valuable resource even for non-Linux users.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

Building a Windows Storage Dashboard, Part 2: Collecting Historical Data

The process of gathering historical data for a Windows storage dashboard involves two steps: creating a PowerShell script to collect and save the data, and configuring the Windows Task Scheduler to run this script at set intervals. The script collects data on file system drives using the Get-PSDrive cmdlet, creating a custom PowerShell object with columns for Timestamp, Drive, UsedGB, FreeGB, and TotalGB, which is then exported to a CSV file. The script specifies the CSV file path, appends new data without overwriting existing data, and excludes type information from the header. The generated CSV file includes a header row and records for each drive with their respective usage statistics.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Godfather Android malware takes over banking apps

A new version of the Android malware Godfather creates isolated virtual environments on mobile devices to steal account details and transactions from banking apps. It targets over 500 banking, cryptocurrency, and e-commerce applications globally, utilizing a fully virtual file system, virtual process IDs, intent spoofing, and a component called StubActivity. Godfather manifests as an APK app with a virtualization framework, scanning for targeted applications and encapsulating them within its virtual environment. It intercepts permissions for accessibility services, redirecting them to a StubActivity that launches the virtual version of the banking app, allowing it to capture sensitive information. The malware can record account details, passwords, and PIN codes using Xposed for API hooking. It employs a fake lock screen overlay to trick users into entering their credentials and can manipulate user interfaces and execute transactions within the legitimate banking app. Godfather first emerged in March 2021 and has evolved significantly since then, with the latest iteration demonstrating advancements from previous versions.

Winsage

June 20, 2025

How Uniphore achieved 30% cost savings by modernizing Windows servers on AWS

Uniphore is an AI innovation company that faced challenges with its legacy Windows Server infrastructure, which was costly and raised security concerns due to its end-of-support status. To modernize, Uniphore utilized Amazon Web Services (AWS) for containerization and cloud-native solutions, achieving a 30% reduction in costs and improved operational capabilities. The migration involved transitioning from 50 bare-metal Windows Server 2008 R2 instances to a Linux environment on AWS, optimizing call-center analytics workloads and enabling better training of large language models. The modernization strategy included three key areas: application modernization through refactoring and containerization, a custom data migration solution using Type 2 hypervisor technology, and a cloud infrastructure setup with Amazon EC2, Amazon EKS, Amazon EFS, and Amazon S3. The migration was executed in three phases: deploying the hypervisor and DataSync agent, secure data migration and validation, and production cutover with application deployment. Best practices adopted during the process included Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform, CI/CD pipelines using GitLab, comprehensive monitoring with DATADOG and CloudWatch, and enforcement of AWS Backup policies. The modernization resulted in benefits such as improved scalability and performance, flexibility and portability of applications, enhanced security and compliance, efficient data management, reduced operational overhead, and significant cost savings.

Winsage

June 11, 2025

Microsoft June 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes exploited zero-day, 66 flaws

On June 2025 Patch Tuesday, Microsoft released security updates for 66 vulnerabilities, including one actively exploited and one publicly disclosed zero-day vulnerability. The updates addressed ten "Critical" vulnerabilities, with eight being remote code execution vulnerabilities and two related to elevation of privileges. The breakdown of vulnerabilities includes 13 Elevation of Privilege, 3 Security Feature Bypass, 25 Remote Code Execution, 17 Information Disclosure, 6 Denial of Service, and 2 Spoofing vulnerabilities. The actively exploited zero-day vulnerability is CVE-2025-33053, a WebDAV Remote Code Execution vulnerability, while the publicly disclosed zero-day is CVE-2025-33073, a Windows SMB Client Elevation of Privilege vulnerability. Other companies also released updates in June 2025, including Adobe, Cisco, Fortinet, Google, HPE, Ivanti, Qualcomm, Roundcube, and SAP, addressing various vulnerabilities across their products.

Winsage

May 25, 2025

6 reasons OneCommander is my favorite free file manager for Windows, and it’s not even close

OneCommander is an alternative file management solution for Windows 11, featuring a modern and customizable user interface with various themes. It offers a dual-pane view for side-by-side folder management, tab management for quick access to multiple locations, and a sidebar for pinned locations and recent history. The application provides swift navigation, allowing folders to open instantly, and includes advanced file preview capabilities for various file types without needing to open them separately. OneCommander simplifies file creation with templates and includes a note-taking feature for organization. Its File Automator toolkit allows for bulk renaming of files using presets or custom RegEx rules.