identity Archives

Winsage

July 12, 2026

Microsoft Confirms Windows GDID Device Identifier That Cannot Be Disabled, Documented in FBI Case Filing

Microsoft has confirmed the existence of the Global Device Identifier (GDID), a unique identifier assigned to Windows installations, in a federal complaint against an alleged member of the Scattered Spider hacking group. The GDID is generated when a Windows system is set up with a Microsoft Account and remains active through various Windows updates. Disabling the GDID could disrupt Windows activation and access to Microsoft Store applications. The GDID is described as "a persistent, device-level identifier designed to uniquely identify an installation of a Windows operating system on a device." It is created during the provisioning of Windows with a Microsoft Account and is stored in the Windows registry under HKCUSOFTWAREMicrosoftIdentityCRLExtendedProperties. The GDID remains persistent through Windows updates but is not retained after a clean reinstall. A single user can possess multiple GDIDs linked through their account, OneDrive, and activation history. The FBI used the GDID to track Peter Stokes, an alleged member of the Scattered Spider group, across various VPN connections and proxy servers. The GDID was recorded visiting specific websites and was linked to Stokes's accounts on platforms like Snapchat and Facebook. Concerns have been raised regarding user privacy, as the GDID is assigned without user consent and cannot be disabled without compromising essential Windows features. Microsoft has not committed to providing user-facing controls or comprehensive documentation for everyday users regarding the GDID. Legal requests can compel Microsoft to disclose GDID activity data to law enforcement. The GDID is linked to the Microsoft Account rather than the device itself, meaning reinstalling the operating system does not sever this connection.

Tech Optimizer

July 12, 2026

Running pgvector in production on Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL

Running pgvector on Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition offers a vector store with operational capabilities, high availability, and scalability. It is favored for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) workloads transitioning to production, but increased traffic introduces challenges like query latency and memory management. Key operational practices for pgvector workloads include selecting the appropriate index type (HNSW or IVFFlat), establishing a baseline schema, choosing a suitable distance operator, scaling the index through quantization and partitioning, and preparing for churn and observability. The prerequisites for using pgvector include an Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible cluster with specific PostgreSQL versions and the vector extension enabled. The embedding model used in examples is Amazon Titan Text Embeddings V2, which produces 1024-dimensional embeddings. pgvector supports two Approximate Nearest Neighbor (ANN) index types: HNSW, which is efficient for querying and allows for incremental insertions, and IVFFlat, which is less resource-intensive but requires rebuilding if data changes. There are scenarios where forgoing an index is beneficial, such as small datasets or partitioned datasets requiring 100% recall. A baseline schema for a multi-tenant document store includes creating a table for documents with an embedding vector and establishing indexes for tenant IDs and embeddings using HNSW. The recommended parameters for HNSW include m = 16 and ef_construction = 128. Scaling to millions of vectors involves quantization, tuning HNSW parameters, and partitioning. Aurora Optimized Reads can extend effective cache capacity, and managing index churn is crucial for maintaining performance. Observability metrics include query-level statistics, instance-level metrics, and custom application-defined metrics. To clean up after testing, it is advisable to drop the created indexes and tables, and delete the Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible cluster and any manual snapshots taken during testing.

Winsage

July 11, 2026

AI Threat Forces Microsoft To Update Windows Patch Guidance

Microsoft is advocating for a reevaluation of Windows patch management practices due to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) impacting cybersecurity. The company emphasizes that traditional timelines for patch deployment, typically spanning several weeks after the monthly Patch Tuesday, are inadequate against modern cyber threats. Microsoft recommends organizations shorten deployment windows to under three days for quality updates, with immediate installation deadlines and minimal user grace periods. To support these changes, Microsoft is enhancing Windows Autopatch with a new reporting dashboard for patch compliance and security insights. The company is promoting cloud-managed deployment through Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch while continuing to support legacy tools. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing Windows Hotpatch technology, allowing security updates to be installed without immediate reboots, and advocating for the use of identity-based access controls to isolate unpatched devices. The guidance reflects a shift from scheduled patching to continuous risk management, encouraging organizations to prioritize high-risk assets and automate update deployments. Microsoft is also investing in AI-assisted vulnerability discovery and automated code analysis to improve defensive capabilities. The overarching message is that enterprises must adapt their update strategies to address the accelerated pace of AI-driven exploitation.

AppWizard

July 11, 2026

Z-TEXT, a zk-SNARKs Blockchain Messenger, Launches Channels, Completing a 4-in-1 Privacy App on BitcoinZ

Z-TEXT has launched its Channels feature, transforming its platform into a comprehensive 4-in-1 privacy ecosystem built on the BitcoinZ blockchain. This system features a four-layer security architecture, including local device encryption, zk-SNARKs shielding, BitcoinZ blockchain settlement, and post-quantum protection. The Channels feature allows creators to maintain control over their broadcasts, with subscribers connecting directly through their wallets, ensuring no central authority can seize or delete subscriber information. Users can restore their channel and its history on any new device using a 24-word seed phrase. Z-TEXT emphasizes the importance of permanence in privacy, contrasting with the trend of automatic message deletion. The application requires no phone number, email, or SIM card for identity verification, relying solely on the 24-word seed phrase. Z-TEXT has been in closed beta without critical vulnerabilities and is preparing for public release on major app stores. The average message fee is approximately [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Z-TEXT, a pioneering zk-SNARKs blockchain messenger, has recently unveiled its innovative Channels feature, marking a significant evolution in its privacy-focused ecosystem. Built on the BitcoinZ blockchain, Z-TEXT is designed with a robust four-layer security architecture that includes local device encryption, zk-SNARKs shielding, BitcoinZ blockchain settlement, and post-quantum protection. The Shift to a 4-in-1 Privacy Ecosystem This launch signifies Z-TEXT's transformation from a conventional messaging platform to a comprehensive 4-in-1 privacy ecosystem. In this new paradigm, users' interactions are securely housed within their wallets rather than in centralized company databases. As Eric Pierrot, the founder of Z-TEXT LLC, aptly notes, "Needing to disappear is proof you can't survive the erosion of time—or what's coming with quantum computing." The Channels feature empowers creators by allowing them to maintain control over their broadcasts. Each subscriber connects directly to the channel through their own wallet, eliminating the risk of a central authority seizing, selling, or deleting subscriber information. This decentralized approach ensures that the integrity of the channel remains intact, regardless of external pressures. Subscribers can receive messages from the broadcaster at a fixed cost, whether the audience comprises ten or ten thousand individuals. In the event of a lost device, users can effortlessly restore their channel and its complete history on any new device using the same 24-word seed phrase that secures their entire account. A Commitment to Privacy and Permanence The launch of Channels builds upon Z-TEXT's commitment to privacy, a principle the company has championed since releasing its privacy manifesto on IPFS and timestamping it on the BitcoinZ blockchain earlier this year. While many messaging applications promote automatic deletion as a feature, Z-TEXT argues that true privacy is rooted in permanence. Pierrot emphasizes, "If your encryption actually holds, the message doesn't need to vanish to stay safe. Eternal memory is our signature—we built for permanence, not for disappearing." Having successfully navigated a closed beta phase without any critical vulnerabilities reported through its on-chain bug bounty program, Z-TEXT is now gearing up for a public release on major app stores, including Google Play and the Apple App Store. The application requires no phone number, email address, or SIM card, with identity verification based solely on a 24-word seed phrase. In addition to its messaging capabilities, Z-TEXT integrates a password manager and a crypto wallet, all while maintaining an impressively low average message fee of approximately [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Z-TEXT, a zk-SNARKs blockchain messenger built on BitcoinZ The four-layer security architecture behind Z-TEXT: local device encryption, zk-SNARKs shielding, BitcoinZ blockchain settlement, and post-quantum protection. The launch completes Z-TEXT's shift from messenger to a 4-in-1 privacy ecosystem, where audiences live in subscribers' wallets, not company databases. Needing to disappear is proof you can't survive the erosion of time—or what's coming with quantum computing.”— Eric Pierrot, founder of Z-TEXT LLCSHERIDAN, WY, UNITED STATES, July 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Z-TEXT, a zk-SNARKs blockchain messenger, built on BitcoinZ, has launched Channels, a broadcast feature where the creator—not a platform—controls the channel. Each subscriber holds their own connection to the channel in their own wallet, so there is no central list a company can seize, sell, or delete. Channels joins Z-TEXT's existing privacy ecosystem of shielded messenger, password manager, and crypto wallet, all accessible through a single 24-word seed phrase.A single Channels transaction reaches any number of subscribers, from ten to ten thousand, at the same fixed cost. No company sits between the broadcaster and the audience with the ability to suspend the channel or hand over the subscriber list. If a device is lost, the channel and its full history can be restored on any new device using the same 24-word seed phrase that recovers the rest of the account.The launch extends a position Z-TEXT has held publicly since June, when the company published a privacy manifesto on IPFS and timestamped it on the BitcoinZ blockchain, arguing that permanence, not disappearing messages, is the stronger privacy guarantee. Most messaging apps market automatic deletion as a safety feature. "Needing to disappear is proof you can't survive the erosion of time — or what's coming with quantum computing," said Eric Pierrot, founder of Z-TEXT LLC. "If your encryption actually holds, the message doesn't need to vanish to stay safe. "Eternal memory is our signature—we built for permanence, not for disappearing."Z-TEXT has been operating in closed beta, during which no critical vulnerability was reported through the company's on-chain bug bounty program. The company said it is preparing for public release on major app stores, including Google Play and the Apple App Store.Z-TEXT is a zk-SNARKs blockchain messenger built on BitcoinZ, a blockchain operating since September 10, 2017, that combines Bitcoin's mathematical structure with Zcash's zk-SNARKs privacy technology. The application requires no phone number, email address, or SIM card; identity is derived from a 24-word seed phrase. Z-TEXT combines a shielded messenger, password manager, crypto wallet, and channels in one application, with message fees averaging approximately $0.00003 per message. The company has published its full threat model publicly, including known limitations, and operates a live bug bounty program funded on-chain.eric pierrotZ-Text llccontact@z-text.comVisit us on social media:LinkedInBlueskyYouTubeOther Z-TEXT: The Architecture of Permanent Data Security Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. You just read: News Provided By July 11, 2026, 18:53 GMT Share This Article EIN Presswire's priority is author transparency. We do our best to weed out false and misleading content. The content above is the sole responsibility of the author who makes it available. If you have any complaints, kindly contact the author above." temperature="0.3"].00003. The company has made its full threat model publicly available, demonstrating transparency regarding known limitations, and continues to operate a live bug bounty program funded on-chain. " max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.7" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].00003.

AppWizard

July 11, 2026

Mortal Shell 2 is the latest game to join the Grand Theft Auto 6 release crush, but I don’t think it has much to worry about because it looks sick as hell

Mortal Shell 2 is set to be released at the end of August to avoid competition with Grand Theft Auto 6. The game features impressive aesthetics and gameplay mechanics, focusing on brutal combat and drawing inspiration from the modern Doom series. It has a high ranking on Steam’s most wishlisted games and is positioned to be a standout title of the year.

Winsage

July 11, 2026

Windows 11 Has a Hidden Tracker – Here’s How to Limit It

Peter Stokes allegedly used sophisticated methods to obscure his identity during a breach at a luxury retailer, but the FBI uncovered his identity through a Global Device Identifier (GDID) linked to his Windows installation. GDID is a persistent device-level identifier that uniquely identifies a Windows installation and remains unchanged through operating system updates, only resetting upon complete reinstallation. Users cannot disable GDID, and attempts to remove it may disrupt Windows activation. To minimize data associated with GDID, users can opt for a local account, limit diagnostic telemetry, disable Activity history, and be cautious during reinstallation. VPNs do not prevent Microsoft from logging GDID, IP addresses, and URLs, making them ineffective for privacy on Windows. GDID has been described as a covert tracking beacon, and security experts advise against using Windows for sensitive tasks, suggesting alternatives like Linux.

Tech Optimizer

July 11, 2026

Norton 360 Deluxe by Gen Digital Inc. – multi-device security with VPN bundled

Norton 360 Deluxe is a subscription service from Gen Digital that combines antivirus, firewall, VPN, and password management tools, covering up to five devices across various platforms. It includes features such as Norton Secure VPN, cloud backup for Windows PCs (up to 50 GB), Norton Password Manager, a smart firewall, and real-time malware scanning. The service is priced at €34.99 for the first year in Germany and around .99 in the U.S., with higher renewal prices. It is designed for households and small offices, providing multi-device coverage and ease of use. Norton 360 Deluxe is available through Norton’s website and retailers like Amazon, and it is recommended by review platforms for its comprehensive security features.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

Palworld revises some of its most egregious creature designs for its 1.0 release

Palworld officially exited early access today with the release of a significant 1.0 patch, attracting hundreds of thousands of players. The update included numerous gameplay enhancements and visual reworks for several characters, particularly those resembling existing Pokémon designs. Verdash has been transformed to have less humanoid proportions and removed legwear similar to Cinderace. Robinquill and Fenglope also received updates to their color palettes and designs to differentiate them from Decidueye and Cobalion. These redesigns are not related to the ongoing legal dispute between Nintendo and Pocketpair, which focuses on creature-capturing and riding mechanics, not character designs. The changes reflect an acknowledgment of the original designs' lack of originality and aim to help Palworld establish a more distinct identity.

Winsage

July 10, 2026

Windows 11 Has a Hidden Tracker – Here’s How to Limit It

Peter Stokes is involved in a breach with a luxury retailer, using tactics like VPNs and rotating IP addresses to hide his digital activity. The FBI discovered a Global Device Identifier (GDID) linked to his Windows installation, which is a persistent device-level identifier that uniquely identifies Windows installations. GDID remains unchanged through operating system updates but resets with a full reinstallation. Disabling GDID is not possible, as attempts to do so would disrupt Windows activation. Users can minimize data linked to GDID by using a local account, reducing diagnostic telemetry, disabling Activity history, and carefully managing reinstalls. VPNs do not prevent Microsoft from logging GDID, IP address, and URL data. Privacy researchers view GDID as a covert tracking mechanism, and Windows lacks user-facing options to reset this identifier, unlike Apple and Google.

Tech Optimizer

July 10, 2026

Gen Digital stock holds steady as cybersecurity demand supports long term growth

Gen Digital is a publicly traded company focused on cybersecurity and digital privacy solutions, primarily targeting consumers and small businesses. The company generates revenue through recurring subscriptions for its security and identity protection services, which include antivirus software, VPN services, and identity monitoring. Gen Digital's business model relies on bundling multiple security features into comprehensive offerings, providing predictable revenue and stability in cash flows. The company emphasizes continuous updates to its services to protect against evolving cybersecurity threats. Its growth prospects are linked to trends in cybersecurity spending and the increasing adoption of subscription-based solutions. Gen Digital differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on individual devices and home networks rather than large enterprises. The company also benefits from distribution partnerships that help expand its customer base. Long-term demand for its products is driven by digitalization, cyber risks, and growing consumer awareness of privacy issues. Gen Digital's stock performance is influenced by both company-specific factors and broader market trends in technology and cybersecurity.