Office 365 Archives

Tech Optimizer

May 27, 2025

Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender: Compare Antivirus Software

eSecurity Planet maintains editorial independence in content and product recommendations, ensuring financial gain from partner links does not influence information integrity. Microsoft Defender and Bitdefender are prominent small business security providers. Microsoft Defender is ideal for larger SMBs, starting at .00 per user per month, while Bitdefender is suited for startups with over 10 employees, starting at .33 per user per month. Microsoft Defender Overview: - Overall Rating: 3.7/5 - Pricing: 4.4/5 - Features: 3.4/5 - Ease of Use and Administration: 3.8/5 - Customer Support: 3.7/5 - Features include next-gen antivirus, vulnerability management, and EDR. Bitdefender Overview: - Overall Rating: 3.4/5 - Pricing: 3.8/5 - Features: 3/5 - Ease of Use and Administration: 3.4/5 - Customer Support: 4/5 - Features include identity protection, a VPN, and a password manager. Pricing Comparison: - Microsoft Defender: Free Trial: 90 days; Least Expensive Plan: .00/user/month; Mid-Range Plan: .50/user/month; Most Expensive Plan: .00/user/month. - Bitdefender: 30-day money-back guarantee; Least Expensive Plan: .33/user/month; Mid-Range Plan: Not specified; Most Expensive Plan: Not specified. Feature Comparison: - Microsoft Defender offers robust endpoint protection but lacks clarity on web browsing protection and ad-blocking. - Bitdefender offers identity exposure protection, a VPN, and a password manager but also lacks web browsing and ad-blocking features. Ease of Use and Administration: - Microsoft Defender supports macOS, Windows, and Linux Server; Bitdefender supports macOS and Windows but lacks Linux support. Customer Support Comparison: - Microsoft provides phone and live chat support; Bitdefender offers email and chat support, with limited phone support for small business users. Alternative Solutions include Norton, McAfee, and Trend Micro, each offering different features and pricing structures. Evaluation Methodology focused on pricing, features, ease of use, and customer support, with Microsoft winning in pricing, features, and ease of use, while Bitdefender excelled in customer support.

Tech Optimizer

May 21, 2025

Lumma Stealer: Breaking down the delivery techniques and capabilities of a prolific infostealer

Microsoft has monitored Lumma Stealer, an infostealer malware used by financially motivated threat actors. Lumma Stealer, also known as LummaC2, functions as a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) solution that extracts data from browsers and applications, including cryptocurrency wallets. The entity behind Lumma is identified as Storm-2477, which maintains the malware and its command-and-control (C2) infrastructure. Affiliates can create malware binaries and manage C2 communications through a panel provided by Storm-2477. Ransomware groups have integrated Lumma Stealer into their operations. Lumma Stealer employs various delivery techniques, including phishing emails, malvertising, drive-by downloads, Trojanized applications, and abuse of legitimate services. Specific campaigns have been identified, such as one in April 2025 that used EtherHiding and ClickFix techniques to deliver Lumma Stealer via compromised websites. Another campaign on April 7, 2025, targeted Canadian organizations with emails containing invoice lures that led to malicious downloads. The malware is developed using C++ and ASM, employing advanced obfuscation techniques to evade detection. It can extract a wide range of user data, including browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallet information, and user documents. Lumma Stealer maintains a robust C2 infrastructure with multiple hardcoded and fallback C2 servers, utilizing encryption methods to secure communications. Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit has disrupted Lumma Stealer's infrastructure by blocking approximately 2,300 malicious domains. Recommendations to mitigate the impact of Lumma Stealer include strengthening Microsoft Defender configurations, implementing multifactor authentication, and utilizing phishing-resistant authentication methods. Microsoft Defender products can detect and block activities associated with Lumma Stealer, providing alerts and insights for incident response.

Winsage

May 12, 2025

Microsoft Build 2025: What to expect, from Azure to Copilot upgrades

Microsoft's annual Build developer conference will occur from May 19 to 22, focusing on new AI integrations, services, and applications for Windows. Last year's conference featured the integration of Copilot into Microsoft Teams and the introduction of AI-powered PCs. This year, deeper integrations of Copilot generative AI are expected, catering to consumer and enterprise needs. Keynotes will be streamed online for free. Microsoft raised prices on various software products by 5% last November and may use new AI features to justify these increases. Copilot is anticipated to have significant enhancements, with reports suggesting Microsoft is considering alternative AI models from xAI, Meta, Anthropic, and DeepSeek. Copilot may gain “agentic” capabilities for executing basic PC tasks, with references to an Action button found in the Copilot client for Windows. Microsoft is rumored to have developed a suite of models called MAI to compete with OpenAI’s offerings, potentially to be unveiled at Build. There are also rumors about a successor to the Azure Maia 100 AI Accelerator, possibly named “Maia 2,” with Marvell contracted for its production.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

Microsoft, get your Game Pass out of my face! I’m turning off your notifications. Here’s how

A college student experienced persistent notifications from Microsoft Windows promoting the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, priced at .99 per month. While Windows 11 can be acquired for free or with a product key, most users receive it pre-installed on their devices after manufacturers pay licensing fees. The student found these notifications distracting, especially during important tasks, and noted that Microsoft also uses the Second Chance Out of the Box Experience (SCOOBE) to promote additional products like Office 365 and OneDrive. The student provided instructions on how to disable Xbox Game Pass notifications and the SCOOBE process through the Settings menu.

Winsage

April 10, 2025

Pay Just $30 Once and Get Microsoft Office Office for Life

Around 60% of small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are seeking affordable technology solutions, according to McKinsey. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is currently available for .97, reduced from its regular price of 9. This lifetime license includes essential applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with no ongoing subscription fees. Office 2019 is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 and offers improved inking tools, advanced data analysis features in Excel, and new presentation capabilities in PowerPoint. The one-time purchase model eliminates monthly fees and hidden costs, providing long-term stability for users.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

New Minecraft edition has students restore St. Peter’s Basilica

Vatican City launched an educational edition of Minecraft titled “Peter Is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage” on March 18, 2025, in collaboration with Microsoft. The game allows students aged 8 to 18 to explore a digital version of St. Peter’s Basilica, engaging in restoration tasks and learning about its art and history. Players earn golden papal key tokens by completing tasks, and the game features two modes: “Restoration Mode” and “Exploration Mode.” The initiative aims to enhance cultural heritage understanding through interactive gaming. The game is available in the Minecraft Education lesson library for licensed users, with a free trial version accessible through Office 365 or Microsoft 365 Education accounts.

Winsage

March 18, 2025

Microsoft Warns Windows Users—Change Your Browser As New Attacks Underway

Microsoft has issued a warning to Chrome users about a new remote access trojan called StilachiRAT, which can exfiltrate sensitive information such as stored credentials and digital wallet data. StilachiRAT can scan for configuration data across 20 cryptocurrency wallet extensions in Chrome and can extract and decrypt saved usernames and passwords. The malware can also monitor Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions, capture active window information, and impersonate users to gain unauthorized access to networks. Microsoft recommends that users switch to its Edge browser or other browsers with SmartScreen technology to enhance security. Additionally, users are advised to install software from official sources, utilize Safe Links and Safe Attachments in Office 365, and enable network protection features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Despite this, Chrome remains the dominant browser among Windows users.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

Microsoft tests ad-supported Office apps for Windows users

Microsoft has introduced ad-supported versions of its Office desktop applications, allowing Windows users to edit documents without a subscription. These applications will display advertisements in a vertical panel on the right side of the window and include prompts encouraging users to subscribe to Microsoft 365 to remove ads. Users must download and install Microsoft 365 to access these applications, and they can choose to skip the sign-in process for free access. However, a subscription is required to save documents edited with these applications directly to local drives. The ad-supported versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have limited functionality compared to the full versions. Reports suggest that the availability of these applications may be part of a regional test, as some outlets could not replicate the findings. Additionally, Microsoft has a history of integrating ads into its products, including in the Windows 11 Start menu and Windows File Explorer.

Winsage

February 23, 2025

WinApps: Virtualized Windows Apps On Linux, Plus Windowing

Linux users can now run the latest version of Photoshop on Linux machines with access to a dedicated mobile GPU, thanks to innovative open-source solutions. This is achieved through the WinApps project, which integrates a virtual machine into the Linux desktop using Remote Desktop Protocol, allowing Windows applications to run alongside native Linux programs. The setup requires significant effort, particularly in recognizing the GPU, but it enables heavy-duty applications to function effectively on machines like the HP Envy 16 with an Intel i7-12700H processor and 32GB of RAM. While WinApps offers substantial benefits for users relying on Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office 365, it is best suited for casual use due to potential bugs and performance issues. The development of WinApps reflects the contributions of various open-source teams, including those at Red Hat, and suggests future enhancements may improve accessibility for users.

Winsage

February 10, 2025

9 tools that will supercharge your productivity on Windows

- Microsoft Outlook is a free, built-in tool for managing emails, appointments, meetings, and tasks, featuring calendar sharing and integration with Microsoft To Do. - IFTTT automates repetitive tasks by connecting various apps, services, and devices through customized applets. - The Windows Snipping Tool captures screenshots, records desktop activity, supports full-screen video recording, and has OCR capabilities for text extraction from images. - Microsoft PowerToys is a suite of utilities that enhances the Windows experience, including tools for multitasking, file management, and keeping the PC active. - Grammarly provides real-time grammar and spelling checks, compatible with platforms like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, with a premium version offering advanced features. - Obsidian uses Markdown to create interconnected notes, allowing users to build a personal knowledge base with customizable plugins. - Microsoft 365 includes applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with collaboration tools like Teams and OneDrive, with regular updates for new features and security. - UniGetUI is a package manager that simplifies app installations by allowing users to select and install multiple applications simultaneously. - Flow Launcher allows users to quickly launch applications, files, and websites, enhancing workflow efficiency and providing flexibility as a portable app or standard installation.