PIN Archives

Winsage

June 24, 2025

Bring the “Windows 10 look” back to Windows 11 — Everything I changed to restore the desktop UI experience

Many users transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 find the new design and interface changes challenging. Windows 11 features a centered Taskbar, a simplified Start menu, and an updated File Explorer and Settings app. Users can customize their Windows 11 experience to resemble Windows 10 by making several adjustments. To align the Taskbar and Start menu to the left, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and select "Left" for Taskbar alignment. To show app labels in the Taskbar, users need to select "Never" for the "Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels" setting in the same menu. For those preferring the classic File Explorer, they can access it by searching for Windows Tools in the Start menu and selecting Home or This PC. Users can also change the color scheme by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and selecting "Custom" mode, choosing a dark theme, and enabling accent colors for the Start and taskbar. To display classic desktop icons, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and check the desired icons. In Notepad, users can disable new features by adjusting settings in the app to revert to a more classic experience. For further customization, third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher and Windhawk can be used. ExplorerPatcher allows users to restore various interface elements from earlier Windows versions, while Windhawk provides a framework for modifying Windows 11 with community-created mods. Both tools can be installed via the Windows Package Manager and offer options to revert to classic aesthetics.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Android users get another option to pay later with Klarna on Google Pay

Klarna has integrated with Google Pay, enhancing Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options for consumers during online checkout. This integration began on June 24 and will be available on select Android apps and websites that support Google Pay. Klarna's chief commercial officer, David Sykes, stated that this partnership advances the company's mission to offer transparent and adaptable payment solutions. Google Pay has been expanding its BNPL offerings since 2024, incorporating providers like Affirm and Zip. Additionally, Google has updated its card information interaction methods to include biometric security measures. There are also indications of a new feature for Google Wallet that would allow users to add cards via NFC technology, although users will still need to enter the card's CVV for security. The NFC Forum has suggested plans for broader NFC technology capabilities.

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

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27881 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27881 has been released to the Canary Channel, with downloadable ISOs available. This build introduces a new profanity filter setting for voice typing, allowing users to manage the transcription of profane words. A new feature called speech recap has been added to Narrator, enabling users to track spoken content and access live transcriptions. General improvements include security certificate updates, a redesigned needy state pill on the taskbar, enhanced accessibility features, and new image editing capabilities in the Windows share window. A new FAQs section has been added to the Settings > System > About page, and various fixes have been implemented across different components. Known issues include problems with the taskbar display and the "Reset this PC" option not functioning after the upgrade. Users joining the Canary Channel on new Copilot+ PCs may experience loss of Windows Hello PIN and biometrics.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Mobile banking users beware – “Godfather” malware is now hijacking official bank apps

Zimperium has identified a new version of the Godfather malware targeting Android users in Turkey, which creates virtualized replicas of legitimate banking applications to deceive users. This malware can exfiltrate sensitive information such as login credentials, PIN codes, and unlock patterns, posing a significant risk to individuals who may mistakenly believe they are using legitimate services.

Winsage

June 18, 2025

Windows 11’s shiny new Start menu has a flaw that’s going to drive me insane

Windows 11's Start menu has been criticized by users for being less effective than that of Windows 10. Microsoft has made enhancements, including the removal of the "Recommended" section and the introduction of a scrollable list of applications. Users can choose from three presentation methods: Name List, Name Grid, and View Category. However, the category sorting system limits user control, as applications are automatically assigned to predefined sections, and users cannot create or modify these categories. If an app does not fit into a category, it will be placed in the "Other" section. Additionally, a category is only created if there are three or more apps, which can lead to further disorganization if one app is uninstalled. Some users are considering alternatives like Linux Mint for a more customizable experience.

Winsage

June 17, 2025

Microsoft has broken Windows Hello facial recognition — it no longer works in the dark

Windows Hello now requires a color camera in addition to infrared sensors for user sign-ins, which reduces its effectiveness in low-light conditions. This change was made to address a spoofing vulnerability and was implemented after an initial announcement in April. The updated system struggles in dark environments, raising concerns for users with darker skin tones, as low-light conditions can hinder facial recognition. Users can disable the color webcam to revert to using only IR sensors, but this disables video capabilities. Alternatives for sign-in include PIN, password, or fingerprint authentication.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Windows Hello webcams have stopped working in the dark. I don’t care

Microsoft has updated its Windows Hello biometric recognition system to use both the standard optical webcam and the infrared depth camera for user authentication, addressing a potential spoofing vulnerability. Testing on three laptops (Surface Laptop 7th Edition, Asus ZenBook S 14, and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo) showed that all devices successfully recognized the user in dim lighting conditions. However, some colleagues reported issues with facial recognition in similar low-light environments, indicating inconsistency across devices. Microsoft has included a numeric PIN option as a backup login method. The update is said to enhance security by requiring visible light for recognition, but its practical impact on user experience appears minimal.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.6029 to the Release Preview Channel

Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.6029 (KB5061087) has been released to the Release Preview Channel. Key updates include enhancements to mobile operator profiles, resolution of COM functionality issues, and an upgrade of the curl tool to v8.13.0. Adjustments in the EEA region for default browsers include automatic pinning to the Taskbar and Start menu, and a one-click button for changing default settings for .pdf files. Issues fixed include device registration in Entra ID WAM, removal of unused language packs, problems with USB-connected Multi-Function printers, jump lists in the Start Menu, incorrect version display in Settings, unresponsiveness in Kiosk devices, and system hangs on SMB shares.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

T-Mobile’s T-Life App: Why User Frustration Continues (Despite Updates)

T-Mobile's T-Life app has faced significant criticism from employees and customers since its launch, despite updates aimed at improving functionality. Users report challenges with the app, including unclear and impractical functions. One user experienced difficulty after accidentally deleting their eSIM, as the app did not provide a solution and required a visit to a physical store for assistance. T-Mobile has encouraged customers to use the app for self-service tasks, but reports indicate that employees must report instances when customers refuse to use it. The transition to the app has created friction and raised questions about its effectiveness.