WordPad Archives

Winsage

February 19, 2025

7 ancient apps you can still use in Windows 11

Disk Cleanup, introduced in Windows 98, helps users reclaim disk space by removing system restore points, temporary files, and remnants from outdated Windows Updates. Windows Media Player, which debuted with Windows 3.0, remains available in Windows 11 and is used for playing DVDs and organizing music collections. The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985 and provides access to legacy tools, although Microsoft encourages users to use the modern Settings app. Character Map, introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992, allows users to access every glyph in installed fonts and is useful for inserting specialized characters. Notepad, a staple since 1983, has received updates including spell check and rich formatting options in Windows 11. The Snipping Tool, first introduced in Windows Vista in 2007, has evolved to include features like screen recording and OCR-powered text extraction. WinZip, a third-party compression tool that debuted in 1991, remains popular for managing ZIP files and continues to function on Windows 11.

Winsage

February 12, 2025

8 Old Windows Apps That Are Still Around in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes several classic applications that remain relevant and functional for users: - Notepad: A simple text editor for quick note-taking and code editing. - Paint: A basic graphics editor for quick sketches and image editing. - Calculator: An evolved multifunctional application that includes scientific and graphing capabilities. - Windows Media Player: A reliable option for playing local media files. - WordPad: A formatted text editing experience between Notepad and full-fledged word processors. - Snipping Tool: A utility for capturing screenshots easily. - Task Manager: A tool for monitoring system performance and troubleshooting issues. - Control Panel: A powerful tool for advanced system management options.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Microsoft explains why it’s deprecating legacy features on Windows 11 like WordPad

Microsoft is evolving Windows 11 by introducing new features and deprecating certain legacy applications and tools, particularly in the Windows 11 24H2 release. The company aims to modernize the operating system and reallocate resources towards new developments. Deprecation serves as a preliminary warning to users rather than an immediate removal of features. Recently, WordPad was announced for deprecation and will be removed with the Windows 11 24H2 release on October 1, 2024, while other applications like Paint 3D have been deprecated but remain available. Deprecated products will still receive support until their official retirement, although they will not undergo active development. Other recently deprecated features include Suggested Actions and legacy DRM services associated with Windows Media Player, with uncertain timelines for their removal.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

Microsoft kills a handy Windows 11 feature that allowed quick calls or event creation

Microsoft has deprecated the "Suggested actions" feature in Windows 11, which was introduced in May 2022 as part of build 25115. This feature allowed Windows 11 to recognize phone numbers and dates to provide shortcuts for tasks like making calls or scheduling events. Microsoft announced that "Suggested actions" will be removed in a future update, although a specific timeline for this removal is not provided. Other recently deprecated features include Android app support, Paint 3D, Windows Speech Recognition, the Tips app, Steps Recorder, and WordPad.

Winsage

November 28, 2024

RomCom exploits Firefox and Windows zero days in the wild

ESET researchers discovered a critical vulnerability, CVE-2024-9680, in Mozilla products exploited by the Russia-aligned group RomCom. This vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 9.8, affects various versions of Firefox, Thunderbird, and the Tor Browser, allowing code execution within the browser's restricted context. When combined with another Windows vulnerability, CVE-2024-49039, attackers can execute arbitrary code in the context of the logged-in user. The exploit can be triggered simply by visiting a malicious web page, enabling the installation of RomCom's backdoor without user interaction. RomCom has been linked to the exploitation of significant zero-day vulnerabilities, including the earlier use of CVE-2023-36884 via Microsoft Word in June 2023. The newly identified vulnerability was reported to Mozilla on October 8th, 2024, and patched the following day. The vulnerability is a use-after-free bug in Firefox's animation timeline. Further investigation revealed CVE-2024-49039, a privilege escalation bug in Windows, which Microsoft patched on November 12th, 2024. RomCom has targeted various sectors in 2024, including governmental entities in Ukraine, the pharmaceutical sector in the US, and the legal sector in Germany, among others. The compromise chain begins with a fake website that redirects victims to a server hosting the exploit. ESET identified multiple command-and-control servers used by RomCom, employing deceptive naming schemes to obscure their intentions. The exploit utilizes shellcode that executes arbitrary code by manipulating animation objects in Firefox. The vulnerability was patched by Mozilla within a day of its discovery. The RomCom backdoor is capable of executing commands and downloading additional modules onto the victim's machine. Indicators of compromise include specific JavaScript files and DLLs associated with the exploit.

Winsage

November 12, 2024

Revamped Remcos RAT Deployed Against Microsoft Users

Threat actors have enhanced the Remcos remote access tool, making it a more sophisticated malware variant by using multiple layers of scripting languages to evade detection. This new campaign exploits a known remote code execution vulnerability in unpatched Microsoft Office and WordPad applications, initiated through a phishing email containing a disguised Excel file. The malware employs various encoding methods and obfuscation techniques to avoid analysis, including the use of PowerShell scripts and API hooking. It gathers information from the victim's device and transmits it to a command and control server. Experts emphasize the importance of patching, employee training, and robust endpoint protection to defend against such attacks.

Winsage

November 6, 2024

Windows Server 2025 is now available – but Microsoft warns admins to watch out for three major bugs, including one that causes the dreaded blue screen of death

Microsoft has released Windows Server 2025, succeeding Windows Server 2022, along with System Center 2025. This version supports seamless application deployment across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. Key security enhancements include improved Active Directory cryptographic support and defenses against various attacks on server message block (SMB). New features for cloud services include hotpatching, which requires an additional subscription fee, and integration with Azure Arc for better onboarding and network management. Windows Server 2025 is optimized for AI and machine learning workloads, offering up to 60% more storage IOPs performance than its predecessor. Certain features, such as WordPad and the Windows PowerShell 2.0 engine, have been discontinued. Microsoft has acknowledged three bugs related to installation: English text display issues, problems with high-core-count devices, and a "boot device inaccessible" error in iSCSI environments. Windows Server 2025 is available now, with extended support until 2034 and mainstream support until 2029. Users can upgrade from Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2022 will be supported until October 2026. The operating system is compatible with most 64-bit processors, and a list of certified processors is provided.

Winsage

November 4, 2024

Big update for admins as Windows Server 2025 lands

Windows Server 2025 has been released, featuring significant updates including a larger Active Directory Domain Services database page size of 32k, enhancements in Software Defined Networking (SDN), improved security protocols for Server Message Block (SMB), and better virtualization capabilities. It is available in Standard, Datacenter, and Datacenter: Azure editions, and upgrades are possible from Windows Server 2012 R2. Key features removed include WordPad, the SMTP service, and the IIS 6 management console, while the Windows PowerShell 2.0 engine is no longer supported. Features no longer receiving development support include all versions of NTLM, the Computer Browser driver and service, and VBScript. The hardware requirements include a 64-bit processor with a minimum of 1.4 GHz, support for the x64 instruction set, POPCNT instruction, and SSE4.2 instruction set. Known issues include installation text appearing in English in non-English environments and a "boot device inaccessible" error in some iSCSI setups. Windows Server 2022 will remain under mainstream support until October 13, 2026, while Windows Server 2025 will receive mainstream support until October 9, 2029, followed by extended support until October 10, 2034.

Winsage

November 1, 2024

Microsoft: Windows 11 24H2 ditches Defender Application Guard and browser extensions on Edge

Microsoft has confirmed the deprecation of Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG) in the Windows 11 24H2 update, with the feature set to be phased out by June 2024. This change primarily affects enterprise users and does not significantly impact home users. MDAG, previously known as Windows Defender Application Guard, was designed to enhance security by isolating potentially harmful websites in a secure virtual machine environment. The associated Windows Isolated app launcher APIs have also been eliminated. Microsoft stated that the latest version of Windows 11 includes robust security measures that make MDAG unnecessary, and the enhanced security features in Microsoft Edge protect users from threats like phishing and data loss. Additionally, Microsoft has removed WordPad in the Windows 11 24H2 update.

Winsage

October 23, 2024

Not just Western Digital – Windows 24H2 BSODs Asus kit

Microsoft has issued a cautionary note regarding compatibility issues with the Windows 11 24H2 update affecting certain Asus systems, specifically the X415KA and X515KA models, which may encounter a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) during the update process. The update has led to user dissatisfaction due to the removal of features like WordPad and VBScript, as well as an unexpected accumulation of 8.63 GB of unnecessary data in the "Windows Update Cleanup" folder, which Microsoft has addressed with a fix. Western Digital also released an urgent fix for its hard drives experiencing BSOD incidents post-update. Microsoft advised administrators to verify safeguard ID: 54157480 to ensure their systems remain unaffected, while users of Voicemeeter should be aware of potential BSOD errors linked to the update.