Video download link | md5sum 50e4a321b3278e7bd4cabd0abea0dcec Russia Exploits Windows Holes Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0

Summary: Putin's Russia is taking advantage of Microsoft's products being unsafe by design

Last week we mentioned Poland's apparent mass adoption of GNU/Linux (at the expense of Windows).

Ukraine suffers profoundly from its use of Microsoft Windows [1] and from the past weekend and today [2-4] we gather more evidence that Microsoft is trying quite badly to 'cash in' on Windows amid its rapid decline.

The above video discusses what it means to be a neighbour of Putin's Russia at times of invasions and violent conquests. Any adoption of Windows is a massive liability, as we noted in past articles, e.g. [1, 2, 3]. ⬆

1. Cyber warfare becomes part of curriculum for Ukrainian students

   Students are also working to find vulnerabilities in Russian systems that others can use to launch direct attacks. [Cracking] is not taught by the department, but Professor Afonin said his students were learning fast.

   “Not all our people are highly qualified, like second- or first-year students, but they can do things that nobody else can,” he said. “We taught them how to study, how to study quickly, how to get new knowledge and skills in a very short period of time, and how to use them. I’m really proud of them.”





2. How experimental was Microsoft's 'experimental banner' in File Explorer? [Ed: Windows is dying; the competition lowered its market value.]

   Microsoft's hurried backpedal over advertisements in File Explorer has industry watchers concerned.
   
   The Windows Insider Team has form when it comes to accidental emissions. There was the surprise rollout of 20H1 in 2019, for example, and the bundling of a bug that wiped the data of some users with the October 2018 Update of Windows 10 remains seared in the memories of many.
   
   However, Microsoft's statement regarding the furor over ads in File Explorer leaves more than one elephant lurking in the corner of the room.

3. Josh Bressers: Episode 315 – Who even makes all these terrible decisions?

   Josh and Kurt talk about Microsoft accidentally letting us find out about ads in file explorer. Changing your clocks sucks. And touch on some of the security implications of the Russian invasion and sanctions. There are a lot of security lessons we can all learn. Mostly what not to do.
   
   





4. File Explorer fiasco: Window to Microsoft's mixed-up motivations

   Queen Elizabeth I is said to have expressed her attitude to her subjects' private beliefs by noting: "I do not seek to open windows to men's souls." Microsoft Windows 11 has few such qualms. A new feature,accidentally enabled in an Insider build, not only opened a channel between the company and the quintessential tool, File Explorer, it then stuffed it with adverts.
   
   It is an open secret that Microsoft is increasingly keen on using Windows as an ad delivery platform, to the exasperation of users and the despair of all who have to manage the corporate computing environment.
   
   Windows 10 is replete with lock screen ads, suggested apps in the Start menu, nagging taskbar pop-ups, notification nudges, and even a brief excursion into third party ads in its Mail client.