The game will activate at the same time the Season 1 content will go live on the PC version at 6 AM PT, 9 AM ET, 3 PM CEST, or 11 PM AEST. A map showing a general visualization of the time has been released which you can see below.
Hyper Scape premiere times on Xbox One.
The Xbox One version of Hyper Scape has been confirmed to come in at 8.5GB in size. The game isn’t available to download yet so it’s likely that many gamers will still be downloading Hyper Scape around the time the servers activate.
Hyper Scape is a free-to-play battle royale game set within a virtual world not dissimilar to that seen in the Ready Player One movie and novel. It’s the latest in the growing battle royale genre and will be competing with the likes of Apex Legends and Fortnite.
Star Wars and The Walking Dead screenwriter, Gary Whitta, has been conducting his own virtual talk show within the Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing: New Horizons video game for a while now and his latest guest is set to be Microsoft’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer.
While the interview will be conducted within the New Horizons virtual world, a copy of the game and a Nintendo Switch console aren’t needed as the entire interview, as with Whitta’s previous ones, will be streamed live via his Twitch channel.
There isn’t a set time for the interview so interested gamers should either enable notifications for when the channel goes live or just watch it on demand here after it’s finished.
It’s unclear exactly what kind of topics will be discussed during this interview though it’s likely Spencer will be using this opportunity to remind viewers of the upcoming launches of the Xbox Series X (and S) console and Xbox game streaming service and the various Xbox-enabled video games on the Nintendo Switch such as Minecraft.
Microsoft’s highly anticipated Xbox cloud gaming service isn’t set to officially launch until next month on September 15th but gamers with an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription will soon be able to trial a selection of titles before then to help the tech giant roll out any kinks before the influx of players and the addition of around 100 video games.
“As we approach the launch of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on September 15,” Microsoft says, “We’re entering a limited beta period to ensure a smooth transition of the cloud gaming experience to the Xbox Game Pass app on Android. Existing Xbox Game Pass (Beta) app users will get the opportunity to test a subset of the available titles as we ready the experience for broader availability next month. This limited beta is critical to providing the best possible experience for members at launch and should not be considered indicative of the final experience or library.”
Around 30 video games will be available to play during this limited beta. The beta, like the cloud streaming service itself, will also only be limited to those with the officially supported regions.
Xbox cloud gaming (aka Project xCloud) allows gamers to play major Xbox and Windows video games on their Android smartphone or tablet without the need for expensive powerful hardware. All titles are basically run on Microsoft’s servers in real-time and are fully playable just as if they were being played on a console or PC.
Parallels Desktop 16, the latest version of the popular virtualization software for macOS is available today with several new features. Parallels Desktop remains our favorite way to use Windows apps on a Mac without having to reboot it, and recent improvements such as Coherence mode also allows users to run Mac and Windows apps side by side while running a Windows virtual machine in the background.
This new major release of Parallels Desktop is ready for macOS Big Sur, the upcoming update for macOS coming later this fall. On Big Sur, Parallels Desktop 16 will use native macOS system extensions instead of the deprecated kernel extensions that will not load by default on Big Sur. “Parallels invested more than 25-man-years of engineer programming to take full advantage of the new macOS Big Sur architecture and revamped kernel extensions to deliver our best Windows-on- Mac performance ever for our Parallels Desktop 16 customers,” said Nick Dobrovolskiy, Parallels Senior Vice President of Engineering and Support.
New Parallels Desktop for Mac updates bring performance improvements every year, and Parallels Desktop 16 is no exception. The company says that the app now launches twice as fast, and it’s also 20% faster to resume Windows virtual machines from a suspended state. This major release should bring up to 10 percent longer battery life when Windows runs in Travel Mode, and Parallels Desktop 16 also introduces the ability to reclaim disk space automatically at shutdown, an option that should help users save a lot of space.
Thanks to improved Open GL 3 graphics in Windows, Parallels Desktop 16 can also run even more professional Windows apps that wouldn’t install at all in previous versions. The list includes the lighting design software DIALux evo 9, as well as the live presentation app ProPresenter 6. Compared to Parallels Desktop 15, DirectX performance is also up to 20% faster, and that should benefit Mac gamers interested in running Windows games. Last year, Parallels Desktop 15 introduced support for DirectX9, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11 via Apple’s Metal API, and Metal and DirectX currently work best on macOS Catalina or later.
Parallels Desktop 16 also brings support for Zoom and Rotate gestures for Windows apps that have zoom/rotation functionality, such as Microsoft’s Maps app for Windows 10. This major release also provides full access to all features of Mac printers, including duplex printing and the ability to use more paper sizes. Overall, there’s a lot to like in this release, and Parallels is planning more features for macOS Big Sur later this year including a refreshed design and native macOS virtualization.
Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac is available today at $99.99 for a perpetual license, and owners of a previous edition can upgrade for just $49.99. The upgrade is also free with a Parallels Desktop subscription ($99.99 per year, or $79.99 for new subscribers), which also includes free subscriptions to Parallels Toolbox for Mac and Windows and Parallels Access. If you’ve never tried Parallels Desktop before, Parallels offers 14-day trials for Mac users, and you can use that to install a Windows 10 virtual machine on your Mac in a couple of easy steps.
A VPN can improve your online security and privacy if you’re the type of user who often downloads and uploads torrents using the qBittorrent client.
What it does is spoof your IP address in the torrent swarm to make sure it’s not exposed to the other torrent users. At the same time, it hides the geo-location associated with your IP.
Using a VPN is also an excellent way to stop ISP throttling if your bandwidth is intentionally limited due to a resource-consuming task like torrenting or streaming.
But you first need to find a reliable VPN that perfectly integrates with qBittorrent. We did all the hard work so that you won’t have to. Check out the 5 best VPNs for qBittorrent.
The best VPN for qBittorrent is Private Internet Access (PIA), made by Kape Technologies. It can conceal your IP address and geographical position to make sure that your torrenting activities cannot be traced back to you.
PIA has more than 3,300 VPN servers in 48 countries, static and dynamic IP addresses, and private DNS servers. You can even use it to host game servers for you and your friends, thanks to the fact that it supports native port forwarding.
The tool supports OpenVPN with 256-bit encryption, WireGuard, Shadowsocks, SOCK5, kill switch, an ad and malware blocker, together with 24/7 live chat support.
What else you should know about PIA:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
Private Internet Access
Remain anonymous in qBittorrent by turning to this trustworthy VPN.
Designed by Tefincom & Co., NordVPN revolves around security and privacy. You can use it to protect your identity while torrenting and to prevent your ISP from setting bandwidth restrictions.
NordVPN has more than 5,100 VPN servers spread across 59 countries. It’s wrapped in a user-friendly interface and uses OpenVPN with up to 256-bit encryption to secure your data.
You can connect to obfuscated servers to hide the fact that you’re using VPN, use Onion-over-VPN servers to combine the VPN with the Tor anonymous network or connect to two VPN servers at the same time in Double VPN mode.
What else you should know about NordVPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
NordVPN
Keep your torrenting sessions safe by resorting to this dependable VPN.
Made by Surfshark LTD, Surfshark is a great VPN for qBittorrent, particularly if you’re looking for a budget-friendly solution. You can use it to maintain your anonymity and prevent your ISP from sending you DCMA letters.
The app supports WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols with up to 256-bit military-grade encryption. You can use multi-hop VPN connections, obfuscation mode, and private DNS on each VPN server.
Surfshark comes bundled with over 1,700 VPN servers in more than 63 countries. You can install it on all popular platforms and supports any number of simultaneous device connections.
What else you should know about Surfshark:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat and email support
30-day money-back guarantee
7-day free trial for iOS and Android
Surfshark
Use this affordable VPN to protect all your household devices.
If you’re searching for the best free VPN for qBittorrent, look no further than CyberGhost VPN. It has the biggest network of VPN servers on this list: more than 6,500 in 89 countries. It’s developed by Kape Technologies.
You can use CyberGhost VPN to raise your security and privacy level when downloading and uploading torrents, as well as to watch unlimited streaming services, including all the popular Netflix catalogs.
CyberGhost VPN supports OpenVPN with 256-bit military-grade encryption, split tunneling, a kill switch, private DNS servers and DNS leak protection, as well as 7 simultaneous device connections.
What else you should know about CyberGhost VPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
Up to 45-day money-back guarantee
1-day free trial for Windows and Mac
7-day free trial for Android and iOS
CyberGhost VPN
Try this powerful VPN for qBittorrent without using your credit card.
Created by Express VPN International LTD, ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs for streaming and torrenting. You can use it to remain anonymous and to bypass ISP throttling.
ExpressVPN supports OpenVPN with 256-bit encryption, split-tunneling mode, zero-knowledge DNS servers, and a kill switch. You can set up this VPN app on all key operating systems and protect up to 5 devices at the same time.
What else you should know about ExpressVPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat and email support
30-day money-back guarantee
7-day free trial for iOS and Android
ExpressVPN
Get this VPN app to protect your online privacy and identity while torrenting.
In conclusion, you can use a VPN for qBittorrent to maintain your online anonymity and stop ISP throttling. Carefully compare your VPN options to decide which is the better fit for you.
If you frequently download or upload torrents with uTorrent, use a VPN to hide your IP address in the torrent swarm and preserve your anonymity.
A VPN for uTorrent is also helpful for bypassing ISP throttling. If your Internet service provider is limiting your connection speed just because you’re torrenting, you can use a VPN to conceal your browsing activity.
Furthermore, if you’re accidentally torrenting something you shouldn’t, such as movies with digital copyright, you can use a VPN for uTorrent to hide your IP address and prevent your ISP from tracking you down in case it receives a DCMA letter.
However, a bit of research if required before you start torrenting with a VPN since not all services do their job the way they should. That’s why we identified the 5 best VPNs for uTorrent.
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the top VPN for uTorrent and torrenting. It has a vast network of more than 3,300 VPN servers in 48 countries. At the same time, it delivers great security and privacy features.
Made by Kape Technologies, PIA uses OpenVPN with up to 256-bit encryption to protect your data, but you can switch to WireGuard, too. And, if you need a second layer of security, you can redirect the VPN connection to another location by connecting to a Shadowsocks or SOCKS5 proxy.
Moreover, PIA comes bundled with a kill switch, port forwarding, split tunneling, static and dynamic DNS servers, as well as an ad and malware blocker for browsers called PIA MACE. The VPN doesn’t slow down your Internet connection while torrenting.
More about PIA:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
Private Internet Access
Preserve your online anonymity when using uTorrent, thanks to this fast and secure VPN.
NordVPN has some of the best VPN security features for uTorrent we’ve ever seen. Developed by Tefincom & Co., the tool puts safety first. It uses OpenVPN through TCP and UDP with up to 256-bit encryption.
Besides a large network of more than 5,100 VPN servers in 59 countries, NordVPN can bypass VPN blocks using obfuscated servers. You can also join the Tor anonymous network using Onion-over-VPN, or connect to an additional VPN server through Double VPN mode.
NordVPN has an emergency kill switch, private DNS, and custom DNS servers. You can set it up on all major operating systems and platforms, as well as use it to protect up to 6 devices at the same time.
More about NordVPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
NordVPN
Amp up your security and privacy using a top VPN for uTorrent.
If you’re not ready to spend too much money on a premium VPN service, you can use Surfshark since it’s affordable, protects an unlimited number of devices, and brings some of the best security features for uTorrent in the VPN industry.
Surfshark doesn’t have as many VPN servers as other apps on this list (+1,700 in +63 countries). But it makes up for it with the OpenVPN protocols with 256-bit encryption, as well as private DNS on each server. It’s operated by Surfshark LTD.
The tool supports WireGuard, Shadowsocks, multi-hop VPN connections, obfuscated mode, and split tunneling. It’s compatible with all major operating systems and optimized for torrenting.
More about Surfshark:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat and email support
30-day money-back guarantee
7-day free trial for iOS and Android
Surfshark
Get this budget-friendly VPN for uTorrent to stop ISP throttling.
CyberGhost VPN is the best free VPN for uTorrent. You can test its complete set of options and configuration settings at no cost to determine if it’s the right fit for you. It’s also operated by Kape Technologies.
The VPN service has the most impressive VPN server coverage on this list: over 6,500 in 89 countries. You can use it to hide your identity while torrenting and stop ISP throttling. CyberGhost supports OpenVPN with 256-bit military-grade encryption.
The tool has a split-tunneling mode, a kill switch, an integrated malware blocker, exclusive DNS and DNS leak protection, together with trusted Wi-Fi. It allows 7 simultaneous connections and can be installed on all major platforms.
More about CyberGhost VPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
Up to 45-day money-back guarantee
1-day free trial for Windows and Mac
7-day free trial for Android and iOS
CyberGhost VPN
Use the best free VPN for uTorrent to protect your online privacy and security.
ExpressVPN has a great reputation and it’s one of the most popular VPNs for uTorrent. Created by Express VPN International LTD, the app supports more than 3,000 VPN servers in 94 countries.
ExpressVPN can conceal your true IP address and location in the torrent swarm to make sure that your torrenting activity cannot be associated with you. At the same time, it doesn’t decrease your Internet connection speed.
The app uses OpenVPN with 256-bit military-grade encryption, exclusive DNS servers, split tunneling, and a kill switch. You can set it up on all major platforms and protect up to 5 devices simultaneously.
More about ExpressVPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat and email support
30-day money-back guarantee
7-day free trial for iOS and Android
ExpressVPN
Prevent your ISP from forwarding you DCMA letters, thanks to this reliable VPN.
To summarize, you can use a VPN to hide torrenting, stop throttling, and hide your online activities from your ISP. However, you need the best VPN for uTorrent to make this happen.
Thousands of users reported that they can’t print pages from Internet Explorer after installing certain Windows updates. More specifically, the printed pages come out blank.
Here’s how one user describes this issue on Microsoft’s forum:
Several of our users got security update KB4022719 last night and are now getting blank pages when printing from our Electronic Medical Records application which relies on Internet Explorer‘s printing functionality. The users who did not get this update are not having this problem. Uninstalling the update fixes the problem. I just want to spread the word that this is happening since I can’t find any other way to inform Microsoft.
This problem seems to affect only Internet Explorer 11, as users of Chrome or Edge did not report the problem. As mentioned, the issue appears to caused by some updates in both Windows 7 and Windows 10.
How can I fix blank pages being printed from Internet Explorer?
This is just a mere workaround but you can also just copy-paste the webpage from one to another browser and print it that way.
If the problem with printing blank pages appears solely on Internet Explorer, you can try and print from an alternative browser.
We recommend using OperaOne, as this is a faster and more reliable browser. And, who knows, maybe after you’ve used it for a while, you might also consider switching to it for good.
Because Opera One comes with a lot of useful features that help to improve your productivity and overall web surfing experience.
Besides the common features that you can find in any browser, Opera One offers some exclusive tools such as integrated ad blocker, messenger tools, VPN with unlimited traffic, or battery saver.
Not to mention that you can customize several workspaces or share your browser work between all your devices using a dedicated feature. Plus, it comes it’s won built-in AI.
Opera One
If you’re tired of fixing the errors of your current browser, switch to Opera One in no time to benefit from free exclusive features that improve your browsing experience.
The VPN market is oversaturated, but the industry is also booming, so this scenario begs the question: can popular services such as NordVPN be trusted?
NordVPN has filled a leadership position for a long time now in the VPN industry. Thus, it makes sense that new users might take its advertised services with just a grain of salt.
Is it enough to protect your online privacy? What’s the deal with its strict zero-logging and no monitoring policy? Is their service secure enough to prevent various types of attacks?
Stay tuned and we’ll find out together if NordVPN can be trusted or not.
Can NordVPN be trusted?
1. Top-notch security protocols
NordVPN implemented a wide range of security protocols, which means better protection for your data and traffic. You’re also free to choose the protocol you feel most comfortable with.
These are as follows:
OpenVPN – this is the default choice for many VPN services, as it is both versatile and secure
IKEv2/IPsec – this protocol is technically faster and more secure than OpenVPN and used by default in NordVPN for macOS and iOS
WireGuard (NordLynx) – this protocol is still in development, but it’s virtually faster and more secure than both OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. Since it’s in development, it still needs some work to identify and circumvent its vulnerabilities.
As you can see, NordVPN isn’t shy about security features, thus you can bet your money on it when it comes to protection. With a wide range of security features and military-grade encryption, NordVPN can definitely be trusted.
2. A huge network of servers
NordVPN has a whopping ~5200 servers spread all around the world in roughly 59 countries. Thus, you have a broad selection of servers you can connect to, no matter what your needs are.
Having such a rich network of servers can help you circumvent geo-restrictions easily. If you’re trying to access US Netflix, for instance, and the server you’re connected to gets rejected, you can simply switch to another server.
The same goes for any other online activity. You may not know this, but VPN networks can get overcrowded, too. If such a thing happens, you can simply switch the server and you should at least notice some improvement.
As a rule of thumb, the closer the server is to you (physically), the faster your connection will be.
3. Strict zero-logging, no monitoring policy
NordVPN is against the breaching of privacy, and they’re quite vocal about it, too. It enforces a bunch of strict policies against data collection and activity monitoring.
Therefore, not only that NordVPN won’t monitor your every step while you’re online, but they won’t keep records of your activity, either.
NordVPN
Looking for a trustworthy VPN? NordVPN might be what you need.
Not so long ago, one of NordVPN‘s servers has been hacked. Reportedly, the attacker could’ve monitored the traffic of NordVPN‘s customers on those servers, although apparently there’s no indication that this happened.
Either way, given that NordVPN doesn’t keep data on their customers’ activity, the attacker couldn’t find anything relevant.
4. No data leaks during its runtime
We’ve put NordVPN to a bunch of tests to assess whether it’s safe or not to keep it on all the time. We were looking for anything suspicious, especially data leaks that might’ve revealed our true identity to third-parties.
Once we’ve connected to a stable server, we used third-party tools to notice if any DNS, IP, or WebRTC data leaked through our connection. We’ve used the following tools:
We’ve noticed absolutely no DNS, IP, or other types of leaks during our tests. This means that from a sensitive data leak standpoint, you can definitely trust NordVPN.
5. The same degree of protection on multiple devices
Whether you’re trying to deploy NordVPN on iOS, macOS, Windows, Android phones or your router, you’ll definitely get the same airtight protection.
You can install NordVPN on up to 6 devices on the same account. Therefore, you don’t need to limit your VPN experience on just a single device if your needs are a bit more complex than that.
We’ve also run our battery of security tests on each device we’ve deployed NordVPN on. The results were the same, regardless of the device type: NordVPN doesn’t leak your data and can keep your connection secure all the time.
6. Advanced malware-blocking features and kill switch
NordVPN is one of the few services that offer advanced security features such as a built-in malware blocker and a kill switch.
Now we’re fully aware that the kill switch has become a tad more crucial in VPN development, adware and malware blocking isn’t there just yet.
Thus, the fact that NordVPN has implemented malware-blocking capabilities within its default VPN service is definitely a nice addition.
A quick recap on NordVPN’s features
To wrap it up, NordVPN can definitely be trusted if you’re looking for a service that can keep your connection, your privacy, and your devices safe, private, and secure.
Here’s a quick summary of what NordVPN can offer you:
Hides your IP address and keeps it cloaked as long as you use the VPN
CyberSec helps you block malware and adware hosts without any third-party tools
Double VPN routes your traffic through two VPNs instead of one for added protection
Automatic kill switch interrupts your default, insecure Internet connection if no VPN is detected
Prevents DNS leaks from occurring and revealing your true online identity
Enforces strict zero-logging and no monitoring policies
Helps you protect up to 6 devices on the same account
Multiple protocols including OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec and the experimental NordLynx
Considering all that, it’s safe to say that NordVPN is a VPN service you can trust.
That was great news since the driver problems are one of the most important causes of errors and BSoDs.
A little bit later, Microsoft provided the solution to deliver the drivers which they, together with the manufacturers already tested and validated through optional updates in Windows 10.
It’s a filter that can, of course, contribute to eliminating any such problems but now, it seems like they silently have taken out one method of updating your driver, by using Device Manager.
What can I do if I can’t update the drivers in Device Manager?
Apparently, if you have a Windows 10 version 2004, build 19041.423 or older, you can’t look for a newer driver online using Device Manager.
Everything else looks similar but when you select the Update driver option from the Device Manager menu for a PC component, you will see two options, none on which is offering online help.
The first option, to Search automatically for drivers is only offering the option to search your computer for a driver. The other is to browse your computer for a driver if you already downloaded one.
This can be good or bad news, depending on how you look at it. It’s safer to have the correct driver instead of downloading a possibly unsafe or incompatible driver online.
It can also be a nuisance for users who got used to the process and are looking for improved drivers no matter what.
How can I update drivers in Windows 10?
Well, there are a lot of means to update your drivers and you can’t cross Device Manager from the list just yet because it can still be a valid option to use after you downloaded the new driver.
Microsoft is no longer sticking to the monthly “Xbox 20/20 updates” formula it announced back in May. Indeed, the company has quietly updated its original blog post last week to say that the initial announcement suggested that there would be a monthly Xbox show every month, and there was indeed no big event in June between the May Inside Xbox livestream and the Xbox Games Showcase in July.
“After reassessing our programming for the rest of the year, we’ve decided to stop using the “Xbox 20/20” phrasing as it implied that we would be releasing information in one way only, through a dedicated monthly show,” the Xbox team explained. The first Xbox 20/20 update in May was focused on third-party games coming to Xbox Series X, and that show didn’t really meet the expectations of Xbox fans looking to see real gameplay on Xbox Series X. June passed without an Xbox 20/20 update, and the Xbox Games Showcase in July was also a disappointment for Halo fans after Halo: Infinite failed to blow everyone away.
“We’ve got so much more to share with news about Xbox Series X, new games like Halo: Infinite, and cloud gaming via Xbox Game Pass. We’re going to share that news in a variety of ways. It may sometimes be a dedicated show, YouTube videos, partnering with others, or sharing the latest via Xbox Wire. We want to stay flexible with how we connect with you,” the Xbox team said in the update published last week. The company is expected to finally unveil its Lockhart/Xbox Series S console this month, which is now the worst kept secret in the video games industry, but it remains to be seen how the Xbox team will do it.
After Sony aired a new “State of Play” livestream last week, it would be a bit disappointing to see the Xbox team not using a similar format this month. However, Microsoft announced its Surface Laptop 3, Surface Go 2 and Surface Headphones via a simple press release earlier this year, so it wouldn’t be completely surprising if the Xbox Series S getting the same treatment this month.
It’s been rumored for some time that elements of the now-delayed Windows 10X operating system could come to regular Windows 10, and we’re now perhaps finally seeing some of that come true. As noted by Windows Central, the latest Windows Insider build hides away the Windows 10X touch keyboard inside the operating system.
Coming as a change from the Windows 8 style touch keyboard that has been in Windows 10 for the last 5 years, this should be quite refreshing. As Microsoft showcased when it revealed Windows 10X, this keyboard comes with transparent effects, touches of Fluent Design, as well as new sounds. There’s even a GIF picker, emoji panel (now above the keyboard,) and fresher animations. Other new elements include a shortcut above the keyboard to see the clipboard.
If you’re eager and don’t want to wait for this feature to officially roll out, you can try this keyboard today at your own risk today. First, install the ViveTool, extract it, open it in PowerShell, and run the following code (without the quote marks) “vivetool addconfig 20438551 2” You should then restart your PC for it to work. Again, we don’t recommend installing such programs to your PC and urge you to wait for Microsoft to roll it out. But, since the code for the keyboard is in the operating system, it might well be coming soon.
If you own a small business, then generating reports, presentations, training materials, and newsletters are key to your day to day operations. With these types of materials, you not only can keep your employees engaged, but also your audience and customers. You might have already heard about using PowerPoint or other programs like Photoshop and Adobe InDesign for creating these things, but did you know that your Microsoft 365 subscription has a service that also can help out?
That’s right, with your Microsoft 365 Subscription you have access to Sway. This is an app from Microsoft Office that makes it easy to create and share interactive reports, personal stories, presentations, and more. In our latest Microsoft 365 guide, we’ll be going hands-on with the experience for you.
What is Sway?
Before getting into anything, we’ll recap what exactly Sway does for you. Sway lets you compile text, images, videos, and other content into an interactive online format. You’ll be able to use it to apply designer-created layouts and color schemes or let Sway suggest design elements that match your content. You also can search and import relevant content from sources, and then share your Sways on the web.
Sway is available online from the web or from the Microsoft Store in Windows 10. It’s free to use for anyone with a Microsoft Account. However, you can create some more advanced Sways when used with a Microsoft 365 Subscription. You can learn more about that here.
Once you head into Sway on the web, you’ll be able to create a new one from scratch, from an existing file, or a topic. You can click the Create New button to get started with a new Sway from blank. For most novices, though, we recommend starting from a template. For other things like a report, you can start from a topic by clicking Start from a topic. With this option, Sway provides base content for you, powered by Wikipedia.
You can also choose from a variety of common templates such as internal newsletter, external newsletter, How-to, vision document, status update, resume, and more. Scroll through the list with the arrow key. Once you find the one you want, you can edit the template by clicking Start editing this Sway.
If you create from a topic or template you’ll see various pre-populated sections, similar to a Word document or a PowerPoint. You can edit these by clicking on each card or image to put in your own content. When you finish, you can preview the Sway by clicking the Play button at the top. You also can change things around by clicking the Styles tab under Design to change text boxes to different styles for a more unique look. We’ll have more on that later.
Creating a Sway from scratch
Next up, there’s creating a sway from scratch. If you choose to go this route, you need to be aware of a couple of things. These include: the Storyline, the title, and adding content. We’ll get started by explaining the Storyline, first.
In Sway, the Storyline is where you’ll edit, type, and insert content. The Storyline is organized by cards, and each card has different purposes and content types. These cards include text, images, videos, and also Office documents. You can upload your own images, or you can search for sources using the search box directly within Sway. Just click the Insert button at the top right corner of the screen.
The first card in the Storyline will always be the title. Be sure to make this one stand out. You can drag images saved on your device into the Sway title by clicking and dragging them in from the original location.
Next, there’s your content. You also can add new elements and content to the Storyline by clicking the green + button underneath any previous card. The different types of elements you can add to a Sway can be seen below. We suggest playing around with these as you add them, as each type of content changes the way a Sway looks.
Heading
Text
Images
Stack of Images, Text
Videos
Audio
Embed an item
Stack of images, slideshow of images, grid of games, and more.
Once you add a card, you can delete it at any time by clicking the trashcan icon in the top right corner of the card. You also can drag storyline cards up and down by clicking and dragging it around, if you need to reorganize things.
Design in Sways
Continuing along, there is another important area to Sway, The Design. This is accessed by clicking the Design tab when editing a Sway. From here, you’ll be able to select designs and layouts. There are various designs to choose from.
Each design will change your backgrounds and text boxes to a different theme. You can cycle through the list to pick one, and then choose the Customize button to change it as you see fit. That customize option will let you adjust a specific part of the currently applied theme, such as color, font choices, and the emphasis of animation.
The Style, meanwhile, can be changed from vertical, horizontal, or slides. These will change how your content scrolls as the user scroll through your content.
Once you’re satisfied with a design, you can preview your way by clicking the Play button on the top menu bar. This will allow you to experience your sway just as the viewer would.
Sharing your Sway and more
Once you design a Sway, the final thing to do is to share it. When shared, your family can view it without signing in or downloading. To share, just click the Share button in the top navigation bar and copy the URL. You can choose three ways to share, with specific people, only within your organization, or anyone with a link. You also can copy an embed code and embed it in a blog, as we have done above. If you’d like you also can add a password to the Sway to protect it. You can learn more about sharing Sways at Microsoft by clicking here.
We hope that you found out guide to Microsoft Sway helpful. If you’re still looking for more information on how to get started with Sway, you can check out Microsoft’s support website, here. Do you like Sway? Get creative, and let us know how Sway works for you by dropping us a comment below.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it’s bringing new cloud syncing capabilities to Outlook for Windows in June. However, it seems like the Redmond giant has delayed the release of this feature to the end of September (via Dr Windows). Microsoft has posted a new update in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center noting that the decision has been made based on early feedback received from the users, and some additional changes to the code are required to enable cloud roaming option:
Based on learnings from our early rings, we have made the decision to make additional changes to the code before we proceed with the rollout. We expect to roll this out to the Monthly Channel, Production, in late September (previously late June).
The new cloud syncing feature will deliver roaming profiles that should sync a wide variety of settings in the cloud, and the list includes Advanced, Calendar, Ease of Access, General, Groups, Mail, People, Search, as well as Tasks. The whole point of the cloud roaming option is to ensure a consistent user experience when they access Outlook for Windows on any of their PCs.
Microsoft’s second next-gen Xbox console, which is rumored to be officially announced in August, will apparently be named the Xbox Series S. Leaked pictures of a next-gen white Xbox controller have been published by Twitter user Zak S over the weekend, and the side of the packaging shows that it’s compatible with the “Xbox Series X/S.”
This is the second time we’re seeing a white next-gen Xbox controller in pictures after a Reddit user briefly posted pictures of a similar controller last week before deleting them. Anyway, The Verge has now confirmed the authenticity of the pictures from Zak S, who apparently purchased the controller from a resale site.
The Xbox Series S name makes sense if Microsoft wants to reiterate the two consoles strategy that led to the release of the more powerful Xbox One X one year after the Xbox One S. This time, Microsoft chose to unveil its more powerful Xbox Series X console first, and the Xbox Series S is expected to be the cheaper “Lockhart” SKU that we’ve been hearing about from quite some time now. Traces of Lockhart/Xbox Series S have recently been found in a new Microsoft Game Development Kit from June.
Compared to the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S/Lockhart is expected to come with a similar AMD custom-designed Zen 2 GPU, but a less powerful 4 teraflops GPU for 1080p/1440p gaming. The Xbox Series S is also expected to be a discless console with a form factor that could be quite similar to the Xbox One S/X. Actually, the console could be a good next-gen replacement for the Xbox One X that Microsoft recently stopped manufacturing.
It remains to be seen if pictures of the Xbox Series S could leak before Microsoft officially announces it. Sony opted for a slightly different strategy, announcing a discless PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console alongside the regular PlayStation 5 last month. Microsoft has opted instead for 2 consoles with different specs, and this might cause some confusion for consumers. The company has a new “Optimized for Xbox Series X” badge that will appear on game packaging, but it’s not clear yet if these optimized games will benefit from similar optimizations when running on the less powerful Xbox Series S.
Many users reported Your computer may be sending automated queries while using Google. This issue can be annoying since it will force you to fill in Captcha in order to continue using Google search.
However, there’s a way to solve this issue, and today we’re going to show you how to do it.
Why is my network sending automated queries?
Well, the most basic explanation of this error message is that the provider is seeing suspicious activity between your public IP address and its servers.
As a result, an automated query is usually one that comes in rapid succession and in large volume. You may not be blocked outright, but may instead receive a challenge to enter a code.
That being said, know that this could also be the result of a browser issue or malware you might have accidentally downloaded to your device.
What to do if my computer is sending automated queries?
1. Try a different browser
Let us start by saying that there are few things more annoying than your computer or network sending automated queries and Recaptcha requests.
The first thing you should do when encountering this problem is to try a different browser. There are many great browsers on the market, but if you want a reliable and secure browser, we suggest you try out Opera One.
Once installed, you can easily import all your Chrome bookmarks, and it brings extra utilities such as integrated social media, messaging and a native AI.
This browser comes with built-in Ad blocker, anti-tracking features, and even its own VPN, so it’s a great choice if you want to surf the web without any security or privacy concerns.
The VPN can be quite handy since it will change the IP address that Google detects and won’t consider your device or network to be sending automated queries no more.
Opera One
You can start enjoying all the great benefits at a glance and set it up with ease to change your IP.
If any malware is found, be sure to remove it as soon as possible.
Check if the problem is still there.
If you’re looking for a secure and reliable antivirus that can detect all types of malware, you might consider switching to a more effective one.
To do this, you can consider the fittest antivirus for your PC safety from malware, and thus take action choosing from the best antivirus software for Windows 10.
3. Connect to a different network
If possible, connect to a different network.
If the issue doesn’t occur on a different network, it’s possible that the issue is related to your ISP.
Trying waiting for a few minutes or for an hour and check if the problem still appears.
4. Delete cookies
Open your browser and navigate to the three dots at the top right corner of your browser.
Then, select Settings.
Scroll down and click on Advanced.
Now, navigate down and click on Clear Browsing Data.
Tick the box on the Cookies and other site data option.
Finally, click on Clear data.
Users reported their computers or networks sending automated queries for VPNs, Selenium, Rockstar, Tor, Python, and many others.
In order to protect their users, providers have certain protocols in place for such problems. However, if they can’t process your request right now, their help page will surely provide more details.
These are tested and verified solutions. Try out any of them and get your computer may be sending automated queries to issue resolved permanently.
Many users reported that Gmail notifications are not working in Chrome. This is a minor but inconvenient issue, and in today’s article, we’ll show you how to fix it once and for all.
What to do if Gmail notifications aren’t working in Chrome?
1. Try a different browser
If you’re having this issue, it’s advised that you try using a different browser. This is a Chrome issue, so it’s best to use a browser that is based on Chromium engine such as UR Browser.
This browser has the same features as Chrome, so all your Chrome extensions will work. Unlike Chrome, Opera One focuses on user privacy and security, as well as being much more customizable.
It comes with a built-in ad blocker, tracking protection, a VPN with unlimited traffic and even a built-in AI.
In addition, there’s a built-in scanner for downloaded files as well as a VPN. If you want a secure and reliable browser that works perfectly with Gmail and its notifications, Opera One is the way to go.
Scroll down to the Desktop notifications and select New mail notifications on.
Scroll all the way down and click on Save changes
After doing that, notifications from Gmail should appear on your PC.
3. Check Windows 10 notification settings
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
When the Settings app opens, go to System > Notifications & actions.
Select Notifications & actions from the left pane. In the right pane, make sure that Google Chrome is enabled in Get notifications from these senders.
4. Make sure that notifications are enabled in Chrome
Open Gmail’s website, and click the lock icon just left of the address bar.
Select Site settings from the menu.
Set Notifications to Allow and save changes.
Check if the problem is resolved.
As you can see, this is just a minor problem, but you should be able to fix it by following our solutions. If our solutions helped you feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
Welcome back to our Windows 10 news recap, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Microsoft’s flagship operating system.
New Surface Pro 7 firmware updates improve power efficiency and Cortana experience
Surface Pro 7 users were sent a new firmware update this week. This latest update improves power efficiency and the Cortana experience. It is recommended to install the updates in order to ensure you’re getting the most out of the Surface Pro 7 battery.
Surface Pro 7 Red
Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise will bring full Windows apps to Chromebooks later this fall
Enterprise users of Parallels Desktop for Chromebook are set to be able to make use of full Windows apps this fall, as part of bringing Windows virtual machines to Chromebooks, much like the case with Mac.
Samsung deepens its partnership with Microsoft with new Office, Your Phone, and Xbox integrations
Microsoft’s foray back into the phone market with the Surface Duo dual-screen phone doesn’t appear to have tainted the relationship between Microsoft and Samsung, with Samsung announcing a number of new and improved integrations with Microsoft’s services. Of note for Windows 10 users, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 will gain the ability to launch Android apps from your phone on a Windows 10 PC.
Most corporations set up a VPN to allow employees to remotely connect to the workplace. It’s an ingenious method for securely accessing the company’s intranet and using all its resources just as if you were actually sitting in front of the office PC.
However, you can also get the best VPN for personal use. It’s different from a business VPN because you don’t connect to a VPN server to access another network’s resources.
Instead, you reroute your entire network traffic through VPN, thus bypassing your ISP. What does it mean? Your ISP will no longer be able to see what websites you visit, what torrents you download, or what movies you watch online.
Even if you’re not concerned about your online privacy, a VPN stops your ISP from throttling your bandwidth based on your type of activities, like streaming or downloading. In turn, this results in a stable Internet connection that doesn’t slow down.
Here’s what else you can do with a VPN for personal use:
Although it’s tempting to use a free virtual private network solution, you shouldn’t. They are notoriously dangerous for monitoring and sharing your VPN traffic with others. Simply said, you just can’t trust a free VPN with your data.
However, premium VPNs are different because they are actually designed to serve your interests. But not all of them are good, so here are the 5 top VPNs for private use.
Made by Kape Technologies, Private Internet Access (PIA) is a secure VPN that delivers high-speed connections. Optimized for torrenting and streaming, PIA comes with a vast network of more than +3,300 VPN servers in 48 countries.
You can use it to secure your web browsing sessions, host game servers for you and your friends, watch Netflix US, hide your browsing history from your ISP, as well as set up native port forwarding without router setup.
Private Internet Access supports OpenVPN and WireGuard, Shadowsocks and SOCK5, an ad and malware blocker, split tunneling mode, and a kill switch. It runs private DNS servers to protect your DNS requests, and it allows 10 simultaneous connections.
More about PIA:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
Private Internet Access
Get PIA for personal use to improve your whole Internet experience.
Created by Tefincom & Co., NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs on the market, ideal for personal use. It has a network of over 5,100 VPN servers in 59 countries, which you can use for torrenting, streaming, gaming, and secure browsing.
NordVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol to encrypt your data traffic without taking away from the network connection speed. It comes with a malware and ad blocker called CyberSec, made to protect your browsing sessions from phishing and other Internet dangers.
You can set up NordVPN on all major operating systems, as well as protect up to 6 devices at the same time. It’s capable of unblocking many Netflix libraries, including Netflix US. The tool supports Double VPN, Onion-over-VPN, and obfuscated servers.
More about NordVPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
NordVPN
Raise your laptop’s security level using one of the best VPNs for personal use.
Developed by Surfshark LTD, Surfshark is a highly secure VPN for personal use, especially if you’re not willing to pay too much money. It’s the most affordable virtual private network service on this list, which comes bundled with some cool safety options.
It supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and Shadowsocks, private DNS on each VPN server, multi-hop connections, split tunneling, kill switch, P2P support, together with an ad and malware blocker for web browsers.
The tool features unlimited simultaneous connections, which means that you can protect your entire household devices with a single Surfshark account. Plus, you can set it up on all major operating systems and platforms.
More about Surfshark:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat and email support
30-day money-back guarantee
7-day free trial for iOS and Android
Surfshark
Protect all devices in your family using a single subscription to this top VPN for personal use.
Also owned by Kape Technologies, CyberGhost VPN is the best free VPN for personal use. You can install it on all popular platforms and protect up to 7 devices at the same time. The app has the largest network of servers on this list: more than 6,500 in 89 countries.
CyberGhost VPN can defend your router from hackers and connect you to trusted Wi-Fi networks without VPN. It supports exclusive DNS servers and DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and a kill switch.
Furthermore, you can use CyberGhost VPN to watch the most popular Netflix catalogs, including Netflix US, UK, and Canada. It’s the best free VPN for Netflix, delivering a streaming experience with zero buffering.
More about CyberGhost VPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat support
Up to 45-day money-back guarantee
1-day free trial for Windows and Mac
7-day free trial for Android and iOS
CyberGhost VPN
Take advantage of the best free VPN for personal use at a discounted price.
Made by Express VPN International LTD, ExpressVPN is a popular choice in the VPN community and one of the top VPNs for private use. It has a network of more than 3,000 VPN servers in 94 countries.
The tool runs zero-knowledge DNS servers to preserve your online anonymity and make sure that no information is written about your Internet traffic through VPN servers. Plus, it uses OpenVPN with 256-bit military-grade encryption.
You can install the VPN client on all popular devices, including routers. It also comes with a MediaStreamer feature that allows you to watch Netflix US on devices without native VPN support, such as gaming consoles or Smart TVs.
More about ExpressVPN:
No logs or leaks
24/7 live chat and email support
30-day money-back guarantee
7-day free trial for iOS and Android
ExpressVPN
Unblock streaming services and download anonymously using one of the top VPNs for personal use.
In conclusion, you can use one of the best VPNs for personal use to significantly improve your Internet connections when it comes to online security and privacy.
One of the biggest concerns of casual VPN users is whether or not can VPN traffic be monitored. When you’re looking for the perfect security and privacy solution, you’re usually promised complete privacy and top-notch protection from VPNs.
So it only makes sense that you’d cling on that sense of security that a VPN provides you with. It’s already common knowledge that a VPN can hide your Internet traffic from your ISP.
You’ll be glad to learn that you can also bypass geo-restrictions with a VPN. More so, if your ISP limits your connection, you can use a VPN to increase your connection speed (and its quality) without an issue.
Yet, people are still concerned that someone can monitor their VPN traffic. So let’s debunk this mystery once and for all.
How does VPN encrypt your traffic?
It all starts on your computer after you deploy the VPN client. The client receives all the requests you make to online services and turns them into encrypted traffic.
The encrypted traffic travels through a secure tunnel that nobody but the VPN has access to (ideally). It then reaches the VPN server you’ve connected to, where it gets decrypted and forwarded.
Once it reaches the destination, the online service you’ve sent the request to sends you a response. However, since the response travels backward, it gets encrypted by the VPN server and decrypted by the client.
However, it travels the same secure tunnel of encrypted traffic that nobody but your VPN can access. Again, this is an ideal scenario and the truth is that some VPNs don’t offer this level of security.
Can VPN network traffic be monitored?
If your VPN hasn’t been hacked and takes all the necessary steps to prevent an attack from ever occurring, then your VPN traffic is safe. Trustworthy VPN providers don’t monitor their customers’ online activity.
Therefore, if an attacker were to break in, it could technically access VPN network traffic, right? Yes, but they can’t link traffic to any specific individual if the VPN does its part right.
If the attacker were to listen to the connection between the VPN server (where data gets decrypted) and the service you’re trying to access, it could figure out what you’re trying to access.
However, since you passed your data through the secure encryption tunnel, your personally identifiable data should be all wiped out from the traffic.
Meaning that your attacker will simply see that the server tries to access some site. It’s not exactly useful data, since anyone connected to that specific server could’ve accessed that website.
Combine that with SSL encryption and the attacker’s got squat on you. Long story short, even if VPN traffic could be monitored, the traffic would still be anonymized.
What about MITM attacks?
They can still happen, even if you’re using a VPN, but not how you’d think. Essentially, VPNs will protect you against MITM (man in the middle) attacks that target the area between you (your device) and the VPN gateway.
Thus, it prevents your ISP (or any other attacker) from running a MITM attack against your device specifically.
However, if an attacker would position itself between the VPN gateway and your destination service (website, email server, etc), you can be affected by MITM.
On the bright side, it’s extremely difficult for the attacker to specifically target you amidst the attack. Thus, the attack would most likely target every user who tries to access that specific service.
What’s the most secure VPN?
If you’re still a bit worried about your VPN traffic being monitored, you should aim to find a secure, trustworthy service that won’t break your privacy no matter what.
We wholeheartedly recommend Private Internet Access, a VPN that’s brought to you by Kape Technologies. This service has passed all of our security, privacy, and speed tests without a hiccup.
Private Internet Access
Looking for a VPN that prevents traffic monitoring? PIA might be what you need.
However, if you’re not ready to commit to a single VPN service just yet and want to do most research, make sure to check out our recommendations of great VPNs that have zero-logging policies.
All things considered, it would be wrong to say that VPN traffic is impossible to monitor. Given the right tools and determination, a skillful attacker could work its magic to listen to VPN traffic.
However, since VPN traffic is anonymized, all the attacker would be able to learn would be the destination of the traffic. There’s no way it could be pinpointed to the user who initiated the request.
All the traffic in the VPN tunnel is anonymized, and once it gets decrypted, it simply looks like the VPN server is making the request to the remote server (service you’re trying to reach).
So, even though VPN traffic could be monitored, it’s probably not worth worrying about.
If you’ve considered using a VPN but didn’t take the leap yet, you’ve probably wondered whether or not can VPN monitor Internet activity. And it’s nothing to be worried about, many of us took VPN with a grain of salt in the beginning.
Let’s put it this way. Are you aware that without using a VPN, your ISP has full control of your traffic? How about the fact that your ISP can see everything you do online?
Ranging from the websites you visit to what files you download and how much time you spend online, your ISP sees it all. Doesn’t that bother you at all?
Well, essentially what a VPN does is take over your ISP’s role in a sense. You’ll still be getting your Internet from your ISP, but they won’t be able to eavesdrop on your connection any longer.
So what happens with your traffic?
How does a VPN work?
In order to encrypt your traffic, a VPN performs a lot of processes. It all starts when you install a VPN client on your PC and connect to a secure server. Remember, the closest the server, the higher the speed you’ll get.
After securing your connection with the VPN, you’ll perhaps try to access a website. Your request goes from your machine, through the VPN client where it gets encrypted, and passes a secure tunnel that hides traffic from your ISP.
The data then reaches the VPN server, where it gets decrypted and pushed forward to the website. The website then generates a response and sends it back to you on the same route.
Only this time, the response gets encrypted by the VPN server and unencrypted by the VPN client. Therefore, between you and the VPN exit point, all your traffic is encrypted.
We’ve already established that VPNs can’t break SSL encryption. So technically there should be no reason to worry about it. However…
Can VPN monitor Internet activity?
You’re not going to like this answer, but the truth is that VPN can monitor Internet activity. More so, some of them actually engage in such privacy-breaching practices.
This is why it’s important to pick a trustworthy VPN and stick with it, no matter how tempting a lifetime free VPN sounds. Providers such as Private Internet Access, NordVPN, Surfshark have strong anti-logging and anti-monitoring policies.
Remember, a VPN can see almost everything your ISP used to see. And if ISPs could see your unencrypted Internet traffic with ease, then so does your VPN.
What is the best no-monitoring VPN?
Even if we’ve burst your bubble with the claim above, you shouldn’t be disappointed. Like in any other industry, VPN also has its fair share of bad apples.
To help you get past potentially monitoring VPN services, we’ve provided a list of services that are guaranteed to respect your privacy and not log or monitor anything you do.
As you can see, there are some subtle differences between the services in our selection. It’s up to you to choose the one that fits your needs the best. Regardless of your choice, you can rest assured that the VPN you are stuck with won’t monitor your Internet activity.
It’s possible for VPNs to monitor your Internet activity
To sum it up, it’s not unheard of for VPNs to monitor their customers’ activity. Some of them collect these bits of valuable information to sell them to various companies or hand them over to authorities if the need arises.
On the bright side, there are also several providers that swear by their no-logging, no-monitoring policies that won’t break your trust and invade your privacy by monitoring your Internet activity.
According to a Microsoft post on the support page, the company is preparing a phased rollout for the new Microsoft Edge.
The move is absolutely normal as Microsoft invested a lot in the latest developments of Edge, including the latest enterprise features.
However, the announcement comes with an alarming title for some users, the title of the short document is Can’t uninstall Microsoft Edge.
What can I do if I can’t uninstall Microsoft Edge?
Microsoft explains very shortly on how is this going to roll down:
The new version of Microsoft Edge gives users full control over importing personal data from the legacy version of Microsoft Edge. The new version of Microsoft Edge is included in a Windows system update, so the option to uninstall it or use the legacy version of Microsoft Edge will no longer be available.
So the new Microsoft Edge is going to be included probably in a cumulative update and you won’t have the option to uninstall it or to revert to the old, HTML version of the browser.
The reaction was pretty quick as one user posted a link for a petition in Reddit to allow users to uninstall Microsoft Edge.
We already had an episode with Microsoft blocking out other browsers in 2016 but that was listed as a mistake. The bottom line is that if Edge will come as built-in to an update, the uninstall option will be grayed out.
That’s not exactly true because you will still be able to uninstall it using Command Prompt.
How can I uninstall Microsoft Edge using Command prompt?
Type command in Windows search and select Run as administrator.
Now type the following line: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\83.0.478.58\Installer
Next, type the following command setup.exe --uninstall --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstall
Practically, the first command gets you to the exact place where the installer and the second command will wipe out Edge.
Note: 83.0.478.58 is the version of the Edge. You can navigate using a File Explorer to that exact path and make sure that it’s the right version.
If you do encounter other problems with uninstalling Edge or if you have any other solutions, please share them in our Comments section below.
It’s been a couple of days since Microsoft released a major update for PowerToys (version 0.20), but the company has already rolled out a maintenance update. Indeed, PowerToys v0.20.1, which was released earlier this week, delivers a couple of critical fixes to improve the overall stability of the app.
We just released #powerToys 0.20.1 which fixed a few critical bugs. One bug caused a cascade of other bugs to be found. This also has a fix for the installer. https://t.co/VfK1bbhgVg
“This is patch release to fix a few items for 0.20 we deemed important for stability. The installer, PowerToys Run, FancyZones and ColorPicker. FancyZones had a bug in it which then crashed our hosting app (we refer to as Runner), then that caused us to find a few bugs in PowerToys Run that happen when Runner crashes,” said Clint Rutkas, Program manager lead on PowerToys.
Here’s the full list of improvements and fixes in PowerToys version 0.20.1:
#5400 – PT Run doesn’t dispose properly and disposed object trying to be accessed
#5555 – ColorPicker trying to always reload a bad settings file
#5540 – FancyZones tries to drag an elevated window
If you’re still experiencing some issues, you can share your feedback with the PowerToys team on GitHub to help them fix these additional problems. In the meantime, you can head over to the GitHub releases page to get the latest stability improvements.
Microsoft PowerPoint on Windows is getting a new adaptive Mini Toolbar that should help users improve their productivity. The feature is already live in Microsoft PowerPoint for Office Insiders running the Current Channel (Preview) Version 2005 (Build 12723.10000) or later.
The Mini Toolbar, which is a stripped-down version of the full toolbar available near the top of the application window, was first introduced in Microsoft Office 2007. It makes it easier for users to access the commands they need to use most frequently quickly.
With this new Mini Toolbar experience, Microsoft is now working to evolve this feature to meet the evolving needs of users. They will now see three additional buttons at the end of the Mini Toolbar based on the last 20 commands that they used while working on a file. These buttons should automatically update as users will switch between commands and tasks to suggest commands relevant to their current task.
Microsoft plans to release this new adaptive Mini Toolbar experience to Current Channel (Preview) users in August. Still, it shouldn’t be long before the update starts rolling out to all Microsoft 365 subscribers. If you’re an Office Insider who has any suggestions about this new feature, feel free to submit your feedback by heading to Help > Feedback in PowerPoint.
Now, the Insider program is used as a way to beta test new features and ideas.
Similar to the Chrome browser, you should have the installer to download Microsoft’s Edge Insider setup program. The installer requires an Internet connection to download the complete setup package for Microsoft Edge.
A couple of users are reporting installation and updates errors for Microsoft Edge Insider build.
If you are experiencing such issues, here is a quick guide to help you fix these errors.
Quick tip:
The Opera One browser is also built on top of Chromium, just like Edge is. So they have this in common.
The developers from Opera One, however, added a whole bunch of extra features for free, that users can enjoy.
Here’s what we really like:
The built-in adblocker and VPN
Sync tabs on all your devices
Group tabs together in Workspaces and Tab Islands
Native AI and modular AI-ready design
And many more that are waiting to be discovered. There are 3 separate channels: Stable, Beta and Developer.
The Developer channel receives updates daily but is quite unstable. The Beta channel receives them weekly and it’s a good opportunity to test things out sooner.
And the Stable release gets an update twice a month. This is the recommended and default channel.
Opera One
More organized interface, fewer errors, and much more versatility.
You should check a few things if you face any issues while installing or updating Microsoft Edge Insider build.
1. Identify the current version of your OS.
Right now, Microsoft Edge Insider builds are only accessible to Windows 10 (64-bit) users. Microsoft plans to support other versions later this year.
2. Change how you connect to the network
Sometimes the issue can be fixed by changing the way you connect to your network — especially if you get error 403. You can get rid of the error by directly connecting to your domain.
3. Check your connection settings
Firewall settings, antivirus or parental controls can also be a potential reason behind blocking installation or update.
4. Update your trusted sites
You should add officeapps.live.com to the list of trusted sites in your browser if you are downloading builds with Internet Explorer.
5. Download new Edge Insider builds
Occasionally a bad installation is also a cause behind these kinds of issues. You can try downloading the build again after removing your existing Edge Insider build.
6. Reboot your system
If the problem still persists, reboot your system after fresh installing the Edge Insider build to apply recent changes.
Microsoft has released the new Edge browser on other platforms in the meantime. The Insider build is used now as a Beta Channel.
Microsoft is fighting back against Apple after the iPhone maker blocked the Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming service (Project xCloud) out of the Apple App Store due to its policies. In a statement seen on Windows Central, Microsoft had some harsh words for its longtime rival, saying that “Apple stands alone as the only platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming.”
In addition to calling out Apple, Microsoft again hinted that, due to these policies, there is now no path to bringing cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to iPad and iPhone users. “Our testing period for the Project xCloud preview app for iOS has expired. Unfortunately, we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store,” said Microsoft to the publication.
In another part of the statement, Microsoft addressed Apple’s policies of treating games on Apple App Store differently. This refers to the policy where Apple doesn’t have to moderate other streaming apps (like songs on Spotify or movies on Netflix) because they consider games as different and “interactive.” On this, Microsoft says to Windows Central, “It [Apple] consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content.”
Microsoft ended its statement by pointing out that despite what Apple says, all games on Xbox Game Pass are “rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents.” Microsoft also hinted at being a cross-platform company, saying that it is still committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass to iOS. “The customer should be at the heart of the gaming experience and gamers tell us they want to play, connect and share anywhere, no matter where they are,” said Microsoft.
Indeed, it now seems as though Microsoft has joined the rest of the world in addressing Apple’s unfair App Store policies. This will shape up to be a new controversy, for sure, and we will keep you updated. Do you stand with Apple, or Microsoft? Let us know which side of the controversy you stand on by dropping us a comment below.
Microsoft has just announced an update on its upcoming Ignite conference, the company’s annual event for developers and IT professionals. This is quite exceptional, but the software giant says it will be planning Ignite 2020 as two free global virtual events, one in September, and another one to come in early 2021.
According to Microsoft, Ignite has shifted from in-person to two virtual sessions so the company could create “an additional opportunity to connect with our technical communities and share the latest product developments.” The first session will be free 48-hour digital gathering from September 22-24. Registration for this one will be open on September 3rd. The second event will be held early next year, but will not replace Microsoft Build. “We’ll continue to host Microsoft Build as the forum for our developer communities to come together,” said Microsoft.
Microsoft also says it has learned from the global digital events it has already hosted this year. And, by shifting Ignite online, global participants can come together, and get the chance to get skill building with Microsoft Learn and certifications. You can stay up to date on Ignite by checking Microsoft’s events website here.
Many misconceptions regarding VPN usage float unhindered on the vast Internet channels, such as whether or not a VPN can mess up your phone. It’s already common knowledge that most VPNs aren’t PC-exclusive.
As a matter of fact, you can deploy a VPN on a wide range of devices, including but not limited to your router, tablet, phone, or even your gaming console.
However, one of these is not like the others. Your phone has most likely the most significant chunk of your personal data, so it makes sense that you’d be worried about VPN messing up your phone.
Is it safe to use a VPN on your phone?
Popular VPN providers such as Private Internet Access and CyberGhost VPN have several apps that are fit for various devices. Deploying a trustworthy VPN on your phone should be no different than installing the same service on your PC.
You’ll get more privacy, and your connection’s security will significantly improve. More so, remember those times when you tried watching US Netflix on your phone, and it didn’t work?
Well, if you’re in a non-US location, a VPN can help you bypass the geoblock.
Now about safety. We’re quite aware that installing a VPN on your phone is a huge step, as it requires a lot of permissions. However, rest assured that your VPN only does that so it can be more effective.
How else could Surfshark, for instance, spoof your GPS location without having access to your GPS in the first place? And how could PIA, for instance, secure your WiFi if you don’t grant it access?
Can VPN mess up your phone?
1. If you install it from untrusted sources
This is unfortunately one of the gravest mistakes VPN users do. Please try to always avoid downloading VPNs from shady websites. As a rule, you should especially avoid those with no SSL certificates.
Furthermore, don’t attempt to download cracked VPNs from warez websites.
The odds are not in your favor, and you might end up installing a malware-ridden service that will force your phone into a botnet or grant your attacker full remote rights over your device.
Google’s and Apple’s app stores have various protections that will automatically detect if there’s something wrong with the product in their store.
Moreover, both Android and iPhone devices benefit from built-in scanners that can detect and prevent apps from harming your devices. As long as you don’t mess with the default settings, VPNs shouldn’t be able to mess up your phone.
2. If you use free VPN
This is not by any means an opportunity to discredit free VPNs. There are some trustworthy free VPNs, but most of them are not exactly safe.
Think of it this way: you’re using a service that runs hundreds of servers (which, by the way, cost a lot of money to maintain) for free. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
Most free VPN providers run side operations to afford to run their service for free. More often than not, they implement ads within their service, which you likely have to interact with.
Now, it’s not exactly classified information that many ads are full of malware and/or spyware.
So before gleaming with joy about finding the perfect free VPN, consider it might mess up your phone and harm your privacy rather than protect it.
3. If you root/jailbreak your phone
Rooting or jailbreaking your device isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Essentially it gives you more freedom over your device than you should have. It makes you run things with Admin rights if you want.
On the downside, many users choose to elevate their permissions on personal devices to engage in unlawful behavior, such as installing pirated apps (such as cracked VPNs) or overriding safe, default settings.
If you root/jailbreak your phone, you will most likely stop receiving OTA updates, and your device will be less secure than ever if you don’t have a clue about maintaining its security by yourself.
Now to the main question. Can VPN mess up your phone if it’s jailbroken or rooted? Yes. In fact, if your device has been fully unlocked, it’s easier than ever for malicious VPNapps to take over.
To sum it up, no, VPNapps can’t mess up your phones without additional assistance. Using official, trusted sources to download VPNapps should pose no risk to your phone.
However, if you plan on rooting/jailbreaking your device, downloading cracked VPNapps, and installing them on your phones, you’re probably going to mess up your phone all by yourself.
Last but not least, you should avoid certain free VPNs that seem to offer a whole lot in exchange for nothing.
Remember, running a VPN operation is pricey, and if you don’t pay for this service with money, you’ll definitely have to pay another way. And if one misconfigures the phone settings, you may encounter the Not connected to network Vodafone error.
In February, former head of Surface devices Panos Panay took over as head of a newly created Windows + Devices team, and today news is filtering out that some major shuffling is taking place within the org. In an email viewed by Petri.com and Thurrott.com, Panay redefines the purpose of the team, especially in light of the rapidly changing tech environment due to the coronavirus. Paul Thurrott quotes Panay from the email:
In taking the next step, our focus is on product-making, aligning experiences across the company, and inspiring our broad and vibrant ecosystem. Our desire is to create end-user pull across all segments of the business. As we move forward, I’m energized and passionate about the incredible opportunity in front of us.
Panay goes on to describe three basic pillars of the business:
Deliver iconic experiences across Microsoft, lighting up both modern work and life.
Grow the business of Windows and Surface, delivering the best of Microsoft and creating end-user pull.
Lead the industry through innovation and technology, enabling our ecosystem of partners to thrive.
To do that, Panay announced a number of personnel changes, including some new members to the team:
Jeff Johnson will lead the new Windows, Developers and Experiences (WDX) Engineering team
Linda Averett will join W +D to lead the WDX PM team
Michael Fortin will join W + D to lead a new team combining a number of teams across Microsoft, including COSINE (Core OS and Intelligent Edge) and 365 Experience and Services. Brad Sams explains that Project Reunion will fall under Fortin, now.
Aidan Marcuss will move from Devices COO “to lead Windows product planning, ecosystem (including the Windows Ecosystem Enablement team), Store, and 1st– and 3rd-party apps.”
Brett Ostrum will lead Devices product and roadmap, leading “a single point of ownership” for Surface, including Foldables
Robin Seiler will elad the Devices Portfolio and Operations (DPO) team, covering end to end business strategy for Windows and Devices
In addition, Mary Jo Foley is reporting that these changes are affecting Azure as well, with part the COSINE team moving over to Windows + Devices, but some of the Windows Core part of the team remaining in Azure under Jason Zander. New to Azure will be a new Azure Core team, uniting Compute and Networking and Storage Services, under Girish Bablani.
With Microsoft set to release the long awaited Surface Duo, and growing indications that it’s finally retaking an interest in consumer with the bombshell news of a pursuit of a TikTok acquisition, and now this renewed focus on product-making, things may be looking up for the Microsoft consumer enthusiast.
Bethesda is the latest video game publisher to share its plans for next-gen console upgrades. Today, the company announced that gamers who own The Elder Scrolls Online and Doom Eternal on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will be able to get the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions for free when they will be available.
We don’t know yet when the next-gen versions of these games will be available, or if Bethesda will leverage the Microsoft’s new Smart Delivery feature that will debut with the Xbox Series X later this year. In the meantime, the publisher is currently “working hard” to make sure that the existing versions of Doom Eternal and The Elder Scrolls Online will run great on next-gen consoles through backwards compatibility.
The publisher also teased more next-gen upgrades for some of its other existing games. “While we don’t have any news to share just yet on our remaining catalogue of titles, we can confirm we are committed to offer free upgrades for current generation console owners of existing Bethesda titles we bring forward into the next generation of consoles,” Bethesda said today.
According to a tweet from Paul Thurrott, Microsoft MVPs have been invited to attend a virtual Surface briefing. The upcoming August 12 event could presumably be for the Surface Duo.
Microsoft MVPs were invited to attend a virtual Surface briefing, presumably for Duo, on August 12.
Not many other details were provided, but this timing does make a lot of sense. The Duo has been rumored to ship the week of August 24, which is just 12 days after this event. And, since the COVID-19 outbreak means Microsoft won’t hold in-person events, such a virtual briefing would be the perfect way to introduce the device to Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals.
Previously, Microsoft has also invited Surface fans to attend in-person press events ahead of the launch of the Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7. So, this once again hints that the Duo will be coming sooner, rather than later. There might even be a separate event for media, too.
In other news, yet another Microsoft executive has been spotted with the Surface Duo. This time, it’s the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft 365, Jeff Teper. As seen in the featured image above, the exec showed off how he uses dual screen OneDrive on his Duo to look for the best photo his daughter took of him, using the device. He also mentioned how he uses the Duo outside to meet with Surface Chief Panos Panay outdoors on Microsoft Teams.
In place of the regular “Free Play Days” events that Xbox Live Gold members enjoy quite regularly, Microsoft has just announced a Big Gaming Weekend for all gamers on Xbox One and PC. Starting today through Monday, Microsoft will unlock Xbox Live multiplayer for all Xbox One owners, and the company will also make a couple of big games playable for free on Xbox One and PC, no Xbox Live Gold required.
If you have an Xbox One, you’ll be able to play Black Desert, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Monster Hunter World, Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, Borderlands 3, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, and the multiplayer mode of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (available August 7-10). Three Xbox Game Pass PC titles will also be available for free on both console and PC, Gears 5, Subnautica, and Ark: Survival Evolved.
It’s not the first time that Microsoft makes Xbox Live multiplayer free for everyone for a limited time, but the timing is quite interesting following the recent rumors about Xbox Live Gold. Microsoft recently updated its Services Agreement to replace Xbox Live with “Xbox online services,” but the company confirmed yesterday that the language change was to distinguish the cloud services from the paid Xbox Live Gold subscription, which isn’t going away.
Do you think Microsoft will eventually cave and make multiplayer free on Xbox One consoles, maybe just for free-to-play games like Fortnite? Xbox Live Gold still has some value, but the company may want to shake things up ahead of the launch of the Xbox Series X later this year.
Most times, OneDrive in Windows 10 works in the background and syncs up your files to the cloud. However, there are some rare instances where the app will not work as planned, and you could get an error code or see an error icon. This can be related to a sync issue, or a more serious problem with files going missing. In our latest Microsoft 365 guide, we’ll take a look at some of those problems, and how you can fix them.
My files won’t sync
The most common problem with OneDrive is files not syncing. If this is the case, you’ll want to make sure that the file is not larger than 100GB with a personal account or 15GB with a work or school account. Try zipping the file for it to sync. As a secondary option, you also might want to check to see if you might have saved the files to a location you didn’t intend to, or moved the files by mistake. In this case, it is recommended to go to the OneDrive website and use the Search everything box to find it.
If all else fails, you can try saving your file with a new name, or stop the sync and restart it. Just tap the white or Blue OneDrive cloud icon in Windows 10 taskbar, choose More, and then Pause Syncing. Then, click the icon again, and then choose Resume Syncing.
There also might be situations where your files won’t sync if you’re running close to reaching your OneDrive storage limit. If this is the case, you might see the OneDrive icon in Windows 10 show up with a yellow explanation mark. Try to delete some files and then sync again.
My files are missing or lost
Another common issue with OneDrive is files going missing. If this is a situation that you find yourself in, then you might want to check the Recycle Bin to see if the file is there. You also might want to see if you’re signed in with the right Microsoft Account. Finally, you might also want to check to see if you saved the files to a location that you recently moved. It’s recommended to use the Search Everything box in the upper left corner of the OneDrive website to find the files.
As another option, you might want to open your Personal Vault in OneDrive. Files that go into the Personal Vault will not show up in your search results. Check to confirm that the files are not in here. If you still can’t find the file, then it is likely that it has not yet synced. We would recommend checking our list above for tips on resolve a syncing issue.
If all else fails, you can have someone from Microsoft Support step in to help you find your file. To do this, have the name of the files or folders you are trying to find handy, as well as the data you last accessed them, and on what device. You’ll also have to give consent for Microsoft to search your history. When you’re ready, email the OneDrive support team here.
OneDrive is stuck syncing
In another situation, you might get an error or status message showing “Processing 0KB of xMB.” Files might also be stuck for a long time, too. When this happens this could be because you have a lot of files in your OneDrive, or a lot of new files waiting to be uploaded. Typically, this might happen when more than 100,000 files in your OneDrive.
We recommend for you to cancel the sync, and upload your files at a slower pace to avoid this problem. Just tap the white or Blue OneDrive cloud icon in Windows 10 taskbar, choose More, and then Pause Syncing.
Error codes and getting more support
Sometimes you might just end up getting an error code in OneDrive. If this is the case, then you might want to check our chart below. There are quite a bit of error codes but we gathered the most common ones and their resolutions for you below.
Error Code
Resolution
0x80070194
Uninstall and re-install the OneDrive app
0x8007018b
You’re moving a file that is in use by OneDrive. Wait for it to finish syncing
0x80070005
This is an issue with OneDrive Updates. Uninstall the app, and install the latest version
0x8004def7
This code means you exceeded your storage capacity or your account has been suspended
0x8004de96
This error shows when you changed your Microsoft Account password. Log back into OneDrive with the new password
0x8004de90
This error shows when OneDrive has not been set up fully. Search for OneDrive in Start, and finish the setup.
0x8004de90
OneDrive can’t connect to the internet. Try checking your connection
0x80040c81
OneDrive can’t connect to the cloud. Reset your connection
Microsoft is testing new changes for the Xbox Guide on Xbox One consoles. In the latest Xbox Insider build released for Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha Xbox Insiders, Microsoft introduced a new Game Activity tab in the Guide that can display useful content about the game you’re currently playing on your console.
The new Game Activity tab will provide quick access to Achievements, Looking for Group Posts, as well Official Club posts and suggested events happening in-game. This new tab will replace the Achievements tab for select Insiders, but the Xbox team emphasized that “Achievements are a pillar of the Xbox ecosystem, and we want to support them alongside promoting different ways to engage with your favorite games.”
Keep in mind that this new Game Activity tab will evolve depending on user feedback, it may not ship in the next system update for the Xbox One. The same can be said for the redesigned Microsoft Store on Xbox One, which is also available for a subset of Insiders installing this latest build. “The experience will be available for more Insiders over time before it rolls out to all users this fall,” the Xbox team said yesterday.
The Xbox One OS has changed quite a lot since the launch of the console back in 2013, and the current dashboard and Xbox Guide look quite different from the original Metro-inspired design. The upcoming Xbox Series X console will use the same OS as the Xbox One, though Microsoft will probably introduce some new design changes ahead of the launch of the next-gen Xbox in holiday 2020.
This page is trying to load scripts from unauthenticated sources is an error message that Google Chrome occasionally displays when users open HTTPS:// web pages.
A shield icon at the far right of the URL bar highlights that the browser has detected insecure scripts on the web page. Chrome has detected content from insecure channels, and it blocks certain content from loading on the page to protect your info.
The unauthenticated sources’ error is usually due to mixed page content. This means that the website uses HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) images, scripts, videos, and other content on HTTPS pages.
The developer has permitted the website to use both HTTP and HTTPS. Thus, unauthenticated source script issues are something for website developers to fix.
Note that the following solutions are just as good if you have the following issues:
This page is trying to load scripts from unauthenticated sources
Load scripts from unauthenticated sources
Trying to load scripts from unauthenticated sources
This site is trying to load scripts from unauthenticated sources
This page is trying to load scripts from unauthenticated sources Chrome
How can I fix page script loading errors on Chrome?
Try another browser
Since this issue is mostly caused by access to insecure sites, one go-to solution is to switch to a browser that features plenty of security features.
One such browser is Opera One, and it comes packed with a VPN and an ad-blocker, both of which are equally effective, more so than third-party tools that you would get via extensions.
Simply activate the VPN, make sure that the ad-blocker is enabled. Amongst other unique features, Opera One, also offers you a built in AI and a modular AI-ready design.
Opera One
If you want a web browser that focuses on your privacy above all else, then look no further than Opera One!
If a website opens with a shield alert, you can still bypass it. Then the website page will fully open with the insecure scripts included. It’s usually OK to open SSL-protected pages that include insecure content.
To allow for mixed content and override the alert, click the shield icon at the far right of the URL bar. That will open a dialog box that includes a Load unsafe script option.
Select Load unsafe script if you trust the page’s content. Chrome will refresh the page so that it includes all the content.
How can I block web content in Chrome?
Press the Customize Google Chrome button at the far right of the URL toolbar.
Click Settings to open further options.
Click Advanced to expand the Settings page.
Select Content Settings to open a list of page content.
Now you can select to block JavaScript, Flash, Images, etc. Each page element has its own configuration option that you can adjust to block the content.
Blocking web content is a potential fix for the unauthenticated sources’ error. Google Chrome includes settings that you can configure to block content for all websites, which will reduce the amount of mixed content on HTTPS:// pages.
How can I fix scripts on my website with Chrome’s Console Developer Tool
Click Customize Google Chrometo open the browser‘s main menu.
Select More tools on the menu that opens.
Select Developer tools to open the panel shown in the snapshot below.
Now you can click Console at the top of the panel.
Next, open the website page that you need to fix. The console will now display the open page’s blocked content and insecure scripts so that developers can fix their pages as required.
Chrome includes numerous tools that web developers can fix issues on their sites. To fix the issue of the unauthenticated source, developers need to find unsecured scripts and blocked content on their websites with Console.
Overall, there are not a huge amount Chrome users can do to fix the issue of the unauthenticated source. However, web developers can resolve the error by not using HTTP:// on websites.
If you have any alternative solutions, share them in the comments section below so that other users can try them.
Also, leave there any other questions that you may have, and we’ll be sure to check them out.
VPNs are more than often used to improve gaming sessions (ping reduction, look it up), but can use a VPN cause lag to other players?
If you’re not a selfish VPN user who doesn’t care about anyone else’s needs and you’ve ever considered this scenario, we’re going to debunk this mystery for you once and for all.
What causes high ping?
First things first, we’ve casually mentioned that you can use a VPN if you encounter high ping. And we’re going to explain how it works right away.
Generally speaking, the farther a game server is from your current location, the higher the ping you’ll get. Low-quality servers will make you experience even more severe latency values.
However, high ping can also be caused by a series of factors that don’t have anything to do with the game you’re about to play.
Another similar factor is network congestion. If the network you’re on is heavily congested, you will receive a high ping whenever you’ll try to play your favorite game.
Can VPN improve high ping?
Luckily for you, a VPN can solve every issue we’ve mentioned above. If the game server is in another country, just connect to a VPN server that’s as close as possible to it. This could also improve matchmaking.
If your ISP’s bandwidth throttling is the culprit, VPN can also solve it. A VPN can bypass your default connection, routing your traffic through non-restricted servers, thus letting your connection breathe for a while, away from the ISP’s tight grip.
Last, but not least, network congestion. We’ve covered this topic extensively, but we’ll say it again. VPN can bypass your overcrowded network and reduce the harmful effects of network congestion.
Can VPN cause other players to lag?
With that in mind, we’ve heard some rumors that using a VPN while playing a game can cause other players to lag. It’s worth mentioning that in online games, every player influences on others.
Therefore, if a player has high latency (or lag), other players might experience the same issue, regardless of whether the one who lags has a VPN or not.
But given that VPN is actually used to reduce lag, it’s highly possible that the VPN isn’t actually the problem and what’s making everyone else lag.
VPN causing lag in Mobile Legends
We’ve stumbled upon a peculiar case of VPN causing lag to other players, but only with a specific game: Mobile Legends. Although, it seems that it’s not the VPN causing the lag.
In Mobile Legends, a user can invite other players to join a game. Upon their acceptance, the matchmaking process starts. Note that this only applies if you’re playing the game with your friends (i.e. in a party).
Note that using a VPN while playing Mobile Legends might help bypass long waiting times in queues.
If you’re connected to a VPN server that’s in another country while making the invites, you and the rest of your crew will be most likely queued for that specific country’s server.
For you, it’s no problem since you’re already virtually there (switching locations). However, your party members might lag, since they’re most likely playing on a foreign server without any VPN-assisted routing.
But, as we’ve previously said, the problem isn’t likely caused by VPN usage. Poor matchmaking and possibly queueing with players from other countries is probably what’s causing lag issues in this specific scenario.
More likely, the other players‘ connections might be poor, or their ISP might be throttling their bandwidth. These are both more plausible explanations.
VPN can’t increase the latency of other players
Well, we’re pretty confident that using a VPN can’t cause lag to other players. Not a significant amount, that is. It’s a known fact that one player’s high latency can affect the other players‘ lag.
However, using a VPN has been proven to reduce ping. Therefore, it would make sense to say that VPN can actually stabilize the connection. More so, it could help other users have lower latency.
In fact, most of the time lag is caused by improper server management, network congestion, ISP throttling, or low-speed/low-quality Internet connections.
Applying best practices to your Windows 10 security is no easy task, even with all the antivirus tools available to you, including Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (MDATP).
But the Microsoft security baseline can make things a lot easier for you when you’re configuring your environment to minimize its attack surface.
Well, Microsoft recently released the fundamental security configuration settings for Windows 10 and Windows Server 2004.
4 configuration settings updates for Windows 10 2004 security baseline
1. Extended Protection for LDAP Authentication
Microsoft has updated the MS Security Guide to make Extended Protection for LDAP Authentication part of Windows. The setting isn’t new though as it came with the Windows Server v1809 Domain Controller baseline.
With the latest security baseline changes, you can use Extended Protection for LDAP Authentication without having to create a custom ADMX. In addition, the policy is available to all Active Directory domain controllers.
The Extended Protection for LDAP Authentication baseline value remains the same though. Only its location has changed.
However, you need to have installed the March 10, 2020 security patch to configure the policy on Windows 10.
2. Microsoft Defender ATP file hash
MDATP users now have the option to turn on file hashing and enhance blocking for custom indicators in the Windows antivirus.
When the new setting is on, Windows computes a file hash for every executable file that MDATP scans.
But there’s a catch—MDATP file hashing may slow down your PC. It’ll certainly take a toll on your machine if you frequently install or develop executables or update your applications.
The scenarios where you may want to test more thoroughly for performance include devices where you frequently create new executable content (for example, developers) or where you install or update applications extremely frequently.
The tool mitigates the performance impact by generating file hashes only once for each scanned executable. Still, you may want to keep the new setting off if you don’t use Microsoft Defender ATP.
If you really have to use the setting, Microsoft recommends that you implement it in a controlled manner. This will allow you to do a thorough performance cost analysis.
3. Windows 10 Account Password Length
Microsoft appears very committed to building systems that require no passwords to access. You can tell that from the latest improvements on features like Windows Hello.
After deprecating the Windows 10 account password expiry policy, the Redmond tech giant introduced two new password security settings.
Relax minimum password length limits is one of the new settings, and it allows admins to enforce user password lengths of up to 128 characters. Before this update, users couldn’t set passwords longer than 14 characters.
Longer passwords are obviously more difficult to guess and are an important safeguard against brute force attacks.
Microsoft says that the new setting may be incompatible with existing systems and processes, however. That’s why there’s the new Minimum password length audit setting.
The additional feature lets you assess the impact of changing your password length policy. Apart from that, it includes three new SAM events for configuration, errors, and awareness.
This way, you’re less likely to change your password length policies oblivious of the damage the changes may cause to other Windows systems.
Nonetheless, the new policy isn’t part of the security baseline for Windows 10 2004.
4. Behavior Monitoring
Microsoft doesn’t think Behavior Monitoring requires enforcement, so it removed it from the security baseline. As a result, the feature is no longer in its usual location.
Microsoft added:
We are removing Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Real-time Protection\Turn on behavior monitoring.
Besides announcing the security baseline changes, Microsoft revealed that it will be releasing updates for LGPO and Policy Analyzer.
What’s your take on the latest Windows 10 security baseline updates? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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