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Microsoft strengthens Windows 365 Cloud PCs with virtualization-based protection

What just happened? Cloud-based Windows installs are generally more secure than local setups, especially against physical and network attacks targeting endpoint devices. Now, Microsoft is raising the bar further by enhancing security features specifically for Windows 365 Cloud PCs. Microsoft recently announced two security-focused changes to the Windows 365 Cloud PC platform. The subscription-based service will soon disable all user-level file redirections and enable several virtualization-base

Microsoft to lay off thousands in July, but don't worry, AI's getting $80 billion

In context: There's been plenty of talk about machines displacing human workers in the AI Age, mainly focusing on direct replacements – computers taking over tasks like design and programming. Meanwhile, spending on AI infrastructure soars as investment in human skills steadily declines. Bloomberg reports that Microsoft is preparing to lay off thousands of workers next month, with most of the cuts expected to hit the company's sales and customer service divisions. It's a jarring move but not an

RIP Microsoft Passwords: Here's How to Set Up a Passkey Before the August Deadline

Risky password habits can have big consequences, and some companies are making it easier to stay secure online by ditching decades-old password methods and implementing passkeys instead. Microsoft intends to do the same starting in August. Whether you have an easy-to-guess password or it's leaked in a company data breach, if hackers get hold of it, it can open the door to identity theft and fraud. A recent CNET survey found that 49% of US adults have risky password habits, like using the same p

Inside Microsoft’s complicated relationship with OpenAI

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Beyond the selfies between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and the friendly conversations between the pair on stage, all is not well with Microsoft’s $13 billion AI investment. Over the past year, multiple reports have painted a picture of a Microsoft and OpenAI relationship that is straining under pressure. As OpenAI battles for access to more compute p

How AI can save us from our 'infinite' workdays, according to Microsoft

Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty How often do you find yourself working early in the morning, late at night, or even on weekends? Whether you're responding to emails, checking reports, or attending meetings, the workday often seems like it never ends. That's especially true in this age of remote and hybrid workers. Well, at least one major tech giant apparently feels your pain. In a new special report entitled "Breaking down the infinite workday," Microsoft describes how and why the never-ending workd

Microsoft unveils new security defaults for Windows 365 Cloud PCs

Microsoft has announced new Windows 365 security defaults starting in the second half of 2025 and affecting newly provisioned and reprovisioned Cloud PCs. The company said these changes include disabling the clipboard, drive, USB, and printer redirections by default to block users from copying files between Cloud PCs and physical devices through clipboard functions to reduce risks of data theft and block malware attacks. However, while USB redirections will be disabled by default, they only ta

Dell’s 2-in-1 Touchscreen Laptop Drops to $800 From $3,000, Comes With Tons of Goodies for Early Prime Day

If you’re still working off of a piece of decade old tech, it may be time to start looking for a replacement. The Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 laptop is a worthwhile option that can work for pretty much anyone’s basic needs, be it you’re a student, small business owner, or just someone who wants to use something besides their phone to check Facebook. Dell has its Inspiron touchscreen laptop on sale for 73% off, bringing it down from its listed price of $3,000 to just $800. Now that’s a pretty staggerin

Can't quite log off? Microsoft reveals the bleak reality of work today - and 3 ways AI can help

Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty How often do you find yourself working early in the morning, late at night, or even on weekends? Whether you're responding to emails, checking reports, or attending meetings, the workday often seems like it never ends. That's especially true in this age of remote and hybrid workers. Well, at least one major tech giant apparently feels your pain. In a new special report entitled "Breaking down the infinite workday," Microsoft describes how and why the never-ending workd

How you can get Microsoft 365 (formerly Office) for free - 3 easy ways

Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images Whether you're a student, a professional, a parent, an entrepreneur, a CEO, a writer, or an artist, chances are pretty good you need an office suite at your fingertips. But what do you do if money is tight? With costs constantly on the rise, everyone is having to pinch pennies on some level, and that doesn't stop with software. You could always adopt a free service, such as Google Docs, LibreOffice, or any number of free alternatives, but if Microsoft Off

Voi CEO says he’s open to acquiring Bolt’s micromobility business

Shared micromobility startup Voi is on the hunt for acquisitions. And on CEO Frederik Hjelm’s wishlist is Bolt, the European mobility super-app best known for ride-hailing. Not that Bolt’s micromobility business is necessarily for sale — despite talk of Voi buying the company’s scooter and bike arm. Bolt declined to comment when TechCrunch reached out. “Bolt is a great company, but they are mainly a ride-hailing company,” Hjelm told TechCrunch on stage at the Micromobility Industries roundtabl

Keylogger campaign hitting Outlook Web Access on vulnerable Exchange servers goes global

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust Facepalm: Keylogging malware is a particularly dangerous threat, as it is typically designed to capture login credentials or other sensitive data from users. When you add a compromised Exchange server to the mix, it creates an even nastier situation for any organization. Researchers from Positive Technologies recently unveiled a new study on a keylogger-based campaign targeting organizations worldw

Keylogger campaign hitting Microsoft Exchange servers goes global

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust Facepalm: Keylogging malware is a particularly dangerous threat, as it is typically designed to capture login credentials or other sensitive data from users. When you add a compromised Exchange server to the mix, it creates an even nastier situation for any organization. Researchers from Positive Technologies recently unveiled a new study on a keylogger-based campaign targeting organizations worldw

Xbox’s Best and Only Move Left Is to Become a PC

Your next Xbox device, whether it’s a console, handheld, or some other strange, eldritch device with a glowing green “X”, may be a PC in everything but name. Xbox President Sarah Bond told the world this week that it was working on a sequel to the Xbox Series X console. Hell, there is a whole extended “family” of devices bearing the Xbox name currently in the works. The announcement implied more than just new hardware. Microsoft’s whole brand could shift to being more PC-like with a game-themed

Why Microsoft’s next Xbox should just run Windows already

Yesterday, Microsoft confirmed that it's not abandoning the home console market just yet. In a short video teaser, Xbox President Sarah Bond highlighted a "strategic multi-year partnership with AMD" that will include "our next-generation Xbox consoles in your living room and in your hands." But while we know that the "in your hands" part will include devices like the Windows-powered ROG Xbox Ally, there are still few specifics about what exactly Microsoft has planned for its future living room c

Microsoft 365 to block file access via legacy auth protocols by default

Microsoft has announced that it will start updating security defaults for all Microsoft 365 tenants in July to block access to SharePoint, OneDrive, and Office files via legacy authentication protocols. These changes will also address application access permissions that can expose organizations to unnecessary security risks. The rollout is set to begin in mid-July 2025, with an estimated completion date by August 2025. Microsoft will enable them by default for all Microsoft 365 tenants, across

Next-gen Xbox to support Steam, Epic, and more – consoles will run on AMD chips

Something to look forward to: Xbox president Sarah Bond has confirmed that Microsoft's next game console will support titles from multiple digital storefronts and maintain backward compatibility. Additionally, a newly announced agreement with AMD suggests that an official Xbox handheld is still in development. All of Microsoft's upcoming consoles (whatever they are) are expected to be AMD powered. Microsoft's hardware-agnostic video game business model and its responses to Valve's Steam Deck ha

OpenAI’s $200M DoD contract could squeeze frenemy Microsoft

OpenAI said Monday the U.S. Department of Defense granted it a contract for up to $200 million to help the agency identify and build prototype systems that use its frontier models for administrative tasks and more. OpenAI provides a few examples of possible tasking, such as helping service members get healthcare, streamlining data on various programs, and “supporting proactive cyber defense.” The company also said that “All use cases must be consistent with OpenAI’s usage policies and guideline

There's Explosive Drama Between OpenAI and Microsoft

The partnership that ushered in our age of AI is showing some major cracks. As the Wall Street Journal reports, OpenAI wants its longtime patron Microsoft to loosen its control on its AI products, while also seeking Microsoft's approval to let it become a for-profit company, which OpenAI has been planning for a while now. But the negotiations have turned ugly. And OpenAI is so frustrated with its benefactor that behind the scenes, executives are considering the "nuclear option": going to court

Xbox's AMD partnership sheds light on the future of the division's ecosystem

Microsoft has no plans to get out of the console business anytime soon. The company has been reiterating for a while that it's going to make at least one more generation of Xbox consoles. It's now been confirmed that AMD will power the upcoming hardware, as it did with the Xbox Series X/S. Xbox president Sarah Bond made the announcement in a short video. Under the multi-year partnership, Xbox and AMD are "advancing the state of art in gaming silicon to deliver the next generation of graphics in

OpenAI weighs "nuclear option" of antitrust complaint against Microsoft

OpenAI executives have discussed filing an antitrust complaint with US regulators against Microsoft, the company's largest investor, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two long-term AI partners. OpenAI, which develops ChatGPT, has reportedly considered seeking a federal regulatory review of the terms of its contract with Microsoft for potential antitrust law violations, according to people familiar with the matter. The potential antitr

Microsoft partners with AMD on next generation of Xbox

Microsoft announced a strategic, multi-year agreement with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including the next-generation Xbox consoles. The company said it will deliver deeper visual quality, immersive gameplay, and AI-powered experiences — grounded in a platform designed for players, not tied to a single store or device, and fully compatible with your existing Xbox game library, said Sarah Bond, president of Xbox. It’s no surprise, considering AMD has also partnered

Top-Rated HP 2025 Laptop Now Costs $379 Instead of $1,299, Windows 11 Pro and Lifetime Office Included

As far as computer use goes on a daily basis, there is simply no need to spend more than $1,000 on a machine. In fact, now you can purchase a fully equipped laptop for under $400 and this particular one has Windows 11 Pro, a lifetime Microsoft Office subscription and even a mouse included. Right now, this HP 2025 laptop is selling for only $359 which is an incredible 72% off its normal price of $1,299. That’s an astounding deal if you consider all that you get in the box—not just the laptop its

Windows 11 now lets EU users export Recall data – if they still trust it

Editor's take: Microsoft is testing a new Recall "export experience" for unpaid beta testers in the Windows Insider program that it was forced to build to comply with European laws. That said, we still believe every Windows user with a sane mind should simply disable and uninstall the entire Recall mess – for good. Microsoft recently released a new Windows 11 Preview Build to the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders (KB5060816). The update includes a significant addition for owners of Copilot+ PCs

OpenAI weighs “nuclear option” of antitrust complaint against Microsoft

OpenAI executives have discussed filing an antitrust complaint with US regulators against Microsoft, the company's largest investor, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two long-term AI partners. OpenAI, which develops ChatGPT, has reportedly considered seeking a federal regulatory review of the terms of its contract with Microsoft for potential antitrust law violations, according to people familiar with the matter. The potential antitr

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Is Going for Peanuts With Over 60% Off, a Limited Best Buy Certified Refurb Deal

Looking to replace you laptop but don’t feel like shelling out thousands for the latest MacBook? Well you don’t need to sweat. You can grab yourself something perfectly capable of meeting your everyday needs. New is overrated. Like-new is good enough for just about anything and is a great way to save yourself hundreds and hundreds of dollars. What happens to new products anyway? Well I’ll tell you. They become old. It happens to us all. Stop trying to fight the entropy of the universe and just a

Microsoft study finds "infinite workday" is hurting productivity

In brief: Remember during and immediately after the lockdowns, when so many companies promised a new era of work-life balance and flexibility? According to new research from Microsoft, the opposite is now true, with most people working an "infinite workday" that lasts more than 12 hours and bleeds into weekends. It's impacting productivity, and while AI could make things better, it could also make them worse. Microsoft's June 2025 Work Trend Index Special Report warns that more people are now t

OpenAI and Microsoft Execs Reportedly Considering the ‘Nuclear Option’

OpenAI and Microsoft like to present themselves as the power couple of Silicon Valley, but behind closed doors, it’s looking increasingly like a distraught and loveless marriage. The two companies, which are bound together by cash flows and an entwined product base, have been undergoing a turbulent negotiation surrounding OpenAI’s desire for a shorter leash and the opportunity to turn itself into a for-profit company. Microsoft appears to be resistant to some of those goals. Now, a new report cl

Microsoft should change its Copilot advertising, says watchdog

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft’s Copilot advertising has been criticized by an industry watchdog for its productivity claims and confusing use of Copilot branding. The Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division (NAD) has reviewed Microsoft’s Copilot advertising, and recommended that the software giant discontinues or modifies productivity claims about Microsoft 365 Copilot and more clea

The cracks in the OpenAI-Microsoft relationship are reportedly widening

In Brief OpenAI and Microsoft may be reaching an inflection point in their relationship, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The report, citing anonymous sources, says OpenAI executives have considered publicly accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive behavior throughout their partnership. OpenAI executives also mulled whether to seek a federal regulatory review of their contract with Microsoft. OpenAI is trying to loosen Microsoft’s grip on its intellectual property and computin

Try This Free Version of Microsoft Office That Runs in Your Browser

I don't use Microsoft Office very often. I do most of my writing in Obsidian and my number crunching in Google Sheets. Every once in a while, though, someone who does use Office sends me a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet. What do I do if I want to open it, make edits, and send it back? In this situation, it's probably excessive to purchase Microsoft Office. A one-time purchase of the Microsoft Office suite costs $150, which is a lot for the occasional file. An alternative is Microsoft 36