GoKawiil
Tech News
Microsoft says its August 11, 2026 security update (KB5121003) is causing Teams and New Outlook to fail to launch or crash unexpectedly on ARM-based Windows 11 24H2 devices like the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7. The problem mostly hits new or freshly imaged machines that haven't yet grabbed Microsoft Store updates, while Classic Outlook, Word and Excel remain unaffected.
Microsoft confirmed that starting in October 2026, memory integrity protection built on Virtualization-based Security will be switched on by default for eligible Windows 11 PCs. The feature runs Windows as a guest OS under Hyper-V to isolate the kernel from tampering, but Microsoft has previously acknowledged it can hurt gaming performance. Organizations will retain the ability to disable it, though the default posture is shifting toward security-first.
Microsoft will start rolling out updates that automatically turn on memory integrity and Virtualization-based Security on eligible Windows 11 devices, aiming to make the OS secure by default. The kernel-level protection blocks untrusted drivers and code but can reduce gaming frame rates, especially on older CPUs. Devices where users previously disabled the feature will not have it re-enabled automatically.
Microsoft confirmed that its optional KB5120998 preview update, released August 27, is resetting or corrupting users' custom mouse cursor settings on Windows 11. Affected users report cursors becoming oversized, appearing as generic white icons, or vanishing entirely, with custom animations reverting to defaults. Microsoft acknowledged the bug on its known issues page but has not yet issued a fix.
Perplexity has extended its agentic AI feature, previously exclusive to Mac, to Windows 10 and 11 users on paid Pro, Max, or Enterprise plans. The tool can access local files, control native Windows applications, and connect to cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox to complete multi-step tasks with minimal user input. A ZDNET reviewer tested it on five complex tasks to gauge its real-world usefulness.
Microsoft is rolling out a new button in Windows 11's full-screen backup prompt that lets users permanently dismiss repeated nudges to enable OneDrive backup through Windows Backup. Windows Latest spotted the option on two PCs running stable Windows 11 25H2 builds, even on machines without the OneDrive sync client installed. Microsoft says clicking it won't delete existing OneDrive files or change sync settings—it simply stops the recurring prompt.
Microsoft has acknowledged that its optional KB5120998 preview update, released August 27, 2026, is causing custom mouse cursor personalizations to revert to default settings on Windows 11. Affected users report high-DPI cursors being swapped for standard white ones and custom animations disappearing, with no way to restore prior settings. The company says it is investigating and is asking impacted users to submit reports through the Feedback Hub.
Microsoft confirmed a bug causing the Windows Security app to falsely display 'Microsoft Defender Antivirus is turned off' notifications after recent Defender updates, even though protection remains active. The issue, which has quietly affected Windows Insiders since June, now impacts all supported Windows client and server versions, including Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. Microsoft says a fix is in development and will roll out in a future Defender update.
A joint project by the Italian Linux Society and the Free Software Foundation Europe, called Refund4Freedom, has launched a website offering forms and guidance for consumers seeking refunds on Windows 11 licenses bundled with new PCs. The site reports that Acer and Lenovo have functioning refund processes, Asus offers one only through an obscure Italian channel, while Dell and HP currently provide no such option. It also warns buyers to keep proof of an untouched system before attempting a refund claim.
Microsoft has released the KB5120998 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, bundling 35 changes centered on taskbar positioning, a compact taskbar mode, and new Start menu size and layout options. The optional update also begins rolling out Administrator Protection, a feature using just-in-time privileges to limit elevation-of-privilege attacks, though it remains off by default and needs Intune or Group Policy to enable.
Microsoft has begun rolling out a permanent fix for a bug that crashed Windows 11 systems and broke games like ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. The root cause was traced to the inpoutx64.sys driver, often bundled with RGB lighting peripherals, rather than the August 2026 update initially suspected. The update, which started propagating on August 26, 2026, automatically blocks the faulty driver and requires a restart to take effect.
An APK teardown of Microsoft's Link to Windows Android app has uncovered hidden code for remotely shutting down, restarting, updating, or putting a paired Windows PC to sleep. The app currently only supports remotely locking a PC, and these new commands would extend that functionality with built-in warnings about lost work or disconnection.