Microsoft Windows 10 Default App Settings Might Have Sparked Browser War 2.0 - http://clapway.com/2015/08/03/microsofts-windows-10-default-app-settings-might-have-sparked-browser-war-2-0-245/

On Friday an anonymous Microsoft employee reported that Windows 10 had been installed on 67 million PCs, which is surprising given that the OS was released to the public less than a week ago. Now those are some pretty impressive figures, but it seems like there is already a bit of stink being brought up by Mozilla about some of Microsoft’s express settings when installing the operating system.

The Big Stink

For most users, upgrading to Windows 10 is a relatively simple process, and most people will typically select the express install method. Mozilla, the guys behind the Firefox web browser, believe this is because the option to personalize the installation settings is subtly parked in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Now, that doesn’t seem to be a very good reason to be upset. After all, what company wouldn’t want to make it effortless for their users to upgrade to the newest iteration of their software? The issue lies in the fact that when a user selects the express installation method, it overrides the user’s previous default applications. What does it replace it with? Microsoft’s Windows Edge browser and Groove music.

Mozilla Believes This is an Aggressive Move

In a recent blog post, Chris Beard, CEO of Mozilla, went over why this is an offense against user choice. Beard accurately points out that it takes twice as many clicks to set default applications as in previous versions of the operating system.

Prior, a user only needed to open up a program that wasn’t set as the default and the operating system would prompt the user to set the program as a default if they wished to do so.

“These changes aren’t unsettling to us because we’re the organization that makes Firefox. They are unsettling because there are millions of users who love Windows and who are having their choices ignored, and because of the increased complexity put into everyone’s way if and when they choose to make a choice different than what Microsoft prefers,” said Beard in an open letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Take the Power Back with Windows 10

Microsoft stands by its design decision stating, “We designed Windows 10 to provide a simple upgrade experience for users and a cohesive experience following the upgrade.”

For users who want to make sure they retain all of their default preferences, their best bet is to make sure they think ahead before upgrading. During the installation wizard, users will be prompted to select the express install method, but at the bottom of the screen is a custom settings button. Clicking this will allow a user to choose their own default apps rather than assuming the default programs in Windows 10.

Do you believe Microsoft’s expressing settings are nefarious or all in good nature?

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Microsoft Windows 10 Default App Settings Might Have Sparked Browser War 2.0

Did You Download Windows 10 or Ransomware? - http://clapway.com/2015/08/02/did-you-download-windows-10-or-ransomware312/

Never missing an opportunity to cause someone grief — or make a quick buck — hackers are sending out fraudulent upgrades that urge users to upgrade to Windows 10. That doesn’t seem too bad, except users are actually downloading ransomware.

The Scam

Cisco Systems wrote about the scam in a recent blog post on their website. The email going out looks like the real deal, and most unsuspecting users wouldn’t give it a second look over before simply upgrading their system. The hackers are even spoofing the sender’s email address in order to make the email look like it’s coming from an official source. The biggest giveaway is the attached .zip file that Cisco says contains ransomware called CTB-Locker.

This is an incredibly dangerous piece of malware for some people. It encrypts all of the user’s data and holds it ransom for 96 hours. If the user doesn’t make payment to the hackers in that window then the files will be encrypted forever.

How to Spot a Fake

When opening emails, there are a few givens that every user should always keep in the back of their mind: never click on any attachments that you weren’t expecting to receive, and never click on any download links. By extension, Microsoft is in the business of keeping user data safe. There are a few ways to receive a Windows 10 update, but none of those paths includes email. A user may receive an email from Microsoft just to notify the user that their Windows 10 is ready to go, but the user will install the new OS from a notification in the notification tray.

In the blog, Cisco also made an offhand mention about mangled characters in the text of the email. While this is usually a dead giveaway for any type of virus, hackers are good at adapting, so don’t rely on this method. The best course of action is to be aware of the scam and delete the email if you see it.

How to Officially Upgrade to Windows 10

If your computer is up-to-date then you will have already noticed a Windows icon in your notification tray. Clicking on this icon previously to Windows 10’s release would prompt a user to reserve their Windows 10 upgrade. The caveat to taking this path is that the upgrade could take up to two weeks to appear.

There are two more direct paths: the media creation tool, and creating an ISO disc. Those of you savvy enough to perform an upgrade from a boot drive will likely already know the steps to take. The download tool, which can be found here, is done through a simple setup wizard and will allow users to keep all of their data or perform a clean wipe. For users who have already made the jump to Windows 10, let us know how you like it in the comments below.

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Did You Download Windows 10 or Ransomware?