 Microsoft has issued a second security warning over BlueKeep, a recently discovered vulnerability in its Remote Desktop Protocol service that could enable attackers to use a worm-like exploit to take over devices running unpatched older Windows operating systems. The software giant took the unusual step Thursday of issuing a second alert within a month concerning the BlueKeep flaw as security researchers expressed growing concerns that bad actors are rapidly developing exploits and that proof-of-concept code has already leaked online. In a new message, Simon Pope, director of incident response for the Microsoft Security Response Center, compared BlueKeep to EternalBlue, the Windows vulnerability that later opened the door to the WannaCry and NotPetya ransomware attacks of 2017. Pope warned that with reports of nearly 1 million Windows devices vulnerable to this flaw, security teams need to apply the patch that Microsoft issued with its first warning on May 14. "It's been only two weeks since the fix was released and there has been no sign of a worm yet. This does not mean that we're out of the woods," Pope warns. "If we look at the events leading up to the start of the WannaCry attacks, they serve to inform the risks of not applying fixes for this vulnerability in a timely manner." The vulnerability affects only older versions of Microsoft's Windows operating system, some of which are no longer supported by the company. The flaw affects Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 2003 and Windows Server 2008, the company notes. Newer versions of Windows, including Windows 8 and Windows 10, are not affected. Follow this on OUR FORUM.  Microsoft and Intel discovered that on some computers with Intel display drivers users might have issues adjusting their display's brightness because of a driver compatibility issue after applying the Windows 10 May 2019 Update. "After updating to Window 10, version 1903, brightness settings may sometime appear as if changes applied took effect, yet the actual display brightness doesn't change," says Microsoft. To make sure that user experience is not affected, Microsoft has added a compatibility hold on devices with certain incompatible Intel display drivers from being offered the latest Windows 10 release until the issue is resolved. Until a resolution for the driver compatibility issue will be offered with an upcoming Windows 10 release, Microsoft advises all users to "not attempt to manually update using the Update now button or the Media Creation Tool until this issue has been resolved." In addition, a range of Intel Display Audio device drivers has also been found to cause problems leading to higher than normal battery drain. Microsoft also says that, in order to prevent any issues stemming from incompatible Intel Display Audio device drivers, a compatibility hold has been put in place to block the Windows 10 May 2019 Update from being offered until users have installed updated device drivers. Affected Windows users are advised to not apply the Windows 10 May 2019 Update manually before updating their system's Intel Display Audio device drivers and the update is being automatically provided via the Windows Update system. For more turn to OUR FORUM.  Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s gaming subscription service will celebrate its second anniversary this June, and the company has just made it official this morning that Xbox Game Pass will finally expand to PC. Sea of Thieves, Gears of War 4, and other Xbox Play Anywhere titles in the Game Pass catalog are already playable for free on Windows 10, but the Xbox Game Pass for PC that Microsoft is announcing today will apparently be a separate service. “Xbox Game Pass for PC will give players unlimited access to a curated library of over 100 high-quality PC games on Windows 10, from well-known PC game developers and publishers such as Bethesda, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Paradox Interactive, SEGA, and more. And just as we committed on the console, it is our intent to include new games from Xbox Game Studios in Xbox Game Pass for PC the same day as their global release, including titles from newly acquired studios like Obsidian and inXile,” explained head of Xbox Phil Spencer. For now, Microsoft is working with other 75 developers and publishers, and the company is promising to bring new games to PC players every month, just like it does for Xbox Game Pass subscribers on Xbox One. “Xbox Game Pass for PC members will also receive discounts in the Microsoft Store on Windows of up to 20% on games currently in the library and up to 10% off related game DLC and add-ons,” Spencer added. Follow this on OUR FORUM. |
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