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By Abhay V
AdDuplex: Windows 10 version 21H1 is now on over 26% of PCs, Windows 11 makes its debut
by Abhay Venkatesh
After a gap of a couple of months, AdDuplex has released its Windows version usage report for the month of July. The report is collected from 5,000 Microsoft Store apps that are running the AdDuplex SDK v.2 or higher, and around 60,000 Windows PCs were sampled for this report. This month’s highlight is the debut of Windows 11, which was formally announced in June. As for Windows 10, version 21H1 that was released in May is now running on over 26% of Windows machines.
Just like the October 2020 Update, the Windows 10 May 2021 Update was an enablement package that light up new features in the OS. The underlying codebase for 21H1, however, is identical to versions 20H2 and 2004, meaning that the three most recent versions are serviced with the same cumulative updates. It is, therefore, not surprising to see that the rollout of the latest version has been faster than the previous versions has seen. This is only expected to increase as version 2004 begins to reach the end of support for consumer SKUs.
With Windows 10 21H1 now on more than 26% of PCs, the three latest versions of the OS account for close to 88% of usage share. The title for the most famous version of Windows 10 is retained by version 20H2 at 36.3%, followed by version 2004 at 24.6%. Windows Insiders running Windows 11 in the Dev channel account for close to 1% of total devices.
Windows 10 version 21H2 is also slated to be an enablement package. However, with Windows 11 expected to begin rolling out later this year, it will be interesting to see how the usage share changes, since there are still questions about the pace of the rollout and what the final hardware specifications will be.
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By Steven P.
This Windows Hello webcam with privacy shutter is 20% off for only $67.99
by Steven Parker
Today on Amazon, you can pick up the wo-we Windows Hello Face Recognition Webcam for only $67.99 when you apply the $20 coupon, saving you 17% off the $84.99 list price.
A nice thing about this webcam is not only is it a cheap way into Windows Hello password-less sign-in on Windows, but also has a manual privacy shutter, something you don't get on the more than doubly expensive Logi Brio webcam.
Here are a few of its highlights:
Below are a few of this camera's specifications, besides being compliant with Windows Hello.
This item qualifies for free delivery, and the prices mentioned here are before taxes. It also includes standard manufacturer's warranty for which Amazon says you need to contact the seller.
Get the wo-we Windows Hello Face Recognition Webcam for $67.99 (list price $84.99) 20% off
As an Amazon Associate, Neowin may earn commission from qualifying purchases.
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By hellowalkman
Windows July update breaks printing and scanning when using smart-cards
by Sayan Sen
Microsoft seems to be having to deal with issues related to printers for a while now. This year alone, starting with the March update that caused the blue screen of death (BSOD) when trying to print, and more recently with the PrintNightmare print spooler service vulnerability. And Microsoft's troubles aren't stopping there.
Today, the firm has confirmed that its recent July security update version KB5004237, which was released on July 13, is causing problems when printing on certain systems when trying to utilize smart cards for user authentication. This time, alongside printing problems, scanning on such systems may also not work.
According to the Redmond firm, the KB5004237 July 13 cumulative update fixed printing problems on such printers that were connected via USB. However, it seems the update has also introduced a new bug as a result of the changes made for dealing with the CVE-2021-33764 vulnerability. This is causing the new issue on Domain Controller servers which act as gatekeepers responsible for dealing with such authentication requests.
It has been noted however that while working with smart cards may fail, username and password authentication should work without issue. Here's how Microsoft has described the problem:
The problem has been detailed a bit more under KB5005408 which explains that client printers and scanners must be compliant with either of the following:
Here, KDC refers to a Key Distribution Center.
The Windows platforms affected by this issue are:
Client: Windows 10, version 21H1; Windows 10, version 20H2; Windows 10, version 2004; Windows 10, version 1909; Windows 10, version 1809; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016; Windows 10, version 1607; Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB; Windows 8.1; Windows 7 SP1
Server: Windows Server, version 20H2; Windows Server, version 2004; Windows Server, version 1909; Windows Server, version 1809; Windows Server 2019; Windows Server 2016; Windows Server 2012 R2; Windows Server 2012; Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1; Windows Server 2008 SP2
Microsoft has said that it's investigating the issue and will provide a temporary workaround. For people having problems, the company has asked to update the necessary drivers and firmware and to consult with the device manufacturers when needed. You may find more details about the problem here on the company's official page.
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By Abhay V
Microsoft says that there will be a Windows 11 LTSC release, but it's a few years out
by Abhay Venkatesh
Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 11 last month, showing off the UI changes being made as part of a major update to Windows, among other changes such as the addition of support for Android apps. The company also shared more about the support and service lifecycle of the OS, adding that Windows 11 will move to an annual update cadence, unlike Windows 10. It has also been providing clarifications about the minimum system specifications, which has been a topic of discussion since the Windows 11 announcement.
As for Windows 10, the firm recently detailed the features being added to version 21H2, the next feature update to Windows 10 – which is yet another enablement package. As part of that announcement, the Redmond company also confirmed that the next Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version will be based on Windows 10 21H2 and will be released later this year. However, nothing in the way of information about Windows 11 LTSC releases was shared. That changed today, as the firm confirmed during an AMA on the Tech Community blog (spotted by Petri) that the LTSC release after the one based on 21H2 will be based on Windows 11.
A response to one of the AMA questions explains:
Microsoft recently revised the support timeframes for Windows LTSC releases from 10 years to five years, with the 2021 release being the first to be affected by the change. The current release based on version 1809, therefore, is unaffected and enjoys an extended support timeline till 2029. With the 2021 version likely supported only until 2026, there is less incentive for enterprises to move to a newer version, thanks in part to the reduced support.
Today’s session also contained questions about the future of Windows 10 updates, with the company reiterating that it is “committed” to support Windows 10 till October 2025 for eligible customers – such as for non-LTSC SKUs. However, it adds that the question of whether version 21H2 will be the “last feature update” is still a topic of discussion internally.
It will be interesting to see what the release timelines for the LTSC version based on Windows 11 will be. However, unlike Windows 10, the first Windows 11 version to be released later this year will not be accompanied by a corresponding LTSC release and is at least three years out.
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By hellowalkman
Microsoft provides workaround for HiveNightmare registry vulnerability that affects Windows 10 and 11
by Sayan Sen
Microsoft earlier today released a temporary workaround solution for systems that are vulnerable to the newly found HiveNightmare security flaw. The vulnerability was discovered by Twitter user 'Jonas L' and also verified by another user '@GossiTheDog' who noticed that the Windows Security Account Manager (SAM) database - that contains all important passwords and keys - was now apparently accessible by non-admin users. This is why the new flaw is called SeriousSAM or HiveNightmare as it gives an attacker access to SAM, SYSTEM, and SECURITY registry hive files.
The problem was first introduced when Microsoft released the recent KB5004605 update that added Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption and all OS versions starting from Windows 10 build 1809, including the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.71 are exploitable.
Microsoft has acknowledged the vulnerability in the new CVE dubbed 'CVE-2021-36934' and has provided the following workaround:
Restrict access to the contents of %windir%\system32\config Open Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell as administrator.
Run this command:
icacls %windir%\system32\config\*.* /inheritance:e
Delete Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) shadow copies
Open Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell as administrator.
Run command: vssadmin list shadows to see if there are shadow points
If there are, delete them with: vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /Quiet
Run command: vssadmin list shadows again to see if they are deleted
Delete any System Restore points that existed prior to restricting access to %windir%\system32\config
Create a new System Restore point (if needed)
For those wondering if their system may be vulnerable to this exploit, most computers that have OS drives bigger than 128GB likely generate VSS shadow copies which can be exploited by an attacker. For those who wish to be sure if their system has created VSS files and whether their computer is exploitable, the CERT has provided an excellent guide to check how.
Source: Microsoft via Forbes
Update: As a reader 'Tantawi' has pointed out, we missed adding how a user would be able to delete their VSS shadows. The command that will do so can be found on Microsoft's official page here.
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