Oops: Microsoft leaks its Golden Key, unlocking Windows Secure Boot and exposing the danger of backdoors

Microsoft has demonstrated why the FBI's desire for "Golden Key" backdoors allowing "good guys" to bypass security is such a bad idea: it inadvertently released its own keys to Windows tablets, phones, HoloLens and other devices using UEFI Secure Boot.

Daniel Eran Dilger 9 years ago 44

Popular iOS keyboard SwiftKey disables sync feature after data leak is discovered

Microsoft-owned SwiftKey, a popular predictive keyboard available on Apple's iOS, has suspended part of its service after it was discovered the app was leaking user data to complete strangers.

Matt Milano 9 years ago 19

Microsoft lays off 2,850 more people in continued retreat from phones

Microsoft is getting rid of another 2,850 workers, continuing a turn away from its failed acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone business in 2014, which cost it over $7.2 billion plus later restructuring charges.

Roger Fingas 9 years ago 32

Skype cloud shift will require OS X Yosemite or iOS 8 for full support on Apple devices

Effective October, Skype will require at least OS X Yosemite or iOS 8 on Apple platforms for full functionality, due to a switch to cloud-based infrastructure, Microsoft said on Wednesday.

Mike Wuerthele 9 years ago 11

Despite 9% growth, Microsoft Surface sales remain stuck at around 1M units

Microsoft announced quarterly operating profits of just $3.1 billion on revenues of $20.6 billion, hit hard by slow sales of Office, a 17 percent drop in cloud profits, an $870 million decline from Windows Phone and tepid Surface sales that grew by 9 percent year over year but remained below $1 billion.

Daniel Eran Dilger 9 years ago 52

Microsoft says Windows 10 will miss goal of 1 billion device installs by 2018

Microsoft won't meet its high ambitions of having Windows 10 installed on 1 billion devices by 2018, owing to the decision to scale back its Windows phone business, the company acknowledged on Friday.

Roger Fingas 9 years ago 26

Microsoft wins Apple-aligned case against U.S. over warrant for foreign emails

A U.S. Federal Court has ruled in Microsoft's favor in a closely-watch case involving a warrant the government obtained for a customer's emails stored on an Irish server. The ruling frees U.S. companies from being forced to hand over customer data if it's not being stored within the U.S.

Daniel Eran Dilger 9 years ago 9

Privacy Shield gives US firms new pact for accessing European data

On Tuesday a new pact, Privacy Shield, went into effect between the U.S. and the European Union, giving American companies a simpler alternative to dealing with the E.U.'s normal data protection rules when shuttling data across the Atlantic.

Roger Fingas 9 years ago 3

LinkedIn's iOS Developer Community cancels WWDC watch party after Microsoft purchase

Just hours before Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote was scheduled to start, LinkedIn's iOS Developer Community canceled its San Francisco-based watch party, following the news that the social networking service was acquired by Microsoft for $26.2 billion.

AppleInsider Staff 9 years ago 28

Microsoft buys professional social networking service LinkedIn for $26.2B

Microsoft on Monday announced it will acquire LinkedIn in an all-cash transaction worth $26.2 billion, bringing more than 433 million members of the social networking site under the Redmond, Wash., company's banner.

AppleInsider Staff 9 years ago 49

WWDC 2016: Apple's Siri and the future of voice vs. Amazon's Alexa Echo, Google Now, Microsoft Cortana

While a variety of tech commentators have played up a dramatic "voice-first" rivalry ostensibly led by the Amazon Echo, a yet-unreleased Google Home and Microsoft's Cortana (and apparently miserably trailed by Apple's Siri), real data shows that's not actually the case.

Daniel Eran Dilger 9 years ago 24

Microsoft throwing developer party at Apple's WWDC, says its iOS apps set 'gold standard'

Microsoft wants to inject its own software and services into the agenda for Apple's Worldwide Developers conference next week, hoping to lure attendees to an offsite afterparty with the promise of drinks and prizes.

Quinten Plummer 9 years ago 24

Microsoft's Cortana heading to Xbox One, will take on Apple's Siri in the living room

Apple's Siri voice controls debuted on the new Apple TV last fall, and Microsoft's competing Cortana will follow suit, debuting in the living room on Xbox One consoles starting this summer.

Neil Hughes 9 years ago 17

Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo all add bloatware with high-risk vulnerabilities to Windows 10 notebooks

A study by Duo Labs looking at a series of name-brand PC makers revealed that their bundled software "is making us vulnerable and invading our privacy."

Daniel Eran Dilger 10 years ago 23

"Sleep of Death" bug hits buyers of Microsoft's pricey Surface Book

Microsoft's pricey Surface Book laptop is frustrating buyers with crashes, "unplanned shutdowns," overheating issues and a "Sleep of Death" issue that regularly causes machines to become completely unresponsive during sleep. Users complain that Microsoft isn't addressing the problem.

Daniel Eran Dilger 10 years ago 55

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