Author: batteryforpc

Today is Patch Tuesday, the second Tuesday of the month, and it means that all supported versions of Windows are getting updates. For Windows 10, that still means all versions except for 1511, although other versions are restricted to certain devices or SKUs.

As usual, Windows 10 versions 1909 and 1903 get the same update. KB4549951 brings the build number to 18363.778 and 18362.778, respectively. You can manually download it here, and these are the highlights:

Updates to improve security when using Microsoft Office products.

Updates to improve security when Windows performs basic operations.

Updates for storing and managing files.

Here’s the full list of fixes:

Addresses an issue that prevents certain apps from installing if they are published using a Group Policy Object.

Security updates to the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Virtualization, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Kernel, Windows Media, Windows Shell, Windows Management, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Virtualization, Windows Storage and Filesystems, Windows Update Stack, and the Microsoft JET Database Engine.

Those still on Windows 10 version 1809 will get KB4549949, bringing the build number to 17763.1158. You can manually download it here, and it has the same highlights and fixes. There is one known issue to be aware of though.

Windows 10 version 1803 is only supported for Enterprise and Education SKUs, but those users will get KB4550922, bringing the build number to 17134.1425. You can manually download it here, it has the same highlights as the above updates, but a shorter list of fixes.

Security updates to the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Kernel, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Shell, Windows Management, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Core Networking, Windows Storage and Filesystems, Windows Update Stack, and the Microsoft JET Database Engine.

Windows 10 version 1709 is also only supported for Enterprise and Education SKUs, and those users will get KB4550927, bringing the build number to 16299.1806. You can manually download it here, and it has the exact same changelog as the update for version 1803.

Windows 10 version 1703 is only supported for the original Surface Hub, but it still gets KB4550939, bringing the build number to 15063.2346. You can manually download it here, and these are the highlights:

Updates to improve security when Windows performs basic operations.

Updates to improve security when using Microsoft Office products.

Here’s the full list of fixes:

Addresses an issue that causes a memory leak in the LsaIso.exe process when the server is under a heavy authentication load and Credential Guard is enabled.

Addresses an issue with running klist.exe that causes lsass.exe to stop working and generates an access violation error (0xC0000005).

Addresses an issue with merging Windows Defender Application Control policies that sometimes generates a duplicate rule ID error and causes the Merge-CIPolicy PowerShell command to fail.

Security updates to the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Kernel, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Management, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Core Networking, Windows Update Stack, and the Microsoft JET Database Engine.

It also has the same known issue as the update for version 1803.

Windows 10 version 1607 is only supported for LTSC customers and Windows Server 2016 customers, and those users will get KB4550929, bringing the build number to 14393.3630. You can manually download it here, and these are the highlights:

Updates to improve security when Windows performs basic operations.

Updates to improve security when using Microsoft Office products.

Here’s the list of fixes:

Security updates to the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Kernel, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Core Networking, Windows Update Stack, and the Microsoft JET Database Engine.

Finally, Windows 10 version 1507 is only supported for LTSC customers, and those users will get KB4550930, bringing the build number to 10240.18545. You can manually download it here, and it contains the same highlights and fixes as the update for version 1607, but the same known issue as the update for version 1803.

As usual, these are mandatory updates, meaning that you can either manually install them, get them through Windows Update, or they’ll be installed automatically.

Xiaomi’s Mi Box S is a nifty gadget that can instantly upgrade your dumb TV into a smart TV. This bargain Android TV box from the Chinese electronics brand is capable of playing 4K HDR content at up to 60fps while also doubling as a Chromecast receiver. The device is now a more appealing prospect thanks to the stable Android 9 Pie update which is now rolling out in batches.

The first public beta of Android Pie for the Mi Box S arrived in November 2019, which also brought in official compatibility for Amazon Prime Video. Xiaomi pushed a few more beta builds afterward and later decided to mark the third beta (build 2231) as the stable Android 9 Pie update during January 2020. However, the company had to halt the update rollout due to various bugs reported by the users.

Xiaomi resumed beta testing earlier this month after a brief pause. Three consecutive beta builds later, the OEM is now confident enough to re-release the stable Android Pie update in the form of build 2604. Coming in at nearly 625MB, the long-awaited OTA update should be available to non-beta participants as well. The cumulative changelog is as follows:

Chromecast not working

Some apps playback freeze

Special H264 decode error

BT audio is not sync with video

HDMI compatibility

Pop sound when STB in standby mode

Gboard not working when connecting an external keyboard

Fix for CEC not working (from build 2603)

System is not stable after back from standby mode (from build 2596)

Support more Wi-Fi channel in special area (from build 2596)

Xiaomi has yet to publish the updated kernel source code corresponding to this update in their GitHub repository. In case you need to revert back to Android Oreo (or unbrick your unit), there is a guide available on our forums. For your information, the firmware package for the Mi Box S (code-name: oneday) is not compatible with the original Mi Box, also known as the Mi Box 3 (code-name: once), which is still running Android Oreo.

Computer manufacturing giant Dell released on Friday a new security tool that detects attacks attempting to modify a computer’s BIOS component.

Named the Dell SafeBIOS Events & Indicators of Attack, the tool works by detecting changes to a Dell computer’s BIOS configuration and raising an alert in companies’ management consoles.

The tool’s purpose is to give system administrators the ability to isolate workstations that may have been compromised, to be set aside for remediation.

The tool is not meant to replace the full capabilities of an endpoint security system (antivirus). Instead, the tool is intended to provide protection against a series of attacks (BIOS attacks) that most antivirus products are not engineered to handle or detect.

“Detection at this level allows organizations to respond to advanced threats quickly and successfully, interrupting the attack chain before it’s able to do more damage,” the company said on Friday.

Dell said the tool will be provided for free to all its enterprise customers. The tool has already been made available for download as part of the Dell Trusted Device solution.

The Dell SafeBIOS Events & Indicators of Attack tool is just the latest Dell security offering the company has made available to its customers in recent weeks. Since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Dell has offered existing customers flexible endpoint security solutions to help them:

Better secure today’s new working model as quickly as possible with VMware Carbon Black who has eliminated endpoint limits until June 20, 2020.

Pressure test remote work deploymentswith Secureworks’ accelerated vulnerability assessments, and get faster deployment and flexible payment options for Secureworks’ managed detection and response and incident response solutions.

Securely deploy work-from-home deviceswith Dell Technologies who is offering temporary licenses for Dell Encryption until May 15, 2020.