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A Windows update is causing major issues for some of those who've downloaded and installed it. Reported problems include massive drops in SSD speeds (more than half), Blue Screens of Death, and apps not working correctly.

The KB5023706 update for Windows 11 22H2, codenamed Moment 2, brought the usual improvements, fixes, and features to Microsoft's OS, including a search bar in Task Manager and a tablet-optimized taskbar. As is par for the course for Windows updates, it also introduced unwelcome elements.

The most significant problem stemming from the update is its impact on certain SSDs, with some reports claiming their speeds dropped by half or worse. More than one user said the update crushed the performance of their laptop's Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB SSD; it appears that the problem is limited to this model of Adata SSD. A Redditor said that their boot time more than doubled to 31 seconds after the update was installed but returned to normal after they uninstalled KB5023706.

Microsoft says the impacted SSD speeds are one of update's known issues. It writes that "Copying large multiple gigabyte (GB) files might take longer than expected to finish on Windows 11, version 22H2. You are more likely to experience this issue copying files to Windows 11, version 22H2 from a network share via Server Message Block (SMB) but local file copy might also be affected. Windows devices used by consumers in their home or small offices are not likely to be affected by this issue."

Microsoft says those experiencing the issue can mitigate it by using file copy tools that do not use cache manager (buffered I/O). It also published two "built-in" command-line tools that can be used as a fix until it releases an official solution:

robocopy \\someserver\someshare c:\somefolder somefile.img /J
xcopy \\someserver\someshare c:\somefolder /J

The slow SSD speeds aren't the only problem the update is causing. Some people have found they are running into errors when downloading or installing Moment 2. There are also reports of users encountering constant Blue Screens of Death, broken apps, and slow WiFi connections after they install the update.

If you're experiencing any of these issues, the best option would be to uninstall the update until Microsoft addresses the bugs.

TechSpot

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow group chat memberships on the encrypted platform to expire after a set period of time.

A large part of what makes the Meta-owned messaging service so popular is its continual development of new group chat features, and the latest one aims to be a solution to the common problem of so-called "zombie groups."

The term refers to groups that have been set up temporarily to organize a one-off event like a birthday, and end up outlasting their usefulness after the event in question. Such groups can cause redundant clutter in the app and become a distraction to members if others in the group are still in conversation.

WhatsApp is clearly aware of the problem, as indicated by another beta discovery courtesy of WABetaInfo. A new "Expiring Groups" setting will let users set a specific expiration date for their WhatsApp groups. "When enabled, you will be prompted to clean up groups on their expiration date," reads the explanatory text for the UI option.

"When this feature is released, users will be able to choose from various expiration options such as one day, one week, or a custom date, and they will also have the ability to remove an expiration that was previously set in case they change their mind," explains WABetaInfo, who adds that the option is for individuals, "as it will not apply to other group participants."

The feature appears in a version 23.5.0.71 submitted by WhatsApp developers through the TestFlight Beta Program. It's not clear when it will be ready to go live, but the fact that it is in active development is likely to come as welcome news to users with lots of group memberships.

MacRumors

Acer said one of its document servers was hacked after a hacker claimed to have stolen 160 Gb of data from the company.

Electronics giant Acer has confirmed getting hacked after a hacker offered to sell 160 Gb of files allegedly stolen from the company’s systems.

“We have recently detected an incident of unauthorized access to one of our document servers for repair technicians. While our investigation is ongoing, there is currently no indication that any consumer data was stored on that server,” Acer told SecurityWeek in an emailed statement.

Acer issued the statement after a hacker announced on a popular cybercrime forum that he is selling more than 2,800 files totaling 160 Gb for an unspecified amount of Monero cryptocurrency.

The cybercriminal claims the files include confidential slides, staff manuals, confidential product documentation, binary files, information on backend infrastructure, disk images, replacement digital product keys, and BIOS-related information.

The hacker, who has a good reputation on the forum where the data was offered for sale, claimed the data was stolen in mid-February.

This is not the first time Acer has confirmed a data breach. In October 2021, the tech giant admitted that servers in India and Taiwan were hacked after a group claimed to have stolen more than 60 Gb of data from the company’s systems.

SecurityWeek

Microsoft is making Outlook for Mac free to use today. Outlook is now available free in Apple’s App Store, and you no longer need a Microsoft 365 subscription or Office license to use it. It’s a surprise move that coincides with Microsoft’s push to make its Windows desktop Outlook email client more web-powered.

Outlook for Mac includes support for Outlook.com accounts, Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo, and any email provider that has IMAP support. Microsoft redesigned its Mac email client in 2020, with a user interface that’s optimized for Apple’s latest macOS design changes.

Outlook for Mac is also optimized for M1 and M2 chips and has a macOS widget for calendar entries and native notification center support. Outlook for Mac also supports handoff with iOS, so you can pick up tasks where you left off between iOS and Mac devices.

Microsoft will also add a menu bar peek option soon to quickly see calendar entries within the main Outlook for Mac app. The software maker is also planning to support Apple’s Focus experience with new Outlook Profiles coming soon.

Microsoft’s move to make Outlook for Mac free comes just as the company is in the middle of rebuilding its Outlook for Windows app. Microsoft has been testing a new web-powered version of Outlook for nearly a year, with plans to combine the Windows Mail app and Outlook for Windows into a single email client. The new “One Outlook” app is essentially Outlook.com as a Progressive Web App (PWA). Much like Outlook for Mac, this new client will also be free (just like Windows Mail) and support a variety of email providers.

The Verge

Microsoft will roll out on Tuesday an update to Windows 11 that puts its new AI-powered Bing capabilities front and center on its taskbar, one of the operating system’s most widely used features, in the latest sign the company is doubling down on the buzzy technology despite some recent controversy.

With the update, the AI tool will be accessible from the Windows search box, which allows users to directly access files, settings and perform web queries. The search bar has more than half a billion users every month, according to the company, making it prime real estate for eventually exposing more users to the new feature. (A preview version of the AI tool remains available on a limited basis.)

Earlier this month, Microsoft said it was looking for ways to rein in Bing’s AI chatbot after users highlighted responses that ranged from inaccurate to emotionally reactive. Despite such early hiccups, the company told CNN “as a whole, we are feeling very good about the product experience for people” and continues to learn from feedback.

“AI itself is reinventing right now … and it’s just the beginning,” Panos Panay, Microsoft’s chief product officer, told CNN ahead of Tuesday’s launch. He likened the AI changes coming to the PC to how the keyboard and mouse changed the way we interact with computers.

However, only users of the new Bing preview will have access to its additional AI capabilities out of the gate. The company will continue to add users to the preview who have signed up for the new Bing waitlist. “We want to thoughtfully and responsibly scale it up,” Panay said.

CNN