One of my favorite Windows features, Windows Sandbox, is finally testing some new features that I’d characterize as something like an improved airlock. I think of Windows Sandbox in the same vein that I do a VPN: While a VPN encrypts and hides your connection from prying eyes, it does so in a way that creates an encrypted tunnel from your PC to the server. Protecting your data is the paramount goal of a VPN, and it’s also what underlies Windows Sandbox, too. Windows Sandbox creates a Windows within Windows, a separate, isolated operating system designed to self-contain any files within it. While a virtual machine can be used to run any operating system, Sandbox is optimized for Windows. Think of it as a test bed for sort-of untrusted software and data. If you’ve ever downloaded any dodgy piece of software or accessed a shady website and wanted to run it without risk to your system, Sandbox is the app for you. (At least it’s designed to be.) I usually load Sandbox, then install a VPN on top of it. That’s pretty secure. Windows 11 Pro But Sandbox has one inherent “flaw”: The Sandbox is designed to obliterate any and all data when you shut it down. That’s what it’s designed to do, after all, and that’s a good thing if potential malware is involved — if you close Sandbox, everything inside the virtual OS is deleted. If any malware attacks and takes over Sandbox, the idea is that only the Sandbox is affected. Your PC is not. And when you close Sandbox — poof! It all disappears. On the other hand, it’s a little tricky to transfer trusted files from Sandbox to your “real” OS. If you’re convinced that a file you’ve tested within Sandbox is trusted, your normal course of action is to save it to the version of File Explorer within Sandbox, and then access it with the “real” File Explorer from your main Windows installation. Windows 11 Build 27686 of the Windows Insider Canary Channel adds a couple more conveniences: runtime clipboard redirection and the ability to share folders with the host at runtime. Though Microsoft doesn’t explicitly spell out what these mean, I’m assuming that if you copy a file (CTRL+C) from the Sandbox, move your cursor into the trusted Windows environment, and then paste (CTRL+V), Windows will copy the file outside of Sandbox, without the need to go through File Explorer. Likewise, you should be able to share a folder and files between Sandbox and your main, trusted OS. It’s certainly more convenient, though possibly less secure. What Microsoft is calling the Windows Sandbox Client Preview will now be updated via the Microsoft Store, freeing it from its dependence on the operating system, too. This will allow Sandbox to be updated on its own independent schedule, which is a good thing. Sandbox is also getting an early version of command-line support as well as its own audio/video input controls. What Microsoft isn’t saying, however, is whether you’ll still need Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro to use this updated version of Sandbox. There aren’t many reasons to use Windows Pro any more, but Sandbox has, in the past, definitely been one of them. Additional features Microsoft is also testing an increase in the FAT32 file limit from 32GB to 2TB, allowing significantly larger disk partitions using the Windows format command. Virtually all Windows partitions are used in conjunction with NTFS, but FAT32 (the oldest format, with roots going back to Windows 98) is typically used with external storage. This will give newer, larger drives the option to use the older FAT32 formatting option. Microsoft said it’s also making optimizations to improve battery life for this and future builds, but isn’t saying how and how much battery life you should expect. Windows Insider Channels (specifically Dev and Canary) aren’t guarantees that the new features will be shipped into mainstream PCs. But these new additions begin testing some features which might have some real impact on your PC. Read...

A Taranaki high school has a new fundraising idea that will benefit both the school and the environment. Read...

As Washington tries to bolster its defence capabilities in the US territory, Guamanians are questioning whether militarisation will help or harm the people, the environment and their future. Read...

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says the Companies Act had not been substantially updated in 30 years and does not reflect the modern business environment. Read...

The argument will be mounted on the basis of demographic changes. Read...

There was a little-noticed piece of legislation introduced to Parliament last month – little-noticed but with a potentially impactful influence upon New Zealand’s lending environment Read...

Recently, Microsoft released a Windows update on the down low that mainly fixes a major problem in Microsoft Defender Antivirus. This was first spotted and reported by Neowin. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro The update, called Security Intelligence Update version 1.413.494.0, addresses a problem where Windows systems become vulnerable for a short time after installation. Related: You should change these settings in Windows Security A big security hole in Microsoft Defender According to Microsoft, a Windows system could be vulnerable to attack in the first few hours after a new Windows installation due to a protection gap in Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Apparently, the installation images for the operating system may have contained outdated antivirus software binaries. As such, this Windows Security update fixes the issue and adds better detection mechanisms for Trojan, adware, and backdoor exploit threats. In addition to improved security, the update may also result in improved system performance in some cases. The update has been made available for the following versions of Windows: Windows 11 Windows 10 (Enterprise, Pro, and Home) Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2016 Related: Is Windows Security good enough for everyday users? Check if the update is installed For most Windows users, the update has probably already been installed for you. If you want to be sure, you can check by launching Windows Security, then clicking on the Virus & threat protection tile, then clicking the Check for updates button. The following requirements also apply for this update: You must be running a 64-bit operating system environment on Windows 10 or later that contains PowerShell 5.1 or later. The Microsoft.Powershell.Security and DISM modules must be installed. You must be able to start PowerShell with administrator rights. Further reading: How to turn on Windows’ ransomware protection Read...

The Vivobook line of laptops by Asus are known for their lightweight form factors and reliable performance, and that’s why they’re great for just about anybody seeking productivity and portability. If you’re in the market for that kind of laptop, then you’re in luck: Best Buy is selling the Asus Vivobook 14 for just $210 right now, which is more than half off its original $430 price. That’s a wildly good deal. The Asus Vivobook 14 weighs just 3.1 pounds, so it won’t give you a shoulder ache as you carry it around. It has an understated aesthetic, which isn’t a bad thing — it blends into the crowd and I’d certainly pick a more subtle design like this if I’m bringing my laptop to a business environment like the office or a convention center. The Vivobook 14 has pretty modest specifications, but that’s to be expected in a sub-$500 laptop. Underneath the hood you’ll find an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. It’s not the most powerful laptop, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s meant to handle day-to-day tasks like office work, school work, watching Netflix, and general web browsing — and it gets all that done with no issues. The display is quite nice, though, especially at this price. It measures 14 inches and it has a resolution of 1920×1080. While the maximum brightness level is only 250 nits, again, that’s not surprising given the super-affordable price. It also comes with a 720p webcam, which is good enough for video meetings and calls. (You can always hook up an external webcam with a better resolution if needed.) Nitpicks aside, this is a really solid laptop for the price. If you’re looking to save money on a lightweight laptop with a 1080p display, then this Asus Vivobook 14 is the right choice. Get this Asus laptop for over 50% offBuy now at Best Buy Read...

A conservation group in the Lindis Pass has been awarded $15,000 from Environment Canterbury to eradicate russell lupins destroying native habitat. Read...

Environment group hails court ruling as sending “a clear message” to the industry Read...