Internet and computer security

[MKC8]

In all likelihood, a few months after Win10 is obsoleted, they'll announce Win12 which will be more similar to Win 10 than Win11.
It's the way MS does it.
Every other OS they create falls under the "not too bad" or "absolute crap" column.

*not too bad*
Win XP
*crap* Win Vista
Win 7
*crap* Win 8/8.1
Win 10
*crap* Win 11
IMHO.

 

[1st Vette]

Security aside, 11 is a downgrade from 10. So many features removed. So many things not fixed. Networking is still a pain with Windows. Updates routinely turn off network discovery for example. With 10 you could resize your taskbar etc.
Still many computers that can't upgrade because of the bios. My little "Acer One 10" can't which is why I turned off wifi.
Anyway, we have no choice. Either upgrade or turn off networking .... On purpose i mean! lol

I haven’t personally had any problems but am aware that many people do . As for the taskbar you can choose from three different sizes. Settings , personalization , scroll down to taskbar behaviours and there should be a taskbar size drop down . Found this of course…..

Yes, there are known issues with Network Discovery in Windows 11 that users commonly face. Problems include computers not showing up on the network, network shares not being visible, and intermittent failures of network discovery and file sharing even when settings appear correct.
Key causes and issues reported are:
• Network profile set to Public instead of Private, which disables network discovery by default.
• Network Discovery and File Sharing settings not enabled or resetting unexpectedly.
• Windows services required for discovery (Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, DNS Client, UPnP Device Host) not running.
• Firewall or third-party security software blocking network discovery traffic.
• SMB protocol issues or misconfiguration affecting visibility of shared resources.
• Outdated or corrupted network adapter drivers causing discovery failures.
• Windows updates sometimes breaking local network connectivity or sharing.
• Intermittent network discovery failures where devices disappear and reappear unpredictably.
Common fixes recommended include:
• Setting the network profile to Private in Settings > Network & Internet > Properties.
• Enabling Network Discovery and File Sharing in Advanced Sharing Settings.
• Starting and ensuring dependency services are running via `services.msc`.
• Checking and configuring firewall rules to allow network discovery traffic.
• Resetting network adapters and network settings (via Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset).
• Updating or reinstalling network drivers through Device Manager.
• Restarting the PC after changes to apply settings properly.
• Ensuring SMB protocol is enabled if sharing files.
In summary, while Windows 11 supports network discovery, users frequently encounter issues due to settings, services, firewall, driver, or update-related problems. These issues can often be resolved by verifying network profile, enabling discovery and sharing, checking services, resetting network adapters, and updating drivers.

 

[Murray20c8]

I haven’t personally had any problems but am aware that many people do . As for the taskbar you can choose from three different sizes. Settings , personalization , scroll down to taskbar behaviours and there should be a taskbar size drop down . Found this of course…..

Yes, there are known issues with Network Discovery in Windows 11 that users commonly face. Problems include computers not showing up on the network, network
In summary, while Windows 11 supports network discovery, users frequently encounter issues due to settings, services, firewall, driver, or update-related problems. These issues can often be resolved by verifying network profile, enabling discovery and sharing, checking services, resetting network adapters, and updating drivers.

I wasn't asking for solutions. I was pointing out flaws and feature removals.
There are a lot more than just the taskbar (which BTW there is no size option on any of my 11 versions. Neither Pro or Home)
As far as the Network discovery goes it happens on all 5 of my computers. 4 of which have little to no extra apps installed. It's definitely idiot Microsoft programmers that are incapable of building a solid O/S.
Lack of smarts at Microsoft is now a huge issue. They are more worried about "Dark Themes" and "disappearing scroll bars" than they are about building a solid O/S.

 

[1st Vette]

I wasn't asking for solutions. I was pointing out flaws and feature removals.
There are a lot more than just the taskbar (which BTW there is no size option on any of my 11 versions. Neither Pro or Home)
As far as the Network discovery goes it happens on all 5 of my computers. 4 of which have little to no extra apps installed. It's definitely idiot Microsoft programmers that are incapable of building a solid O/S.
Lack of smarts at Microsoft is now a huge issue. They are more worried about "Dark Themes" and "disappearing scroll bars" than they are about building a solid O/S.

Just trying to help amigo . Have you ever considered dual booting Windows and Linux ? Linux is very capable for networking. The taskbar setting is present in my Windows 11 Pro install. You should see this….very strange if you don’t but this is Windows we are talking about , lol.

 

[MKC8]

I wasn't asking for solutions. I was pointing out flaws and feature removals.
There are a lot more than just the taskbar (which BTW there is no size option on any of my 11 versions. Neither Pro or Home)
As far as the Network discovery goes it happens on all 5 of my computers. 4 of which have little to no extra apps installed. It's definitely idiot Microsoft programmers that are incapable of building a solid O/S.
Lack of smarts at Microsoft is now a huge issue. They are more worried about "Dark Themes" and "disappearing scroll bars" than they are about building a solid O/S.

I hear ya' Murray. Windows Vista was a mess, and so are the "every other" OS they've created since, because they use the prior lousy code, and try to add glitter and bells and whistles that made them appear a little better, but didn't fix the original OS' shortfalls and problems. That's why Win 9X OS weren't too bad, because they were pretty simple, based on DOS with a better user interface that actually made sense, but required some computer savvy to figure stuff out with them, like file folders and the associated heirarchies. It's easy to lose stuff on computers if you don't know where to look (eventually enter File Explorer). Then Y2K rolled around and after the predicted Y2K disasters became as unlikely as all the prior climate change disasters, they created Win XP which was OK because it seemed like a successor to Win98. Unfortunately, the other half of the OS software engineering department got the task of trying to improve Win NT and created Vista, which pretty much sucked. It was kind of like the VM version of Windows, while XP was more like the MVS version. There's no way they rewrote any of the succeessive operating systems from scratch. That task would require thousands of man hours and code writers, rather they tried to improve (fix) the code in the predeccessor OS. Unsuccessfully, more often than not.

 

[1st Vette]

I hear ya' Murray. Windows Vista was a mess, and so are the "every other" OS they've created since, because they use the prior lousy code, and try to add glitter and bells and whistles that made them appear a little better, but didn't fix the original OS' shortfalls and problems. That's why Win 9X OS weren't too bad, because they were pretty simple, based on DOS with a better user interface that actually made sense, but required some computer savvy to figure stuff out with them, like file folders and the associated heirarchies. It's easy to lose stuff on computers if you don't know where to look (eventually enter File Explorer). Then Y2K rolled around and after the predicted Y2K disasters became as unlikely as all the prior climate change disasters, they created Win XP which was OK because it seemed like a successor to Win98. Unfortunately, the other half of the OS software engineering department got the task of trying to improve Win NT and created Vista, which pretty much sucked. It was kind of like the VM version of Windows, while XP was more like the MVS version. There's no way they rewrote any of the succeessive operating systems from scratch. That task would require thousands of man hours and code writers, rather they tried to improve (fix) the code in the predeccessor OS. Unsuccessfully, more often than not.

Some proof of this in the numbers…

Microsoft quietly implies Windows has LOST millions of users since Windows 11 debut — are people really abandoning ship? [UPDATE]

A recent blog post from Microsoft gave us an up-to-date statistic on the number of Windows devices there are the world today, and that number is down by up to 400 million over the last number it gave.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[Jack Raccoon!]

OMG, go outside and play...

 

[Murray20c8]

Just trying to help amigo . Have you ever considered dual booting Windows and Linux ? Linux is very capable for networking. The taskbar setting is present in my Windows 11 Pro install. You should see this….very strange if you don’t but this is Windows we are talking about , lol. View attachment 133080

Not on any of mine. Did you install Microsoft power toys?

In Windows 11, the taskbar size is primarily controlled by the display scaling settings. There isn't a direct setting to resize the taskbar independently. To adjust the taskbar size, you'll need to modify the display scale within the system settings.

 

[Murray20c8]

Just trying to help amigo . Have you ever considered dual booting Windows and Linux ? Linux is very capable for networking.

My wife doesn't like linux.
I've had enough Unix to last a lifetime. lol
Linux and Solaris was what I did the last 15 years at work.
It's the shared networking between my wife's computer, my video server, my 3 laptops that I need to work better.
You never know one day to the next what computer can see what computer. It's laughable really.

 

[1st Vette]

Not on any of mine. Did you install Microsoft power toys?

In Windows 11, the taskbar size is primarily controlled by the display scaling settings. There isn't a direct setting to resize the taskbar independently. To adjust the taskbar size, you'll need to modify the display scale within the system settings.

I had Power Toys installed several times over the years but don’t really have a lot of use for it these days. My “ network “ consists of a desktop, a printer and a couple of tablets so I don’t generally have issues there. My main use for my desktop is gaming which Win 11 is better for than 10 .
One thing I do find handy though is “ God Mode “ instead of digging through umpteen menus to find a setting , if I can remember where to look in the first place, lol.

 

[Jack Raccoon!]

OMG, go outside and play...

This is what happens if you don't go outside and play...

 

[MKC8]

Yeah, you wind up watching threads you don't care about, and posting up youtube nonsense, because you're doing the same thing they are, sitting at your keyboard, instead of going outside, and playing with yourself.
btw, I accept Bitcoin, Amex, Visa, and MC for extortion payment.

 

[Jack Raccoon!]

1st post I made today was at 6:05pm. I came in because the street lights came on...

 

[1st Vette]

Godmode for Windows. For those not familiar with this handy feature.

Windows 11 God Mode is a special folder that consolidates over 200 advanced system settings and administrative tools into one place, making it easier for power users to access and tweak Windows features without navigating through multiple menus.
How to Enable God Mode in Windows 11:
1. Right-click on the desktop and select New → Folder.
2. Rename the folder exactly as:
{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}.

After renaming, the folder icon will change to resemble the Control Panel icon.
4. Double-click the folder to open it and access all the settings organized into categories such as Backup and Restore, Devices and Printers, Power Options, User Accounts, Security, and many more.
You can also drag shortcuts from God Mode to the desktop for quicker access to specific settings.
What God Mode Offers:
• Centralized access to Windows settings and Control Panel applets
• Categories like AutoPlay, Color Management, File History, Network and Sharing, Troubleshooting, and Windows Defender Firewall
• A powerful tool for advanced users to customize and troubleshoot Windows 11 efficiently
Important Notes:
• God Mode is not a hidden or new feature; it has been present since Windows Vista and continues to work in Windows 11.
• It does not unlock any secret features but provides a convenient shortcut to existing settings.
• You can delete the folder anytime to remove God Mode.
This feature is especially useful since Microsoft is gradually moving away from the traditional Control Panel, and God Mode offers a quick way to access many settings that might otherwise be scattered across the system.

 

[Murray20c8]

Godmode for Windows. For those not familiar with this handy feature.

Ya, I've done that before. Anyway, that just help with settings. I'm pretty familiar with all the settings in Windows, but I still have no idea how you have a taskbar resize. lol. You running a beta / developer version of Windows? Weird that even Perplexity doesn't know about it!

 

[1st Vette]

Interesting. Just looked and Perplexity returned this….also gives you the registry edit configuration although as you know make sure you get any registry edit exact .

To resize the taskbar in Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Go to Personalization.
3. Select Taskbar from the left menu.
4. Scroll down and click on Taskbar behaviors.
5. Find the Taskbar size dropdown and choose between Small, Medium (default), or Large.
The taskbar will resize immediately after you select the size, no reboot needed.
If you want more control or the default options don’t satisfy you, you can also resize the taskbar by editing the registry:
1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to:
`HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
3. Right-click Advanced, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it TaskbarSi.
5. Double-click TaskbarSi and set its value to:
• 0 for small taskbar
• 1 for default size
• 2 for large taskbar
6. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply changes.
Note: Windows 11 does not allow resizing the taskbar by dragging its edge like in previous versions, and some third-party tools exist but may have limitations or drawbacks.

 

[Murray20c8]

Interesting. Just looked and Perplexity returned this….also gives you the registry edit configuration although as you know make sure you get any registry edit exact .

To resize the taskbar in Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Go to Personalization.
3. Select Taskbar from the left menu.
4. Scroll down and click on Taskbar behaviors.
5. Find the Taskbar size dropdown and choose between Small, Medium (default), or Large.
The taskbar will resize immediately after you select the size, no reboot needed.
If you want more control or the default options don’t satisfy you, you can also resize the taskbar by editing the registry:
1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to:
`HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
3. Right-click Advanced, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it TaskbarSi.
5. Double-click TaskbarSi and set its value to:
• 0 for small taskbar
• 1 for default size
• 2 for large taskbar
6. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply changes.
Note: Windows 11 does not allow resizing the taskbar by dragging its edge like in previous versions, and some third-party tools exist but may have limitations or drawbacks.

I did that a long time ago. It makes the icons larger, not the task bar itself. I used to have no grouping and have tons of things running and the task bar double rowed full of icons.

 

[1st Vette]

I did that a long time ago. It makes the icons larger, not the task bar itself. I used to have no grouping and have tons of things running and the task bar double rowed full of icons.

Sounds busy. I always keep the taskbar hidden. The only thing on my desktop screen is the recycle bin. Why the heck they no longer allow just grabbing it to resize it to how ever big you want it is beyond me. You have probably heard of “ Stardock WindowBlinds “ which allows you to change the GUI to practically any look you want including previous OS versions. They have a free trial and I don’t think the program is that expensive. They happen to have a sale on now. You need Start 11 as well as WindowBlinds so the total cost is about $34 CAD .

Start11: The ultimate Start menu replacement for Windows 10 and 11. Restore the classic look and add new functionality.

Start11: The ultimate Start menu replacement for Windows 10 and 11. Restore the classic look and add new functionality.

www.stardock.com

Skin the Windows desktop interface with WindowBlinds.

Skin the Windows desktop interface with WindowBlinds.

www.stardock.com

 

[1st Vette]

I did that a long time ago. It makes the icons larger, not the task bar itself. I used to have no grouping and have tons of things running and the task bar double rowed full of icons.

Just checked and both of the pieces of software are included in the current Steam sale and are a bit cheaper than on Stardocks site .

Summer Sale: Up to 90% Off Stardock Titles

Up to 90% Off Your Favorite RTS, 4X, Sci-Fi Strategy Games Snag huge discounts on our games, dlc, expansions, and Windows PC software during the Summer Sale

store.steampowered.com

 

[Nik]

1. Passkeys (where available)
2. 2FA (where available)
3. Good password manager - regen all your passwords everywhere and try not to reuse. I use 1Password but plenty of good options out there.
4. Don't click on rando-stuff.
5. Don't divulge your real info unless critical i.e. government, payment processor, you'll got to jail if you lie types of situations etc.
6. Assume any site will be hacked eventually (you may or may never know about it), have a backup plan if needed
7. Email phishing is pretty common, I get a bunch of these, but obviously never pay because goat pr*n is totally legit here I was told.
8. CC fraud is pretty common, don't store payment info if you can help it, your password manager is much better at storing payment info from what I've witnessed.