Microsoft promised fewer Windows 11 ads, but its wallpaper app acts like adware, opening Bing when you click your desktop

windowslatest.com Oct 19, 2026

Microsoft promised fewer Windows 11 ads, but its wallpaper app acts like adware, opening Bing when you click your desktop

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 19, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Microsoft promised to cut advertising in Windows 11, yet its optional Bing Wallpaper app has resurfaced with ad‑ware‑like behavior. After a recent update, any left‑click on the desktop background launches Bing.com in the user’s default browser, a feature that first appeared in 2025 and was previously toggleable. Tests by Windows Latest show the redirect occurs only once every 24 hours, making it easy to miss, and the toggle to disable it is no longer present. The app also displays pop‑ups urging users to set Bing as the default search engine, attempting to modify browser settings. While the wallpaper service sources images from photographers and partners such as Getty Images, the new functionality undermines its original purpose and raises concerns about unwanted system interactions.

💡 Why It Matters

· By turning a benign personalization tool into a click‑hijacking gateway, Microsoft blurs the line between optional features and intrusive software, prompting users to question trust in core OS utilities.

Read full article on windowslatest.com

Xbox strategist says he might be fired: “Because I told you the…

Senior Business Strategy Manager Brandon Stirrup of Xbox used a weekend project—a rudimentary “bad game” built with AI prompts—to publicly acknowledge that Microsoft is already leveraging artificial intelligence in game creation. In a social‑media post, he warned that his candidness could cost him his job, arguing that AI is lowering development barriers and that the gaming sector is uniquely resistant because of negative user sentiment. Stirrup noted that while other entertainment fields have embraced AI, gaming leaders remain reluctant to discuss it openly. He pointed to Xbox Labs’ recent focus on AI experiments and cited examples such as Capcom’s admission of AI use, emphasizing the need for developers to manage AI‑generated code responsibly.

💡 Stirrup’s admission forces the industry to confront a looming shift from guarded secrecy to transparent AI integration, testing how studios balance creative control with rapidly accessible tooling.

windowslatest.com · Oct 19

Why Windows 11 still won’t let you name a file CON, and…

Windows 11 still blocks the creation of files or folders named CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM1‑COM9 or LPT1‑LPT9, treating them as legacy device identifiers inherited from MS‑DOS. Testing on a 26H2 build showed the rule works for bare names but fails for extensions: NUL.txt and CON.txt are accepted despite Microsoft’s documentation claiming they map to the device names. Engineer Raymond Chen traced the restriction to DOS 1.0, when a single directory existed and these names served as shortcuts to the console, printer, serial ports and a null sink. He explains that the rule persists because countless scripts, batch files and utilities still rely on it for redirection and existence checks. Removing it would break those workflows in modern Windows environments today.

💡 Because scripts still depend on these reserved names for redirection, an accidental removal would silently corrupt automation pipelines across enterprises.

windowscentral.com · Oct 18

Windows 11’s Search overhaul is coming fast — here’s what you really…

Microsoft is revamping Windows 11’s Search feature to make it faster, more accurate and capable of executing tasks directly from the Taskbar. Built on WinUI 3, the redesign reduces memory usage and improves typo and synonym matching. Users can now type commands such as “switch to dark mode” or “turn on Bluetooth” to adjust settings without opening separate apps. Upcoming updates will add inline file previews, richer web‑result cards and integration with the Copilot AI assistant, which will surface AI‑generated answers within the Search pane before launching the full Copilot app. The preview is available to Windows Insider participants on builds 26340.9616 (26H2) and 28120.3181 (26H1), with broader rollout planned later this year and deeper Start‑menu integration slated for 2027.

💡 By turning Search into an actionable hub, Microsoft blurs the line between discovery and control, giving users a faster, more unified way to manage their PC without leaving the desktop.

windowscentral.com · Oct 18

Windows Wrap: The best PC Microsoft has ever made — and the…

Sean Endicott, a veteran News Writer at Windows Central, pens the weekly “Windows Wrap” column that curates the most consequential stories across Microsoft’s software and hardware ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has authored over a thousand pieces covering Windows 11 updates, Surface launches, Microsoft 365 changes, and the company’s expanding AI initiatives. Endicott’s reporting blends breaking news, deep analysis, and opinion, offering readers a cohesive view of how individual developments interlock within the broader PC landscape. His background in broadcast journalism and live production informs his rapid‑response style, while his extracurricular role as an award‑winning youth American‑football coach in Nottingham underscores a diverse professional portfolio. The column has become a go‑to source for enthusiasts seeking a distilled, contextualized snapshot of Microsoft’s weekly moves.

💡 By synthesizing disparate Microsoft updates into a single narrative, “Windows Wrap” helps professionals cut through information overload and make informed decisions about hardware purchases, software deployments, and AI adoption.

windowscentral.com · Oct 18

Xbox is hiring a “Physical Games Strategist” — will Helix have discs?

Xbox announced a new hire, designating a “Physical Games Strategist” to oversee the company’s disc-based gaming initiatives. The role, filled by veteran Xbox analyst and Windows Central executive editor Jez Corden, signals Microsoft’s intent to maintain a tangible media presence amid its cloud‑first strategy. Corden, known for deep‑dive reporting on the Xbox ecosystem, will coordinate hardware, software, and supply‑chain teams to ensure physical titles remain viable on the upcoming Xbox Helix console. The appointment follows months of speculation about whether Helix will support discs, a question that has divided gamers who value ownership of physical media. By formalizing a dedicated position, Microsoft aims to reassure the disc‑centric segment while balancing its push toward digital distribution and subscription services.

💡 Microsoft is betting that a focused champion for discs can keep collector‑driven revenue flowing while it expands its cloud and subscription ecosystem.

thehackernews.com · Oct 17

Hackers Use Compromised ConnectWise Credential to Sign In to 173 Microsoft 365…

Cybersecurity researchers have identified an active campaign in which threat actors compromised a Microsoft 365 credential belonging to ConnectWise Cloud Backup, a service used by managed service providers to back up client data. Using the stolen credential, the attackers signed into 173 tenant environments between 06:13 and 08:34 UTC on 15 October, moving through tenants in GUID order with a scripted approach. The compromised app holds extensive permissions—including full mailbox, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and directory access—allowing the adversary to read and modify data across all consented tenants. In at least one case, the attackers elevated the app to Global Administrator, injected new secrets into other privileged applications, and potentially extended access to additional customer environments. ConnectWise has temporarily disabled the Cloud Backup app and advises tenants to revoke tokens and rotate credentials, noting no evidence of backup data theft.

💡 The breach gives attackers native‑level access to thousands of corporate mailboxes and files, turning a trusted backup tool into a universal backdoor for MSP‑served organizations.