Bowes IT Solutions

If you've installed the 24H2 update for Windows 11, you may have noticed a mysterious 8.63GB cache appearing on your system that seems impossible to delete. Don’t worry – you haven’t really lost this much memory space. Microsoft has confirmed it’s just a Disk Cleanup reporting error, and the cache will have been cleared from your PC already. Microsoft is working on a fix, but for now, you can rest assured that your system isn’t being bogged down by unnecessary files (even if it looks like it is). The issue comes from a new feature in 24H2 that breaks updates into smaller chunks, which will make system updates easier to manage. This glitch is harmless, so don’t let it put you off updating to the newest version of Windows. It’s really important to keep your devices secure by keeping them up to date. If you're having any trouble or are unsure about installing the update, my team can run through things with you. Get in touch. Have you or your team noticed this blip when trying to update Windows? #Windows11 #Microsoft #DiskCleanup

Here’s a little reminder for you: Windows 10 is officially reaching the end of its lifecycle on October 14, 2025. That’s less than a year away now. After this date, Windows 10 won’t get any more support or security updates from Microsoft. So, what does this mean for your business? It’s time to start thinking about making the switch to Windows 11, if you haven’t already done it. Windows 11 comes with some great improvements, like faster performance, better security, and excellent multitasking features. It looks slicker, too, with a cleaner and more modern interface. It's completely free to upgrade to Windows 11 – but if your PCs are more than five years old, they might not be able to run it. This means you’d need to look at investing in new computers for your team. I know… you don’t always have the budget to buy brand new PCs. But you have options, and my team can help you work through them. It’s important to start looking at this now, as while there are some workarounds to get Windows 11 running on older systems, they’re not a long-term fix. If you're sticking with Windows 10 for a while longer, Microsoft offers an Extended Security Updates subscription program to keep you covered (though it's a paid option and it doesn’t come cheap). My advice? Start planning your move over to Windows 11 now. This way, you can keep your business secure and running smoothly, without any surprises come next October. Have you started planning your Windows upgrade yet? #Windows10 #Windows11 #EndOfLife

Microsoft’s been leading the way in AI with its Copilot assistant for a while now. It’s already had a big impact on businesses by helping to automate tasks across popular apps like Word, Excel, and Teams. Now it looks like it could get even smarter – with a feature that’s like something out of a futuristic movie! A recent Microsoft patent reveals that the company might be building an update that lets Copilot create live images based on what you say during meetings and presentations. Imagine talking about a project in Teams and as you speak, Copilot creates real-time visuals that change based on your conversation. It could make it so much easier to explain complex ideas – and it could make meetings more engaging, especially if people on your team learn better with visual aids. While this feature hasn’t been released yet (and it’s possible that it might never be rolled out), it’s clear that Microsoft is continuing to push the boundaries of how AI can be used to help business owners communicate and collaborate. However you make use of AI in your business, it’s an exciting time to be using Copilot. What would you and your team like Copilot to take care of next? #Copilot #AI #Microsoft

Spyware is a growing threat, and even companies like Google are raising alarms about the “real-world harm” it can cause. But what exactly is spyware, and how can you protect your business from it? Simply put, spyware is a type of malicious software that installs itself secretly on your device. It then gathers sensitive information like passwords and bank details – and it could even grab data from your camera and microphone too. Spyware is sneaky, because it’s easy to end up with but hard to detect. Sometimes, you don’t even need to click a link to put yourself at risk. Spyware like Pegasus and Predator can target anyone, including small businesses. It’s important to be aware of the risks and take action to safeguard your devices. Keep your systems updated and make sure you use the latest security software. Don’t click suspicious links or download files that you don’t 100% trust. While security software does help, it can't catch everything. Make sure your whole team is aware of the risks, knows how to stay protected, and receives regular security awareness training. If you notice your device acting strangely or becoming unusually slow, it’s worth taking a closer look. My team can help you with this, get in touch. #CyberSecurity #Spyware #StaySafe

You’ve heard of passkeys, right? They’re quickly becoming the go-to solution for online security, because they’re a safer alternative to traditional passwords. Passkeys use something called cryptography to keep your details secure. This makes them much harder to hack than old-fashioned passwords. More businesses are using passkeys now – and companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft are already fully onboard. Amazon already has more than 175 million customers using passkeys to secure their accounts. But it’s always been a hassle to transfer passkeys between different platforms. This is where the FIDO Alliance comes in. The group, which develops passkey technology, is working to make sure you can move your passkeys between different password managers easily. The FIDO Alliance is introducing two new standards – the Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP) and Credential Exchange Format (CXF) – to make this process smoother and more secure for businesses everywhere. This is great news, because soon you’ll be able to switch password managers without worrying about compromising on security. Ready to use passkeys in your business? We can help, get in touch. #Passkeys #CyberSecurity #FIDOAlliance

Just in time for Halloween, a piece of tech history has been brought back from the dead! A 1986 Macintosh Plus has risen from the grave, thanks to the tinkering of developer Hunter Irving. The developer set out on a mission to get the old machine connected to the internet and – thanks to some tech wizardry involving a Raspberry Pi Pico W and BlueSCSI – he managed to achieve it (although it’s not exactly surfing the web at lightning speed…) While it's fun to see old hardware being brought back to life, this isn’t a call to cling to outdated tech in your business. Instead, it's a reminder of how far we've come. This vintage Mac might be great as a fun experiment, but sticking with up-to-date technology is key to keeping your business competitive. Modern systems are so much faster, more secure, and better suited to today's needs. Is any of your old tech ready to be laid to rest? My team and I can help you replace it, get in touch. #BackFromTheDead #OldTech #TechHistory

We all know malicious software can be stressful, expensive and disruptive to your business. But… annoying? That’s a new one. Luckily, this one’s easy to escape if you know how… #CyberSecurity #Malware #KioskMode #BowesIT #BowesITSolutions

This didn’t come as a shock to me, but OpenAI has confirmed that cyber criminals are now using ChatGPT to help create malware and carry out cyber attacks. Malware is a type of software designed to harm your devices and steal data, track your activity, or disrupt operations. And with AI tools, it could be possible to create sneakier malware that could easily slip past security systems. Scary stuff, for sure. But the good news is you can protect your business if you know what steps to take. Investing in strong cyber security tools (such as firewalls and the latest security software) can help. It’s also a good idea to train your employees regularly on how to spot suspicious emails and links. Keep a close eye on your systems and look out for any unusual activity. And work together with cyber security experts (like me and my team) to keep your business safe. Need help making sure your business is protected from malware attacks? Get in touch. #CyberSecurity #OpenAI #Malware

Do you and your team love Microsoft’s Snipping Tool? Well, it just got even better, with its new “Copy as Table” feature. The Snipping Tool has been able to recognize and extract text from screenshots (using its “Text Actions” feature) for about a year now. But the upcoming version will let you capture data tables from images and paste them straight into Excel. If you’ve ever tried copying table data from images, you know how frustrating it can be. And most third-party tools don’t do a great job of it. But the latest version of Snipping Tool handles this task easily. All you have to do is take a screenshot of the table, click the Copy as Table option under Text Actions, and paste it into Excel. Simple! Here’s my pro tip for when the feature rolls out: Make sure you only screenshot the table and not the whole screen. Otherwise, the tool will pick up extra text from the menu bars. This feature is still in testing but should roll out soon. Will this make your work a little easier? #Windows11 #SnippingTool #NewFeature

Have you already installed the latest Windows 11 update (24H2)? If you’ve been having internet issues ever since, you're not the only one. Although the update brings great new features, it’s been causing a bit of a headache for some people. Some have found that they haven’t been able to connect to the internet since installing the update, or that their connection keeps dropping. Sometimes this will be shown by a “169” appearing at the start of your IP address. Your business depends on you being able to stay online. But if this has been happening to you, don’t worry – there’s a fix you can try right now. You can roll back the update to the previous version of Windows 11. This has worked for many people and allowed them to get back online. While Microsoft works on a permanent fix, this temporary solution can keep your business running smoothly. It’s a simple process - but if you’re unsure, we’d be happy to help. Have you experienced any issues connecting to the internet since the update? #Windows11 #Update #InternetIssues