Here’s what makes it special:

↳ Converts PDF, Word, Excel, PPT, images, audio to markdown
↳ Extracts EXIF, OCR, and transcripts automatically
↳ Available via CLI, Python API, or Docker
↳ Offers LLM-based image descriptions
↳ Supports batch conversions

https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown

To resolve the fix, admins needed to reboot impacted Windows devices into Safe More or the Recovery Environment and manually remove the buggy kernel driver from the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike folder.

However, as organizations face hundreds, if not thousands, of impacted Windows devices, manually performing these fixes can be problematic, time consuming, and difficult. To help IT admins and support staff, Microsoft has released a custom recovery tool that automates the removal of the buggy CrowdStrike update from Windows devices so that they can once again boot normally. Microsoft Recovery Tool can be found in the Microsoft Download Center.

To use Microsoft's recovery tool, IT staff need a Windows 64-bit client with at least 8 GB of space, administrative privileges on this device, a USB drive with at least 1 GB of storage, and a Bitlocker recovery key if required. It should be noted that you will need a USB flash drive that is 32GB or smaller, as otherwise you will not be able to format it with FAT32, which is required to boot the drive. The recovery tool is created through a PowerShell script downloaded from Microsoft, which needs to run with Administrative privileges. When run, it will format a USB drive and then create a custom WinPE image, which is copied to the drive and made bootable.

The script will then search for the buggy CrowdStrike kernel driver in the C:\Windows\system32\drivers\CrowdStrike folder, and if it's detected, automatically delete it.

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-releases-windows-repair-tool-to-remove-crowdstrike-driver/

For those already affected, CrowdStrike provides the following workaround steps:

1. Boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment
2. Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike directory
3. Locate the file matching “C-00000291*.sys”, and delete it.
4. Boot the host normally.

George Kurtz, the President and CEO of CrowdStrike announced a few minutes ago that the company “is actively working with customers” and confirmed that the problems are caused “by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts.”

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it seems the malware injects code into a DLL that an IIS feature called Failed Request Event Buffering (FREB) uses when troubleshooting failed requests.

‘Frebniis’ Malware Hijacks Microsoft IIS Function to Deploy Backdoor

There are 12 challenges available to choose from, select one that's right for you. Once you complete that challenge you will earn a free Microsoft Certification exam that can be applied to your choice from a select list of options.

The challenge ends on November 30, 2021 at 4:00 PM UTC (16:00). Make sure all modules in your challenge are complete before time runs out.

If you complete your challenge before it ends, one Microsoft Certification exam will be associated with your Learn profile on December 7, 2021. You will be notified via email when it becomes available.

Offer details

You can only claim one offer per person, regardless of the number of challenges you complete.
Prior to redeeming your free certification exam, government employees must check with their employers to ensure their participation is permitted, and in accordance with, applicable policies and laws.
This exam offer may be redeemed to take one (1) Microsoft Certification exam, delivered at an authorized Pearson Vue testing center or through a Pearson Vue online proctoring site.
This exam offer is exam-specific and only redeemable for select Microsoft exams.
Eligible exams include:
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MB-330: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management
SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
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This exam offer redemption window starts December 7, 2021 and expires on March 15, 2022.
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Void in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Region of Crimea, and where prohibited.

“ The company showed a screenshot that mentioned a monthly subscription of $31 (roughly Rs. 2,300) for the configuration that comprises two CPUs, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB storage. It will be a part of the Windows 365 Business option that is meant for businesses with fewer than 300 users.”

What have you been able to gather about it so far? Do you think it is an also ran (Hello, Zune and windows smartphone) or a game changer?

Link to video: https://myinspire.microsoft.com/sessions/a80a31ae-565b-483d-ab34-b5e5b7fbc39b

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-57443598

Microsoft says it will stop supporting Windows 10 in 2025, as it prepares to unveil a major revamp of its Windows operating system later this month.

When Windows 10 was launched, Microsoft said it was intended to be the final version of the operating system.

But from 14 October 2025, there will be no new updates or security fixes for either the Home or Pro versions.

And Microsoft says its successor will represent one of the "most significant updates" to the OS in the past decade.
[...]
Mr Nadella and chief product officer Panos Panay will launch the new OS at a virtual event on 24 June, with Microsoft now facing stiff competition not just from Apple but also from Google.

Microsoft Corp. today announced its “Bersama Malaysia” (Together with Malaysia) initiative, which marks a significant commitment to empowering Malaysia’s inclusive digital economy and advancing the nation’s digital transformation across the private and public sectors. As part of the plan, Microsoft will establish its first datacenter region in the country to deliver trusted cloud services locally, with world-class data security, privacy, and the ability to store data in-country.

What do you guys think about this region datacenter?

Thanks

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24074
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24094
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24086

All are with a CVSS Base Score of 9.8
two are remote code execution and one Denial of Service.
Affects ALL Windows versions. Those of you who are still on Server 2003 and 2008.... UPGRADE!

please, patch as soon as possible or this could get ugly in a near future.