Author: Martin Brinkmann

When I was young, I studied German, History and English at Essen University in Germany. I worked in computer support for several years at the time to help other computer users when they ran into issues. Writing started out as a passion project, as I wanted to help more users and not just the ones that I handled in support. This lead to the founding of Ghacks Technology News in 2005. First, as a side-project, but shortly thereafter as a full-time project as the site's popularity exploded. I sold Ghacks to Softonic some years ago, but stayed on as Editor. You can still read my articles on the site. I do publish on Betanews as well. In recent years, I started to write and publish technology books, including my latest book "Windows 11 From Beginner to Advanced", which is available on Amazon. I'm also a freelance writer for the German publisher Gamestar. Chipp.in is my newest project. I want to use it to talk about my book projects, sell my books directly, and write about technology, as this is what interests me.

Microsoft Hands BitLocker Keys to FBI: How to Stop Windows From Uploading Yours

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

In a move that confirms privacy advocates’ long-held fears, Microsoft has reportedly handed over BitLocker encryption keys to the FBI, allowing federal agents to unlock the laptops of suspects in a fraud investigation without their consent.

The disclosure reveals a critical issue in how modern Windows devices handle security: convenience often comes at the cost of privacy. While BitLocker is designed to make your data unreadable to third-parties, the default settings on millions of Windows 11 PCs automatically upload the recovery key to Microsoft’s servers—creating a lawful “loophole” when served with a valid warrant.

For the suspects, this meant their encrypted hard drives were an open book. But for the average user, it serves as a grim reminder: if your recovery key lives in the cloud, Microsoft holds the master key to your digital life. Anyone else who may gain access, think malicious hackers, may also.

The good news? You can revoke their access today—if you know where to look.

Checking the status

The Microsoft online website lists all BitLocker recovery keys uploaded to the cloud, even for devices that you may not use anymore.

If you do use computers with Windows 11 and a Microsoft account, chance is that BitLocker is used on the device and that the encryption keys are synced to the connected cloud storage.

The best way to find out if that is the case already is the following:

  1. Open a web browser on your computer.
  2. Navigate to https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.
  3. Sign-in to your Microsoft account (the same that you use to sign-in to Windows)

The page that opens displays all connected devices, dates, and the Bitlocker recovery key. These keys can be used to decrypt hard drives encrypted by BitLocker.

Tip: You can delete any instance here with a click on the menu icon next to an item and the selection of delete.

You can also check the status of the active computer in the following way:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Type CMD.
  3. Select “run as administrator” while Command Prompt is selected.
  4. Paste or write manage-bde -status and press the Enter-key.

Check the conversion status to find out if a drive of the computer is encrypted.

Prevent the upload of recovery keys

The Control Panel applet reveals the status of BitLocker on each drive.

The easiest option, by far, is to rely solely on local accounts on Windows 11. Since local accounts are not linked to a Microsoft account, they do not sync data to the cloud. However, it is necessary to make sure that the local account is created during the initial setup.

Another option is to avoid BitLocker altogether and use a third-party — trusted — encryption software, such as VeraCrypt instead.

For that, you have to disable BitLocker on each Windows machine. Here is how you disable it on the active machine.

Notes:

  • Turning off will take some time. Windows begins decrypting the selected hard drive. It can take minutes to hours, depending on the size of the drive / partition and the speed of the PC.
  • You can keep using the computer. While Windows decrypts the drive in the background, you can keep on using it. It may be a bit slower than usual though.
  • Keep the PC turned on during the entire process. Ideally, you keep the PC on until the decryption of the drive completes. Keep the Control Panel open or check the notification area for status updates.
  • If “turn off” is not available, you are either not logged in as an administrator or there is a policy in place that prevents you from making changes.

Method 1:

  1. Open the Start menu and click on the Settings icon.
  2. Select Privacy & security in the Settings app.
  3. Look for Device encryption.
    • If you do not see the option, skip the process and check method 2 below.
  4. Click on Device Encryption.
  5. Toggle the feature to Off.
  6. Confirm the choice by selecting turn off again.

Method 2:

  1. Press the Start button.
  2. Type Manage BitLocker and select the result.
  3. Check all drives listed on the Control Panel page that opens.
    • If you see “BitLocker Off” next to a drive, the encryption is disabled.
  4. Select “Turn off BitLocker” for each drive with “BitLocker on”.
  5. Confirm your choice by selecting “Turn off BitLocker” again.

Method 3: The Pro-method

  1. Right-click on the Start menu, select Terminal (Admin).
  2. Type the command manage-bde -off C: and press the Enter-key.
  3. Note: replace C: with the drive letter that you want to disable BitLocker for

Google wants to personalize your search experience even more, but needs your data for that

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Imagine if Google Search didn’t just know the internet, but actually understood your context. Scary? Wonderful?

Google is making this a reality for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers with the launch of Personal Intelligence in AI Mode, a new feature that lets you securely connect Gmail and Google Photos directly to your search results.

This update is designed to save your time by transforming — often — generic search queries into personalized answers while ensuring your personal data remains private, opt-in, and strictly under your control, according to Google.

Announced yesterday, Google continues to push a personal angle into its products. Last week, Google introduced Personal Intelligence that connects its Gemini AI with Gmail, YouTube and some other company services.

This week’s announcement extends Personal Intelligence to Google Search. More precisely, to AI Mode of Google Search.

Personal Intelligence in AI Mode for Search

What it does: It connects Gmail and Google Photos to the AI Mode of Google Search. This allows Gemini to cross-reference information from emails or photos with general search information to provide answers that are specific to the user.

For example, if you ask for an itinerary, it may look up flight or accommodation information in Gmail as well as what you liked to do in past holidays on Google Photos to suggest an itinerary that is personalized.

Who gets it: The feature is rolling out as a Labs experiment. It is only available for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the United States who search in English.

What about privacy? The feature is strictly opt-in. Google claims that it is not using any personal data for training and users may disconnect the feature from Search at any time to end it.

Google’s ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between a search engine that knows “the world” and its users. For some, it is a new level of convenience that makes searching on Google better and faster. For others, it is a nightmare come true.

However, since the feature is opt-in and limited to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, the latter camp is likely very small at this point. This could change with a general rollout to non-paying Google Search users.

The success of the feature will ultimately hinge on trust, not so much on the technology and its effectiveness. While Google implemented important guardrails, including making the feature opt-in and promising that personal emails or photos won’t be used for training, handing over the keys to private memories and information requires a huge leap of faith, especially considering that Google’s main line of business is advertisement.

No More $10 Plan: Bitwarden Hikes Prices to Fund ‘Proactive’ Defense Features

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

For years, Bitwarden held the undisputed title of the tech world’s best password manager bargain, offering top-tier password security for just $10 a year. But that era officially ended today.

In a major strategic shift, the open-source company announced an immediate price increase that sees its individual Premium plan rise to $1.65 per month—effectively doubling the annual cost—while the Families plan climbs to $3.99 per month.

Here is the old and new price comparison.

Old PriceNew Price
BasicFreeFree
Premium$1 per month
$10 per year		$1.65 per month $19.80 per year
Family$40 per year$3.99 per month
$47.88 per year
  • The free basic plan remains as is.
  • Premium nearly doubles to $20 per year.
  • Family increases by about $8 per year.

The company argues the hike is necessary to fund a transition from passive storage to “proactive” defense, rolling out new features like real-time vault health alerts, expanded encrypted storage, and an upcoming phishing blocker designed to stop attacks before they happen.

Here is an overview of the new security features that Bitwarden announced:

Real-Time Vault Health & Coaching

The new feature automates the security process of checking for weak or exposed passwords.

  • In-Vault Alerts: Bitwarden shows a risk-icon next to vault items if a password is weak, reused, or was found in a breach.
  • Password Coaching: The moment a user logs in a site with a weak or compromised password, Bitwarden will prompt them to change it and guide them through the process.

Phishing Blocker

Upgrades defenses against phishing attacks.

  • Proactive Blocking: Bitwarden will attempt to discern legitimate from phishing websites in order to block the latter before filling any credentials.
  • Protection Layer: Aims to stop credential theft before it happens.

Expanded Encrypted Storage

Bitwarden Premium and Family plan customers get five times more storage space under the updated plans. This gives each user five gigabytes of secure file storage space, which they may use to store digital copies of passports, backup codes, wills, and other sensitive documents or files.

Advanced Two-Step Login options

Here, users get two expansions to existing support:

  • More Hardware Keys: Users may register up to ten hardware keys, e.g., a Yubikey, with Bitwarden. This doubles the old limit of five hardware keys.
  • Passkey Support: Improved support for the password-less authentication standard.

Closing Words

Ultimately, this update signals Bitwarden’s growth from a budget-friendly utility into a comprehensive security suite.

While a 100% price jump may sting long-time loyalists, the new ~$20 annual cost remains nearly half the price of top-tier competitors like 1Password and Dashlane.

Bitwarden is softening the blow with a one-time 25% renewal discount for existing users, but the company is clearly betting that active phishing defense and expanded storage are worth the premium. The days of the $10 vault are gone; users must now decide if they are ready to pay double for a smarter, more protective Bitwarden, or if the service’s robust free tier is effectively all the security they need

Cloudy with a Chance of Freezing: The New Windows 11 Bug That’s Locking Up Your PC

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Imagine this: You’ve just finished a critical document or a long email, you hit “Save,” and suddenly—nothing. Your screen freezes, the cursor spins endlessly, and your application enters the dreaded state of “Not Responding.”

If this sounds like your week, you aren’t alone. A frustrating new bug in the latest Windows 11 update is causing freezes for users relying on cloud storage.

Microsoft confirms yet another bug

Will it ever end? Microsoft confirmed several bugs already that plague users who have installed the January 2026 update for Windows.

Today, Microsoft confirmed yet another issue and this one appears more widespread than the others.

  • The issue: Apps might become unresponsive when saving files to cloud-backed storage
  • Support page: Link
  • Affected systems:
    • Windows 11: Version 25H2, 24H2, 23H2
    • Windows 10: Version 22H2
    • Enterprise: Windows 10 LTSC 2021, Windows 10 LTSC 2019
    • Server: Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 23H2, Windows Server 2025

Microsoft admits that the bug affects file operations, such as load or save, when cloud-storage is involved. Attempts to save files to OneDrive, Dropbox or other cloud storage services may trigger the issue. Similarly, opening files from cloud locations may also cause the freezes.

Microsoft writes:

For example, in some configurations of Outlook that store PST files on OneDrive, Outlook might become unresponsive and fail to reopen unless its process is terminated in Task Manager, or the system is restarted. In addition, sent emails might not appear in the Sent Items folder, and previously downloaded might be downloaded again.

The company says that it is working on a resolution. It does not have a universal workaround for affected users at the time of writing. While it has published a workaround for users who load Outlook PST files from cloud storage, it simply states that users should contact the application developer to learn about other access options.

I will update this article once there is a fix or a universal workaround. Keep you posted.

Intel’s Nightmare Arrives in Q2: NVIDIA to Launch High-Performance ARM Chips for Windows

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Intel’s and AMD’s nightmare has a release date. According to new reports, NVIDIA will debut its high-performance N1 and N1X consumer processors by Q2 2026, marking the company’s aggressive entry into the Windows laptop market.

The launch would end a long period of rumors and sets the stage for a major showdown, as NVIDIA attempts to replace traditional x86 CPUs with its own custom ARM architecture.

The report comes from the usually well-informed DigiTimes. Nvidia plans to release its first Nvidia N1X chip in notebooks in the first half of 2026 according to the report. DigiTimes reports further, that Nvidia has plans to release a second generation chip — N2/N2X — as early as the third-quarter of 2027.

Nvidia will follow the same business strategy that it has implemented for its graphics cards. It will create a reference design, which other manufacturers may customize.

It has been over a decade that Nvidia released a processor for Windows PCs. Back in 2013, Nvidia released the Tegra 4 processor for the Microsoft Surface 2 device, which ran on Windows RT 8.1.

We all know how this worked out. Windows RT was a colossal failure for Microsoft, in large parts due to its locked-down nature. Microsoft limited apps to the Windows 8 Store for the most part, which meant that users could not run any traditional Windows desktop apps on RT devices.

Windows on ARM has evolved significantly since the RT days. One of the main advantages of Windows 11 on ARM is support for classic Windows programs through emulation.

However, while Windows on ARM offers advantages in some fields, it does lag behind in others. Notably, it is gaming and legacy compatibility — think older PC hardware — that ARM has problems with.

For NVIDIA, the N1 launch represents unfinished business. More than a decade after the Surface 2 and the rocky Windows RT era, the company is returning to a landscape that has fundamentally changed.

The ultimate winners here are likely the consumers, as NVIDIA could provide the high-performance push that Windows on ARM needs to finally thrive. And while predicting the death of the x86 PC is premature, it is certain that Intel and AMD will be watching this release with bated breath.

Now it is your turn. Are your main systems still powered by AMD or Intel hardware, or do you use some with ARM processors already? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Critical Bug: Latest Windows 11 Update Renders Outlook “Completely Unusable”

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Microsoft’s January 2026 Patch Tuesday update (KB5074109) is causing classic Outlook to hang, freeze, and fail to restart. Find out if your system is affected and how to restore functionality.

The first patch day of the year 2026 won’t go down in history as one of the smoothest. While system administrators expect minor inconveniences with each cumulative update, the January patch is taking things to the extreme: Microsoft already confirmed an insomniac bug and broken RDC functionality for some users.

Turns out, there is another issue that is plaguing users on Windows.

The Classic Outlook POP issue

Uninstalling the latest cumulative update for Windows 11 resolve the issue according to reports. However, doing so leaves the system open to attacks. One of the patches included in this month’s security update addressed a 0-day issue that is actively exploited.

  1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
  2. Click on Update history.
  3. Scroll down and select Uninstall updates.
  4. Locate KB5074109 in the list.
  5. Click Uninstall and restart your computer.

Note: You may need to pause updates for a week to prevent Windows from automatically reinstalling it immediately.

If you do so, I recommend that you check the support page for updates to find out when the issue is fixed so that you may install the security update on the Windows machine again.

Other options include using different Outlook apps. Since Microsoft refers to classic Outlook as being broken, the new Outlook app and the Outlook mobile app for Android should continue to work as usually. Both support POP3, but require that the mail account is added to the program.

If switching from POP3 to IMAP is an option, this should also resolve the issue.

Emergency Patch: Microsoft Rushes Out Fix for Broken Remote Desktop Connections

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Just days after Microsoft released the first security updates for Windows, it is rushing out an out-of-bounds update to fix sign-in failures during Remote Desktop connections

It wouldn’t be a true Patch Tuesday if something didn’t break immediately after. If you spend the last days trying to figure out why Remote Desktop connection suddenly refuse to authenticate, you may be glad to hear that Microsoft acknowledged the issue yesterday.

Even better, the company released an out-of-bounds update on Saturday that addresses the issue.

Essential information

  • The issue: Microsoft notes that some Windows users “experienced sign-in failures during Remote Desktop connections”. The issue affected several Remote Desktop apps, including the Windows app.
  • Affected systems: Microsoft released updates for Windows 10 (KB5077796) and Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2 (KB5077744)
  • Availability: Microsoft releases the update via Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Administrators need to install the out-of-bounds update to fix the issue.

AI component updates included

While the main purpose of the update is to restore Remote Desktop connectivity, Microsoft has added several updated AI components to the update.

This affects the Windows 11 update only, as Windows 10 support is limited. Here is the list of components that are also updated when the patch is installed on a Windows 11 machine.

AI ComponentVersion
Image Search1.2511.1224.0
Content Extraction1.2511.1224.0
Semantic Analysis1.2511.1224.0
Settings Model1.2511.1224.0

Closing Words

The RDP issue is not the only one that Microsoft confirmed after the release of the January 2026 updates. Some Enterprise systems running Windows 11, version 23H2 were plagued by a shutdown bug that prevented the systems from shutting down properly.

Microsoft published a workaround — running the shutdown command from run or a command prompt — but no final fix for the issue at the time of writing.

The “Insomniac” Bug: Windows 11 Secure Launch Prevents Shutdown

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Secure Launch is keeping PCs awake. I explain why the latest patch broke the ‘Off’ switch and how to force a shutdown via CMD.

Microsoft released cumulative updates for Windows last week on the January 2026 Patch Day and fixed a critical security issue that is exploited in the wild.

Yesterday, Microsoft acknowledged that some Windows 11 devices are unable to power down after installing the KB5073455 security update.

When users try to shut down or hibernate affected machines, the devices simply restart instead.

Overview: The Secure Launch Shutdown Bug

Who is affected?

  • Operating system: Windows 11, version 23H2.
  • Target audience: Mostly Enterprise and IoT editions, as Home and Pro editions are no longer support. The Enterprise editions of Windows 11, version 23H2 will reach end of servicing this November.
  • Specific hardware: The bug is triggered only on devices with Secure Launch (System Guard Secure Launch) enabled.

Most home users and small to medium-sized businesses should not be affected by the issue.

The workaround

While Microsoft is fixing the underlying issue, it has published a workaround to fix the issue on affected systems.

Users who want to shut down the computer may run the following command from the command prompt: shutdown /s /t 0

Here are the steps:

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Type cmd.
  3. Launch the Command Prompt from the search results by selecting it.
  4. Paste shutdown /s /t 0 and press the Enter-key to execute.

Microsoft notes that it has no workaround currently for entering hibernation. The company recommends that users save all work regularly to avoid that work is lost when devices run out of power.

Windows and its Shut Down bugs: a trip down memory lane

Windows had a fair share of shut down related bugs over the years. The most notorious is a bug that plagued Windows users for nearly a decade before Microsoft finally fixed it in late 2025.

When users selected the update and shut down option from the Start menu, Windows would instead restart the system and load the login screen again. PCs would remain turned on until the user recognized the error.

Microsoft explained that the issue was caused by a race condition in the Windows Servicing Stack that caused the shutdown command to get “forgotten” during the update process.

Fast Start woes

Microsoft introduced Fast Start, also known as hybrid boot, in Windows 8. This new feature was designed to make the PC start up faster by using hibernation.

The problem was that older systems did not support this new hybrid state. This caused blue screens on some systems. The systems would reboot automatically to recover and this looked to the user as if shut down was broken.

This is no longer an issue on modern PCs, but on older PCs, system administrators could disable Fast Startup to resolve the issue.

Samsung’s Internet browser for Windows is now available worldwide, but should you get it?

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Samsung Internet for Windows is now available without regional restrictions. Here is an overview of the browser and my personal take on it.

Samsung Internet is a long-standing mobile browser that is installed by default on Samsung mobile devices. Samsung announced some time ago that it would expand the browser to the Windows operating system. First launched as a limited beta, it can now be downloaded by anyone.

What is Samsung Internet? The desktop version for Windows is a Chromium-based browser. This means that it shares the foundation with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and many other browsers.

For Samsung, it is an attempt to bridge the gap between Samsung Galaxy mobile devices and Windows PCs. Without support for Windows, Galaxy users had to find another browser to sync data, such as passwords, between their mobile devices and desktop systems.

Since it is based on Chromium, it shares many traits with Google Chrome. It offers similar performance levels and web compatibility, and supports the installation of Chrome extensions from the official web store.

Samsung Internet: unique and noteworthy features

Here is an overview of the browser’s standout features. It should not come as a surprise that most are Samsung-specific.

  • Integrated ad-blocker and smart anti-tracking functionality.
  • Samsung account integration, including Samsung Pass. This syncs important data, such as passwords or biometric login data, between devices.
  • Galaxy AI feature support. The two main features that Samsung Internet for Windows supports right now are the creation of summaries and translations.
  • A design that mimics the One UI design of the Galaxy phones and tablets.

Is it your next browser (aka, who is it for?)

Samsung Internet offers better out-of-the-box privacy protections than Google Chrome. Users can enable ad-blocking and privacy protections right on start, which gives the browser an edge. Chrome users have to install a content blocker extension to get a similar level of protection.

The explanation for this is simple: Google is an advertising company primarily. It depends on advertising revenue and shipping Chrome with an integrated content blocker would torpedo its business significantly. This is the main reason why Chrome for mobile does not support extensions.

Samsung is a hardware company primarily. It makes money from devices and components that it sells and its focus is to keep users in its ecosystem. Users who are satisfied with the products are more likely to remain customers, that is why Samsung is using privacy as a premium feature in its browser.

Who is it for? Samsung Internet for Windows is designed for Samsung users. Users who already use the mobile version of the browser and work on Windows PCs as well. They benefit from the integration, as they may sync data directly to their Windows devices with the browser without relying on third-party browsers or software.

The browser is a hard sell for anyone else. While it does come with content blocking advantages over Chrome or Edge, it is easy enough to install a content blocker. it is also noteworthy that other browsers, including Vivaldi, Brave and Opera, do come with native content blockers as well.

Personal Intelligence: Google pivots Gemini towards an all-seeing AI

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been mostly reactionary up to this point: a user initiates a conversation or asks the AI to do something, and the AI reacts to the input.

AI agents will change that, but they too have limited knowledge. All of this is going to change with Google’s announcement of Personal Intelligence, which sounds like Microsoft’s Recall feature, but on steroids.

It marks a shift towards a deeply integrated AI, including into Android and ChromeOS. Unlike the Gemini app, which is mostly there to provide the user with information or create something for the user, Personal Intelligence is designed to know the user fully to provide a deeply personal experience.

  • When does it start? It is rolling out for Google AI subscribers in the United States already.
  • Opt-in or Opt-out? Personal Intelligence is opt-int.
  • Where can you use it? Across Web, Android, and iOS.
  • How does it work? The AI creates a local database of a user’s life that is based on emails, photos, calendar entries, messages, and application usage. It pulls data from various sources to know as much as possible about a particular user.

Google reveals that Personal Intelligence runs on Gemini Nano v3, which is optimized heavily for running on the neural processing units of Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series devices. This allows it to process sensitive data on the device without the data leaving it at any stage of the process.

Unlike Gemini App, which is just a chat window for the most part, Personal Intelligence sees what the user sees on the screen. Furthermore, the AI may act on the user’s behalf with other apps.

Potential benefits for users

  • The AI you interact with knows as much about your life as you do, at least when it comes to online activity. You can ask it vague questions using natural language.
  • Personal Intelligence has capabilities to act on information. It can not only retrieve information, but also use information for actions.
  • A proactive context that anticipates needs. It may recommend to leave early if it notices that traffic is heavier than usually, knowing where you will be based on calendar entries.

Potential points of criticism

  • While Google emphasizes that sensitive data remains on the device, giving an AI full access to every pixel on the screen and your entire digital life is problematic, especially considering that Google is an advertising company first and foremost.
  • It remains to be seen how an all-seeing AI impacts a device’s battery life.
  • Even with access to personal data, AI may hallucinate, which means that it may return information that does not exist or run the wrong actions on the user’s behalf.
  • Personal Intelligence is also locked into Google’s ecosystem of apps and services for the most part, as functionality with third-party apps is limited at this point.

Closing Words

With Personal Intelligence, Google is offering an interesting and at the same time frightening proposition: a life that is more and more controlled and managed by AI, and in exchange for that, total access to the life of the user.

For now, users have the key in hand. They do not have to enable Personal Intelligence and when they do not, nothing changes. However, when they do, they will effectively allow Google access to their life, connect the dots, and know more about the user than their closest friends or family members.

I want to hear from you: Is on-device processing enough to earn your trust, or does the idea of Google ‘reading’ your screen still feel like a step too far? Let’s discuss in the comments.