Unless you have Skype configured to boot-up when you start your computer, starting the program, logging in and connecting to a call can be mildly tedious. It’s not anymore — Microsoft just announced a new ‘Guest’ mode for Skype that makes user accounts almost completely optional . Now if you want to join a Skype call, all you have to do is click a link and enter your name. Skype as a Guest includes voice and video calling, group instant messaging and screen and file sharing features for up to 300 people per conversation. Users will be given a unique link to share with contacts that instantly open the Skype conversation, which can be made up of more Guests, or fully signed-in Skype users. So, what’s the catch? Not much: conversations expire after 24 hours, and you’ll still need to log-in to call a landline or use Skype’s live translation features . The account-free mode also only works in Skype.com’s web-client, but those limitations aside it seems to offer all the service’s basic free features. Not bad — particularly if you only use Skype when somebody else asks you to. Source: Skype
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You don’t need to sign in to use Skype anymore
A new white paper from Microsoft claims that “devices running Windows 10 are 58% less likely to encounter ransomware than when running Windows 7”. But an anonymous reader brings more news from Windows-watcher Paul Thurrott: in a separate blog post, it also makes its case for why Windows 10 version 1607 — that is, Windows 10 with the Anniversary Update installed — is the most secure Windows version yet. Improvements in this release include: Microsoft Edge runs Adobe Flash Player in an isolated container, and Edge exploits cannot execute other applications… [And] the Windows Defender signature delivery channel works faster than before so that the in-box anti-virus and anti-malware solution can help block ransomware, both in the cloud and on the client. Additionally, Windows Defender responds to new threats faster using improved cloud protection and automatic sample submission features, plus improved behavioral heuristics aimed at detecting ransomware-related activities. Interestingly, the paper also touts Microsoft’s “Advancing machine-learning systems in our email services to help stop the spread of ransomware via email delivery.” Read more of this story at Slashdot. 