In the ever-evolving world of  operating systems, Microsoft has taken us on a rollercoaster ride—from the universally praised  Windows 7 to the sometimes aggressively divisive Windows 8, and now to Windows 11, which tries to juggle innovation with more AI features than many of us asked for. But the latest buzz floating around the tech sphere is about something fresh, light, and downright streamlined: Windows 12 Lite. No, this is not an official release (yet), but rather a widely-discussed concept cooked up by creative minds to address one of Microsoft’s most persistent challenges—bloatware.

Let’s unpack this idea of "Windows 12 Lite" and dissect why a bloat-free OS might just be exactly what Microsoft needs to reclaim its reputation for building sleek, high-performance operating systems.



Windows 11: A Modern OS Weighed Down by Bloat​

Microsoft introduced Windows 11 with promises of a fresh, modern design and new, integrated AI tools. From the cleaner centered taskbar to Snap Layouts making multitasking easier, there are certainly things to love. But let’s face it—running Windows 11 is not for the faint of hardware.

   • High System Requirements: Even on brand new machines, many users complain about lagging performance, sluggish responsiveness, and an OS that feels far more demanding on system resources than it should be.

   • AI Overload: While some users appreciate AI-enhanced features like Paint's new background removal tool or Copilot's help, others are perturbed by how deeply embedded and resource-heavy these tools have become.

   • Feature Redundancy: All those flashy Microsoft services—Widgets, Teams integration, and pre-installed apps—have made the OS feel increasingly cluttered instead of streamlined.

Windows 11 isn't bad—it’s just…a lot. So much so, that even devices designed to meet its lofty requirements end up groaning under its weight.



Imagining Windows 12, But Lite

Cue AR 4789, a concept creator known for crafting tantalizing concepts of what Windows could be—like reimagined versions of Windows XP and Windows 7. His latest creation envisions Windows 12 Lite, and people are intrigued. Here’s what this concept delivers:

1. Minimalist Design​

Windows 12 Lite finally gives the OS a needed makeover, focusing on a cleaner and cohesive interface. Think of a modern but unfussy layout:
   
   • A stripped-down centered taskbar.

   • An elegant search bar at the top that centralizes commands like virtual desktops, quick settings, and file searches.

   • A consistent design language instead of multiple overlapping design styles from legacy versions—a persistent gripe with its predecessors.

This minimalist approach isn’t just aesthetic; it translates into a leaner, better-oiled machine.



2. Lightning Installation Speeds​

The bloated installation process Microsoft OS users have learned to endure is replaced with a much faster, streamlined setup. In AR 4789’s concept, installing Windows 12 Lite takes far less time. No endless prompts, no drawn-out waiting periods—just efficiency, plain and simple.



3. Preserving Smart Features Without Sacrificing Performance​

Yes, AI is here to stay, even in this lighter conceptual OS. Copilot lives on in Windows 12 Lite, albeit in a less domineering fashion, alongside core features like Notepad (yes, revamped but not burdened with excessive gimmicks). The takeaway? You still get the perks of modern tech—machine learning, voice commands, or intelligent recommendations—minus the overkill AI crammed into every interface.



4. Faster, Leaner Updates​

A  desktop should not feel like it needs its own IT guy just to handle daily function—and updates are a key culprit in this regard.  Windows 12 Lite puts forth an idea that updates could finally exist in harmony with user schedules and without perpetually hogging bandwidth or CPU cycles. Imagine a Windows that updates in the background so seamlessly you barely even notice. We’re dreaming big here, folks.



Why Do We Need Windows 12 Lite, Really?​

It comes down to addressing three main frustrations that plague PC users today:

1. Performance on Modest Hardware​

One of the great tragedies of modern software is its increasing inaccessibility to older or less-powerful systems. Not everyone can (or wants to) spring for a top-end gaming setup or a fully spec’d-out Surface Book. A lighter OS would:

   • Let older machines run butter-smooth.

   • Offer a practical option for users who just want to get work done without needing fancy AIs analyzing their text documents.

2. Environmental Impact​

Hardware obsolescence, driven by bloated software, contributes to a tidal wave of e-waste. By creating an OS that runs like clockwork on existing systems (even those with a few years under their belt), Microsoft could take meaningful strides in reducing waste—and their carbon footprint.

3. Usability Over Novelty​

You remember Windows 7, don’t you? The OS that just worked and became a universal favorite without forcing unnecessary gimmicks down our throats? That’s the nostalgia fueling interest in Lite OS ideas. We need stability, usability, and intuitive features—not invasive AI integrations that slow us down.



Could Microsoft Deliver on This Concept?​

It’s worth remembering that Windows 12 Lite is merely a fan-made concept for now. But what if Microsoft actually embraced this vision?

   • Microsoft could release multiple versions of Windows 12, including a no-nonsense "Lite" edition, stripped of pre-installed apps and redundant features.

   • Features such as a modular system architecture could let users opt into advanced functionality (say, AI support or gaming features) rather than forcing everything on everyone.

   • A focus on open compatibility, where Lite could run smoothly on virtual machines and serve as an OS for ARM-based devices, could expand its usability.



What’s in It for Users Like You?​

For those tired of watching their PC struggle under the burden of endless background tasks, bloated AI features, and interface inconsistency, a "Lite" experience feels revolutionary. You’d gain:

   • Improved multitasking thanks to lower resource consumption.

   • Ease of use, especially if your workflows rely on a clean, intuitive environment.

   • A second life for your older hardware.

Would you jump ship if Microsoft delivered this pared-down alternative? Or are you all-in on the current AI-laden approach of Windows 11? Share your take below—maybe the right feedback sparks just the inspiration Microsoft needs to make  Windows 12 Lite a reality?



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As great as Windows 11 is, there are plenty of things one can complain about. The overload of preinstalled apps, the intrusive permissions granted to Windows to access user data and telemetry, and generally unwanted features are some of the most common points of contention. Plenty of tools exist to help you remove bloat from Windows 11, but Tiny11 is an especially interesting one because it claims to clean your Windows 11 install right from the start by modifying the ISO.

Tiny11 is available as an ISO based on the different versions of Windows, and it's already been updated for version 24H2. There's also Tiny11 Builder, a script that lets you apply these changes to your own Windows 11 ISO, and it works with any version of Windows 11. The script works with any version of Windows, and in addition to the standard Tiny11 image, it can also create an even smaller Tiny11 Core image, which we'll talk about a bit more later.

The setup

To compare Tiny11 to Windows 11, I created fresh installs of both Windows 11 version 23H2 and Tiny11 2311, which is based on that same release, on different partitions of an Omen 16 laptop, both the partitions of the same size (approximately 100GB).

The setup process was the same for both, using pre-created ISOs and creating bootable USB media with Rufus, with any modifiers to system requirements disabled. While setting up the operating system for the first time, we opted to use an offline account for Tiny11, which gives us that option, while Windows 11 normally does not. Otherwise, the two operating systems were set up similarly.

How much smaller is Tiny11?

It's much lighter than Windows 11

Right off the bat, the difference in size between Tiny11 and the standard Windows 11 version it's based on is nothing to scoff at. The Windows 11 version 23H2 ISO comes in at 6.34GB, while Tiny11 stays at a mere 3.52GB. That's a huge difference already.



I recently did a similar comparison with Windows 11 version 24H2 and the difference is a bit smaller. The full ISO from Microsoft's download page comes in at 5.82GB, while the Tiny11 24H2 ISO is 3.55GB.

Of course, the real comparison is the size of the installation itself, and that's even more impressive. To measure how much space is taken up by the OS, I first installed both operating systems, but I then allowed them to use Windows Update to install updates and drivers, and installed any updates for pre-installed apps (more on that in a bit). This was because the laptop had many missing features like Wi-Fi or touchpad functionality with the stock drivers included in the ISO files. So this isn't the raw size of the OS alone, but rather what you'd need for the hardware to properly function. It may vary depending on your device, but the point is to draw a comparison.

After installing the latest updates and cleaning the leftover files using Storage sense, I looked at how much space was being used on the 100GB partition. The standard Windows 11 installation was using roughly 36.3GB. Before installing any of the updates, Tiny11 used a mere 17.9GB, but after installing drivers, Windows updates, and the latest versions of built-in apps, it went up to 29GB. I merely looked at the Tiny11 size before updates out of curiosity, since I figured installing updates would make a big difference.



That's a big increase from the completely clean installation, but it's still significantly smaller than Windows 11 proper. For a device with low storage capacity, like the 64GB of eMMC storage like Microsoft's own Surface Go 3, that kind of difference is very big. Those gigabytes could store thousands of photos, music, or plenty of videos. It's no joke, and it makes Tiny11 very tempting if you have one of these lower-end devices. Of course, that impact is significantly lessened once you install the latest updates, but it's still a noticeable chunk of storage.

It's worth mentioning that Tiny11 is stripped of almost every pre-installed Microsoft app, which means that getting updates from the Microsoft Store had little impact on the overall storage, while those app updates added quite a bit to the standard Windows 11 install.

But what about performance?

Does it make a difference?

Naturally, a proper comparison here has to look at the differences that this makes in terms of performance. First, I wanted to see how much of the memory and CPU is used when the computer is in a relatively idle state on these two operating systems. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the differences here aren't huge. Tiny11 seems to have slightly lower RAM usage and CPU usage is also more consistently lower.



It's worth mentioning that RAM usage tends to scale if there's more memory available, but on the same hardware, the difference is fairly small. SSD usage also appears to be a little more contained, based on the Task Manager diagram.

But this is only a very superficial look at performance. What do benchmarks have to say about Tiny11? Well, the story isn't all too different here. Running benchmarks like Geekbench, Cinebench 2024, and PCMark 10 shows relatively minor differences between the two versions, enough for this to be considered within the margin of error.



Interestingly enough, the results on Cinebench were reversed from the other two, but it might just have been an odd run. Either way, the biggest benefits here will come from the storage you save rather than performance, at least on a modern PC.

What's the catch?

Tiny11 is missing some things, but it works well

The point of Tiny11 is to be a fully usable version of Windows 11, and technically, it kind of is. Once you have all the drivers, Tiny11 looks and feels just like Windows 11, but the big thing is many of the apps are missing. Out of the box, before any updates, Tiny11 only has two items pinned to the Start menu, and it includes the following apps in the All Apps list:

• Calculator

• Clock

• File Explorer (which is more of a system component)

• Microsoft Store

• Notepad

• Paint

• Settings (again, a system component)

• Snipping Tool

• Terminal

• Windows Backup

• Windows Security







Otherwise, it's just a few system components that would have to be here. The missing apps can be installed through the Microsoft Store, so you can restore the features you need. Interestingly, even Edge is missing, so you don't have a web browser out of the box. Unfortunately, if you do install it, you won't be able to uninstall it normally, which is a bummer. But at least you can easily bypass Microsoft's browser and just download your favorite from the Microsoft Store. Naturally, not having Edge can affect certain features, like the Widgets board and its web-based content, but that's something a lot of people don't need.

Notably, after installing the latest updates, a lot of pinned apps do appear on the Start menu just like on Windows 11 proper, but these apps still aren't installed on your system. They're just links to download those apps from the store, so they're not taking up a ton of space. Most things about Windows itself still function, and even Copilot is supposedly available (though it didn't show up on my machine for some reason).



Tiny11 doesn't make a ton of sacrifices in terms of functionality. Some previous releases were missing a lot more apps, and cumulative updates wouldn't work, but with Tiny11 2311, you can install the latest cumulative updates, too. This might contribute to an overall larger OS, but it's probably more important to keep your PC secure. And you're still saving a few gigabytes worth of space on your drive.

Of course, if you don't want to connect to the internet and prefer ignoring updates, you might be able to save a bit more space, but I wanted to paint a more realistic picture for the majority of users. You will most likely connect to the internet and have to install updates and drivers, so you need to be ready for the extra storage that will take. Regardless, there are savings to be had in terms of storage, and if by any chance you don't need the internet, that's even more true.

Tiny11 Core

Tiny11 Core is a more recent version of Tiny11 that goes even further in removing Windows components you may not need. It removes the Windows Component Store, meaning you can't add features or languages to Windows, plus it can't receive updates, and even Windows Defender is disabled out of the box. As a result, this version of Tiny11 isn't meant to be used on real computers.

Since you wouldn't want to use it on real hardware, we didn't try any performance tests, but in terms of size, the Tiny11 Core ISO comes in at just 2.65GB, a more than 50% reduction compared to the 6.34GB of the original Windows 11 ISO it's based on. Even compared to the standard Tiny11, it shaves off almost a full gigabyte.



After installation, Tiny11 Core takes up a mere 11.1GB, which is over 6GB less than even Tiny11 itself before any updates. Since Tiny11 Core won't receive any updates itself, that size really won't increase very much, aside from updates to Windows components like the Microsoft Store and Windows Terminal.



Of course, if you do install this on real hardware, you also have to add the size of drivers, which will probably be the biggest difference in size. But you really aren't meant to use this on real hardware, and even the creator of the project says that. So what is the point?

Well, say you want to set up a VM for testing some kind of software and you want it to be as small as possible. With Tiny11 Core, you can significantly speed up setting up your PC, since the files are generally smaller and everything goes by a bit faster. Plus, you don't have to go online with it, so all the Microsoft account setup process is skipped and the initial setup is much faster. This is meant for those scenarios, where the machine itself is a throwaway. It's important to remember this since you can't add the missing features to Tiny11 Core, since the Windows Component Store is removed.

Should you use Tiny11 instead of Windows 11?

Probably not

With all the clear benefits of Tiny11 in terms of saving space on your hard drive and removing potentially unwanted features, you may be tempted to think it makes no sense to keep using the full version of Windows 11 when you can get Tiny11 instead. However, I would still advise against it.

Modifying an ISO image isn't the safest method for reducing bloatware on Windows 11 and making the OS lighter. While the developer of Tiny11 seems genuine modified ISOs can often pose major security risks, plus it's not entirely clear that Microsoft won't block these PCs from getting updates in the future.

Perhaps more importantly, installing an operating system again from scratch is just a hassle, especially if you've already been using your PC for a while. You'll need to back up your data and move it around to get back to where you were before, so it's not something most people can do on a whim. Tiny11 is more interesting as a thought experiment, a test to see how far we can cut back on Windows 11's features while still maintaining a functional computer.

If you're looking to remove some of the junk included in Windows 11, there are a few solutions out there in the form of PowerShell scripts or apps. A great choice is Win11Debloat, a script that lets you customize your Windows 11 install with a few options of your choosing. It doesn't require you to start fresh, so it's a much easier setup, and it still helps a lot. Plus, if certain features are enabled or brought back, you can simply run the script again to clean things up.

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Tech support scammers are again stooping low with their email campaigns. This particular one hints that one of your contacts may have met an untimely end.

It all starts with an email titled “Sad announcement” followed by a full name of someone you know. The email may appear to come from the person themselves.

A co-worker who received such an email pointed it out to our team. Looking around, I found the first report about such an email in a tweet dating back to February 5, 2024.

With some more information about what I was looking for, I managed to find several more.

There is a great deal of variation between the emails, but we do have enough samples to show you a pattern which looks like this:



Subject: Sad announcement: <First name><Last name>

Sometimes the colon is replaced by the word “from”.

Then a short sentence to pique the reader’s curiosity, which often references photos. Here are some examples:

“When you open them you will see why I actually wanted to share them with you today”

“Never thought I would want to share these images with you, anyways here they are”

“I’m presuming you should remember these two ladies, in that photo”

“When I was looking through some old folders I found these 3 pics”

“it wasn’t initially my plan, but I had to change my mind about it”

“Two pictures that I wanted to share with you. They’re likely to bring a flood of memories to you, as they did to me…”

“Probably should have contacted you a little bit earlier. Anyways just wanted to keep you updated”

This is then immediately followed by a link. These also follow a certain pattern:

gjsqr.hytsiysx.com

tmdlod.vdicedohf.com

gtfhq.rmldxkff.com

pdbh.ramahteen.com

owwiu.dexfyerd.com

roix.unrgagceso.com

yrlbi.vohdsniuz.com

uqjk.mbafwnds.com

vjdbd.hhesdeh.com

mbjzo.enexoo.com

These domains are all registered with NameCheap and are only active for a few days.

To close the emails off, the scammers end with a quote in the format:

The sender addresses are spoofed to look like they were coming from family or friends of the target. The actual sender addresses are compromised accounts from all over the world.

The campaign looks to have targeted mainly the US, but I also found some located in Ireland and the UK and some odd ones in India and Italy.

So, the question is, what are they after? The short-lived domains really made it hard for me to figure that out. It took me quite a bit to find a domain that was still active, but then I knew soon enough what the end-goal of the spammers was.

A short chain of redirects sent me to

http://niceandsafetystore0990.blob.core.windows[.]net/niceandsafetystore0990/index.html

which is now blocked by Malwarebytes Browser Guard.



The blob.core.windows.net subdomains are unique identifiers for Azure Blob Storage accounts. They follow this format:

<storageaccountname>.blob.core.windows.net

Where <storageaccountname> is the name of the specific Azure Storage account. Spammers like using them because the windows.net part of the domain makes them look trustworthy.

The website itself probably looks familiar to a lot of readers: A fake online Windows Defender scan.



The fake Windows Defender site shows that your system is infected with loads of threats.



Funny enough the site claims to be Windows Defender, but uses Malwarebytes’ detection names. For example: Microsoft does not detect the Potentially Unwanted Program which Malwarebytes detects as PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge.

Anyway, the website quickly takes up the entire screen, so you have to click or hold (depending on your browser) the ESC button to get back the controls that allow you to close the website.

Now that you have seen the patterns in the email, we hope that you will refrain from clicking the links. The redirect chain can be changed and may be different for your location and type of system. So, there may be more serious consequences than an annoying website.

How to avoid the “sad announcement” scam

   • Always compare the actual sender address with the email address this person would normally use to send you an email.

   • Never click on link in an unsolicited email before checking with the sender.

   • Don’t call the phone numbers displayed on the website, because they will try to defraud you.

   • If in doubt, contact your friend via another, trusted method

If your browser or mobile device “locks up”, meaning you’re no longer able to navigate away from a virus warning, you’re likely looking at a tech support scam. If something claims to show the files and folders from inside of your browser, this is another signal that you’re on a fake page. Close the browser if possible or restart your device if this doesn’t work.

Despite the occasional arrests and FTC fines for tech support scammers and their henchmen, there are still plenty of cybercriminals active in this field. Scams range from unsolicited calls offering help with your “infected” computer to fully-fledged websites where you can purchase heavily over-priced versions of legitimate security software.

Unfortunately for some people these warnings may have come too late. So what should you do if you have fallen victim to a tech support scam? Here are a few pointers:

• Have you already paid? Contact your credit card company or bank and let them know what’s happened. You may also need to [color=blue[file a complaint[/color] with the FTC or contact your local law enforcement agency, depending on your region.

• If you’ve shared your password with a scammer, change it on every account that uses this password. Consider using a password manager and enable 2FA for important accounts.

• Scan your device. If scammers have had access to your system, they may have planted a backdoor so they can revisit whenever they feel like it. Malwarebytes can remove backdoors and other software left behind by scammers.

• Keep an eye out for unexpected payments. Be on the lookout for suspicious charges/payments on your credit cards and bank accounts so you can revert and stop them.

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Tim Cook, CEO of Apple unveils a new MacBook
(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)Getty Images

Apple is warning billions of Mac and MacBook users worldwide to update macOS as a matter of priority.

The latest version of macOS Sequoia was released earlier this week as macOS 15.1.1. It comes less than a month after the major 15.1 release that addressed several small bugs and security fixes alongside the first wave of generative AI software in the Apple Intelligence suite.

What Issues Face Apple’s Mac And MacBook Pro Laptops?

Release notes for macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 list two issues addressed. The first is a fix to the JavaScriptCore (concerning “maliciously crafted web content”), the second fixes an issue with WebKit (concerning “Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to a cross site scripting attack”). These are recorded as CVE-2024-44308 and CVE-2024-44309. Forbes contributor Kate O’Flahery has delved into the technical issues of these attacks.

The importance of applying this update has been reinforced thanks to an intervention by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency"

"Apple released security updates to address vulnerabilities in multiple Apple products. A cyber threat actor could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system. CISA encourages users and administrators to review the following advisories and apply necessary updates:"

Update More Than Your Apple MacBook Pro

The macOS update was launched simultaneously with iOS (18.1.1) and iPadOS (18.1.1) updates. Forbes’ contributor David Phelan has taken a closer look at the iPhone update—as well as the update to iOS 18 for the current range, Apple is providing an update to iOS 17 to ensure the fixes are available for the broadest range of iPhones as possible.

macOS Sequoia supports every Mac and MacBook that runs on Apple Silicon. In addition to any Mac with these M-series chipsets, macOS Sequoia also supports several Intel-powered Macs—namely those with the Xeon W and Coffee Lake or later chipset. Effectively that means the iMac Pros released since 2017, iMacs released since 2019, MacBook Pros since 2018, Mac Minis since 2018, and Mac Pros since 2019 are also supported and should be upgraded as soon as possible.

How To Update Your Apple Mac And MacBook Pro

To start a manual update to macOS 15.1.1, go to the System Settings / General / Software Update and click Update Now. This is in a different location on older Mac hardware,, go to System Preferences and click Software Update.

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Windows 11 version 24H2, which was released on October 1, 2024, is generally considered a solid update with quite a few decent feature upgrades, some welcomed changes, and more (check out our overview here). However, the operating system still requires quite a lot of disk space and comes with many parts that some consider unnecessary, especially when installing Windows 11 24H2 on unsupported hardware.

There is now a remedy to that.

NTDEV, the maker of the famous tiny11 project, a tool that shrinks the kids Windows 10 and 11, released an updated version of the tiny11 core builder. What is tiny11 core builder? It is a script that lets you shave a lot of parts off the standard Windows 11 image for a very small system installation. The maker of the project positions tiny11 core as a "quick and dirty development testbed" for all sorts of whacky stuff, like running Windows 11 on an iPhone 15 Pro.



Note that tiny11 core is not for you if you want a slimmed-down Windows 11 installation for daily use, say, on unsupported hardware or a PC with a tiny SSD. tiny11 core is not serviceable, which means you cannot update it, install additional components, etc. You have to pick what you need during the creation process and call it a day. In return, you get the ability to run a bare-bones Windows 11 that only takes 3GB of disk space.

For more user-friendly and daily driving-suitable purposes, use the regular tiny11 builder, which works fine with Microsoft's latest Windows 11 version 24H2 release.

You can download the latest tiny11 scripts from the project's GitHub. It is open-source, but a fair share of caution is still recommended when dealing with modified OS images.

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