Security researchers at Google Project Zero warn of a dangerous flaw in the popular Trend Micro Antivirus security software opening a backdoor for PC hijacking, malware infection and password robbery.

According to the researchers, the flaw allows any website to run commands directly on PCs running Trend Micro software. Such commands including wiping the computer, downloading and installing malware and uninstalling Trend Micro antivirus. Posing the worst risk is the Password Manager component, since the application of a malicious script can steal all password stored on the browser, including encrypted ones.

"I don't even know what to say-- how could you enable this thing *by default* on all your customer machines without getting an audit from a competent security consultant?" researcher Tavis Ormandy writes in the Google Security Research blog. "You need to come up with a plan for fixing this right now. Frankly, it also looks like you're exposing all the stored passwords to the internet, but let's worry about that screw up after you get the remote code execution under control."

Microsoft says it is the start of a new era-- one where customers put Windows 8 firmly behind-- as Windows 10 reaches official launch, with celebrations taking place in 13 different countries.

The OS is available as a free update to Windows 7 and 8 users in 190 countries. In addition a new Windows Store is open, and developers get a companion Windows Software Development Kit.

Windows 10 promises to combine the best of Windows 7 and 8, with the Start button, taskbar and desktop modes of the former and the touch-friendly UI features of the latter. Microsoft also says it is the most secure version of the OS yet (with enhanced Windows Defender and Smart Screen), while switching between different devices should be smoother through the Continuum feature.

Customers wanting media server software for their WD NAS storage systems are getting exactly that, as the company announces the the Plex Media Server app is now available for the My Cloud NAS series.

Plex is a popular media organisation and streaming software. It is available for most PC and NAS devices, and comes with a companion client app allowing media playback on Windows, Android, Chromecast, Xbox and PlayStation devices, as well as a number of STBs and smart TVs.

"With today's addition of the Plex app, the My Cloud NAS series will now be a one-stop shop to not only store and protect your most precious content, but to organize and stream that content to all your devices as well," the company says.

Microsoft describes Windows 10 as "the last version of Windows" at its Ignite conference. How come? Mainly because Microsoft wants to move the OS to an "as a service" model fed with constant updates.

One way this is possible is the way Windows 10 is built-- the OS is split into multiple components, such as Start Menu or built-in apps. Each component can be updated independently of the core Windows OS, allowing for more agile patching instead of big updates.

Microsoft announces a strategic agreement with 11 global and regional hardware makers in the pre-installation of mobile versions of Microsoft software on Android-powered tablets.

The apps in question are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive and Skype. The companies signing the agreement are Samsung, Dell, TrekStor (Germany), JP Sa Couto (Portugal), Datamatic (Italy), DEXP (Russia), Casper (Turkey), Tecno (Africa), Hipstreet (Canada), QMobile (Pakistan) and Taiwanese ODM Pegatron.

"For OEMs, these deals will increase the value of and enrich people’s experiences on Android devices," the Microsoft announcement reads. "ODMs are important because they extend Microsoft services to the ecosystem… they help to reach a greater number of other device manufacturers, resulting in even more choice for customers around the world."

Microsoft reveals what it describes as a "personal computing" feature for Windows 10-- Windows Hello, a password replacement based on biometric authentication, such as fingerprint, iris or facial recognition.

"You-- uniquely you-- plus your device are the keys to your Windows experience, apps, data and even websites and services-- not a random assortment of letters and numbers that are easily forgotten, hacked, or written down and pinned to a bulletin board," the company announcement reads.

The type of biometric authentication Hello uses depends on the hardware available in the machine in question. This means either fingerprint readers or, in case of facial recognition, cameras with built-in infrared sensor (such as the Intel RealSense 3D camera). Microsoft adds the security it offers enterprise-grade, and should meet the requirements of most, if not all, organisations.

Windows 10 will move beyond passwords when it comes to security as Microsoft adds support for biometric authentication and other means of password replacement via the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance.

"Moving the world away from passwords is an enormous task, and FIDO will succeed where others have failed," Microsoft says. "The need and appetite for change has never been greater, and we're thrilled to be part of this great working group whose members are actively transitioning FIDO solutions from the drawing board to implementations capable of large scale deployment."

PrarieIT releases Xtra-PC, a piece of software the company describes as an easy means for customers to transform old PCs and laptops into fresh means to watch movies, listen to music, write documents and play games.

As the company puts it, the software completely overwrites HDDs, removing potentially harmful files and replacing the OS with an Linux-based option. All is supposedly easy to install, and the result allows users to breathe new life into older Windows XP PCs.