Facebook pays teens to install VPN that spies on them

Desperate for data on its competitors, Facebook  has been secretly paying people to install a “Facebook Research” VPN that lets the company suck in all of a user’s phone and web activity, similar to Facebook’s Onavo Protect app that Apple banned in June and that was removed in August. Facebook sidesteps the App Store and rewards teenagers and adults to download the Research app and give it root access to network traffic in what may be a violation of Apple policy so the social network can decrypt and analyze their phone activity, a TechCrunch investigation confirms. Facebook admitted to TechCrunch it was running the Research program to gather data on usage habits.

Since 2016, Facebook has been paying users ages 13 to 35 up to $20 per month plus referral fees to sell their privacy by installing the iOS or Android “Facebook Research” app. Facebook even asked users to screenshot their Amazon order history page. The program is administered through beta testing services Applause, BetaBound and uTest to cloak Facebook’s involvement, and is referred to in some documentation as “Project Atlas” — a fitting name for Facebook’s effort to map new trends and rivals around the globe.

www.techcrunch.com

2019 Triumph Factory Custom Thruxton - First Look

Triumph is going full throttle into its new Triumph Factory Custom (TFC) program in 2019, today announcing the Thruxton TFC and a concept Rocket TFC. There will only be 750 units produced of each TFC model worldwide, with 200 planned for the US market. The Thruxton TFC will be available starting June 2019 at a price of $21,500. Full details on the concept Rocket TFC will be announced this coming May, so stay tuned.

The Hinkley brand took a Thruxton R and made it better with the Thruxton TFC. The engine provides 10 hp more than the R model, owing to high-compression pistons, altered ports, and a new cam profile. There’s a titanium Vance & Hines exhaust with carbon-fiber end caps on there too. Riders can expect 85 pound-feet of torque with the TFC, close to 3 pound-feet higher than the R.

Some stunning metal available here. Hope the Thruxton & Rocket TFCs will be at the London Bike Show in Feb. 

www.motorcyclistonline.com

A new look and feel for Gmail on mobile - coming soon!

Google are bringing a new look to Gmail on mobile. As part of the new design, you can quickly view attachments—like photos—without opening or scrolling through the conversation. It’s also easier to switch between personal and work accounts, so you can access all of your emails without breaking a sweat.

A more minimal use of colour helps you focus on content and what's important to you. We’ve also replaced the search button with a more prominent search bar at the top of the screen.

In the coming weeks, you’ll see the new mobile design in Gmail on Android and iOS, with more G Suite mobile apps to follow later this year.

www.gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com

Office 365 time-saving tips for your growing business

Do you know how to add comments in Word on your phone or fix a PowerPoint presentation en route to a customer’s office? What about connecting everyone in your entire organisation quickly and easily? Ever wish you could take brainstorming to the next level? There are all sorts of great features in Office 365 that can help you to work smarter, faster and much more intuitively. 

Download “A Crash Course in Office 365”. This e-book will unlock secret features and capabilities that you can put to work immediately in your business. You’ll get practical tips and how-tos across six critical areas so you can:

Get mobility that takes business out of the office and into the world

Work together without constraints

Take communication to the next level

Drive efficiency with technology that just works

Protect data without sacrificing productivity

Unleash the power of data quickly and simply

Want to find out about Office 365 Business Premium? Like what you see? 
Contact Donline - and update to the best version of Microsoft Office.

www.resources.office.com

Apple: you can't sue us for slowing down your iPhones because you invited us into your home... like a vampire!

Addressing a bunch of people trying to sue Apple for damages (for slowing down their iPhones), their lawyers told a California court this month: "Plaintiffs are like homeowners who have let a building contractor into their homes to upgrade their kitchens, thus giving permission for the contractor to demolish and change parts of the houses."

You invited us into your house. We did some work. Sorry you don't like the fact that we knocked down the wall to the lounge and installed a new air vent through the ceiling, but that's just how it is.

Ignoring for a second the fact that users also bought their "house" from Apple, there is another scenario in which you are powerless to intervene once you have invited someone into your house: vampires!

On the subject of draining you dry: they don't come cheap either!

www.theregister.co.uk

Major iPhone FaceTime bug lets you hear the audio of the person you are calling… before they pick up

A significant bug has been discovered in FaceTime and is currently spreading virally over social media. The bug lets you call anyone with FaceTime, and immediately hear the audio coming from their phone — before the person on the other end has accepted or rejected the incoming call. Apple says the issue will be addressed in a software update “later this week”. (Update: Apple has taken Group FaceTime offline in an attempt to address the issue in the interim).

Naturally, this poses a pretty privacy problem as you can essentially listen in on any iOS user, although it still rings like normal, so you can’t be 100% covert about it. Nevertheless, there is no indication on the recipient’s side that you could hear any of their audio.

9to5Mac has reproduced the FaceTime bug with an iPhone X calling an iPhone XR, but it is believed to affect any pair of iOS devices running iOS 12.1 or later.

Apple has said the issue will be fixed in a software update later in the week. Until then, if you are concerned, you should disable FaceTime in iOS Settings.

www.9to5mac.com

How can I experience joy in my Christian life?

Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be a part of every Christian’s life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced by God’s work in us, and it is part of God’s will for us.

We know that even the most mature of God’s people experience periods of joylessness. For instance, Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality (Psalm 55:6–8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16–46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3–5). If these men struggled, how can we experience consistent joy in the Christian life?

The first thing is to realise that joy is a gift from God. The root word for joy in the Greek is chara, which is closely related with the Greek charis for “grace.” Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gifts of God. Joy comes when we are aware of God’s grace and relish His favor.

Read more here: www.gotquestions.org

Hundreds of popular cars ‘at risk of keyless theft’

Hundreds of popular cars - including four of the five best-selling models in the UK - are susceptible to "keyless theft", new research claims.

Consumer group Which? found the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai and Ford Focus were all at risk.

Thieves are increasingly thought to be using technology to bypass entry systems on keyless cars.

But industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) said "new cars are more secure than ever".

Which? analysed data on keyless - or "relay" - attacks from the General German Automobile Club (ADAC), a roadside recovery organisation.

ADAC tested 237 keyless cars and found that all but three were susceptible, including the latest models of the Discovery and Range Rover, and the 2018 Jaguar i-Pace - all made by Jaguar Land Rover.

Of the top-selling cars in the UK, only the Vauxhall Corsa was deemed safe because it is not available with keyless entry and ignition.

As Thatcham say  a Faraday bag may help to protect your key from a relay attack - but test to make sure the bag truly blocks the signal!

www.bbc.co.uk

UK cyber-crime victims lose £190,000 a day - be careful out there folks!

More than £190,000 a day is lost in the UK by victims of cyber-crime, police statistics show.

More than a third of victims in that period fell prey to the hacking of social media and email accounts.

Action Fraud said £34.6m was reported to be stolen from victims between April and September 2018, a 24% increase on the previous six months.

The City of London Police, which runs Action Fraud, has warned people to keep separate passwords for online accounts.

How to stay safe: Password Rules.

Stop & Think: Take Five To Stop Fraud.

www.bbc.co.uk

Fuller’s announces that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of its entire beer business to Asahi Europe Ltd

Fuller’s announces that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of its entire beer business to Asahi Europe Ltd (“AEL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd (“Asahi”), for an enterprise value of £250 million on a debt free, cash free basis (the “Proposed Disposal”). 

The business being sold comprises the entirety of Fuller’s beer, cider and soft drinks brewing and production, wine wholesaling, as well as the distribution thereof, and also includes the Griffin Brewery, Cornish Orchards, Dark Star Brewing and Nectar Imports (the “Fuller’s Beer Business” or the “Beer Business”).

Under the terms of the Proposed Disposal, AEL will acquire the brands of the Beer Business (including “London Pride”) and will receive the benefit of a licence, on a perpetual, global, exclusive and royalty-free basis, to use certain trade marks (including the “Fuller’s” name, logo and cartouche) for the provision of beverages. Ownership of the licensed trade marks will be retained by Fuller’s.

Having carefully considered its options for the Beer Business and Fuller’s existing relationship with Asahi, the Board believes that Asahi is the ideal owner of the Beer Business and will create the right environment for the Beer Business to flourish in the future and protect the Fuller’s brewing heritage. The Board welcomes the fact that Asahi also upholds Fuller’s key values of a genuine commitment to brewing excellence and has a proven track record as a long-term steward of iconic brands making them an ideal strategic partner to the Fuller’s pubs and hotels business in the future.  

Following Completion of the Proposed Disposal, Fuller’s will be a focused, premium pub and hotel operator pursuing its previously stated strategy of running a stylish, high quality estate, with well-located, well-invested, predominantly freehold sites that are maintained to the high standards that customers have come to expect. Fuller’s will form a strategic alliance with Asahi that will ensure continued access to the high quality premium beer brands Fuller’s has always brewed.

Frankly I'm horrified and appalled. Fullers, my beloved favourite brewer has sold out to a fizzy lager manufacturer. I'm lost for words. Gonna have to drown my sorrows tonight down the pub - before they change the recipe!

www.fullers.co.uk

John McAfee goes on the run from the US government - again

John McAfee has once again taken to Twitter to announce he is fleeing from the US government, claiming that he's being charged with "unspecified IRS crimes of a felonious nature".

The controversial cyber security pioneer posted a video on his Twitter account claiming that the IRS - the US government's tax enforcement division - has charged him, his wife, and several of his team with a number of crimes.

While McAfee said that the crimes were "unspecified", he is by his own admission a tax-avoider. "I have not paid taxes for eight years," he said. "I've made no secret of it. I have not filed returns. Every year I tell the IRS... come and find me." He claims that "it's not illegal". 

Oh yeh, what could possibly be the problem with not filing returns, or paying no taxes. Well at least he's in good company! 

I suspect that all the above is probably gonna put a dampner on his chances of becoming President of the United States...

www.itpro.co.uk

The Daily Mail online gets a browser warning: "generally fails to maintain basic standards of accuracy and accountability"

The Daily Mail is calling for a web browser alert that criticises its journalism to be changed.

The NewsGuard plug-in currently brings up a warning that says the newspaper's website "generally fails to maintain basic standards of accuracy and accountability". It has given this advice since August.

But the matter came to prominence last week, after Microsoft updated its Edge browser app for Android and iOS devices and built in NewsGuard.

At present, NewsGuard must be switched on by users of Microsoft's Edge app, but the BBC understands there are plans for it to become the default option in the future.

www.bbc.co.uk

Leading Church figures urge Christians to take part in week of Prayer

Christian leaders across the UK have today issued a joint letter encouraging Christians of all denominations to join in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which runs from 18-25th January 2019.

The letter, whose signatories include Archbishop Justin Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury); Cardinal Archbishop Vincent Nichols (Archbishop of Westminster); The Revd Michaela Youngson (President of the Methodist Conference), His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos (Coptic Archbishop of London) and Pastor Agu Irukwu (Chair of Redeemed Christian Church of God UK) – invites Christians to participate in this call to prayer with the ‘utmost seriousness.’

The letter’s central message urges Christians to ‘pray together for Christian unity, in our life together, our witness and our longing to see the Kingdom of God in the midst of our world’ and to ‘find ways to give expression to our search for greater unity in obedience to the command of Christ that we love one another,’ citing Jesus’s last prayer on unity taken from John 17.

The leaders also encourage Christians not just to pray during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity but also to get involved in Thy Kingdom Come – a global ecumenical prayer movement in which Christians pray for more people to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Thy Kingdom Come, now in its 4th year, has united over a million Christians from more than 65 different denominations and traditions, in more than 114 countries to pray for evangelisation. It takes place between Ascension to Pentecost which this year is May 30th-June 9th.

www.thykingdomcome.global

The age old remedy to a bad day: going for a ride on your motorbike!

A study from the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviour, at the University of California, Los Angeles, has proven that riding is, in fact, very good for your mental health.

The study, which was funded by Harley-Davidson America, saw three UCLA researchers use electroencephalogram equipment to record the brain activity and hormone levels of more than 50 motorcyclists before, during and after riding a bike, while driving a car and resting.

And unsurprisingly, the results revealed a number of potential mental and physical benefits of riding, including decreased levels of cortisol, a hormonal marker of stress.

The bike ride resulted in a 28% decrease in biomarkers of stress, while riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes increased participants' heart rates by 11% and adrenaline levels by 27%, which is similar to light exercise.

Equally, changes in the riders’ brain activity suggested an increase in alertness similar to drinking a cup of coffee, while sensory focus was enhanced meaning that riders were more alert.

www.visordown.com

Amazon's Hit Car Show (or something like that!)

The Grand Tour: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are back for another season of adventure and idiocy, travelling the world to drive everything from hypercars and Italian classics to RVs and American muscle. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to rampage around the globe with your most entertaining friends, don't ask these three. They find each other very annoying.

I still prefer Top Gear, but top marks for a very funny ad!

www.amazon.co.uk

The ‘world’s most beautiful data center’ is a supercomputer housed in a Barcelona Church

From the outside, Torre Girona Chapel at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona looks like any one of the thousands of old churches that can be found throughout Spain, with a large cross mounted on the roof and a rose window perched above the entrance. Step through the chapel doors, however, and you won’t find any religious iconography or a congregation in prayer. Instead, you’ll find the 25th most powerful supercomputer in the world: the MareNostrum 4.

Heralded as the “most beautiful data center in the world,” the MareNostrum supercomputer came online in 2005, but was originally hosted in a different building at the university. Meaning “our sea” in Latin, the original MareNostrum was capable of performing 42.35 teraflops—42.35 trillion operations per second—making it one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe at the time.

Yet the MareNostrum rightly became known for its aesthetics as much as its computing power. According to Gemma Maspoch, head of communications for Barcelona Supercomputing Center, which oversees the MareNostrum facility, the decision to place the computer in a giant glass box inside a chapel was ultimately for practical reasons.

“We were in need of hundreds of square meters without columns and the capacity to support 44.5 tons of weight,” Maspoch told me in an email. “At the time there was not much available space at the university and the only room that satisfied our requirements was the Torre Girona chapel. We did not doubt it for a moment and we installed a supercomputer in it. ” 

www.motherboard.vice.com

Some Android GPS apps are just showing ads on top of Google Maps!

A security researcher with antivirus maker ESET has discovered a collection of 19 Android apps that pose as GPS applications but which don't do anything but show ads on top of the legitimate Google Maps service.

"They attract potential users with fake screenshots stolen from legitimate Navigation apps," said Lukas Stefanko, the ESET researcher who found them, who pointed out the 19 apps have been downloaded more than 50 million times.

The apps "pretend to be full featured navigation apps, but all they can do is to create useless layer between User and Google Maps app," the researcher said.

Stefanko says that the apps don't have any actual "navigation technology" and they only "misuse Google Maps."

www.zdnet.com

Google is raising prices for G Suite (Google Apps). What does this mean for you?

The more than 4 million organizations using Google's G Suite productivity tools will see a price increase for the first time, Google announced in a recent blog post.

How much more will your business have to pay after Google's G Suite price increase? G Suite Basic edition will increase from $5 to $6 per user/month. G Suite Business Edition will increase from $10 to $12 per user/month at that time. Pricing for G Suite Enterprise Edition customers will remain at $25 per user/month.

For current G Suite Basic or Business Edition customers on the Flexible Plan, the new prices will go into effect on April 2. For those on the Annual Plan, the new prices will go into effect the first time their plan renews on or after April 2. The changes will not impact current contracts or renewals before that date, Google said in the post.

Enough of the bad news, how about a free 14 day trial & 20% off your 1st year's subscription to G Suite? Contact Donline for a discount code!

www.techrepublic.com

Isle of Wight: Is this the end for the Ryde Queen?

Restoration plans literally fall through after Isle of Wight paddle steamer collapses. The team leading the project, led by restoration enthusiast Lisa Turner, hoped to save the Ryde Queen and see her sail again.

Following an appraisal by National Historic Ships UK, which confirmed the vessel could be salvaged, Lisa agreed to purchase the vessel raised £5,000 for further survey and removal costs.

Currently languishing at Island Harbour, Newport, the Ryde Queen was due to be broken into eight sections and taken away, hopefully to be rebuilt.

However, it was revealed on the Friends of PS Ryde Facebook page that the vessel had deteriorated badly over the winter and could not be removed. Read the full statement here.

Such a sad ending for this historic ship, one that Kim's family once owned. Read Kim's memories & thoughts here, with more photos for the Ryde Queen (from May 2016).

www.iwcp.co.uk

The sun is out, it's a beautiful day! 1st ride of the year, including Loomies

What a lovely day! Seemed a shame to waste it stuck in the office.

Soooo, out comes Holly, tyre pressures checked & off for the 1st ride of the year: 30+ miles A32, Loomies, Petersfield, Horndean, etc. Glorious! 

Not far, but enough to blow out the cobwebs.

While we are on the subject of biker cafes: looking for the best biker cafe near you? Use the Devitt Insurance handy UK biker cafe guide to find it! Covering the whole of Britain from Scotland to Wales, South West to the South East, it’s time to get planning your next ride out.

www.devittinsurance.com/guides/biker-cafes

I've seen everything now: Honda Goldwing recovery vehicle - towing a car!

CF Motoring Services Ltd from Newcastle showcased their Honda Goldwing Retriever Motor Bike at the Emergency Services Show at the NEC in Birmingham. 

The tow bike operates under a special order granted by the Department for Transport after satisfying stringent road testing by the Vehicle Certification Agency and plays a significant role in rapid road clearance. 

The PR5 was on hand to capture the demonstration - lamentably the PA was actually this inaudible even to bystanders, but you can hear the clarity of sound from the mechanics of the demonstration.

I think the Honda Gold Wing is an incredible bike & have had a soft spot for them since the '80s. I had an opportunity to ride the new model last year, which I loved, but it's pots of dough: so probably not... Also as it's a bit of a beast, it wouldn't make a great everyday bike - but for serious two up touring it'd be fantastic! 

These videos (1 & 2) show just how much power there is in that magnificent 1800cc flat-six engine. No-one wants to break down, but:

www.cfms.co

The 2019 Open Doors World Watch List - the persecuted church

Open Doors are today officially launching the 2019 Open Doors World Watch List (our annual ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution) in Parliament. Thank you to everyone who has spoken out for our persecuted church family and invited their MP to the event over the last few months - your actions really do make a difference for our brothers and sisters. Pray that their courage and their witness will inspire MPs to act to bring about change for the persecuted church.

This video shows the cost that some Christians pay for their faith, and the top five countries where their faith costs the most. When you pray, give thanks to God that for most of us - our faith is protected in freedom, and remember our brothers & sisters in Christ who suffer for their faith.

You can keep up to date with stories, prayer points and ways to support your persecuted family on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

www.opendoorsuk.org

15 Martin Luther King Jr. quotes that will challenge you to take action

In the midst of his work to combat institutional racism within the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. relied heavily on principles taught in Scripture.

The wisdom and insights King gained as he helped lead the civil rights movement apply to us today, for injustice still exists among us in many forms and in many places.

Jesus once said, “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). King clearly hungered and thirsted for justice in the course of his efforts. His words can help us to embrace the same desire. Here are some of his most inspiring and challenging quotes.

www.relevantmagazine.com

BMW showcases autonomous R1200GS at CES - no rider needed for this motorbike!

BMW made riders obsolete during a demonstration of its autonomous R1200GS motorcycle at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The self-driving bike starts, turns, accelerates, slows and stops all on its own and is a remarkable thing to see. You can check the bike out in action in this video from BMW Motorrad.

The intention isn’t to get rid of riders, however, but to show the features and technology that BMW is developing in safety and rider assistance. In recent years these advances have included tech that allows motorcycles and cars to communicate with one another and head-up display devices for helmets, in addition to refinements to traction control systems, ABS, and dynamic suspension.

www.motorcyclistonline.com

Fraud scam: change of bank account details on email or invoices

Fraudsters no longer need access to your bank accounts in order to steal money. By hacking into your email, scammers can intercept invoices, changing the payment details of individuals and businesses.

They then troll and monitor your email account for an opportunity to intercept an invoice. For example, when you are purchasing goods and awaiting an invoice on email, or if your business is sending an invoice by email.

The scammers intercept an email, change the bank details on the invoice and send it on for payment. In many cases, they use spoofing to make the email address seem credible and trustworthy. Spoofing changes a letter or domain in the email address to make it appear legitimate.

The recipient pays the invoice thinking it comes from a legitimate source, when in fact the money is paid into the scammer’s account.

How to stay safe: Password Rules.

Stop & Think: Take Five To Stop Fraud.

www.investec.com

Microsoft To-Do app gains pinnable lists on Windows 10 Mobile and PC

The Windows 10 Microsoft To-Do app received an update this morning that added a feature many have been wanting since the app first launched, pinnable lists.

Any To-Do list can now be pinned to the Start Menu or Start Screen on any Windows 10 device or Windows 10 Mobile Windows phone by right-clicking or performing a long press on the list name from the main app menu and selecting Pin to Start.

The pins themselves are surprisingly detailed and show the list’s title (including emoticon if used) and the list items in the same order as they appear within the app.

www.onmsft.com

The 2019 New Bike Guide - by Bennetts BikeSocial

As we fly into 2019 and yet another bumper year of new machinery to ogle in the dealerships, at shows and on certain motorcycling websites, here’s your guide to the new wallet-twitching metal available in the new year, in alphabetical order by manufacturer including prices where known.

www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial

When a cheap smartphone costs more than you thought: pre-installed malware calling premium rate numbers!

A weather app that comes preinstalled on Alcatel smartphones contained malware that surreptitiously subscribed device owners to premium phone numbers behind their backs.

The app, named "Weather Forecast-World Weather Accurate Radar" was developed by TCL Corporation, a Chinese electronics company that among other things owns the Alcatel, BlackBerry, and Palm brands.

The app is one of the default apps that TCL installs on Alcatel smartphones, but it was also made available on the Play Store for all Android users --where it had been downloaded and installed more than ten million times.

But at one point last year, both the app included on some Alcatel devices and the one that was available on the Play Store were compromised with malware. How the malware was added to the app is unclear. TCL has not responded to phone calls requesting comment made by ZDNet this week.

According to Upstream, most of the behavior they've seen originated only from two types of smartphones, Pixi 4 and A3 Max models. However, the company doesn't have a worldwide view into infected devices, and many more could still be infected, especially users who downloaded the app from the Play Store.

All in all, the company says it detected and blocked over 27 million transaction attempts across seven markets, which would have created losses of around $1.5 million to phone owners if they hadn't been blocked.

www.zdnet.com

AI can solve CAPTCHA tests in under 0.05 seconds

Artificial intelligence could spell the end for one of the most widely used website security systems. A new algorithm, based on deep learning methods, is the most effective solver of CAPTCHA security and authentication systems to date. CAPTCHA is an acronym for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart", a type of challenge–response test used in computing to determine whether or not the user is human.

Text-based CAPTCHAs use a jumble of letters and numbers, alongside other security features such as occluding lines, to distinguish between humans and malicious automated computer programmes. The system relies on people finding it easier to decipher the characters than machines.

Developed by computer scientists at Lancaster University in the UK as well as Northwest University and Peking University in China, the new algorithm delivers significantly higher accuracy than previous CAPTCHA attack systems, and is able to successfully crack versions where previous attacks failed. It is also highly efficient, able to pass a test within 0.05 seconds on a desktop PC.

Well that's impressive - it usually takes me about 10 seconds to work out what a CAPTCHA is trying to tell me!

www.futuretimeline.net

Windows 10 v1903 to reserve 7GB of disk space for updates - not so good if you only start with 32Gb!

Microsoft has announced an important change regarding Windows 10 and reserved storage yesterday. Starting with the next Windows 10 update, which Microsoft explicitly named “1903” in the blog post (this is a first, to our knowledge), the desktop OS will now reserve disk space for OS updates, apps, temporary files, and caches. For the most part, this is about helping users to install system updates without having first to free up space on their PCs.

“Reserved storage will be introduced automatically on devices that come with version 1903 pre-installed or those where 1903 was clean installed,” wrote Jesse Rajwan, Program Manager at Microsoft. When reserved storage is enabled, it should take around 7GB of disk space, though Microsoft noted that the amount of storage will vary over time depending on optional features and installed languages that users choose.

I have supported a number of clients (one just this week) who have bought low cost "laptops" (such as this one - honestly DO NOT BUY ONE!) - which come with only 32Gb of onboard storage. Essentially, these devices have run out of storage - before you have even taken them out of the box! Then Microsoft want to take another ~7Gb. It's not gonna happen! 

www.onmsft.com