Microsoft Outlook Hotmail Emails Blocked After DNS Mishap
Users of Microsoft Outlook Hotmail accounts experienced a frustrating issue recently when their emails were blocked and directed to spam folders due to a DNS mishap. The problem began on Thursday night, with Hotmail users reporting errors related to Sender Policy Framework (SPF), a method of email authentication that helps prevent spoofing and phishing. The issue arose when a subdomain was removed from Hotmail’s DNS TXT record, causing recipient email services to reject the messages.
Reddit users on the Sysadmin subreddit confirmed that they were facing SPF issues with Hotmail and discovered that Microsoft had made two changes to the SPF record: removing spf.protection.outlook.com and changing the SPF failure condition from soft to hard. These modifications resulted in suspicious messages from Hotmail being rejected rather than sent to spam.
Microsoft acknowledged the problem, stating that some users may receive non-delivery reports when trying to send emails from hotmail.com. The company made a configuration change to resolve the issue but later realized that additional configuration entries were impacted. They proceeded to implement further configuration changes and eventually declared that the problem was fixed.
The incident highlights the significance of proper DNS record management and the potential consequences of even minor errors. Microsoft has not provided further details on the incident.
NYC Bans TikTok on City-Owned Devices
The New York City government has banned TikTok on all city-owned devices and is granting departments 30 days to comply with the decision. The move comes after the NYC Cyber Command concluded that TikTok posed a potential threat to city technology and should not be used on municipal devices. TikTok accounts associated with NYC’s sanitation and Police departments have indicated that they are no longer in use.
This ban is part of a growing trend as several states in the United States have ordered the removal of TikTok from publicly-owned devices. The US House of Representatives passed a bill last year to ban the app completely, but it has not yet advanced. The only state to ban TikTok for civilian use is Montana, and TikTok is actively opposing this effort.
Former Microsoft Executive’s Wife Indicted for Murder
Shanna Gardner, the ex-wife of a former Microsoft executive who was murdered last year, has been indicted for his killing. Jared Bridegan, Gardner’s ex-husband, was shot to death in February 2022 after dropping off their two older children at Gardner’s home. He was ambushed while moving a tire off the road and was killed in front of their two-year-old child.
Mario Fernandez Saldana, Gardner’s current husband, and his associate Henry Tenon were previously indicted and charged in the murder. Gardner has now been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, and child abuse. Law enforcement officials stated that Gardner played a central and key role in the calculated and premeditated murder of Jared Bridegan.
The investigation into the murder has revealed shocking details surrounding the crime. The motive behind the murder remains unclear at this time.
