windows
Microsoft fixes bug that blocked Google Chrome from launching
Microsoft has fixed a known issue causing its Family Safety parental control service to block Windows users from launching Google Chrome and other web browsers. Family Safety helps parents monitor their children’s activity and provides screen time management, app controls, communication monitoring, content filtering, location tracking, and activity reports. Microsoft acknowledged the bug in late June 2025 […]
Microsoft: New Windows LNK spoofing issues aren’t vulnerabilities
Today, at Wild West Hackin’ Fest, security researcher Wietze Beukema disclosed multiple vulnerabilities in Windows LK shortcut files that allow attackers to deploy malicious payloads. Beukema documented four previously unknown techniques for manipulating Windows LNK shortcut files to hide malicious targets from users inspecting file properties. LNK shortcuts were introduced with Windows 95 and use a complex […]
Microsoft February 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 6 zero-days, 58 flaws
Today is Microsoft’s February 2026 Patch Tuesday with security updates for 58 flaws, including 6 actively exploited and three publicly disclosed zero-day vulnerabilities. This Patch Tuesday also addresses five “Critical” vulnerabilities, 3 of which are elevation of privileges flaws and 2 information disclosure flaws. The number of bugs in each vulnerability category is listed below: When GeekFeed […]
Microsoft rolls out new Secure Boot certificates before June expiration
Microsoft has begun rolling out updated Secure Boot certificates through monthly Windows updates to replace the original 2011 certificates that will expire in late June 2026. Introduced in 2011, Secure Boot ensures that only trusted bootloaders can load on computers with UEFI firmware, helping block malicious software, such as rootkits, from executing during system startup by verifying […]
EDR killer tool uses signed kernel driver from forensic software
Hackers are abusing a legitimate but long-revoked EnCase kernel driver in an EDR killer that can detect 59 security tools in attempts to deactivate them. An EDR killer is a malicious tool created specifically to bypass or disable endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, along with other security solutions. They typically use vulnerable drivers to unhook […]
Microsoft rolls out native Sysmon monitoring in Windows 11
Microsoft has started rolling out built-in Sysmon functionality to some Windows 11 systems enrolled in the Windows Insider program. Microsoft first revealed plans to integrate Sysmon natively into Windows 11 and Windows Server in November, when it also confirmed that it will soon release detailed documentation. Sysmon (short for System Monitor) is a free Microsoft Sysinternals tool […]
Microsoft: January update shutdown bug affects more Windows PCs
Microsoft has confirmed that a known issue preventing some Windows 11 devices from shutting down also affects Windows 10 systems with Virtual Secure Mode (VSM) enabled. VSM is a Windows security feature that creates an isolated, protected memory region separate from the normal operating system (known as the “secure kernel”), using hardware virtualization that is extremely […]
Microsoft fixes bug causing password sign-in option to disappear
Microsoft has fixed a known issue that was causing the password sign-in option to disappear from the lock screen options after installing Windows 11 updates released since August 2025. The password icon appears on the lock screen only if multiple sign-in options (e.g., PIN, password, security key, fingerprint) are available. However, if you use only […]
Microsoft to disable NTLM by default in future Windows releases
Microsoft announced that it will disable the 30-year-old NTLM authentication protocol by default in upcoming Windows releases due to security vulnerabilities that expose organizations to cyberattacks. NTLM (short for New Technology LAN Manager) is a challenge-response authentication protocol introduced in 1993 with Windows NT 3.1 and is the successor to the LAN Manager (LM) protocol. Kerberos has superseded NTLM and […]
Windows 11 KB5074105 update fixes boot, sign-in, and activation issues
Microsoft has released the KB5074105 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 systems, which includes 32 changes, including fixes for sign-in, boot, and activation issues. KB5074105 is an optional update that delivers updates at the end of each month, allowing admins to test Windows bug fixes, new features, and improvements that will be generally available during next month’s Patch […]