October Archives

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Windows 10 quietly gets one more year of support and updates

Microsoft has extended the support timeline for Windows 10 by initiating the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which provides an additional year of essential security updates until October 12, 2027. Users can enroll in the ESU program until it ends, and those already enrolled will have their coverage automatically continue through that date. The ESU program, previously a paid feature for businesses, is now available to regular consumers at no additional cost.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027

Microsoft has extended the free coverage of its Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers by an additional year, now lasting until October 12, 2027. This change was noted in updates to Microsoft's ESU documentation and a blog post. Previously, Windows 10 was set to reach its end of support on October 14, 2025, with initial ESU coverage expiring on October 12, 2026. Consumers can access the extended security updates through various methods, including payment, backing up settings to a Microsoft account, redeeming Microsoft reward points, or for users in the European Economic Area, by logging in with a Microsoft account. Each ESU license can be used on up to 10 devices linked to the same account, and the program is only for personal devices, not those managed through Active Directory or MDM.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Microsoft Quietly Extends Windows 10 ESU For One More Year

Microsoft is expected to extend the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program by an additional year, with the new end date set for October 12, 2027, instead of the previously stated October 2026. This change is reflected on the Microsoft website, which confirms the new timeline.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Microsoft quietly extends Windows 10’s extra security updates program for free: Users can now stay on Windows 10 until October 2027 securely

Microsoft has extended the timeline for Windows 10's extended support updates program to October 2027, from the original end date of October 2026. Users must log in with a Microsoft account to be eligible for the updates.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

Steam Summer Sale 2026 is now live, and it runs until 9 July

The Steam Summer Sale 2026 runs from June 25 to July 9, 2026, offering consistent discounts throughout the event. Major titles released earlier in the year, such as Gothic 1 Remake, Resident Evil Requiem, and Crimson Desert, are now available at significant discounts, with average reductions around 45% and some games discounted by up to 90%. Previous sales featured over 4,000 titles, indicating a large selection this year. Upcoming game releases include Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 28, The Blood of Dawnwalker on September 3, and Gears of War E-Day on October 6. Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on consoles on November 19, with no confirmed PC release date. The sale is live at store.steampowered.com.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Windows 11 Secure Boot update released to all, hours ahead of expiry

Microsoft has begun rolling out the Secure Boot 2023 certificate update to eligible Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs ahead of the expiration of the Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 on June 24, 2026. This update enhances device targeting data for automatic Secure Boot certificate updates. Secure Boot is a firmware-level security feature that verifies digital signatures of boot components to prevent rootkits and bootkits. The certificates for Secure Boot were first issued in 2011, with subsequent expirations for related certificates occurring in June and October 2026. Users can check their Secure Boot certificate status through the Windows Security app or System Information. If a PC does not receive the update, it will still boot normally but will lose the ability to receive future boot-level security updates. Multiple restarts after updates are expected due to the Secure Boot certificate process. A new folder, C:WindowsSecureBoot, is not malware but is used for staging cryptographic certificate files. Windows 10 users enrolled in the Extended Security Updates program will also receive the Secure Boot update, while those not enrolled will not. The expiration of the KEK CA 2011 means Microsoft will not be able to sign new Secure Boot revocation payloads using the old key, but existing signed payloads will remain functional.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Windows 11 Secure Boot update released to all, hours ahead of expiry

Microsoft has begun rolling out the Secure Boot 2023 certificate update for eligible Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs ahead of the expiration of the original certificates on June 24, 2026. The update includes additional device targeting data to increase coverage for automatic updates. Devices receive the new certificates after demonstrating successful update signals. The original Secure Boot certificates were issued in 2011, with expiration dates set for June 24, 2026, June 27, 2026, and October 19, 2026. Microsoft has been distributing replacement 2023 certificates since 2024, with the June 2026 update expanding eligible devices significantly. Users can check their Secure Boot status through the Windows Security app or System Information. If a PC did not receive the update, it will still function normally but may not receive future boot-level security updates. Multiple restarts after updates are expected behavior, and the SecureBoot folder in Windows is not malware. Windows 10 users in the Extended Security Updates program are also receiving the Secure Boot update. The expiration of the Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 on June 24 means no new Secure Boot revocation payloads can be signed with the old key, but existing signed payloads will continue to function.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 version 26H2 is coming soon: Reveals some devices won’t be eligible

Microsoft has announced the upcoming release of Windows 11 version 26H2, which will follow versions 25H2 and 24H2, all built on the same platform from 2024. Version 26H2 will not introduce significant changes compared to version 25H2, as it shares the same feature set. Users on Windows 11 version 26H1, which is tailored for Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 and NVIDIA RTX Spark devices, will not be able to upgrade to 26H2 this fall. An upgrade path for 26H1 users to version 27H2 may be available by the end of next year. The exact launch date for version 26H2 has not been specified, but it is expected to roll out towards the end of September or into October.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Windows 11 24H2 EOL: Resolve Version Drift with TruRisk Eliminate

Windows 11 version 24H2 will reach the end of servicing on October 13, 2026. Enterprises often face version drift, requiring different upgrade strategies for various Windows 11 builds across endpoints. Upgrade methods include enablement packages, ISO-based feature updates, or direct upgrades from Windows 10. Enablement packages are the quickest and least disruptive option for compatible Windows 11 systems. Qualys TruRisk Eliminate can standardize upgrades and minimize version drift on a large scale. Endpoints should be assessed for readiness, categorized by eligibility and current OS status. Enablement packages are recommended for recent Windows 11 builds due to their minimal download size, faster installation, and reduced operational impact. If enablement packages are unavailable, ISO-based feature updates may be necessary. Direct upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11 25H2 can be executed without intermediate transitions. Qualys TruRisk Eliminate provides tools for managing these upgrade processes effectively.

Winsage

June 23, 2026

In 2011, Microsoft signed the Secure Boot certificates that still sit inside millions of Windows PCs, and the first one expires on June 24, 2026, leaving unupdated machines running normally while future boot-level revocations stop reaching them

Microsoft's Secure Boot certificates, including the Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011, will expire on June 24, 2026, followed by the Microsoft UEFI CA 2011 on June 27 and the Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011 on October 19. New certificates issued in 2023 will replace these older ones. While devices will continue to operate and receive standard Windows updates, they will gradually lose access to critical security updates that protect against boot-level threats. After June 24, the ability to sign new disallowed signature database payloads with the old KEK will be lost, reducing the capacity to revoke compromised bootloaders. Users are advised to keep Windows and firmware updates current, while enterprises may face challenges managing diverse machine inventories for updates.