Security Updates to Windows 7 and 8.1
Special Notice regarding Microsoft security updates to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 (03-16-18)
The website How-To Geek is reporting that “Microsoft is now withholding security updates from Windows 7 (and Windows 8.1) users who don’t have an antivirus installed.” “To prevent Windows systems from becoming unstable, Microsoft told antivirus (publishing) companies that they had to set a registry key that flags their antivirus as compatible with the update (Microsoft issued for Meltdown & Spectre). If the key is present, the patch will install. If the key isn’t, the patch won’t install—that gives antivirus companies time to update and test their software.” The reason Microsoft has done this is in recognition that many antivirus programs were incompatible with the (Meltdown & Spectre) update and caused blue screen (of death) errors.
Windows PCs without the required registry key won’t get any future Windows security patches. Having the registry key present is mandatory for updates. That’s supposed to motivate antivirus (publishing) companies to update their software and make life easier for Microsoft in the future. This requirement applies to Windows 7 and 8.1; Windows 10 has been exempted, effective 3/13/2018.
Specifics:
Windows 8.1:
If you are running Microsoft’s Defender on your Windows 8.1 system you are good to go. If your Windows 8.1 system is running another major brand of anti-virus software the registry key will most likely be set. However there currently is no definitive list of third party anti-virus products that have been modified to set the proper registry key. Therefore you must research the product you are using to determine if your vendor has made the required change. If they have not, you will not be getting security updates from Microsoft, unless you manually change a Registry key using the Microsoft utility known as the Registry Editor. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF THE REGISTRY EDITOR BY USERS WHO ARE NOT VERY TECHNICALLY ACCOMPLISHED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WINDOWS INTERNALS. Just one small mistake while using Reg.-Edit can turn your PC into a brick suitable for future use only as a door stop.
Windows 7:
Windows 7 users can not use Defender since Defender does not run on Windows 7 PCs, but MS Security Essentials does, and has been identified as a solution for this problem. That means if you are using a third party anti-virus product you are subject to same issues and concerns as Windows 8.1 users who are not running Defender, as mentioned above. Again, there currently is no definitive list of third party anti-virus products that have been modified to set the proper registry key. Therefore you must research the product you are using to determine if your vendor has made the required change. If they have not, you will not be getting security updates from Microsoft, unless you manually change a Registry key using the Microsoft utility known as the Registry Editor. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF THE REGISTERY EDITOR BY USERS WHO ARE NOT VERY TECHNICALLY ACCOMPLISHED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WINDOWS INTERNALS. Just one small mistake while using Reg.-Edit can turn your PC into a brick suitable for future use only as a door stop.
Lastly, regardless of which version of Windows you use, you MUST have a quality anti-virus product installed and kept up to date. We also recommend the use of the Premium version of Malwarebytes, as an adjunct to your anti-virus program.
The website How-To Geek is reporting that “Microsoft is now withholding security updates from Windows 7 (and Windows 8.1) users who don’t have an antivirus installed.” “To prevent Windows systems from becoming unstable, Microsoft told antivirus (publishing) companies that they had to set a registry key that flags their antivirus as compatible with the update (Microsoft issued for Meltdown & Spectre). If the key is present, the patch will install. If the key isn’t, the patch won’t install—that gives antivirus companies time to update and test their software.” The reason Microsoft has done this is in recognition that many antivirus programs were incompatible with the (Meltdown & Spectre) update and caused blue screen (of death) errors.
Windows PCs without the required registry key won’t get any future Windows security patches. Having the registry key present is mandatory for updates. That’s supposed to motivate antivirus (publishing) companies to update their software and make life easier for Microsoft in the future. This requirement applies to Windows 7 and 8.1; Windows 10 has been exempted, effective 3/13/2018.
Specifics:
Windows 8.1:
If you are running Microsoft’s Defender on your Windows 8.1 system you are good to go. If your Windows 8.1 system is running another major brand of anti-virus software the registry key will most likely be set. However there currently is no definitive list of third party anti-virus products that have been modified to set the proper registry key. Therefore you must research the product you are using to determine if your vendor has made the required change. If they have not, you will not be getting security updates from Microsoft, unless you manually change a Registry key using the Microsoft utility known as the Registry Editor. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF THE REGISTRY EDITOR BY USERS WHO ARE NOT VERY TECHNICALLY ACCOMPLISHED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WINDOWS INTERNALS. Just one small mistake while using Reg.-Edit can turn your PC into a brick suitable for future use only as a door stop.
Windows 7:
Windows 7 users can not use Defender since Defender does not run on Windows 7 PCs, but MS Security Essentials does, and has been identified as a solution for this problem. That means if you are using a third party anti-virus product you are subject to same issues and concerns as Windows 8.1 users who are not running Defender, as mentioned above. Again, there currently is no definitive list of third party anti-virus products that have been modified to set the proper registry key. Therefore you must research the product you are using to determine if your vendor has made the required change. If they have not, you will not be getting security updates from Microsoft, unless you manually change a Registry key using the Microsoft utility known as the Registry Editor. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF THE REGISTERY EDITOR BY USERS WHO ARE NOT VERY TECHNICALLY ACCOMPLISHED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WINDOWS INTERNALS. Just one small mistake while using Reg.-Edit can turn your PC into a brick suitable for future use only as a door stop.
Lastly, regardless of which version of Windows you use, you MUST have a quality anti-virus product installed and kept up to date. We also recommend the use of the Premium version of Malwarebytes, as an adjunct to your anti-virus program.