Microsoft’s Response to Installation Issues and Security Flaws
The U.S. software giant Microsoft has come under fire for significant installation issues and a critical security vulnerability in Windows Defender. In response, the company surprised many by extending the security updates for Windows 10.
Prolonged Lifespan for Windows 10
Microsoft has decided to extend the availability of the Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 on personal devices until October 12, 2027. Originally, the support end date was set for October 2026. This provides a longer transition period for users whose hardware does not meet the requirements for Windows 11, notably the TPM-2.0 chip and specific processor generations.
For businesses and educational institutions, the ESU program will remain available for up to three years after the official support ends in October 2025. The cost for this will be 61 euros per device in the first year, doubling thereafter. Industry experts view this extension as a reaction to the slow adoption of Windows 11, especially among small to medium-sized businesses and educational institutions.
The June Update Causes Frustration
The security update KB5094126 from June has created significant headaches for IT administrators. Intended to close over 200 security vulnerabilities, including 33 critical flaws and five Zero-Day exploits, the installation success rate has been estimated to be only 20%.
HP business PCs have been particularly affected, encountering system startup errors and BitLocker recovery loops. Additionally, the update disabled OLE automation, causing Microsoft Office applications to fail when launched from third-party software, disrupting specialized industry applications in healthcare and accounting. Other reported issues include incorrect file names in the Recycle Bin and broken connections to cloud services like OneDrive and iCloud.
Critical Flaw in Windows Defender Left Unpatched
Security researchers have identified a new vulnerability in Microsoft Defender referred to as CVE-2026-50656, nicknamed RoguePlanet. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to gain SYSTEM rights due to a race condition during file scanning.
As of now, 80% of installations of the June update KB5094126 have failed, leaving the critical Defender flaw RoguePlanet unpatched. Failing to take action could lead to system crashes and security breaches. Organizations are advised to implement measures such as AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) and restrict PowerShell usage until the issues are resolved. The urgency is underscored by data from 2025, showing that over 60% of successful ransomware attacks on UK SMEs exploited already patched vulnerabilities.
Upcoming July Update Promises New Features
Microsoft aims to release its next significant Windows 11 update on July 14, 2026. It will introduce a Point-in-Time recovery feature that automatically creates system snapshots of settings, applications, and files. A minimum of 200 gigabytes of free space on the partition is required.
Other notable enhancements include:
- Granular Update Control: Users can pause quality, driver, and security updates independently.
- Print Optimization: The Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) will become the standard for new printer setups.
- Performance Improvements: A faster file explorer and more stable Bluetooth connections.
- User Interface Enhancements: Fine zoom settings for the magnifier and adjustments to the widgets system.
White Box Issue Resolved
The June update has caused chaos for many SMEs, particularly with HP business PCs experiencing BitLocker recovery loops and disabled OLE automation. The report provided details on how to fix these critical issues and securely install the July update, including ESU cost planning until 2027.
Another issue was a graphical error, where a blank white box appeared shortly after login on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The root cause has been identified as a background process from Google Chrome. IT administrators have remedied the problem by disabling certain scheduled tasks like ChromeElevationService or PlatformExperienceHelper.
Additionally, the disturbance in the emoji panel of Windows 11 has been resolved. After the Tenor GIF Service was discontinued on June 30, 2026, the GIF function temporarily failed. A recent update has integrated GIPHY as a replacement, making the feature available for users on current Windows 11 builds once again.
