Retired Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer detailed on X how the infamous FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8 Windows XP volume license key spread widely despite being reserved for enterprise partners. He explained that XP's copy protection compared install keys against a heavily encrypted 10MB blob on the disc that turned out to be the old Microsoft Bob software, and that retail and volume-license media used entirely different validation keys and discs.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-17
Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions, along with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016, will stop receiving security and non-security updates on October 13, 2026. Enterprise and Education editions of 24H2 will continue receiving updates until October 2027. Microsoft is urging affected users to move to Windows 11 25H2, which will install automatically on unmanaged devices.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-17
Microsoft's Copilot, born from its OpenAI partnership after ChatGPT's 2022 debut, has evolved from Bing Chat and Cortana into an umbrella brand covering AI features in Windows, Edge, Office apps, Teams, GitHub and security tools. In August 2026 Microsoft merged its personal and work AI apps, renaming Microsoft 365 Copilot simply Copilot, with functionality varying by account and subscription. The branding also extends to hardware through Copilot Plus PCs and dedicated Copilot keys on keyboards.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-17
Microsoft confirmed that its September security updates (KB5124008 and KB5124012) for Windows 11 are causing domain authentication failures on enterprise systems that use the Machine Identity Isolation feature. Affected devices show domain trust and credential errors even when login details are correct, because the updates cause Windows to enforce existing Machine Identity Isolation settings that are only meant for environments running Windows Server 2025 domain controllers. The company has released a temporary workaround while it develops a permanent fix.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-17
Microsoft confirmed it is investigating reports that the Windows 11 KB5124008 security update is severing secure channel connections between domain-joined PCs and Active Directory after a reboot, locking out users with valid credentials. Administrators on Reddit and Microsoft's Q&A forums say the problem appears tied to the Windows Machine Identity Isolation feature when running in audit or enforcement mode, and that uninstalling the patch and repairing the domain trust restores access.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-16
Cybersecurity agencies from the U.S., U.K. and Netherlands, alongside the FBI, issued a joint advisory exposing an Iranian state-linked campaign using Windows malware called CHOSEN BRICK to spy on dissidents, journalists and activists. Attackers pose as trusted contacts or tech support over WhatsApp and Telegram, luring victims into launching disguised fake apps that secretly install the spyware and evade Windows Defender.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-16
Microsoft released an out-of-band update this week for Windows 11 versions 26H2, 25H2, and 24H2 to fix an audio bug that broke sound on older USB devices using the legacy Audio Class 1.0 driver. The flaw, introduced by the September 8 security update, left affected headsets and speakers silent, with unresponsive volume controls or a Device Manager error. The new patch also resolves several other recent issues alongside a couple of security flaws.
zdnet.com
· 2026-09-16
Microsoft confirmed it is still investigating why Copilot and Copilot Chat buttons vanish from classic Outlook for Windows after upgrading to build 20026.20182 or later. The issue affects users with Copilot Chat Basic or M365 Copilot Premium licenses, blocking access to Copilot from the ribbon, app bar, or Add Apps menu.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-16
Microsoft confirmed that Windows Server 2022 will exit mainstream support on October 13, 2026, with the October update being the last one under that tier. The OS then moves into extended support, still receiving free monthly security updates until October 14, 2031, and Datacenter: Azure Edition hotpatching will continue through October 2027.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-16
Microsoft is holding a San Francisco event on October 7 focused on local AI's role in future PCs, with Satya Nadella, NVIDIA's Jensen Huang, and Windows chief Pavan Davuluri all attending. The event is expected to reveal more about the Surface Laptop Ultra, a device powered by NVIDIA's new RTX Spark chip that was announced in June without pricing or release details.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-15
Microsoft's latest Patch Tuesday addressed close to 1,000 vulnerabilities, but the scale of the update introduced new problems for some users. The company has since issued out-of-band emergency patches to correct issues caused by the original round of fixes.
darkreading.com
· 2026-09-15
A malware-as-a-service platform called VectraRAT is being sold on underground markets for roughly $250 monthly, giving buyers a Windows-based remote access implant, command-and-control infrastructure, and a management panel. The package effectively bundles everything needed to compromise and control enterprise Windows systems without requiring technical expertise from the attacker.
darkreading.com
· 2026-09-15
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