
In Pictures: User guide to Windows 10
If you’re going for an immediate upgrade to Windows 10 from your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 computer, this guide will get you up to speed as quickly as possible.
But Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs must still contain approved antivirus to receive post-Spectre/Meltdown patches.
Intel urged customers not to deploy firmware updates aimed at the Spectre and Meltdown flaws because the updates caused system instability; Microsoft reacted with its own release – KB4078130 – on Saturday.
The move is designed to patch vulnerabilities in the WPA2 protocol used to secure wireless networks. All supported versions of Windows will get the update.
Microsoft yesterday threw a bone to Windows 7 users by releasing a cumulative roll-up that collects all bug fixes from February 2011 to April 2016.
Microsoft retreated from an earlier retirement date for Windows 7 and 8.1 support on newer hardware and will now support those OSes on PCs running Intel's Skylake silicon until July 2018.
Windows users can take these steps to insure their PCs continue to receive security updates in the wake of the Spectre and Meltdown flaws.
Microsoft's pushing Windows 10 onto Windows 7 and 8 PCs even if you didn't consent to it. Here's how to get your computer back to normal.
Windows Analytics can now scan enterprise PCs running Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 and report on whether they're prepped to fend off attacks based on the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities.
Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection can detect ongoing attacks on corporate networks, investigate the attack or breach, and provide response recommendations. It will be added to Windows 7 and 8.1 by this summer.
Microsoft warns that Windows 7 PCs would run slower after installing the updates, as will older PCs running Windows 10.
Microsoft's monthly security rollups for Windows 7 have almost doubled in size since the company revised the still-popular operating system's update regimen in 2016.
Microsoft's decision to change its long-established practice of letting customers decide which Windows patches to apply continues to plague companies.