Microsoft issues patch to Insiders to undo carnage caused by expired digital certificate in Windows 11
- Reference: 1636125311
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/11/05/windows_insider_cert_fix/
- Source link:
With its usual impeccable timing, Microsoft managed to drown out what should have been good news for Dev Channel users with the release of [2]KB5008295 to testers in its Beta and Release Preview Channels. The patch, which won't change the build number, was to deal with an expired certificate that left some built-in applications broken, even in the release version of Windows 11.
Unlike the patch pushed to production, Microsoft said the fix had dealt with [3]problems with the snipping tool and other built-in apps, which still blighted the GA code, and also stopped the Start Menu and Settings app from opening in the supposedly super-secure S mode version of Windows 11.
[4]
The company is not inviting suggestions for what the "S" in S mode might stand for after its certificate cock-up left the Start Menu inoperative.
[5]Expired cert breaks Windows 11 snipping tool, emoji panel, S Mode features, other stuff
[6]Teams has a mute button all of its own in taskbar of latest Windows 11 preview build
[7]Windows Subsystem for Android: What's the point?
[8]A Windows 11 tsunami? No, more of a ripple as Microsoft's latest OS hits 5% PC market
Unsurprisingly, certificate lifecycle management firms have plenty to say on the matter. Nick France, CTO at Sectigo, said: "These problems with Windows 11 highlight the impact that expired and unmanaged certificates can have for both an organisation and its users. 'Forgotten' certificates can cause unexpected outages and downtime and may not always be quick or simple to fix."
It's a shame because the arrival of Android apps for Dev Channel testers would otherwise have been good news. Assuming, of course, you meet the requirements (or can fiddle with your settings accordingly – the official route is for US users with an Amazon account for Appstore). [9]We took a close look last week and came away pondering who, other than gamers and games developers, would really benefit. Perhaps that niche of users with home automation apps that lack a web app equivalent?
[10]
Microsoft was not clear on the cause of the delay – the Windows Subsystem for Android is installed from the Microsoft Store, and the enablement has not required a simultaneous emission of a new build. Still, the arrival is good news for developers in the Dev Channel. So long as their apps do not depend on Google Play Services. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/04/expired_certificate_windows11/
[2] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/11/04/releasing-windows-11-kb5008295-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/
[3] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-21h2#2739msgdesc
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YYlXx54Po4aSZOlChvMZBgAAAMM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/04/expired_certificate_windows11/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/04/windows_11_teams/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/29/windows_subsystem_for_android_hands_on/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/28/windows_11/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/29/windows_subsystem_for_android_hands_on/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YYlXx54Po4aSZOlChvMZBgAAAMM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
the "S"...
"Surprise mode"
Each new release is a wondrous time of unguessable discovery, a time of disbelief and amazement. "clickety-click" "SURPRISE!"
what a pain in the butt
My machine would not let me login to my router, my VoIP box, and several other gadgets. It completely locked up the login interface to my old VoIP box. I had to reboot it to get access back even on Win 10. I have a backup program that sends backup success or fail emails. It failed to send. The unfortunate part of all this was that because I was in the middle of installing Win 11, I didn't know what the correct behaviour was. So I started looking for how I could load a security certificate into my router. What worked for me was I procrastinated long enough for Microsoft to fix their stuffups.
S
NAFU
Personal Privacy: Windows 11 Local Account v Windows 11 Microsoft Account.
If you currently use Windows (Std/Pro) with a local account, and never use a Microsoft account to login into any of their services, there is absolutely nothing in Windows 11 to make it worth installing. Zilch.
Windows really is at a crossroads, from this point forward, everything you do via Windows 11+MS Account will be monitored/conduit'ed up to Microsoft. As long as you know that, fine, but it needs to be transparent 'out there' not hidden from people, where they only find out later. The background telemetry in Windows 11 is quite literally hogging all the system resources. If you thought Windows 10 was bad, this sets the precedent for a whole new level of intrusion.
The list of advertising partners used by Microsoft Outlook, is an eye-opener in itself. Literally hundreds of companies, even if you opt out, the list changes on an almost daily basis, and any new ones are automatically added as already opted-in.
As said, as long as you are aware, fine, but using Windows 11 is pretty much, about giving up any privacy. That seems to be its No.1 motive, getting your data.
"super-secure S mode"
Well, you're not going to get much more secure than blocking users from using their machines, are you?
Next step: disabling the Click events.