Latest news with #0patch
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Opinion: More questions about the end of Windows 10 and third-party patching
I always wake up to a few emails from readers, and this week was no exception. I received two short (one sentence) emails this week that I'd like to address. They are both follow-up questions to my recent columns about the end of Microsoft support for Windows 10. The first email asked, 'How can we tell if your computer is compatible with Windows 11?' That's a good question, and one that's not too hard to answer. The easiest way is to visit the Windows information page on Microsoft's website at and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page where a blue box will offer to help you 'check for compatibility.' Click the button to download the PC Health Check app and run it from your Windows 10 computer. At the top of the PC Health Check dialog, you'll see an area titled 'Introducing Windows 11' with a blue button to 'check now,' which will run some tests on the hardware of your PC to see if it meets the requirements to run Windows 11. The answer will either be yes or no, and you'll be presented with a checklist of things that were tested. PC Health Check is also a great app to get basic information about your system, including the hostname, amount of RAM and hard drive space, as well as the percentage of the hard drive you are actually using and how long it takes your system to start up. You can also see your status regarding Windows updates and what your backup status is if you back up your system using Windows tools. If your PC is compatible with Windows 11, the preferred way to upgrade is to open Settings on your PC, then go to Update and Security and open Windows Update. You should see a button there offering to start the Windows 11 update. This is not a small undertaking and should only be done if you have a backup copy of all your important data files. Programs installed on your Windows 10 PC should be there when Windows 11 finishes its installation. If the apps are not compatible with Windows 11, you'll need to figure out if updated copies are available for the new operating system. The second email I received this week asked me if I was going to address 0patch? I haven't mentioned 0patch, but it is worth discussing. The name of the software is pronounced zero patch and it is created and maintained by Acros Security. 0patch calls itself a microscopic solution for a huge security problem. They are dedicated to providing third-party fixes to vulnerabilities found in certain Microsoft products, including Windows 10. They call their fixes 'micropatches,' because they are very small fixes that target specific parts of the vulnerabilities found. 0patch says they will provide this service free to consumer users, and for a fee to commercial and enterprise users. You can download the free version at and try it out for yourself. These patches are not provided by Microsoft, and I have not personally tried them, but I did want to let you all know about 0patch so you can evaluate it for yourself and see if it would be right for your situation. – Tribune News Service
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Forbes
New Windows 7 And Windows Server 2008 Security Updates Confirmed
Windows 7 users get good security update news. NurPhoto via Getty Images Security updates are very much in the news at the moment, what with a no-reboot patching feature for Windows 11 and Microsoft's announcement that hotpatching will cost at least $1.50 per core for Windows Server 2025 users. Yet, with hundreds of security vulnerabilities being uncovered that impact Windows users, and cybercriminals evolving to strike at record speed, the matter of keeping on top of security updates has never been more vital. Unless you are a user of a Windows platform that has reached end-of-support status, such as Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, for example. There simply are no security patches available for these two platforms. Or are there? I have some good news for you if you just can't bear to part ways with your favourite Windows computer. The secret to the continuing availability of security patches to protect your systems if you are a hardened Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 user has been hinted at in a number of my articles. On March 27, I reported how a zero-day vulnerability impacting everything from Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 to the latest Windows 11 v24H2 and Server 2025 could be mitigated even though Microsoft didn't have any official patch at the time. Back on Dec 7, 2024, I reported how another zero-day, impacting all Windows users, could be fixed using the same method. Those fixes came by way of a micro patching service called 0patch — the same service that can now save you if you want to keep your legacy Windows systems alive and protected. 0patch addresses the vulnerability gap between zero-days being discovered and any official patch being released. It does this by providing what it refers to as micro patches, much like the subscription fee incurring Windows Server 2025 hot patch system. These work by applying the fix in memory without disturbing the process itself and without requiring any reboots. Posting to X, formerly known as Twitter, on April 29, Mitja Kolsek, the CEO of ACROS Security, the company behind 0patch, said: 'Due to (wow!) growing demand, we've decided to extend support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with security patches for another year (Jan/2027). Reminder: our security patches are the only security patches existing for these Windows versions.' Wow, indeed. So, if you are a user of either platform, now is the time to reach out and get those micro patch security updates to protect your systems and your data. You only have one other choice, it would seem, and that's to remain at risk of attack.
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Forbes
No Reboot Security Updates Come To Windows 11 — But There's A Catch
Security hotpatching comes to Windows 11 Enterprise. Windows updates, especially Windows security updates, are an essential yet often annoying consequence of using Microsoft's operating system. Without them, you would be unable to stay on top of the threat from newly discovered vulnerabilities, for example. However, when one of these updates installs a mysterious new folder, without proper explanation, and sets off a whole new social media privacy conspiracy, the annoying side comes to the fore. It's not as annoying, though, as having to wait for your device to go through the reboot cycle that installing Windows security updates brings to the party. Microsoft has taken note and introduced a new 'hotpatching' function to Windows 11 that enables security updates to download and install in the background, deploying them within running process in-memory code, and without any rebooting required. If you are using the correct version of Windows 11, that is. And there, dear reader, comes the catch. The really good news is that in confirming the arrival of the new security update hotpatching process, Microsoft said that it means 'users can continue their work without interruptions while hotpatch updates are installed,' with no restarts required for the remainder of that quarter. All of which while taking effect immediately to provide 'rapid protection against vulnerabilities.' If you could see me, you would notice me standing up and cheering at this point. You might also spot that I have sat straight back down again with a glum expression. That's because the April 2 Microsoft announcement quickly poured water on the excitement by adding that the feature is only available to Windows 11 Enterprise, version 24H2 for x64 (AMD/Intel) CPU device users. Oh, and they will need Microsoft Intune for deployment as well. Don't get me wrong, this is great news for organizations that meet the requirements. As David Callaghan, who authored the announcement, said: 'With hotpatch updates, you can quickly take measures to help protect your organization from cyberattacks, while minimizing user disruptions.' But it does leave the rest of us wondering when we will get the same treatment. There is one glimmer of hope for Windows 11 users, and that comes in the form of the 0patch micro-patching service, which uses a patching agent to apply fixes in memory without disturbing the individual Windows process concerned. This a subscription-based service, although it releases zero-day micro patches for free to bridge the gap between them becoming known and Microsoft fixing them officially. Maybe Microsoft should buy 0patch and then roll it out to everyone.
