‘One Time Restart’—Microsoft Changes Windows After 15 Years

InnovationCybersecurity‘One Time Restart’—Microsoft Changes Windows After 15 YearsByZak Doffman,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Zak Doffman writes about cybersecurity, surveillance and privacy.Follow AuthorMay 10, 2026, 11:23am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.All change for Windows users.AFP via Getty ImagesMicrosoft is changing Windows on most PCs. Critical Secure Boot certificates will expire for the first time ever in June. First launched in 2011, this Windows change means new certificates must be installed on all devices before the deadline.Microsoft says it is "updating the Secure Boot certificates originally issued in 2011 to ensure Windows devices continue to verify trusted boot software.”ForbesHas Google Secretly Changed Your Chrome Settings?By Zak DoffmanIf you bought your PC in the last two years, you’re likely already running new certificates. You can check in your Windows Security App — details here. For all other users, the new certificates will be included in the regular monthly security updates. Users may have been updated in April, others will be updated in May.But post April’s update, Microsoft warned that this process might trigger additional restarts on your PC. And while this will probably happen in May, if not already, it could happen at any point over the coming months as certificates change over. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAttribute('defer', '1'); script.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); iframeDoc.body.appendChild(script); }; document.head.appendChild(iframe); const...