‘Restart Multiple Times’—Microsoft Changes Windows Next Week

InnovationCybersecurity‘Restart Multiple Times’—Microsoft Changes Windows Next WeekByZak Doffman,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Zak Doffman writes about cybersecurity, surveillance and privacy.Follow AuthorMay 26, 2026, 02:45am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Secure Boot certificates start expiring next week.AFP via Getty ImagesThe deadline is almost here. After 15 years, Microsoft will start expiring Secure Boot certificates on most PCs in June. That’s next week. While users had been told to expect a one-time additional restart, that advice now is different. You will likely need to restart multiple times to ensure your PC is secure.The Secure Boot certificates on all PCs from pre-2023 date back to 2011, when these were initially released. Microsoft is expiring certificates for the first time and issuing new ones. All this is wrapped into April and May security updates.ForbesFBI Warns Microsoft Users—New Attack Gains Access To AccountsBy Zak DoffmanPer Windows Latest, “Microsoft has revealed what happens to Windows 11 PCs if you ignore the Secure Boot deadline in June 2026.” TL;DR, the website says, “your system security will permanently degrade because Microsoft will stop sending boot-critical updates and malware blacklists (DBX revocation lists).”The process to apply these updates at this scale is complex to say the least. Microsoft confirms it is gathering signals from PCs to govern those that can be updated and the order in which this will happen. It is a controlled process. 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'; scr...