{"id":403,"date":"2026-10-20T17:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T00:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rainier-it.com\/blog\/?p=403"},"modified":"2026-10-21T00:06:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T07:06:35","slug":"october-2026-windows-updates-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rainier-it.com\/blog\/october-2026-windows-updates-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2026 Windows Updates: What to Do This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Microsoft just released its October batch of security fixes, and it is a big one. According to Krebs on Security<\/a>, the update fixes more than 1,400 security flaws in Windows and other Microsoft software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sounds scary. The good news is that for most small offices and homes, the answer is simple: let Windows install the updates and restart your computer. We’ll walk through what happened and what to check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this month’s number is so big<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last month was already a record, with nearly 1,000 fixes. Krebs says that was about ten times the normal monthly load. This month tops it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why so many? Microsoft credits AI tools for finding more bugs. More bugs found means more fixes to install. That is a good thing overall. Bugs that get fixed can’t be used against you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don’t need to read a list of 1,400 items. You just need the fixes on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s the real risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Out of all those flaws, just one is a “zero day.” That’s a bug attackers were already using before the fix came out. It’s called CVE-2026-96951, and it affects the Windows Shell on Windows 10 and 11. The Windows Shell is the part of Windows you see and click on, like the desktop and File Explorer. The flaw is a “security feature bypass,” which means it can let something slip past a protection that should have stopped it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krebs also reports that at least 78 of the flaws are rated “critical.” That means an attacker could use them with little or no action from the user. Most of those could let an attacker run their own code on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second bug, in the .NET Framework, was publicly known before the fix arrived. Microsoft says no one is using it yet. But when details are public, attackers get a head start. Updating closes that window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A known problem with Smart App Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Updates sometimes cause hiccups, and this month has one worth knowing about. BleepingComputer reports<\/a> that after installing the Windows 11 update KB5127648, some computers can’t turn on Smart App Control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smart App Control is a Windows 11 feature that helps block risky apps. It works alongside Microsoft Defender. Here is who is affected:<\/p>\n\n\n\n